Yorke Edwards - a Natural Thinker • Slime Mold - Migrating Protoplasm

Bcnature

• Discovering Townsends Big-eared Bats • Yorke Edwards - A Natural Thinker • Slime Mold - Migrating Protoplasm

“Know nature and keep it worth knowing”

The Magazine of BC Nature

www.bcnature.ca • Fall 2011 • Vol. 49 No. 3 • ISSN 0228-8824 Bcnature Volume 49, No. 3 In This Issue: Objectives of BC Nature Departments: Guest Editorial - Rob Butler ...... 3 (Federation of BC Naturalists) • To provide naturalists and natural history clubs President’s Message ...... 5 of BC with a unified voice on conservation and Conservation Report ...... 7 environmental issues. BC Nature at work for you...... 18 • To foster an awareness, appreciation and understanding of our natural environment, that Club Chat ...... 23 it may be wisely used and maintained for future Club listings ...... 30 generations. • To encourage the formation and cooperation of Regular columns: natural history clubs throughout BC. Natural Mistakes...... 6 • To provide a means of communication between Slime Mold...... 10 naturalists in BC. Book Review...... 19 Features: BCnature magazine is published quarterly by Wildlife Tree Stewardship (WiTs)...... 8 BC Nature (Federation of BC Naturalists) Circulation 4,800 Discovering Townsends Big-eared Bats...... 9 Honourary Editor- in-Chief: PenelopeEdwards (piedward@ Yorke Edwards...... 11 telus.net) Slow Return of Camas...... 13 Guest Editorial: Rob Butler (robbutler.ca) Heritage Center Programs...... 15 Advertising: Betty Davison ([email protected]) Website: David Lassmann ([email protected]) Where do Rattlesnakes go in Summer...... 16 Finally! A Kermode bear sighting...... 17 We welcome your articles, photos and letters. Please Focus on IBA’s...... 21 send them to the office. BCnature reserves the right to Notices: edit submissions for length, style and clarity. New Honourary Editor-in-Chief - BC Nature...... 18 For advertising rates, please email the office. 2012 AGM Central Okanagan Naturalists Club...... 28 BC Nature (Federation of BC Naturalists) 2011 FGM - Delta Naturalists...... 31 Heritage Centre, 1620 Mount Seymour Rd. North Vancouver, BC V7G 2R9 BCnature is printed on 30 percent recycled stock Tel: 604-985-3057 Fax 604-985-3059 www.bcnature.ca email: [email protected] Office Manager: Betty Davison Feature articles are the sole responsibility of their authors. Opinions expressed therein are not necessarily those of BC Nature.

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2 BCnature Fall 2011 Editor’s Notebook

Rebirth of the Naturalist

Guest Editorial - Rob Butler 5251 Oak St. Vancouver, BC www.VanDusenGarden.org p until the 20th century, the naturalist was an amateur. UCharles Darwin, for example was an unpaid traveler onboard during the HMS Beagle’s around-the-world journey when he made the discoveries that led to The Origin Gardens heal. of Species. During the 20th century, the amateur naturalist Study Horticultural Therapy in 2012 was replaced by the career scientist. The science became highly sophisticated requiring a high level of training to Expand your exisiting skill set or pursue a career participate. The naturalist movements hung on as largely the recreational pursuit of amateurs in leisure times par- in Horticultural Therapy. Ideal for recreation ticularly among retirees. and occupational therapists, activity workers, It was not because naturalists showed no interest in par- counsellors, healthcare workers, teachers, ticipating in science projects. For years, the Christmas Bird landscape designers... Count in North America and the British Trust for Ornithol- ogy in the UK relied on naturalists to provide data. There is also a long history of citizens participating in land manage- VanDusen’s is the only HT certificate program ment projects. What is new is how naturalists are turning to in Canada that is accredited by the Canadian research. Horticultural Therapy Association. The next The 21st century re-awakening of the naturalist has been fueled by technology. The internet and mobile devices are program kicks off on January 14, 2012 with allowing citizens to embark on projects of a scale unimagina- Course 1: Introduction to Horticultural ble a few decades ago. It is now possible to collect large data Therapy running 5 days on Jan. 14 - 15, 27 - 29. sets over large geographic scales by many people in a short Instructed by Shelagh Smith. period of time. Bird Studies Canada’s breeding bird atlases and e-Bird are two recent examples that have arisen because Please call 604-257-8669 or refer to our website of internet technology. These data sets are being used to illustrate and examine questions about topics such as climate for more information. change and migration timing. Free information available on the internet is also making the science more democratic. Questions about the validation of data collected by Gardening, art, ecology... untrained people are valid but training and protocols can largely alleviate these concerns. Where improvement could VanDusen covers it! be made is designing projects to test hypotheses. Many citizen science projects are descriptive and miss an opportunity to try to understand more about the ecology and evolution of VanDusen is once again offering a variety the species and their ecosystems. of courses this fall. Visit our website for We are on the verge of the rebirth of the naturalist. Citizen more details! Here is a sampling: science projects rely on a cadre of skilled observers and it is where nature organizations might see renewed growth. The ability for an army of skilled naturalists to fan out over the Sep. 24: The Secret’s in the Soil globe equipped with mobile data collection devices is now a Plant ID for Beginners reality.  Sep. 29: The Watercoloured Garden Dr. Rob Butler is an ornithologist and author. He is a Fellow of The Ex- plorers Club and the American Ornithologists Union, and an Outstand- Oct. 2: Right Plant, Right Place ing Alumnus of two universities. Rob co-founded the Pacific WildLife Oct. 15: Winter Container Workshop Foundation in 2003 to enhance research and education of the ocean and Oct. 22: Plant ID for Intermediates where he serves as President. He is also a scientific advisor for Bird Stud- Oct. 25: F u n g u s A m o n g U s : A n I n t r o d u c ti o n ies Canada, and a board member of several national and international nature, research and academic organizations. He is an adjunct professor to Mushrooms of biology at Simon Fraser University. He has a lifetime of stories from Nov. 5: Effective Photo Composition expeditions and travels studying and conserving birds. He is a frequent guest of the Canadian media. Further information can be found on Rob’s website: http://www.robbutler.ca/ Fall 2011 BCnature 3 Letters to the Editor: To: BC Nature- Office Haida Gwaii Discovery Tours Subject: article on Anna Roberts Summer Magazine I was delighted to read the article on Anna ! All-Inclusive / Small-group / Land-based When I live in 100 Mile House 1979-86 I used to help out on the Williams Lake CBC. Often I was paired with Anna. She was a wonderful companion and mentor and DISCOVERY TOURS could easily out walk this much younger birder . In fact, I Join us for an unique opportunity to have never forgotten one memorable hike to hell and back participate in a 6 day—5 night dis- in knee deep snow with the average temperature equal to covery tour of Haida Gwaii fka. the the total species count for the day, about (-)25. On the Queen Charlotte Islands. other hand, who would you want to be with you to see Tours are land based out of com- three Northern Goshawks, large flocks of Gray-crowned fortable accommodations in the Rosy Finches and all the crows and ravens at the Williams Villages of Masset and Queen Charlotte and includes a day long Lake dump! I have been blessed to know many mentor- boat tour to an ancient Haida Vil- naturalists and Anna always comes to mind as one of lage site alongside the Gwaii those people who was eager to share her passion for the Haanas National Park Reserve. natural environment with one and all. Thank you Anna, All-Inclusive package including you richly deserve the McTaggart-Cowan Outstanding airfare from Vancouver. Small Naturalist Award. groups (maximum 15) ensure a Laurie from Summerland quality experience in this amazing area. Tours utilize local expertise, Correction: naturalists and guides. I read the summer 2011 copy of BCnature and greatly Call us toll free to have a tour enjoyed it. Thanks for the efforts of all who put it together. information package sent to you. However, I did notice on page 5 a picture of a couple of birds named as “Horned Larks.” These are not “Horned Haida Gwaii Discovery Tours ◦ Box 798 ◦ Masset ◦V0T 1M0 Larks.” Rather, they are Killdeer. Perhaps you are already aware of this error in naming. 1-866-626-3949 ◦ www.haidagwaiidiscovery.com Sue Mac Thank you for catching the error Sue! BC Nature Camp Salt Spring Island June 4 to 8, 2012 By Nieke Visser alt Spring Island is the largest of the Southern Gulf SIslands. Its geographical location between Vancou- ver Island and the outer Gulf Islands creates a mild climate with only half the amount of rain compared to Vancouver. Salt Spring’s wildlife, its vegetation, and its people are a product of this unique physiography. Following the success of the BC Nature Field Camp held in April/May 2010, the Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club is pleased to announce another camp in June of 2012. Again, this camp will draw upon expert leaders and presenters covering all aspects of natural history, including birding, botany, geology and marine life. Excursions involve one or two-day hikes over rough trails, walking over slippery shorelines, and getting in and out of a Zodiac. Participants are therefore expected to be in good physical condition. We have negotiated accommodation with Cusheon Photo: Nieke Visser Lake Resort which offers one-bedroom cabins with full Bald Eagle over the Belle Chain kitchens, some with a loft as well. The cabins sleep two; the loft cabins sleep four. Fee: $650 per registrant based on double occupancy; 50% is due upon registration. [email protected]. For more information please call Costs include a five-day camp with accommodation for or email Nieke anytime. four nights, four dinners, all events and presentations, Additional information and registration instruc- and a four to five hour marine wildlife tour with a visit tions will be announced in the winter issue of to one of the outer islands; not included are travel and BCnature magazine, on BC Nature’s website and its ferry costs, breakfasts and lunches. e-newsletter as well as on the SSTNC website: www. Registration will start Sunday, January 15, 2012, at saltspringtnc.ca  9:00 am by contacting Nieke Visser at 250-537-5443 or

