Bird Outing Report: Oyster Bay, Sept. 3, 2016

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Krista

Saturday 15 birders went to Oyster Bay on a falling tide for shorebirds. When we arrived the birds did not seem abundant, but with patience, we found 27 species. The weather continued to improve and we had a pleasant morning with a good variety of birds.

Canada Goose
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Black Turnstone
Sanderling
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Common Murre
Rhinoceros Auklet
Bonaparte’s Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Belted Kingfisher
Northwestern Crow
Common Yellowthroat
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow

Posted in Field Trips | Comments Off on Bird Outing Report: Oyster Bay, Sept. 3, 2016

BC Nature eNews, Aug. 2016

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Krista
Upcoming Events
  • Our 2016 FGM will be held in Prince George from September 22 – 25, 2016. The pricing on some FGM items has changed. Visit our website for an updated registration form and read here more information.
  • Our 2017 AGM will be held in Lillooet from May 4 – 7, 2017. Registration forms will be available in our Winter magazine and online in the future. Stay tuned!
Are you BC Nature’s next Secretary?
In late September, the Secretary position in BC Nature’s Executive will become vacant. We are looking for a volunteer who is willing to take up this job. The appointment would be for two years, and may only be renewed twice. As Secretary, you would be a full member and an Officer of BC Nature.The Secretary’s major responsibility would be to take the minutes at Executive meetings (six times/year), Board of Directors meetings (twice/year), and General meetings (twice/year), and, if desired, to participate in the meetings. Two of the Executive meetings and all of the Board and General meetings will take place during conferences that are usually in early May and late September. The other four Executive meetings are done by phone or Skype.

For more information on the position and how to apply, visit our website here.
Issue : 52
Date : August 2016
A chipmunk.
The BCnature Fall 2016 Magazine will be out in September!
However, the Summer 2016 issue of the magazine is still viewable in the “members only” area of our website. If you do not have your password or access name, please email the office for your information (). For those that currently receive the magazine via Canada post mail, your name as it is written on the label and your password (top left corner) are your access to the members only area.
Canada’s freshwater laws need your help!
We have an important opportunity to impact the future of Canada’s freshwater rules and laws. Until August 31, the Government of Canada is looking for input on improving national and environmental regulation, including a potential review of the many laws that govern federal oversight of our waters.

If you would like to have your voice heard, take 5 minutes and submit your views on the importance of enhancing freshwater rules. To learn more or complete the government’s questionnaire, click here.
About Town
Sept 8: The Unique and Curious Kelps of British Columbia w/ Louis Druehl and Nature Vancouver @ UBC Botanical Gardens. Learn more here.

Sept 9: Vancouver’s target of 100% Renewables by 2050: Just Another Pipe Dream? w/ Mark Jaccard @ SFU’s Wosk Centre. Learn more here.

Sept 10: Botanical Drawing of Fruits, Nuts, and Trees @ UBC Botanical Gardens. Learn more here.

Sept 11: Treefest @ Riverview Hospital Grounds. Everyone is welcome to attend! No registration required. Learn more here.

Sept 15: Boss Mosses of the Pacific Northwest w/ Kem Luther and Nature Vancouver @ UBC Botanical Gardens. Learn more here.

Sept 15 – 18: Bamfield Fungus Festival in Bamfield. Learn more here.

Sept 17: Alpine Garden Club of BC Fall Sale @ Floral Hall, Van Dusen Botanical Gardens. Learn more here.

Sept 18: Edmonton Nature Club Pelagic Birding Trip in Ucluelet, BC. Learn more and register here.

Sept 27 – Sept 30: Living Waters Rally @ Musqueam Cultural Centre. Learn more here.

Sept 30 – October 1: Watersheds 2016 Forum @ SFU’s Wosk Centre for Dialogue. Learn more here.
Conservation issues in our province
Ottawa Approves Controversial Chemical for Ocean Oil Spills. Read The Tyee article here.

Earth broke dozens of climate records last year, annual ‘checkup’ shows. Read the CBC article here.

New Public Interest Law Office to Fight B.C.’s Biggest Environmental Battles. Read the DeSmog Canada article here.

More fish escape Skeena fishermen. Read the Terrace Standard article here.

The Blob That Cooked the Pacific. Read the National Geographic article here.
Help #fundbcparks
The Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC (FMCBC) wants your help in documenting problems to highlight the lack of funding for BC’s provincial parks. These problems include things like broken or missing signage, damaged bridges, trail damage (braiding, roots, broken boardwalk), campground problems (outhouses, tent pads, food storage), excessive litter or dumping, motorized vehicle use, and overflowing parking lots.

