CVN Facebook Posts
Drawing on the Salish Sea: A Zoom course in support of the Mitlenatch Island Stewardship Team (MIST)Have you wished that you could keep a nature journal or paint the life around you? During three Zoom sessions you can explore how to quickly capture wildflowers, inter-tidal life and birds You’ll learn how to draw quickly and accurately, starting with simple shapes, then using some refining techniques, which will help you draw with less frustration!You’ll look at materials: papers, pens, and coloured mediums like pencil crayons. Then you’ll jump into watercolours with a simple palette and mixes as well as quick watercolour techniques you can use in the field or at home. All the lessons will be accompanied with downloadable notes.You will finish the course ready to start your own Nature Journal.Zoom recordings will allow you watch the sessions at your convenience during the course and for a month after we wrap up. About Mitlenatch Island:Mitlenatch Island is a small rocky island that sits between Campbell River and Powell River, in the Salish Sea. Cast in the rain shadow of Vancouver Island, its flanks are clad in golden grasses and its meadows host an explosion of spring wildflowers. Anchored where tides rush in from the north and south, rich waters encircling the island teem with fish; intertidal life flourishes and thousands of seabirds nest on cliffs, in rocks, and on open ground. It’s shores provide refuge for mother seals with their pups, and haul out for sea lions in the winter. In recent years Humpbacks have returned to nearby waters, to feed on krill and schooling fish. With so much life, much of it on exposed nesting areas, the island has a special vulnerability. The Mist volunteer wardens are in place for the summer months to welcome people to the island (which is accessible by boat only) and to relate to visitors the natural and human history of the island. For 25 years Alison Watt has spent a week on the island in the summer, as a volunteer warden. Her journals are full of Mitlenatch sketches. She finds it a delight and a privilege to return each year to this jewel of the Salish Sea. MIST is a special organisation which works closely with BC Provincial Parks to ensure that Mitlenatch Island remains a haven for the plants and animals of the Salish Sea.Sign up and donate through www.alisonwatt.ca/drawing-on-the-salish-seaFor more information on Mitlenatch Island visit www.mitlenatch.ca/mitlenatch-island
Comox Valley Nature invites its members and the public to CVN’s October general meeting, where you can hear the following keynote presentation by our guest speaker: Birdbrains – Smarter than you think- with Sandra Milligan Once dismissed as “birdbrains,” birds are now recognized for their remarkable intelligence. Sandra explores the evolution of our understanding of avian neuroanatomy, focusing on local species. Through engaging stories and videos, Sandra explores how birds solve problems, use tools, express empathy, and communicate with rich vocabulary – inviting you to see these creatures with newfound respect and wonder.Sandra Milligan has been teaching university level biology at North Island College for over twenty years. With graduate degrees in neuroscience, she’s now a generalist, naturalist, and lifelong learner. In Campbell River, she’s a recognized environmental advocate and public educator. Her passion for birding has evolved into a deep interest in avian behaviour and intelligence. Drawing on her neuroanatomy background, Sandra has followed the growing research on bird cognition, confirming what many intuitively felt – birds display an extraordinary range of intelligent behaviours. Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 3 pm in the main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox. Members of the public welcome.This will be an in-person only meeting. We will not record the presentation on this occasion [this is a correction to previous information].As always, there will be a break after the presentation with a chance to meet new people and socialize with old friends. Tea, coffee and treats will be available (by donation).A brief meeting follows. Reports from some of our interest groups and projects are an opportunity for guests to learn more about what we do.
It's that time of year! A couple of off leash dogs have been seen romping at the confluence of Morrison Creek and the Puntledge River. Dogs get quite excited to see those big chum. The chum do spawn right at the mouth of the creek, salmon eggs are very sensitive to disturbance so paws, or feet, in the creek kill eggs. Keep your dog on a leash, especially if you do not want a smelly dog! Dogs like to roll in dead fish. Salmon spook, be a quiet calm wildlife paparazzi.
