On October 14, the Botany Group explored part of the very pleasant Mama Bear Trail in Cumberland Community Forest. The focus of the trip was on the lush ferns and mosses, as well as the early fungi that the recent rains had brought out.
You can download co-leader Véronique’s photographic guide to many of the species seen on this trip here (PDF, 12 MB).
Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:
Report by Yvette Crane, co-leader of the Shoreline Group.
The Shoreline and Marine Group of CVN enjoyed several wonderful field trips this season. Here is a highlight from our trip to Quinsam River Hatchery and hike along the Quinsam nature trail on September 9.
We were able to view black bears catching salmon at both the hatchery fence and downstream.
This bear studied our group carefully before venturing into the river to get her salmon. Our guide, Kyle Fitzpatrick from Greenways Land Trust, explained that when fish are this plentiful, the bears will selectively eat the most nutritious parts of the salmon—the brains and internal organs.
Thanks to Kathleen Wilkinson for these photos from one of our most memorable Shoreline & Marine moments in 2025.
Comox Valley Nature invites its members and the public to CVN’s November general meeting. where you can hear the following keynote presentation by our guest speakers:
Title: Sea Star Wasting Disease Monitoring on the BC Coast
Speakers: Carolyn Prentice and Ondine Pontier (Hakai Institute)
Date: Sunday, November 23, 2025
Time: 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox
Carolyn and Ondine will present on some of the work their team at the Hakai Institute does monitoring sea star wasting disease along the BC coast. They will provide an overview of what sea star wasting disease is and what has happened since the initial outbreak over 10 years ago, including the recent discovery of the causative agent of the disease.
Carolyn Prentice completed an undergraduate degree in Biology at UBC as well as a Masters in Resource Management at SFU and has been working at the Hakai Institute on Quadra Island full time since 2018. Most of her work uses field surveys and genetic techniques to better understand drivers of change in nearshore ecosystems such as seagrass meadows and rocky intertidal ecosystems. She currently runs the Biodiversity and Sentinels of Change Lab on Quadra Island.
Ondine Pontier also completed her undergraduate in Biology at UBC and has been working at the Hakai Institute on Quadra Island since 2014. She is a scientific and commercial diver and has spent many hours underwater working in kelp forests and other nearshore ecosystems. She currently runs the kelp monitoring program at the Hakai Institute working with many partners along the BC coast to understand how giant kelp and bull kelp are responding to changing ocean conditions.
After the keynote presentation there will be a break with coffee/tea, goodies and socializing, followed by the business part of the meeting. This consists mainly of brief reports from our interest groups and projects, an opportunity for guests to learn more about what we do.
The NatureKidsBC Comox Valley Club is looking for a Volunteer Club Leader! Join their amazing volunteer team of over 65 passionate nature leaders from across British Columbia! Working alone or with co-leaders, Nature Club Leaders organize and deliver Explorer Days for children and their families across the province and go out of their way to educate and inspire our youth members about nature.
As a club leader, your primary responsibility is to organize outdoor field trips called Explorer Days (1 to 2 hour activities in nature). If you share our passion for connecting kids with nature, enjoy organizing activities, and can help plan about 8 Explorer Days a year, this is perfect for you! NatureKidsBC provides training, support and liability insurance.
The volunteer club leaders receive many exciting perks including professional development training, networking opportunities, access to outdoor education resources and much more!
To volunteer or for more information, email Katelyn Bissat at NatureKidsBC headquarters.
The Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR) has launched a Conditional Pledge Drive to help secure the remaining 24.8% of the $30,000,000 goal to acquire the ecologically vital 360-hectare Hamilton Marsh and Forest.
Hamilton Marsh is one of the last remaining large wetlands on Vancouver Island, a haven for countless species of birds, amphibians, and native plants. Among its most secretive residents is the blue-listed American Bittern – a master of camouflage whose survival depends on the health of large wetlands. Protecting Hamilton Marsh and Forest will support the stability of the threatened French Creek watershed, and ensure preservation of one of the most critical natural ecosystems within the MABR.
Through fundraising efforts that include donations and pledges from the community, MABR needs to raise the remaining $7,450,000.000 before November 18 in order for the Regional District of Nanaimo to purchase the lands. Help build a lasting Nature Legacy in the MABR by submitting a Conditional Pledge today.
Read the full news release here (PDF, 409 KB). Full instructions for making a pledge are given there.
