On December 3, a large contingent of Botany Group members enjoyed a walk in Seal Bay Nature Park, following the Coupland Loop trail. The main themes of this late-autumn outing were mosses and fungi, and many interesting and beautiful specimens were observed, even on the logs bordering the parking lot. Other taxa that drew attention included a liverwort, lichens, slime molds, and a few herbaceous vascular plants.
Co-leader Véronique continues her practice of producing a photographic identification guide to many of these specimens using her own photographs. You can download the guide here (PDF, 6.4 MB).
Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a photo to see the whole image]:
I wish to thank all the volunteers who showed up in record numbers helping the project for its 29th year. Another hot dry summer required lots of watering the new plantings. We are looking forward to 2025 and starting to replace our native plant signage. A limited number of hard copies of the report are available from myself or Karen Cummins.
Thanks once again. Frank Hovenden
Posted inWetland Restoration|Comments Off on Restoration Project 2024 – Courtenay River Airpark
The Botany Group delved into the plentiful and diverse world of fungi in the Puntledge forest on their November field trip. Although walking only a short distance, it seemed the group saw specimens to examine every metre along the side of the trail. Examples from almost all the 14 morphological groups of fungi (gilled, toothed, etc.) were found.
Co-leader Véronique has provided us with another photographic guide to help us learn about these fungi. You can download the guide here (PDF, 4.5 MB).
The Puntledge forest is currently the subject of a campaign by the Comox Valley Land Trust to save this special forest by purchasing the logging rights. David Stapley of CVLT was recently the keynote speaker at CVN’s November general meeting, where he described the forest and this campaign. To learn more about it and how you can contribute, visit CVLT’s website here.
Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a thumbnail to see the whole image]:
Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to CVN’s November general meeting for the following keynote presentation:
Title: Comox Valley Land Trust (CVLT) programs and the Puntledge Forest land protection project Speaker: David Stapley (CVLT) Date: Sunday, November 24, 2024 Time: 3:00 p.m. PT Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox
David will provide an overview of CVLT programs with a special focus on the “Save the Puntledge Forest” land protection project. He will outline the ecological characteristics and benefits of protecting this 100 to 120 year-old naturally regenerating forest. The history of human disturbance and current risks, from mining to hydro power generation and logging, will be presented. The complicated story of protecting this area due to the unique challenges posed through land ownership and a private timber reservation registered on title will be shared.
David Stapley is currently the treasurer on the board of the CVLT. He is a retired organizational development consultant and group facilitator. He worked as a contract facilitator for the CVLT from 2009 to 2018. Over this time, he established the Comox Valley Conservation Partnership program. In his roles with CVLT he has advocated for better protection of local forests, wetlands and watersheds by local governments. Since retiring in 2018, David has continued to promote the benefits of conservation in the community and to develop resources to grow the capacity of the CVLT to conserve lands.
More about the meeting
Following the keynote presentation, the meeting will include brief reports from CVN interest groups and other activity leaders.
This will be a hybrid meeting (in-person and videoconference). We encourage members and the general public to attend the in-person meeting. Members who cannot attend can participate via videoconference. The link to join the Zoom meeting will be sent to members by email before the meeting.
Now that the flowering season is over, the Botany Group returned to Paradise Meadows on October 8 to learn to identify the plants there by their other characteristics—growth habit, leaves, seeds and other clues. And, of course, to enjoy the beautiful fall colours in the meadows.
The focus plants on this fall trip included subalpine fir, amabilis fir, partridge-foot, queen’s cup, black huckleberry, white-flowered rhododendron, false azalea, spleenwort-leaved goldthread, western bog-laurel, western tea-berry, and Pacific soft rush. These all occur only above 300 m elevation.
Once again, co-leader Véronique has provided us with a photographic identification guide to plants observed on this trip. You can download the guide here (PDF, 5.3 MB).
Here’s a selection of photos from the guide [click a thumbnail to see the whole image]:
Alaskan bunchberryBog blueberryBuds on oval-leaved blueberryGreen false-helleboreSeed head of hooded ladies’ tressesSeed capsules of Jeffrey’s shootingstarLong-styled sedgeNagoonberryNorthern bedstraw leaf whorlPacific soft rushValley wolf lichenWhite-flowered rhododendron
We have revived a former website feature—a calendar of CVN activities—for the convenience of members who want to know about upcoming activities. See it here, or navigate to it anytime via the About menu.
