CVN Facebook Posts
Laura O'Brien of the Tsolum River Restoration Society is our guest speaker for our January general meetingShe will be speaking on "the Tsolum River Watershed - River Resilience in the 21st Century"
We will learn about the history of the river and the current issues effect its health, including drought, flooding and invasive species. Laura will also touch on the hope for the future of the Tsolum with the return of pinks and the establishment of new conservation connections.
Laura is a leader on the TRRS Outreach Committee which participates in many public events to celebrate the River and watershed, develop community connections, share information and raise awareness. The Committee is also actively involved in bringing watershed education to local schools. Sharing her love of the Tsolum with others and encouraging them to be active stewards of our unique watersheds and our beautiful Valley are among her favourite pursuits .
Laura O’Brien was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, loves water, writing and the natural world. She has lived in the Comox Valley since 1994 and on the Tsolum River for almost 25 years.
#tsolumriverrestorationsociety #watershed #comoxvalley #comoxvalleyconservationpartnership
Comox Valley Nature's Photo group got together again this week to share some of their recent or finest photos with each other and now it is time to share some of the best with you. One shot from each participant and their stories are shown in the post.
Nature Trust of British Columbia is calling for volunteers to help plant trees at the Lazo Marsh Wildlife Management Area on Monday, January 19th.The West Coast Conservation Land Management Program of Nature Trust BC manages this important conservation area in Comox. Their plan this month is to plant 330 native trees and shrubs in the area. This work is the continuation of a large scale restoration project that began in 2025 and treated over 1.5 hectares of Himalayan blackberry and Scotch broom. The selected area for planting native species is roughly 0.5 hectares.
Please contact the event leader, Geoff Stathers,at in advance so he knows how many volunteers to expect and for answers to any questions you may have.
Geoff estimates that with enough volunteers the job can be done in one day.
Meet at the Meet at the North end of Torrence Rd. , at 11:00 a.m. on January 19. (park between the soccer field and the public works yard)at 11:00 a.m. on January 19.
Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Bring a suitable planting shovel, as well as gloves, a water bottle and snacks.
#lazomarsh #comoxvalleynature #volunteer #treeplanting #nativeplants
We are excited to have Jack Bindernagel leading our first botany walk of the New Year.Jack is a recent graduate of the University of Victoria biology program who is originally from Courtenay BC. His areas of interest include vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, birds, fish, and insects. Over the past 3 summers he travelled across the province documenting these groups (and others) with the BC Biodiversity Program.
We will be looking at mosses and signs of winter growth. Since Jack calls himself "a reformed birder with a plant problem" there should be lots to discover and discuss.
Please dress for the weather, and wear layers as we will be not be moving quickly.
More details on exact meet up location to follow upon registration.
These walks are free to the public, however donations are gratefully accepted.
Please do not come if you have symptoms of a contagious disease or a cold. And leave your pet home. Thank you for your consideration.
Register at
#winterbotany #mosses #dicranum
#comoxvalleynature #comoxvalley
#bcbiodiversity
BC Nature stands in strong opposition to Bill M216, the Professional Reliance Act.This legislation would remove municipal environmental oversight, privatize regulatory responsibility, and allow environmental assessments to be approved based on the judgment of one hired consultant, without independent or local review. Such a framework places ecosystems at immediate risk. Wetlands, salmon streams, riparian corridors, shorelines, and old-growth-connected habitats could be approved for development even when environmental concerns have not been fully assessed.
Once habitat is lost, we cannot reverse it. Once pollution enters a watershed, we cannot pull it back. Bill M216 invites irreversible harm — quickly, quietly, and without accountability.
Environmental protection must remain a public responsibility grounded in science, transparency, and community review. Removing local authority weakens the safeguards British Columbia relies on for climate resilience, biodiversity stability, and responsible land stewardship.
BC Nature has formally activated our province-wide network of nature clubs, conservation partners, members, and supporters. We are urging British Columbians to speak out now, while decisions can still be influenced.
Public feedback can be submitted here: consultation-portal.leg.bc.ca/consultations/154
All feedback must be submitted by 3 p.m. PT on January 6, 2026
for more information, and to find letter template links visit bcnature.org/bc-nature-stance-on-bill-m216-professional-reliance-act/
#bcnature #CVCP #comoxvalley #comoxvalleynature #environmentalprotection
Category Archives: Articles
New article: Hybrid swans
In the last couple of decades you might have seen reports of some hybrid swans (Mute Swan x Trumpter Swan) in our region. In her latest long-form article, CVN member Véronique McIntyre collects those reports and delves into the behaviour … Continue reading
New article: Life cycle of mosses
CVN member Véronique M. explains in her latest long-form article what the gametophyte and sporophyte forms of a moss are and the roles they play in the sexual reproduction of mosses. As always, she provides her own field photos to … Continue reading
Posted in Articles, Plants and fungi
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New Article: New microorganism and biodiversity in Strathcona Park
A new addition by Loys Maingon to our occasional series of long-form articles examines the implications of the discovery of a microorganism in Strathcona Provincial Park that appears to be new to science. Read this important article here: “Biodiversity and … Continue reading
Posted in Articles, Conservation and Restoration, Ecology, Microorganisms
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New article: All about bunchberries
In the latest in our occasional series of long-form articles, Véronique McIntyre dug deep into the life histories and origins of the herbaceous members of the dogwood genus (Cornus) to find some lessons in anatomy, ecology and evolution. Learn all … Continue reading
Posted in Articles, Ecology, Evolution, Plants and fungi
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New article: A dwarf mistletoe’s story
If you’ve ever wondered about the dwarf mistletoe that you can see parasitizing coniferous trees in our forests, you can find out all about it in the latest addition to our occasional series of long-form articles, as Véronique McIntyre listens … Continue reading
Posted in Articles, Ecology, Evolution, Plants and fungi
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New article: Thermoregulation in sea lions
In a second fascinating long-form article by CVN member Véronique McIntyre, we learn about the why’s and how’s of sea-lion behaviour like that in this photo. Read the article here: “Some Like It Hot: Thermoregulation in Sea Lions“. If you … Continue reading
Article: Taildropper slugs
In a fascinating and amusing article titled “Life Over Limb: Conversation with a Taildropper Slug“, CVN member Véronique McIntyre describes this unusual creature and how and why it manages to sever its own tail section and still survive. Read the … Continue reading