4 BCnature Fall 2011 Bay. It contains Anchorage Provincial The President’s Perch Park and a bird sanctuary. In late May most of the migrant birds had already By John Neville passed through but Lesser Scaup, Her- ring and Greater Black-backed Gulls were still on the pond. The gull colonies were on offshore islets. After dark, the high pitched trills of American Toads began. Those long trills were my first successful recordings of the trip. The songs of Winter Wren and Amer- ican Robin were subtly different from he AGM at Williams Lake was a those found elsewhere in the country Tspecial event and I thank all of and I sometimes had to stop and listen you who contributed and partici- for a minute to confirm their identifi- pated. cation. Some of the eastern species we Immediately afterward we headed encountered were Northern Mock- for the East Coast. Our destination was ingbird, Northern Cardinal, Eastern the Bay of Fundy and several locations Meadowlark, Eastern Towhee, Com- in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. mon Eider, American Black Duck and The funnel-shaped bay absorbs and Northern Gannet. The wood warblers ejects 100 billion tons of salt water on were constant companions all around each tide. The water rises and falls 15 the island. Ovenbird, American Red- meters , which are the highest tides in start, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, the world. Its a very rich marine envi- Black-throated Blue, Northern Parula ronment where some of the following and Chestnut-sided warblers always mammals might be seen from cliffs and Moose Encounter - Cape Breton seemed to be around the next bend of boats: Northern Right , Blue , Fin-back, Highlands Natinal Park the trail. Amongst the most beautiful Minke, Humpback, Sperm, Beluga, songsters we enjoyed, were Swainson Orca, and Long-fin Pilot Whales. Other crashing through the bush, a Moose and Hermit Thrush and the rich whis- marine mammals to look out for are: parted company with me. Heather had tles of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Harbour, Harp, Hooded and Grey been watching the moose follow me Wetlands were quite extensive around Seal; White-beaked, White-sided and for some time and her photograph is Grand Manan. Typically Alder Fly- Common Dolphin; and Harbour Por- included. catcher, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow poise. The bird checklist has more than In the Bay of Fundy there is an archi- and Wilson’s Warblers would be resi- 350 species and is interesting in all four pelago of 16 islands created from basalt dent. The Castalia salt marsh was a lit- seasons. For example, about 110.000 and sedimentary rock. The woodland tle different. The vegetation was limited Razorbills spend the winter amongst is Acadian Forest, which comprises by the brackish water. Amongst some the islands. boreal trees mixed with deciduous wild roses I was able to record Nelson We gained different perspectives on hardwoods from further south. The Sharp-tailed Sparrow for the first time. the bay from Fundy National Park largest (25 by 10 km) and most popu- The song can best be described as a soft www.parkscanada.gc.ca, Joggins Fos- lated is Grand Manan Island with about hiss! It’s only a nutty birder like me that sil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage 2500 people. You reach this beautiful would appreciate a drab grey sparrow, Site jogginsfossilcliffs.net, and the Tin- island by an exciting 90 minute ferry with a white belly and usually quite tamarre National Wildlife Area and ride. The journey starts from Black’s inconspicuous in Atlantic salt marshes. Tantramar Marshes near Sackville Harbour, near Highway 1, the Trans If you would like more information at the head of the Bay. More about Canada, in New Brunswick. Around about birds in this region I can highly the bay in a minute. At Kejimkujik the island, fishing boats can be seen recommend Roger Burrows, Birding in National Park, one evening we sat on everyday catching herring, pollock and New Brunswick, 2010, www.gooselane. the edge of a lake to record Common mackerel and emptying crab and lob- com. When I met Roger he was wearing Loons. Behind me in the woods, Her- ster pots. They also tend fish farms, like his Canucks shirt with Burrows ‘ #14 on mit Thrush and Eastern Towhee pro- the West Coast. Edible Common Peri- it, and preparing to support the Stanley vided a musical background. In the winkle were introduced to these shores Cup bid. foreground, Bullfrog , Trout and Bats about 200 years ago. Dulce is harvested On the way home we visited the were feeding voraciously on Mosqui- from the shoreline. We enjoyed another Museum of Nature in Ottawa. The toes. We were protected by bug shirts! resource, fresh fiddle heads in our visit emphasized to us the diversity of In Cape Breton Highlands National salad. One of the island treasures is the nature in our great country. Park, I was walking a trail one morn- extensive network of trails. The most When you read this the Fall General ing recording Green Frogs, Coyote and important one skirts the whole island. Meeting will be fast approaching. I look Chestnut-sided Warbler when I heard Many others link with the peripheral forward to meeting and hearing some footsteps behind me. I turned and qui- trail and most of the public pathways of your adventures over the summer.  etly asked...”Is that you Heather?” ... are in good condition. A trail guide is With long strides across the road and available. Our first stop was Long Pond

Fall 2011 BCnature 5 Natural Mistakes cally, my correspondent didn’t miss a beat, and reaf- By Clive Keen firmed his faith in the Mackay’s. I finally applied my standard phrase: “That would be an extraordinarily What to do when your neighbour reports unusual sighting for this region. In fact one has never an Eskimo Curlew in his bird bath been officially recorded in this part of the world.” I’ve used that sentence quite often now, and find it ince becoming President of a naturalists club hasn’t had the effect I’d intended. To me, the expres- SI’ve been receiving a number of personal “I’ve sion means “Ya gotta be kidding!” But what the listener found this amazing bird!” messages. They always hears is that they have seen something really, really come from non-birders. Real birders have the sense exciting, which is exactly what they’d wanted. And per- to contact the experts, not me. But the reports are haps that’s not such a bad thing. The world can’t have always highly enthusiastic, and I’m glad to get them, too many people excited about the birds they’ve seen, though not always sure that I’m handling them well. or mis-seen. For instance, there was the report from an enthusi- A variant on my standard “extraordinarily unusual” ast in Northern Canada of a Carolina Chickadee on statement is: “That would be the first sighting ever in her feeder. I don’t think my response was a prize- this area. If you can get a photograph to document winner. I didn’t smirk, and no naughty words passed it, you’ll have achieved a real coup.” That is a better my lips. But I did say something along the lines of approach. The listener can remain enthusiastic, and just “And how exactly did you tell it from the Black- might take a photograph, examine it, and quietly real- capped Chickadees that are all over your area? I’m ize that he’s actually seen a bog-standard summer visi- sure I couldn’t!” Not helpful. The Prime Directive in tor. That’s good. He’s on his way to becoming a better teaching is never put down the eager learner. observer. And of course, there’s always the possibility In fact the reports are usually given with such that he really has seen something very unusual, and can enthusiasm that there’s no temptation to curl a lip. prove it. There was the person who said he had a Mackay’s This is why I like receiving such reports. One day, a Longspur and Tricolored Blackbird on his land - a non-birder will tell me that he’s seen something unbe- somewhat unlikely combination, but they were lievable, and will be right. In fact, I’m coming to think “Definitely what he saw!” He said he didn’t manage that a non-birder is more likely to see a true rarity than to take a photo of the Mackay’s but got a good one of someone like me. The problem with knowing the ranges the Tricolored Blackbird. It proved to be a doing an of the birds is that you discount the ones known to be incredibly good impersonation of a Yellow-headed outside your area. You see what you expect to see -- or at Blackbird. When this was pointed out diplomati- least, I know I do. A little while ago I saw a Townsend’s Warbler in a particular tree, and the day after, I saw a warbler in the same tree and happily watched it through my binoculars. “Lovely Townsend’s” I said to myself, turned away, and heard it give a very un-Townsend song. Confused, I looked again, and was embarrassed to find that I’d been staring at a Magnolia Warbler. I’d been suffering from something the psychologists call “confirmation bias,” which is a posh way of stating that our expectations strongly colour our perceptions. I was expecting to see a Townsend’s, saw the black-and-yellow, the bib, and the streaked flank, and settled comfort- ably into my expectations. The grey crown and white eyebrow didn’t fit my expectations, so I just didn’t see them. It gets worse. Why did I not take a second look, when I first saw the Townsend’s, to make sure that it wasn’t a Black-throated Green Warbler? I didn’t, because BTGWs aren’t in my area. The range maps state that clearly. But hang on, birds have wings. They get caught in storms. They get lost. Their compass goes faulty. They go a-rov- ing. So perhaps it was a BTGW, and I hadn’t looked to check. If I’d been a beginner, and particularly one with an old field guide with the range maps hidden in the back, I’d actually have looked. Looked with an open, not closed, mind. “Hm. yellow face, olive cheek, thick black streaks, yellow across the bum. Must be a Black- throated jobbie. Says here it’s uncommon. Do you think we should tell that Naturalists Club guy?” I hope to heck that they would! 

