CVN Facebook Posts
Help a Toad to cross the road!
Dont miss these upcoming presentations, giving insight into wildlife rehabilitation, bird intelligence and the lives of coastal wolves:
Reporting wildfire sightings is easier with the BC Wildfire Service App:With the BC Wildfire Service app, you can quickly report wildfires electronically - even in areas with limited cell coverage. Click on the report button, prepare your report offline and your report will automatically go to the Provincial Wildfire Reporting Centre when you’re back in service.Our mobile app is free to download on both Apple and Android devices.
iOS: apps.apple.com/us/app/bc-wildfire-service/id1477675008
Google play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.bc.gov.WildfireInformation&pcampaignid=web_share
Interesting and helpful advice from John Neilson and the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Stewards :Recently, BCWS has been made aware of two incidents of soapy water at the Brooklyn Creek fish ladder (see picture taken July 2nd). This has likely resulted from a release of a detergent into the stream, possibly from car washing or moss removal on roofs.As readers know, Pacific salmon are found in Brooklyn Creek every day of the year, and there certainly is no “safe” time to release detergents or other pollutants into the storm water system that connects with the Creek. Release of any deleterious substance into salmon bearing streams is contrary to the Fisheries Act, and subject to fines. Soapy water can impact young salmon by damaging their gills or skin.
In addition to posing a threat to our salmon populations, soapy water may also indicate that some people are still washing cars, which as of June 23, is not permitted under Stage 3 water restrictions. Once car washing is again allowed, consider washing on a lawn, rather than a hard surface. This simple method can greatly reduce the amount of soapy water entering the storm water system.
Thank you for considering the health of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed.
Dr. John Neilson, President BCWS
Sophia Priestman, a graduate of Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School, is the 2026 recipient of the CVN Bursary. Our $1000 bursary was presented to her at the school’s awards ceremony on May 28.Sophia graduates with straight A grades. She made extensive contributions to the Environment Club throughout her career at Isfeld, taking on the president’s role in grades 11 and 12. She was also very involved in the Model UN Program, and participated in other school clubs and sports.
Outside school, Sophia has volunteered with Anderton Therapeutic Garden and with Lush Valley for several years. At 12 years old she was offered a job by five vendors at the Farmer’s Market and chose Alderlane Bakery where she is in her sixth year of employment. She also has helped out at Pendleton Farm.
Sophia has been accepted at the University of Victoria where she will pursue a dual major in Environmental Studies and Economics with a minor in Applied Ethics. Of this somewhat unusual combination of disciplines, Sophia says:
This variety of disciplines will allow me to see complex political and environmental issues from multiple perspectives and find innovative solutions that both foster sustainability and ensure welfare for all (human and non-human alike).
Congratulations, Sophia!
Category Archives: Plants and fungi
Botany at Tsolum floodplain trails, March 2024
The Botany/Mycology Group had a well-attended field trip on March 12 to the Tsolum River floodplain trails adjacent to the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds to see signs of early spring growth. The new leaders of the group, Véronique M. and … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Learning material, Plants and fungi
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Recording for talk on seed-based restoration
Comox Valley Nature recently hosted the following webinar, facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Seed-based Restoration for Urban Settings on Vancouver IslandSpeaker: Kristen Miskelly (Satinflower Nurseries)Date: Sunday, February 18, 2024 If you missed this event or would … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers, Plants and fungi
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Winter 2023-24 fungi review, part 2
Jocie says “Now that you’ve all digested part 1, here’s part 2 of Alison’s late fall & winter fungi review: the fabulous Polypores!”Click a photo to enlarge it. Notes on polypore fungi in the Comox Valley, late fall into winter … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Winter 2023-24 fungi review, part 1
Report by Alison M. circulated to the Botany/Mycology Group on January 26. Watch for part 2 (polypores) coming later. Click a photo to enlarge it. Notes on colourful fungi in the Comox Valley, late fall into winter 2023-2024 To add … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Kitty Coleman fungi (fall 2023)
From an email by Jocie to the Botany/Mycology Group on January 4. Catching up from our November 23 outing to Kitty Coleman Provincial Park…. We found a wealth of fungi — it was quite a treasure hunt. Joy said that the excitement level … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Learn about seed-based restoration for urban settings
Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to the following free online lecture presented by CVN and facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Seed-based Restoration for Urban Settings on Vancouver IslandSpeakers: Kristen Miskelly (Satinflower … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Guest Speakers, Plants and fungi
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Recording for talk on Vanier Garry oak restoration
Comox Valley Nature recently hosted the following webinar, facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Conserving and Restoring a Legacy: Vanier Forest Garry Oak Restoration ProjectSpeakers: Jim Boulter, Karen Cummins, Eloise HollandDate: Sunday, January 21, 2024 If you … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Ecology, Guest Speakers, Plants and fungi
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Learn about restoring Garry oaks in Vanier Forest
Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to the following free online lecture presented by CVN and facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists: Title: Conserving and Restoring a Legacy: Vanier Forest Garry Oak Restoration ProjectSpeakers: … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation and Restoration, Ecology, Guest Speakers, Plants and fungi
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Purple fungi
From an email by Jocie to the Botany/Mycology Group on November 22. Click a photo to enlarge it. Here are a few examples of colourful purple-tinged fungi recently seen:
Posted in Plants and fungi
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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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