CVNS Membership is required for most field trips. Trips marked with * are open to the public. Also, check the calendar at the bottom of the home page.
Please note: Guides: All non-member field trip participants need to sign a waiver recognizing that there are risks inherent to all outdoor activities.
On all field trips wear suitable clothing and footwear, and bring water & a snack. No dogs please. Please share travelling expenses when car-pooling.
On Sunday, February 19 Comox Valley Nature (Comox Valley Naturalist Society) will hold its Annual General Meeting, at the Filberg Centre at 8pm. The meeting is open to all members.
Prior to the AGM, as part of its public educational mandate, Comox Valley Nature will host Canadian historian Richard Somerset Mackie at 7pm. Richard Somerset Mackie is the author of the well-known histories: Island Timber (2000) and Mountain Timber (2009).
In this illustrated talk, Richard Somerset Mackie will discuss the long residence and work of Comox Valley naturalist and writer Hamilton Mack Laing (1883-1982). Laing, a Manitoban, arrived in the Comox Valley in 1922 and spent the rest of his life at the two houses he built on Brooklyn Creek: Baybrook and Shakesides. Along with Allan Brooks, Theed Pearse, and Ronald Stewart, Laing helped form perhaps the tightest and most productive fraternity of practicing ornithologists in rural Canada — a group that Betty Brooks has termed The Pioneer Birdmen of Comox. Laing also hunted with Cecil “Cougar” Smith, John and Norman Pritchard, and many other local men. Mackie will assess Laing’s significant contribution to the valley’s natural history.
Comox Valley Nature is a non-profit society affiliated with BC Nature which fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing weekly guided hikes and undertaking a variety of environmental projects . Founded in 1964, it is one of the oldest environmental societies on the North Island.
Meetings and lectures of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society are held on the third Sunday of most months at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay. Meetings and guided walks are open to the public, including children and youth. An entrance fee of $3.00 for the lecture is suggested for non-members. New memberships are always welcomed.
Richard Somerset Mackie will be available for book sales and signings at the Blue Heron Bookstore from 2 -4pm and after his lecture at the Filberg Centre at 8pm.
Forthcoming lectures include: “ Dragonflies of the Comox Valley” by well-known photographer, Terry Thormin, retired curator of invertebrate zoology, Royal Alberta Museum.
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This camas was planted as seed 5 years ago and is blooming for the first time.
For a naturalist these current times can be depressing with widespread ecological destruction being one of the constant themes of life in the new millennium. However optimism is also part of the human condition and with most naturalists it gains momentum every spring with perhaps the arrival of the first rufus hummingbird or the first salmonberry bloom.
For myself this moment happened in June during a walk through the Courtenay Air Park when I noticed several camas plants in bloom. The camas is a special plant intertwined with the history of our region. The American explorer Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame described the beauty of fields of camas so vast that they appeared as small lakes of clear water. Many early European explorers did not believe that a lansdcape so beautiful could be possible without man caring for it. In fact they were right. The camas fields were not wild. Many First Nations tended these fields. The camas produces a bulb which when steamed is a nutritious source of carbohydrate. The camas bulbs were thus highly prized. They could be stored, used for making flour, and frequently traded amongst First Nations. Camas fields were highly valued, and were tended by their first owners though not in the traditional methods to which Europeans were accustomed.
There are two camas species found locally, the common camas and the great camas. Besides the size difference the flowers have slightly different diagnostics. The colour of the bloom varies from a pale lilac to a deep magenta. Occasionally a pure white bloom can be found.
The camas is often associated with the Garry Oak ecosystem where it frequently grows. Unfortunately on Vancouver Island only remnants of this most beautiful of ecosystems remain. In the Courtenay Air Park the Comox Valley Naturalists have been working for many years to create a small piece of Garry Oak ecosystem. Non-native invasive plants such as Scotch Broom and Himalayan black berry have been systematically removed, while native plants such as Garry Oak have been planted and tended.
Over five years ago a large quantity of camas seed was scattered and covered with mulch. I for one had given up on ever seeing the camas emerge. Last year I found a couple of flowering plants which I dismissed as a fluke. This year there was no mistaking that a small patch had indeed taken hold. When it is not flowering, the camas plant is a rather nondescript lily-type plant. However in flower there is no mistaking this native blue jewel. Recent DNA testing has resulted in camas being removed from the lily family.
I look forward to the day in the future when the Courtenay Air Park is blue with the blooms of camas under the pale green of Garry Oak trees. The Naturalists’ vision for this Park is part of their Wetland Restoration Project which fights invasive plants in the Courtenay River Estuary. Recently we have erected a new sign on the viewing platform overlooking the lagoon explaining our work in the area.
This work is made possible though funding this year received from the City of Courtenay, the Comox Valley Regional District, BC Nature, and Ducks Unlimited Canada for which we are grateful.
One of the Comox Valley’s favourite recreation areas, enjoyed by mountain bikers and hikers alike, the Comox Lake Bluffs region is above all a frequently overlooked special ecological jewel. It is registered as a rare northernmost arbutus/manzanita/maritime juniper ecosystem. It is home to many rare and endangered plant species.
As such, it has been designated since 1996 by the province as an ecological reserve. Care must be exercised to preserve it as such. As with 150 other such areas throughout the province, these ecological reserves are protected for educational and scientific research. The recreational public needs to take an informed approach in the enjoyment of the Comox Lake Bluffs to preserve its value for generations to come.