6 BCnature Fall 2011 public concern, the proposed quadru- Conservation Report pling of tankers is a quadrupling of the By Rosemary Fox with contributions from Conservation Committee members risk of spills and needs to be exposed to public scrutiny. As the Vancouver Sun Northern Gateway Pipeline and pro- Panel than simply writing a Letter of article states, “…..if Kinder Morgan's posed tanker port. Comment: seeing real people who are plans unfold as they hope, tanker traffic C Nature and Nature Canada are expressing their thoughts, concerns, will increase exponentially, and with it, Bbusy preparing for the National and emotions in relation to this project the risk of spills or mishaps. A signifi- Energy Board (NEB)/Canadian En- is important for the Panel in making cant spill … would threaten precious vironmental Assessment Agency their decision”. marine spaces and estuaries critical (CEAA) Joint Review Panel hearings in The other way to participate without to the survival of some of B.C.'s most 2012 on Enbridge’s proposed Northern being a formal intervenor is to send in iconic species, such as sockeye salmon Gateway pipeline project to transport a letter of comment. There is no reg- and resident killer whales, and vulner- bitumen from the Alberta tar sands to istration for this, and the deadline for able species like the cormorant and Kitimat, for export from there by tanker receipt of written comments by the JRP heron. A spill could also hurt tourism, to foreign markets. (So far, Enbridge (copied to Enbridge) is March 13, 2012, recreation, industry and operations at does not have any shipping contracts 11 am Pacific Time or Noon Mountain the largest port in Canada”. with potential buyers). Joint Review Time. Email transmission of comments The nature of north coast geography Panel (JRP) hearings are highly struc- is not allowed. makes oil tanker traffic out of Kitimat tured affairs, and groups and individu- West Coast Environmental Law has particularly risky, but this does not als wishing to participate must meet a produced an extremely useful pam- mean that increased tanker traffic out number of strict deadlines. BC Nature phlet on how to participate in the JRP of the heart of Vancouver and adjacent and Nature Canada have made a joint process for the Northern Gateway pro- to the Fraser Delta is any more accepta- application for intervenor status in ject, entitled When the Enbridge Review ble. The Commissioner of the Environ- the JRP hearings. The Kitimat Valley Panel Comes to Your Backyard. Go to their ment and Sustainable Development’s Naturalists (KVN) have also applied website, www.wcel.org, scroll down the December 2010 Report to the House for intervenor status. While the KVN home page to “Recent Publications” in of Commons on oil spills from ships have applied separately, we will be the dark blue panel on the right, and found that the government is not pre- (and are already) working together in this pamphlet is dated May 25, 2011. pared to deal with a major oil spill from many respects. The KVN have an in- As the pamphlet states: “Facts are ships, and that “the Coast Guard has timate knowledge of the Kitimat River important, but so are feelings. You can not done a national risk assessment of estuary and Douglas Channel on which choose to include facts and argument in oil spills from ships since 2000, and that they will be focusing, while BC Nature your letter, or to make a heartfelt pitch, its national emergency response plan is and Nature Canada will be focusing or to do both”. (I would just add to that out of date. The audit also found that more broadly on pipeline and marine the importance of always being courte- the Coast Guard does not have a reli- impacts of the project on birds, and on ous.). More information on how to par- able system to track spills. As a result, it terrestrial ecosystems. We are also in ticipate in the hearings is provided in cannot accurately determine the num- touch with Raincoast Conservation to the Hearing Order, which is on the JRP ber of spills that occur each year, the share information and avoid unneces- website at www.gatewaypanel.review. size of those spills, their environmental sary overlaps, so that we and they can gc.ca. impacts as well as how many required use our limited resources to best effect. Kinder Morgan’s Trans-Mountain onsite responses”. While the deadline has passed to Pipeline How good are the B.C. and federal participate formally in the hearings as While public attention has been environmental assessment processes? intervenors, there are two other equally focused on Enbridge’s high risk North- recent (July 2011) report by the BC important opportunities still available ern Gateway Pipeline project, another AAuditor-General found that the BC for individuals and groups to partici- company, Kinder Morgan, has been Environmental Assessment Office has pate. One is to make an Oral Statement quietly planning to expand its existing not been providing sufficient oversight at one of the community hearings that pipeline capacity to Vancouver to quad- of certified projects to ensure that po- will be held along the pipeline route, ruple the amount of oil it now exports tential significant adverse effects are starting in January 2012. The deadline to Asia. According to the Vancouver avoided or mitigated http://www.bcau- to register to make an oral statement is Sun of June 27 2011 (Kinder Morgan ditor.com/pubs/2011/report4/audit-bc-en- October 6, 2011, and the JRP has indi- pipeline is slipping in the back door, vironmental-assessment-office-EAO. cated that only those who register by by Karen Campbell), currently around The North West Institute (NWI) in the deadline will be allowed to speak at six dozen tankers come and go from Smithers has just released another, even the community hearings. Anyone who Kinder Morgan’s Westridge Terminal more critical report by environmental may want to make an oral statement, in Burnaby. The company’s current lawyer Mark Haddock, which compares but is not sure, is advised to register by expansion plans would increase this the parallel but separate assessments of the October 6 deadline: you can always traffic incrementally over ten years, the Prosperity Mine project in central cancel. Regarding oral statements, without the need for public hearings, BC by the BC Environmental Assess- West Coast Environmental Law, in its to 576 annual tanker trips through Van- ment Office and the Canadian Environ- pamphlet on public participation in couver’s Burrard Inlet. While the Lower mental Assessment Office. In its press the hearings (see below), states: “Oral Mainland and Juan de Fuca Strait have release, the NWI concludes that the BC Statements are a very important way for been at risk from oilspills from Kinder EAO recommendation to approve the you to express your views to the Panel. Morgan’s existing tanker traffic for Prosperity Mine was based “on incom They may have a greater impact on the years without arousing widespread Continued on Page 8

Fall 2011 BCnature 7 Conservation Report Continued Metals’ Ruddock Creek lead-zinc A gloomy future for Nechako River property, about 30 km east of Avola plete evidence and was the result of a sturgeon. - The future of the endan- near Tum Tum Lake (upper reaches hurried, flawed and less than objective gered Nechako sturgeon is very of the Adams River) has raised the ire process conducted by the agency”. gloomy indeed right now. June Wood of local First Nations. The NWI report is available on its of Vanderhoof reports that “an- website http://www.northwestinstitute.ca Kamloops is just embarking on a ticipated grant money from Western While the NWI report found that the heated "discussion" about The pro- Economic Diversification was not federal environmental assessment of posed Ajax copper-gold mine situ- forthcoming this year, and so plans for the Prosperity Mine was more thor- ated within the City and just outside a hatchery have had to be shelved”. ough and open, the federal government its southern boundary. The project The recovery plan is supposed to be has recently slashed CEAA’s 2012-13 includes an open pit beside the popu- "two-pronged", the hatchery being one budget by more than 43% and CEAA is lar fishing location of Jacko Lake, rock and habitat improvement the other. being forced to reduce its full-time staff waste piles 90 metres high on local There is some in-river research going by one-third. Following on a 6.9% cut grasslands and immediately adjacent on...gravel was placed on the known in the 2010-11 budget, CEAA now has to a creek that serves as both domestic spawning areas near the bridge in 50% less funding than it did two years and irrigation water supplies. 24-hour Vanderhoof. These spawning areas ago, while the federal government is operations of noisy vehicles and over- are silted in resulting in either eggs subsidising the oil and gas industry to night lighting would impact residents not hatching or larvae not surviving the tune of $1.4 billion. living as close as 800 metres away. A - it's not known for sure. The river Proposed and Reopening Mines three-kilometre long tailings "pile" has been very high for the past month The favourable price of some miner- up to 170 metres high would “grace” and will continue to be high until als has led to a proliferation of mine the Coquihalla entrance to the City. probably the end of August, making proposals around the province as well boundaries of the City! monitoring difficult if not impossi- as re-opening of old or never-operated As mentioned above, all mine ble. This gravel project did not come mines such as Endako and Galore. Yel- proposals must go through a struc- cheap. It will be interesting to find out lowhead Mining Incorporated is pro- tured review process. The following the results, if any, come fall. What's posing to build a copper-gold-silver links to the federal and provincial really needed to improve the river mine about 20 km southeast of Clear- environmental assessment web- habitat is a change in flow pattern, water. The mine will produce about sites include all projects, not just but of course Alcan is not in favour of 70,000 tonnes of ore per day over an 18 mines: http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/default. that and Department of Fisheries and to 24-year life span. Only one person asp?lang=En&n=D75FB358-1 Oceans and the technical arm of the commented on this proposal. The or http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/epic/project- Recovery Initiative do not have what it proposed underground mine (lead, StatusCategoryReport.do#curr takes to recommend any change to the zinc, silver) not far away on Imperial flows.

