AGM – Hosted by Central Okanagan Naturalists – May 10 – 13, 2012. Details will be available in the Winter Magazine. Not to be missed – if Delta and Williams Lake (FGM/AGM respectively) are any indications of what to expect, Kelowna will be a “DO NOT MISS” event! The speakers will be fabulous and the outings, very informative! Mark this on your calendar and get your registration forms in early!
FGM – 2012 FGM is being co-hosted by Nanoose Naturalists and Arrowsmith Naturalists. Dates are September 27-30th, 2012. This event also should be circled as a no miss event. More info available in the Spring Magazine.
Club Deadlines
Club Grants from the Foundation – due into office by Jan 31, 2012
Deadline for resolutions for the AGM February 28, 2012
BC Nature Awards – nominations accepted up until February 28, 2012 – for both AGM & FGM
Rene Savenye Scholarship – Please apply by April 4, 2012
Camps & Bird Blitz’s Skagit Bird Blitz: May 4 through 6th – 2012 Saltspring Camp – June 4-8, 2012 Mt. Robson Bird Blitz – June 9 & 10, 2012 Manning Bird Blitz – June 15 – 17th, 2012 Lillooet Camp – Oct. 1-6th, 2012
IBA Interviews with Nature Canada
Anne Murray does a fantastic Interview on behalf of the IBA – Check out the link or the CBC Snowy Owl interview here
Issue 19
Date December 2011
Yellow Rumped Warbler
Are you Opposed to the Northern Pipeline and Tanker Traffic
Visiting the Devils Garden – Link
George Monbiot is a British journalist who writes for The Guardian on environmental issues. Great Blog sight Link
Confused birds crash by the thousands in Utah – visit this article
Lost Atlantic puffin found thousands of kilometres from home: downtown Montreal – go to the Link
Journey of the Rat Hunters – Eradication of Rats in the Charlottes – Link
Tree Bombing – Link
From the Outdoor Recreational Council
Please follow the link below for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency’s News Release regarding a public comment period with respect to the Environmental Impact Statement for the Canpotex Potash Terminal proposed for Ridley Island near Prince Rupert.
The public comment period ends on January 20. Survey for all members/clubs
Have you completed the National Trails Survey yet?
Have the clubs, groups and other trail users and advocates in your area, or with whom you are regularly in touch, completed the Survey? If not, you have a couple of more weeks to do so, but please do it soon before Christmas is upon us! Final deadline December 31.
To complete the Survey Link
Update on progress to date (for those who wish to know how we got to this point)- It is now one year since trail representatives from across Canada met at the National Trails Roundtable in Banff.
Since that time a Working Group was formed and it has had the following calls and a meeting:
•Conference calls on January 13, February 17, March 16 and June 20 •A meeting at the Ontario Trailhead conference on April 19 in Niagara Falls Following decisions made at these meetings we have achieved the following:
•Merged the six so-called “vision statements” in the original Report into one Vision for Trails and Trail Collaboration •Incorporated this Vision in a revised report now known as the Summary Report which is a condensation of the original Report •Designed a National Trails Survey which is based on the Summary Report and which can be completed on the Survey Monkey website. •Drafted a News Release and Backgrounder to invite any and all trail users and enthusiasts to review the Summary Report and complete the National Trails Survey. See the attachments to this message. The News Release will provide you with the necessary links
Since then it has been completed by many individual trail enthusiasts and trail organizations in almost all Provinces and Territories (see response update below) Update of responses
As of November 14, we had received 307 responses to the English version of our survey. There were 251 individual responses and 56 responses on behalf of organizations. Following are the responses by Province and Territory: BC – 155 AB – 46 SK – 7 MB – 0 ON – 38 QC – 2 NB – 11 PE – 3 NS – 34 NL – 4 YK – 4 NT – 3 NU – 0 Total: 307 Following are the responses by trail use: ATV – 61 Canoe – a X-Country Ski – 3 Cycling – 5 (off road) Cycling – 4 (on road) Equestrian – 20 Mixed Use (Mot) -11 Mixed Use (Non Mot) 36 Mixed Use – 31 Mtn bike – 12 Off Road M/0C – 7 Snowmobile- 20 Walk/hike – 70 Other – 26 Total: 307
As you can see we have a few gaps and still some way to go in some regions. Please get the message out to anyone in your region or area of interest who may not yet have had a chance to complete the Survey. If you have any questions please contact me – Jeremy McCall at Congratulations to outdoor recreation groups in BC for showing the rest of Canada how to do it!
Christmas Bird Count – For Adults and Children!
The Christmas Bird Count listing is up on our sight(recently updated) and we are pleased to offer counts from the second annual Bird Count for Children.