As part of its public educational mandate Comox Valley Nature (The Comox Valley Naturalists Society) will be hosting a one hour talk on the Comox Bluffs and the ecological reserve system on Sunday January 15th, at the Filberg Centre at 7pm.
Helen Robinson is one of the Comox Valley’s best-known plant taxonomist. Helen Robinson has been the volunteer warden for the Comox Bluffs for the past 4 years, and is very familiar with the botanical and geological features that make this area so special. Her powerpoint presentation will cover ecological reserves in general, and then show pictures of many flowering plants, as well as birds and mammals found in the Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve.
The Comox Valley Naturalists Society (Comox Valley Nature) is a non-profit society affiliated to BCNature which fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing weekly guided hikes and undertakes a variety of environmental projects . Founded in 1964, it is one of the oldest environmental societies on the North Island.
Meetings and lectures of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society are held on the third Sunday of most months at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay. Meetings and guided walks are open to the public, including children and youth. A donation of $3.00 for the lecture is suggested for non-members. New memberships are always welcomed.
Forthcoming events include: February 19, Richard Somerset Mackie, “Bird Man of Comox: Mack Laing and the Natural History of the Comox Valley.”
Please come out and join us for these important environmental topics. For more information on CVNS please visit the website at www.comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca
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As global energy demands increase, the US Department of Energy reports that atmospheric CO2 outstrip all IPCC predictions, and the Keystone Pipeline debate rages in Washington, few subjects should be of more economic and environmental concern to British Columbians than the Enbridge Northern Gateway Proposal to ship Athabasca Tar Sands’ crude from Kitimat to the US for refining and ultimately to Asia.
The Comox Valley Naturalists Society will host Katie Terhune, Energy Campaigner for Living Oceans Society (http://www.livingoceans.org) at the Filberg Centre, Courtenay November 20 at 7:00pm. Ms. Terhune will present a one-hour lecture Oil and Water: Navigate the Facts outlining the risks posed by the Enbridge proposal.
Living Oceans Society is a marine conservation organization based in the fishing village of Sointula, on the Central Coast of BC. Katie holds of Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria. Her past experience revolves around habitat restoration and conservation in riparian, estuarine and coastal environments. With Living Oceans, her task is to aid in the battle against Big Oil in the effort to protect B.C.’s coast from oil spills.
The Comox Valley Naturalists Society is a non-profit society affiliated with BCNature which fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing weekly guided hikes and undertakes a variety of environmental projects . Founded in 1964 it is one of the oldest environmental societies on the North Island.
Meetings and lectures of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society are held on the third Sunday of most months at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay. Meetings are open to the public, including children and youth. A donation of $3.00 is suggested for non-members, and new memberships are always welcomed.
Upcoming events include: December: The Audubon Christmas Bird Count (held in The Comox Valley since 1919) ; January: Helen Robinson, “ Comox Bluffs Flora”; February: Richard Mackie, “The Life and Times of Melda Buchanan.”
Trumpeter Swans have left for their summer breeding grounds in Alaska & northern BC. The Comox Valley Naturalists Society weekly swan counts will resume again at the end of October 2012.
Mar. 27, 2012:
TRUS Adults 105
Juveniles 50
Total 155
Mar. 20, 2012:
TRUS Adults 1272
Juveniles 248
Total 1520
Mar. 13, 2012:
TRUS Adults 1754
Juveniles 308
Total 2062
The swans are starting to leave the Valley.
Mar. 6, 2012:
TRUS Adults 2168
Juveniles 347
Total 2515
The juveniles are getting more white plumage, similar to the adults.
Feb. 28, 2012:
TRUS Adults 1939
Juveniles 465
Total 2404
Over 1500 were in the Headquarters Rd/Old Island Highway vicinity.
Feb. 21, 2012:
TRUS Adults 1998
Juveniles 390
Total 2388
Over 1100 were at Courtenay Flats (DUC Farm)
1 red collared TRUS
Feb. 14, 2012:
TRUS Adults 2046
Juveniles 407
Total 2453
Over 1000 were at Courtenay Flats (DUC Farm)
2 hybrid TRUS on Denman Island
1 red collared TRUS
Feb. 7, 2012:
TRUS Adults 1303
Juveniles 119
Total 1422
Numbers may be low due to foggy conditions.
Jan.31, 2012:
TRUS Adults 2113
Juveniles 437
Total 2550
Jan.24, 2012:
TRUS Adults 2185
Juveniles 364
Total 2549
Jan.17, 2012:
TRUS Adults 1808
Juveniles 466
Total 2274
Jan.3, 2012:
TRUS Adults 2019
Juveniles 383
Total 2402
Dec. 27, 2011:
No count due to holidays.
Dec. 20, 2011:
TRUS Adults 1587
Juveniles 254
Total 1841
Greatest numbers at Courtenay Flats (DUC Farm) and Comox Bay.
Dec. 13, 2011:
Count cancelled due to snow.
Dec. 6, 2011:
TRUS Total 2259
Nov. 29, 2011:
TRUS Adults 1504
Juveniles 278
Total 1782
Nov. 22, 2011:
TRUS Adults 1091
Juveniles 223
Total 1314
Nov. 15, 2011:
TRUS Total 1057
Nov. 8, 2011:
TRUS Adult 518
Juveniles 47
Total 565
Nov. 1, 2011:
TRUS on grass 28 Adults
6 Juveniles
Flying 16 Adults
on water 15 Adults
Total 65
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