World Rivers Day – Visit our website at www.worldriversday.com to find out more about World Rivers Day, and please let us know about any activities you may organize. We can help your promotions via our website, as well as with e-mails like this one. Last year, river enthusiasts from around the world came together for the 12th annual event. It was a great success, with millions of people involved from more than 70 countries. Activities ranged from stream clean-ups and habitat enhancement projects to educational outings and community riverside celebrations. This year’s global event will be even bigger! World Rivers Day is based on the incredible success of BC Rivers Day in British Columbia, Canada, which has been underway since 1980.
Vancouver International Bird Festival is happening a year from now! – August 19 to 26, 2018 – Visit http://www.vanbirdfest.com/ for more information.
BC Nature Annual Appeal
You will all be receiving your BC Nature Fall Magazine (either via mail or electronically) and in this edition, the centerfold is our Annual charitable donation appeal.
BC Nature and your federation of 53 Nature Clubs work diligently throughout the year in various conservation and nature education projects.
Please donate to assist us with funding these worthwhile endeavors. Nature appreciates your financial help!
Issue 59
Date September 2017
Ruddy Duck
BCnature Fall Magazine available now.
Your BCnature Fall magazine should be in the mail to you soon. For those that wish to receive it electronically or wish to download it from the Member’s Only area of BC Nature Website , please note: On the mailed copy of the magazine, you will find a label on the back page with your name, mailing address and a number in the top left corner of the label. The number in the top left hand corner is your access number and the name as it is spelled on your label (including spaces and punctuation) is your access name. Please email if you wish to change from Canada Post Mail to the electronic version.
Nanaimo Nature Club opening soon
We hope everyone had a great summer and that none of you has been negatively affected by wildfires on mainland BC. We wanted to let you know that a small group has been meeting during the summer to gather information about the formation of a nature club or society in Nanaimo. We want to share ideas for a name for the group and what we’ve learned about forming a club or society and insurance for field trips. Most of all, we want your feedback and enthusiasm to get the group going. What’s next? · We have arranged a public meeting on October 24, at the Beban Park Social Centre, Room 2, 2300 Bowen Road, 7-9 pm. Why late October? Well with all of this dry weather, that will be the perfect time for a hands-on “Mushroom Madness!” presentation with Joyce Lee. After mushrooms, we will ask for your input. How might you want to contribute to a club? How does “Nature Nanaimo” sound to you? Do you have knowledge about the natural world you wish to share? Do you know anything amazing or cool about black widow spiders, plants, soil organisms, the inter-tidal zone, fossils or owls? Do you have a preference for where and when club meetings and events are held? Can you help with planning and publicity about events? There are lots of exciting things to learn and do. We need your help and enthusiasm to make it a reality. · Also – please visit and follow us on new our new Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/naturenanaimo/ where you will be able to: o Get a sneak peek at information we will be reviewing at our October meeting; o Let us know how you want to get involved and make a great nature club; o Post your ideas for awesome events; o Share the times and locations of meetings and events with your friends who want join us; o Check out some awesome, local nature information; o Share your interesting nature observations and questions too! I’m sure there is someone in our midst who can answer those little brown bird questions!! We are looking forward to seeing you online and in person.
Peace Region Grants
Fish & wildlife grants are available in the Peace Region. Don’t miss this chance to apply for a Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program grant. The first step is to submit a mandatory Notice of Intent by Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. This short project description will take just a few minutes to complete and submit online. It will help the FWCP support you to develop a grant application due October 27, 2017. Learn more at fwcp.ca.
FGM silent Auction
September 21 – 24, 2017 – Vernon, BC is our Fall General Meeting and Conference. Registration is now closed, however, we wanted to alert you to a donated silent auction item that may be of interest to members:
Description: Signed limited edition print of a Wildebeest by Robert Bateman. Includes the notes on the print by the artist. Professionally framed and ready to hang. Frame is 31 x 26 inches.
Complete book Collection of “Birds of BC”
Description: Complete set (4 volumes) of the Birds of British Columbia by Wayne Campbell et al. (published 1993-1997) in pristine condition. Value: $400 These are a but a few of the items available. If you are interested and not going to the FGM, please contact your club to see who might be going that could put a bid in for you!!!
Aquatic Species at Risk for assessment
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is seeking input from your community or organization with respect to whether or not Bocaccio should be listed as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Further detail can be found in the attached letter, which has also been sent via mail and fax. We welcome input online, by phone, letter, email, and meetings with respect to whether or not Bocaccio should be listed as Endangered under SARA. Specifically, we are seeking a statement in support of or against a SARA listing, and any supporting data, Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge, or information that can be shared and would support advice towards a fulsome listing decision. The online public consultation period will be active September 7 – December 8, 2017 and is available through the Species at Risk Public Registry consultation tool. An online survey in support of the consultations on the Bocaccio listing is now open for comment. The following documents have been developed to help inform the Department in its advice for the Government of Canada on whether or not to list Bocaccio under SARA. These documents are detailed below, and are available via the links provided.