A Summer with WiTS Photo: Lisa Scott By Christoph Mayer he Wildlife Tree Stewardship (WiTS) program in the Okanagan Tand Similkameen valleys focuses on monitoring several species of blue and red-listed birds, with an emphasis on Lewis’s Woodpecker and Western Screech-Owl. As the summer student assistant this year, I was privileged to be involved in monitoring these amazing birds. In regards to the Lewis’s Woodpecker (LEWO), my efforts were spread across three main areas of interest. A large portion of my time was spent doing a study for Partners in Flight, where I repeatedly monitored ten nest sites throughout the summer. This was an extraordinary experience as I witnessed the birds in several different stages of their breeding season, from incubation periods, through early nestling, late nestling, and finally the fledgling stage. The second focus of the year was to find new nests. I was assisted by 15 volunteer monitors from throughout the region, most of who belong to a local naturalist club. We were able to find 15 new nests, and we also monitored 56 old nests, of which 22 were reoccupied. On the Western Screech-Owl (WSOW) project, I was able to witness juveniles just before they fully fledged and left the area. Together with volunteer monitors, I was able to detect WSOW responses to call play- backs in two regional parks in the Central Okanagan. This has been a great year, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Canada Summer Jobs Program for making this position available, as well as all of our volunteers who make WiTS possible!  Hard at work - Christoph Mayer

8 BCnature Fall 2011 Discovering Townsend’s Big-eared Bats! Submitted by Sylvia Pincott, Pender Island Naturalists

ith great excitement, on May Conservation Data Centre to officially W18th, we welcomed the return record these Pender Island observa- of “Batty” to the ceiling of our Pender tions. Island carport storage cupboard! This Another distinction of this species is a began his third summer with us, fol- special sensory ability to glean insects lowing six or more months of hiber- from vegetation. While other local bat nation. “Batty” is a Townsend’s Big- species concentrate on aerial insect eared Bat – a blue-listed species, not captures, the Townsend’s has this addi- often recorded in BC. He is an ideal tional talent. Learning this answered guest, asking nothing of us but quiet a question for me from awhile back days to hang from the open ceiling of when, during a bat-watching evening our cupboard. There he rests up for with young friends, I observed a bat his nightly forays in search of flying swooping down and checking out a insects – small moths in particular. row of broad beans! As it turned out, As you will see from his photo- this was next door to one of the other graph, “Batty” is very cute – at least roosting sites that we later discovered. “only a mother could love” kind of Each September our little friend has cute! Another rather descriptive name headed off to his winter hibernacu- lum. Before leaving he would have he has been known by is the “Lump- “Batty” - Townsends Big Eared Bat accumulated an additional 40 percent nosed Bat”. “Hanging around” Townsend’s Big-eared Bats do not of his summer weight to use as energy roost in narrow cracks as do the Lit- through that time. It is thought that tle Brown Myotis, but choose an open Townsend’s Big-eared Bats remain ceiling situation. (Perhaps they need year-round within a radius of less than Unique features of the room for their ears!) The males roost 50 kilometres. Very few hibernation Townsend’s Big-eared Bat: alone, while the females gather in sites are known in BC, but one is a cave This is a blue-listed “threatened” spe- small maternity colonies. Ours was on a nearby Gulf Island, within the 50 cies within British Columbia. South the first of his species recorded on Pen- km range, so perhaps he winters on of the border, with seriously declining another island. numbers within most of its range, it is der Island but, since writing about him now listed as “endangered”. in our local Pender Post, we have dis- Now that Batty has returned, it’s back to creeping quietly into our stor- • Males roost alone during the covered two other male roosting sites summer, while females gather in several kilometers away. GPS coordi- age room, not wanting to disturb our small maternity colonies. Roost- nates and roosting details of our little friend during his daytime sleeps!  ing is on an open surface, rather friends have been forwarded to the BC than within secluded cracks such as favoured by the Little Brown Myotis. • TLC (The Land Conservancy of BC) has protected one of the few known maternity colony locations in BC. • These bats accumulate an additional 40 percent of their summer weight in the form of fat to use as energy through winter hibernation. • Males and females come together only at the hibernation site (usually a cave). Mating occurs prior to the hibernation period, but delayed fertilization occurs in the spring, with a single “pup” born in early summer. • This species has the unusual ability to “glean” insects from vegetation or other surfaces. Photo Ian Routley

The Whitebark Pine Ecosystem of Canada met here July 13 to 15 and held a Science and Management Forum. We also went on a field trip to the Yalakom. The Lillooet Tribal Council and the Lillooet Naturalist Society supported the event. It was a great success and the group enjoyed being at Lillooet. For more information on the Whitebark ecosystem visit www.whitebarkpine.ca

Fall 2011 BCnature 9 SLIME MOLDS - MIGRATING PROTOPLASM By Terry Taylor f you have hiked through the woods after a warm Irainy period, you have probably seen the slime molds, even if you did not know what they are. For those of us who know about them, they are fascinating organisms. People who notice them, but do not know what they are, tend to have a more negative point of view. They are called slime molds because they look like slime and act like molds, but these organisms are nei- ther of the above. The giant ones are the ones we can see. They vary all the way from microscopic to many centi- metres across. The giant ones are the ones I will be dis-

cussing. The usual appearance is like a patch of orange, Photo: Rosemary Taylor yellow, or white slime on a rotten log. The most common species is the scrambled egg slime mold Fuligo septica. It, Slime mold in the wild however, has been likened to other things, with a different connotation. fungus-like fruiting bodies, and fungi were considered If you notice such a yellow or orange patch on an old plants. The zoologists called them mycetozoa, because they log or stump, take a closer look, for it will start to show considered them related to protozoa, and protozoa were, at its true nature. Slime molds spend most of their lives one time, thought to be single-celled animals, as they move. moving around in the soil or over a surface looking for It turns out that the zoologists were closer to the truth than bacteria to eat. When they have grown big enough and the botanists. conditions are favorable they start to prepare for repro- What looks like colored slime is a giant single cell. It is like duction. It is in this intermediate stage when we are most a gigantic amoeba. Unlike an amoeba, however, it has thou- likely to see them. sands of nuclei. A nucleus is the decision-making part of a cell, So let’s return to Fuligo. It is sitting there on its rotten where the DNA is located. There is usually one per cell. Cells log, having eaten its fill of bacteria. Look closely. It has usually have walls around them to give them structure. Slime two parts to it - an advancing edge, and a trailing edge. molds have very little rigidity, just enough to enable them The advancing part is humped up, and behind it are nar- to stay together and move a short distance. The protoplasm row pieces like little river channels. The slime mold had has moved through the sinuous channels into the advancing previously been moving through the rotten wood, eating front. Fuligo forms one big spore case with millions of purple micro-organisms. It has come up onto the surface, where spores. Most other slime molds make many little spore cases. it will form a fruiting body full of spores. If some of these One of the most common is Badhamia utricularis, which forms spores reach another rotten log, they will germinate and orange slime on rotting oyster mushrooms. start the process over again. Have a look at some images of slime molds on the internet, What is a slime mold if it isn’t just slime, it is not a mold or in a fungus book, and take a visit to your local woodland. and it is not a plant? Biologists argued rather vehemently These little mysteries of nature are all around us. We just have about that before the advent of molecular biology. The to look for them in the right place at the right time.  botanists called them myxomycetes, because they form wilderness wildlife & matters Purchase a Wilderness Committee calendar and be part of our campaigns to protect threatened wilderness and wildlife. Check out our beautiful greeting cards, books and posters online. Call 604-683-8220 today! Only $15.95 WILDERNESS Bulk orders COMMITTEE Visit WildernessCommittee.org available! Mention this ad when you call us and receive a discount!

10 BCnature Fall 2011 Yorke Edwards - “A Natural Thinker” (1924-2011) By Rob Cannings Association and had written and spoken volumes about museums orke Edwards was a pioneer in and the museum community. This, Ywildlife biology, nature education, along with his museum experi- conservation, and museum life across ence in Toronto, and especially his British Columbia and Canada, stimu- extensive work in public educa- lating people to think more deeply tion, prepared him for managing about the world and our place in it. He a major museum. Yorke served on died in Victoria on August 16, the executive boards of many con- 2011; he was 86. servation and natural history orga- Roger Yorke Edwards was born in nizations ranging from the Cana- Toronto in 1924. As a child, reading the dian Nature Federation to Owl and nature writings of Ernest T. Seton and Chickadee magazines, from the BC Thornton W. Burgess plunged him Forest Museum to the Nature Con- into biology. The colourful Audubon servancy of Canada. He won many bird charts that hung on the walls of awards for his dedication to the his Toronto school drove him to mem- understanding and preservation orize the plumages of all the species he of Canadian nature, including the Interpretation Canada Award for

saw. His passion for birds during high Photo: Steve Cannings . school was shared by his friend John Outstanding Achievement, and Yorke Edwards at a Canadian Audubon Canada’s 125th Year Medal. He is Crosby, who later became one of Can- (Nature Canada) summer camp, ada’s foremost bird artists - Crosby Peachland, BC, 1965 a Fellow of both the Royal Geo- painted the plates for Earl Godfrey’s graphical Society of Canada and the Canadian Museums Associa- Birds of Canada. On their bicycles, the mental management tools such as con- two birded fanatically around Toronto tion. trolled burning, he and his team often The scope of Yorke Edwards’ and became enthusiastic members of tangled with their forester colleagues. writing is impressive; his publica- the Royal Ontario Museum’s Inter- Yorke championed a new cause in tion list includes more than 320 mediate Naturalists Club. His friends 1959 – nature interpretation in parks. entries. He published his first sci- there were also to become well known He talked his superiors into giving it a entific paper on Meadow Jumping in biological and naturalist circles -- try; they gave him a summer student, Mice Zapus hudsonius in 1945 when Bob Bateman, Bruce Falls, and Bristol a hundred dollars, and said “go to he was an undergraduate. Some of Foster. it”. Yorke scrounged a mildewed tent his wildlife management papers, From 1944 to 1948, Yorke studied For- to go over a discarded tent frame in especially those based on his ungu- estry at the University of Toronto; here the Pinewoods area of Manning Park. late studies in Wells Gray Park, are lay the origins of the wildlife biologist They built exhibits of rocks and flow- classics. He also wrote widely on and museum man. In the summers he ers, bird pictures, and beaver work- birds, but perhaps his most influ- studied small mammal populations in ings. A sign announcing “Nature ential works are those dealing with Algonquin Park and was a part-time House” hung over the door. Although wildlife conservation and park preparator of vertebrate specimens the place was frequently mistaken interpretation. He recognized the at the Royal Ontario Museum. While for a washroom, the program never value of writing for children and studying in Toronto, Yorke heard Ian looked back. Over the years it brought worked hard at it. Naturalists’ McTaggart Cowan lecture on wild- nature houses, nature trails, interpre- newsletters and magazines are full life research in the Rocky Mountain tive signs and naturalists talks to most of his articles, as are journals and National Parks; he was enthralled, and parts of the province. Widely admired, books about museums. His book, eagerly accepted Cowan’s invitation to the program set a standard for outdoor The Mountain Barrier, was a popu- study with him at the University of BC. education across the country. In 1967 lar treatment of the ecology of the By 1950 Yorke had his Master’s Yorke accepted an invitation from the mountains of western Canada. degree in zoology and botany. In 1951 Canadian Wildlife Service to create the Thousands of people who have he married Joan Thicke of Vancou- same thing on a national scale. During visited parks, wildlife centres, and ver and began a challenging job as a the following years, five Wildlife Cen- museums, or who have read his research officer with the BC Forest Ser- tres sprang up across Canada, from articles and heard his talks, have vice in Victoria. In those days, provin- Bonaventure in Québec’s Gaspé to come away with a bit of Yorke cial parks were managed by the Forest Creston in the BC Kootenays. Edwards. Service, and much of Yorke’s wildlife Yorke returned to BC in 1972 as the Rob Cannings is Curator of Entomol- research was concentrated in places Assistant Director of the Provincial ogy at the Royal BC Museum. This like Manning and Wells Gray parks. Museum and, from 1974 to 1984, he article is modified from a much longer In their attempts to introduce experi- was its Director. In the 1960s he had version published in the former FBCN been president of the BC Museums journal, Cordillera 4(1) (1997).

