Atempting to ignite the meadow using a propane torch
Fire and the Garry Oak
Ecosystem
The Wetland Restoration Project had a unique opportunity to experiment with a prescribed burn in the Courtenay River Airpark recently. Why would we want to burn this popular park? In fact this is very much an experiment and we only hope to burn three small plots. Our goal in the Courtenay River Airpark has been to create a small Garry oak meadow. This is a threatened ecosystem here on Vancouver Island. To this end we have been planting Garry oaks and the associated shrubs such as Nootka rose, snowberry and Oregon grape. In recent years we have also seeded the site with camas and other small forbs collected from nearby areas of the estuary.
It appears that historically fire was an important component of this ecosystem. The First Nations used fire as a tool to manipulate the landscape for their purposes of agriculture and hunting. Fire has the effect of stopping or slowing the natural succession in an ecosystem. On Vancouver Island there is a natural tendency for conifers such as Douglas-fir to slowly invade meadows. As they grow the meadow quickly reverts to a forest. Plants such as camas, which were valuable food plants, grow in meadows but will not survive in the shade of a forest.
By burning the meadows on a regular basis, young conifers are killed and this helps to keep a meadow from changing into a forest. Without fire it appears the Garry Oak ecosystem is a short lived phenomenon.
Burning also releases a quick flush of nutrients into the soil to the benefit of the grasses, forbs and other plants. The effect of burning on invasive plants is less understood. This is why we plan to proceed slowly with this experiment. It is thought that the Garry oak itself is able to tolerate a low intensity burn.
We have set up three plots measuring 8m by 8m in the Airpark. They have different aspects and positions on the slope. We have taken photos and done plant survey in these plots. Club member Bob Bartsch has taken the photos of the plots while Helen Robinson has helped with the plant identification. There has been a great enthusiasm by club members for this project. Within the club there is considerable expertise with many ex-forestry workers from both government ministries and private industry.
We have had an unusual dry Autumn which quickly changed. We have gone from a situation where it was too dry to safely burn, to one where it is too wet to get ignition. On the third week of Oct. looked like we had a short window of opportunity. Unfortunately the small weather envelope closed with an untimely shower that dampened the ground sufficiently to snuff out our plans. Although our attempt was unsuccessful, valuable lessons were learned from what turned out to be a trial run. We hope that we can try again in the early spring when conditions are more favourable.
Once again thanks to all the club members who turned out to help with the burn and who have supported the Wetland Restoration Project over the years.
AGM 2013 – Along the Fraser – Adapting to
Change Abbotsford-Mission Nature Club – May 2-5, 2013 – Details in Winter
Magazine and our website
April 27 – May 1, 2013 – Tofino Camp –
Registration details in Winter Magazine and our website
January 31, 2013 – Submission date close for Club
Support Grants for BC Naturalists Foundation Grants.
February 28, 2013 – Deadline for BC Nature Awards
nominations.
Skagit Valley Bird Blitz – May 10-12, 2013
Manning Park Bird Blitz – June 14-16,
2013
SEND A LETTER TO YOUR MP
BC Nature is not a political entity, but the second half of
our motto:” Know nature and keep it worth knowing” seems to be under threat.
Please respond according to your own conscience. This will be law Nov 1 unless
we speak up.
At the FGM this year (Parksville) – we were lucky to have
Elizabeth May as one of our guest speaker. Elizabeth alerted us to the fact that
she was busy trying to get a reading on a bill (Canada-China Investment
Treaty)which was quietly being pushed through by the Conservatives. The
following article was published in The Tyee and a similar article was written a few weeks ago in
the Globe & Mail.
It is an abomination that
this is being allowed to happen to us – as Canadians, British Columbians and
Naturalists. All for the greed of the oil, coal and any other natural resource
up for grabs!
We ask that you read the article in its entirety and to send
your comments to your local MP. Chairman Harper and the Chinese Sell-Out
– Who needs democracy? Secret treaty is a massive giveaway of Canadian resources
and rights with no vote in Parliament.
Link to the whole article
A follow up article to the side effects of
this type of treaty can be found here from a provincial point of view.
More Info can be
found at David Suzuki Foundation
Issue
26
Date
October 2012
The federal government’s refusal to follow our national endangered
species law, the Species at Risk Act.
Dozens
of Canada’s animals and plants – from humpback whales to woodland caribou – are
at risk. What’s one of the biggest things threatening them?
The federal
government’s refusal to follow our national endangered species law, the Species
at Risk Act. That’s why Ecojustice is taking major action to protect Canada’s
endangered wildlife. Read more link to website
Last week, Ecojustice
published a report that exposes huge problems with the way Canada’s species laws
are being enforced. And in September, we launched a lawsuit against the federal
government for failing to protect four at-risk species living along the proposed
Northern Gateway pipeline and shipping route.
But instead of taking action,
the federal government is now talking about changing the Species at Risk Act as
a way of avoiding its responsibility to fully implement it.
Don’t let
Canada’s endangered species disappear. Tell the federal government to live up to
its legal duty to implement and enforce Canada’s national endangered species
law, without weakening its requirements.
Sign the petition today. And then
share it with your friends and family. Because once Canada’s at-risk species
are gone, they’re gone for good.
