Deadline for Club Applications for “Club Support” Grants – January 31, 2015. See Website for grant application criteria
Deadline for Resolutions to be presented at the AGM – 2015 is February 28, 2015. Please view details and the “how to” on this Page on the BC Nature Website
Deadline for BC Nature Award Nominations – Nominate a worthy candidate from your club today! February 28, 2015 – Criteria for awards Link Here
Tofino Camp May 1 – 6, 2015. Registration details in the Winter BC Nature Magazine.
AGM 2015 – Salt Spring Island – May 7 – 10, 2015. Registration information in Winter BCnature issue and BC Nature Website.
Rene Savenye Scholarship applications should be in prior to May 30, 2015 – see website for application.
Welcome to Northern Amphibian Naturalist Society.
Newest Naturalist club to join the Federation of BC Naturalists (BC Nature) Read all about them at BC Nature Website
We are in danger of cancelling FGM 2015
At the time of writing (October 30) we do not have a volunteer club to host the FGM for 2015. We have contacted a number of clubs, and it is possible that one of them, hopefully, will offer to host, but if nobody steps forward by December 31,2014 the FGM for 2015 will be canceled. The deadline for a host club to publish its program is May 1, 2015, so there is still 5 – 6 months remaining to do this.
Looking back at the Salmon Arm FGM, it is clear to us that clubs of 40+ members could organize such an event. We have had even very small clubs such as the North Shuswap Naturalists (with under 10 members) able to organize an FGM.
Only two or three motivated members are needed initially and the remainder will fall in place in due time. BC Nature is willing to advance money to a host club if deposits are needed. We have a comprehensive guide and I know that Betty, the Office manager as well as the Executive are willing to help. We hope not to have to resort to this, because we feel strongly that these kind of events are the glue which keeps BC Nature together. At present we have a firm commitment from Salt Spring Island (AGM 2015) and from Vernon (FGM 2017), and some clubs are seriously considering hosting AGM and FGM in 2016 and 2017. Thank you for your consideration.
Kees Visser
President
BC Nature
For further Enquiries – email:
Issue 38
Date November 2014
To BC Nature Members
Just a reminder that our annual Appeal was in the Fall Magazine. Thank you to those that have donated to either BC Nature or the BC Naturalists. To receive your donation Charity Receipt for 2014, donations should be received in the office prior to December 31.
This year we changed the way we have handled our annual appeal by building it into the middle of the Fall Magazine. This has saved both BC Nature and the Naturalists Foundation in extra costs (Envelopes x 2, extra postage etc.) of past year.
We would appreciate hearing from you on what you think of this new approach? Please email with your comments.
Funding Available for Canadian Bird Research and Conservation Projects
Bird Studies Canada is now accepting applications to the James L. Baillie Memorial Fund for Bird Research and Preservation (the Baillie Fund) for the 2015 grant cycle. A portion of funds raised through our annual Baillie Birdathon are allocated to the Baillie Fund to provide grants to individuals or groups for projects that further BSC’s mission. Since 1978, the Baillie Fund has provided grants totalling nearly $700,000 to 580 bird research and conservation projects across Canada. In reviewing grant applications, the Baillie Fund Trustees give priority to projects that engage the skills and enthusiasm of amateur naturalists and volunteers to help us understand, appreciate, and conserve Canadian birds in their natural environments. There are three granting programs, each with a different application and review process. Applications for Regular Grants are due by December 15, 2014; applications for Small Grants are due by January 15, 2015; and applications for the James L. Baillie Student Award for Field Research, administered by the Society of Canadian Ornithologists, are due by February 15, 2015. Visit our website for more information about the Baillie Fund grant programs, past grants, and how to apply for a grant, or contact the Baillie Fund Secretary at or 1-866-518-0212.
Conservation News
Decision on BC Hydro’s Site C Clean Energy Project – Article Here.
Interesting Sites and Articles
Polar Bears and More Polar Bears – Live Vid cams and still shots – Link Here Who’s who in Big Whales Link Here
Read about the Barn Owl chicks saved from the tear down of the old Port Mann Bridge Link Here or short video
About Town
Regulated Rivers: Environment, Ecology & Management – May 6, 2015 – Link Here for more Info – Selkirk College, Castlegar.Photography Seminar with Ron Long (Composition)- Date & Time: Sunday NOVEMBER 2 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM note date change from previous postings Location: Burnaby Lake Regional Park – Nature House (Foot of Piper Avenue off Winston Street, North Side of Burnaby Lake) Cost: $40.00 for members of Nature Vancouver and other BC Nature Clubs. Non-members: $50.00 Limit 15 students This seminar will provide information and techniques that will significantly improve your photography regardless of the kind of camera you are using. The seminar is fully illustrated with hundreds of photographs to demonstrate the techniques being discussed. COMPOSITION will provide many suggestions and a few simple guidelines to improve your compositions. Please bring your camera, an empty memory card, camera instruction book, notebook and pen, lunch and snack.&nbs p; Coffee, tea and juice will be provided. Also bring clothing for the outdoor portion Please register by phoning or emailing Jude Grass at 604-538-8774 , and then mailing a cheque payable to Nature Vancouver – Photography Seminar – Composition, to 17375 27A Avenue, Surrey, BC V3S 0E9.