Fall 2011 BCnature 11 Rene Savenye Winner CHILCOTIN HOLIDAYS “Thank you” GUIDED HIKING RETREATS Suitable for all levels of experience, we offer guided hiking retreats in the beautiful South Chilcotin Mountains, 2 hours north of Whistler, BC. This scenic area is located within a rainshadow, meaning sunny skies and a dry climate. From grassy slopes to ridgetops, there is something for everyone.

Dave Hutchings - Arrowsmith Naturalists presenting the 2011 Rene Savenye Scholarship to wade Van Herwaarden We just wanted to express our appreciation for presenting the Rene Savenye Award to our son, Wade Van Herwaarden. He is truly an incredible young man, but I’m just the proud mama! Above, please find a photo of Wade receiving the award from Dave Hutchings, president of the Arrowsmith Naturalists club in Parksville, BC. As well, we wanted to tell you that Wade was recently accepted into the Resource Officer Management Technology course at Van- couver Island University for this fall. We are very excited! Wade was one of 163 students that applied with only 70 asked for an Hike the lush valleys of McGillivray Pass and Connel interview and only 24 chosen for the available spots. It’s quite Creek or explore the alpine meadows of Eldorado, the accomplishment for an 18 year old, as he was chosen over students in their 20’s. After two years, Wade has the possibility of Cinnabar and Taylor. using the RMOT diploma credit towards achieving a Bachelor of Avoid the Masses! Science degree in Natural Resource Protection. He will continue Come to Eldorado on one of our customized trips. in the tradition of protecting nature and our environment. We can accommodate 6-10 people in our wilderness Wade has already spent some of his award money on a laptop mountain cabin, with glorious views and trails for computer, in preparation for his VIU courses in the fall, and the you to enjoy in your own private group. rest of the award amount is saved in his bank account awaiting From July 1st to Sept 30th, its the best for school.  alternative to a crowded mountain. Once again, please pass along Wade’s thanks to your club. -4 & 7 day all inclusive packages Submitted by Kathy Van Herwaarden -accommodation at our ranch or alpine camps -licensed wilderness guides and camp cook -fossil beds and wild flowers -outstanding variety of wildlife BC Nature Field Camps & *10% Discount for BC Nature Members* Conferences 2011 - 2012 Website: www.chilcotinholidays.com Sept 29 to Oct 2 - BC Nature Conference and FGM Email: - Tsawassen - Hosted by Delta Naturalists. "Nature adventures@ chilcotinholidays.com on the Move - Migration through Delta" May 2012 - AGM - Hosted by Central Okanagan Naturalist Club Chilcotin Holidays Ltd May 11 - 13, 2012 - Skagit Valley Bird Blitz June 4-8, 2012 - Saltspring Island Camp Gun Creek Road, Gold Bridge, BC, Canada V0K 1P0 June 15 - 17, 2012 - Manning Park Bird Blitz Phone (250) 238-2274 Fax (250) 238-2241

12 BCnature Fall 2011 Slow Return of the Camas By Frank Hovenden More Superb Tours with Eagle-Eye! or a naturalist these current Ftimes can be depressing with widespread ecological destruc- tion being one of the constant themes of life in the new millen- nium. However optimism is also part of the human condition and with most naturalists it gains mo- mentum every spring with perhaps the arrival of the first Rufus Hummingbird or the first salm- onberry bloom. For myself this moment hap- pened last week in a walk through the Courtenay Air Park when I noticed several Camas plants in bloom. The Camas is Camas in Courtenay Air Park a special plant intertwined with Trinidad & Tobago the history of our region. The American explorer Meriwether Lewis of December 2 - 12, 2011 with Paul Prior Lewis and Clark fame described the beauty of fields of Camas so vast Wonderful introduction to South American birds: relaxed that they appeared as small lakes of clear water. Many early European and easy-paced at two locations, Asa Wright and Tobago explorers did not believe that a lansdcape so beautiful could be pos- wildlife lodge. Scarlet Ibis, Oilbird, motmots. sible without man caring for it. In fact he was right. The Camas fields were not wild. Many First Nations tended these fields. The Camas Panama: Canal Zone to Darien produces a bulb which when steamed is a nutritious source of car- January 7 - 21, 2012 with Hector Gomez de Silva bohydrate. The Camas bulbs were thus highly prized. They could Vast, superb Darien National Park, Cerro Pirre, Burbayar be stored, used for making flour, and frequently traded amongst First Lodge and Nusagandi, Punta Patino, Cerro Azul, Gamboa Nations. Camas fields were highly valued, and were tended by their Rainforest Lodge & Canal Zone - and Harpy Eagle! first owners though not in the traditional methods to which Europeans were accustomed. Guyana: Neotropic Wilderness Birding There are two Camas species found locally, the Common Camas and January 6 - 18, 2012 with Richard Knapton & Colin Jones Post-tour extension January 17 - 21, 2012 :Rio Branco endemics, Red the great Camas. Besides the size difference the flowers have slightly Siskin & Dadanawa Ranch different diagnostics. The colour of the bloom varies from a pale lilac to a deep magenta. Occasionally a pure white bloom can be found. Surprisingly rich and diverse - immense Iwokrama forest, Atta canopy walkway, Surama, Karanambu Ranch, The Camas is often associated with the Garry Oak ecosystem where it spectacular Kaiteur Falls, Abary River; Cotingids galore! frequently grows. Unfortunately on Vancouver Island only remnants of this most beautiful of ecosystems remain. In the Courtenay Air Park Cuba the Comox Valley Naturalists have been working for many years to cre- January 14 - 26, 2012 with Paul Prior ate a small piece of Garry Oak ecosystem. Non-native invasive plant Up to 25 endemics, from Bee Hummingbird and Cuban Tody such as Scotch Broom and Himalayan Black Berry have been system- to Giant Kingbird, trogons, lizard-cuckoos, quail-doves, atically removed, while native plants such as Garry Oak have been Cuban Solitaire, Zapata Wren and Zapata Sparrow. planted and tended. Over 5 years ago a large quantity of Camas seed were scattered and Japan: Cranes & Eagles covered with mulch. I, for one had given up on ever seeing the Camas February 8 - 21, 2012 with Richard Knapton emerge. Last year I found a couple of flowering plants which I dis- Majestic Steller’s Sea-Eagles, Baikal Teal, huge crane flocks missed as a fluke. This year there was no mistaking that a small patch with dancing Red-crowned Cranes in scenic snowscapes! had indeed taken hold. When it is not flowering, the Camas is a rather nondiscript lily-type plant. However in flower there is no mistaking Northeast India: Kaziranga, Eaglenest this native blue jewel. Recent DNA testing has resulted in Camas being & Mishmi Hills removed from the lily family. February 13 - March 6, 2012 with Rudolf Koes I look forward to the day in the future when the Courtenay Air Park Exciting birding and wildlife, striking contrasts, rich cultural is blue with the blooms of Camas under the pale green of Garry Oak heritage, spectacular scenery of Himalayan foothills! trees. The Comox Valley 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 Eagle-Eye Tours area. BC License #34413 This work is made possible though funding this year received from Travel with the City of Courtenay, the Comox Valley Regional District, BC Nature, 1-800-373-5678 www.eagle-eye.com and Ducks Unlimited Canada for which we are grateful.  [email protected]

Fall 2011 BCnature 13 14 BCnature Fall 2011 Heritage Center Programs in conjunction with the Elders Council By Elise Roberts he Elders Council for Parks in Brit- Tish Columbia is commemorating the history of B.C. Parks and the dedicated pioneers, by hosting 10 FREE nature interpretive programs for seniors at the Heritage Centre in Mount Seymour Provincial Park. The events are made possible by a grant from the Government of Canada’s New Ho- rizons for Seniors Community Par- ticipation and Leadership Funding. I was thrilled to accept the position of Seniors Outreach Coordinator and the programs to date have been successful with lots of media attention. Photo: Elise Roberts The program was launched in June Alex Douglas of the Mount Seymour History Project leads a Heritage Hike to with Naturalist David Cook delivering George Rennie’s cabin, a program organized by Elise Roberts, Seniors Outreach a fascinating program on the forests’ Coordinator for the Elders Council for Parks in British Columbia. history. In July, excerpts from journals Bell for a nature walk, followed by a workshop with Nature Journalist, Rose- of Emily Carr during sketching trips mary Taylor. To build partnerships with other organizations, Donald Grant from at Goldstream Park were theatrically the Hollyburn Heritage Society was invited to present “Hugh Aikens: Mountain presented by Patricia Mason. “It was Photographer,” a film that took us on a journey through the history of our local there that Carr began a new phase of mountains. her artistic career by experimenting On August 18th, Alex Douglas (Mount Seymour History Project) offered a his- with new ways of seeing and interpret- toric walk to a heritage cabin, built by the late George Rennie who was involved ing the forest”. Then we joined Kevin in early canneries. On September 11, Grandparents’ Day, we are partnering with the Young Naturalists Club. Puppet show “The Adventures Celebrating 100 Years of BC Parks of Cheetwoot the Black Bear,” edited by Betty Carrington and adapted from a story by early naturalist and school teacher, R.S. Sherman, this show promises to entertain and educate! On “Rivers Day”, Patricia Mason will present an evocative recreation of past and present, accompanied by music and featuring archival photos. ‘Women of the River’ depicts a past when the river formed a visual backdrop to the beautiful Klee Wyck estate in West Vancouver and inspired the work of several prominent B.C. artists. The river played a vital role in the storytelling tradition of the Squamish people. 

