World Rivers Day – Visit our website at www.worldriversday.com to find out more about World Rivers Day, and please let us know about any activities you may organize. We can help your promotions via our website, as well as with e-mails like this one. Last year, river enthusiasts from around the world came together for the 12th annual event. It was a great success, with millions of people involved from more than 70 countries. Activities ranged from stream clean-ups and habitat enhancement projects to educational outings and community riverside celebrations. This year’s global event will be even bigger! World Rivers Day is based on the incredible success of BC Rivers Day in British Columbia, Canada, which has been underway since 1980.
Vancouver International Bird Festival is happening a year from now! – August 19 to 26, 2018 – Visit http://www.vanbirdfest.com/ for more information.
BC Nature Annual Appeal
You will all be receiving your BC Nature Fall Magazine (either via mail or electronically) and in this edition, the centerfold is our Annual charitable donation appeal.
BC Nature and your federation of 53 Nature Clubs work diligently throughout the year in various conservation and nature education projects.
Please donate to assist us with funding these worthwhile endeavors. Nature appreciates your financial help!
Issue 59
Date September 2017
Ruddy Duck
BCnature Fall Magazine available now.
Your BCnature Fall magazine should be in the mail to you soon. For those that wish to receive it electronically or wish to download it from the Member’s Only area of BC Nature Website , please note: On the mailed copy of the magazine, you will find a label on the back page with your name, mailing address and a number in the top left corner of the label. The number in the top left hand corner is your access number and the name as it is spelled on your label (including spaces and punctuation) is your access name. Please email if you wish to change from Canada Post Mail to the electronic version.
Nanaimo Nature Club opening soon
We hope everyone had a great summer and that none of you has been negatively affected by wildfires on mainland BC. We wanted to let you know that a small group has been meeting during the summer to gather information about the formation of a nature club or society in Nanaimo. We want to share ideas for a name for the group and what we’ve learned about forming a club or society and insurance for field trips. Most of all, we want your feedback and enthusiasm to get the group going. What’s next? · We have arranged a public meeting on October 24, at the Beban Park Social Centre, Room 2, 2300 Bowen Road, 7-9 pm. Why late October? Well with all of this dry weather, that will be the perfect time for a hands-on “Mushroom Madness!” presentation with Joyce Lee. After mushrooms, we will ask for your input. How might you want to contribute to a club? How does “Nature Nanaimo” sound to you? Do you have knowledge about the natural world you wish to share? Do you know anything amazing or cool about black widow spiders, plants, soil organisms, the inter-tidal zone, fossils or owls? Do you have a preference for where and when club meetings and events are held? Can you help with planning and publicity about events? There are lots of exciting things to learn and do. We need your help and enthusiasm to make it a reality. · Also – please visit and follow us on new our new Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/naturenanaimo/ where you will be able to: o Get a sneak peek at information we will be reviewing at our October meeting; o Let us know how you want to get involved and make a great nature club; o Post your ideas for awesome events; o Share the times and locations of meetings and events with your friends who want join us; o Check out some awesome, local nature information; o Share your interesting nature observations and questions too! I’m sure there is someone in our midst who can answer those little brown bird questions!! We are looking forward to seeing you online and in person.
Peace Region Grants
Fish & wildlife grants are available in the Peace Region. Don’t miss this chance to apply for a Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program grant. The first step is to submit a mandatory Notice of Intent by Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. This short project description will take just a few minutes to complete and submit online. It will help the FWCP support you to develop a grant application due October 27, 2017. Learn more at fwcp.ca.
FGM silent Auction
September 21 – 24, 2017 – Vernon, BC is our Fall General Meeting and Conference. Registration is now closed, however, we wanted to alert you to a donated silent auction item that may be of interest to members:
Description: Signed limited edition print of a Wildebeest by Robert Bateman. Includes the notes on the print by the artist. Professionally framed and ready to hang. Frame is 31 x 26 inches.
Complete book Collection of “Birds of BC”
Description: Complete set (4 volumes) of the Birds of British Columbia by Wayne Campbell et al. (published 1993-1997) in pristine condition. Value: $400 These are a but a few of the items available. If you are interested and not going to the FGM, please contact your club to see who might be going that could put a bid in for you!!!