Details on the 2nd Annual Bird Count for children (Dec 4):
Flocks of young birders are participating in Christmas Bird Count for Kids (CBC4Kids) events across the country! This year, Bird Studies Canada (BSC) organized and hosted two events, in British Columbia and Ontario, in addition to supporting several upcoming CBC4Kids counts. The first annual CBC4Kids in Vancouver, BC was held on Sunday, December 4 in Stanley Park and was co-hosted by the Stanley Park Ecology Society and the Young Naturalists Club of BC. Nine enthusiastic young birders observed, identified, and recorded 1874 birds of 53 species, including 150 Barrow’s Goldeneyes, 5 Black Oystercatchers, 12 Red Crossbills, and 307 Surf Scoters. In Ontario, 25 young naturalists collectively observed over 10,000 birds of 64 species during the second annual CBC4Kids in Port Rowan on Saturday, December 3. Highlights of the count included 141 Sandhill Cranes, 16 species of ducks, and 670 Tundra Swans. Originating in Sonoma Valley, California in 2007 by Tom Rusert and Darren Peterie, CBC4Kids events have spread throughout the United States and Canada. The CBC4Kids is an exciting way to engage youth and their families in a traditional bird-watching event, promoting nature appreciation and skills for monitoring birds, while contributing to citizen-science focused on birds. Thank you to our generous sponsors, The Gosling Foundation and TD-Friends of the Environment Foundation, for supporting these events, and thank you to all of the volunteer bird leaders and participants for a fun, bird-filled day; we hope to see you all out again next year!
Bird Friendly Building Design
16 December 2011 – A new and highly informative, free downloadable publication is now available from the American Bird Conservancy’s Collision’s Program on “Bird-Friendly Building Design.” The 58-page publication examines the mirror effect of windows, glass transparency, the “passage effect” caused by dark glass, and the dramatic effects of external and internal building lighting, all of which contribute to bird collisions. The publication also addresses building design, bird movements, and habitat and landscape designs which can either prevent or increase the collision problem. To view the publication and download a copy, select this link
Matsqui Trail – Open House
Open House #2 is coming up on Tuesday, January 17, 2012. Drop in to review the proposed vision, goals, and objectives for the park; view drawings of potential facilities, services, and recreational opportunities; talk to staff, and provide input on the draft concept. Help shape the park’s future! Mark your calendar: Matsqui Trail Regional Park Management Plan
Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Time: 4 to 9 pm
Location: City of Abbotsford, Matsqui Centennial Auditorium (MCA)
Foyer, City Hall, 32315 South Fraser Way,
Abbotsford, BC, V2T 6N4
BC artist remembers horticulturist Henry Kock in new lichen species name
Victoria, BC. Artist Anne Hansen, who is well-known for her almost 300 paintings of the black oystercatcher, has just purchased the scientific-naming rights of a newly discovered lichen, in honour of her late husband Henry Kock.
Mr. Kock was a widely-sought horticulturist, dubbed “Mr. Arboretum” of the University of Guelph, Ontario, where he worked for 20 years. He died of brain cancer on December 25, 2005. His travels brought him to British Columbia in 1999, where he felt privileged to visit one of his heroes, sustainable forestry pioneer Merv Wilkinson of Ladysmith, BC. Wilkinson died last summer at age 97. The species-naming rights were donated to Ancient Forest Alliance as a fundraiser by Trevor Goward, a lichen scientist at the University of British Columbia, who recently discovered what will now be called Bryoria kockiana. Kock is remembered by gardeners, farmers, and naturalists for criss-crossing southern Ontario to give talks on habitat restoration, plant propagation and shelterbelt agriculture. He is the author of Growing Trees from Seed (Firefly Books Ltd., 2008). The book was finished by his botanical colleagues Paul Aird, John Ambrose, and Gerald Waldron. Hansen moved to British Columbia in 2007 to pursue her art. She says, “Henry was a tireless champion of biodiversity and inconspicuous species like toads, lichens and sedges. Organic gardening became his life’s work after an unfortunate early vocational exposure to pesticides. Many native gardens throughout southern Ontario owe their existence to Henry’s classes at the Arboretum and his travelling presentations to surrounding communities. His own garden, which he transformed from lawn to forest, was lovingly called the Hotel of the Trees. In his legendary slide shows, he referred to his suburban yard as a bed and breakfast for migrating songbirds.” Henry Kock established the Elm Recovery Project at the Arboretum, which now bears his name, as does a new greenhouse on the University of Guelph campus. “I feel like I got a bargain,” says Hansen. “Many people go into debt in December, for toys and gadgets that will soon be obsolete. Lichens have been around since ancient biological times. If we do something fast about climate change, lichens will be here far into the future. Naming a species after a beloved forest defender is my idea of a fabulous solstice celebration. I’m not the only one who’s noticed that the lichen looks like Henry’s beard.” Anne Hansen, artist, 250-381-7313,
New Report Shows Existing Pipeline Capacity Is More Than Enough to Accommodate Significant Oil Sands Growth, While Delivering Global Market Prices
