Public Walk: Union Bay, Feb. 23, 2014

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Krista

Explore the Valley’s natural heritage in Comox Valley Nature’s monthly FREE public walk to the Union Bay Coal Hills.

The Comox Valley is home to some of BC’s richest natural heritage, and offers a wide variety of easily-accessible ecosystems from sea to sky. In its nearly fifty year existence Comox Valley Nature (Comox Valley Naturalists Society) has been in the forefront of public environmental education and conservation efforts. As part of its educational mandate Comox Valley Nature invites the public to monthly public interpretive walks to experience sites of environmental interest. This month’s walk features an invitation to come and learn about the Union Bay Coal Hill ecosystem.

Union Bay Coal Hills is both an important part of the valley’s cultural history as well as a prime example of a post-industrial ecosystem of enormous interest for the restoration problems it poses and the land-use opportunities it presents. This post-industrial coal and rail site was de-activated and capped in the 1960’s. It is a good example of the environmental successional processes associated with coal mining restoration and rehabilitation and the problems associated with such sites. The site is monitored monthly by Comox Valley Nature for Bird Studies Canada’s seabird survey. It is home to a rich, and sometimes surprising, birdlife.

The walk will be led by Dr. Loys Maingon (RPBio) and President of Comox Valley Nature. Interested participants are invited to meet either in front of the Old Church Theatre on Harmston Ave, in Courtenay at 9:00 am, or at the entrance at Union Bay at 9:30 am on Sunday, February 23.

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

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Bird Outing Report: Deep Bay, Feb. 20, 2014

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Krista

On Thursday the sun was shining to make for a very pleasant morning at Ship’s Point. Highlights for the day were a Yellow-headed Blackbird, Red-throated Loon, and 2 Gadwall.
8 birders saw the following 48 species:

Red-throated Loon
Bald Eagle
Common Loon
Killdeer
Red-necked Grebe
Black Oystercatcher
Horned Grebe
Greater Yellowlegs
Pelagic Cormorant
Dunlin
Great Blue Heron
Mew Gull
Canada Goose
Thayer’s Gull
Mallard
Glaucous-winged Gull
Gadwall
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Pintail
Pileated Woodpecker
American Wigeon
Northern Flicker
Eurasian Wigeon
Steller’s Jay
Green-winged Teal
Common Raven
Greater Scaup
Northwestern Crow
Harlequin Duck
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Long-tailed Duck
Varied Thrush
Surf Scoter
Spotted Towhee
White-winged Scoter
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Common Goldeneye
Song Sparrow
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Dark-eyed Junco
Bufflehead
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Hooded Merganser
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Merganser
Brewer’s Blackbird
Red-breasted Merganser
House Finch

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Bird Outing Report: Qualicum, Feb. 13, 2014

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Krista

The bird walk on Thursday was to Qualicum. The highlight of the day was a Northern Mockingbird and Glaucous Gull. Unfortunately we were unable to locate the King Eider.
7 birders saw the following 41 species:

Common Loon
Black Turnstone
Pacific Loon
California Gull
Horned Grebe
Herring Gull
Red-necked Grebe
Thayers Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Glaucous Gull
Great Blue Heron
Glaucous-winged Gull
Trumpeter Swan
Western Gull
Canada Goose
Pigeon Guillemot
Mallard
Northwestern Crow
American Wigeon
Common Raven
Greater Scaup
Northern Flicker
Harlequin Duck
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Long-tailed Duck
American Robin
Surf Scoter
Northern Mockingbird
Black Scoter
European Starling
White-winged Scoter
Spotted Towhee
Common Goldeneye
Song Sparrow
Red Breasted Merganser
Red-winged Blackbird
Bald Eagle
American Goldfinch
Black Bellied Plover
Black Oystercatcher
Red Crossbill

More detail & photos here.

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Guest Speakers: Members Night & AGM, Sun. Feb. 16, 2014

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Krista

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.

