Robson Bird Blitz – June 6-8. Please contact Gail Ross – for further information or to sign on.
Deadline to apply for Rene Savenye Scholarship by May 30, 2014
Manning Park Bird Blitz – June 20 – 22, 2014 – please visit Hope Mountain Centre for further information
FGM 2014 – Hosted by the Shuswap Naturalists – September 25 – 28, 2014. Salmon & Shorebirds – Incredible Journey Registration will be in the Summer Magazine
Club Grant Applications and BC Nature Awards by Jan 31, 2015
Tofino Camp – May 3-6, 2015 (Check out is May 7)Details to follow in Fall Magazine
AGM Resolutions deadline February 28, 2015
AGM 2015 Salt Spring Island May 7-10, 2015 – Details to follow in Fall Magazine
Updates Tofino Camp was a great success, such so, another one is planned for May 2015! Nicola Valley Camp is full with a waiting list. Wells Gray Park – The Alpine Trek is Full (Thank you!) but there is still space available for the Wells Gray Camp – 2 spots remain. Please contact Kamloops Naturalists – to reserve your spot.
Volunteers Needed
Barn Swallows Study Greg Ferguson, a biologist and member of Nature Vancouver, is undertaking a project to inventory and monitor the status of Barn Swallows in BC this summer, with a particular focus on the Lower Mainland region. If you are interested in knowing more about this project or volunteering please visit this website Link or contact Greg at
As part of this project he will be having a day of training on Saturday, May 31st in South Langley near Campbell Valley Regional Park. For more information on this training and how to participate, please visit: Link Here
Interesting Sites and articles
The Effects of Radiation on Flora & Fauna – Link
Sweeping study aims to find why salmon stocks collapsed MARK HUME, VANCOUVER — The Globe and Mail, Monday, May. 19 2014 . Link Here
Saving Wild Salmon Link Here
Ocean Planning Link Here
National Conservation Plan
The federal government launched on May 15th the National Conservation Plan which aims to provide a more coordinated approach to conservation efforts across Canada with an emphasis on enabling Canadians to conserve and restore lands and waters in and around their communities, and making it easier for citizens living in cities to connect with nature. Building on the conservation measures announced in Budget 2014, the National Conservation Plan includes funding of $252 million, primarily over a five-year period (2014 to 2019) for a variety of conservation initiatives:
• $100 million over five years to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to secure ecologically sensitive lands
• $37 million over five years to strengthen marine and coastal conservation
• $3.2 million over five years to support the development of a complete national inventory of Canadian conservation areas
• $50 million over five years to restore wetlands
• $50 million over five years to support voluntary actions to restore and conserve species and their habitats
• $9.2 million over five years to connect urban Canadians to nature
• $3 million over three years to Earth Rangers to expand family-oriented conservation programming.
Read more at Link Here
About Town
Ongoing Event:Every Wednesday, Tending the Garry Oak Preserve
Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, Duncan, 9 am – 12 p.m. Link Here
Thursday July 24 8:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
Restoring the Sand Spit: Removing invasives from James Island James Island, Sidney Link Here
Saturday May 31, 2014 & Wednesday July 9, 2014, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Weed & Wildflower Walk in Victorias Inner Harbour, Matson Lands Conservation Area, Esquimalt Link Here
Saturday June 7, 2014, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Planting Garry Oaks: A day of transplanting these charismatic oak trees Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, Duncan Link Here
Monday June 9, 2014, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Butterflies of Beautiful British Columbia Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve
Closest Place: Duncan, Vancouver Island Link Here
Wednesday June 25, Wednesday July 16 & Sunday July 27, 2014, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Searching for Seeds: Native seed collection in Garry oak woodlands Chase Woods Conservation Area, Duncan Link Here
WildResearch Butterfly Monitoring Workshop 2014
Registration is open for WildResearch’s third annual Butterfly Monitoring Workshop, once again taking place at the beautiful UBC Botanical Garden The workshop will consist of an indoor classroom session, and an outdoor field techniques session. Participants will learn how to catch, handle, identify, and monitor butterflies, how to follow protocols for and contribute to the BC Butterfly Atlas a citizen-science project, and how to garden to attract butterflies.
When: Saturday, June 7, 2014
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Where: UBC Botanical Garden
Registration is FREE, and gets you free admission to the UBC Botanical Garden. E-mail with the Subject “Register for Workshop” in order to reserve a spot.
Nanaimo bird expert killed in crash
By Chris Bush – Nanaimo News Bulletin
posted May 21, 2014 at 8:00 AM
A motor vehicle accident has claimed the life of a man well-known in Nanaimo’s bird watching community. Ryan Cathers, 21, organizer of the annual Nanaimo Christmas Bird Count, died in a collision near Westlock, Alta., on the weekend. Police said Cathers died Saturday at about 4:30 p.m. when the northbound vehicle in which he was collided head-on with a southbound semi tractor-trailer rig on Highway 44 about one kilometre south of Westlock. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Westlock RCMP. His cousin, Chris Cathers, said Ryan Cathers had recently graduated from Vancouver Island University and had taken a job with a wild bird research organization in Alberta. Chris Cathers described his cousin as caring, compassionate and the go-to person for birding in Nanaimo. “The world needed more people like him,” Chris Cathers said. Colin Bartlett, owner of the Nanaimo Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store, said Ryan Cathers worked at the store for three years prior to leaving for Alberta and described his death as tragic. “He was just up there, what, two weeks,” Bartlett said. “It was his first time away from home and it was all new to him. He was a little homesick, but he was having fun.”