Here is what the FMCBC wants you to do (as described in the link below):

Step 1: Go for a hike in a BC provincial park.
Step 2: Keep an eye out for any the issues mentioned in the article linked below, or others you see, and take some photos.
Step 3: Email them to and/or tag them on Twitter/Instagram with #fundbcparks. Remember to say which park you were visiting!

You can learn more about this initiative here.
Stay bear safe!
It’s that bear time of year again! Check out this Parks Canada page for more information on how to stay bear safe while out exploring nature or camping.


If you would like to view recent bear (or other wildlife sightings) near you, visit this link for an interactive map.
Posted in BC Nature | Comments Off on BC Nature eNews, Aug. 2016

Bird Outing Report: Oyster Bay, Aug.20,2016

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Krista

Today 14 birders went to Oyster Bay on a falling tide for shorebirds. We had good numbers of shorebirds and overall we saw 30 species of birds. Highlights included good looks at Sanderlings and Baird’s Sandpipers and an unforgettable tussle between two Great Blue Herons which resulted in one dying and being treated as lunch by a Bald Eagle.

Northern Pintail
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Sanderling
Baird’s Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Common Murre
Bonaparte’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Northwestern Crow
Common Raven
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
European Starling
Common Yellowthroat
Song Sparrow
Purple Finch

Posted in Birds | Comments Off on Bird Outing Report: Oyster Bay, Aug.20,2016

Bird Outing Report: Oyster River Park, Aug. 11, 2016

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Krista

Eight birders went to Oyster River Nature Park and the southern half of the Pub to Pub Trail this morning. Highlights were a Northern Shoveler in the river mouth and a Merlin chasing a gull, trying to get it to drop its food.

The following 30 species were seen or heard:

Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Lesser Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Glaucous-winged Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Merlin
Northwestern Crow
Purple Martin
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Spotted Towhee

Posted in Birds | Comments Off on Bird Outing Report: Oyster River Park, Aug. 11, 2016

Bird Outing Report: Oyster Bay, Aug. 4,2016

Posted on August 6, 2016 by Krista

Thirteen birders went to Oyster Bay on a falling tide for shorebirds. The Bay was quite active and we saw 30 species including 10 species of shorebirds. Highlights included good looks at many Least and Western Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs and Long-billed Dowitchers. We also had an Osprey overflight as we were departing.

Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Lesser Yellowlegs
Black Turnstone
Baird’s Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Common Murre
Bonaparte’s Gull
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
Purple Martin
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Goldfinch

Posted in Birds | Comments Off on Bird Outing Report: Oyster Bay, Aug. 4,2016

Botany Outing Report: Puntledge Bog, July 11, 2016

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Krista

On the last Botany Group Walk, July 11th, to the Puntledge Bog, we were treated to a number of spectacularly large examples of white bog orchid in this luxuriant wetland amid the Labrador tea, sweet gale, bog cranberry ( berries large but not yet ripe), western bog-laurel, giant skunk cabbage and a host of other species.

?Other blooms included marsh cinqfoil and sticky false asphodel, and along the trail Scouler’s harebell.

Betty identified the delicate small-branched horsetail as equisetum fluviatile (swamp horsetail) and also 4 sedges : soft-leaved sedge ( Carex disperma), inflated sedge (Carex exsiccate), sawbeak sedge ( Carex stipata) and white beak-rush (Rhynchospora alba).

On July 15th four of us returned to the Ecological Reserve at Sutton Pass, so that Helen could get samples of the sub species of Western St John’s Wort and other plants in the bowl.

Along the roadway this time we saw the western rattlesnake root (Prenanthes alata) in bloom confirming what we had seen on the July 2nd trip. It has a very scruffy off-white flower.

Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi | Comments Off on Botany Outing Report: Puntledge Bog, July 11, 2016

BC Nature eNews, July 2016

Posted on July 23, 2016 by Krista
Upcoming Events
  • Our 2016 FGM will be held in Prince George from September 22 – 25, 2016. The pricing on some FGM items has changed, and the early registration deadline has been extended to August 19th. Visit our website for an updated registration form and read below for more information.
  • Our 2017 AGM will be held in Lillooet from May 4 – 7, 2017. You’ll find details available in September.
  • Follow us on Facebook for our weekly #GuessThisCreature posts!
FGM 2016 Updates
In addition to adjusting the early registration date to August 19, the FGM organizers in Prince George have also done their best to reduce costs for attendees in a variety of ways, including optional lunch purchases for field trips that previously had mandatory, included lunches.

Other updates include set Executive and Directors’ meeting times, general field trip changes (carpooling), and alternate payment methods in case of a postal strike.

