The Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists recently presented the following webinar, to which CVN members were invited:
Title: Environmental pollution in British Columbia: A short history of chemical conquest Speaker: Dr. Peter Ross Date: Sunday, October 17, 2021
If you missed this event or would like to see it again, CSEB has made the recording available here. To access it you will need to provide your name and email address.
For more information about this talk, see the announcement in our earlier post.
We’ve all been disappointed that the pandemic forced suspension of CVN field trips. The good news is that the CVN Board of Directors decided in October that field trips can now resume with suitable precautions.
Some key points in the new COVID-19 protocol for CVN field trips:
CVN members only
Limited party size
Fully vaccinated participants only
Participants must sign a special waiver on each trip
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 24.
I was over on the west coast last weekend, which was almost as wet as this weekend! While wandering the Wickaninnish beach dunes, I was surprised to see that several dune plants were still in bloom. Of course it is further south than it is here, and balmier, but still…. And while some were still in bloom, others had strewn their seeds about. Not often does one get to observe blooms and seeds at the same time!
Seaside dune habitats are quite rare on the east side of Vancouver Island, having been mostly destroyed by development. There are dune remnants at Goose spit, Point Holmes, Airforce Beach and Tree Island (also known as Sandy Island) in our area, and most of these species can be seen in these places. [Click a photo to enlarge it.]
Yellow sand verbena (Abronia latifolia)
Black knotweed (Polygonum paronychia)
Beach-carrot or beach glehnia (Glehnia littoralis)
Corky seeds of beach-carrot
American sea rocket (Cakile edentula)
Seeds of sea rocket
Sea sandwort (Honkenya peploides)
Kinnikinnick berries (Arctostapholos uva-ursi)
A neat mushroom growing out of the kinnikinnick, looks like a scaber stalk in the genus Leccinum, possibly the manzanita bolete (Leccinum manzanitae)
Large-headed sedge (Carex macrocephala)
Dune view
Posted inPlants and fungi|Comments Off on Dune blooms in mid-October!
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 16.
I’ve seen some spectacular polypores this fall! Those that grow attached to dead trees and fallen logs are often called “bracket fungus” or “conks.” All have pores underneath rather than spines or gills. Here are a few examples of the harder/woody polypore types (not including turkey tails and other polypores that are more thin and delicate). [Click a photo to enlarge it.]
Please let me know if any of these are misidentified,
Dyer’s polypore (Phaeolus schweinitzii) – Miracle Beach Park
Rosy polypore (Rhodofomes cajanderi) – Robert’s Lake area, north of Campbell River
Red-belt polypore complex (genus Fomitopsis) – Miracle Beach Park
West coast reishi or varnish conk (Ganoderma oregonense) – This one is quite decayed…with a licorice slug eating it, Miracle Beach Park
Artist’s bracket fungus (Ganoderma applanatum) – Miracle Beach Park
Hoof or tinder polypore (Fomes fomentarius) – On a fallen big-leaf maple, Miracle Beach Park
Willow bracket (Phellinus igniarius) – Growing on the willows at my Mom’s property, Miracle Beach area
Bondarzew’s polypore (Bondarzewia occidentalis) – From the Shepherd’s Creek trail near the Ralph River Campground, Strathcona Park
Top view of Bondarzew’s
Pine polypore (Porodaedalea pini) – On a mountain hemlock, from a ski last winter near Helen Mackenzie Lake
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on October 10.
This is always a good time of year for moss watching (especially after the rain). Two members have sent links to interesting moss-related articles, and I’ve included a few random photos of common mosses to get you in the mood! Look out for “moss man” when in the woods.
This article about a Canada-wide community science project is contributed to our website (and other outlets) by Karen Vanderwolf, a PhD student at Trent University and Research Associate at New Brunswick Museum. A more detailed article will appear in CVN’s November newsletter.
If you have a bat box, scientists want to know about it!
Bats in Canada face multiple threats from habitat loss and disease. A bat box is a simple way to provide additional roosting habitat for bats, yet little is known about bat box use in Canada. Information on bat box use is especially important as three bat species in Canada are listed as endangered: little brown bats, northern long-eared bats, and tricolored bats.
If you have a bat box and would like to participate in this study, please fill out this online multiple-choice survey with questions about your bat box. Your participation is important even if your box does not have any bats!
This project is in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Canadian Wildlife Federation. More information on the project is posted here and here.
The Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists is hosting a free online lecture as follows:
Title: Environmental pollution in British Columbia: A short history of chemical conquest Speaker: Dr. Peter Ross Date: Sunday, October 17, 2021 Time: 7:00 p.m. PT
This talk is open to CVN members and the public (see the registration link below).
Photo by Michael Snyder
Canada enjoys the longest coastline in the world, with 229,000 km spanning three oceans. This raises fundamental questions about how best to understand, let alone protect, marine biota from the complex blend of chemicals used, lost, or disposed of, in consumer or industry activities. With an estimated 500,000 chemicals on the market, this is a daunting challenge for scientists, regulators and resource managers.
Considering that 80% of ocean pollutants originate from land, the generation of data that helps us track contaminants back to their source will underpin solution initiatives. The Raincoast Conservation Foundation is now launching a new community-oriented water pollution program – Healthy Waters – that will track priority pollutants from land to sea. This will address a gap in regulatory and jurisdictional boundaries, and enable Indigenous Nations and communities to better manage pollutants within their area of interest and beyond.
Dr. Ross will provide a short history of pollution in British Columbia, and present examples of topical concerns including hydrocarbons, PCBs and microplastics, all under the mantra of healthy salmon, whales and people.
