Eleven species of the Accipitriformes, derived from two families, the Pandionidae (osprey) and the Accipitridae (eagles, hawks, accipiters and buteos), are known to occur on campus:
FAMILY PANDIONIDAE
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Photo: Ian Walker
Location: Rotary Marsh, Kelowna, BC (20 Apr 2014)
(On-campus photo not available)
The Osprey's large bulky nests are a common sight in the Okanagan, usually close to water, and typically constructed atop tall poles, or in the tops of our tallest trees. Their diet consists entirely of fish; thus, they are mostly seen foraging over lakes and rivers.
Their numbers were much diminished in the mid-to-late 20th century through bioaccumulation of the pesticide DDT. They have since recovered and are now considered a yellow-listed species in British Columbia.
These large raptors are summer residents in the Okanagan. In winter they seek refuge in South America.
Since none of the lakes or ponds on campus harbour fish, they are normally only seen flying over UBC Okanagan.
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Photo: Ian Walker
Location: near Oliver, BC (12 May 2018)
(On-campus photo not available)
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
Photos: Ian Walker
Top Photo: Adult male @ Falkland, BC (3 May 2012)
Bottom Photo: Juvenile @ Robert Lake, UBC Okanagan (17 Oct 2012)
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
Photo: Ian Walker
Location: UBC Okanagan (15 Mar 2012)
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Photos: Ian Walker
Top Photo: Juvenile @ UBC Okanagan (28 Nov 2013)
Bottom Photo: Adult @ Fisher Road area, Kelowna, B.C. (4 Nov 2015)
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Photo: Blythe Nilson
Location: Nighthawk Road, Lake Country, BC (9 May 2017)
(On-campus photo not available)
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
Photo: Ian Walker
Location: Valley Road, Kelowna (7 Jul 2016)
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Photos: Ian Walker (top), Blythe Nilson (bottom)
Top Photo: Light morph @ Robert Lake, UBC Okanagan (15 Jun 2013)
Bottom Photo: Intermediate morph @ Nighthawk Road, Lake Country, BC (22 May 2018)
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Harlan's (Red-tailed) Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis ssp. harlani)
Photos: Ian Walker
Top Photo: Light morph @ Robert Lake, UBC Okanagan (28 Nov 2013)
Bottom Photo: Dark morph @ Central Okanagan area, BC (15 Mar 2019)
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)
Photo: Ian Walker
Location: Robert Lake, UBC Okanagan (24 Nov 2017)