Please read the full list of FGM updates on our website and, as linked above, find an updated registration form reflecting the new pricing here.
Issue : 51
Date : July 2016
Two female Orcas.
BCnature Fall 2016 Magazine will come out in September!
However, the Summer 2016 issue of the magazine is viewable in the “members only” area of our website. If you do not have your password or access name, please email the office for your information (). For those that currently receive the magazine via Canada post mail, your name as it is written on the label and your password (top left corner) are your access to the members only area.
Some BC IBAs (Important Bird Areas) still need Caretakers!
The BC IBA program is coordinated by BC Nature (the Federation of BC Naturalists) with support from national partners Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada. BC’s 82 designated sites form a significant portion of the network of ~600 IBAs across Canada, which is not surprising considering 76% of Canada’s bird species are found in BC.

Volunteer Caretakers are the eyes, ears, and hands on the ground at Important Bird Areas. They monitor birds, assess habitats, and conduct outreach and conservation activities within IBAs. To view a list of areas that still need Caretakers, please visit our website.

The Northern Gateway pipeline’s approval was overturned!
BC Nature firmly believes that the Northern Gateway project presented unacceptable risks to British Columbians and to the environment. This project threatened populations of woodland caribou that are already under tremendous pressure from habitat destruction and fragmentation. A marine oil spill would also have catastrophic consequences for communities and ecosystems along the BC coast.

The court’s decision highlights the need for urgent reform of federal environmental assessment law. “Canadians deserve an environmental assessment process that they can trust,” says Chris Tollefson, counsel to BC Nature. “There are deep-seated flaws in the current review process including inadequate consultation with affected communities and First Nations. Without proper consultation, projects like this will never secure the social licence upon which they must depend.”

Read our full press release through the link under “Latest News” on our website’s homepage, and check out this CBC article for a summary of the ruling.
Interesting Sites and News Tidbits
What wildlife scientists and nature lovers can learn from Pokémon Go. Read the Washington Post article here.

Gates block ventures in the wild: Landowners cutting off paths to public land. Read the Times Colonist article here.

It’s alive! ‘The blob’ lingers at new depth, scientists say. Read the CBC article here.

About Town
July 23: Returns of the Osprey Festival @ Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver. Learn more on the Burke Mountain Naturalists’ website.

July 26: Public hearing on the Burns Bog industrial development @ the North Delta Rec Centre’s gym. Learn more on Burns Bog’s website and on Delta.ca.

Aug 18: Water Conservation Workshop – Low Flow Gardening w/ Egan Davis @ UBC Botanical Gardens. Learn more here.
Conservation Issues in our Province
Plan to save West Coast orcas includes fishery closures. Read the Metro News article here.

Anglers’ plan to feed endangered B.C. orcas given green light, but met with some criticism. Read the CBC article here.

Poor return puts Fraser River fish allocation debate on hold. Read The Chilliwack Progress article here.

New calls for a moratorium on old-growth logging. Read the Focus Online article here.

Hunters say elk populations fall in southeastern B.C., but hunting ban opposed. Read the Vancouver Sun article here.

Four recovery documents (for the Coastal Tailed Frog, the Blue-grey Taildropper, the Northern Leopard Frog, and the Pacific Gophersnake) have also been posted as proposed on the Species at Risk Public Registry for public comment. This comment period will close on September 4th, 2016. Links to these plans are listed above.
Wanted: Bobcat and Lynx photos for a UBC study
A bobcat/lynx study is currently under way at the University of British Columbia in partnership with BC’s Ministry of Environment. The study’s researchers are seeking photos of bobcats and lynx captured by trail cameras, or conventional cameras, from all corners of the province and from all time periods to help determine the provincial distribution of each species. The photos do not have to be great photography – they just have to show a bobcat or a lynx, or even just a part of one. Photos can be blurry or dark and don’t even have to clearly show which cat species is present.

Photos will not be published or shared with anyone without permission, and photographers will retain ownership of their photos. The results of this study will be gladly shared with all those who are interested. Please send photos, along with the date and location of each photo, to TJ Gooliaff at .
Participate in Upcoming Summer Festivals!
On September 11, The Treefest Planning Committee is hosting the 23rd Annual Treefest to celebrate and emphasize the importance of the fine collection of trees on the Riverview lands. Find more information about registering by emailing .