Enbridge – Kinder Morgan Updates
Enbridge Northern Gateway is Causing More Rumours than Lady Gaga
By Nikki Skuce, Senior Energy Campaigner, ForestEthics Advocacy Link Here
Cullen hits trail for coasts
Steve Kidd/Penticton Western News Link Here
Pipeline politics fault of Ottawa inaction
Stephen Ewart/Calgary Herald Link Here
News from Canadian Parks and Wilderness (CPAWS)
Changes to the B.C. Park Act threaten integrity of protected areas
Earlier this week, the B.C. government passed a bill into law that puts the province’s entire parks system in jeopardy. Bill 4, the Park Amendment Act, introduces changes that allow the province to issue research permits for industry looking to build pipelines, logging roads, and other industrial infrastructure in provincial parks.
CPAWS is calling on the B.C. government to reverse Bill 4 immediately, and maintain the integrity of our parks.
Stand up against these changes to the B.C. Park Act! *Take action TODAY to keep our parks protected, as they should be. Link Here
Connecting to nature in our national and provincial parks
The Canadian Parks Council recently published a report called “”Connecting Canadians with Nature: An investment in the well-being of our citizens”” which highlights the importance of our national, provincial and territorial parks in getting us back outside and connecting with the natural world.
Canada’s parks have a vital role to play in connecting us with nature*, and are among the best places for us to fully experience all of the benefits derived from spending more time outdoors.
Check out the report here Link Here and read our latest blog Link Here on collaborating for a more nature-connected Canada.
To celebrate our 60th anniversary we invite you to come for a guided stroll on the Courtenay Riverway Heritage Walk with a member of Comox Valley Nature on April 24, 10 am -noon. Learn about the history of this area, including how the former sewage lagoon has become one of the most popular walking spots in the Comox Valley. Check out the restoration work that has replaced invasive plant species and added more native plants, shrubs and trees that is being done by Comox Valley Nature in partnership with the City of Courtenay. Hear why invasive plant species are so damaging to the ecosystems. Enjoy the view from the "lookout" over the estuary and be reminded how important the estuary is to the web of life.REGISTRATION required on our events page cvnature.ca/events An easy 1 km walk on a wheelchair accessible paved path. Dress for the weather and bring a water bottle Sorry, no dogs. This event is free, but donations are welcome.For more information, add your name to a wait list or to cancel your reservation email: . ... See MoreSee Less
To celebrate our 60th anniversary Comox Valley Nature is offering this opportunity to get together with knowledgeable birders to share skills and learn more about birding in the Comox Valley.This outing is designed for beginners, but birders of all levels are welcome. Experienced birders will help with identifying species, equipment, useful apps, and field guides. Both CVN members and the public are welcome on this walk at the Courtenay Airpark which will be on a wide smooth pathway for about 2km round trip. Bring binoculars if you have them. Dress for the weather. Warm clothing necessary – it’s often windy there! Please leave pets at home.Register through our events page at This event is free. Donations welcome.#birding#comoxvalley#iba#courtenay airpark ... See MoreSee Less
To celebrate our 60th anniversary we offer this opportunity to learn more about Garry oaks in the Comox Valley.Vanier Nature Park is home to a small grove of Garry oak trees which is being stewarded by Comox Valley Nature. These oaks are at the northern extent of their range, and are a remnant of a culturally modified ecosystem that once covered 160 square kilometres in the Comox ValleyThis walk will be lead by Geologist Bob Hauser and Forester Terry Lewis. They have spent many hours in the park removing invasive holly. Terry and Bob will look at the work in progress in the grove and share their unique perspective on this forest, with a focus on soil science and tree species.The Vanier Nature Park project is being co-managed by Comox Valley Nature and the City of Courtenay with funding from the City of Courtenay, BC Nature and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. Registration required through The walk is partially on level ground with some gentle to moderate uphill walking on a forest trail that has some uneven footing. No dogs please.For more information, to add your name to a wait list or to cancel your reservation, email: Details of the meeting place will be sent to registrants. Please be at the meeting spot at least 10 minutes before the walk starts to sign in. ... See MoreSee Less
To celebrate our 60th anniversary we invite you to come for a guided stroll on the Courtenay Riverway Heritage Walk with a member of Comox Valley Nature on April 24, 10 am -noon. Learn about the history of this area, including how the former sewage lagoon has become one of the most popular walking spots in the Comox Valley. Check out the restoration work that has replaced invasive plant species and added more native plants, shrubs and trees that is being done by Comox Valley Nature in partnership with the City of Courtenay. Hear why invasive plant species are so damaging to the ecosystems. Enjoy the view from the "lookout" over the estuary and be reminded how important the estuary is to the web of life.