For information registration contact: Elise Roberts at (604) 986-4892 or [email protected]

Moving? Please notify your home club or BC Nature office so that we can update our mailing list. We waste hundreds of dollars in postage annually sending out Author James D. Anderson has magazines to old addresses. Wish to created a lavishly illustrated and highly receive our monthly enews direct? Please authoratative book that celebrates the triumphs and email [email protected] for any chang- challenges of what has become one of the world’s most magnificent park systems. es or to subscribe to the enews. Available in Bookstores Now % $44.95 www.harbourpublishing.com

Fall 2011 BCnature 15 Where do rattlesnakes go on summer vacation? By: Jessica Gosling, Thompson Rivers University Modeling thermal habitat use with Geographic Information Systems

orthern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Cro- Ntalus oreganus oreganus) are the only species of venomous snake in Brit- ish Columbia. Known most widely for their distinctive rattling sound, these snakes can also be recognized by a relatively large triangular head, and a brown pattern of large square splotches which transition to alternating bands on the tail, culminating in the segment- ed rattle. These cryptic animals are blue-listed in BC and play an important role as a predator in the arid ecosystems of Photo: Jessica Gosling BC. Found primarily in the grasslands and dry forests of the Thompson- A large male in early spring near Ashcroft, BC. Okanagan, rattlesnakes use a wide find the warmest spot locally to bask in the sun. In July and August, when the variety of microhabitats, such as rocks, summer weather is hot, the snakes still choose warm habitats overall, but choose talus, brush, and fallen trees. Unfor- the coolest spots within them, such as hiding from the sun under a big rock, but tunately, habitat loss and persecution still on a south-west facing slope. have resulted in a significant drop in Currently, rattlesnakes in BC are protected at known denning locations. Unfor- the rattlesnake population from histori- tunately, this study has shown that snakes are moving well beyond the bounda- cal numbers. ries of the protected habitats as early as May. Knowing that the snakes will most In managing and conserving any likely choose warm areas of the landscape will help in designing protected areas wildlife species, the key is knowledge. that better encompass the habitat used by the snakes over their entire active sea- The more we know about an animal, son. This will assist wildlife managers in ensuring that our rattlesnake population the more effective our management in BC is kept healthy over the long term.  strategies can be. That’s where I come in. I am pursuing my Master’s degree at Thompson Rivers University, and my goal is to fine tune our knowledge Manning Park Bird Blitz 2011 of rattlesnake habitat use in BC, in order to properly protect this unique species. To do this, I am focusing on the fact that rattlesnakes are ectother- mic (use the environment to maintain their body temperature) and that this might be a large factor in their life style and choice of habitats. My project centers around a model built in Geographic Information Sys- tems (ArcGIS) which uses solar radia- tion as a proxy for temperature on a landscape scale so that we can look at the relative temperatures of many habitats that snakes may use. Snakes from 10 dens have been tracked using radio- telemetry to map their habitat use. The furthest distance from the den reached by an individual snake was 3.95km in Forty Four participants of the 29th annual Manning Park Bird Blitz 2010. stand together at Lightning Lake following the Saturday night The project is in its second year, and barbecue. Guest speakers Al Grass and Anne Murray presented to so far the snakes indeed seem to take the group on Friday and Saturday nights respectively. More than temperature into account when choos- 90 species were seen (including the first sighting of a Grey Cat- ing habitats. In May and June, when bird), though late-melting snowpack limited access to high eleva- temperatures are more variable, the tion trails in the park.  snakes prefer warmer areas and will

16 BCnature Fall 2011 Finally! A Kermode bear sighting By Betty Davison or the last 35 years, my husband Fand I have been cruising the waters of our beautiful BC Coast. For the last 15 years, we have been ven- turing up into our mid coast waters. The scenery is spectacular, the little bays and inlets are generally free of other boaters. The solitude is heav- enly and ideal for all sorts of nature observation. We first had heard of the elusive kermode or “spirit bear” through some of our books on board, and one night we watched the movie on the Ker- mode bear and the drive of a young man named Simon Jackson who was instrumental in helping to get the Ker- mode Bear protected. Insprired by the movies and books on the Kermode, we started our quest to find this elusive Photo: B. Davison bear. We have been fortunate to have Kermode Bear on Princess Royal Island seen many black and grizzly bears in the stumps and rocks on shore. While driving up the channel one of these stumps our travels, but for many years we con- suddenly moved. If my scream of “Oh my god, there he is” didn’t scare him tinue to be stymied in our search for away, nothing would! We were approximately 60-70 feet from shore and there the Kermode. I venture to guess that he was, nonchalantly chewing off mussels and barnacles from some low slung I have dragged my husband through water logged branches. hundreds of miles of inlets and bays The only sound from our boat was the clicking of my shutter and the pounding for an opportunity to immortalize my of my heart! This bear did not seem to be bothered by our presence as he kept viewing of this bear through my cam- crunching away on the mussels and barnacles. Every once in a while, he would era lens. “Patience” he kept telling look up to human-watch. We watched him for more than 15 minutes before leav- me. So binoculars in hand and camera ing him to his breakfast in peace.  around my neck, shore scouring it was! Low tide is always the best for bear spotting as most bears like to do their he Kermodes bear (Ursus americanus kermodei), also known as a “spirit rock turning and feeding when the Tbear” is a subspecies of the American black bear living in the central and rocks are exposed by the falling tide. north coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is noted for about 1/10 of their population having cream-coloured coats. This colour morph is due to a re- So determined was I this year, that cessive allele common in the population. They are not albinos and not any at the end of our annual trip north, I more related to polar bears or the “blonde” brown bears of Alaska. National was going to hire a guide out of either Geographic estimates the spirit bear population at 400-1000 individuals, say- Hartley Bay or Klemtu for a hike into ing that “the spirit bear may owe its survival to the protective traditions of the the forest in search of this beautiful First Nations, who never hunted the animals or spoke of them to fur trappers”. creature. This did not need to happen! While the cream colored bears have been sighted in northeastern British Co- The first week of June on our way lumbia and as far east in North America as Minnesota, Kermodes bear lives to Alaska this year, we were leaving in the greatest numbers on the islands off the north-central coast of British our evening anchorage, where we Columbia. Kermodes bears are found most frequently on Gribbell Island and had been watching a grizzly sow with Princess Royal Island, situated between the coastal mainland and the Queen Charlotte Islands. Scientists believe there is a high concentration of the Ker- her cub during the evening tide. This modes bears on these islands because they are geographically isolated from was pretty awe inspiring in itself! In other black bear populations. the morning when we were ready to Because of their ghost-like appearance, “spirit bears” hold a prominent place leave, I loaded the camera with fresh in the mythology of the coastal First Nations and American Indians of the area. batteries, empty camera card and with Scientists have found that black bears are not as effective at catching fish as binoculars in hand, we started our kermode bears, as the Kermodes bear are less visible from the perspective of slow cruise northward. My husband the fish. While at night the two colors of bears have similar success rates at was doing chores around the boat, so catching fish, such as salmon, during the day the kermode’s bear are 30% more it was up to me to drive and bear spot effective. A male Kermode bear can reach 225 kg (500 lb) or more, females are at the same time. Being able to multi much smaller with a maximum weight of 135 kg (300 lb). Straight up it stands 180 cm (6 ft) tall. task sure is a bonus! It was a beautiful The Kermode bear was named after Francis Kermode, former director of sunny day and when bear-spotting on the Royal BC Museum, who contacted William Hornaday, the zoologist who the shore, your eyes tend to naturally described it. wander to sun faded stumps and white Information taken from Wikipedia and http://www.kitasoo.org/forestry/landplan/Ker- or light colored rocks. At our slow mode.html: Erin Roberts cruising speed, it was easy to verify all

Fall 2011 BCnature 17 Introduction Honourary Editor-in-Chief of BCnature magazine lease join us into welcoming Penelope Edwards to the PBC Nature’s communications team. Penelope will take on the role of Editor-in-Chief for BCnature Magazine. Penelope has been assisting Victoria Natural History Club in producing the Victoria Naturalist for several years. "My background is in business journalism and public relations, not biology or other natural sciences, but I have a keen interest in marine life and am learning a lot more about other aspects of nature, through observation and reading. I have completed the “Between the Tides” non-credit, continuing education course offered at the University of Victoria, and the Marine Naturalist Training offered by The Whale Museum, Friday Harbor, and am a certified Marine Naturalist, under terms of the Whale Museum’s program. I am also a Trustee for the Maritime Museum of British Columbia."  BC Nature at work for you

Letters Received August 2012 - Response from Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource operations on a letter sent out by BC Nature outlined our concerns with the possible changes to visual quality objectives in the lakes TSA Letters Sent July 2012 - Joint Letter between BC Nature and Nature Canada to Enbridge Northern Gateway Project for interve- nor status August 2012 - Eight (8) Resolutions - Covering letters sent to all relevant levels of government and organizations together with the eight resolutions passed at the May AGM (which were printed in the summer magazine) August 2012 - Comments on the Metro Vancouver’s Draft of their Ecological Health Plan Meetings Attended AGM - Williams Lake Thompson Okanagan Regional Meeting - Vivian Birch Jones and Interior BC Nature Clubs

AGM 2012 - May “Mark your Calendars”

t’s the 50th Anniversary of the Central Okanagan Club Iand we will be hosting the 2012 AGM. Please join us in learning about “The Future of Nature in the Central Okan- agan”. Expert speakers and field trip leaders will showcase the natural history of this region of the province. 

