CVN Facebook Posts
Hands Off Old Growth, this Sunday October 4th in Simms Park:
Join Comox Valley Nature for a walk to celebrate Comox trees on Saturday, October 3, 2026. We will meet in the parking lot of the Comox Tennis Courts at 1:00 p.m. This 1.5 to 2 hour walk will be led by tree lovers Alora Griffin and Barbara Neilson. The number of participants is limited, and registration is required. RSVP on our events page at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events/We will walk beneath the graceful boughs of some of Comox’s glorious trees, while enjoying their surroundings and the ambience they create for us. The trees selected will include examples of all the native trees now protected by the Town of Comox, as well as some exotic trees.We will discuss their biological features and historical significance as we amble along Brooklyn Creek and through Filberg Park and other parts of Comox. The path through Brooklyn Creek is uneven and there are stairs to climb. Bring your curiosity and questions as well as a water bottle and sun or rain protection, if needed. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Children are welcome but please leave your furry friends at home, except for service dogs.This event is free, but donations are welcome.
The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis laingi) is a top-level avian predator in mature and old coastal rainforests and is considered an indicator species of these habitats, as well as an indicator of forest health and biodiversity.Over half of the global range of this subspecies occurs in coastal British Columbia, where it favours mature coniferous forest. This non-migratory bird needs a relatively large home range that contains a good food supply. Despite some recent habitat protection efforts, continuing habitat loss is predicted, in part because of anticipated short rotation times in forest harvest. On Haida Gwaii, populations are very low and face an added risk from declines of prey species due to forest understory losses associated with high levels of browsing from an introduced population of deer.The Gitsegukla Huwilp of the Gitxsan.have drafted a petition to call for the legal protection of Northern Goshawks. These birds are keystone species in the Skeena Natural Resource Region which covers northwest British Columbia and includes the northern half of the Great Bear Rainforest. The coastal subspecies of Northern Goshawk on Haida Gwaii is the most vulnerable.The petition urges the Province of British Columbia to recognize and implement Regionally Important Wildlife protection for the Northern Goshawk. To sign please go to form.jotform.com/261745367749068For more information on the Goshawk visit www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessm...
Our partners in conservation; CV Land Trust & Conservation Partnership are crowdfunding to purchase a very ecologically important property in Deep Bay.
Comox Valley Nature invites its members and the public to CVN’s September general meeting, this Sunday, September 27th.This month John Neilson will be speaking on “The Challenges in Maintaining an Urban Salmon Population – the Brooklyn Creek Story”Streams in urban environments that support healthy Pacific salmon populations are uncommon, as natural watercourses are often degraded or even buried during the course of development of roads and other urban infrastructure. Of the various Pacific salmon species, coho salmon show special abilities to survive and even thrive in close proximity to human settlements. In this talk, John Neilson reviews the status of coho salmon in the region, and explores the characteristics of this species that promote their resilience. He will also speak of the work of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society as they work to conserve the watershed in Comox.Dr. John Neilson has had a 30-year long career as a research scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, including leading research on the population status and ecology of bluefin tuna and swordfish in Canadian waters. He was also a member of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and most recently, led the preparation of the status report on chinook salmon in southern British Columbia. He is the President of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society.A brief business meeting follows. Reports from some of our interest groups and projects are an opportunity for guests to learn more about what we do.
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New article: All about bunchberries
In the latest in our occasional series of long-form articles, Véronique McIntyre dug deep into the life histories and origins of the herbaceous members of the dogwood genus (Cornus) to find some lessons in anatomy, ecology and evolution. Learn all … Continue reading
Posted in Articles, Ecology, Evolution, Plants and fungi
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Later fall fungi in the Comox Valley
Notes and photos from Alison M., distributed to the Botany/Mycology Group on November 18. Click a photo to enlarge it. Until a couple of days ago I had given up on there being anything of interest in our woodlands here … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Mushrooms at Paradise Meadows in October
From an email by Jocie to the Botany/Mycology Group on November 16. Click a photo to enlarge it. One of the highlights from our fungi trip to Paradise Meadows on October 20 was the handsome Admirable bolete (Aureoboletus mirabilis). The … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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New article: A dwarf mistletoe’s story
If you’ve ever wondered about the dwarf mistletoe that you can see parasitizing coniferous trees in our forests, you can find out all about it in the latest addition to our occasional series of long-form articles, as Véronique McIntyre listens … Continue reading
Posted in Articles, Ecology, Evolution, Plants and fungi
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Learn about climate adaptation at the local scale
Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to the following free online lecture facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Beyond Climate Change: the nuts and bolts of adaptation at the local scaleSpeaker: Dr. Ruth … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers
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Merville Woods fungi
From an email by Jocie to the Botany/Mycology Group on October 18. Click a photo to enlarge it. We had a great time looking at a bonanza of fungi at Merville Woods on October 12! I got a bit carried … Continue reading
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Recording for talk on 21st century forest solutions
Comox Valley Nature members and others recently attended the following webinar presented by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: 21st-Century Forest Solutions: How Can We Slow Down or Stop: Heat Domes, Droughts, Forest Fires, & Flooding?Speaker: Erik PiikkilaDate: Sunday, … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Conservation and Restoration, Ecology, Guest Speakers
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Hairtrigger Lake moments
From an email by Jocie to the Botany/Mycology Group on October 9. Click a photo to enlarge it. Here are a few photos from a recent hike I did to one of my favourite spots: Hairtrigger Lake. Hairtrigger has lovely … Continue reading
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Learn about BC Nature’s work on Key Biodiversity Areas
Comox Valley Nature invites its members and the general public to the following free online lecture, facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Key Biodiversity Areas and Protected Areas: B.C. Nature Projects in 2023Speakers: Liam Ragan and Kephra … Continue reading
Posted in BC Nature, Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers
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Learn about 21st century forest solutions
Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to the following free online lecture presented by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: 21st-Century Forest Solutions: How Can We Slow Down or Stop: Heat Domes, Droughts, Forest Fires, … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Conservation and Restoration, Ecology, Guest Speakers
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