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Dec 20, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — A new report submitted to the Enbridge Northern Gateway federal review panel suggests the proposed Enbridge Gateway pipeline is unnecessary and puts the long-term energy security of Canadians at risk. Commissioned by ForestEthics for the review, and authored by geoscientist, David Hughes, a former scientist and research manager with the Geological Survey of Canada, the report debunks many of the rationales Enbridge has put forth to justify its proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. “The need for Northern Gateway is predicated on Enbridge’s projection that oil sands production will be more than triple 2010 levels by 2035,” says Hughes. “Sufficient export pipeline capacity already exists to accommodate oil sands expansion of 50% to 100% over 2010 levels by 2025. This pipeline is unnecessary as it is predicated on levels of oil sands production growth which would actually put Canadians’ long-term energy security at risk.” The report recognizes that there is sufficient demand from the U.S. for Canada’s projected export capacity and advocates conserving some of this non-renewable resource for Canadians, as opposed to exporting unrefined bitumen as quickly as possible, in the same way British Columbia exports raw logs. The report also takes aim at the vaunted price differential between West Texas Intermediate and Brent Crude, often cited as a rationale for building the pipeline. The report notes that near-term pipeline expansions and reversals to the U.S. Gulf Coast will close the differential price by 2015, eclipsing the need for a West Coast pipeline route. “Enbridge’s rationale for the Gateway pipeline falls apart no matter what angle you look at – from price differentials, to risks to existing jobs,” says Nikki Skuce, Senior Energy Campaigner with ForestEthics. “The need for this pipeline is pure fiction, but the risk of oil spills to affected communities and BC’s coastline are all too real.” The energy return on energy invested (EROEI) is only going to decrease given that oilsands producers have targeted the easier to extract deposits first. Of projects currently “under development”, which constitute 26 billion barrels, 88% are surface mineable, with an EROEI of 5.7:1, with only 12% recoverable by in situ methods, with an EROEI of 3.8:1 or less. Of the remaining purported 143 billion barrels, 92% are recoverable only by in situ methods. Thus expansion of oil sands production will require progressively higher energy inputs with correspondingly lower net energy yields to recover increasingly lower quality resources. The report “The Northern Gateway Pipeline: An Affront to the Public Interest and Long Term Energy Security of Canadians” is being submitted by ForestEthics to the National Energy Board this week as part of the Joint Review Process.
For a copy of the report please contact Nikki Skuce, Senior Energy Campaigner: 250-877-7762
Hometown Heroes Awards
The Hometown Heroes Award Program recognizes everyday heroes for their extraordinary superpowers in creating greener communities across Canada with three awards:
• Individual Award—a $10 000 cash-prize to donate to a local environmental group/cause of their choice • Group Award—a $10 000 cash-prize to support their environmental work • Small Business Award—permission to use the Award and the Earth Day Canada logo for one year to market and promote the business and/or an approved product.
For more information on the Hometown Heroes Award Program and to download the nomination packages, please visit at earthday.ca/hometown. Have questions? You can reach Hometown Heroes Lead, Stephanee Passant, by e-mail at or by telephone at 1-888-283-2784 (in Toronto 416-599-1991) ext. 114.
Keep Jasper as our national park, not a theme park! – from CPAWS
Your enews editor apologizes for the delay in getting this note out to you, deadline was Dec. 16.
FYI – Canada’s treasured Jasper National Park could be on its way to gaining a theme park-like attraction. Brewster Travel Canada, owned by a US-based company,wants to blast out the side of the cliff beside the Icefields Parkway to build the Glacier Discovery Walk. This would be a 400 metre walkway and massive glass-floored “skywalk” extending 30 meters over the Sunwapta Valley. CPAWS believes that this may signal the start of a renewed surge of inappropriate commercial development within our Rocky Mountain national parks that could put their ecological integrity at risk. We were able to stop this trend in the 1990s in Banff. Twenty years later, it’s time once again to take a stand to protect the natural wonders of our mountain national parks. What would this mean for you?
The stunning Tangle Ridge viewpoint on the Icefields Parkway would be privatized and visitors would have to pay fees ranging from $15 to $30 per person to access Brewster’s Glacier Discovery Walk. The remaining free public viewpoint would look onto the massive glass and metal structure, marring the natural canyon landscape — where today, mountain goats and sheep roam freely. What does this mean for the future of our National Parks? In our view, the Glacier Discovery Walk contravenes Parks Canada’s policy that says that “Only outdoor activities which promote the appreciation of a park’s purpose and objectives, which respect the integrity of the ecosystem, and which call for a minimum of built facilities will be permitted. By permitting the construction of this massive privatized “skywalk”, CPAWS believes Parks Canada would be creating a dangerous precedent for future commercial developments in our national parks that are more appropriate in theme parks, outside our treasured national parks. Don’t let this be a trend for future park development. to keep updated, please visit the CPAWS blogsite.