On going Enbridge Information, articles,updates
Clark
meets Redford about Enbridge – Click here to read the article
The fine for the
pipeline disaster at Marshall, Michigan was only $3.7 million
PHMSA Issues
Final Order to Enbridge link to document or website
B.C.
Premier Christy Clark warns of national crisis over pipeline – Article
About Town – Upcoming Events
Saturday,
October 27 Mushroom Meander
Leader: Al Grass
Time: 10:00 amJoin Langley Field Naturalist for a Mushroom Meander at Campbell Valley
Regional Park – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Come join Al Grass as we will go in search
of the many different species of mushrooms that sprout up in the coastal forest
each Fall. Meet at 16th Ave parking lot. Bring a snack and refreshments. Dress
warm.
National Marine Conservation Area
You
can be a part of an important conservation effort happening right now in your
“ocean backyard.” If you love and appreciate the incredible rich ocean that
flows through the Gulf Islands in the Southern Strait of Georgia/Salish Sea,
please visit Take Action site to add your voice to those of many other
citizens, scientists, and conservation groups who wish to see this beautiful
marine ecosystem protected and sustainably managed for generations to come!What is a National Marine Conservation Area?
A National Marine
Conservation Area reserve is a type of marine protected area that is managed and
used in an ecologically sustainable manner to meet the needs of the present and
future generations. It has the same goals as a national park – conservation,
public understanding, appreciation, enjoyment – in addition to the goal of
sustainable use. A NMCA helps maintain healthy functioning ecosystems.
Activities such as commercial and recreational fishing, shipping,
transportation, tourism and recreation are allowed, but are managed in a
conservation-oriented manner. Traditional food, social and ceremonial harvesting
by First Nations peoples also continues in an NMCA reserve.
To read more
about the proposed National Marine Conservation Area reserve – see this project
update from Parks Canada or check out the info on this CPAWS webpage.
Interesting Sites and articles
Anne
Murrays Latest Article – link here.
Backyard Birdwatchers Wanted! –
Please see Bird Studies Site for more information on Project
Feeder watch.
Canada vastly extends Vancouver wetlands – Visit Here
Updates on “Jumbo Glacier Resort” –
Kootenays – link here
Chronic exposure to pesticides has a bigger
knock-on effect on bees than conventional probes suggest, according to a new
study on Sunday touching on the mysterious collapse of bee colonies. Pesticides
have knock-on effect for bees, study finds Link
Updates from BC EAO re VAFFC’s Vancouver
Airport Fuel Delivery Project Link
Draft Management Plan for the Sea Otter
Fisheries
and Oceans Canada (DFO) is pleased to inform you that the 2012 draft Management
Plan for the Sea Otter is now undergoing regional consultations. The Sea Otter
was re-assessed as a species of Special Concern by the Committee on the Status
of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in April, 2007..The Government of
Canada listed this species as Special Concern under the Species at Risk Act
(SARA) in March, 2009. In accordance with SARA, the Minister of Fisheries and
Oceans is responsible for developing a Management Plan for aquatic species
listed as Special Concern under SARA. To fulfill this obligation, DFO has
developed a draft Management Plan for this species. Management plans are
documents that describe species information, threats to the species, management
goals and objectives, and measures for the conservation of the species. Recent
population surveys (2008) indicate the Canadian Sea Otter population includes a
minimum of 4,110 animals along the west coast of Vancouver Island and 602
animals on the central B.C. coast. Sea Otters are considered a keystone species
exerting significant ecological effects on near shore marine communities and
upon the life history of their prey. The management objective for the Sea Otter
is to conserve abundance and distribution as observed in 2008, and promote the
continued population growth and expansion into formerly occupied regions such as
Haida Gwaii, Barkley Sound, and north mainland B.C. coast. More information on
the Sea Otter can be found at
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/species-especes/seaotter-loutredemer-eng.htm.
Sea Otter. Photo credit: Margaret Butschler, Courtesy of the Vancouver Aquarium
Marine Science Centre. DFO would like to invite you to provide feedback on the
draft Management Plan via the Regional SARA Consultation – webpage where the document will be available for comment from
September 27th to October 29th, 2012. In doing so, interested parties may learn
more about the species, and provide input to DFO to aid in finalizing the
document. If you have any questions, please contact us at (604) 666-7907 or
email .
Survey Request – Bird Collisions with Buildings: A Willingness to
Pay Survey
This
survey will take only 10 minutes of your time. Please help out if you can.Eric Warren is a Master of Public Policy student at Simon Fraser University
in British Columbia, Canada. Under the supervision of Dr. Nancy Olewiler, his
thesis will examine the issue of bird collisions with commercial and residential
buildings and homes.
