iN PHOTOS: Protected wetlands burst with life in Kelowna and Kamloops

Wetlands are alive with wildlife in the Thompson-Okanagan region, and that includes Kelowna's Munson Pond and Tranquille Wetland in Kamloops.  In the past few weeks, area photographers and wildlife lovers have captured stunning images of the birds, reptiles and insects that make the wetlands their home. Surrounded by cottonwood trees, Munson Pond sits in Munson Pond Park located in the centre of Kelowna near the intersection of Benvoulin Road and KLO Road, and is a popular place for photographers. https://wwwroot.infotel.ca/newsitem/in-photos-kelowna-man-shares-images-of-citys-natural-treasure-munson-pond/it105405#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIt%20has%20so%20much%20bird%20and%20wildlife%20activity,%20it%E2%80%99s%20pretty An important site for migratory birds and wetland flora and fauna, the pond covers 3.8 acres and is home to birds, waterfowl, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. Munson Pond Park is named for the Munson family who were farmers in the area from the early 1890s, according to the City of Kelowna website https://www.kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/parks-beaches/parks-beaches-listing/munson-pond-park . It's red listed as an endangered ecosystem and ranked one of the rarest of its kind in the province by the BC Conservation Data Centre. Tranquille Pond in the Tranquille Wetlands in Kamloops is also an important wetland brimming with flora and fauna, and a favourite place for area photographers. Located on the north shore of the South Thompson River, Tranquille Wetland is a habitat for several species of migrating and nesting birds, and a feeding area for raptors and other prey animals. The wetlands have been a part of the Lac du Bois Grasslands Provincial Park https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kamloops-naturalists-club-will-soon-see-30-year-dream-come-to-fruition/it77067#:~:text=The%20Kamloops%20Naturalist%20Club%20will%20soon%20see%20a%20dream%20come since 1987, a provincially protected park where over 130 breeding bird species have been tallied. The pond is a carp spawning habitat, and mule deer, coyotes, beavers, muskrats, black bears and river otters have also been sighted in the area. READ MORE: Developer refutes First Nation claims at Tranquille site in Kamloops https://infotel.ca/inhome/developer-refutes-first-nation-claims-at-tranquille-site-in-kamloops/it106541#:~:text=The%20developer%20behind%20the%20massive%20proposed%20rebuild%20of%20Tranquille%20is Wetlands in Kamloops and the Okanagan continue to be lost https://infotel.ca/newsitem/why-protecting-whats-left-of-wetlands-in-kamloops-okanagan-matters/it104129#:~:text=Tranquille%20Wetland%20is%20a%20habitat%20for%20several%20species%20of%20migrating or damaged by human development adding an increased risk during extreme weather emergencies and putting more species of wildlife in peril.  To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie mailto:sainslie@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .