Bird Outing Report: Cumberland Marsh, May 7, 2013

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Krista

Ten birders met for a very pleasant walk through Cumberland Marsh. Weather was sunny and mild. A total of 35 species were seen or heard, including recently-arrived Black-headed Grosbeak and Western Tanager. We saw a total of six species of warbler, and had looks at Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks and a calling Pied-Billed Grebe.

Wood Duck 3
Mallard 2
Hooded Merganser 3
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Bald Eagle 2
Rufous Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-breasted Sapsucker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Hammond’s Flycatcher 4
Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1
Cassin’s Vireo 2
Warbling Vireo 3
Steller’s Jay 2
Common Raven 2
Violet-green Swallow 5
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Pacific Wren 1
American Robin 8
European Starling 6
Orange-crowned Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 3
Yellow Warbler 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 5
Townsend’s Warbler 5
Wilson’s Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 4
Western Tanager 1
Black-headed Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird 8
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Purple Finch 2
Pine Siskin 8

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Botany Outing Report: Kin Beach, Apr. 8,2013

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Krista

Approximately 15 naturalists attend a botany outing to Kin Beach on a lovely sunny spring day. The plants identified were:
Flowering plants : common chickweed, little western bittercress, pale spring beauty, red stem spring beauty, miner’s lettuce, shepherd’s cress, common draba, blue-eyed Mary, gold star, slender toothwort, pink twink, dwarf owl clover, electrified cats tail moss, English daisy, tall Oregon grape.
Not yet flowering plants: fawn lilies, chocolate lilies, Pacific sanicle, elegant rein orchid, Indian consumption plant, yarrow, Menzies larkspur, northern wormwood, gumweed, dalmation toadflax, tansy, mugwort, fringecup, Hooker’s fairy bells.
Shrubs noted : red-flowering currant, ninebark, ocean spray, Nootka rose, cascara, snowberry, salmonberry. and many sword ferns.

Posted in Field Trips, Plants and fungi | Comments Off on Botany Outing Report: Kin Beach, Apr. 8,2013

April 21, 2013: Mushroom Specialist Shannon Berch

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Krista

The penultimate Rachel Carson Memorial Lecture hosted by Comox Valley Nature will be delivered by Dr. Shannon Berch. The title of the lecture is “Mycorrhizas – How fungi help plants grow”. The lecture is on Sunday April 21 at 7 pm, at the Filberg Centre.

Dr. Shannon Berch is a Research Scientist with the Government of British Columbia soil conservation, soil biology, and non-timber forest products especially commercially harvested wild mushrooms. She is an adjunct professor with the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and with the Centre for Livelihoods and Ecology at Royal Roads University (RRU) in Victoria. She is a founding member of the Truffle Association of British Columbia (TABC) and part of their research and development program. Recently, she and her husband started a truffle consulting business that independently assesses quality of inoculated seedlings before planting and colonization in the truffle orchard. Both as a lover of truffles and an active member of the South Vancouver Island Mycological Society (SVIMS), she is on the search for edible native truffles in British Columbia.

Shannon has studied mycorrhizae since her graduate school days and over the years has developed expertise with arbuscular mycorrhizae, ericoid mycorrhizae, and ectomycorrhizae. Her work also includes non-timber forest products that are harvested from the forests of British Columbia including chanterelles and pine mushrooms.

Shannon is passionate about introducing beginners to the amazing world of mushrooms and truffles and has for years helped man the mushroom display during the annual SVIMS Swan Lake Mushroom Show in Victoria. In the fall of 2011, she lead a beginners mushroom foray for SVIMS, presented an invited lecture at the inaugural Quadra Island mushroom festival, and taught a 2-day continuing education course at RRU entitled ‘Can I Eat That Mushroom?’

Shannon is carrying out a research and demonstration project aimed at introducing Mediterranean truffle production to British Columbia. This project is assessing oak and hazelnut fine root colonization by ectomycorrhizal fungi, including the target Tuber melanosporum and Tuber aestivum, in truffle orchards on south Vancouver Island, the lower Fraser Valley, and the Okanagan Valley.

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. 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.

These lectures are part of CVN’s Rachel Carson Memorial lectures honouring women in Environment Studies. The last lecture will be delivered by Dr. Marlene Smith, on the management of Strathcona Park, on May 19th. This is an educational a series not to be missed.

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

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BC Nature enews April 2013

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Krista
Upcoming Events
  • AGM 2013 – Along the Fraser – Adapting to Change Abbotsford-Mission Nature Club – May 2-5, 2013 – Registration in BCnature Spring Magazine and Abbotsford Mission website
  • Skagit Valley Bird Blitz – May 10-12, 2013
  • Mt. Robson Provincial Park Bird Blitz – June 7-9, 2013
  • Manning Park Bird Blitz – June 14-16, 2013 Note Change: Manning Park Lodge is currently closed – for accommodation other than tenting – please visit East Gate Accomodation this accommodation is 15 minutes from the gathering area.
  • FGM Cranbrook – Sept 19-22, 2013. Preparations are well underway. Registration and information will be available end of May 2013.
Enbridge pipeline opponents say hearings unfair
From April 3,2013 – Globe and Mail – Author: Mark Hume Federal hearings into the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project are unfair because company witnesses are allowed to huddle before answering questions during cross-examination, says a lawyer for two conservation groups. Chris Tollefson, a University of Victoria law professor representing BC Nature and Nature Canada, has also complained about long, “scripted answers” and about witnesses who are passed information from company experts sitting in the back rows of the hearing room. For complete Article – Full Link Here
Issue 31
Date April 2013
Nature Conservancy of Canada needs financial help
A request from IBA – By June 1, 2013 Here is a very exciting opportunity to conserve another 23% of the Kilpoola Lake IBA! Nature Conservancy needs 1.5 million by June 1, 2013 to close the deal on the Elkink Ranch, south block.For background information on how you can help, check out this link
“Protecting Vulnerable Species: A Draft Five-Year Plan for Species at Risk in British Columbia”
The five-year plan draft is posted online and will be accepting public comments online and by mail until April 12, 2013. Please voice your opinions/comments here
Enbridge Updates
U.S. orders Enbridge to dredge Kalamazoo River after huge oil spill two years ago – article Here
Dilbit Sinks in Enbridge Oil Spill, but Floats in Its Lab Study – A recent industry-backed study of diluted bitumen, the Canadian crude oil that would be shipped through the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, contradicts what environmentalists have said for years—that diluted bitumen, or dilbit, sinks in water and is much more difficult to clean up than conventional crude oil. Entire article here
Enbridge grilled on First Nations’ title rights. Complete article here
Bringing back the bluebirds – Nature Conservancy of Canada
Some of our successes are huge breakthroughs and some are smaller, quiet successes – like the story of Gerald Elkington and his bluebirds. Gerald was a landowner in the beautiful Cowichan Valley of BC and was already 100 years old when he sold the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) his land to form the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve. He had a tenancy agreement with us to ensure he could live out his life on his beloved property. He died in 2004 at the remarkable age of 105.
During a visit to his home, an NCC staff person asked him about the bluebird figure on his mantle. “You could tell spring had arrived in the Cowichan Valley when the song of the bluebird filled the air,” Gerald reminisced. But by the time NCC purchased the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve, the song of the bluebird had fallen silent. Gerald had witnessed the decline and disappearance of the western bluebird from the valley. In the 1990s they were declared locally extinct in British Columbia. Though Gerald did not live to see it, the bluebirds are now returning to the valley, thanks to a collaborative and ambitious effort with the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team and other partners to reintroduce western bluebirds to their native range. Earlier in the year, the Cowichan Garry Oak Preserve welcomed 17 western bluebirds brought up from their home in Washington State. NCC is proud to be part of this amazing initiative that will relocate up to 90 birds to help rebuild the decimated local population. Gerald would be pleased. It’s thanks to your support, and the generous support of our partners across Canada, that this work continues today. In fact, NCC now secures an average of 2 new properties every week, and NCC has helped to conserve more than 2.6 million acres of ecologically significant land across Canada.
Kitimat Refinery Project Demands Transparency
David Black’s gambit is turning into a big election issue, but what do we know about its financial backers? By Peter Ewart, Today, TheTyee.ca It is big news. An astounding $25 billion has been raised to build pipelines, tankers and one of the biggest refineries in the world at Kitimat, British Columbia. David Black, owner of the Black Media chain, first announced the proposed project last summer. Since then, Black, through his company Kitimat Clean, has hired the Swiss-based firm, Oppenheimer Investments Group to assemble the financing and see the project through “from start to finish.” According to news reports, Richard Cooke, a senior managing director for Oppenheimer Investments Group, says that his firm has “arranged and [has] the funding committed to do this whole project.” This is quite a feat, of course, considering that the $25 billion amounts to more than half the annual budget revenue for the entire province of British Columbia. And that the oil industry itself has not invested in new refinery creation in Canada since the 1980s because of low profit margins and refinery overcapacity For complete article – please visit Here
Interesting Sites and articles
Video on Day and Night pollinators – here
Nature Canada is happy to announce that our International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) website is up and running to help you Welcome Back Birds! Visit Here Lots of great ideas for individuals and/or clubs.
Remembering the Exxon Valdez – Video Link