He has developed an online survey as one component of a
benefit-cost analysis of the bird collision issue. He is hoping that this
research can bring a new perspective to the problem, and help to enrich future
discourse. The goal of the survey is to determine the publics’ willingness to
pay to protect birds from collisions with residential structures. Questions
explore respondents’ experiences with bird collisions, attitudes towards birds
(ex: what about birds they value), and measure support for various potential
solutions to the problem. If you are willing, please consider doing the survey
yourself (will take about 10 minutes) and/or distribute the survey as you see
fit to colleagues, friends and family. It will be very important to capture a
wide cross-section of the public. Link: SFU
Websurvey
BirdLife International Launches Marine Conservation e-Atlas
The
e-Atlas of Marine Important Bird Areas was launched by BirdLife International
today at the Eleventh Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity in Hyderabad, India. The e-Atlas covers 3000 Important Bird Areas
worldwide, and comprises the first global inventory of important sites for the
conservation of migratory marine species. It will be crucial to the process of
describing ecologically or biologically significant marine areas, and will have
significant input into the siting of offshore energy infrastructure. Learn more
on the BirdLife Community website.
Follow up on Boreal Woodland Caribou
Thank
you for helping us to send a strong message to the federal government that the
future of Canada’s caribou is important. Together, more than 32,045 voices were
heard!
The government has just released its final recovery strategy for
Boreal woodland caribou. It contains notable improvements over the draft
released last year. Many critical changes that we advocated for were
incorporated, which is great news. Unfortunately, the strategy still has
weaknesses. For one, we’re concerned that it sets the bar too low for caribou
habitat protection. This recovery strategy provides a good starting point for
restoring Boreal woodland caribou populations in Canada. We’re now looking to
the provinces and territories to create strong action plans for each caribou
range across the country. Once again, thank you for helping us to give Canada’s
Boreal woodland caribou a voice. Together, we can continue to ensure that our
country’s woodland caribou will stay healthy for generations to come. Yours in
conservation, Éric Hébert-Daly P.S. Without a strong federal Species at Risk
Act, this strategy wouldn’t have been drafted and Canada’s remaining caribou
would have been left to fend for themselves. There are rumours that the
government may make changes to the Act in coming months. If you’re concerned,
please take a moment to send a note to the environment minister to let him know
that a strong federal Species at Risk Act matters to you.
Big Change for Christmas Bird Count
19
October 2012 – The Christmas Bird Count has always been an integral part of the
holiday season for birders across North America, and its huge database is one of
the most important sources of information on the populations of birds on the
continent. The Count is a project of the National Audubon Society coordinated in
Canada by Bird Studies Canada. This year there is a big change coming to the
program’s funding structure. Christmas Bird Count coordination and data analysis
have long been funded by mandatory participation fees instituted by Audubon; for
the past 25 years or more, they’ve been set at $5 per participant. Audubon
announced this fall that they would no longer be collecting this fee, and Bird
Studies Canada will follow suit. While the elimination of the fees will be
welcomed by many, it does leave a big funding gap. Bird Studies Canada hopes
that much of this gap can be made up by voluntary donations, so if you enjoy the
Christmas Bird Count and appreciate the important role it plays in North
American bird conservation, please select this link to donate. Thank you for your continued support of
this critically important program!
India- Birding, Nature & Culture Tour – Advertisement
Join
naturalist Kelly Sekhon on his 9th India nature trip to visit some of India’s
best birding hot spots, renowned National Parks and famous historic sites. The
variety of bird & animal life and the cultural highlights that you see will
truly be amazing.
The Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra & Jaipur- Feb 3-12,
followed by Kerala & South India from Feb 12- 25, 2013
Tour itinerary,
details and pictures on: Peak Adventures Site E-mail: email
us here or Phone us @ 604 526 9091 – Booking deadline: Nov 7, 2012
Posted inBC Nature|Comments Off on BC Nature enews October 2012
Elke Wind, a contract biologist, is the speaker at the monthly Comox Valley Nature meeting Sunday, October 21. Ms. Winds talk “ Why Did the Toad Cross the Road – Amphibians and Road Crossing Issues” will be at 7 pm at the Florence Filberg Center, 411 Anderton, Courtenay. The public is invited to the lecture though a $3 contribution from non-members is appreciated.
Elke Wind obtained her Master of Science degree in Conservation Biology at UBC in 1996 and her status as a Registered Professional Biologist in 2003. She has been self-employed as a contract biologist since 2002 and has more than 20 years experience studying amphibian populations and habitat management issues. She specializes in habitat associations and requirements of local aquatic breeding amphibians in relation to impacts of timber harvesting, non-native species and urban and rural development. Most recently her work has expanded into wetland construction and restoration projects for species at risk. Ms. Wind volunteers for various biology societies and is a leader of the Nanaimo Young Naturalist Club.
Comox Valley Nature is a non-profit society affiliated with BC Nature which fulfils its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing weekly guided hikes and undertaking a variety of environmental projects. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring” the lectures this year feature Women in Environmental Work, a series of one hour talks by BC women professionally involved in environmental studies and earth sciences.
Although the unusual drought has made this a dismal year for the wild mushroom industry on Vancouver Island, the return of the cool fall rain should herald the blossom of some of the year’s late mushrooms. Mushroom identification and picking has played an important role in all cultures, but is only recently beginning to find a growing interest in North America. Given the economic, cultural and ecological importance of fungi, public education on this topic is lacking. In keeping with its educational mandate Comox Valley Nature is pleased to offer a free public walk in search of edible mushrooms.