Promoting Bird Trails in BC
Below are excerpts from the Maine Birding Trails newsletter. It gives an insight of the impact of birding trails and the economic spin offs through Tourism in rural areas. This might be a good project to present to your city halls for funding of trail books! For more information on the original Florida model, please visit Florida Birding Trail
“If ever there was a state that could rest on its laurels, it’s Florida. The Sunshine State has already established a massive birding trail system, organized in four separate regions. The East Florida Region was rolled out in November 2002. It took several more years to finish the project, finalizing the South Florida Region in January 2006. But progress did not stop there. Building on the initial success, more sites were added to each of the four regions, with an addendum for each region available online until the next printing updates the maps.
Now Florida is pushing beyond even those updates. The state has launched a Rural County Initiative. In an effort to assist Florida’s rural counties and Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern with their nature-based tourism programs, the state is seeking additional birding and wildlife sites away from the popular tourist areas. Florida’s problem is not that different from Maine’s predicament. While the Florida coast and retirement communities have been economically booming for years, interior counties and rural areas need help. Their trials and tribulations are akin to those faced by our state’s rural rim counties, though not to the extent that Maine is challenged. Nominations for new trail sites are being accepted in the 32 rural counties until mid-February next year. To be sure, Florida has many more resources than Maine. The Florida Birding Trail is a project undertaken by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and it is funded and staffed by the state. By necessity, Maine’s trail is a collaborative effort that is dependent on the good will of state government and the cooperation of several key stakeholders. While Florida has been able to invest significantly in its trail, that state has not been immune to the national economic downturn. Except for the rural areas, new site nominations and subsequent maps have been pushed off to 2013. Florida is way ahead of Maine in installing road signs, but even they delayed signage for the South Florida region until more funds became available, and 48 newly added sites in the East Florida region have not yet been signed.”
PVC Pipes Deadly for Birds
I wonder how often researchers install pvc pipes to mark plot corners and centers….maybe this should be shared widely? TIME RUNS OUT ON BIRD-KILLING PIPES
Plastic PVC pipes have been used as mining claim markers for some time. Claim-holders used these popular 4-inch diameter white-colored plastic pipes because they are light, inexpensive, and easy to see. If uncapped, they are also bird-killers.
Small birds, mostly cavity-nesters, frequently investigate these pipe-openings, often after first perching on top. Once they enter a pipe, the birds become trapped; the width doesn’t allow for wing-opening, and the sides are far too smooth to allow climbing out. The pipe becomes a deadly trap. For example, two inspections in Nevada of 1,177 pipes in 2208 and 2009 revealed 957 dead birds. And again last month, 854 pipes inspected revealed 879 dead birds. Ash-throated Flycatchers and Mountain Bluebirds dominated the mortalities, but other victims included woodpeckers, shrikes, wrens, sparrows, Green-tailed Towhees, and even Western Screech-Owls. The Nevada practice of using open pipes was made illegal in 1993, but the law apparently wasn’t effective. The passage of a subsequent measure in 2009 required removal of the pipes, with a two-year grace-period. That grace period ended early last month. Open-ended pipe-markers could no longer be used, even though the claim itself might still be valid. Agencies and volunteers quickly began pulling out the pipes, often in an organized fashion. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NVDOW) started extracting the pipes along with the Nevada Conservation Corps (an AmeriCorps program). The Las Vegas-based Red Rock Audubon Society has even sponsored volunteer pole-pulls. Their slogan: “Pull, baby, pull!” There is no way of knowing how many pipes are out there. According to Christy Klinger of the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the number is probably in the hundreds of thousands. The BLM issued more than a million mining claims across the state since 1976, and nearly 200,000 remain active today. There are almost 3.4 million mining claims on BLM lands in eleven western states and Alaska.
Posted inBC Nature|Comments Off on BC Nature enews Dec 2011
AGM – Hosted by Central Okanagan Naturalists – May 10 – 13, 2012. Details will be available in the Winter Magazine. Not to be missed – if Delta and Williams Lake (FGM/AGM respectively) are any indications of what to expect, Kelowna will be a “DO NOT MISS” event! The speakers will be fabulous and the outings, very informative! Mark this on your calendar and get your registration forms in early!
FGM – 2012 FGM is being co-hosted by Nanoose Naturalists and Arrowsmith Naturalists. Dates are September 27-30th, 2012. This event also should be circled as a no miss event. More info available in the Spring Magazine.
