BC Nature enews September 2012

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Krista
Upcoming
Events
  • 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

The%20Vancouver%20Mycological%20Society’s%2033rd%20Annual%20MUSHROOM%20SHOW%20
When:%20October%2028,%202012%20SundayWhen:%2011am%20%E2%80%93%204pmWhere:%20Vandusen%20Botanical%20Garden,%20Floral%20Hall,%20West%2037th%20and%20Oak%20Street,%20Vancouver,%20B.C.%20CanadaWhy:%20%20Mushrooms%20are%20Everywhere!%20%20The%20show%20provides%20displays%20of%20identified%20mushrooms%20and%20other%20fungi,%20with%20their%20edible,%20poisonous%20or%20dubious%20status.%20Also%20we%20have%20displays,%20speakers,%20slide%20shows,%20books%20and%20roving%20experts%20on%20cultivation,%20preservation,%20gourmet%20cooking,%20medicinal%20use,%20hunting,%20ecology,%20and%20cultural%20use.%20%20Bring%20your%20own%20specimens%20for%20identification!Who:%,%20www.vanmyco.com%20How:%20Admission%20$3.00,%20children%20under%2012%20free.%20Wheelchair%20accessible.%20Parking%20free.

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

Now for something uplifting –
check out this site

Feed the little birds, show them you care
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 in BC Nature | Comments Off on BC Nature enews September 2012

Morrison Creek Walk, Sept. 29

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Krista

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 in Field Trips | Comments Off on Morrison Creek Walk, Sept. 29

Bird Outing Report: Englishman River, Sept. 19, 2012

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Krista

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 in Birds, Field Trips | Comments Off on Bird Outing Report: Englishman River, Sept. 19, 2012

Bird Outing Report: Hornby Island, Sept. 13, 2012

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Krista

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 in Birds, Field Trips | Comments Off on Bird Outing Report: Hornby Island, Sept. 13, 2012

Sept. 16, 2012: Restoring Western Bluebirds to Garry Oak Ecosystems

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Krista

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 in Guest Speakers | Comments Off on Sept. 16, 2012: Restoring Western Bluebirds to Garry Oak Ecosystems

Bear Creek Park Walk, Sept. 15

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Krista

Our Regional Park system is an important part of the ecological legacy to coming generations. Maintaining this legacy depends on understanding and appreciating the constituent values it helps sustain. The best way to preserve it is to use it.

As the fall migration cycle begins again, many birds come through our region. Bear Creek Regional Park is an important varied ecological site that provides connectivity for migratory birds. Local birding experts, Dr. Art Martell and Dave Robinson will be leading a public walk around Bear Creek Park on Sept. 15, Saturday. Participants should either meet at 8:15am at the Old Church on Harmston Street , or at 9am at park entrance. Inquiries should be directed to Art Martell 334-2979.

As one of Vancouver Island’s oldest environmental societies, affiliated to BC Nature, Comox Valley Nature provides weekly guided naturalist walks, to better help understand and preserve our natural heritage. CVN also hosts monthly lectures on a wide variety of ecological topics.

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 public guided walks are open to the public, including children and youth. (No dogs on walks, please). An entrance fee of $3.00 for the lecture is suggested for non-members. New memberships are always welcomed.

Posted in Field Trips | Comments Off on Bear Creek Park Walk, Sept. 15

Fall 2012 Nature Walk Schedule

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Krista

CVNS Nature Walks & Activities, September to November 2012

Car pool from the Old Church Theatre, 755 Harmston Avenue, Courtenay unless otherwise indicated.

Sept. 15, Saturday, Bear Creek Park. Meet 8:15am at Harmston or 9am at park entrance. Leaders: Art Martell 334-2979 and Dave Robinson. Public walk.

Sept. 22, Saturday, Browns /Puntledge Rivers. Meet 9am at Harmston. Leader: Fran Newson 339-4001

Sept.23, Sunday, Shoreline cleanup. Meet 10am at Airport Cafe. Leader: Murray Little 703-2653. Public event.

Sept. 29, Saturday, Morrison Creek. Meet 10am at Lake Trail School. Park on Lake Trail Rd. (not on school property). Carpool from there to limit parking on Arden Rd. Leader: Steph Nathan 334-7701 Public walk.