Although this year’s usual weather makes it impossible to guarantee a crop of edible mushroom, this walk will be lead by an expert mushroom picker, wildcrafter and naturalist, Charlotte Ostrowski. Charlotte brings nearly two decades of experience as a professional mushroom picker, and is sure to delight both experienced naturalists and beginners alike.
This walk will take place on Saturday Oct. 20. Participants should meet at 9 a.m. in front of the Old Church Theatre on Harmston Avenue, or 9:30 at William’s Beach Forest. Participants wishing to go directly to the site should drive north on the old Highway, past the Merville Store and turn right onto William’s Beach Road. (Across the highway from the military surplus store.) Drive PAST Larkin Road on your left at approximately 2 km from the highway. The road goes past farm fields on both sides, then takes a dog leg to the left and goes through a forested area. At approximately the 3 km mark the road takes a dog leg to the right. Park at the corner on the left-hand side of the road. If you drive past the water tower, you have gone too far.
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 inField Trips|Comments Off on Edible Mushroom Walk, Oct. 20
AGM 2013 – Along the Fraser – Adapting to
Change Abbotsford-Mission Nature Club – May 2-5, 2013 – Details Below
April 27 – May 1, 2013 – Tofino Camp – Details in
Fall Magazine
Skagit Valley Bird Blitz – May 10-12, 2013
Manning Park Bird Blitz – June 14-16,
2013
AGM – 2013 “Along the Fraser – Adapting to Change” – Your Hosts
Abbotsford-Mission Nature Club
Mark your calenders – May 2-5, 2013 in beautiful Abbotsford.
Confirmed Speakers and Topics:
Overview of Habitats and Wildlife of the
Fraser Valley – Dr. Mike Pearson
Flooding History of the Fraser – Dr.
Jonathan Hughes
Ecology of Sumas Mtn. and Sumas Mtn. Environmental Study –
Tanya Bettles
Ecologically Sustaiinable Agriculture – A new Approach – Dr.
Kent Mullinix
Current Research on some Amphibians at risk in the Fraser
Valley – Monica Pearson
Great Speakers – Scenic Field Trips Planned! Look
for Registration info in the Winter Magazine
Issue
25
Date
September 2012
BC Nature Website
Update
Check
it out – BC NATURE
WEBSITE Members only section should be completed and functional by the end
of October. We are looking for volunteers from the membership to keep some
sections of the Clubs area updated. If you can type, your skills are needed!
Training available! please contact Office
Manager.
Fraser River Delta Ramsar Site declared
The
Alaksen Ramsar site has been expanded from 586 hectares to 20,682 hectares. The
resulting Ramsar Site, now renamed “Fraser River Delta”, is formed by six
components (Burns Bog, Sturgeon Bank, South Arm Marshes, Boundary Bay,
Serpentine, and the former ‘Alaksen’ Ramsar Site) sadly but not unsurprisingly
it seems Roberts Bank has not been included which makes no sense ecologically.
But there is no map yet so lets hope.
Further port expansion by developing
Terminal 2 and all the accompanying infrastructure just must not happen because
it will threaten the habitats of this vast Fraser River Delta Ramsar site! Or is
that just too simple?
We must remain vigilant and use this. For example,
Before seeing the news release, I was going to write and say head out to the
Reifel Bird Sanctuary and see what the Sunday Walk folks saw today; massive
destruction of habitat (bramble and shrub cover) in a very large area of the
Sanctuary! This has destroyed wintering habitat all along the inner side of the
outer dyke and some other patches. This sort of clearing if it needs to be done
should be done in small patches over several years. So over quite a sizeable
area of the “Sanctuary” there is now no cover for winter roosting, sheltering
from the weather, protected canopy for feeding if we get snow, no drop-in
habitat for exhausted migrants making their first landfall on migration along
the outer dyke. People walking the outer dyke may disturb more birds in the
outer west field marsh because there is no dyke vegetation to hide from the
people. See for yourselves. If you wish to write a letter or two, send one to
the: Board of DirectorsBC Waterfowl Society 5191 Robertson Road Delta, V4K 3N2.And one to: Environment Canada – Pacific and Yukon Region Canadian
Wildlife Service Protected Areas and Stewardship 5421 Robertson Road Delta,
British Columbia V4K 3N2
On going Enbridge Information, articles,updates
From
Elizabeth May – Submission to the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project Joint Review
Panel From: Defend Our Coast Action Team There comes a time
when you need to take a stand. When sending letters and signing petitions isn’t
enough. When together we must say “enough is enough—not on our watch.” For
Canada, that time is now. Click here to join a historic direct action in
Victoria this October. On October 22, British Columbians and people from across
Canada will converge on the B.C. legislature to take peaceful, direct action to
defend our coast. Enbridge and Kinder Morgan are proposing new tar sands
pipelines that would bring hundreds of supertankers to B.C.’s fragile coast.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark has said she’d support supertanker projects as long
as B.C. gets a payout to compensate for the risk of oil spills—in other words,
she’s willing to sell out the coast to big oil. Prime Minister Harper spent the
last year silencing the voices of opposition by gutting environmental
protection, cancelling more than 3,000 safety assessments of industrial
projects, and attacking people in Canada who hold and voice environmental
values. By pushing these tar sands pipeline projects, Prime Minister Harper is
pushing us further into a growing climate crisis. The time to take a stand is
now. Together, we can show the B.C. and Federal governments that the west coast
is not for sale. Join us in Victoria, share the action on Facebook and Twitter,
and encourage your family and friends to sign up as well. Sign up to be there on
October 22. It’s going to be a powerful day, and more powerful if you’re a part
of it. Sincerely,Its all about the PR (Enbridge) – written by Rafe Mair
– Link Rafe Responds to Gwyn Morgan’s Attack on
‘Environmental Zealots’ Opposing Enbridge – Link
About Town – Upcoming Events
BC
Coastal Monitoring Training Sessions – Bird Studies Canada is holding two
free workshops this fall for people interested in learning about coastal bird
monitoring programs in British Columbia. The workshops will review the
techniques for conducting Beached Bird Surveys and Coastal Waterbird Surveys.
