This camas was planted as seed 5 years ago and is blooming for the first time.

For a naturalist these current times can be depressing with widespread ecological destruction being one of the constant themes of life in the new millennium.   However optimism is also part of the human condition and with most naturalists it gains momentum every spring with  perhaps the arrival of the first rufus hummingbird or the first salmonberry bloom.

 For myself this moment happened in June during a walk  through the Courtenay Air Park when I noticed several camas plants in bloom.  The camas is a special plant intertwined with the history of our region. The American  explorer Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame described the beauty of fields of camas so vast that they appeared as small lakes of clear water.  Many early European explorers did not believe that a lansdcape so beautiful could be possible without man caring for it.  In fact they were right. The camas fields were not wild.  Many First Nations tended these fields. The camas produces a bulb which when steamed is a nutritious source of carbohydrate.  The camas bulbs were thus highly prized. They could be stored, used for making flour, and frequently traded amongst First Nations.  Camas fields were highly valued, and were tended by their first owners though not in the traditional methods to which Europeans were accustomed.

There are two camas species found locally, the common camas and the great camas.  Besides the size difference the flowers have slightly different diagnostics.  The colour of the bloom varies from a pale lilac  to a deep magenta. Occasionally a pure white bloom can be found.

The camas is often associated with the Garry Oak ecosystem where it frequently grows.  Unfortunately on Vancouver Island only remnants of this most beautiful of ecosystems remain.  In the Courtenay Air Park the Comox Valley Naturalists have been working for many years to create a small piece of  Garry Oak ecosystem. Non-native invasive plants such as Scotch Broom and Himalayan black berry have been systematically removed, while native plants such as Garry Oak  have been planted and tended.

Over five years ago a large quantity of camas seed was scattered and covered with mulch.  I for one had given up on ever seeing the camas emerge.  Last year I found a couple of flowering plants which I dismissed as a fluke.  This year there was no mistaking that a small patch had indeed taken hold.  When it is not flowering, the camas plant is a rather nondescript lily-type plant.  However in flower there is no mistaking this native blue jewel.  Recent DNA testing has resulted in camas being removed from the lily family.

I look forward to the day in the future when the Courtenay Air Park is blue with the blooms of camas under the pale green of Garry Oak trees.   The Naturalists’ vision for this Park  is part of their Wetland Restoration Project which fights invasive plants in the Courtenay River Estuary.  Recently we have erected a new sign on the viewing platform overlooking the lagoon explaining our work in the area.

This work is made possible though funding this year received from the City of Courtenay, the Comox Valley Regional District,  BC Nature, and Ducks Unlimited Canada for which we are grateful.

One of the Comox Valley’s favourite recreation areas, enjoyed by mountain bikers and hikers alike, the Comox Lake Bluffs region is above all a frequently overlooked special ecological jewel.  It is registered as a rare northernmost arbutus/manzanita/maritime juniper ecosystem.  It is home to many rare and endangered plant species.

As such, it has been designated since 1996 by the province as an ecological reserve.  Care must be exercised to preserve it as such. As with 150 other such areas throughout the province, these ecological reserves are protected for educational and scientific research. The recreational public needs to take an informed approach in the enjoyment of the Comox Lake Bluffs to preserve its value for generations to come.

As part of its public educational mandate Comox Valley Nature (The Comox Valley Naturalists Society) will be hosting a one hour talk on the Comox Bluffs and the ecological reserve system on Sunday January 15^th, at the Filberg Centre at 7pm.

Helen Robinson is one of the Comox Valley’s best-known plant taxonomist. Helen Robinson has been the volunteer warden for the Comox Bluffs for the past 4 years, and is very familiar with the botanical and geological features that make this area so special.  Her powerpoint presentation will cover ecological reserves in general, and then show pictures of many flowering plants, as well as birds and mammals found in the Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve.

The Comox Valley Naturalists Society (Comox Valley Nature) is a non-profit society affiliated to BCNature which fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing weekly guided hikes and undertakes a variety of environmental projects .  Founded in 1964, it is one of the oldest environmental societies on the North Island.

Meetings and lectures of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society are held on the third Sunday of most months at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay.  Meetings and guided walks are open to the public, including children and youth.  A donation of $3.00 for the lecture is suggested for non-members.  New memberships are always welcomed.

Forthcoming events include:  February 19, Richard  Somerset Mackie, “Bird Man of Comox: Mack Laing and the Natural History of the Comox Valley.”

Please come out and join us for these important environmental topics. For more information on CVNS please visit the website at www.comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca

The Comox Valley Naturalists Society will host Katie Terhune,  Energy Campaigner for Living Oceans Society (http://www.livingoceans.org) at the Filberg Centre, Courtenay November 20 at 7:00pm.   Ms. Terhune will present a one-hour lecture Oil and Water: Navigate the Facts outlining the risks posed by the Enbridge proposal.

