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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
Paradise Meadows – spring 2023
Notes and photos by Alison M. distributed by email to the Botany Group on June 18. Click a photo to enlarge it. The main Boardwalk loop in Paradise Meadows is now clear of snow. The abnormally hot weather in May … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Cumberland Marsh botany highlights
From an email by Jocie to the Botany/Mycology Group on May 17. Click a photo to enlarge it. Last week we took a walk along Cumberland Marsh from Jumbo’s cabin to the coal hills above the old Japanese townsite. Many … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Roy Morrison Nature Park walk
From an email by Jocie to the Botany/Mycology Group on April 19. Click a photo to enlarge it. We had a wet and cold walk in Roy Morrison Nature Park on Monday April 17 (should I have canceled?) Nonetheless, 7 … Continue reading
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Spring botany notes
Notes and photos by Alison M. distributed to the Botany/Mycology Group on April 13. Click a photo to enlarge it. Spring is a little slow again this year! A few of our early flowers are reluctantly appearing… On Tuesday at … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Kitty Coleman botany highlights
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on March 18. Click a photo to enlarge it. We had a brilliant sunny day for our March 13 walk at Kitty Coleman Beach Provincial Park, and thanks to Robbie we … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Insects and spiders, Plants and fungi
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Guide to lichens of Strathcona Park published
Loys Maingon’s lichen field guide for Strathcona Park is now available! Loys is a Registered Professional Biologist (retired) and the research director of Strathcona Wilderness Institute (SWI). He is also a former president of Comox Valley Nature. Field Guide to … Continue reading
Posted in News, Plants and fungi
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Upper Puntledge botany and fungi notes
This report by Alison M. was distributed to the Botany Group by Jocie on March 4. Click a photo to enlarge it. On February 11 we walked down the south side of the Puntledge River from the dam. Too early … Continue reading
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Botany walk at Roy Morrison Nature Park
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on February 19. Click a photo to enlarge it. We had a good walk around Roy Morrison Nature Park on February 13, seeing many wonderful things. We focused mainly on winter … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Insects and spiders, Plants and fungi
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Recording for talk on tidal marsh plant communities and goose grazing
Comox Valley Nature, facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists, recently presented the following webinar: Title: Changes in Salish Sea tidal marsh plant communities, with or without grazing by Canada geeseSpeaker: Stefanie LaneDate: Sunday, February 12, 2023 If you … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Guest Speakers, Plants and fungi, Shoreline and Marine
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Winter fungi (and a slime mould), part 2
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on February 4. Click a photo to enlarge it. Here is “Part 2” of winter fungi. Some of these are a review of those that we saw on the January walk (so … Continue reading
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