Oct. 6, Saturday, Paradise Meadows. Meet 9am at Harmston or 9:45am at trail head. Bring a snack or lunch and water. Leader: Betty Brooks 337-8180

Oct, 13, Saturday, Millard Creek. Meet 9am at Harmston, or 9:15 at trail head. Steve Williams and Loys Maingon.

Oct. 20, Saturday, Williams Beach Forest. Edible Mushroom Walk. Meet 9am at Harmston or 9:30 am at Williams Beach Forest. Leader: Charlotte Ostrowski. Public walk.

Oct. 27, Saturday, Brooklyn Creek. Meet 9:30am at Harmston or  10am at Cedar St. off Pritchard. Leader: Chris Pielou 339-1780.

Nov. 3, Saturday, Nymph Falls, Mushrooms. Meet 9am at Harmston or 9:30am at Nymph Falls parking lot. Leaders: Dulcie Hamilton, Charlotte Ostrowski and Alison Maingon 331-0143. Public walk.

Nov. 10, Saturday, Lerwick Forest. Meet 9am at Harmston or 9:30am at Sheriton Road off McDonald Road. Carol Muirhead 331-0511

Nov. 17, Saturday, NorthEast Woods. Meet 9:30am at Harmston or 10am north end of Torrence Rd. Leader: Karin Franzen 334-7737. Public walk.

Nov. 24, Saturday, Puntledge River Trails from Fish Hatchery. Meet 9am at Harmston. Leader: Fran Newson 339-4001. Public walk.

Dec. 1, Saturday, Seal Bay Park from Fitzell Road off Langlois. Meet 9am at Harmston or 9:30am at Fitzell. Leader: Loys Maingon 331-0143. Public walk.

Posted in Field Trips, News | Comments Off on Fall 2012 Nature Walk Schedule

Trent River Walk, Sept. 8

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Krista

Sept. 8,  Saturday,  Trent River, Meet 9 am at Harmston or 9:30am at Hutton Road (off Briardale).      Bring water and a snack, also clippers for minor trail maintenance. Leader: Kate Pierce 1-250-703-9623

 

Posted in Field Trips | Comments Off on Trent River Walk, Sept. 8

BC Nature enews August 2012

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Krista
Upcoming
Events
  • FGM – 2012 FGM is being co-hosted by Nanoose
    Naturalists and Arrowsmith Naturalists. Dates are September 27-30th, 2012.
    Registration in the Summer Magazine or BC Nature Website . Only 5 weeks away, register now. To BC
    Nature Representatives – The club is trying to pin down Lunch Numbers for the
    Directors meeting, please email the registrar office at this link
    if you intend to participate but have not yet sent in your registration.

    GREAT NEWS – EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DATE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 27, 2012

