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.
Be a tree tourist in your own hometown!The nomination period for CVN’s Trees of the Year 2024 event ended on March 31. Once again we’ve seen how passionate and observant you, our community members, are about the trees around us in both our urban and rural environments. This year, you nominated 27 trees to celebrate, including specimens of 11 different species.Take this opportunity to join us on April 27th, from 12:30 to 2:30pm, for this 5km walk around some of the beautiful and interesting trees around Comox.Tree experts, Karen Cummins and Verna Mumby are leading this 2 hour tour, visiting more than 20 trees nominated this year as well as others from past years!Comox location. Details when you register. Limited numbers – register earlyThis is a FREE walk for the general public. Donations are welcome.To join the waitlist or cancel your reservation email; ... See MoreSee Less
🌸 On Friday April 26th at 1.00pm join an experienced Naturalist for a walk around the Courtenay River Airpark. Learn about the history of the park, and how this once neglected space has become one of the most popular walking spots in the Comox Valley. 🌸You'll see native plants such as Red Flowering Currant and Garry Oak. The park is also a favoured spot for birding, with migrant and resident birds benefiting from the diverse plant life that now edges the estuary. 🌸All this is a result of the ongoing habitat restoration work, carried out by a dedicated team of volunteers, led by Frank Hovenden🌸 Book early to reserve your spot, at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events/🌸For more information, to add your name to the waitlist or to cancel your reservation please email ... See MoreSee Less
Great news!!📣 The company taking apart derelict vessels in Union Bay, B.C., K’ómoks First Nation territory, has been hit with a pollution abatement order from the province!Kudos to the groups that championed the issue such as @K’ómoks First Nation, @NGOShipbreakingPlatform , Concerned Citizen of Baynes Sound and many individuals who worked hard organizing action. Hopefully this will put an end to the containments from the ship-breaking site harming fish habitats and local communities! As a recent CBC article explains, “Deep Water Recovery is illegally allowing toxic effluent to run off into Baynes Sound and the marine environment off Vancouver Island's east coast, B.C.'s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has found. Discharges from the ship-breaking operations are collected in sump pits, which occasionally overflow with untreated effluent, the province says. Testing of that runoff confirmed high concentrations of pollutants, including copper, iron, zinc and cadmium.The ministers said provincial government is doing what it can to enforce regulations and respond to concerns in areas under its jurisdiction, but they said they "remain very concerned that Canada is not actively regulating and communicating your regulatory actions in the marine environment." Hope you can look up the article and read more! ➡️ If you want to take more action to keep derelict vessels from polluting the water, head to our website and join us in asking your MP to support Bill C-344 to legislate solutions for abandoned vessels!��📸 Mitch Miller ... See MoreSee Less
🌎 On April 13th from 10 am to 2, join knowledgeable Geologist Bob Hauser on this longer walk to view a few of the glacial features of the Comox Area.🌎 This 7 km loop walk will be enjoyable for people with a good level of fitness and an interest in geology.🌎It comprises trails, roads and cobble beach. Please wear sturdy footwear. Bring snacks and water. Trekking poles might be useful.For more information or to join the waitlist visit comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/events ... See MoreSee Less
🌳A recent article in the online magazine "the Discourse" highlighted CVN's Trees of the Year campaign for 2024:🌳"Since 2018, Comox Valley Nature has celebrated unique and spectacular trees in the region through its Trees of the Year event."In the first years, Cathy Storey and Fred Newhouse ran the Tree of the Year event. At that time, only members of Comox Valley Nature were invited to nominate their favourite trees in the surrounding area."🌳“Cathy Storey was so passionate about it, so excited to do it as a way to increase awareness,” said Karen Cummins. (TOTY coordinator) “Just connection with nature, for one thing, which was big with her, and to increase the awareness of local trees here that are amazing. And to raise interest in the protection of trees, as well.”🌳Now that the nomination period has closed, CVN will publish an illustrated list of the nominees on our website, along with maps of their locations. We encourage you to visit as many as you can, preferably by cycling or walking.🌳To read more of the Discourse article visit thediscourse.ca/comox-valley/trees-of-the-year-celebrates-unbe-leaf-able-trees-in-the-comox-valley ... See MoreSee Less
Be a tree tourist in your own hometown!