From September 23 – 24, the Fraser River Discovery Centre is hosting River Fest, a celebration of our province and World Rivers Day. Find more information about registering here!
To Unsubscribe, please contact the BC Nature Office. All email addresses are protected from misuse by BC Nature by way of off site storage on a secure server. Questions or comments? Contact us via Email to BC Nature
On July 1, 2014 Canada implemented new laws that regulate how we communicate electronically with our “followers”. Since our electronic communications are not commercial in nature, the new Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation does not apply. However, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind you that you can unsubscribe from our distribution list at any time by clicking the link above.
Posted in BC Nature, News | Comments Off on BC Nature eNews, July 2016

Bird Outing Report: Oyster Bay, July 21,2016

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Krista

Eight birders went to Oyster Bay today on a falling tide for the shorebird lottery. We didn’t do too badly with 9 species of shorebirds and moderate numbers – with shorebirds you never know what or how many will turn up. Overall we saw 27 species of birds. Highlights included good comparisons of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and Western and Least Sandpipers as well as good looks at Caspian Terns.
Common Loon
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Black Turnstone
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Bonaparte’s Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Caspian Tern
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Northwestern Crow
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Brown-headed Cowbird

Posted in Birds | Comments Off on Bird Outing Report: Oyster Bay, July 21,2016

Bird Outing Report: Lazo Marsh, July 14,2016

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Krista

Two birders went to Lazo Marsh and Lazo Woods this morning and found the following 20 species:

Eurasian Collared-Dove
Pileated Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Swainson’s Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Common Yellowthroat
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Western Tanager
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
American Goldfinch

Posted in Birds | Comments Off on Bird Outing Report: Lazo Marsh, July 14,2016

BC Nature eNews, June/July 2016

Posted on June 28, 2016 by Krista
Upcoming Events
  • BC Nature’s 2016 FGM will be held in Prince George from September 22 – 25, 2016. You can register through the form in the Summer magazine or go online here.
  • BC Nature’s 2017 AGM will be held in Lillooet from May 4 – 7, 2017. You’ll find details in the Fall Magazine, which will be released in September.
  • The 2017 Awards cut-off for nominations is February 27, 2017. Criteria and a list of awards can be found on the BC Nature website.
Twitters and Tweets Miscellaneous
Bird Studies Canada and other North American Bird Conservation Initiative partners recently released the first joint conservation assessment of the birds of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. According to The State of North America’s Birds 2016, 432 of our continent’s 1154 native bird species (37%) are in crisis. Declining populations and severe threats to their habitats mean that without significant action, these species could be facing extinction.Visit The State of North America’s Birds 2016’s website here.

Neville Recording’s Bird Song of the Month: Swainson’s Thrush! Listen to it here.
Issue 50
Date June/July 2016
A Tree Swallow.
The BCnature Summer Magazine is out now!
It is available for download in the “members only” area of the website. If you do not have your password or access name, please email the office for your information (). For those that currently receive the magazine via Canada Post mail, your name as it is written on the label and your password (top left corner) are your access to the members only area.
Interesting Sites and News Tidbits
New UBC study on landscape connectivity for bighorn sheep. Read about the research here.Potential disease discovered in salmon on a BC fish farm. Read about the disease on The Globe and Mail’s website.

Most Canadian seafood fails harvesting sustainability test: report. Read a summary on the Vancouver Sun’s website.
About Town
July 9: Explore Historic Quadra Island through a day tour with the Museum at Campbell River. Registration and more information here.July 14: Boots, Bikes, & Beers: Biking and Hiking opportunities in BC. More info here.

Until September 12: Hive Tours @ Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver.

Ongoing: Help gather data on breeding bird nests near you! Check out the Canada-wide Project NestWatch or read the Summer magazine for more details.
Conservation Issues in our Province
Nadleh Whu’ten, Takla Lake and Nak’azdli First Nations oppose Northern Gateway Pipeline Extension. Read more on MyPrinceGeorgeNews.com!Why Scientists Are Amazed at Oilsands Smog Levels. Link to The Tyee’s article.

Potential national park in the South Okanagan faces opposition as debate continues over land protection. Link to The Globe and Mail’s article.

New Report Knocks Down Pro-Pipelines ‘Fantasies’. Link to The Tyee’s article.

Support Wildlife Habitat at Island View Beach Park! Link to the petition.

Scientists call on federal government to reject Pacific NorthWest LNG project. Link to Global News’ article.

B.C. joins western Canadian fight against invasive species like zebra and quagga mussels. Link to provincial government article.
Public Consultation Period for SARA’s Schedule 1 Species
Until July 18 2016, the public is invited to comment on proposed Order to amend Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) which acts as an official list of wildlife species at risk in Canada. This amendment will 1) change the SARA status of four species, and 2) add nine species to the Schedule as either extirpated, endangered, threatened, or of special concern. Once listed, measures to protect and recover a listed wildlife species are implemented.Check here for a full list of species affected and how to comment.
To Unsubscribe, please contact the BC Nature Office. All email addresses are protected from misuse by BC Nature by way of off site storage on a secure server. Questions or comments? Contact us via Email to BC Nature
On July 1, 2014 Canada implemented new laws that regulate how we communicate electronically with our “followers”. Since our electronic communications are not commercial in nature, the new Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation does not apply. However, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind you that you can unsubscribe from our distribution list at any time by clicking the link above.
Posted in BC Nature | Comments Off on BC Nature eNews, June/July 2016