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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
Winter fungi review, part 1
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on February 4. Click a photo to enlarge it. The recent mild and wet winter weather has yielded some winter fungi (some of these aren’t exclusive to winter). Here are a … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Learn about tidal marsh plant communities and effects of goose grazing
Comox Valley Nature is pleased to host the following free online lecture: Title: Changes in Salish Sea tidal marsh plant communities, with or without grazing by Canada geeseSpeaker: Stefanie LaneDate: Sunday, February 12, 2023Time: 7:00 p.m. PT This webinar is … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Guest Speakers, Plants and fungi, Shoreline and Marine
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Winter at Miracle Beach
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on December 31. Click a photo to enlarge it. Here are a few wintery photos from Miracle Beach Provincial Park. 1. Black Creek view. 2. Cones of western red cedar. 3. Cones … Continue reading
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Bear Creek fall botany
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on December 4. Click a photo to enlarge it. We snuck in a walk at Bear Creek Regional Park last week (Nov. 26) just before the recent snowfall. It was a … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Colourful coral fungus!
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on November 24. Click a photo to enlarge it. Here are photos of a lovely red/pink coral fungus that I think you will all enjoy. The below message and photos are … Continue reading
Posted in Plants and fungi
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Miracle Beach part 2: Mosses plus
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on November 13. Click a photo to enlarge it. Here is part 2 from our Miracle Beach outing on November 7: mosses and a taildropper slug. Thanks Veronique, Alison and Karen … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Miracle Beach part 1: Fungi
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on November 13. Click a photo to enlarge it. We saw a wealth of things at Miracle Beach Park on November 7. Here’s Part 1, the fungi (mosses are coming up … Continue reading
Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi
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Magical fungi!
From an email by Jocie distributed to the Botany Group on November 12. Click a photo to enlarge it. Some fungi are appearing, though so scarce compared to a “typical year”—whatever that is! Here are a few photos sent in … Continue reading
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Fungi from Strathcona Park
This report by Alison M. was distributed to the Botany Group by Jocie on November 5. Click a photo to enlarge it. In the last week of October we have been into three locations in the Park in the hopes … Continue reading
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Botany highlights from upper Puntledge trails
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 29. Click a photo to enlarge it. Last Saturday we walked along the east side of the upper Puntledge River trails. We took a look at the bog, and … Continue reading
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