Aquatic Species at Risk for assessment
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is seeking input from your community or organization with respect to whether or not Bocaccio should be listed as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Further detail can be found in the attached letter, which has also been sent via mail and fax. We welcome input online, by phone, letter, email, and meetings with respect to whether or not Bocaccio should be listed as Endangered under SARA. Specifically, we are seeking a statement in support of or against a SARA listing, and any supporting data, Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge, or information that can be shared and would support advice towards a fulsome listing decision. The online public consultation period will be active September 7 – December 8, 2017 and is available through the Species at Risk Public Registry consultation tool. An online survey in support of the consultations on the Bocaccio listing is now open for comment. The following documents have been developed to help inform the Department in its advice for the Government of Canada on whether or not to list Bocaccio under SARA. These documents are detailed below, and are available via the links provided.
• SARA Registry Species Profile for Bocaccio
• COSEWIC assessment and status report on Bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis) in Canada
• Recovery Potential Assessment for Bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis) in British Columbia Waters (2009)
• DFO Management Scenarios for Bocaccio (2016)
• DFO Socio-Economic Analysis for Bocaccio (2017)
• The Listing Process Options under the Species at Risk Act.
In order for your input to be considered in DFO’s advice to the Government of Canada, comments must be received by December 8, 2017. If you or your organization is interested in participating in a webinar or setting up a meeting via phone or in-person, please contact the SARA program at or 604-666-7907. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you on this matter.
Improving IBAs Across Canada
Birds across Canada will have even more protection! Twelve local projects in Important Bird Areas across Canada are protecting birds, enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem integrity!
Learn how you are helping birds in Canada Link
The Aviva Community Fund is back and donating over $1 Million in funding!
Is your organization in need of funding for a current or new project or idea? If so, please see the ACF Eligibility Funding Guide_2017. It includes eligibility guidelines, application questions and information on how to submit your application.
Applications will be accepted between September 13 and October 2, 2017. To ensure you receive all necessary information, register by visiting www.avivacommunityfund.org
The Aviva Community Fund has four funding streams this year:
Community Health, Development, Resilience, and Legacy
The campaign is open to CRA registered charities, public foundations, non-profit organizations, social enterprises, registered B Corporations, publicly-funded schools, universities or colleges, and municipality or government entities.
Should you have any questions or require further information, please email,
Book reviewers Needed
With Fall and winter coming, now a chance to get back to some reading! BC Nature receives books and DVD’s for review and need your assistance in doing the reviews. If you are interested in reviewing any of these books, please email and we will send you the criteria for the Book Review (to be published in the BCnature Magazine.
Chasing Smoke – A wildfire Memoir, Aaron Williams
Birdmania – A remarkable passion for birds, Pete Dunne
The Inner Life of Animals – Peter Wohlleben
Bird songs of Canada’s West Coast – DVD – John Neville
Your BC Nature Executive have been busy
On the BC Nature website, we have a page called “Letters Sent and Received”.
Please visit our website to view a copy of our letters.
Join the Comox Valley Conservation Community for a day long celebration of the watersheds and waterways that connect us all in the Comox Valley!Learn about restoration and habitat enhancement projects, salmon cycles, drinking water, forests, creeks, wetlands and estuaries – and so much more. Art projects, kids activities, volunteer engagement opportunities, hands on learning and guided walks – all looking out over the beautiful Puntledge River.Comox Valley Nature will be there with our new outreach tent. Come by and say hello, and try our bird identification game. We can also show you why native plants are best for your garden, and how to spot invasive species.Pack a picnic and stay for the day! Saturday Sept 19th from 9 am – 3 pmin Puntledge Park 1111 1st , Courtenay ...
In her memoir, Pacific Northwest author Caroll Simpson recounts the highs and lows of running a remote fishing lodge on her own following the untimely death of her husband, and of falling in love with the natural world. Simpson tells stories of living in the remote wilderness and managing the lodge, becoming an accidental environmental activist, fending off wild animals, working as an angling guide and finally, fighting off a proposed mining operation and participating in the development of a government land management plan as a spokesperson for the wilderness tourism industry.While Simpson welcomed paying guests at Ookpik Lodge, unwanted house guests included a woodchuck, a pack rat, and martens. Simpson constantly had to watch out for grizzlies, moose, and cougars. Storms and extreme weather also provided fodder for hair-raising tales. All this makes for wonderful storytelling.Caroll’s story is essentially a love story. In an essay for Sierra Club, Simpson wrote: “I developed an immense passion for flora and fauna. Just walking back and forth on the 300’ dock several times a day, I was exposed to the unbelievable beauty of the northern spectrum of water life: the golden eagle soaring above, the osprey and kingfisher diving and coming up with fish for their hatchlings, the muskrats and otters looking for an easy meal, the tireless beaver working into the late evening sunsets. All of these creatures and more expressed their generational ownership of this small piece of the world. In return each was given my utmost respect and admiration…As I listened to the loons at the end of each day and the owl and the wolf in the night, I felt blessed to be witnessing such beauty. “On September 20th, join Comox Valley Nature and Save Our Forests Team for an afternoon of storytelling about this remarkable time spent living on a remote British Columbia lake.The event is being held at the Comox United Church Hall. (250 Beach Drive, Comox) Admission is by donation. Doors open at 2:30; the event begins at 3:00 p.m. There will be time for Q&A after the presentation, as well as books available for purchase. Tea/coffee and cookies - including forest-themed cupcakes - will be available for a donation.Join us, and prepare to fall in love. ...