Registration and programme details will be in the winter edition of BCnature magazine. Check back soon at www. bcnature.ca and www.okanagannature.org

18 BCnature Fall 2011 (Saskatoon) and I tried to sort out the different Ribes species, using Book Review prickles – or the lack thereof – as a guide. How I wished I had had a field guide – and not the usual field guides Trees and Shrubs in Winter that focus on leaves, flowers and fruits, but one that focused on twigs, By Rosamund Pojar buds and bark. There are some out there, but they tend to be for east- Publisher - Creekstone Press ern North America or are expensive and unwieldy tomes. This winter, however, I will have a new guide to help me: Trees and Reviewed by Dawn Hanna Shrubs in Winter by Rosamund Pojar. Although the book is subtitled “An identification guide for northern British Columbia”, you’ll find many species of coniferous trees and shrubs, and deciduous trees and any native plant enthusiasts fall shrubs that are found throughout much of the province. under the spell of wildflowers M The book, conceived originally as a study aid for natural resources with their showy petals, perfumed fragrances and bewitch- classes taught by Rosamund, is a terrific resource for anyone with ing ways. But some of us have a soft spot for plant life that an interest in native trees. There are simple keys using characteristics is often overlooked – and there is no form of plant life that seen in winter (foliage and cones for the conifers, bark, buds and twigs is more often overlooked in winter than deciduous trees and for the deciduous species) to help steer you in the right directions. shrubs. Each species gets a detailed write-up with specific descriptions as well For most people, trees and shrubs only start to get some as notes on similar species and how to tell them apart, geographical attention when the year’s new leaves emerge, and then again ranges and interesting tidbits of information. in fall, when the same leaves go out in a blaze of autumnal Take for example, this comment on Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas glory. But for those months when deciduous trees and shrubs fir): “Surely this tree must suffer an identity crisis! Its common name go naked and leafless, they seem, for most, only stark remind- suggests that it is a fir when it is not, whereas its Latin name means ers of winter’s dark, cold duration. ‘false hemlock’ – all because European explorers who first discovered But really, isn’t this the best time to get to know your neigh- it had never seen a tree like it before as it is endemic to the west coast bours? When they’ve shed their fancy clothes and look-at- of North America and they were confused as to what to call it.” me ways, when you can get to see them in all their beautiful The illustrations by Evi Coulson are terrific and are the perfect simplicity? complement to the text. All in all, Trees and Shrubs in Winter is a Last winter, I took the time to get to know many of the book that you need on your shelf or in your backpack. I can’t wait native deciduous trees and shrubs in my neighbourhood. for all the leaves to fall.  I became intimate with the sweet-smelling buds of Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa (black cottonwood); I figured out Trees and Shrubs in Winter is published by Creekstone Press. To find book- which of the shrubs in a nearby meadow were Corylus cor- stores that sell the book, go to http://creekstonepress.com/index.php/ordering/ nuta (beaked hazelnut) and which were Amelanchier alnifolia

70% of the natural wetlands near our cities have disappeared. Where does the carbon they stored go now?

Native Species and Natural Processes Professional Specialization Certifi cate Program Shape your career with this accredited Take the full 4-course program or individual program designed for professionals working courses. Apply now! in fi elds related to landscape architecture, Fall 2011: Natural Processes: Restoration forestry, agrology, biology and environmental Ecology (In Person) practice. Learn about cutting-edge approaches Spring 2012: Contact us for info. to ecological restoration. [email protected] • 250-721-8458 • www.continuingstudies.uvic.ca/natural

Fall 2011 BCnature 19 20 BCnature Fall 2011 Focus on IBAs: Laskeek Bay Important Bird Area By: Krista Englund aves crashing. Orca's breaching. gain work experience. Over the years, WBirds calling. These are all sights LBCS has touched most of the families and sounds experienced by visiting vol- on Haida Gwaii and their programs are unteer citizen scientists on Limestone regularly mentioned at high school grad- Island in Laskeek Bay Important Bird uations and in yearbooks as a highlight Area, Haida Gwaii. Since 1990, hun- of the student's experience. In 2010, an dreds of volunteers, schoolchildren, and intern program for senior year university visitors have taken part in volunteer students was initiated to provide them monitoring and stewardship projects with invaluable field research skills to run by the Laskeek Bay Conservation complement their studies. Since 1991, Society (LBCS). more than 20 university students have It all started around a campfire in 1989 worked in the camp and undertaken when Dr. Tony Gaston of the Canadian studies on the island. Ancient Murrelet and Chick Wildlife Service (CWS), was lamenting The key species of interest for the the end of his six-year research project research and monitoring activities in as Marbled Murrelets, Cassin's Auk- on Reef Island's Ancient Murrelets with Laskeek Bay is the Ancient Murrelet. The lets, Pigeon Guillemots, Storm-Petrels, some friends. Intrigued by this work, a islands of Haida Gwaii are the only place Glaucous-winged Gulls, and Black Oys- handful of people recognized the need in Canada where Ancient Murrelets nest, tercatchers as well as marine mammals for long-term monitoring. An idea with approximately 50% of the global and rare plants. The Society's 15 moni- developed, which grew into a vision population breeding there. These sea- toring programs cover a broad range of involving local people and visitors birds connect the waters of the offshore of the marine birds and mammals, rare as volunteer citizen scientists in a long- marine environment, where it feeds, plants, and introduced species (black- term monitoring project. The following with the tall trees of the coastal tem- tailed deer, squirrels, raccoons and year, 1990, the Laskeek Bay Conserva- perate rainforest, under which it nests. plants), making Laskeek Bay an exciting tion Society (LSBC) formed and a field Ancient Murrelets are at risk in Canada place to be a citizen scientist. The Society camp was established on East Limestone because of the threat of introduced pred- is also in an excellent position to share Island. The field camp has run every ators; their populations have been devas- their knowledge - they distribute a bi- year since. tated throughout their range in Alaska, weekly newsletter, write articles for a For three months each summer, vol- Russia and Japan by foxes, rats, racoons local paper, and maintain an exhibit, a unteers are transported to East Lime- and other species. The LBCS undertakes hydrophone for marine mammals, and stone Island and spend a minimum of a variety of activities to minimize the nest boxes for Pigeon Guillemots at the one week in the camp, assisting with the impact of introduced predators on Las- Haida Gwaii Museum at Kaay Llnagaay field programs and the tasks of running keek Bay's murrelets, and monitor the in Skidegate, BC. the camp. Since 1990, more than 550 impacts of introduced predators and LBCS has now compiled more than 20 volunteers have participated – approxi- control efforts. years of data on the Ancient Murrelet, its mately half from local communities. The Laskeek Bay IBA is not only important life history and biology, and the popula- others have come from across Canada for Ancient Murrelets. The Limestone tion changes of a small colony threatened and 15 other countries. Local school- Islands are a hotspot for biological pro- by raccoons. This is the longest running, children and high school students also ductivity, and together with neighbour- continuous, seabird monitoring data come to Limestone each year to experi- ing islands and surrounding waters, set in British Columbia. It provides life ence first-hand biological research and support a variety of marine birds such history information needed for management planning and effective conservation decision-making and is invaluable for monitoring the effects of climate

Skedens Islands change, potential oil drilling, forestry, and wind energy projects. At a time when government funding is very lim-

Limestone ited and public interest is growing, the Low Island Islands role of citizen science non-government South Low Island organizations is increasingly important. The 20 years of work by the Laskeek Bay Kingsway Rock Reef Island Haswell Island Conservation Society and their volunteers provides an exciting model.  For more information, to make a donation or to inquire about volunteer opportuni- Map Courtesy of Google Earth ties, please visit www.laskeekbay.org.

Laskeek Bay is an expanse of water open to Hecate Strait on the east coast of Louise Island, and north of Lyell Island on Haida Gawii. The IBA includes the islands of Skedans, Low, South Low, Limestone, Reef, Lost and Kingsway Rock, which lie within the broad boundaries of the bay. Skedans, Limestone and Reef Islands are included within a provincial Wildlife Management Area, while the other islands are Crown Land and fall outside the boundaries of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve.

