Airpark Shoreline Cleanup

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Krista

Nine hardy folk turned up on Oct. 11, and collected several bags of “stuff”, including 2 shopping carts, one oar, sleeping bag, and part of a bed spring?? maybe.

Shoreline Cleanup Crew

Shoreline Cleanup Crew


There was also what looked like a very old and deteriorated grader blade, and we are trying to track down someone to adopt it.

Shoreline Cleanup Haul

Shoreline Cleanup Haul


The day was damp, but not as bad as the day before had been – and the debriefing over cinnamon buns was again popular.

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Bird Outing Report: Tyee Spit, Campbell River, Oct. 15, 2015

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Krista

This Thursday October 15th eight birders went to Tyee Spit, Campbell River, where we saw 42 species. We enjoyed a pleasant, sunny morning with the highlight of huge flocks of waterbirds in feeding frenzies offshore. Several of us went to Salmon Point for lunch and added three additional species: Red-necked Grebe, Belted Kingfisher and Steller’s Jay.

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Wigeon
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe
Brandt’s Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Dunlin
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Northern Flicker
Northwestern Crow
European Starling
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee

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Bird Outing Report: Courtenay Airpark, Oct. 8, 2015

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Krista

This Thursday October 8th ten birders went to the Air Park where we saw 31 species. Despite infrequent light showers the temperature was mild and the wind calm. The highlights for the morning were 9 Long-billed Dowitchers and 3 Wilson’s Snipe.

Canada Goose
Northern Flicker
American Wigeon
Steller’s Jay
Mallard
Northwestern Crow
Northern Shoveler
Common Raven
Green-winged Teal
Bewick’s Wren
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
Bald Eagle
European Starling
Killdeer
Spotted Towhee
Long-billed Dowitcher
Savannah Sparrow
Wilson’s Snipe
Song Sparrow
Ring-billed Gull
Lincoln’s Sparrow
California Gull
White-crowned Sparrow
Glaucous-winged Gull
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Belted Kingfisher
Brewer’s Blackbird
Downy Woodpecker

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Upcoming Walk: Ralph River, Strathcona Park, Saturday, October 24th 2015

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Botany

it is on Saturday not Sunday
Saturday, October 24th . (Club walk). Ralph River, Strathcona Park (Bring a picnic lunch). This is not an arduous walk but it is farther and longer than usual. Meet at 8:00AM at Courtenay Country Market. Leader: Loys Maingon.

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Upcoming Walk: Shoreline clean-up with Project Watershed, Sunday, October 11th 2015

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Botany

Changed from Oct 10th to 11th

Sunday, October 11th . (Club/Public event). Shoreline clean-up with Project Watershed. The CVN cleanup will take place at the AirPark, Meet by the Park Café at 10.00 a.m.Bring sturdy gloves, and clothing appropriate to the weather. (Hope we need sunscreen). We will provide garbage bags.
Questions, phone Murray at 703-2653.
Project Watershed is meeting at the Simms Park parking lot, same date same time
(Timed to access lower tides). (Leaders: Murray Little and Bill Heidrick).

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Bird Outing Report: Hornby Island, Oct. 4,2015

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Krista

Fifteen birders enjoyed a beautiful day on Hornby on Sunday. First we went to Sandpiper Beach for shorebirds, then to Art and Sue’s cabin for lunch, and then a walk around the Helliwell Provincial Park loop trail. Highlights were many Black Turnstones, a few Black Oystercatchers and a Surfbird at Sandpiper Beach. Nearby a Western Meadowlark was seen.

The following 49 species were seen or heard on Hornby:

Canada Goose
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Merganser
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Black Turnstone
Surfbird
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Mew Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rock Pigeon
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Merlin
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Dark-eyed Junco
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Western Meadowlark
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin

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BC Nature eNews October 2015

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Krista
Upcoming Events
  • Harrison Camp – Nov 26 – Nov 29, 2015 – We have had a cancellation, two spots are now available. Please email for more information or visit this link
  • Resolutions Submission – February 26, 2016 deadline – visit link
  • Club Support Grants 2016 – deadline February 28, 2016. Please go to 2016 form download
  • Mitlenatch Camp – May 8-11, 2016 Preliminary Information available at this link
  • AGM 2016 – hosted by Comox Valley Naturalists – May 12 – 15, 2016
  • Rene Savenye Scholarship deadline – June 3, 2016. Application Link
  • FGM 2016 – Prince George, September 2016
Join us in the fight for Nature
The Federation of British Columbia Naturalists (BC Nature) in partnership with the University of Victoria Law Centre have started a crowdfunding campaign with Fundrazr to financially assist with potential legal costs, related to the Northern Gateway project.

