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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Nominees for Tree of the Year 2021
Although there will be only one winner of the Tree of the Year contest, all of the 27 nominated trees have interest and value. We invite everybody to go out and enjoy these trees as part of their nature activities … Continue reading
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Spring has sprung – Tsolum River and Tree Island
Notes from Alison M., distributed to the Botany Group on April 23. Click a photo to enlarge it. Finally, after a latish start to spring the recent warm weather has brought out all the familiar early blooms on the river … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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CSEB talk: Ecosystem services in conservation planning
CVN members were invited to attend the online lecture described below, hosted by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists. The recording of this talk is now available (see link at the end of this post). Title: Incorporating ecosystem services into … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers
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Down at the cabbage patch
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on April 21. Here’s a few notes I have put together about skunk cabbage. This is a common plant that you are all familiar with, but isn’t it spectacular? One of … Continue reading
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CSEB talk: Ecotoxicology of Mt. Polley disaster
CVN members were invited to attend the online lecture described below, hosted by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists. The recording of this talk is now availabile (see link at the end of this post). Title: The Mount Polley Mine … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Guest Speakers
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Recording available for Lynne Quarmby talk
CVN’s guest speaker on April 18 via webinar was Dr. Lynne Quarmby whose topic was Watermelon Snow – Science, Art, and a Lone Polar Bear. This is also the title of her recently published memoir, a moving account of her … Continue reading
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CSEB talk: Indigenous management of salmon
CVN members were invited to attend the online lecture described below, hosted by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists. The recording of this talk is now availabile. Title: Indigenous Systems of Management for Culturally and Ecologically Resilient Pacific Salmon FisheriesSpeakers: … Continue reading
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Hear scientist Lynne Quarmby discuss insights from Watermelon Snow
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host the following free online lecture: Title: Watermelon Snow – Science, Art, and a Lone Polar BearSpeaker: Dr. Lynne QuarmbyDate: Sunday, April 18, 2021Time: 7:00 p.m. PDT This webinar is facilitated by the Canadian … Continue reading
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Recording available for talk on bear dens and logging
CVN members were invited to a talk hosted by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists on April 6 via webinar. The guest speaker was Helen Davis (Artemis Consulting) whose topic was Impacts of Forest Harvesting on the Supply of Bear … Continue reading
Posted in Guest Speakers, Mammals
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Pileated Woodpecker experience
Bruce Moffat sent these great shots to the Birding Group on April 7. “Shot these today at Rathtrevor Beach.” [Click a photo to enlarge it.]
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