Two excellent videos on Light Pollution worth circulating to schools, city councils, etc. The amount of energy wasted lighting up the night sky and its impact on your health and the environment is enormous. Link 1 or Link 2
About Town – Upcoming Events
Creston Valley Bird Fest – May 10-11, 2013 – Click here for more info
Join the David Suzuki Foundation on a telephone Townhall – From the comfort of your home, participate in this informative and inspiring 60-minute call. Sabine Jessen, National Manager of the Oceans and Great Freshwater Lakes Program for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and another ocean conservation leader will share their knowledge about the health of the North Pacific Ocean and answer questions about a promising B.C. initiative to use the ocean wisely. We need to ensure that many benefits of a healthy ocean –– jobs, food, recreation and more –– are there for us, our children and grandchildren. Register here
Visiting the Okanagan in June? – The Annual Okanagan Mountain Park Bird and Critter Count will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and June 2, 2013, sponsored by the Central Okanagan Naturalists’ Club. This will be 20 years for the count since it started in 1993. And it will mark 10 years since the fire that burned most of the park in 2003. This is one of the the longest and most reliable records in existence of the bird community for an area that burned so heavily. However, the change may not have been entirely as many people would have expected with higher species totals on the counts after the fires than before. If you’d like to join in, you can contact me directly – Les Gyug by phone (250-769-5907) or by email. We do between 7 and 11 routes per year, so there are a number of opportunities to join in–either by car birding, short walks, long strenuous all day hikes to the center of the park, or canoeing along the lakeshore. We can hook you up with a group covering a route from either the north end at Kelowna or the south end near Naramata/Penticton.
Elk River Poisoned by Coal Mining
A new study clearly indicates that the Elk River is being poisoned by toxic levels of selenium leaching from open-pit coal mining waste rock. The high rates of selenium – far in excess of British Columbia guidelines – have created a crisis for fish and other species in the Elk River. It is time to take a big step back and look at how this area is managed as a whole. Not to rush through new mining permits. This Canada Water Week, the Elk River especially could use some love…visit www.ilovemylake.ca and share your love for the Elk! Sign the declaration and help us remind Environment Minister Peter Kent and Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield how much we all love our lakes and other waterbodies!
Flathead River BioBlitz
Following our first-ever Flathead BioBlitz, the Flathead Wild team is preparing for the Second Annual Flathead River BioBlitz! Last year, we were joined by ten biologists, three photographers, one videographer, and nearly a dozen visual artists in Southeastern British Columbia’s magnificent Flathead River Valley. This team of biologists spent a week in August exploring the river, the floodplain, the surrounding forests, valley, streams, and mountains, collecting, documenting and cataloguing species in an effort to understand the area’s rich biodiversity. We were fortunate to have some of BC’s top biologists, including half-a-dozen from the Royal BC Museum. They looked for spiders, insects, freshwater mollusks, birds, plants and more and found lots of interesting and surprising specimens. Their results will be released later this Spring. This year we will be going earlier in the year (June 21st-28th) in an effort to find species in a different phase of their life cycles, at a wetter time, and we can’t wait to see what will be discovered. We are currently searching for our next team of biologists, and we are particularly interested in finding top ornithologists. If you are a biologist, or know one, who would like to be involved in protecting a vital link in the Yellowstone to Yukon wildlife corridor, please get in touch. What: 2nd Annual Flathead BioBlitz Expedition When: June 21st-28th, 2013 Where: Flathead River Valley, SE of Fernie, BC For more information or to register, please email
Summer Job Opportunity in the Nature-related Field
Please circulate this link to anyone you know who might be looking for work in a nature-related field. We (the BCCF) are hiring a number of community coordinators as well as hiring some summer students for a WildSafeBC Ambassador program that we are just launching. link here
Grizzly bears deserve immediate legal protection in Canada
Study finds many bear populations are on the brink of extinction. Grizzly bears could disappear from many parts of Canada unless action is taken to list them under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and initiate immediate recovery efforts, including protecting their dwindling habitat in some regions. That’s the conclusion of a David Suzuki Foundation study that analyzed provincial and federal government data on the status of grizzly populations across Western Canada. The report, Securing a National Treasure, revealed that 16 subgroups are on the brink of extinction in regions where they once flourished. This includes nine groups in south-central British Columbia and Alberta’s entire grizzly population, which remains vulnerable despite a recent hunting ban. Complete News Release here
Great Backyard Bird Count
The 16th annual Great Backyard Bird Count was the largest worldwide bird count ever. Over 25.6 million birds and 3144 species were counted in 107 countries. More than 120,000 checklists were submitted! Surprisingly, in the list of countries submitting the most checklists, India came in third (topped only by the U.S. and Canada)! Canadians submitted more than 12,500 checklists, a nearly 30% increase over last year’s 9800. This wealth of information will help scientists track changes in bird populations on a worldwide scale from year to year. The top five species (reported on the most checklists) were Northern Cardinal; Dark-eyed Junco; Mourning Dove; Downy Woodpecker; and House Finch. A massive number of northern finch species were recorded in the U.S. – periodic movements are related to cone and seed crops in northern Canada. A Red-flanked Bluetail (recorded in New Westminster, BC) was a GBBC first! More trends and highlights from the 2013 count will be posted soon on the GBBC website. Many thanks to everyone who participated in and promoted the GBBC.
Posted in BC Nature | Comments Off on BC Nature enews April 2013