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Bird Outing Report: Airpark, Feb. 6, 2014

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Krista

It was cold but calm at the Courtenay Air Park on Feb. 6. Highlights were 6 Ring-billed Gulls and 12 Bushtits. 6 birders saw the following 35 species:

Horned Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Trumpeter Swan
Common Raven
Great-blue Heron
Northwestern Crow
Mallard
Chestnut-back Chickadee
Northern Pintail
Bushtit
American Wigeon
Bewick’s Wren
Eurasian Wigeon
Gold-crowned Kinglet
Green-winged Teal
European Starling
Greater Scaup
American Robin
Common Goldeneye
Spotted Towhee
Bufflehead
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Hooded Merganser
White-crowned Sparrow
Common Merganser
Fox Sparrow
Bald Eagle
Song Sparrow
Ring-billed Gull
Dark-eyed Junco
Glaucous-winged Gull
Red-winged Blackbird
Mew Gull
House Finch
Eurasian-collared Dove

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Bird Outing Report: Jan. 30, 2014

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Krista

Thursday birders went to Perrey’s Beach, Little River, and Kin Beach. Highlights were a Brown Creeper and a flock of Dunlin at Kin Beach. 6 birders saw the following 33 species:

Common Loon
Dunlin
Pacific Loon
Mew Gull
Horned Grebe
Glaucous-winged Gull
Red-necked Grebe
Common Murre
Pelagic Cormorant
Northern Flicker
Double-crested Cormorant
Northwestern Crow
Brandt’s Cormorant
Common Raven
Mallard
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Wigeon
Brown Creeper
Harlequin Duck
Pacific Wren
Long-tailed Duck
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Surf Scoter
American Robin
Black Scoter
Spotted Towhee
White-winged Scoter
Song Sparrow
Common Goldeneye
Fox Sparrow
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Bald Eagle

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BC Nature enews Jan. 2014

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Krista
 
Upcoming Events
Trans Mountain Expansion (i.e. Kinder Morgan pipeline) Project – National Energy Board Application
BC Nature, in partnership with Nature Canada, will be submitting an application to become an Intervenor during the review of this project by the National Energy Board. To do this, we must provide, in our application, an outline of the reasons why we wish to be an Intervenor. All our reasons must fall within the list of twelve issues that will be considered by the Board (listed on web BC Nature – current issues) . Please follow this link to see the complete request for our filing.We are allowed to submit up a description of up to 500 words for each issue. This process was announced last week on January 15 (see http://www.neb-one.gc.ca).
There is also a webinar being hosted by Westcoast Environmental Law for those of you or your clubs that would like to submit their own comments – Link for webinar information Here 
Issue 38
Date January 2014
CAMPS 2014
Wells Gray Camp –August 14th -17th
Date for Registration –March 16, 2014 – 9:00 am Teresa Corboy, Kamloops Naturalists – Telephone: 250-320-0889
Wells Gray Alpine Trek – Hut to Hut HikeAugust 12th -17th March 16, 2014 – 9:00 am Teresa Corboy, Kamloops Naturalists – Telephone: 250-320-0889
Tofino Marine Exploration – April 27 – May 1 – Registration January 15, 2014 – Sold out with Waiting list –
Nicola Ranch – May 29-June 1, 2014 – Registration – January 12, 2014 – Sold Out with Waiting List Details on all the camps in the BCnature Winter Magazine andwww.bcnature.ca or upcoming Spring 2014 Magazine
Fish Farming Updates
1) Article – Vancouver Sun – By Peter O’Neil – Ottawa opens door to Fish Farm expansion… Article Link here2) Article – Vancouver Sun – By Derrick Penner – B.C. fish farmers see opportunity as DFO lifts licence freeze, Article Link here.3) Past Article – March 2013 – By Randy Shore – World’s first land-based-farm sockeye salmon ready for harvest in B.C. Article Link here.
If you borrowed any books from these science libraries you do not have to return them.
Secret Memo Casts Doubt on Feds’ Claims for Science Library Closures – Article – The Tyee Article here
How about some good News?
Panama Bay saved from destruction – Link Our Neighbours to the South support safety measures for migrating birds Article Here
Interesting Sites and articles
GREEN SCENE: Time to speak up on Kinder Morgan – if that’s allowed. Article Link Keep the Peace – Stop the Site C Dam – view video Apply for Funding from – Brink-McLean Fund through the Nature Trust
Enbridge Update
Naturalists’ group wants Northern Gateway decision delayed Complete Article Caribou, Humpbacks May Legally Stand in Way of Northern Gateway Pipeline, According to B.C. Nature Lawsuit Complete Article B.C. Nature Files Federal Lawsuit Claiming JRP Report “Invalid” Complete Article
Dine for Nature
February 2 – VAPOR Fundraiser at the Steveston Seafood House February 24 – Dine for Nature – North Vancouver, Pinnacle Hotel – Lobby Restaurant– 15% of the proceeds go towards The Nature Trust. Quote Nature Trust when making your reservation.
Your Executive and Conservation Committee Hard at Work
The following letters and submissions prepared by your BC Nature Conservation Committee were recently sent. Copies of these letters can be read on BC Nature website at: Link Harrison-Chehalis proposed Wildlife Management Area: letter of support to Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, sent December 10 Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project: Submission to Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project ; our submission highlights the oversight of not including potential impacts of marine shipping route, nor cumulative impacts, sent December 6Cohen Commission Recommendations: letter to Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans requesting a status report on the degree to which each of the 75 recommendations of the Justice Cohen Commission have been implemented (deadline for implementation was March 2013) and letter to Premier Christie Clark requesting an update on BC’s actions on the twelve recommendations specific to the province, sent November 29Letter Received: South Okanagan Similkameen National Park Reserve proposal: Letter received from Minister of Environment, Mary Polak, stating that BC would not re-engage in the process to establish this park, letter received December 9.
Dates of Note
Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), February 14-17, 2014 – link April 30 deadline – It is time to start getting our teen birders excited about the Long Point Bird Observatory’s 2014 Doug Tarry Young Ornithologist Workshop. A brochure and application form can be downloaded from our website –www.birdscanada.org/lpbo . Thank you for your help in bringing this unique opportunity to the attention of your membership.Complete details Here 
Environmental Damages Fund Call for Proposals
Funding Available
1. WEST AND NORTH •Location: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Funds Available: $30,000.00, Use Restrictions: For projects focusing on restoration and environmental quality improvement as it relates to protecting and conserving migratory birds or the environment. Education and awareness projects will also be considered.•Location: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Funds Available: $73,500.00, Use Restrictions: For projects focused on environmental quality improvement or education and awareness as it relates to protecting, conserving or restoring the environment. Priority will be given to salt water/marine projects.•Location: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Funds Available: $80,000.00, Use Restrictions: For projects focused on environmental quality improvement or education and awareness as it relates to protecting, conserving or restoring the environment. Priority will be given to projects focusing on Polar Bears or Narwhals.3. BRITISH COLUMBIA •Location: Pennask Creek Watershed, Funds Available: $402.00, Use Restrictions: For the purpose of fish habitat improvement projects within or around the Pennask Creek watershed. Please note awards in West and North may be combined with this award.

