Comox Valley Nature

Russell Cannings has recently spent a year exploring every corner of the province to find almost every kind of bird which resides in British Columbia. In so doing he set a record of 373 species in a year. This experience has resulted in a useful guide compiled and written with his father, Richard Cannings, on where to find birds in BC: Birdfinding in British Columbia. Russell Cannings will present an illustrated lecture entitled: “Birdfinding in BC” at the monthly meeting of CVN at the Filberg Seniors Centre on Sunday March 16 from 7pm to 9pm. Russell Cannings will sign copies of his book after the lecture.

The province has recognized the many contributions made by Richard Cannings, and his brothers Sydney and Robert, to our understanding of our natural history. Russell Cannings is a young graduate of UBC whose first publication promises to further his family’s legacy to our understanding of this province’s exceptional flora and fauna.

Russell Cannings is an avid young birder from the Okanagan and has worked as a field biologist throughout British Columbia for the last 10 years. He is currently attending Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo where he hopes to acquire a high-school-teaching degree (In History of all things!). He is also a regular birding-guide for “Avocet Tours,” and runs the BC Bird Alert, a province-wide blog on the latest rare bird sightings.

Comox Valley Nature is a non-profit society affiliated to BC Nature consisting only of unpaid volunteers. CVN fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing free weekly guided hikes for members, and a free monthly walk open to the public. The society also undertakes a variety of environmental projects. Aside from its main activity as a non-profit, Comox Valley Nature also supports specialized groups ( Birding, Botany, Garry Oak Restoration, Wetland Restoration, Photography and Young Naturalists Club) which have separate monthly activities. Membership in BC Nature and Comox Valley Nature is $30 per adult and $40 for a family.

Founded in 1966, it is one of the oldest environmental societies on the North Island. Meetings and lectures of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society are held on the third Sunday of most months at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay. Meetings and guided walks are open to the public, including children and youth. Lecture is free, though a $4 contribution from non-members is appreciated. New memberships are always welcomed. Anyone interested in this lecture or participating in CVNS activities can also contact Loys Maingon (CVN President) at 250-331-0143.

Every February, Comox Valley Nature calls on members to make presentations on topics of local and international interest to celebrate the wide range of natural history talent representative of the society, before holding its official AGM.

As the fastest growing & and oldest local environmental society in the Comox Valley, for nearly half a century CVN has been able to draw on a wide range of local expertise catering to a wide range of interests. On Sunday February 16 at 7pm at the Filberg Seniors Centre, 4 CVN members will talk and present slides on provincial and regional conservation, spiders and insects, and naturalist travel. The Annual General Meeting will follow the presentations.

Consulting forester and silviculturist, Fred Newhouse, who is also a director of the Land Conservancy, will make a short presentation about the status and future of The Land Conservancy of BC.

Terry Thormin will give a short talk entitled “Insects and Spiders Up Close”. Terry is the former acting curator of invertebrate zoology at the Royal Alberta Museum and in now retired in Comox. He will share his passion for insects through his photography.

Steph Nathan will present a series of spectacular photos taken on a train trip to the Copper Canyons of Mexico.

Dave Stapley, also of the Comox Valley Conservation Strategy, will make a presentation on Nature Without Borders Report second edition, its priority recommendations and relevance for the Official Community Plan.

Comox Valley Nature is a non-profit society affiliated to BC Nature consisting only of unpaid volunteers. CVN fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing free weekly guided hikes for members, and a free monthly walk open to the public. The society also undertakes a variety of environmental projects. Aside from its main activity as a non-profit, Comox Valley Nature also supports specialized groups ( Birding, Botany, Garry Oak Restoration, Wetland Restoration, Photography and Young Naturalists Club) which have separate monthly activities. Membership in BC Nature and Comox Valley Nature is $30 per adult and $40 for a family.

Founded in 1966, it is one of the oldest environmental societies on the North Island. Meetings and lectures of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society are held on the third Sunday of most months at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay. Meetings and guided walks are open to the public, including children and youth. Lecture is free, though a $3 contribution from non-members is appreciated. New memberships are always welcomed.

Anyone interested in this lecture or participating in CVNS activities can also contact us at this website or Loys Maingon (CVN President) at 250-331-0143.