This is a one time appeal to help us legally block the Northern Gateway Project, and is quite separate from our annual appeal. With our Fall BCnature magazine in early October, you will receive our annual appeal to help the BC Nature Foundation as well as BC Nature. The crowdfunding campaign is directed to the BC public, to help us specifically in our fight with Enbridge to stop the Northern Gateway project.

We ask that you spread the word about our Fundrazr to your friends, family and Colleagues.

How can you help even if you can’t donate? Do you have a Facebook Page? Please go to our Fundrazr Page and “share” the video and page with all of your contacts in your own Facebook, same with Twitter. Ask your friends and family to share in their own Facebook and Twitters account. The more we spread around the word, the easier it will be to meet our goal.

Please view our appeal and the video that accompanies our appeal. Fundrazr Page

Issue 46
Date October 2015
What we stand to lose
BCnature Fall Magazine is available
The BCnature Fall Magazine is now available for download in the “members only” area. If you do not have your password or access name, please email the office for your information (). For those that receive the magazine via Canada post mail, your name as it is written and your password (top left corner) are your access to the members only area.
South Okanagan Similkameen Protected Areas Framework
After over two years of no negotiations regarding a national park in the SOS, the Province in mid August released its Intentions Paper. This is a framework for long-term protection of these critical lands. National park status is proposed for two areas (White Lake Basin/VAseux and Chopaka/Kilpoola south of Highway 3), with a provincial conservancy in between. The release of the Paper is good news and the Province is asking for our views on their proposal, what else should be considered, and reasons for these. The deadline for public comment is Oct. 31.
The website for the proposal and comments Link For backgrounder information, please view the link on our website – http://www.bcnature.ca/
Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative – Update
We wanted to share the news that all of the Sea-to-Sky communities from Lillooet to Squamish have now voted in support of recovery planning for the threatened grizzly bear populations of southwest BC. The resolutions cite many reasons, including cultural, social, economic and environmental, for maintaining grizzly bears on the landscape. All the resolutions can be found on the C2C website
These communities calls mirror those of the St’at’imc and Squamish Council Chiefs and the Okanagan Nation Alliance who are also supporting the need for on the ground action to safeguard these bears. Find out more at this Link
Interesting Sites and News Tidbits
“Old Planet, Young People” – “Old Planet, Young People” is a series of 8 pre-recorded documentaries on the subject of environmental work in the Lillooet area. The show is put together by young people who will be talking to people of all ages working in the environmental field and to young people in general about their environmental concerns. These documentaries are produced by Fraser Adolph and Leif Douglass with assistance from CHLS-FM and generous financial support from the Community Radio Fund of Canada. Listen here

Britannia Creek: back from the brink watch video here

Ever wondered what goes on when you’re not there? Great “Live” cams from Johnson Strait and the orca – links

Butterfly enthusiasts – check out this Link for butterfly transformations.

Are you on Facebook? Look up this great “Bat” – site – there are some great videos on bats – Link Here

About Town
5th annual – Living with Wildlife! October 16, 2015 – Across Canada, municipalities are reporting an increase in the number of interactions between humans and wildlife. These interactions can present a public health and safety concern and conflicts can result in the death or suffering of wildlife. In particular, animals such as coyotes, beavers and raccoons are often perceived to be a nuisance or pest.
To address this problem, the 5th annual Living with Wildlife conference brings together experts in their field to discuss a wide variety of solutions of how we can co-exist with urban wildlife. Link
Is your club applying for grants?
Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program – 2015 Regional Grant Deadlines and Information: Coastal Region – Coastal Region grant applications are due November 6, 2015 Columbia Region – Columbia Region grant applications are due November 13, 2015 Learn More
Wildlife Habitat Canada Call for Proposals for the 2016/2017 Grant Program. The deadline to submit applications is Monday November 2, 2015 for projects that will take place in fiscal year 2016/2017. Grant application forms are available at this Link
Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation – In 2015, the May proposal intake resulted in the Fund being fully subscribed, so there will be no September intake.The next deadline for submitting a PCAF proposal will be May 15, 2016.

Aviva Community Fund – Not much time left on this one, but put it in your “rolodex” for next year to include your funding ideas! Link 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.
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Upcoming Walk: Ruth Masters Park, Saturday, January 30th 2016

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Botany

Saturday, January 30th. (Club walk). Ruth Masters Park. Meet at 9:00AM on 1st Street at the Rotary Riverside Trail. Leader: Loys Maingon.

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Upcoming Walk: Little River Park, Saturday, January 23rd 2016

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Botany

Saturday, January 23rd. (Club walk). Little River Park. Meet at 9:30AM at park entrance on Wilkinson Road off Ellenor Road (near Comox to Powell River ferry terminal). Leader: Loys Maingon.

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Upcoming Walk: Miracle Beach, Saturday, January 16th 2016

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Botany

Saturday, January 16th. (Club walk). Miracle Beach. Meet at 9:00AM at Courtenay Country Market. Leader:

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