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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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A few summery plants!
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 14. Here’s a note from John and some pics that will brighten these rather sombre smoky days: “With all this gloomy smoke around us I thought I should send … Continue reading
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2020 CVN Tree of the Year winner announced!
Submitted by Fred N. on behalf of the Tree of the Year committee. When I heard one of the Tree of the Year nominees was a yellow cedar in Royston I became intrigued. Yellow cedar (Xanthocyparis nootkatensis, formerly Chaemacyparis nootkatensis) on … Continue reading
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Public invited to learn about the Canada Jay in Strathcona Park
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host an online lecture by Dan Strickland. The lecture entitled 2020 Update on Paradise Meadows Canada Jay Research is on Sunday September 20, 2020, 7:00 – 9:00pm. Given the current situation with the Covid-19 … Continue reading
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Lakeside plants
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 11. A quiet lakeshore is always a nice place to poke around looking at plants. Here are some plants from Blackwater Lake, which is north of Campbell River. This … Continue reading
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COVID-19 policy still in effect
The COVID-19 pandemic continues. We are facing a potential second wave in B.C. and around the world, and, with many CVN members in a higher-risk age group, the CVN Board reminds members that our policy response from April (see this … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Miscellaneous
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Berries other than Vaccinia in the subalpine
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 7. We are at a fruitful time of year…Alison M. has kindly passed on these photos of a variety of berries from the subalpine (some edible, some not). Enjoy! Alison’s … Continue reading
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Plants of Tree Island
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 4. As a change-up from the mountain flora…here are a few of the special plants that grow along the sandy shores/dune habitat of Tree Island Provincial Park (also known as Sandy … Continue reading
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Bird books: Estate sale
The Comox Valley Nature Birders Group has been given a large collection of books from the estate of an avid birder who lived in this area. WHAT BOOKS? Guide books from countries around the world Coffee table books Informative books … Continue reading
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Strathcona Park lichen project – update
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 2. Here’s an update from Randal M. on the Strathcona Park lichen project. I highly recommend checking out the link…a whole gallery of beautiful, diverse lichens! Randal’s notes The summer … Continue reading
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More mountain madness!
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on August 29. Summer is drawing to a close, which means it is time to fit in a few more mountain hikes! Here are a few photos [click to enlarge] from … Continue reading
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