Living Oceans Society is a marine conservation organization based in the fishing village of Sointula, on the Central Coast of BC. Katie holds of Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria. Her past experience revolves around habitat restoration and conservation in riparian, estuarine and coastal environments. With Living Oceans, her task is to aid in the battle against Big Oil in the effort to protect B.C.’s coast from oil spills.

The Comox Valley Naturalists Society is a non-profit society affiliated with BCNature which fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing weekly guided hikes and undertakes a variety of environmental projects .  Founded in 1964 it is one of the oldest environmental societies on the North Island.

Meetings and lectures of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society are held on the third Sunday of most months at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay.  Meetings are open to the public, including children and youth.  A donation of $3.00 is suggested for non-members, and new memberships are always welcomed.

Upcoming events include:  December: The Audubon Christmas Bird Count (held in The Comox Valley since 1919) ;  January: Helen Robinson,  “ Comox Bluffs Flora”;   February: Richard Mackie, “The Life and Times of Melda Buchanan.”

Jan.17, 2012:
TRUS Adults 1808
Juveniles 466
Total 2274

Dec. 27, 2011:
No count due to holidays.

Dec. 20, 2011:
TRUS Adults 1587
Juveniles 254
Total 1841
Greatest numbers at Courtenay Flats (DUC Farm) and Comox Bay.

Dec. 13, 2011:
Count cancelled due to snow.

Dec. 6, 2011:
TRUS Total 2259

Nov. 29, 2011:
TRUS Adults 1504
Juveniles 278
Total 1782

Nov. 22, 2011:
TRUS Adults 1091
Juveniles 223
Total 1314

Nov. 15, 2011:
TRUS Total 1057

Nov. 8, 2011:
TRUS Adult 518
Juveniles 47
Total 565

Nov. 1, 2011:
TRUS on grass 28 Adults
6 Juveniles
Flying 16 Adults
on water 15 Adults
Total 65

Mike Yip is a retired teacher who discovered birds and bird photography in 2003. He has since published 3 very successful books, Vancouver Island Birds vol. 1-3 (2006, 2007, 2010). His work has supported environmental and educational programmes world-wide.  The third volume which came out in 2010 was supposed to be his last publication, however an encounter with the beauty and biodiversity of Denman and Hornby has resulted in a new book.  In addition to documenting island landscapes, birds, wildflowers and butterflies, this new book includes the undersea photography of Amanda Zielinski.

A partial prelude to this book can be found in Mike Yip’s website: http://vancouverislandbirds.com/Journal357.html.

Meetings of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society are held on the third Sunday of most months at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay. Meetings are open to the public, including youth.  A donation of $2.00 is suggested for non-members and new memberships are always welcomed.

Upcoming speakers include: Katie Terhune (Living Oceans Society) “The Enbridge Proposal and Potential Oil Spills”; Helen Robinson “Comox Lake Bluffs Flora and Fauna Conservation” and Richard Mackie “The bastards are at it again!: Life and Times of Melda Buchanan.”

Please come out and join us for these important environmental topics.

Whether discarded accidentally or deliberately, all of the shoreline litter we find in Canada is the result of human activities. From food wrappers, beverage containers and cigarette butts to fishing line, nets and oil bottles, aquatic litter can leach harmful chemicals into the water, be accidentally eaten by wildlife, or entangle aquatic animals such as otters, sea turtles and birds.

Vancouver Aquarium and WWF-Canada have a formal partnership to grow the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup direct action conservation program — the largest shoreline cleanup program in Canada and third largest in the world. Presented by Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw), the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup engages thousands of Canadians annually to clean up their local shorelines through the removal of shoreline litter.  Through individual action, nearly one million kilograms of shoreline litter has been removed from these fragile ecosystems since 1997.

The 2011 cleanup takes place September 17-25 across Canada. This week-long opportunity ends on BC Rivers Day which was established 30 years ago. The Rivers Day approach “seeks to raise public understanding of rivers and the many benefits they provide to us — clean water, spawning salmon, historic trade and exploration routes, a place to play.” It is a model that has been adopted nationally, and more recently, internationally (www.orcbc.ca/pro_bcriversday.htm).

To celebrate both initiatives, on September 25th, Comox Valley based Project Watershed has registered to clean up three shoreline sites along the Courtenay River Estuary: the Airpark, Simms Park and St Josephs/Port Augusta Park. These three sites form a V – like the heart-shaped Estuary itself.

Members of the Comox Valley Naturalists and employees of Comox Valley Kayaks & Canoes will be partnering with Project Watershed volunteers for this event.  Members of the public are encouraged to join in. Shoreline work parties will take place between 10 AM and 12 Noon on September 25^th and the water clean-up will occur later in the day.  Gloves will be provided thanks to North Island Labs and Mark’s Work Wearhouse.

Everyone interested in participating in keeping their environment healthy is asked to go online at http://shorelinecleanup.ca/en to join Project Watershed at one of their sites, chose another site to sponsor or obtain further details about the event.  For further information on Project Watershed activities go to http://projectwatershed.ca/ or call 250-703-2871.