• SARA Registry Species Profile for Bocaccio
• COSEWIC assessment and status report on Bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis) in Canada
• Recovery Potential Assessment for Bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis) in British Columbia Waters (2009)
• DFO Management Scenarios for Bocaccio (2016)
• DFO Socio-Economic Analysis for Bocaccio (2017)
• The Listing Process Options under the Species at Risk Act.
In order for your input to be considered in DFO’s advice to the Government of Canada, comments must be received by December 8, 2017. If you or your organization is interested in participating in a webinar or setting up a meeting via phone or in-person, please contact the SARA program at or 604-666-7907. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you on this matter.
Improving IBAs Across Canada
Birds across Canada will have even more protection! Twelve local projects in Important Bird Areas across Canada are protecting birds, enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem integrity!
Learn how you are helping birds in Canada Link
The Aviva Community Fund is back and donating over $1 Million in funding!
Is your organization in need of funding for a current or new project or idea? If so, please see the ACF Eligibility Funding Guide_2017. It includes eligibility guidelines, application questions and information on how to submit your application.
Applications will be accepted between September 13 and October 2, 2017. To ensure you receive all necessary information, register by visiting www.avivacommunityfund.org
The Aviva Community Fund has four funding streams this year:
Community Health, Development, Resilience, and Legacy
The campaign is open to CRA registered charities, public foundations, non-profit organizations, social enterprises, registered B Corporations, publicly-funded schools, universities or colleges, and municipality or government entities.
Should you have any questions or require further information, please email,
Book reviewers Needed
With Fall and winter coming, now a chance to get back to some reading! BC Nature receives books and DVD’s for review and need your assistance in doing the reviews. If you are interested in reviewing any of these books, please email and we will send you the criteria for the Book Review (to be published in the BCnature Magazine.
Chasing Smoke – A wildfire Memoir, Aaron Williams
Birdmania – A remarkable passion for birds, Pete Dunne
The Inner Life of Animals – Peter Wohlleben
Bird songs of Canada’s West Coast – DVD – John Neville
Your BC Nature Executive have been busy
On the BC Nature website, we have a page called “Letters Sent and Received”.
Please visit our website to view a copy of our letters.
Bruce Moffat, our very own CVN Nature Photography group coordinator will be presenting at this month’s general meeting. He has prepared a handful of wildlife vignettes collected over the past 7 years on Vancouver Island. Each of these shorts will be played with Bruce pausing to describe the experiences and challenges for each of the diverse subjects covered.This presentation includes images first shown as entries in the Comox Valley Photographic Society’s annual Imagefest show at the Sid Williams Theatre. There will be time to ask questions after each short film and following the wrap up. Bruce will bring some of the equipment used to capture his images.Bruce has been an avid photographer since his teen years and has focused on nature photography for the past 20 years. He has been published regularly in the local CV Land Trustcalendars and 4 of the last five CV Collective magazines here in the valley. His latest published shot is featured on this month’s cover of Scout Life magazine. ... See MoreSee Less
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to announce that Sophie Johnston has been awarded the Brandt Research Grant. This is a $5,000 grant in support of her field research on coastal areas of north Vancouver Island. Sophie is currently a PhD Student at the University of British Columbia.The intertidal zone ecosystem is critically threatened by ongoing climate change. Sophie’s PhD research is documenting the effects of ocean acidification on intertidal marine communities in the Johnstone Strait, British Columbia.The goal of her research is to investigate how a dominant ecosystem engineer shapes marine community structure along a gradient of ocean acidification.Ocean acidification not only alters the morphology of limpet species by increasing shell erosion, but can also increase their thermal sensitivity, limiting limpet grazing efficiency and survival in the intertidal zone. Thus, the effects of ocean acidification on such ecosystem engineers could result in large-scale, rippling impacts on marine communities, from microscopic algae to top predators.The results of this research will be of particular interest to residents who inhabit areas near or along the Johnstone Strait and those interested in the trophic level effects of ocean acidification i.e., the reduced growth of herbivores, barnacles, mussels, and oysters can affect the population sizes of predators like sea stars and otters.For more information on this grant and CV Nature in general, visit our website at cvnature.ca ... See MoreSee Less
CVRD News: Watershed Awareness Days: Discover Where Your Water Comes From 🫗The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) invites the public to explore the Comox Lake Watershed during Watershed Awareness Days, taking place from May 26 to 30, 2026. This week-long event features guided walks, lakeside talks, presentations, and family-friendly activities. It’s a unique opportunity to experience the watershed firsthand and learn how it sustains the health and wellbeing of the entire Comox Valley community.Read the full story here 👉 comoxvalleyrd.ca/connect/news/watershed-awareness-days-discover-where-your-water-comesView all the FREE* events here: www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/connectedbywater*Some events require registration#ComoxValleyRD ... See MoreSee Less
Bruce Moffat, our very own CVN Nature Photography group coordinator will be presenting at this month’s general meeting. He has prepared a handful of wildlife vignettes collected over the past 7 years on Vancouver Island. Each of these shorts will be played with Bruce pausing to describe the experiences and challenges for each of the diverse subjects covered.