One benefit of this calendar is that it enables activity leaders to know about the scheduling of the activities of other groups to help them avoid conflicts.
Here, the calendar is view-only. Activity leaders who need to add entries to the calendar should contact the secretary for instructions.
Note that this calendar is distinct from the Events page of this website which provides details and registration (where needed) for CVN’s public events.
Posted inMiscellaneous, News|Comments Off on CVN activities calendar
Comox Valley Nature members and the general public are invited to CVN’s October general meeting for the following keynote presentation:
Title: An Overview of the Kus-kus-sum Restoration Project Speaker: Caitlin Pierzchalski (Project Watershed) Date: Sunday, October 27, 2024 Time: 3:00 p.m. PT Location: Main hall of Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox
“Sedges have edges” (Photo: Dylan Thiessen)
Caitlin will provide an update of the current restoration works and the works planned for next year at Kus-kus-sum. She will also update and summarize the status of planned work and long-term monitoring and maintenance of the site. Caitlin will emphasize the plant prescription chosen for Kus-kus-sum and the ongoing planting efforts. For more information on this project see Project Watershed’s website.
About the speaker
Caitlin Pierzchalski is the Executive Director of Project Watershed. She is a restoration ecologist, watershed steward, and experienced program manager. She was born and raised on the traditional territory of the Sylix-speaking peoples and is currently based on unceded Coast Salish territory. She is inspired by her love of oceans, and has been working in and learning from marine and coastal environments throughout the Salish Sea for the past 10 years. She believes in exploring the unique ways each of us can contribute to and support healthy, future ecosystems for our communities, and is always reflecting on her own role in this. She’s keen to support and further community-engaged stewardship in the Comox Valley that contributes to thriving watersheds, and holds a cautiously hopeful view for the future for our lands and waters.
More about the meeting
Following the keynote presentation, the meeting will include brief reports from CVN interest groups and other activity leaders.
This will be a hybrid meeting (in-person and videoconference). We encourage members and the general public to attend the in-person meeting. Members who cannot attend can participate via videoconference. The link to join the Zoom meeting will be sent to members by email before the meeting.
The CVN Shoreline Group had a productive field trip to the Willow Point reef in Campbell River this year on July 5. As on trips to this location in previous years, the group enjoyed the excellent leadership of Campbell River’s Sandra Milligan.
This reef is rich in intertidal life, and Sandra has been accumulating a list of the species she’s seen there for many years. To provide context for this trip, Sandra made these comments about her cumulative list:
The reef species composition does change, so some species haven’t been seen recently, but I leave them on the list in hopes they will reappear. The reef is still changing because of the sea star die-off 10 years ago and subsequent increase in urchin and mussel abundance.
Following the trip, Sandra updated her list. You can download the full species list here. Check marks indicate the species that were observed on this occasion.
Thanks to CVN members Stuart and Véronique for the photo above and those below. Click a photo to enlarge it.
Title: Observations on the fish and aquatic ecology of Buttle Lake Speaker: Paige Stuart Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2024
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.
In the last couple of decades you might have seen reports of some hybrid swans (Mute Swan x Trumpter Swan) in our region. In her latest long-form article, CVN member Véronique McIntyre collects those reports and delves into the behaviour and biology of swans to shed light on this phenomenon. In her inimitable style, Véronique presents the story of the swans as a conversation between a hybrid swan and a Trumpeter Swan. Be sure to check out the article here: Hybrid Swans: Mixed-up and Proud of It.
You can always find this and other long-form articles via the Articles category in the sidebar.
