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.
Author Archives: web_admin
Social distancing?
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 31. During these days of social distancing it’s heartening to see troops of gregarious fungi gathering in the woods…quite heedless of human disasters. Here are some groups and clusterings I’ve … Continue reading
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Big laughing gym at Seal Bay
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 24. There are some spectacular displays of “big laughing gym”, also known as “western jumbo gym” (Gymnopilus ventricosus) at Seal Bay Park. You can find it about 3/4 of … Continue reading
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Lobsters and corals
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 23. Lobsters & corals bring to mind sea creatures, but these are actually just strange, exotic-looking fungi! My Mom, Betty, and I were having a great time looking at … Continue reading
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Greens, blues and purples (Alison’s fungi notes, part 3)
Note by Alison M. to the Botany Group, distributed by Jocie on October 20. Notes on shades of green, blue and purple in gilled mushrooms Still in the category of gilled shrooms, shades of greens and blues are not commonly found … Continue reading
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Coral fungi
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 17. There are many coral fungi fruiting just now…this is a strangely beautiful group of fungi, often arising mysteriously from the forest duff. Amazing! Corals, often in the genera Ramaria or Clavulina, are characterized … Continue reading
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Cowichan native flora presentation and walk
Members of Comox Valley Nature (and others) may be interested in a native flora presentation and walk to be held in the Duncan area on October 29. This event will be led by Genevieve Singleton who is a friend of … Continue reading
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More notes on fungi and slime moulds
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 14. A few things: Here is a link from Mandy for an article in the Guardian that explains the importance of fungi. Alison has provided us with an excellent handout which … Continue reading
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Apricot jelly, anyone?
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 10. Here are some photos and notes from Alison M. about the lovely apricot jelly fungus. Alison’s notes I’d like to add these photos of Tremiscus helvelloides, which would I … Continue reading
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Weird random fungi (and a slime)
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 9. The fun of fungi is never knowing what will turn up from one year to the next…every year I seem to find fungi that are new to me. … Continue reading
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More lichens!
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 2. Sharon N. sent in these lovely lichen pics from Miracle Beach Park. [Click photo to enlarge.] I think this is one of the beard lichens (in the genus … Continue reading
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