To start exploring our on-line Comox Valley Nature Viewing Guide, click on ’NATURE GUIDE’ above.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for our Events Calendar.
The Comox Valley Naturalists Society is a 47 year old Registered Charity located in Central Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. All Society Officers are volunteers. The primary functions of the Society are: to protect nature, and to educate the public about nature.
The society has about 150 members, and is active in many environmental activities, as well as being a member of BC Nature. There are many CVNS members with specific areas of expertise (including local geography, local ecology, and academic backgrounds) so that a wide range of questions may be answered. Some recent queries have concerned “gnome plants”, “jumping slugs”, “golden eagles”, and “How do I save the bats in my attic?”.
For further information about joining the Society, liaising with us, or assisting in any other way, please see our membership form and contact information in the Contact Us section.
The Comox Valley Naturalists Society has a number of different groups interested in specific aspects of natural history in the area. Members are welcome to join any of the groups and participate in field trips, workshops, conservation projects, and much more.
The CVNS has a full schedule of field trips. Please see Field Trips for more details. Further details of some of these field trips, as well as other recent Society activities are included in our newsletter. This is published three times a year, is available in .pdf format, and may be emailed if requested at the Contact Us section.
Meetings are held at the Florence Filberg Centre (411 Anderton Avenue, Courtenay, BC) on the 3rd Sunday of the most months (July, August, and December excepted) at 7:00 pm. See Meetings for more details. All are welcome!
Birders have a monthly meeting as well as occasional informal outings. This is a great way to learn bird identification, meet people, and explore new locales within the Comox Valley. Birders are also involved in several regular bird counts as well as Christmas Bird Counts. For more details see the Meetings, and Field Trips sections. For more information, call Art Martell at 250-334-2979.
Botanists have a monthly meeting as well as regular walks which are an excellent way to meet people and to learn about local ecosystems, local plants (and occasionally ethno-botany). For more information call Karin Franzen (250-334-7737).
This section of the CVNS is for young naturalists and their parents. For more information see the Young Naturalists Club (YNC) Section.
The Comox Valley Naturalists Society is pleased to offer a bursary to a graduate student in the Comox Valley who is planning a career in natural or environmental science. The award will be given to a selected student from one of the Comox Valley classes of grade twelve graduates. To apply contact your school office.
The society has helped to control both purple loosestrife and scotch broom. The CVNS Wetland Habitat Restoration Project in the wetlands and estuaries of the Comox Valley is in its 18th year, targeting purple loosestrife, Scotch broom, yellow flag iris, Himalayan blackberry, and knotweed species. (The report is available from the Publications Section in .pdf format ) CVNS are also stewards of the Courtenay Airpark at the Courtenay River estuary. Invasive plants are being removed and replaced with native plants, with the aim of creating a Garry Oak Meadow.
Comox Valley is one of the most significant areas for wintering and migratory waterfowl and waterbirds in British Columbia and is very fortunate in having three Globally Significant Important Bird Areas (IBA’s) on its doorstep: the Comox Valley IBA, the Baynes Sound IBA, and the Lambert Channel/Hornby Island Waters IBA.