Club Deadlines
Club Grants from the Foundation – due into office by Jan 31, 2012
Deadline for resolutions for the AGM February 28, 2012
BC Nature Awards – nominations accepted up until February 28, 2012 – for both AGM & FGM
Rene Savenye Scholarship – Please apply by April 4, 2012
Camps & Bird Blitz’s Skagit Bird Blitz: May 4 through 6th – 2012 Saltspring Camp – June 4-8, 2012 Robson Bird Blitz – June 9 & 10, 2012 Manning Bird Blitz – June 15 – 17th, 2012 Lillooet Camp – Oct. 1-6th, 2012
Issue 18
Date November 2011
Hybrid Canada Goose
Are you Opposed to the Northern Pipeline and Tanker Traffic
BC Fossils presentation by Author
Interested in Fossils? This presentation is for you: Sidetracked: The Struggle for BC’s Fossils
December 6th, 7:00 pm at the Vancouver Public Library in the Alice Mackay room.
The accidental discovery of a huge dinosaur trackway in northeastern BC reveals far more than ancient footprints. Join writer Vivien Lougheed, author of Sidetracked: The Struggle for BC’s Fossils, as she takes us on a journey into the science, political intrigue and turf wars that characterize the world of paleontology. From the Rockies to BC’s coast, north to the Yukon border and beyond, Lougheed uses several beautiful slides to uncover the landscapes, personalities, politics and creatures behind some of BC’s most important fossil finds. And in the telling she argues for cooperation, not competition, in the quest to unravel our geological past.
Comox Valley Naturalists present…..
The CVNS has developed a nature guide of their neck in the woods and it is accessible via their website We thought this may interest you. If you plan to be the Comox/Courteney/Cumberland area, consulting this guide is a start to get more out of your visit. Funding for this project was through the “New Horizons” grant which unfortunately is now closed for next years grants. Keep this link in your favourites for applications for next year! Link
Register Now for IPCBC’s 2012 Forum – “Shutting Out Invaders”
The IPCBC (Invasive Plant Council of BC) is hosting its annual public forum on January 24th to 25th, 2012.
Date: January 24th & 25th, 2012
Workshop: January 26th, 2012
Theme: Prevention – Early Detection Rapid Response, and Changing Behavior
Venue: Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel, Richmond BC Call 1-888-WEEDSBC or (250) 392-1400 for more information. YOU ARE INVITED!
Government restores land reserve funding
Article – Vancouver Sun – By Randy Shore
The provincial government has restored funding to the Agricultural Land Commission and introduced new rules intended to relieve development pressure on B. C.’ s farm land. The Commission will implement a five- year moratorium on repeat applications to remove land from the Agricultural Land Reserve for development or industrial uses, Agriculture Minister Don Mcrae told a news conference. The commission fields 600 to 1,000 exclusion applications a year and sees applications to remove the same piece of land five or six times, something that he expects to slow with the new rules, he said. The belief of many real- estate developers that land can be removed from the ALR for urban development has flooded the commission with exclusion applications. “This puts a nail in that,” ALC chairman Richard Bullock said. “I hope people hear that message, and hear it loud and clear, and we can begin to build.” “We are sending a message to farmers and the population of British Columbia that we value the Agricultural Land Reserve and the ALC … and we have backed it up with action and with money,” said Mcrae. About 95 per cent of British Columbians support the ALR and its goals, he said. The province has also released a new model bylaw that municipalities can use to curb the spread of monster homes on agricultural land, a problem that Metro Vancouver had sought help with as early as 2009. After nearly 10 years of erosion, the ALC’S budget will increase by $ 600,000 for the balance of this fiscal year and $ 1 million in 2012- 13.
Humpback Whale – Listing of Special Concern”
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is seeking your input on the potential listing of the Humpback Whale (North Pacific population) as “Special Concern” under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Automatic prohibitions would not apply if listed as “Special Concern” under SARA. The Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is currently “Threatened” under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). This species has been recently re-assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as being of “Special Concern”. Current abundance estimates suggest that the population is recovering at an annual rate of increase ranging from 4.9 to 6.8 percent. Humpback Whales may be sighted throughout the year off the coast of British Columbia; however, the greatest numbers are found between May and October. Humpbacks enter temperate and polar waters to engage in feeding, foraging, resting and socializing. General threats to this species include vessel strikes, entanglement, toxic spills, prey reduction and acoustic disturbance. If you would like to know more about the Humpback Whale or would like to submit comments on its potential SARA listing as “Special Concern,” please go to: this link. We are seeking comments from November 10, 2011 to January 4, 2012. Your input is important and will be considered by the Minister of Environment, in consultation with the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, in making a listing decision. If you have any questions, please call Kendra Hagerman at (604) 666-1331 or email email Species at Risk
Read all about the Cosmetice use of Pesticides and how you can assist in making this legislation happen. You are invited to participate in the consultation by completing an on-line questionnaire or by sending a written submission to the Committee. Following the consultation, the Committee will issue a report to the Legislative Assembly recommending possible changes to provincial laws concerning the use and sale of cosmetic pesticides. The deadline for submissions is Friday, December 16, 2011. Please review and submit your recommondations to this site
“Site C” – Funding Opportunies extended
The Site C hydro project will be assessed by a Joint Review Panel which has not yet been established. The public originally had 30 days to comment on the draft agreement between the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the BC Environmental Assessment Office for the harmonized environmental assessment. That period ended on November 7, 2011, and it has not been extended. All comments received during the comment period will be considered. However:$140,000 Available for Public Participation – Deadline Extended The CEA Agency is making available $140,000 under its participant funding program to assist individuals and groups to participate in the environmental assessment process for this project. The deadline to submit a funding application has been extended and is now December 7, 2011. Funding applications received by the CEA Agency by this date will be considered.
