As it approaches its own 50th anniversary, Comox Valley Nature will launch a special monthly lecture series to commemorate and honour Rachel Carson’s launch of Silent Spring. Fifty years ago on September 15, 1962, Rachel Carson’s tale of environmental greed and hubris helped launch the Environmental Movement.
To commemorate this event the CVN lecture series will focus on: “Women in Environmental Work” featuring one hour lectures by BC women professionally involved in environmental studies and earth sciences. In keeping with CVN’s own commitment to the restoration of Garry Oak ecosystems in the Comox Valley, the first speaker will be Kathryn Martell (MSc.). Kathryn Martell, the Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team’s conservation specialist will be giving a Powerpoint lecture entitled “Restoring Western Bluebirds to Garry Oak Ecosystems”. at 7pm, Sunday September 16, at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay.
Drawing on her considerable conservation experience with The Land Conservancy of BC and the Habitat Acquisition Trust, and on Climate Change adaptation, has placed her in the forefront of the Bluebird Recovery Project. Western Bluebirds are representative denizens of Garry Oak Ecosystems. Unfortunately, together with the rapidly vanishing remains of the Garry Oak ecosystems, Western Bluebirds disappeared from southern Vancouver Island in the early 1990’s. (They were also common in the Comox Valley until the 1940’s).
This summer Ms. Martell and the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT) successfully re-introduced two nesting pairs. This project is of interest to Comox Valley naturalists and the public at large because it is a model of responsible artificial bird conservation, and the complexities involved. Artificial nests require close monitoring to avoid adversely affecting the target species, by increasing either pathogens or competitors in unmonitored and un-maintained nest boxes. Ms. Martell’s talk promises to be an opportunity for the public to engage in the valley’s own Garry Oak ecosystem recovery and its future.
Comox Valley Nature is a non-profit society affiliated to BC Nature which fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing weekly guided hikes and undertakes a variety of environmental projects . Founded in 1966, 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 Ave, Courtenay. Meetings are open to the public, including children and youth. An entrance fee of $3.00 for the lecture is suggested for non-members. New memberships are always welcomed.
Anyone interested in this lecture or participating in CVNS activities can also contact us at this website or Loys Maingon (CVN President) at 250-331-0143.
