Comox Valley Naturalists Society

Members receive the club newsletter and the BC Naturalist (magazine of the Federation of BC Naturalist) as well as invitations to FBCN camps.

Club Activities

The Comox Valley Naturalists Society has a number of different groups interested in specific aspects of natural history in the area. Members are welcome to join any of the groups that they like and participate in field trips, workshops, conservation projects, and much more ...

Field Trips
The CVNS has a full schedule of field trips for members only. Please see Field Trips for more details or contact Krista Kaptein(338-2383).

Monthly Meetings
Meetings are held at the Florence Filberg Centre (411 Anderton Avenue, Courtenay, BC) on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 7:00 pm. See Meetings for more details. All are welcome!

Birding
Birders have a monthly meeting as well as occasional informal outings. This is a great way to learn bird identification, meet people, and explore new locales within the Comox Valley. Birders are also involved in the local Christmas Bird Count. Check for rare birds on our Rare Bird Alert page. For more information call Barbara Sedgwick (335-0064).

Botany
Botanists have a monthly meeting as well as regular walks on alternate Friday mornings. These walks are an excellent way to meet people and learn local plants. For more information call Dulcie Hamilton (334-4507).

Young Naturalists Club
This section of the CVNS is for young naturalists and their parents. For more information click on Young Naturalists Club or contact Lisa Zervakis (338-5845).

Comox Valley Naturalists Society Bursary
The Comox Valley Naturalists Society is pleased to offer a bursary to a graduate student in the Comox Valley who is planning a career in natural or environmental science. The award will be given to a selected student from one of the Comox Valley classes of grade twelve graduates.

Criteria:
• Must be active in environmental or natural history activities
• Personal achievement and academic standing
• Proceeding to a post-secondary institution within 15 months from the date of secondary school graduation, i.e., up to the start of the fall semester of the year following the year of graduation.

Swan Counts
Every Tuesday morning from the end of October to the end of March, society members monitor Trumpeter Swan numbers in the area. The count on December 23, 2003 was 2,828 swans, a record number. See the Rare Bird Sightings page for details on yearly numbers of swans. More information on the swan count is available from Environment Canada.

Invasive Plant Control
The society has helped to control both purple loosestrife and scotch broom. The CVNS Wetland Habitat Restoration Project in the wetlands and estuaries of the Comox Valley is in its 13th year, targeting purple loosestrife, Scotch broom, yellow flag iris, Himalayan blackberry, and knotweed species. (The report is available in .pdf format - file size approximately 4.4 MB)

Lagoon Park Stewardship
Comox Valley Naturalists are stewards of the Courtenay Lagoon Park at the Courtenay River estuary. Invasive plants are being removed and replaced with native plants, with the aim of creating a Garry Oak Meadow.

Eagle Nest Tree Monitoring
Currently, society members assist Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society in monitoring eagle trees several times during the season, from October to July as part of the Strait of Georgia Coastal Wildlife Tree Stewardship Project. Contact for more details.

BC Coastal Waterbird Survey
14 areas within the Comox Valley are being monitored monthly for their waterbird populations as part of the BC Coastal Waterbird Survey.

Newspaper Column
Jocie Ingram writes a monthly column called "Knowing Nature" in the North Islander newspaper. Visit our archived Knowing Nature and Wildside pages in the Publications section of the web site.

Important Bird Areas
Comox Valley and Baynes Sound are recognized as Globally Significant Important Bird Areas (IBA's). The areas have the second highest concentration of over-wintering waterfowl in BC. Two plaques were unveiled at a dedication ceremony held on November 16, 2001.