Workshops will be held on Saturday, October 27 (9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) at Stanley
Park Ecology Society’s office, Vancouver, and on Saturday, November 10 (9 a.m.-2
p.m.) at Cammidge House, Delta. Each workshop will include an indoor portion and
a guided outdoor walk. These sessions are suitable for new volunteers, as well
as returning participants who would like extra training. We are seeking
volunteers for several vacant survey sites in and around Vancouver, for both
programs.
Pre-registration is required since spots are limited. To sign up,
email Karen Barry at emailor
phone (604) 940-4688. Please dress for the weather, and bring a bagged lunch,
and binoculars if you have them. These workshops are sponsored by the Stanley
Park Ecology Society, Friends of Semiahmoo Bay, Nature Vancouver, Delta
Naturalists, and Cammidge House Committee.Want to get involved in
Friends of Wild Salmon? When: Saturday, October 13, beginning at 10:30 am.
Where: The Longhouse at Northwest Community College, Terrace The meeting will
include: •A presentation by speaker Andrew Nikiforuk. Andrew is an acclaimed
Canadian author whose latest book is The Energy of Slaves: Oil and the New
Servitude.
•Discussion regarding future activities of Friends of Wild
Salmon.
•Election of a new Steering ?>%20email
Exposing%20Nature%E2%80%99s%20Art%20November%202-4,%202012%20-%20The%20Great%20Bear%20RainforestAlumni%20Theatre,%20Thompson%20Rivers%20University%20on%20Friday,%20November%202%20-%20Time:19:00%20%E2%80%93%2021:00%20-%20Tickets%20$15,%20available%20from%20Kamloops%20Live%20Box%20Officewww.kamloopslive.caField%20Trip%20Know-how%20for%20Nature%20PhotographersSaturday,%20November%203%20-%20Time:08:00%20%E2%80%93%2017:00%20Limited%20to%2020%20participants$75%20members,%20$100%20non-members%20Enhancing%20your%20Digital%20images:%20the%20missing%20link%20Sunday,%20November%204%20-%20Time:%2009:00%20%E2%80%93%2016:00%20-%20Limited%20to%2020%20participants$75%20members,%20$100%20non-membersWorkshop%20registration%20at:%20email
Full details available at: Kamloops Photo Art Hosted by Kamloops
Naturalists – John Neville will lecture at TRU on Wed Oct 10th at 7pm on
RAPTORS. Room S203 in the Science building at TRU. No charge. Free parking.Integrated Vegetation Management Association – IVMA of BC
Bi-Annual Conference and AGM in Prince George – November 20th and 21st! for
details – IVMA Website
Celebrate BC and World Rivers Day on Sunday September 30!
There are two ways to do that: 1.Get your group or organization to
arrange an event and register it on ORC’s Rivers Day website at Click on BC Rivers Day then click on Register an Event and
select your region to register. 2.Participate in one of the events already
registered. Same website. Click on BC Rivers Day, go to Find an Event and select
your region for a list of events.
We highly recommend the Hope Mountain Centre’s annual paddle. This year
it is Paddle the Skagit.
Farewell Mr. Curlew
Celebrated
and beloved Canadian birder, naturalist, journalist, and author Charles
Frederick (“Fred”) Bodsworth passed away on September 15 at the age of 93. His
contributions to natural history in Ontario were numerous; the national and
international impacts of his writing, immense and immeasurable. Fred was a
long-time supporter of Long Point Bird Observatory and Bird Studies Canada, and
one of our Honorary Directors since 1970. We always looked forward to his visits
to our headquarters, whenever he passed through the area on his way to the
family cottage at Port Burwell.
Fred’s book Last of the Curlews, a
fictionalized account of the last pair of Eskimo Curlews, has been widely cited
as one of the finest natural history-based novels ever written. Since its 1955
publication, the book has never been out of print, and more than three million
copies have been sold.
Fred will be greatly missed by all who knew him,
either personally or through his work. Family and friends will gather at the
Bracebridge Sewage Lagoons (Kerr Park) at 9 a.m. on October 7 for a hike in
Fred’s memory. Details of a Memorial Service to be held in November are
forthcoming.