Bird Outing Report: One Spot Trail, April 1, 2013

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Krista

Seven birders walked sections of the One Spot Trail , looking for early spring arrivals. The weather was beautiful and most of the birds were both seen and heard by everyone. Some of the recently-arrived species encountered were Rufous Hummingbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Orange-crowned Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler. We also enjoyed close-up looks at a Cooper’s Hawk that was gathering nesting material. Total species for the walk was 27, with good numbers of individuals.

More detail and photos on the Nature Student blog.

While most members returned to town at the end of the walk two birders detoured to Wildwood Swamp. Highlights there were more Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers, a mixed flock of Violet-green and Tree Swallows, and a pair of Wood Ducks.

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Nature Outing Report: Boyle Point, March 28, 2013

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Krista

Postponed from March 20 (a day that included wind, rain, hail, snow & sun!) four members explored Boyle Point Park & Morrison Marsh on Denman Island.  Nature Student blog has a selection of photos.    Additional bird highlights were numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers, Red Crossbills, and a Turkey Vulture. Notable plants were the forest of old-growth Douglas-fir, many arbutus & a few Garry oak on the bluffs, & evergreen huckleberry throughout. The 9 km hike included some  sections of blow-down along the south bluff, though there are alternative trails.

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Bird Outing Report: Kye Bay, March 18, 2013

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Krista

Six birders met at Elks Park at Kye Bay to check out the gull flocks. There were easily a few thousand gulls scattered over the sandbars on the falling tide. There was also a raft of sea ducks (scoters, long-tails, etc.) a mile or more offshore to the southeast.

More details and photos on the Nature Student blog.

After checking out the closer gull flocks most members decided to head over to Pt. Holmes, while the Hardy Two stayed and slogged out towards the reef to check the gulls out that way. Altogether we had six species for the day: thousands of Glaucous-winged, hundreds of Mew, several Thayer’s, a few California, a couple of Herring, and at least one Ring-billed. There was also a flock of about 50 Brant near the reef. No shorebirds seen.

