CVN Facebook Posts
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
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
The following letter is from Save Our Forests Team - Comox Valley, on the subject of Bear James Park
Author Archives: Krista
Rare Bird Alert
A sighting of a rare Burrowing Owl in Comox was reported to the Comox Valley Naturalists. Burrowing Owls are an endangered species undergoing recovery efforts. The last sighting of a Burrowing Owl in the Valley was twenty years ago. This … Continue reading
Posted in Birds
Comments Off on Rare Bird Alert
Christmas Bird Count Report: Dec. 15, 2013
The final tally for the 114th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the Comox Valley resulted in a total of 105 species: Greater White-fronted Goose Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan Gadwall Eurasian Wigeon American Wigeon Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged … Continue reading
Bird Outing Report: Columbia Beach, Nov. 28, 2013
On Thursday Nov. 28 three birders went to Columbia Beach with stops at Hamilton Marsh, Nile Creek, and Deep Bay. The weather co operated making for a very pleasant day. 48 species were seen, highlights being a Western Grebe close … Continue reading
Posted in Birds
Comments Off on Bird Outing Report: Columbia Beach, Nov. 28, 2013
Event Report: Swan Fest
Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society hosted the 2013 Trumpeter Swan Festival at the K’omoks Band Hall on November 23. CV Nature participated with a display & a photo slide show by Terry Thormin. CVN members also guided two bus tours to … Continue reading
Posted in News
Comments Off on Event Report: Swan Fest
Field Trip Report: Deep May Marine Field Station, Nov. 16, 2013
A special field trip to the Deep Bay Marine Field Station was attended by 18 CV Nature members who enjoyed a tour of the research facility including behind the scenes in the labs. The Field Station is operated by the … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips
1 Comment
Guest Speaker: Author Joan Harper, Sun. Nov. 17,2013
Comox Valley Nature is proud to host Joan Harper, author of the definitive biography of Frank Calder, He Moved a Mountain: The Life of Frank Calder and the Nisga’a Land Claim Accord, recently published by Ronsdale Press. The lecture will … Continue reading
Posted in Guest Speakers
Comments Off on Guest Speaker: Author Joan Harper, Sun. Nov. 17,2013
Botany Meeting Report: Seal Bay Park, Nov. 11, 2013
A dozen botanists met at a member’s home near Seal Bay Park and reviewed the updated Comox Valley Plant List compiled by Helen Robinson. The list is organized alphabetically by scientific family name & can be download from the Publications … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Botany Meeting Report: Seal Bay Park, Nov. 11, 2013
Christmas Bird Counts
The dates for the Christmas Bird Counts have just been announced. There are four counts in the area, as follows: Sunday December 15: Comox Count: contact Carol Muirhead to participate 331-0511. Thursday December 19: Deep Bay Count: contact Bill Stewart … Continue reading
Trumpeter Swan Counts 2013/2014
Apr. 15, 2014: TRUS adults 10 Juv. 9 Total 19 Apr. 8, 2014: TRUS adults 34 Juv. 6 Total 40 Apr. 1, 2014: TRUS adults 207 Juv. 53 Total 260 Mar. 25, 2014: TRUS adults 591 Juv. … Continue reading
Posted in Birds, Swan Counts
1 Comment
In the News: Planting Native Species in Courtenay Airpark
On Tuesday October 22 several members of CV Nature planted native species in an area of the Courtenay airpark formerly infested with highly invasive Japanese knotweed. The knotweed was continuously cut every two weeks over the course of two years, … Continue reading
Posted in Wetland Restoration
Comments Off on In the News: Planting Native Species in Courtenay Airpark
