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Recent Posts
- Recording for talk on Brooklyn Creek coho stewardship
- Learn about coho and Brooklyn Creek stewardship at our September general meeting
- Enjoy an afternoon of storytelling with author Caroll Simpson
- SWI workshop: Subalpine mycology 2026
- Entomology and botany at Mt. Washington, July 2026
- Smartphone photography for iNaturalist
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- Learn about the proposed New Forest Act, June 15
- SWI plant diversity workshop, June 28
- Sophia Priestman, CVN Bursary recipient, 2026
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CVN Facebook Posts
2 days ago
Hands Off Old Growth, this Sunday October 4th in Simms Park:3 days ago
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. ...
6 days ago
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/261745367749068
For more information on the Goshawk visit www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessm... ...
1 week ago
Our partners in conservation; CV Land Trust & Conservation Partnership are crowdfunding to purchase a very ecologically important property in Deep Bay. ...1 week ago
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. ...
Author Archives: web_admin
Magical fungi!
From an email by Jocie distributed to the Botany Group on November 12. Click a photo to enlarge it. Some fungi are appearing, though so scarce compared to a “typical year”—whatever that is! Here are a few photos sent in … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Fungi from Strathcona Park
This report by Alison M. was distributed to the Botany Group by Jocie on November 5. Click a photo to enlarge it. In the last week of October we have been into three locations in the Park in the hopes … Continue reading
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Learn about the impacts of salmon farms on wild salmon
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host the following free lecture at our November online meeting: Title: What we need to do to rescue wild salmon from further declineSpeaker: Alexandra MortonDate: Sunday, November 20, 2022Time: 7:00 p.m. PT This webinar … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers
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Botany highlights from upper Puntledge trails
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 29. Click a photo to enlarge it. Last Saturday we walked along the east side of the upper Puntledge River trails. We took a look at the bog, and … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Recording available for talk on a regional parks service
Comox Valley Nature, facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists, recently presented the following webinar: Title: Towards a Regional Parks ServiceSpeaker: Mark Harrison (CVRD Manager of Parks)Date: Sunday, October 23, 2022 If you missed this event or would like … Continue reading
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A few mushrooms
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 19. Click a photo to enlarge it. Though fungi are currently scarce, here are a few photos from Alison M. of what she’s seen this fall in the Buttle Lake … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Learn about Comox Valley regional parks service
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host the following free lecture at our October online meeting: Title: Towards a Regional Parks ServiceSpeaker: Mark HarrisonDate: Sunday, October 23, 2022Time: 7:00 p.m. PT This webinar is facilitated by the Canadian Society of … Continue reading
Posted in Guest Speakers
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Woodhus Slough botany photos
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 16. Photos by Veronique. Click a photo to enlarge it. Our last walk was a lovely morning at Woodhus Slough on October 3. Thanks to Veronique for the photos! … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Another day in paradise!
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 29. Click a photo to enlarge it. Last weekend the Strathcona Wilderness Institute (SWI) wrapped up its season with a walk around Paradise Meadows, which several of you joined … Continue reading
Posted in Amphibians and reptiles, Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Three CVN Bursary recipients in 2022!
The CVN Bursary for environmentally-related post-secondary studies is usually awarded to a deserving Grade 12 graduate each year. However, this year the bursary was awarded to three students, all from Georges P. Vanier Secondary School in Courtenay! This was unprecedented … Continue reading
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