For additional information, please go to our website
About Town
Sat. February 1, 2014, 9am – 12 pm -Celebrate World Wetlands Day Enjoy a short presentation about wetlands, ephemeral streams and the creatures like frogs and insects that inhabit them. Afterwards we’ll go on a guided walk along the Little Campbell Forest Trail then drive (in own vehicles) to the A Rocha Field Centre to be guided to their wetland and learn about the once extirpated Salish sucker. Wear walking shoes or boots and be prepared for cold or wet weather. Event will be held regardless of weather. Bring water and a camera and binoculars if you like. Refreshments provided. Host: Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society, Little Campbell Watershed Society & Hatchery and the A Rocha Field Centre Meet: 9:00 am at the Little Campbell Hatchery 1284 184th St, Surrey, drive across the bridge up to the Clubhouse and park. Info: Families welcome, forest trail at the hatchery is special needs accessible; the pond at the A Rocha Field Centre requires mobility to climb a steep trail. Register with Marg email: Sunday March 16 – 9:45 -1pm, Shoreline clean-up and invasive plant removal at Blackie Spit 
Join us as we clean up the shoreline and remove invasive broom plants in this important bird habitat. Dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear (gumboots an asset). Bring your binoculars if you have them. Gloves, tools and refreshments provided. Hosts: Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society and Lower Mainland Green Team Meet at the kiosk at the entrance to the spit, Blackie Spit Park, 3136 McBride Ave, Crescent Beach. Info and Reg: Register with Alison at.
Help Wanted
‘Young Naturalists’ Club seeks: Adult with a big heart, a love of the outdoors and sharing with children! Happy New Year from the Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society. We look forward to seeing you at events and volunteer opportunities in the coming year and hope this New year finds you well! A Request for support From the Young Naturalist Club: The Young Naturalist Club of BC (YNC) is recruiting for an additional volunteer family club co-leader for its Nicomekl Club (Surrey and surrounding areas).
You don’t need any special qualifications for this role, other than a willingness to help organize field trips called ‘Explorer Days’ to help children have fun, learn about, and connect with nature. Explorer Day field trips are usually held monthly, outdoors as much as possible for children and their families ages 5-12 years.
If you are interested in this fun and rewarding volunteer position contact Tammy Keetch, Nature Club Coordinator at:  and visit our website atwww.ync.ca. References required. ‘
To remove your name from our mailing list, please contact the BC Nature Office email us here All email addresses are protected from misuse by BC Nature by way of Blind CarbonCopying these notices. Questions or comments? Contact us via E-mail us at BC Nature
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Bird Outing Report: Gartley Point, Jan. 23, 2014

