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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Recording for talk on transforming tree farms into forests
Comox Valley Nature members and others recently attended the following webinar presented by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: On Transforming Tree-Farms into ForestsSpeaker: Tal EngelDate: Sunday, September 24, 2023 If you missed this event or would like to … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Guest Speakers
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Plants of Miracle Beach Park, part 2
From an email by Jocie to the Botsny/Mycology Group on September 19. Click a photo to enlarge it. Here’s “Part 2” of the September 15 walk, featuring plants from the Black Creek gravel flats (accessed just upstream from the bridge … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Plants of Miracle Beach Park, part 1
From an email by Jocie to the Botany/Mycology Group on September 19. Click a photo to enlarge it. On September 15 we took advantage of a sunny day to check out Miracle Beach Park, visiting the Black Creek estuary and … Continue reading
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Recording for talk on insectivorous birds in Strathcona Park
Comox Valley Nature members recently attended the following webinar presented by the Strathcona Wilderness Institute, facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Climate Change and its Potential Impact on Insectivorous Bird Populations of Strathcona Provincial ParkSpeaker: Mateo JaeckelDate: … Continue reading
Posted in Birds, Climate, Ecology, Guest Speakers
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Subalpine fungi – recent observations
Notes and photos from Alison M., distributed to the Botany Group on August 30. Click a photo to enlarge it. Fall approaches and there are even a few fungi bravely raising their heads up on the mountain after sporadic rains … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Recording for talk on amphibian populations in old-growth microclimates
In April, Comox Valley Nature members and others attended the following webinar facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Amphibian Populations in the Old-growth Microclimates of British ColumbiaSpeaker: Mark ThompsonDate: Sunday, April 16, 2023 If you missed this … Continue reading
Posted in Amphibians and reptiles, Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers
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Learn about transforming tree farms into forests
Comox Valley Nature, in conjunction with the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists, is pleased to present the following free online lecture: Title: On Transforming Tree-Farms into ForestsSpeaker: Tal EngelDate: Sunday, September 24, 2023Time: 7:00 p.m. PT The general public is … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Guest Speakers
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Learn about arachnids in Strathcona Park
NOTE: This presentation, originally planned for September 14, has been postponed while the speaker begins a new job which is in the field, off the grid. We will post a new date when the speaker becomes available. CVN members and … Continue reading
Posted in Guest Speakers, Insects and arachnids
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Learn about insectivorous birds in Strathcona Park
CVN members and the general public are invited to attend the following free online lecture hosted by the Strathcona Wilderness Institute, and facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Climate Change and its Potential Impact on Insectivorous Bird … Continue reading
Posted in Birds, Climate, Ecology, Guest Speakers
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Tidepooling at Willow Point Reef with Sandra Milligan
This is a belated posting of the report from the Shoreline Group on their July field trip. On July 4 the CVN Shoreline Group enjoyed another excellent field trip. Making a return as guest leader, Sandra Milligan provided her usual … Continue reading
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