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BC Nature enews March 2013

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Krista
Upcoming Events
  • AGM 2013 – Along the Fraser – Adapting to Change Abbotsford-Mission Nature Club – May 2-5, 2013 – Registration in Spring Magazine and our website
  • February 28, 2013 – Deadline for BC Nature Awards nominations. Please contact the office for further information or visit: our website Deadline for BC Nature Resolutions
  • April 4, 2013 -Rene Savenye Scholarships applications must be sent to the office. Information can be found here
  • Skagit Valley Bird Blitz – May 10-12, 2013
  • Mt. Robson Provincial Park Bird Blitz – June 7-9, 2013
  • Manning Park Bird Blitz – June 14-16, 2013
  • FGM Cranbrook – Sept 19-22, 2013
A Dark Cloud Hangs Over South Delta
The Fraser delta, on Vancouver’s southern doorstep, is a wetland of international importance, a gathering place for salmon, waterfowl, shorebirds, and whales, and for people. It has rich, productive farmland, some of the best in Canada, yet under the wide open skies, nature struggles for space. Snow geese feed in school yards and orcas swim among container ships. Pumpkin and blueberry fields compete for space with shopping malls, golf courses, and housing developments. The delta landscape, recently designated as a UN Ramsar site for its critical wetland values, is changing rapidly, powered by agencies and policies that destroy the environment and ignore community concerns. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the actions of Port Metro Vancouver, whose determination to push through operational expansions on a massive scale, has many Delta residents enraged. For full Article – view here WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? YOU MAY NOT LIVE IN DELTA, BUT SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY, THIS WILL EFFECT YOU! WE URGE YOU TO WRITE YOUR LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL POLITICIANS ON THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF THIS MOST VALUABLE LAND.
Issue 30
Date March
Nature Conservancy of Canada needs financial help
A request from IBA – By June 1, 2013 Here is a very exciting opportunity to conserve another 23% of the Kilpoola Lake IBA! Nature Conservancy needs 1.5 million by June 1, 2013 to close the deal on the Elkink Ranch, south block.For background information on how you can help, check out this link
Backyard Bird Count goes Global
Amateur birders record an astounding number of species and individuals in the first ever worldwide avian stock taking. Read Article Here
2013 Endangered Rivers List for BC
2013 marks the 21st annual “most endangered rivers” list from the Outdoor Recreation Council (ORC). The preparation of this list is the most comprehensive initiative of its kind in Canada. It is an accurate snapshot of the issues that face our rivers and those facing the greatest threat to their ecological health. Please join us in this effort to raise awareness and engage all British Columbians in the better management and conservation of our rivers. The compilation of the list will, as it has been in the past, be coordinated by the Outdoor Recreation Council. Nominations are reviewed by a committee who are knowledgable and familiar with the specific threats to BC’s rivers. Mark Angelo, ORC’s Rivers Chair for many years and Chair Emeritus for the Rivers Institute of BCIT, has agreed to continue as the Chair of this committee. The deadline for nominations for the 2013 Endangered Rivers List was Monday March 18th. Please fill out our online form or Download a printable application form. Each year, the Endangered Rivers List is compiled by ORC and released to media outlets across BC and Canada. It receives significant media attention, highlighting the rivers and issues that are most important to British Columbians. To read the results for 2012, simply click on this Bottom of the page
Have a Teenage Birder in your household or neighbourhood?
It is time to start getting our teen birders excited about this years’ Doug Tarry Young Ornithologist Workshop. Please use the enclosed information in your newsletter or announce the program and awards at your next members’ meeting.
Thank you for your help in bringing this unique educational opportunity to the attention of your membership. For more information click here. Prospective participants are also welcome to contact me directly for more information. Deadline is April 30, 2013 For more information Please visit – this link