To submit an application or to obtain additional information on the program, contact:
Participant Funding Program -Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA)
Maurenia Lynds
160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor
Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Telephone: 1-866-582-1884 or 613-948-1761
Fax: 613-948-9172
Information on the Participant Funding Program, including a guide and the application form, is available at this site
Posted inBC Nature|Comments Off on BC Nature enews Nov 2011
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.”
Posted inGuest Speakers|Comments Off on Nov. 20, 2011: Living Oceans Society Presentation
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
AGM – Hosted by Central Okanagan Naturalists – May 10 – 13, 2012. Details will be available in the Winter Magazine. Not to be missed – if Delta and Williams Lake (FGM/AGM respectively) are any indications of what to expect, Kelowna will be a “DO NOT MISS” event! The speakers will be fabulous and the outings, very informative! Mark this on your calendar and get your registration forms in early!
FGM – 2012 – Dates have been confirmed for this FGM being co-hosted by Nanoose Naturalists and Arrowsmith Naturalists. Dates are confirmed for September 27-30th, 2012. This event also should be circled as a no miss event.
Club Deadlines
Club Grants for the Foundation – due in by Jan 31, 2012
Deadline for resolutions for the AGM February 28, 2012
BC Nature Awards – nominations accepted up until February 28, 2012.
Rene Savenye Scholarship – Please apply by April 4, 2012
Camps & Bird Blitz’s
Skagit Bird Blitz: May 4 through 6th – 2012
Saltspring Camp – June 4-8, 2012
Robson Bird Blitz – June 9 & 10, 2012
Manning Bird Blitz – June 15 – 17th, 2012
Lillooet Camp – Oct. 1-6th, 2012
Designation of Roberts Bank wildlife management area
B.C. Reg. 155/2011, deposited September 8, 2011, pursuant to the WILDLIFE ACT [section 4 (2)]. Ministerial Order M248/2011, dated June 27, 2011. I, Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, make the following regulation: WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS (ROBERTS BANK) REGULATION Designation of Roberts Bank wildlife management area 1. All those parcels of Crown land, together with all that foreshore or land covered by water, under the administration of the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, situated in New Westminster District and contained within the described boundaries as shown on the Official Plan deposited in the Crown Land Registry as Plan 12 Tube 1993, are designated the Roberts Bank Wildlife Management Area, the whole containing approximately 8 770 hectares.
— S. THOMSON, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
Posted inBC Nature|Comments Off on BC Nature enews Sept, Oct 2011
The regular Monthly Meeting of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society will be held Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Avenue, Courtenay. The featured speaker will be Mr. Mike Yip, local birder, photographer, and author, who will give a presentation on his upcoming book: Denman and Hornby Nature.
Mike Yip is a retired teacher who discovered birds and bird photography in 2003. He has since published 3 very successful books, Vancouver Island Birds vol. 1-3 (2006, 2007, 2010). His work has supported environmental and educational programmes world-wide. The third volume which came out in 2010 was supposed to be his last publication, however an encounter with the beauty and biodiversity of Denman and Hornby has resulted in a new book. In addition to documenting island landscapes, birds, wildflowers and butterflies, this new book includes the undersea photography of Amanda Zielinski.
Meetings 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 youth. A donation of $2.00 is suggested for non-members and new memberships are always welcomed.
Upcoming speakers include: Katie Terhune (Living Oceans Society) “The Enbridge Proposal and Potential Oil Spills”; Helen Robinson “Comox Lake Bluffs Flora and Fauna Conservation” and Richard Mackie “The bastards are at it again!: Life and Times of Melda Buchanan.”
Please come out and join us for these important environmental topics.