Metro Vancouver’s 14th Annual Fall Parksfest event – EVENT DETAILS Date: Saturday, November 1, 2014 Location: Blusson Hall, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby Campus Time: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm (refreshments and lunch included) Registration: www.parksfest.com or call 604-432-6359
This event is a wonderful opportunity for participants to come together, make important connections, develop and share experiences and expertise. This year’s program highlights a new venue and a modified program and includes some very engaging speakers and session leaders. For more information, please visit Parkfest Link Here
Kingfisher Study
Attention: Naturalists of Vancouver Island & the Sunshine Coast
Our research project will study the intestinal parasites of Belted Kingfishers on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, including the trematodes, Uvulifer ambloplitis, and Crassiphiala bulboglossa. This pilot study is being conducted as part of an undergraduate student research project at Vancouver Island University. These parasites are known to infect Kingfishers throughout North America; however, little is known about the frequency of infections on the West Coast, or whether other parasite species may be present in Kingfishers. Parasites are also potentially valuable indicators of aspects of avian ecology, e.g. foraging behaviour.We need the help of naturalists for this study to be a success! If you encounter a dead Kingfisher please collect it! Place it in the freezer as soon as possible. -Please make sure to double bag the birds – best to store in large Ziploc bags! -Careful labeling of the specimen is critical. Please include the following information regarding the Kingfisher on the label (see accompanying data label): Date found, suspected cause of death, or condition when found Location of bird – please be specific with landmarks, names of roads, or best of all – GPS locations. Frozen birds can be delivered to the Biology Department at Vancouver Island University. Alternatively, arrangements can be made to pick up the bird. For more information, or to arrange bird pickup, contact: Elsie Hampshire: (250) 668-8665 (), or Tim Goater: (250) 753-3245 (2325) ()
Join Project FeederWatch
The 28th season of Project FeederWatch begins on November 8! Please join our team of thousands of volunteers across North America, and turn your bird feeding hobby into research for bird conservation. Your counts will help scientists monitor changes in winter feeder-bird populations. You choose how much time you want to spend. New participants receive a kit with a handbook, a bird identification poster, a calendar, and an instruction booklet. Results are published in BirdWatch Canada and Winter Bird Highlights – the FeederWatch magazine. You can also explore maps and charts online to see what others are reporting during the count. Anyone with an interest in birds and nature is invited to join Project FeederWatch and become a Citizen Scientist. To learn more or to sign up, visit our website or call 1-888-448-2473. Your $35 donation defrays the cost of the materials and data analysis (free for members of Bird Studies Canada). Project FeederWatch is a joint program of Bird Studies Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Your Executive and Conservation Committee has been busy
Letters Sent
Roderick Allen – Environmental Education Curriculum Changes
Erik Lathmuth – Boundary Adjustment Application to BC Parks by the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to Remove Cosens Bay Road from Kalamalka Lake Park
Kathy Eichenberger – Arrow Lakes Reservoir – Columbia River Treaty Review
Mike de Jong, Finance Minister – Society Act Proposed Changes Effecting Non-Profit Societies
Mary Polak, MOE – Proposed Park Boundary Adjustments of Bridal Veil Falls, Finn Creek, North Thompson River Provincial Parks and Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area
Debra Myles, Panel Manager, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency – Comments on the Draft Review Panel Terms of Reference for Roberts Bank Terminal 2.
BC Nature Approved – Joining the Blue Dot movement in support of the right to a healthy environment for all Canadians. We are proudly joining the movement because we wish to continue our collective appreciation of our Natural Environment that it may be wisely used and maintained for future generations.
Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines – Mt. Polley Disaster
7 letters of support for various clubs and affiliates from Bat Monitoring to Wetland Restoration.
Potential New Clubs
We are actively seeking new clubs to join the Federation of British Columbia Naturalists or assist with the start up of a new club – some areas we are looking into are: Port Hardy, Port McNeil, Tofino or Ucluelet, Prince Rupert, Kootenays (Locations where there are no club currently!)
If you have friends or family in any of these areas that can assist us in either starting up a new club or talking to a club in their area that fit the BC Nature Objectives.
Please contact the office via ?subject=New" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Email
New Facebook Friends
Please visit BC Nature on Facebook. We are slowly starting to do updates. “Like” us!
On July 1, 2014 Canada implemented new laws that regulate how we communicate electronically with our “followers”. Since our electronic communications are not commercial in nature, the new Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation does not apply. However, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind you that you can unsubscribe from our distribution list at any time by clicking the link above.
