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Join Birds Canada at 4 pm Pacific tomorrow to learn how to garden with birds in mind:Sweet, sweet, sweet, I’m so sweet – “Oh, listen, a Yellow Warbler! Maybe the pair is nesting in that Pacific Willow”.“That Eastern Red Elderberry is amazing. I’ve seen hummingbirds and insects visiting the flowers, flycatchers foraging on those same insects, and Cedar Waxwings are enjoying the berries now!”
“The bluebirds are back at the water, taking a bath this time. I haven’t seen them for years!”
Does this sound like a birdwatching vacation to you? Or a trip to a local natural area? Or does it sound like something you might say around your own home? If you think that last suggestion sounds far-fetched, consider that a small, urban backyard in Toronto, ON, has hosted over 110 species of birds throughout the years. The secret? Gardening for birds.
Join Birds Canada’s biologists Natasha Barlow and Gregor Beck, and Expert Gardener and Ecologist Kevin Kavanagh tomorrow, Thursday June 17th at 7PM EST for a webinar on Facebook live: www.facebook.com/birdscanada/live. No registration or Facebook account required. You will receive practical ideas for designing a nature-focused garden that's beneficial to birds, and learn how your garden can become part of a larger conservation initiative to help address biodiversity loss! In the meantime, start gardening for birds today by visiting BirdGardens.ca.
2021 CVN Tree of the Year Winner Announced!For the first time in the history of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society, the annual “Tree of the Year” has been chosen by public vote instead of by committee. The contest, inspired by European tradition and now in its fourth year, fosters a strong connection with nature by highlighting local trees that are cherished by the residents of the Comox Valley.
This year’s winning tree, nominated by Ted Grainger, is a western yew, located in the Cumberland Community Forest. Coming in a close second is a bigleaf maple, found in Morrison Creek Park. Praised for its size and the swing in its branches, the maple was put forward for nomination by Marion Dulude’s Grade 6 class at École Puntledge Park. “Both are iconic trees for this area and have great but different stories attached to them,” says Karen Cummins, one of the organizers of the event.
The western yew (Latin name, Taxus brevifolia or Nuxalk name, kuts’ulhkwis) is a species of tree in the yew family Taxaceae and is native to the Pacific Northwest. Taxus is the Latin word for "bow"; because yew wood is strong and stiff, it has been an important resource for coastal First Nations for millennia.
Nominated for its poetic beauty, this western yew symbolizes how community efforts, like fundraising and raising awareness, can protect and preserve threatened forests. Growing on a northwest-facing slope, just past the information kiosk, it is surrounded by artifacts from the former inhabitants of the historic Cumberland Chinatown.
“When you first see this tree, the smooth bark looks like a gnarly, twisted arbutus, but the outer foliage reveals it to be a yew tree. Its shape suggests a life of struggle and tenacity, but it is beautiful nonetheless,” says Ted Grainger, winner of this year’s gift basket and a painting by Sharon Niscak.
As conifers that produce berries yew trees are unusual; this year’s winning yew is even more unique because of its expanse of exposed roots and wide branches. Approximately 9 meters wide and almost as tall, the squat and multiple leader form indicates that the yew has grown in the shady understory and been shaped by the succession of the 80-100-year-old forest. This spectacular tree has grown with and around a cherry tree and is extremely slow growing. The papery, red bark - peeling and shredding on the trees many stems - while typical of this medicinal tree when it is not covered in moss, nonetheless sets it apart from the neighbouring trees.
Thanks to the passion and perseverance of Cumberland Community Forest Society, this western yew is one of the thousands of trees in over 500 acres of mature forests that have been protected. CVN encourages everybody to go out and experience these beautiful and important trees firsthand. According to Suzanne Gravelle “The list and location map will remain on the CVN website so the community can still tour and honour all the trees.”
The 2021 contest is dedicated to Cathy Storey. Her legacy is a testament to the CNV motto “to know nature and keep it worth knowing.”
By Kerri Scott Bell
For more information go to comoxvalleynaturalists.bc.ca/
Although this webinar is focused on the east coast many of the principles and strategiesare relevant to restoration discussions on living shorelines in our region. It may be of interest to our
Shoreline group and Wetland restoration members and anyone concerned with climate change. It is
helpful to read the fact sheet about non native Phragmites and Spartina anglica in the
Salish Sea. Four species of Spartina are invasive in the Pacific Northwest. Spartina anglica
is the most widespread. This species grows and spreads rapidly in the intertidal zone
displacing native plant species such as eelgrass (Zostera marina), but also changing the very
nature of the habitat.
One of the positive developments in the CoVid scenario is the increase of interesting and
educational webinars available on Youtube.
Understanding Climate Change and Wetlands
youtube.com
In a webinar hosted by New York Restoration Project, wetlands expert Dr. Judith S. Weis, professor emerita at Rutgers University, Newark presents on the thre...