Interesting Sites and articles
Interesting
Member Blog Good Vibrations — Researchers are
learning how species from across the animal kingdom use seismic signals to mate,
hunt, solve territorial disputes, and much more. By Cristina Luiggi | September
1, 2012 website – and the beat goes on!Who’s
looking out for Canada’s Environment – Interesting views website One Fifth of Invertebrate Species
at Risk of Extinction website
Scotts
Miracle-Gro, the world’s largest marketer of residential-use pesticides,
wassentenced Friday to pay the largest penalty ever issued for criminal
violations of U.S. pesticide law. The company will pay more than $12 million in
criminal and civil fines for illegally treating wild bird products with deadly
pesticides, falsifying EPA pesticide registration documents, marketing and
distributing unregistered pesticides and pesticides with misleading and
unapproved labels, distributing and selling unregistered, canceled or misbranded
pesticides, submitting false registration documents to EPA and state regulatory
agencies, and selling pesticides with false labels. Please check your birdseed;
if it is made by Scotts, dispose of it safely so that birds and other critters
cannot get to it. “The Scotts’ settlement is unprecedented in terms of the scope
of corporate-wide noncompliance addressed, the number of pesticide products
involved, and the far-reaching nationwide noncompliance of Scotts’ products,”
states the EPA. “This settlement holds Scotts accountable for its corporate-wide
product noncompliance and results in a significant number of potentially harmful
pesticides removed from commerce.” A list of the products involved can be found
here. Scotts wild bird seed products, including Country Pride, Morning Song,
Scotts Songbird Selectionsand Scotts Wild Bird Food, were poisoned with Storcide
II (chlorpyrifos-methyl) and Actellic 5E (pirimiphos-methyl). Neither pesticide
is approved by EPA for use on bird feed, and both are known to be highly toxic
to birds, fish and other wildlife. Chlorpyrifos-methyl is also implicated in the
world-wide disaster of Colony Collapse Disorder that has wiped out global
populations of bees and other pollinators. Miracle-Gro or Miracle-Kill? Monsanto
and Scotts team up to poison our water and food — and that of every other
living critter. For at least four years, from 2005 to 2008, Scotts sold more
than 73 million packages of the tainted birdseed, of which only two million were
successfully recalled. As recently as 2010, these products could be found in
retail stores, suggesting a possible cause of mass bird die-offs worldwide in
recent years. Separately, a class action lawsuit against Scotts Miracle-Gro
seeks damages for the company’s willful distribution and sale of poisoned
birdseed products nationwide. Scotts CEO Jim Hagedorn summed up the company’s
response in a press release following the sentencing: “As we reach closure on
these issues, it’s important for all of our stakeholders to know that we have
learned a lot from these events and that new people and processes have been put
in place to prevent them from happening again. Our consumers are at the heart of
our business, and I hope they’ll see our openness, cooperation, and acceptance
of responsibility are all a part of our commitment to provide products they can
trust and rely upon.” Scotts Miracle-Gro, it should be noted, is also the
exclusive distributor of Monsanto’s Roundup in the U.S. and much of Europe,
profitably sharing Monsanto’s long, sordid history of fraudulent practices in
testing and marketing its products. Monsanto’s safety tests for glyphosate, the
active ingredient in Roundup, were conducted by the notorious Industrial
Bio-Test Laboratories (IBT), master formulators of fraudulent “magic pencil
studies” supporting manufacturers’ pesticide registrations. Amazingly, IBT found
no effects in the uteri of glyphosate-exposed test rabbits — which all turned
out to be males.
Survey Request – All members
an
invitation to participate in the Qualified Persons Survey to your members and/or
associates. Below is the invitation script for the “email blast”. I would also
like to invite you to participate in this survey as part of a project to explore
how the use of qualified persons (QP) can improve the effectiveness and
efficiency of the administration of natural resource authorizations. The survey
is focused on the functionality of competency and accountability provisions for
15 QP types, and what, if any improvements in these provisions may be warranted.
You may complete the survey online at: this
website For additional information about the research, please visit: Government site If you have any questions about the research,
please contact: Sarah Mathewson Research Analyst, R.A. Malatest & Associates
Ltd. email Ph. 250.384.2770 x 424|Fax:
250.384.2774
Calling all clubs – ECO ACTION FUNDING AVAILABLE – Until November
1, 2012
Environment
Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program is currently accepting applications
for funding until the November 1, 2012 deadline. This year’s funding priority
will focus on larger projects, including multi-year projects that clearly
demonstrate environmental results. For more information, visit or
contact your Regional Office.
Posted inBC Nature|Comments Off on BC Nature enews September 2012
Furthering the public’s interest in this summer’s watershed walks, Comox Valley Nature is offering a free public guided walk at Morrison Creek.
As home to a rare species of lamprey (Lampetra richardsoni var. marifuga) Morrison Creek is also home to coho, pink, chum salmon and rainbow and cutthroat trout, thanks to the stewardship and vigilance of Morrison Creek streamkeepers. While it is well-known for its fish population, Morrison Creek is also an important model of riparian vegetation flora and vegetation structure in a suburban setting. These additional features make it home to a wide array of birds.