Pink Mountain Biodiversity Research Initiative – Needs Your Support
Several BC Nature Clubs have learned about Pink Mountain through presentations by Ron Long. Located 120 km north of Fort St. John in northern British Columbia, Pink Mountain is unique for its rich flora and fauna. Preliminary studies on the flora of the summit plateau reveal that Pink Mountain hosts no less than one red listed and ten blue listed plant species as well as numerous rarely seen plants. Two red listed insects are known and research is expected to identify additional listed species. Naturalists can access this unique ecosystem via a rough road that leaves the Alaska Highway at mile 147. The unique biodiversity of Pink Mountain is threatened by a 40-turbine wind farm. A two-year letter writing campaign has made the Provincial Government aware of the special nature of this Mountain, but unfortunately has not resulted in further protection. More work is needed. To this end the UBC Botanical Garden and the Native Plant Society of BC are spearheading a research plan aimed to quantify scientifically the unique aspects of Pink Mountain. The proposed Pink Mountain Biodiversity Research Initiative (PMBRI) is intended to further document the flora and fauna of Pink Mountain. The PMBRI will involve three months of field study followed by several months of lab and herbarium analysis. The research will attempt to cover aspects of ecology, including: plants, soils, birds, bats, butterflies and other insects. A PhD student will coordinate the research, assisted by two undergraduate researchers, and on-site assistance from experienced personnel, including Ron Long. The Botanical Garden will assist with follow-up, and samples will also be provided to the Royal British Columbia Museum and other research institutions that have offered to help with identification of species. You can lend your individual support and/or encourage your club to financially support the Pink Mountain Biodiversity Research Initiative to hire the research students. The University of BC Botanical Garden is managing the donated funds and administering the hiring of the researchers, as well as providing research support. 100% of all donations will be directed to the research on Pink Mountain. A full accounting of funds will be available to all contributing organizations and individuals. At the end of the research period, the scientific report will be submitted to the BC Minister of Natural Resource Operations, the BC Minister of Environment and to all contributing organizations. Personal donations: Please make your cheque payable to the UBC Botanical Garden with the notation “Pink Mountain”. Mail to: UBC Botanical Garden, Att. Daniel Mosquin 6804 SW Marine Drive – Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Club Donations: Please advise either Daniel Mosquin or Ron Long of the amount of your pledge or email them for more information. Daniel Mosquin – email Daniel – or Phone 604-827-5773 Ron Long – email Ron – or Phone 604-469-1651
Interesting Sites and articles
Oregon Spotted Frog – View Video Here
Rare Siamese Crocodiles released into the wild – Link
A New Owl Species of the GenusOtus (Aves: Strigidae) from Lombok, Indonesia Link Here Looking to invest in “Ethical Funds” – here is a good link here
One of the largest Glacier “Calving” incidents ever caught on video > Link
YNC Grassland Monitoring Citizen Science project Field Day at Brunswick Point on BC’s first Family Day! You can read all about it here
Matt Mendenhall of Birdwatching magazine on exciting new discoveries about bird migration. It expands on the sidebar of an article I have in the upcoming issue of Birdwatching magazine – – Link –
Avian Tribe Apart – Source: nytimes.com Scientists and bird lovers delve into the subtle and surprising world of owls. link
About Town – Upcoming Events
Creston Valley Bird Fest – May 10-11, 2013 – Click here for more info
We need your birding skills – Volunteer request here FrogWatch, one of our most popular NatureWatch Program, especially for kids! – information link
Sacred Headwaters gets national enviro-nod, as coal mining troubles loom