  • Lillooet Camp – only 5 spots left – October 1 –
    6th, 2012 For further information, please contact
  • Elders Council for Parks BC – Who are we?
    Retiree’s from Parks Canada, BC Parks and Regional Parks. We are hosting a fun
    weekend @ Manning Park Sept 7 – 9, 2012. So – if you are a fellow park retiree,
    please come join in the fun, book your space through Mel Turner –
  • BC Nature Photo Contest – BC Nature is looking
    for your entry on your best nature photographs – Flora or Fauna! Close date for
    entries is September 1, 2012 – Great Prizes and immortal infamy on our website
    with your photographs. Please email with “Photo Contest” in
    the subject line. Please submit high resolution
    jpegs.
FGM 2012 Update
FGM 2012 “Nature by the Salish Sea” on beautiful Vancouver
Island. The FGM is co-hosted by the Arrowsmith and Nanoose Naturalists and
promises to be an not-to-miss event, showcasing much of the flora and fauna that
makes Vancouver Island unique. Highlights of the FGM will include a keynote
address by Dr. “Buzz” Holling, an internationally-recognized scientist
celebrated for his theory of “ecosystem resilience”. Also, the new Deep Bay
Field Research Station – designed and built to LEED specifications – will
demonstrate the latest research into aquaculture and showcase the startling
diversity of our local waters. For registration and program info, see the latest
BC Nature magazine or go to Arrowsmith Naturalists Site GREAT NEWS – EARLY
BIRD REGISTRATION DATE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 27, 2012 – Don’t delay!
Issue
24
Date
August 2012
Dwarf
Dogwood
BC Nature Website
Update
We
now have the new website up and running. We are continuing to update and find
areas that we need to “Tweak” – and we are now ready to start work on the
“members only” section. The password will be based on your name as entered into
our database. When you receive your BCnature Fall magazine, please check the
mailing tag on the back page to ensure that your name is correct. If otherwise,
please email the office with corrections.
Wells Gray’s Valley of Fire and Ice – September 1st
2012
Join
us for a full day guided tour of the Clearwater Valley near Wells Gray Park—BC’s
Valley of Fire and Ice. Dr. Cathy Hickson, Canada’s foremost expert on volcanoes
and the landscapes they produce, will provide a full day of interpretation of
the 400 Million years of geological change that has made the Kamloops region so
rich in gold, copper, uranium and other precious minerals. The tour includes a
bus coach tour from Kamloops to Wells Gray Park, short easy walks to spectacular
viewpoints and landmarks, and a buffet dinner with an illustrated talk by Cathy.
The all inclusive cost for the bus, bag lunch, and buffet dinner will be only
$70, so space will be limited! This will be the first in a series of events to
celebrate the rich resources that are protected by Wells Gray Park for which it
has been nominated as a World Heritage Site. For more information and to reserve
a space contact: Tom Dickinson, The Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers
University, Kamloops. 250-828-5400;
On going Enbridge Information, articles,updates
The
Joint Review Panel is accepting written comments on the Enbridge Pipeline until
the end of the month. If you didn’t get a chance to make a presentation to the
panel — and even if you did — please take a moment to let the panel know your
opinion. It doesn’t have to be long. Tell the panel in your own words how you
feel about the idea of a crude oil pipeline running through our wild salmon
watersheds and supertanker traffic on our north coast. Here’s how: 1. Click here
to visit the Joint Review Panel’s website and submit your comment using the
online form. OR… 2. Mail or fax your letter to the Joint Review Panel:
Secretary to the Joint Review Panel Joint Review Panel – Enbridge Northern
Gateway Project 444 Seventh Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 0X8 Facsimile:
403-292-5503, or toll free at 1-877-288-8803 (you can either send an original
letter or use the comment submission form which you can download here)

This is a reminder that the online scheduling tool is available to
schedule oral statements for the community hearings in Vancouver, Victoria and
Kelowna, BC. The Joint Review Panel announced the dates for the community
hearings for oral statements in these locations on 27 June 2012. The schedule is
available on the Panel’s website at Link . The deadline to schedule your oral
statement for the Community Hearings in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna, BC is
30 September 2012.

Enbridge Waterway Depiction Link Here

About Town – Upcoming Events
Richmond
Raptor Festival – The 5th Annual Richmond Raptor Festival, a fabulous family
event that celebrates the magnificent birds of prey that live in Richmond and
throughout British Columbia, will take place on Sunday, August 26, 11am to 4pm.
This event is hosted by the City of Richmond in partnership with the Richmond
Nature Park Society. The festival takes place at Terra Nova Rural Park in
Richmond, BC. (2631 Westminster Hwy).
For the fourth consecutive year,
Pacific Northwest Raptors will offer flying demonstrations at 11:30am, 1:30pm
and 3:30pm. Last year, approximately 1000 people attended. After last year’s
success, we are again opening up the event to organisations involved in
protection and conservation of birds of prey.

Treefest 2012 – The
Treefest Planning Committee would like to extend an invitation to your
organization to participate in the 19th annual Treefest. The festival is an
opportunity to celebrate trees and heritage with an emphasis on the fine
collection of trees on the Riverview lands. This year’s event will take place on
Saturday, September 15th, from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Riverview Hospital
Grounds located at 2601 Lougheed Highway in Coquitlam. Activities will include
tree tours, an outdoor heritage tour, live entertainment, Blackberry Tea,
children’s activities, community displays and more. Food and beverage services
will be provided on site and the Serenity Garden provides a great location for
picnics. Please also note that this year is a critical year for the future of
Riverview. For nearly 100 years, the Lands have been a centre for the treatment
of mental illness and addiction. In August 2012, the use of the Lands as a
provincial mental health hospital will come to an end and the future of the
Lands is unknown. For more information and to participate in planning for the
future of Riverview see Riverview Values