Dr. Peter S. Ross is a Senior Scientist at Raincoast Conservation Foundation in British Columbia, where he is launching a new initiative: the Healthy Waters Program.
He is an internationally recognized ocean pollution expert, having published over 160 scientific articles and book chapters on the fate and effects of a variety of pollutants of concern in the world’s oceans. He is a frequent advisor to conservation teams in different parts of the world, and has provided advice in support of chemical regulation, species at risk, ocean disposal and ocean health. He has long valued his partnerships with Indigenous communities working in support of safe traditional seafoods.
Dr. Ross is an Adjunct Professor at UBC Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, and at the UVic School for Environmental Studies. He recently served as the Vice-President of Research at Ocean Wise, where he founded the Ocean Pollution Research Program, launched PollutionTracker and the Plastics Lab, a dedicated high resolution facility working with industry, government agencies and academia on microplastic pollution. Prior to that, he served for 16 years as a federal Research Scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. His work with priority pollutants and microplastics has led to numerous invitations to advise industry, government, the G7, the European Union, and the OECD.
“Seating capacity” for this webinar is limited, and you will need to register in advance. You can check the computer requirements for attendees here.
Comox Valley Nature recently presented the following webinar, facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists:
Title: Western redcedar dieback and community science in the Pacific Northwest Speaker: Dr. Joseph Hulbert Date: Sunday, September 19, 2021
If you missed this event or would like to see it again, CSEB has now made the recording available here. To access it you will need to provide your name and email address.
For more information about this talk, see the announcement in our earlier post.
Posted inEcology, Guest Speakers|Comments Off on Recording available for redcedar dieback talk
From an email by Jocie to the Botany Group on September 15.
Here are a few photos from a hike I did up Mt. Becher with Mandy a few weeks ago. Some wonderful colours starting and lots of interesting plants though most of the summer blooms are over. [Click a photo to enlarge it.]
Colour mix (mountain ash, blueberries, heather). Photo by Mandy V.
Sitka mountain-ash (Sorbus sitchensis)
Fringed grass-of-parnassis (Parnassia fimbriata)
Mountain mare’s-tail (Hippuris montana)
False asphodel (Tofieldia glutinosa): very bright red seedheads!
Alpine alumroot (Heuchera glabra)
View of Mt. Drabble (right) and Indianhead (left) with Mt. Washington beyond. Photo by Mandy V.
The Strathcona Wilderness Institute recently presented the following two webinars, to which CVN members and the general public were invited:
Title: Investigating White Pine Blister Rust in Strathcona Park Speaker: Kaitlyn Kuzma-Wells Date: Sunday, September 5, 2021
Title: Notable Flora of Strathcona Park Speaker: Eva Ullstrom Date: Sunday, September 12, 2021
These webinars were facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists. If you missed these events or would like to see them again, the recordings are now available to stream from CSEB. Use the following links to access them (you will need to provide your name and email address):
To celebrate our 60th anniversary we invite you to come for a guided stroll on the Courtenay Riverway Heritage Walk with a member of Comox Valley Nature on April 24, 10 am -noon. Learn about the history of this area, including how the former sewage lagoon has become one of the most popular walking spots in the Comox Valley. Check out the restoration work that has replaced invasive plant species and added more native plants, shrubs and trees that is being done by Comox Valley Nature in partnership with the City of Courtenay. Hear why invasive plant species are so damaging to the ecosystems. Enjoy the view from the "lookout" over the estuary and be reminded how important the estuary is to the web of life.REGISTRATION required on our events page cvnature.ca/events An easy 1 km walk on a wheelchair accessible paved path. Dress for the weather and bring a water bottle Sorry, no dogs. This event is free, but donations are welcome.For more information, add your name to a wait list or to cancel your reservation email: . ... See MoreSee Less
To celebrate our 60th anniversary Comox Valley Nature is offering this opportunity to get together with knowledgeable birders to share skills and learn more about birding in the Comox Valley.This outing is designed for beginners, but birders of all levels are welcome. Experienced birders will help with identifying species, equipment, useful apps, and field guides. Both CVN members and the public are welcome on this walk at the Courtenay Airpark which will be on a wide smooth pathway for about 2km round trip. Bring binoculars if you have them. Dress for the weather. Warm clothing necessary – it’s often windy there! Please leave pets at home.Register through our events page at This event is free. Donations welcome.#birding#comoxvalley#iba#courtenay airpark ... See MoreSee Less
To celebrate our 60th anniversary we offer this opportunity to learn more about Garry oaks in the Comox Valley.Vanier Nature Park is home to a small grove of Garry oak trees which is being stewarded by Comox Valley Nature. These oaks are at the northern extent of their range, and are a remnant of a culturally modified ecosystem that once covered 160 square kilometres in the Comox ValleyThis walk will be lead by Geologist Bob Hauser and Forester Terry Lewis. They have spent many hours in the park removing invasive holly. Terry and Bob will look at the work in progress in the grove and share their unique perspective on this forest, with a focus on soil science and tree species.The Vanier Nature Park project is being co-managed by Comox Valley Nature and the City of Courtenay with funding from the City of Courtenay, BC Nature and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. Registration required through The walk is partially on level ground with some gentle to moderate uphill walking on a forest trail that has some uneven footing. No dogs please.For more information, to add your name to a wait list or to cancel your reservation, email: Details of the meeting place will be sent to registrants. Please be at the meeting spot at least 10 minutes before the walk starts to sign in. ... See MoreSee Less