Project Watershed, Comox Valley Kayaks, and Comox Valley Naturalists Society are seeking volunteers to help with the cleanup at three sites in the Courtenay Estuary. Meet Sept. 25, 10:00 am at Courtenay Airpark, Mansfield Drive, 49°40’34.84″N 24°58’46.74″W, or Simms Park, or Comox Beaches.
Whether discarded accidentally or deliberately, all of the shoreline litter we find in Canada is the result of human activities. From food wrappers, beverage containers and cigarette butts to fishing line, nets and oil bottles, aquatic litter can leach harmful chemicals into the water, be accidentally eaten by wildlife, or entangle aquatic animals such as otters, sea turtles and birds.
Vancouver Aquarium and WWF-Canada have a formal partnership to grow the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup direct action conservation program — the largest shoreline cleanup program in Canada and third largest in the world. Presented by Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw), the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup engages thousands of Canadians annually to clean up their local shorelines through the removal of shoreline litter. Through individual action, nearly one million kilograms of shoreline litter has been removed from these fragile ecosystems since 1997.
The 2011 cleanup takes place September 17-25 across Canada. This week-long opportunity ends on BC Rivers Day which was established 30 years ago. The Rivers Day approach “seeks to raise public understanding of rivers and the many benefits they provide to us — clean water, spawning salmon, historic trade and exploration routes, a place to play.” It is a model that has been adopted nationally, and more recently, internationally (www.orcbc.ca/pro_bcriversday.htm).
To celebrate both initiatives, on September 25th, Comox Valley based Project Watershed has registered to clean up three shoreline sites along the Courtenay River Estuary: the Airpark, Simms Park and St Josephs/Port Augusta Park. These three sites form a V – like the heart-shaped Estuary itself.
Members of the Comox Valley Naturalists and employees of Comox Valley Kayaks & Canoes will be partnering with Project Watershed volunteers for this event. Members of the public are encouraged to join in. Shoreline work parties will take place between 10 AM and 12 Noon on September 25th and the water clean-up will occur later in the day. Gloves will be provided thanks to North Island Labs and Mark’s Work Wearhouse.
Everyone interested in participating in keeping their environment healthy is asked to go online at http://shorelinecleanup.ca/en to join Project Watershed at one of their sites, chose another site to sponsor or obtain further details about the event. For further information on Project Watershed activities go to http://projectwatershed.ca/ or call 250-703-2871.
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The BC Nature Camp planned for Strathcona Park has unfortunately had to be cancelled, due to low registration. The decision had to be made by the end of May in order to give sufficient notice to those involved to make other arrangements. Thanks to the planning team for all their efforts.
May 6-8, 2011 – Skagit Bird Blitz – details available in Spring Magazine – Spots Still Available!
May 12-15 – 2011 – AGM 2011 – Williams Lake – Registration now available on our website
June 3-5, 2011 – Mt. Robson Bird Blitz – Info available in Spring Magazine
June 17 – 19 – Manning Park Bird Blitz details available in Spring Magazine – Spots Still Available!
July 2 – 9th – Nuit Range exploratory Backpacking. email for more Information
July 15 – 19 – Strathcona Provincial Park Field Camp. Please see BC Nature Website for more information
July 16 – 23 – Backpacking South Chilcotins – for more information please email for more Information
Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 – BC Nature Conference and FGM – Tswassen – Hosted by Delta Naturalists.
Communications Director needed!
BC Nature needs your helps in assisting us with the revamping of our website – magazine editor etc. Please contact John Neville through the office
Issue 14
Date April – May 2011
Bellowing Sea Lions
Shorekeepers & Eelgrass Training – Birds on the Bay
An important message from friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society to all of our ‘Shorekeepers’ and ‘Eelgrass’ volunteers. We hope you’ve received the information about and invitation to this year’s training and surveys. Info below and further details on our website: Birds on the Bay Shorekeepers
Eelgrass
What: Eelgrass Mapping and Monitoring Training
Where: Classroom session South Surrey Recreation Center 14601 20th Ave, Surrey; Field work to follow White Rock Beach
When: Saturday June 4, 2011 – 9 am – 3 pm RSVP: Alison Prentice
View article here. If this link does not work, please use search – type in “sandpiper” and Anne’s article come up or cut and paste this address into your browser http://www.straight.com/article-390282/vancouver/anne-murray-witness-amazing-spring-migration-sandpipers
Baillie Birdathon – 2011
Canada’s Baillie Birdathon is the oldest sponsored bird count in North America. It was established in 1976 as a national fundraiser to support the research and conservation of wild birds. The challenge is to identify as many bird species as possible within a 24-hour period anytime during the month of May. Funds raised by participants benefit not only the work of Bird Studies Canada, but also designated bird observatories, the James L. Baillie Memorial Fund, and participating conservation and naturalist clubs. You can either encourage your members to participate on their own for your club, or you could organize a “Birdathon Day” to get members out birding together. After the Birdathon, 25-50% of all funds raised by participants naming your group will be returned to you to use as you wish. Early this year, we delivered over $93,000.00 to clubs and organizations across the country who participated in 2010! As I said, participation is free, and registration is easy and can be done online. Individuals will then receive a fundraising webpage of their own that can be personalized and used to track their progress, a participants kit and free t-shirt simply for registering. The online registration page is here
Conserving Working Landscapes – The Future of Agriculture in the East Kootenay
Cranbrook, BC 8:30AM to 4:30 PM The East Kootenay Conservation Program and the College of the Rockies are pleased to partner in this forum which is important to both agriculture and to conservation. Topics include: The Agricultural Land Reserve, Agricultural Area Planning, Climate Change Impacts, Water and Agriculture, Energy Assessment Tools, Ecological Goods and Services, and Alternatives To Traditional Agriculture. There is no cost to attend but you must register by email: or by phone (250) 489-8242. For further information contact EKCP at or by phone (250) 581-1122.