White Rock Native Plant
Demonstration Your are cordially invited to: to attend the unveiling of the
White Rock Native Plant Demonstration Garden Interpretive Signage
Thursday,
September 6, 2012, 4:00p.m. at the west side of the White Rock Museum &
Archives – 14970 Marine Drive,City of White Rock
“The White Rock Native
Plant Demonstration Garden is a Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society Project with
the support of the City of White Rock,the White Rock Museum & Archives and
the White Rock & Surrey Naturalists’ ”. Please RSVP: Margaret Cuthbert,
or call 604-536-2636

Volunteers needed for
the Campbell Valley Country Celebration, a family event, September 15th
and 16th. • The ‘task’: Saturday September 15th, 8:30 am – pick up materials at
the FoSBS office, go to Campbell Valley Park Country Celebration venue off 8th
Ave and 204th St. (Langley) and set up the display and activity for 10am; attend
the tent until 4pm, then cover for overnight with a tarp. • Sunday September
16th, 9:45 am attend the display and family activity until 4pm then pack up and
return materials to the FoSBS office. If you can help for all or part of this
time, please contact Marg as soon as possible, email:

Reminder: Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup September 22nd at Blackie Spit,
Crescent Beach, Surrey at 10am. The Vancouver Apneists (free divers) and 1st
Semiahmoo Sea Scouts/Venturers will be participating. Please contact Alison if
plan to attend, email:

BC Butterfly Atlassing update
Launched
in 2012, the BC Butterfly Atlas is harnessing the efforts of both professional
biologists and citizen naturalists to document the distribution and abundance of
butterflies in British Columbia. Gathering butterfly records from across BC will
help identify which species are truly rare and which are more common, provide a
snapshot of butterfly populations to which past and future surveys can be
compared, and inform efforts to conserve butterflies and their habitats. Results
will be collated into a single database and made available on maps on the
project website. The project also aims to educate and engage the public about
the importance of biodiversity and increase involvement in butterfly
conservation in BC. For more information on the Atlas project, go to BC
Butterfly Atlas
Interesting Sites and articles
Tropical
Fish invading East Coast Canada – Link
Endangered Whale Species make
appearances in California Link
Heritage trees are worth protecting – Link
Beauty and the Beak – Link
Latest
news from the BC Breeding bird atlas – Link

Birds that live with varying weather sing more versatile songs: study link
A Bluebird Summer: Bringing Western
Bluebirds back to Southeastern Vancouver Island – Article
14
Fun Facts about Fireflies – Link
Carbon Tax Feedback
The
B.C. government wants your views on the future of the carbon tax and how to make
it better. Until August 31st, you can influence the future of this crucial
policy.
Since 2008, the carbon tax has been encouraging industries and
households that generate carbon emissions to pollute less. And it works; B.C.’s
climate policies are driving down emissions while keeping the economy healthy.

B.C. showed great leadership by implementing this solution. Now it’s time to
lead again, by improving it with a Better Future Fund.
We want the
government to start taxing all industries equally. Currently, no companies get
taxed for so-called “fugitive and process emissions.” Taxing the responsible
industries would generate another $125 million per year, which could go toward
sustainable solutions like transit, renewable energy, and green jobs. By
investing wisely in green projects that reduce emissions, we’ll make our
communities healthier and better places to live. Like the sound of that? The
Better Future Fund (a partnership between the David Suzuki Foundation and other
like-minded organizations) is collecting your thoughts on the carbon tax and how
your community could benefit from a “green fund,”and sending them to B.C.’s
Finance Minister. Have your say today! Send your Feedback here