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Krista

Despite the fog this morning birders were able to observe an abundance of water fowl at Gartley Point.
6 birders saw the following 29 species…..highlights being 2 Savannah Sparrows, and a Northern Harrier.

Common Loon
Red-breasted Merganser
Trumpeter Swan
Northern Harrier
Horned Grebe
Bald Eagle
Canada Goose
Glaucous-winged Gull
Mallard
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Pintail
Northern Flicker
American Wigeon
Northwestern Crow
Eurasian Wigeon
Bewick’s Wren
Greater Scaup
European Starling
Long-tailed Duck
Spotted Towhee
Surf Scoter
Savannah Sparrow
White-winged Scoter
Song Sparrow
Common Goldeneye
Dark-eyed Junco
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Red-winged Blackbird
Bufflehead

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Bird Outing Report: Four Beaches, Jan. 16, 2014

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Krista

 
An overcast sky and a calm ocean made for a good morning for birding. 9 birders went to  Williams Beach, Miracle Beach, Saratoga Beach, and Salmon Point.
The highlight of the day were 3 Barn Swallows at the Salmon Point Marina……this is a very early sighting. 
 
Williams Beach:   Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Pelagic Cormorant,  Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Black Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Bald Eagle, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Glaucous-wing Gull, Common Murre, Common Raven, Pacific Wren, Song Sparrow.
 
Miracle Beach:   Common Loon, Pacific Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Harlequin Duck, Brant, Mallard, American Wigeon, Long-tailed Duck, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Turnstone, Dunlin, Mew Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Pileated Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Northwestern Crow, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet.
 
Saratoga Beach:  Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Great-blue Heron, Canada Goose, Bufflehead, Brant, Mallard, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser,  Common Merganser, Bald Eagle, Black-bellied Plover, Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Northern Flicker, Common Raven, Barn Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Song Sparrow.
 
 
 
 

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Guest Speaker: VI Conservation Planning, Sun. Jan. 19, 2014

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Krista

CV Nature hosts a monthly lecture on natural history and environmental topics. This month’s guest speaker will be Tim Ennis, Director of Land Stewardship at the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Tim Ennis will present an illustrated lecture on conservation plans for Vancouver Island on Sunday January 19 at 7pm, at the Florence Filberg Centre (411 Anderton Avenue) Admission: free to members, $3 to non-members.

Tim Ennis is a conservation biologist and photographer from Victoria, BC. He has worked throughout British Columbia with the Nature Conservancy of Canada for more than 14 years and is best known for his work in ecosystemrestoration. He is currently responsible for the development of an overarching conservation plan for Vancouver Island.

Founded in 1962, The Nature Conservancy of Canada has completed more than 80 projects that protect more than 1 million acres (400,000 hectares) of this province’s most ecologically significant land and water. Today, the BC Region continues to work with our partners to protect and steward British Columbia’s natural heritage. It is therefore a leading organization in the development of policy affecting future development based on scientific principles.

Planning to maintain and protect rich natural heritage of the Comox Valley is currently guided by our regional plan: “Nature without Borders” (http://www.cvconservationstrategy.org), which was developed through a long process of community consultation. It is therefore important to understand how our local heritage and environmental management plans work within the larger regional framework being developed for the east side of Vancouver Island.

This presentation and ensuing discussion are part of Comox Valley Nature’s monthly environmental lectures.

Comox Valley Nature is a non-profit society affiliated to BC Nature which fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing free weekly guided hikes and undertaking 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.

Founded in 1966, it is one of the oldest environmental societies on the North Island.

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

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