From CNW TORONTO, March 6, 2013 /CNW/ – The Tahltan Nation of northern B.C. will be honoured tonight in Toronto with a national “Top 10” environmental achievement award for the recent permanent protection of the “Sacred Headwaters” from natural gas development. The Tides Canada award will be an emotional victory, because it comes at a time when new coal mining projects are also being proposed for the exact same region, and are stirring worries. “Shell Oil may be gone from our traditional lands, but new coal mining proposals are a major concern too,” says Annita McPhee, President of Tahltan Central Council. Last December, Tahltan Central Council, Shell Canada, and the B.C. government announced the end to natural gas exploration in the Klappan region of northwest B.C. Shell voluntarily gave up its tenure for the area. It marked the end of years of negotiations, and a difficult struggle that included protests, road blocks, and elders being arrested. The next steps for the Sacred Headwaters, says McPhee, will be engaging constructively with the coal mining companies. She says she is guided by elders who say economic development must be done sustainably, without poisoning the sacred waterways that are home to wild salmon and moose. “Our concern is, mining companies are proposing to build right in the headwaters. They want to put their tailing ponds right where our people have one of our hunting camps.” “We are not against economic development. We just believe the benefits should far outweigh the impacts.” Off limits, she says are certain ecologically and culturally sensitive zones in the Klappan. However, other areas within Tahltan traditional lands might see copper and gold mines flourish. McPhee will receive the award tonight on behalf of the Tahltan Nation at the Arta Gallery in Toronto. The Tides Canada award for the Sacred Headwaters will be shared with Shell Canada, Forest Ethics, Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, and the B.C. government. The “Tides Top 10” award is a recognition of the country’s most innovative projects in 2012 addressing environmental and social challenges. “Creating outcomes that work for both people and our planet is tough work” said Ross McMillan, President and CEO of Tides Canada. “But each and every one of the Tides Top 10 is doing just that – they are building the cutting-edge solutions that Canada needs now and for a resilient future.” Fast Facts • Talhtan Central Council represents the Tahltan band and Iskut First Nation on resources issues • Tahltan Nation is comprised of 5,000 members • “Sacred Headwaters” was a name given to The Klappan region by a consortium of First Nations and environmental groups • The Klappan is a valley basin with three wild salmon rivers: the Skeena River, Stikine River, and Nass River
Enbridge Updates
Province peppers fish experts with questions at pipeline hearings link
Oil spills can benefit economy, panel told – – Link
A medical doctor’s speech at the pipeline hearings in Kelowna. Tyee Link Alison Redford, the premier of Canada’s wealthiest province, has encountered a $6 billion “bitumen bubble” on the busy Highway to Hell. – Tyee Article
Earth Day Canada
Nominate your favourite Home Town Heroe – Deadline April 1, 2013 – details link
VAPOUR Update
VAPOR has won round one in saving the Fraser River estuary from toxic and flammable jet fuel! Thanks for all your support, but the battle is not over yet. see press release
Protect our parks!
From CPAWS The federal budget is coming soon, and if it doesn’t include more money for national parks and marine protected areas, we’ll be putting more of Canada’s precious wildlife at risk, and reducing the chances that our children will be able to enjoy the parks as we do today. We need your help to convince the government to reinvest in our precious national parks and marine protected areas. Link Here for more Information Please take a moment to send your letter to Finance Minister Flaherty now
Do you have a river in need of some TLC in your area?
A highly reputable and significant Lower Mainland organization is seeking a suitable project for a fairly large number of its volunteers to take place in May. One possibility they are considering is a river clean up and they are prepared to consider a location anywhere in the Lower Mainland. This is separate and aside from ORC’s 2013 Endangered Rivers initiative for which we will be putting out our request for nominations later this week. If your organization has a suggestion for a worthwhile project which the volunteers of this organization could undertake please advise this office and we will forward your suggestions to the organization concerned. Please contact Outdoor Recreation Council email us here
Posted in BC Nature | Comments Off on BC Nature enews March 2013