Fish Walk!!! ( Well, not really...but don't miss this chance to follow their journey!)Join the Morrison Creek Streamkeepers for a walk along Morrison Creek, starting at its confluence with the Puntledge River in Puntledge Park, to watch salmon spawning after their remarkable journey back from the ocean. Register here: form.jotform.com/262924316992264
Thanks to community support, a property in Deep Bay is now protected, safeguarding its mature forests, salmon streams and diverse shoreline.Now, we’re helping restore this land so it can regenerate into a healthy forest.Join the Comox Valley land Trust and WolfTree for a hands-on day to rehabilitate the former homestead by planting trees and shrubsIf you'd like to volunteer your time, the work party is Sunday, October 25th, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.Meet at Rosewall creek Provincial Park parking lot at 9:50 to carpool to the deep bay restoration site.See this link or link in bio to register and for more information: www.jotform.com/form/262826298698277
Category Archives: Plants and fungi
Outing: Botany, Harewood Plain, May 7th 2019
Greetings all, On May 27th eight of us were treated to a brilliant display of later spring flowers at Harewood Plains in Nanaimo. Our target was to see the red-listed Hosackia pinnata ( formerly Lotus pinnatus) – bog bird’s foot … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Outing: Botany, Harewood Plain, May 7th 2019
Botany Group Report – April 1st Outing to the Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve
15 of us had a glorious day in the shade of the forested areas, and out in the sun on the old road that skirts around behind the open bluffs (which we avoided because of the extreme aridity). The hot … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Botany Group Report – April 1st Outing to the Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve
Botany Outing Report: April 1 2019
Greetings all, Spring is suddenly upon us. Luise reported that there were goldstars (crocidium multicaule) blooming on Hornby on Sunday 17th; check out Point Holmes, usually one of the earliest spots here on the mainland. The coltsfoot (Petasites palmatus) that … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Botany Outing Report: April 1 2019
Outing: Shoreline and Botany, Miracle Beach, 4th March 2019
Between the Botany group and the Shoreline group, we had a big turnout on a lovely late winter day. Conditions were so great, in fact, that we were hardly bothered by the lack of seaweeds that were supposed to be … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi, Shoreline and Marine
Comments Off on Outing: Shoreline and Botany, Miracle Beach, 4th March 2019
Botany Outing Report: Fungi and Soup, Nov 19th, 2018
Botany Group Report : November 19th Outing Tsolum River Road The range of fungi for later November was still large. Of note we identified many large Russula brevipes – short- footed russula- that heaves up moss, turf, branches etc. ( … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Botany Outing Report: Fungi and Soup, Nov 19th, 2018
Botany Outing Report: Paradise Meadows, Oct 15th, 2018
Report on October 15th walk For those who missed the report at our last general CVN meeting, for the October 15th gathering we had a glorious day to meander around the Paradise Meadows loops, collecting the SWI plant signs to store … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Botany Outing Report: Paradise Meadows, Oct 15th, 2018
Upcoming Botany Group Meeting November 2018
Upcoming Botany group Meeting First of all, our next Gathering will be on Monday November. The forecast at this point seems to call for showers. However, we will have a walk around our woods first to see the latest crop … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Upcoming Botany Group Meeting November 2018
Botany Outing Report: Gabriola, June 11th, 2018
Greetings all, Participants on the trip led by Karin to Gabriola on June 11th reported back on how enjoyable a day they had visiting Berry Point, Gabriola Sands & the Malaspina Galleries at the northwest end of the island, then … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Botany Outing Report: Gabriola, June 11th, 2018
Botany Outing Report: May, 2018
Sorry for the delay in reporting on the Groups’s activities in May. It was a busy month. Since photos are worth more than a thousand of my words, most of this will be in image form. On Friday May 4th … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Botany Outing Report: May, 2018
Botany Outing Report: Kin Beach, April 9th, 2018
Kin Beach It was a cool blustery spring day, but that did not deter two dozen of us spending a productive two hours in the Park under Helen’s guidance. Kin Beach Park has an amazing array of plants with TINY … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
Comments Off on Botany Outing Report: Kin Beach, April 9th, 2018