🎟️ Get your tickets to the Project Watershed 2026 Keeping It Living Dinner today! projectwatershed.ca/2026-keeping-it-living-dinner/Every ticket holder makes a difference. 💙 🎟️ Get your tickets to our 2026 Keeping It Living Dinner today! projectwatershed.ca/2026-keeping-it-living-dinner/When community and local businesses invest in conservation, our entire ecosystem benefits. Ticket sales directly support habitat restoration, scientific research, and environmental education, while the generosity of our sponsors helps offset event costs, ensuring that more of the funds raised can go directly toward this important work. Thank you to our incredible sponsors and dinner attendees for believing in the power of community-led conservation. Odlum Brown Community and Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, 40 Knots Winery, CNB Together, we're keeping our watersheds living. 🌿 Hope to see you September 12, 5 - 8 pm at 40 KNOTS Winery #KeepingItLiving #ProjectWatershed #CommunitySupport #Conservation #ComoxValley ...
The City of Courtenay is developing a long-term vision for Bill Moore Park and Dogwood Park to guide future improvements. To help guide these decisions, three initial concepts have been developed, and there is an opportunity for you to offer your input.The latest survey on the City website engagecomoxvalley.ca/bill-moore-and-dogwood-park asks for feedback on three concept plans and specifically which concept you prefer. The three concepts present a range of recreation possibilities and there is room on the survey for your comments.Dogwood Park is a 2.32‑hectare nature park featuring mature forested areas, natural habitat and a small wetland. Only Concept A will maintain the intact forest areas in Dogwood Park. Concepts B and C propose increased recreation in the park including an off leash dog park, disc golf course, pump track (a purpose built track for children’s cycling) and nature play areas. While the planners may say that no trees or few trees will be taken down to accommodate this, the under-story will not survive this level of trampling and fragmentation. The trees as well as all the wildlife who now call that area home will disappear over time. For those of us who value this forest, Concept A is the only option that makes sense.Dogwood Park is one of the few islands of green for many, many blocks. It provides habitat for wildlife, shade, retains water and acts as a carbon sink. On the architect's base plan of current conditions it is now characterized as an "underutilized space". The City has heard from sports enthusiasts but not nature lovers. Let them know why you value an intact forest and your connection to it. The survey is open until Sept 15. ...
The Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation (CCIPR) wants the federal government to establish a regulatory body for the horticultural industry and create a national database identifying invasive plants and their risks in different regions. "Even if we don't prohibit them, we need to let the public know when there is potential harm," said CCIPR co-founder Cathy Kavassalis. "We do this on other products, and we should do it on plants too. It's just common sense."In July, Nanaimo council passed a motion to pursue a bylaw amendment restricting the sale of plants on a list maintained by the Invasive Species Council of B.C. A week later, Surrey moved to ban sales by businesses including nurseries, large retail chains and florists. Kavassalis said a problem that could be addressed at higher levels of government is being pushed down to municipalities."These are all patchwork solutions that, in some ways, just waste a lot of resources," she said. The CCIPR says a national database could give provinces, territories, retailers and gardeners a shared source of information about which plants pose risks in different regions. Kavassalis also wants invasive plants removed from shelves or clearly labelled.For more on this story visit www.cbc.ca/news/science/invasive-plants-sale-federal-regulation-9.7312362 or see our link in bio ...
Join the Comox Valley Conservation Community for a day long celebration of the watersheds and waterways that connect us all in the Comox Valley!Learn about restoration and habitat enhancement projects, salmon cycles, drinking water, forests, creeks, wetlands and estuaries – and so much more. Art projects, kids activities, volunteer engagement opportunities, hands on learning and guided walks – all looking out over the beautiful Puntledge River.Comox Valley Nature will be there with our new outreach tent. Come by and say hello, and try our bird identification game. We can also show you why native plants are best for your garden, and how to spot invasive species.Pack a picnic and stay for the day! Saturday Sept 19th from 9 am – 3 pmin Puntledge Park 1111 1st , Courtenay