Climate change threatens to alter marine ecosystem
Climate
change threatens to wreak havoc on entire marine ecosystems due to factors such
as rising water temperatures, increased acidification, and reduced oxygen
levels, according to a report on B.C.’s Pacific coast Read more: Vancouver Sun
Fracking could taint water systems: research
A
new scientific study of the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing or
“fracking” – in the U.S., found that current methods for wastewater disposal put
drinking water at risk. Read more: Times Colonist
Calling all clubs – PCAF Funding Available – Deadline September 25,
2012
We
are pleased to announce that the Public Conservation Assistance Fund is running
a second call for applications from individuals or groups interested in doing a
conservation project. The application deadline is September 25, 2012.
For
more information, including the application forms and guidelines, please visit
our website If you have questions, please do not hesitate to phone
Jane Algard ( 250 940-9781) or Lynne Bonner
( 250 940-9787). http://www.hctf.ca/PCAF/PCAF.html
Feedback on National Marine Conservation Area
Why
does my feedback matter?
Parks Canada is finalizing the boundaries and
other measures to create a National Marine Conservation Area in the Southern
Strait of Georgia. Public opinion counts! YOUR feedback will influence the
outcomes! What’s at stake? The southern Strait of Georgia is an
incredibly rich part of our inland sea with unique marine habitats and a huge
diversity of marine life – including killer whales, lush kelp forests, seals,
sea lions and seabird colonies.
The Strait of Georgia is also bustling with
human activities. A National Marine Conservation Area will help ensure that the
special species and their habitats are protected, and the wide array of human
uses – from fishing to shipping to whale watching and more – are sustainably
managed.
Keeping this marine environment healthy matters for everyone who
lives in or visits our coastal communities, or enjoys the sea’s rich harvest!

I’m no expert, what can I say? Let Parks Canada and your local
politicians know why the Southern Strait of Georgia is special to you, and why
you believe there should be a large National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA).

Some points you may also wish to make: •The proposed north and south
boundaries are good, but the large rectanglar area NE of Galiano and Valdes
Islands should be added back into the NMCA. •The NMCA boundary should extend up
to the high tide line and include important near-shore ocean habitats (e.g.
areas beside provincial parks) •The NMCA should include a network of core “no
take” areas that are fully protected. •Parks Canada should assume management
responsibility for the entire NMCA at once, rather than phasing it in over many
years. Feedback Link

Posted in BC Nature | Comments Off on BC Nature enews August 2012

Quinsam River Walk, Aug. 25

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Krista

As the regional representative for BC Nature, Comox Valley Nature (Comox Valley Naturalists Society) is offering a free public nature walk along the Quinsam and Campbell Rivers. The public is invited to join biologists Loys Maingon (RPBio), President of Comox Valley Nature, and Luisa Richardson. This is an opportunity to explore the importance of one of our local watersheds and the effects our growing urban environment is having on them.

The Campbell River Watershed consists of 1,822 square kilometres. It is the source of Campbell River’s water supply. However, it lies mainly outside City boundaries and the City has very limited enforcement abilities within the watershed. The best protection for this and any other  green space is in fact a well-informed citizenry familiar with the values inherent in its watershed, the problems that it faces and the ecological services that it provides for the city’s economic well-being.

As Campbell River states on its website: “ The entire community is responsible for keeping our watershed clean.” (http://www.campbellriver.ca/Residents/Water/FAQ/Pages/WatershedProtection.aspx).

This free Public Walk will take place, August 25 at 9:00 am. Meet at the Tyee Plaza Parking Lot. The group will then follow Luisa to the logging bridge on the Campbell River on highway 28, 1.17 km after the last traffic lights on the Gold River Highway (Highway 28). (Contact Loys: 250 331 0143, or Luisa: 250 202 3266) .

Luisa Richardson is a long-time resident of Campbell River, Certified Heritage Interpreter and environmental educator. She has created educational programs and guided tours highlighting waste reduction, water conservation, watershed protection, natural and cultural history on behalf of Greenways Land Trust, the Comox Strathcona Regional District, City of Campbell River,  Strathcona Wilderness Institute, Run of the River Excursions and Wild B.C. Luisa has guided historical boat trips for the CR Museum since 2008.

Among his various responsibilities, Loys Maingon (RPBio) is a limnologist specializing in riparian and wetland ecology, and a member of the IAIA (International Association for Impact Assessments.) He is currently chair of the ISO Canadian Advisory Committee for Methods of Water Quality Sampling and member of various provincial and international working groups.
Anyone interested in taking part in this walk or participating in CVNS activities can contact us  ( Loys Maingon at 250-331-0143 or Luisa Richardson: 250-202-3266.)

 

Posted in Field Trips, News | Comments Off on Quinsam River Walk, Aug. 25