Wetlands courses being offered
The BC Wildlife Federation, its’ affiliated clubs, partners and Wetlands Education Program have some upcoming volunteer and training opportunities. Some of the upcoming opportunities are highlighted below. Thank you for your continued support, we look forward to hearing and collaborating with you in the future!
1. Ladner Marsh clean-up volunteer opportunity!
The Delta Ladner Rod and Gun Club, a BCWF member, in cooperation with Hunting BC are planning the annual Ladner marsh clean up and they need your help! If you are interested in helping out, please register with Roger McRurie, Delta Ladner Rod and Gun Club, 604-946-3909, . Thanks in advance for your support in making our marsh enjoyable for generations to come!
May 14, 2011 *Please arrive at Welington Point Park (3653 River Road West), for 9:00am in Ladner BC.
*Bring your gloves, boots and waders and dress for the weather *Families are welcome *Refreshments will be provided! 2.Wetlandkeepers Courses- training opportunity!
3. Puddle Project- training opportunity! 1. North Vancouver BC June 5, 2011 Please register with BCWF WEP: here
The Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia (ORC)
The issues presently being addressed by ORC are fully described in the Spring 2011 issue of its newsletter The Outdoor Recreation Report which will be published in May. BC Nature is a member of ORC so members of naturalist clubs may request to have their names placed on the mailing list for a hard copy of the newsletter by contacting ORC’s office at The newsletter is usually published twice a year and after it has been published the content is posted on the ORC website For questions about ORC please contact Jeremy McCall, Executive Director, at 604-876-7694
BC Butterfly Atlas
Over the past year, we have been working to initiate a citizen-based survey of butterflies in British Columbia. The BC Butterfly Atlas would follow on the recent success of the BC Breeding Bird Atlas (www.birdatlas.bc.ca) and successful butterfly atlassing projects in other jurisdictions (e.g., Canadian Maritimes, Maine, Vermont, UK). The project would standardize efforts by volunteers to collect butterfly records across a series of 10 km x 10 km squares (based on BC Breeding Bird Atlas) covering the whole province over a five-year period. The atlas would also collect incidental butterfly observations from a wider range of contributors. A new website would be a key part of the atlas and would provide information on survey methods, butterfly identification, and show the survey results graphically.
How you can help us: •Join our contact list: We are establishing a contact list of people who wish to stay informed about the project. If you would like to stay informed, please send a quick email to me Here and I will add you to this list. Also, please forward this email to others who might be interested
Posted inBC Nature|Comments Off on BC Nature enews April 2011
The regular monthly meeting of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society will be held April 17, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Avenue, Courtenay. The speaker will be naturalist and interpreter Genevieve Singleton, who will speak on “Flower Power!! A Naturalist’s View of Plants of Vancouver Island.”
Genevieve hails from the Cowichan Valley, and has been a naturalist and interpreter since the late 1960’s. She has worked/volunteered for BC Parks for many years and runs an environmental consulting firm with her husband, Dave Polster. She has been sharing her passion for the outdoors, particularly her love of the creepy crawlies and plants with children and adults in many settings through the years.
“Flower Power!!…” illustrates very well her passion for plants and will include many interesting tidbits about ethnobotany, current uses, and folklore, and will be accompanied by Dave Polster’s photographs.
Please come and join us to become better informed, and to learn how you can help CVNS provide education and protection for B.C.’s natural environment.
Meetings 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 youth. A donation of $3.00 is suggested for non-members, and new memberships are always welcomed. Meetings are not held in July, August, and December.
The CVNS May 15 presentation features Maj. Birch, with a lecture on the activities of the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society, and on June 19 we will have our annual CVNS Society Picnic.
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. ...
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...