CVN Facebook Posts
Be a tree tourist in your own hometown!The nomination period for CVN’s Trees of the Year 2024 event ended on March 31. Once again we’ve seen how passionate and observant you, our community members, are about the trees around us in both our urban and rural environments. This year, you nominated 27 trees to celebrate, including specimens of 11 different species.
Take this opportunity to join us on April 27th, from 12:30 to 2:30pm, for this 5km walk around some of the beautiful and interesting trees around Comox.
Tree experts, Karen Cummins and Verna Mumby are leading this 2 hour tour, visiting more than 20 trees nominated this year as well as others from past years!
Comox location. Details when you register. Limited numbers – register early
This is a FREE walk for the general public. Donations are welcome.
To join the waitlist or cancel your reservation email;
🌸 On Friday April 26th at 1.00pm join an experienced Naturalist for a walk around the Courtenay River Airpark. Learn about the history of the park, and how this once neglected space has become one of the most popular walking spots in the Comox Valley.🌸You'll see native plants such as Red Flowering Currant and Garry Oak. The park is also a favoured spot for birding, with migrant and resident birds benefiting from the diverse plant life that now edges the estuary.
🌸All this is a result of the ongoing habitat restoration work, carried out by a dedicated team of volunteers, led by Frank Hovenden
🌸 Book early to reserve your spot, at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events/
🌸For more information, to add your name to the waitlist or to cancel your reservation please email
Great news!!📣 The company taking apart derelict vessels in Union Bay, B.C., K’ómoks First Nation territory, has been hit with a pollution abatement order from the province!Kudos to the groups that championed the issue such as @K’ómoks First Nation, @NGOShipbreakingPlatform , Concerned Citizen of Baynes Sound and many individuals who worked hard organizing action.
Hopefully this will put an end to the containments from the ship-breaking site harming fish habitats and local communities!
As a recent CBC article explains, “Deep Water Recovery is illegally allowing toxic effluent to run off into Baynes Sound and the marine environment off Vancouver Island's east coast, B.C.'s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has found.
Discharges from the ship-breaking operations are collected in sump pits, which occasionally overflow with untreated effluent, the province says. Testing of that runoff confirmed high concentrations of pollutants, including copper, iron, zinc and cadmium.
The ministers said provincial government is doing what it can to enforce regulations and respond to concerns in areas under its jurisdiction, but they said they "remain very concerned that Canada is not actively regulating and communicating your regulatory actions in the marine environment."
Hope you can look up the article and read more!
➡️ If you want to take more action to keep derelict vessels from polluting the water, head to our website and join us in asking your MP to support Bill C-344 to legislate solutions for abandoned vessels!��📸 Mitch Miller
🌎 On April 13th from 10 am to 2, join knowledgeable Geologist Bob Hauser on this longer walk to view a few of the glacial features of the Comox Area.🌎 This 7 km loop walk will be enjoyable for people with a good level of fitness and an interest in geology.
🌎It comprises trails, roads and cobble beach. Please wear sturdy footwear. Bring snacks and water. Trekking poles might be useful.
For more information or to join the waitlist visit comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events
🌳A recent article in the online magazine "the Discourse" highlighted CVN's Trees of the Year campaign for 2024:🌳"Since 2018, Comox Valley Nature has celebrated unique and spectacular trees in the region through its Trees of the Year event.
"In the first years, Cathy Storey and Fred Newhouse ran the Tree of the Year event. At that time, only members of Comox Valley Nature were invited to nominate their favourite trees in the surrounding area."
🌳“Cathy Storey was so passionate about it, so excited to do it as a way to increase awareness,” said Karen Cummins. (TOTY coordinator) “Just connection with nature, for one thing, which was big with her, and to increase the awareness of local trees here that are amazing. And to raise interest in the protection of trees, as well.”
🌳Now that the nomination period has closed, CVN will publish an illustrated list of the nominees on our website, along with maps of their locations. We encourage you to visit as many as you can, preferably by cycling or walking.
🌳To read more of the Discourse article visit thediscourse.ca/comox-valley/trees-of-the-year-celebrates-unbe-leaf-able-trees-in-the-comox-valley
Author Archives: Krista
Bird Outing Report: Point Holmes & Kye Bay, Jan. 12,2017
This morning, January 12, five birders spent a cold but otherwise pleasant morning at Point Holmes and Kye Bay. We had good numbers of a variety of waterbirds, shorebirds, and gulls. This gave us a good opportunity for gull study. … Continue reading
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Guest Speaker: Sarah Dudas, ‘Microplastics in the Environment’, Sun. Jan. 15,2017
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host Dr. Sarah Dudas for a lecture on “Microplastics in the environment and implications for the Salish Sea”. Recently featured on the CBC for her work on microplastics, Dr. Sarah Dudas is Canada research … Continue reading
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Nature Outing Report: Royston Seaside Trail, Jan. 7,2017
27 hardy CVNS members came out for the first outing of the new year, along the Royston Seaside Trail starting at the Royston wrecks breakwater. Art Martell gave a background on the K’omoks Important Bird & Biodiversity Area, the second … Continue reading
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Comox Christmas Bird Count Report: Dec. 22,2016
The 117th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count for the Comox Valley was held on Thurs. Dec. 22 (postponed from Sun. Dec. 18) and resulted in a total of 108 species, including a MEGA-Rarity: a Red-flanked Bluetail, found by Shane Tillapaugh … Continue reading
Bird Outing Report: Ships Point Peninsula, Dec. 1,2016
Today, December 1st, the rain held off (mostly) and 12 birders spent a pleasant morning at Fanny Bay Conservation Area and Ship’s Point Park. Overall, we found 48 species. Highlights included Gadwall, Long-tailed Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, and a Cooper’s Hawk … Continue reading
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Bird Outing Report: Courtenay Airpark, Nov.17,2016
Thirteen birders visited the Airpark today. Highlights were a Herring Gull on the hangar roof, a Northern Shrike and two Wilson’s Snipe with a Dunlin at the lagoon. The following 38 species were found: Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan Eurasian Wigeon … Continue reading
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Guest Speaker: Pearl McKenzie, ‘MARS is Spreading its Wings’, Sun. Nov. 20, 2016
Comox Valley Nature would like to introduce Pearl McKenzie who spent most of her working life as a community law office worker and human rights advocate, focusing on law reform activities before retirement. Pearl has lived in the Comox Valley … Continue reading
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Bird Outing Report: Simpson Farm, Nov.10,2016
Today, Nov 10th, 19 birders went to the Dyke Road Viewing Stand and waded through flooded fields on Simpson Farm (restricted access). We had a pleasant morning – without rain! Overall we found 37 species. Highlights included large numbers of … Continue reading
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Nature Outing Report: K’omoks Estuary, Oct. 22,2016
An avid dozen participated in this outing with the weather cooperating until the end, shortly after noon. We started at Goose Spit with discussions around the area’s geologic development and explanations of how the littoral drift used to replenish the … Continue reading
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Nature Outing Report: Courtenay River Walk, Sun. Oct. 9,2016
Frank Hovenden, past Coordinator of the Wetland Restoration project, & current Coordinator Murray Little, led a group of 10 including several new members along the Courtenay River. The outing highlighted the significant restoration work done by CVNS in the Airpark … Continue reading
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