Posted inArticles, Birds|Comments Off on New article: Hybrid swans
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! ... See MoreSee Less
The New Forest Act Roadshow is a series of public presentations across British Columbia explaining what the New Forest Act is, why BC’s current forestry system is failing, and what a workable legislative solution looks like.That solution is the New Forest Act – a proposed policy framework developed over several years through research, public input, and lived experience in communities directly affected by forestry decisions.BC’s forestry challenges are not isolated incidents—they are the result of a system that no longer reflects the realities on the land.Join Jennifer Houghton and Dave Weaver on Monday June 15th at the Stan Hagen Theatre in Courtenay fpr a presentation that offers a clear, developed alternative.Jennifer Houghton is lead developer of the New Forest Act, a legislative proposal to replace British Columbia’s current forestry system. She works directly on forestry policy analysis, public education, and government engagement to advance structural reform in how BC’s forests are managed.Dave Weaver has 37 years of experience in British Columbia’s forestry sector, working across industry, consulting, and government. His career includes field forestry with MacMillan Bloedel, forest consulting and applied ecology instruction in the northern interior, and 12 years with the BC Ministry of Forests developing silviculture policy and training in alternatives to clearcutting.He now focuses on watershed-level impacts of forestry through his work with the Beaufort Watershed Stewards, bringing decades of on-the-ground and policy experience to the discussion of forestry reform in BC.This event is for:Residents concerned about forestry in their regionPeople working in or affected by the forest sectorThose interested in practical, policy-level solutionsAnyone who wants a clear explanation of what’s happening—and what can be doneTo view the schedule for other presentations and for full details on the legislative framework visit boundaryforest.org/the-new-forest-act-proposal/Sentinel Educational Foundation and the Watershed Sentinel magazine are the sponsors of the Vancouver Island leg of the 2026 New Forest Act Roadshow. Their support is helping bring public education about forest policy reform to communities across Vancouver Island.This is a free public event and donations are welcome ... See MoreSee Less
The New Forest Act Roadshow is a series of public presentations across British Columbia explaining what the New Forest Act is, why BC’s current forestry system is failing, and what a workable legislative solution looks like. Dave Weaver and Jennifer Houghton will be speaking at Stan Hagen Theatre on June 15th. for more information visit boundaryforest.org/courtenay🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT: The New Forest Act Roadshow - June 2–22, 2026This will be a series of in-person presentations across British Columbia focused on the New Forest Act - a legislative proposal to replace the current forestry framework.Tour stops include:Golden • Nelson • Trail • 100 Mile HouseCampbell River • Quadra Island • CourtenayPort Alberni • Honeymoon Bay • Powell River • Victoria Full details and event pages: boundaryforest.org/new-forest-act-roadshow-2026-info/About the New Forest ActThe New Forest Act is a proposed legislative framework that restructures forest management around ecological limits and long-term economic stability.It is built on a Protect–Restore–Harvest (PRH) model:• Protect primary forests and critical watershed areas• Restore degraded landscapes• Harvest only on previously disturbed land using selection-based systems, within ecological thresholdsThe framework shifts management from volume-based targets to outcomes-based management, with a focus on watershed function, ecosystem integrity, and stable regional economies.FormatEach event will be a presentation followed by a focused Q&A. Presenter Jennifer Houghton, New Forest Act Campaign Director, draws on years of research, public education, and direct engagement with communities and decision-makers across BC.Co-presenterDave Weaver (retired forestry professional) will co-present in Campbell River, and likely in Courtenay and Port Alberni as well.If you’ve been watching this issue for years...If you’ve felt like nothing ever actually changes...Come to a presentation.See it for yourself.Bring someone with you. June 2–22. Across British Columbia. Let’s go. ... See MoreSee Less
Drought in the summer is hard on plants in our environment. The trees in your yard may have begun to respond to this stress. Our next knowledge walk will help you to learn how to keep your trees healthy and thriving.Join Verna Mumby as we look at the effects of drought and climate change on trees.This knowledge walk will be at the Airpark. Taking the trees there as a sample, we will look for signs of drought stress, and indications of healthy growth. We will examine factors such as hydrology, disease vectors and soil compaction. We will discuss watering and other methods of mitigating stress.Meeting location will be sent before the walk. Bring binoculars to examine higher branches. Wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather. We will be walking on the airpark paths.REGISTRATION required using RSVP link at comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/event/trees-and-drought/ An easy 1 km walk on a wheelchair accessible paved path. Sorry, no dogs. This event is free, but donations are welcome. ... See MoreSee Less