Sophia Priestman, a graduate of Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School, is the 2026 recipient of the CVN Bursary. Our $1000 bursary was presented to her at the school’s awards ceremony on May 28.Sophia graduates with straight A grades. She made extensive contributions to the Environment Club throughout her career at Isfeld, taking on the president’s role in grades 11 and 12. She was also very involved in the Model UN Program, and participated in other school clubs and sports.Outside school, Sophia has volunteered with Anderton Therapeutic Garden and with Lush Valley for several years. At 12 years old she was offered a job by five vendors at the Farmer’s Market and chose Alderlane Bakery where she is in her sixth year of employment. She also has helped out at Pendleton Farm.Sophia has been accepted at the University of Victoria where she will pursue a dual major in Environmental Studies and Economics with a minor in Applied Ethics. Of this somewhat unusual combination of disciplines, Sophia says:This variety of disciplines will allow me to see complex political and environmental issues from multiple perspectives and find innovative solutions that both foster sustainability and ensure welfare for all (human and non-human alike).Congratulations, Sophia! ... See MoreSee Less
The New Forest Act Roadshow is a series of public presentations across British Columbia explaining what the New Forest Act is, why BC’s current forestry system is failing, and what a workable legislative solution looks like.That solution is the New Forest Act – a proposed policy framework developed over several years through research, public input, and lived experience in communities directly affected by forestry decisions.BC’s forestry challenges are not isolated incidents—they are the result of a system that no longer reflects the realities on the land.Join Jennifer Houghton and Dave Weaver on Monday June 15th at the Stan Hagen Theatre in Courtenay fpr a presentation that offers a clear, developed alternative.Jennifer Houghton is lead developer of the New Forest Act, a legislative proposal to replace British Columbia’s current forestry system. She works directly on forestry policy analysis, public education, and government engagement to advance structural reform in how BC’s forests are managed.Dave Weaver has 37 years of experience in British Columbia’s forestry sector, working across industry, consulting, and government. His career includes field forestry with MacMillan Bloedel, forest consulting and applied ecology instruction in the northern interior, and 12 years with the BC Ministry of Forests developing silviculture policy and training in alternatives to clearcutting.He now focuses on watershed-level impacts of forestry through his work with the Beaufort Watershed Stewards, bringing decades of on-the-ground and policy experience to the discussion of forestry reform in BC.This event is for:Residents concerned about forestry in their regionPeople working in or affected by the forest sectorThose interested in practical, policy-level solutionsAnyone who wants a clear explanation of what’s happening—and what can be doneTo view the schedule for other presentations and for full details on the legislative framework visit boundaryforest.org/the-new-forest-act-proposal/Sentinel Educational Foundation and the Watershed Sentinel magazine are the sponsors of the Vancouver Island leg of the 2026 New Forest Act Roadshow. Their support is helping bring public education about forest policy reform to communities across Vancouver Island.This is a free public event and donations are welcome ... See MoreSee Less
The New Forest Act Roadshow is a series of public presentations across British Columbia explaining what the New Forest Act is, why BC’s current forestry system is failing, and what a workable legislative solution looks like. Dave Weaver and Jennifer Houghton will be speaking at Stan Hagen Theatre on June 15th. for more information visit boundaryforest.org/courtenay🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT: The New Forest Act Roadshow - June 2–22, 2026This will be a series of in-person presentations across British Columbia focused on the New Forest Act - a legislative proposal to replace the current forestry framework.Tour stops include:Golden • Nelson • Trail • 100 Mile HouseCampbell River • Quadra Island • CourtenayPort Alberni • Honeymoon Bay • Powell River • Victoria Full details and event pages: boundaryforest.org/new-forest-act-roadshow-2026-info/About the New Forest ActThe New Forest Act is a proposed legislative framework that restructures forest management around ecological limits and long-term economic stability.It is built on a Protect–Restore–Harvest (PRH) model:• Protect primary forests and critical watershed areas• Restore degraded landscapes• Harvest only on previously disturbed land using selection-based systems, within ecological thresholdsThe framework shifts management from volume-based targets to outcomes-based management, with a focus on watershed function, ecosystem integrity, and stable regional economies.FormatEach event will be a presentation followed by a focused Q&A. Presenter Jennifer Houghton, New Forest Act Campaign Director, draws on years of research, public education, and direct engagement with communities and decision-makers across BC.Co-presenterDave Weaver (retired forestry professional) will co-present in Campbell River, and likely in Courtenay and Port Alberni as well.If you’ve been watching this issue for years...If you’ve felt like nothing ever actually changes...Come to a presentation.See it for yourself.Bring someone with you. June 2–22. Across British Columbia. Let’s go. ... See MoreSee Less
Drought in the summer is hard on plants in our environment. The trees in your yard may have begun to respond to this stress. Our next knowledge walk will help you to learn how to keep your trees healthy and thriving.Join Verna Mumby as we look at the effects of drought and climate change on trees.This knowledge walk will be at the Airpark. Taking the trees there as a sample, we will look for signs of drought stress, and indications of healthy growth. We will examine factors such as hydrology, disease vectors and soil compaction. We will discuss watering and other methods of mitigating stress.Meeting location will be sent before the walk. Bring binoculars to examine higher branches. Wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather. We will be walking on the airpark paths.REGISTRATION required using RSVP link at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/event/trees-and-drought/ An easy 1 km walk on a wheelchair accessible paved path. Sorry, no dogs. This event is free, but donations are welcome. ... See MoreSee Less
Sophia Priestman, a graduate of Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School, is the 2026 recipient of the CVN Bursary. Our $1000 bursary was presented to her at the school’s awards ceremony on May 28.