Comox Valley Nature’s long-standing member and retiring Swan Count Co-ordinator, Steph Nathan, will be leading a walk on Saturday, September 29. Interested participants should meet at 10 am at Lake Trail School. They should park on Lake Trail Rd. (not on school property). Carpool from there to limit parking on Arden Rd. Inquiries about this walk should be directed to Steph Nathan (334-7701).
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 participating in CVNS activities can also contact Loys Maingon (CVN President) at 250-331-0143.
Posted inField Trips|Comments Off on Morrison Creek Walk, Sept. 29
Englishman River Estuary Trip Report – Art Martell
On Wednesday, 19 September, 7 birders visited the Englishman River Estuary. We started on the north side of the Englishman River at the end of Shelly Street in the morning, birded along the trail to the estuary and then completed the circular trail back to the cars. We then drove to the end of Mariner Way and had lunch on the ocean. After lunch we walked the trail along the estuary on the Plummer Road side. The weather was warm and sunny.
The following 46 species were found.
Englishman River Estuary, Nanaimo, CA-BC
Sep 19, 2012
46 species
Brant 1
Canada Goose 13
American Wigeon 6
Mallard 15
Northern Pintail 5
Green-winged Teal 10
Harlequin Duck 3
Surf Scoter 20
Pacific Loon 1
Common Loon 8
Horned Grebe 1
Red-necked Grebe 5
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Pelagic Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 3
Turkey Vulture 1
Killdeer 10
Bonaparte’s Gull 11
Mew Gull 1
California Gull 100
Glaucous-winged Gull 50
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Merlin 1
Steller’s Jay 1
Northwestern Crow 12
Common Raven 3
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 12
Bushtit 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 1
Pacific Wren 1
Bewick’s Wren 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
American Robin 4
European Starling 30
Spotted Towhee 7
Savannah Sparrow 10
Song Sparrow 7
Lincoln’s Sparrow 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 3
Dark-eyed Junco 5
House Finch 5
Pine Siskin 50
American Goldfinch 1
Posted inBirds, Field Trips|Comments Off on Bird Outing Report: Englishman River, Sept. 19, 2012
On Thursday, 13 September, 7 birders visited Hornby Island. We went to Collishaw Point in the morning, and visited Dunlop Point in the afternoon. The weather was warm and sunny. The highlights were Heermann’s Gull, Surfbird (one of which came in for very close views), and an adult light-phase Parasitic Jaeger which flew by at close range chasing a Bonaparte’s Gull.
The following 33 species were found on the two walks.
Canada Goose 6
Harlequin Duck 100
Surf Scoter 250
White-winged Scoter 50
Black Scoter 5
Common Loon 15
Horned Grebe 8
Red-necked Grebe 60
Double-crested Cormorant 11
Pelagic Cormorant 70
Great Blue Heron 5
Turkey Vulture 2
Black-bellied Plover 14
Killdeer 6
Black Oystercatcher 1
Greater Yellowlegs 9
Black Turnstone 28
Surfbird 15
Bonaparte’s Gull 1
Heermann’s Gull 2
Mew Gull 12
California Gull 250
Glaucous-winged Gull 450
Parasitic Jaeger 1 (adult light-phase)
Common Murre 100
Pigeon Guillemot 1
Marbled Murrelet 1
Northern Flicker 1
Northwestern Crow 30
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
European Starling 50
Song Sparrow 2
Posted inBirds, Field Trips|Comments Off on Bird Outing Report: Hornby Island, Sept. 13, 2012
As it approaches its own 50th anniversary, Comox Valley Nature will launch a special monthly lecture series to commemorate and honour Rachel Carson’s launch of Silent Spring. Fifty years ago on September 15, 1962, Rachel Carson’s tale of environmental greed and hubris helped launch the Environmental Movement.
To commemorate this event the CVN lecture series will focus on: “Women in Environmental Work” featuring one hour lectures by BC women professionally involved in environmental studies and earth sciences. In keeping with CVN’s own commitment to the restoration of Garry Oak ecosystems in the Comox Valley, the first speaker will be Kathryn Martell (MSc.). Kathryn Martell, the Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team’s conservation specialist will be giving a Powerpoint lecture entitled “Restoring Western Bluebirds to Garry Oak Ecosystems”. at 7pm, Sunday September 16, at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay.
Drawing on her considerable conservation experience with The Land Conservancy of BC and the Habitat Acquisition Trust, and on Climate Change adaptation, has placed her in the forefront of the Bluebird Recovery Project. Western Bluebirds are representative denizens of Garry Oak Ecosystems. Unfortunately, together with the rapidly vanishing remains of the Garry Oak ecosystems, Western Bluebirds disappeared from southern Vancouver Island in the early 1990’s. (They were also common in the Comox Valley until the 1940’s).
This summer Ms. Martell and the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT) successfully re-introduced two nesting pairs. This project is of interest to Comox Valley naturalists and the public at large because it is a model of responsible artificial bird conservation, and the complexities involved. Artificial nests require close monitoring to avoid adversely affecting the target species, by increasing either pathogens or competitors in unmonitored and un-maintained nest boxes. Ms. Martell’s talk promises to be an opportunity for the public to engage in the valley’s own Garry Oak ecosystem recovery and its future.