Spring 2013 Nature Walk Schedule

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Krista

CVN Nature Walks Spring 2013

April 6 (Saturday) Puntledge River from Powerhouse Road, Meet 9:30am at Harmston Ave. Leader: Loys Maingon 331-0143.

April 14 (Sunday) Tsolum River flats. A great place to view gorgeous masses of spring flowers. Meet 1pm at Exhibition grounds. Leader: Karin Franzen 250-334-7737 (P)

April 20 (Saturday) Nature photo tips and photo contest. Meet at the bottom of Filberg Road. Leader: Terry Thormin 250-941-5130

April 22 (Monday) Vanier Earth Day Celebration.

April 28 (Sunday) Geology outing (title and place to be determined). Leader: Del Ferguson (non- member guest leader)

May 5 (Sunday) Spring bird count. Contact Carol Muirhead

May 11 (Saturday) Nymph Falls. Meet 9:30am at Harmston Ave. Leader: Steph Nathan 250-334-7701 (P)

May 18 (Saturday) Bear Creek Park. Meet 9:15am at Harmston Ave. or 10am at park entrance. Leader: Mandy Vaughn 250-337-8955.

May 25 (Saturday) Point Holmes beach walk. Meet at boat launch ramp at 12 noon. Leader: John Tayless

June 1 (Saturday) Historical nature walk: home sites and trails of pioneer birdmen of Comox. Meet 10am at Macdonald Wood Park entrance. Leader: Betty Brooks 250-337-8180.

June 8 (Saturday) Miracle Beach low tide sandy beach walk. Meet 10:30am at Harmston Ave. or 11am at Miracle Beach Nature House. Leader: Betty Brooks 250-337-8180.

June 15 (Saturday) Public Garry Oak Walk (Vanier). Meet at the Vanier Ice Rink parking lot 10 a.m. Leader: Loys Maingon 331-0143 (P)

June 16 (Sunday) CVN Annual potluck—Place TBA

June 22 (Saturday) Allen Lake, Cumberland. Meet 9:30am at Harmston Ave. Leader: Fran Newson 250- 339-4001.

June 29 (Saturday) Tsolum  Spirit Park. Meet 9:30 a.m. at Tsolum Spirit Park parking lot. Leader: Loys Maingon 331-0143  (P)

P= walk open to general public

Posted in Field Trips, News | Comments Off on Spring 2013 Nature Walk Schedule

March 17, 2013: Invasive Species Control

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Krista

As part of a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, Comox Valley Nature will host a public lecture on the urgent and difficult problem of invasive species control. This is a multi-million scourge which has been identified as a prime source of productivity decline for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.

This topic illustrates important links between the state of the environment and economic health. Invasive species are a growing burden on government budgets. It is therefore important for the public to understand the policy constraints that local governments face in trying to come to come to terms with the spread of invasive species.

Nancy Hofer is Environmental Planner at the City of Courtenay. She will present a talk outlining the problem and the regulatory options available to municipal government, entitled: Combating Invasive Species – Regulatory options at the Local Government Level. The lecture will be at the monthly meeting of Comox Valley Nature at 7 pm Sunday, March 17 at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay.

She is the first person to hold this position at the City, as it is a newly created position as of three years ago. She is a relative newcomer to the Valley, moving here for the job. She brings to the work a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Conservation and a Masters of Planning degree, both from UBC. Nancy is passionate about engaging with communities to co-create the kinds of places that we can all be proud to call home. She loves working with people and also spending time outdoors. Nancy brings a strong sustainability lens to all aspects of her work, aiming to give a voice to Nature in planning decisions while strengthening community resilience in the face of a complex, dynamic and changing world.

Comox Valley Nature is a non-profit society affiliated to BC Nature which fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing weekly guided hikes and undertaking a variety of environmental projects. 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  Loys Maingon (CVN President) at 250-331-0143.

Posted in Guest Speakers | Comments Off on March 17, 2013: Invasive Species Control