“Conditional” means that your pledged amount is collected only if the acquisition deal is successful. Pledged funds will not be collected until 2026.
Enjoy an afternoon of music to celebrate wildlife and support MARS Wildlife Rescue!
Saturday, November 15th, 2:30 p.m.
Comox United Church in Comox, 250 Beach Dr.
Doors open at 2 p.m.
Concert followed by wine, cheese, and refreshments.
Meet a MARS ambassador bird and learn more about the work at MARS.
Most of all, enjoy stellar vocal and instrumental performances of classical, jazz, and pop music featuring:
Christine Constabel & Antonia Mahon – Flute Duo Indigo Jazz Trio – Dale Graham (vocals), Rick Husband (guitar) & John Hyde (bass) Orlando Weibe – Piano & Vocals Crown Isle Piano Duo – Michelle Stewart & Alistair Taylor Austin Diotte-Turner – Vocalist Rachel Cooper – Clarinet / Sax with guests Jeff Agopsowicz (trombone) and Dave Lymburner (trumpet) Mindy Wise – Vocalist
As a bonus, local wildlife photographer, Bruce Moffat, will share his enchanting photos of local birds.
Tickets: $35 Adults / $15 Youth 13 & under
Available at Blue Heron Books, Benjamin Moore House of Color,
and on the MARS website.
The Strathcona Wilderness Institute recently hosted the following online presentation, facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists:
Title: Slime Moulds of Strathcona Provincial Park 2025
Speaker: Zeke Gilmour
Date: Monday, September 29, 2025
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.
Comox Valley Nature invites its members and the public to CVN’s October general meeting. where you can hear the following keynote presentation by our guest speaker:
Title: Bioblitzes and rare plants: Keeping current on BC plant diversity
Speaker: Dr. Gerry Allen
Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
Time: 3:00 p.m. PT
Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox
BC has the highest plant diversity in Canada due to the high diversity of ecosystems. The BC Conservation Data Centre maintains a complete and regularly revised list of all plant species in the province (whether common or rare, native or not). However, we want to know more than just the list. Where are species found? In what habitats? Are they getting more common or less? Bioblitzes (concentrated searches for species in a particular time and place) provide new information, especially for less well-known groups like mosses and lichens. Dr. Allen will describe some plant biodiversity results from recent bioblitzes on Calvert and Quadra islands. She will also discuss rare species, which typically require more targeted searches. An example is the discovery of many new populations of the currently threatened Hibberson’s trillium (Trillium hibbersonii). Continuing field observations by knowledgeable observers are an essential part of these discoveries and are critical to keeping diversity assessments current.
Dr. Gerry Allen is a retired professor of biology but continues working on a number of ongoing projects. Her research is broadly focused on the evolution, ecology and conservation biology of plants. Current and recent projects in her lab include the ecology of arctic-alpine plants, especially migration in response to postglacial climate change, and the reproductive ecology of rare plants. She was also the curator of the University of Victoria Herbarium for many years.
This will be a hybrid meeting (in-person and videoconference). We encourage members and the public to attend the in-person meeting. Members (only) who cannot attend can participate via videoconference. The link to join the Zoom meeting will be sent to members by email before the meeting.
After the keynote presentation there will be a break with coffee/tea, goodies and socializing, followed by the business part of the meeting. This consists mainly of brief reports from our interest groups and projects, an opportunity for guests to learn more about what we do.
Comox Valley Nature hosted the following presentation at our September 2025 general meeting:
Title: 2024 – A Big Year: One birder’s attempt to see more birds on Vancouver Island in a single year than ever before
Speaker: Liam Ragan (BC Nature and Rocky Point Bird Observatory)
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
If you missed this event or would like to see it again, a recording is available here (MP4, 107 MB if downloaded).
For more information about this talk, see the announcement in our earlier post.
CVN members and the general public are invited to attend the following free online lecture hosted by the Strathcona Wilderness Institute, and facilitated by the Canadian Society of Environmental Biologists:
Title: Slime Moulds of Strathcona Provincial Park 2025
Speaker: Zeke Gilmour
Date: Monday, September 29, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m. PT
See the registration link below.
This presentation will focus on the progress made in 2025 on studying and cataloging the slime moulds in Strathcona Park, including select species of interest and diversity projections for the future.
This summer, Zeke Gilmour was a Research Student at Strathcona Wilderness Institute.
“Seating capacity” for the talk is limited, and you need to register in advance. You can check the computer requirements for attendees here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the webinar.