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 undertakes 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 Ave, Courtenay. Meetings are open to the public, including children and youth. An entrance fee of $3.00 for the lecture is suggested for non-members. 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.
Posted inGuest Speakers|Comments Off on Sept. 16, 2012: Restoring Western Bluebirds to Garry Oak Ecosystems
The CVN photo group met last night for its September meeting and here are a few of the photos we shared with one another.Species and photographer shown in each photo... ...
Join the Comox Valley Conservation Community for a day long celebration of the watersheds and waterways that connect us all in the Comox Valley!Learn about restoration and habitat enhancement projects, salmon cycles, drinking water, forests, creeks, wetlands and estuaries – and so much more. Art projects, kids activities, volunteer engagement opportunities, hands on learning and guided walks – all looking out over the beautiful Puntledge River.Comox Valley Nature will be there with our new outreach tent. Come by and say hello, and try our bird identification game. We can also show you why native plants are best for your garden, and how to spot invasive species.Pack a picnic and stay for the day! Saturday Sept 19th from 9 am – 3 pmin Puntledge Park 1111 1st , Courtenay ...
In her memoir, Pacific Northwest author Caroll Simpson recounts the highs and lows of running a remote fishing lodge on her own following the untimely death of her husband, and of falling in love with the natural world. Simpson tells stories of living in the remote wilderness and managing the lodge, becoming an accidental environmental activist, fending off wild animals, working as an angling guide and finally, fighting off a proposed mining operation and participating in the development of a government land management plan as a spokesperson for the wilderness tourism industry.While Simpson welcomed paying guests at Ookpik Lodge, unwanted house guests included a woodchuck, a pack rat, and martens. Simpson constantly had to watch out for grizzlies, moose, and cougars. Storms and extreme weather also provided fodder for hair-raising tales. All this makes for wonderful storytelling.Caroll’s story is essentially a love story. In an essay for Sierra Club, Simpson wrote: “I developed an immense passion for flora and fauna. Just walking back and forth on the 300’ dock several times a day, I was exposed to the unbelievable beauty of the northern spectrum of water life: the golden eagle soaring above, the osprey and kingfisher diving and coming up with fish for their hatchlings, the muskrats and otters looking for an easy meal, the tireless beaver working into the late evening sunsets. All of these creatures and more expressed their generational ownership of this small piece of the world. In return each was given my utmost respect and admiration…As I listened to the loons at the end of each day and the owl and the wolf in the night, I felt blessed to be witnessing such beauty. “On September 20th, join Comox Valley Nature and Save Our Forests Team for an afternoon of storytelling about this remarkable time spent living on a remote British Columbia lake.The event is being held at the Comox United Church Hall. (250 Beach Drive, Comox) Admission is by donation. Doors open at 2:30; the event begins at 3:00 p.m. There will be time for Q&A after the presentation, as well as books available for purchase. Tea/coffee and cookies - including forest-themed cupcakes - will be available for a donation.Join us, and prepare to fall in love. ...
🎟️ Get your tickets to the Project Watershed 2026 Keeping It Living Dinner today! projectwatershed.ca/2026-keeping-it-living-dinner/Every ticket holder makes a difference. 💙 🎟️ Get your tickets to our 2026 Keeping It Living Dinner today! projectwatershed.ca/2026-keeping-it-living-dinner/When community and local businesses invest in conservation, our entire ecosystem benefits. Ticket sales directly support habitat restoration, scientific research, and environmental education, while the generosity of our sponsors helps offset event costs, ensuring that more of the funds raised can go directly toward this important work. Thank you to our incredible sponsors and dinner attendees for believing in the power of community-led conservation. Odlum Brown Community and Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, 40 Knots Winery, CNB Together, we're keeping our watersheds living. 🌿 Hope to see you September 12, 5 - 8 pm at 40 KNOTS Winery #KeepingItLiving #ProjectWatershed #CommunitySupport #Conservation #ComoxValley ...
The City of Courtenay is developing a long-term vision for Bill Moore Park and Dogwood Park to guide future improvements. To help guide these decisions, three initial concepts have been developed, and there is an opportunity for you to offer your input.The latest survey on the City website engagecomoxvalley.ca/bill-moore-and-dogwood-park asks for feedback on three concept plans and specifically which concept you prefer. The three concepts present a range of recreation possibilities and there is room on the survey for your comments.Dogwood Park is a 2.32‑hectare nature park featuring mature forested areas, natural habitat and a small wetland. Only Concept A will maintain the intact forest areas in Dogwood Park. Concepts B and C propose increased recreation in the park including an off leash dog park, disc golf course, pump track (a purpose built track for children’s cycling) and nature play areas. While the planners may say that no trees or few trees will be taken down to accommodate this, the under-story will not survive this level of trampling and fragmentation. The trees as well as all the wildlife who now call that area home will disappear over time. For those of us who value this forest, Concept A is the only option that makes sense.Dogwood Park is one of the few islands of green for many, many blocks. It provides habitat for wildlife, shade, retains water and acts as a carbon sink. On the architect's base plan of current conditions it is now characterized as an "underutilized space". The City has heard from sports enthusiasts but not nature lovers. Let them know why you value an intact forest and your connection to it. The survey is open until Sept 15. ...