Fall 2011 BCnature 21 What do butterflies, bogs, camps and

grandparents have in common? YNC Update by Kristine Webber

If you answered the “Young Naturalists’ Club of BC” the YNC offered Camping 101 for Lower Mainland YNC you’d be correct. Read more below to find out how. It is Members. The program was offered in partnership with a busy and exciting time at the YNC; here are just a few Metro Vancouver Parks who provided an evening bat of the things clubs and members are doing. program and canoeing trip on day 2.

Butterflies- Heather Kharouba is a Grandparents- There is something extra special UBC PhD candidate interested in about rediscovering nature through the eyes of a how butterflies are adapting to the child. This fall, in partnership with the Elders Council impacts of climate change. This for BC Parks, the YNC offered a special nature summer Young Naturalists across program for grandparents and grandchildren the province helped Heather with to mark Grandparents’ Day. We hope to her research by photographing and make this an annual event and celebrate recording observations of butterflies Grandparents’ Day (Sept 11) across across BC. the province in 2012 so mark your calendars! Bogs- Vancouver Young Naturalist, Maja, spent her summer New Clubs- we have a new YNC organizing youth work parties to Club starting on Quadra Island this help restore Beaver Lake Bog fall led by Dionne Lapointe-Bakota. in Stanley Park. She was awarded a generation green award from Volunteer Opportunities Vancouver Foundation for this project. YNC Leaders needed- the YNC is You can follow her progress by linking seeking co-leaders for the Nanaimo onto her bogger blog from the www.ync.ca and North Okanagan YNC clubs. website. Call for Nature Mentors- share your expertise and knowledge “My family are a bunch of computer nuts who about the plants, animals and don’t spend enough time outdoors, and camping ecosystems of BC with YNC is something I would really like us to do so we members on Explorer Days. can connect with each other & explore the natural Register with the YNC as a Nature world.” camping 101 participant Mentor and we’ll connect you with your local YNC club. Camps- Camping is a great way for a family to enjoy the natural world together but can seem daunting for Come by and visit us at the YNC families that have never camped before. This summer booth at the Fall General Meeting.

This Christmas... Give a Young Naturalists’ Club membership to the children in your life. For $25 they will be enrolled in their nearest nature club, participate in Explorer Days, the Action Awards Program and receive NatureWILD Magazine quarterly. Best of all, no batteries required. Purchase online at www.ync.ca.

Contact Information: Young Naturalists’ Club of BC Daphne Solecki, President [email protected] 1620 Mt. Seymour Rd. Kristine Webber, Executive Director [email protected] North Vancouver BC V7G 2R9 Tammy Keetch, Club Coordinator [email protected] Office: 604-985-3057 www.ync.ca

22 BCnature Fall 2011 if approved would have a life span of one more people than ever attended, we Club hundred years. We are glad to see the City separated for the summer. of Abbotsford is also against the proposed The FGM Committee kept meeting, mine. the Delta Casual Birders kept birding Chat The City of Abbotsford has included our and everyone else took turns going on recommendation to the Species at Risk holiday. task force and recorded it on their newly The plans for our FGM are coming By Betty released report. They have also sent out along famously. There are lots of great Requests For Proposals to conduct an field trips and lectures planned. Our Davison Integrated Community Sustainability registrations are already above our Plan, including green energy, green econ- minimum required, so we’re all very omy and environmental management happy! “Fall Migrations Through the Lower Mainland planning. Delta” has lots to offer we hope to see We have confirmed speakers for the you there! Abbotsford Mission Nature upcoming season. Larry Cowan on ‘Birds Plans have been made for the 2011/2012 Club from Ecuador’, Pamela Zevit on ‘The season – and almost all the speakers are ~Submitted by Jacqueline Reznick Work of the South Coast Conservation booked. It looks like another great year Program’, Dr. John Richardson of UBC of entertainment and education. s I write this report, countless Department of Forest Sciences on his ecol- In Tsawwassen, the Southlands are ACedar Waxwing are gorging on ogy and conservation biology activities back in the news. There is a new work- the Cascara trees black shiny seed. and Dr. Kent Mullinix of Kwantlen Col- ing plan proposal for only 950 houses In the last month, three pairs of lege on ‘Sustainable Agriculture and how on 107 out of 537 acres, with the rest Black Headed Grosbeaks and many it can Benefit Wildlife’.  going to parks and agriculture. It seems American Goldfinches have adorned a done deal. Council hasn’t objected the yard. There were also Northern Chilliwack Field Naturalists to anything. The new proposal will be Flickers hiding behind the leaves of ~Submitted by Helen Turner coming up in September and there is the Alder trees waiting for the slowly an election in November… we will wait maturing blueberries, producing un- las here it is mid-August already and see. usual sounds. The Indian plum scrub Aand summer is almost over. Did we The Fraser Perimeter Road is definitely is also slowly shedding its leaves. Fall even really have summer? Our activities taking shape – and there now is a very must be on its way! reduce during the summer to a monthly definite proposal for a second Deltaport In June, Abbotsford Mission Nature field trip and an evening work session at Terminal to be completed by 2025; and Club members enjoyed our annual the Camp River Wildlife Area for either the tunnel is already filled bumper to picnic. This year it was at Fishtrap clipping back blackberries or knocking bumper with trucks who will NOT be Creek Park. A park with many con- down other invasive weed species such as taking the new highway. necting trails located very centralyl morning glory or thistle!! The Sandhill Cranes managed to raise in the City of Abbotsford. One of the Our club is very saddened to have lost a their one remaining chick and it is now trails is “Discovery Trail” which we founding member of the Chilliwack Field flapping around the Reifel along with walked after dinner. Fishtrap Creek Naturalist Club. Val Whetter passed away a few junior Great Horned Owls and Park has a pond with a few resident July 29, 2011. She was truly an amazing a multitude of Canada Goslings and beavers and their work on local trees lady at almost 92 years of age and will be ducklings (see the DNCB blog) http:// is evident. We continue to explore missed by many as well as her fabulous dncb.wordpress.com/. the idea of a Nature Hut and the real photography, we are so grateful Joachim Continuous plans are made by Tom, need for its presence in our area. brought her out to attend our Club picnic our President, for Delta Nats to maintain This park will be high on the list as a in June at the Camp River Wildlife Area. our high profile. We will be showing possible location for a Nature Hut. That visit will be a very special memory. off our newly updated display at three Our Club has once again been In June several members went to Will- upcoming events; “Festival of Birds at invited by the City of Abbotsford brand Creek to wander the trails and enjoy Boundary Bay Regional Park”, spon- to the Canada Day Celebration. We exploring a new location. Then off to The sored by BCEATS (BC Ecological Agri- set up our display inside Rotary Sta- Little Farm House for lunch. In July a trip cultural Trust Society), an organization dium where Gerry Powers, Steve to Manning Park to see the flowers in the formed back in March to try to buy the Howard and I shared the Metro Van- Heather Meadows, the timing of our out- Southlands, and “Metro Vancouver’s couver Park tent. We partnered with ing was just as the trail opened due to the Starry Night at Deas Island Park” and Metro Vancouver Park to talk about delay in snow melt. August was spent the “Richmond Raptor Festival at Terra creatures of the night. We had more locally, wandering the trails along the Ved- Nova Park”. And there is the now usual than 2500 people of all ages pass our der and picking blackberries. “Birds on the Bay” walk in September. booth. Gerry’s and Steve’s displays In May, Janne and Helen ventured to And then our year starts anew on Sept are a great tool to educate the public Williams Lake to attend the Spring Gen- 12 with David Drummond from Blaine regarding wild life. eral Meeting. It was great to meet up with who will regale us with tales of “Merlin In July we had planned to attend fellow naturalists and old friends and – The Birds”. We’ll concentrate on the Colony Farm Regional Park to to see some new sites. We also hope to good side for now.  observe bird banding by Mas- be able to make some of the fall meeting ter Bander, Derek Matthews. The activities. Soon we will be back to having Friends of Semiahmoo Bay weather did not cooperate and it was our monthly meetings as well.  Society cancelled. We hope to attend a future ~Submitted by Marg Cuthbert banding session. Delta Naturalists Society We continue to write letters to ~Submitted by Ursula Easterbrook riends of Semiahmoo Bay Society all levels of government regarding Fis celebrating our 10th Anniversary many local developments. We have he Summer was late coming, but now with a potluck party at the Grass Shack sent a letter to the Provincial Govern- Tthe sun is here – hurray! After a very August 27 and with a larger Project ment regarding the proposed aggre- eventful Garden Party in June, where Partner and Volunteer Appreciation gate mine on Sumas Mountain, that Reception October 16. Continued Page 24 Fall 2011 BCnature 23 Club Chat Continued tics from important migrating bird will enhance the native species and Jude Grass continues to meet the and fish spawning habitats. Numer- address some of these concerns. challenges and do a great job coor- ous invasive plant removals at three Please visit our website: www.lcws.ca dinating our “Birds on the Bay & project sites have managed to support Beyond”program which provides an the native plants striving for light and Nature Vancouver opportunity for our numerous fel- water and another planting at Blackie ~Submitted by Dorothy Nelson low Naturalist groups to participate Spit in October is planned. together to provide hundreds of free The Interpretive signage project for he highlight of our summer has nature events for people of all ages the Little Campbell River Park is well Tbeen camp, this year held at Water- every three months year round. into development and we plan to have ton National Park, Alberta . Our camp The team have accomplished much two thirds of the signs installed for an committee, comprised of Don Griffiths this spring and summer and have unveiling on site during our October (chair), Kitty Castle, Elly Brok, Fred attended numerous public events 16th Appreciation Event. Hornby, Helen Gowans, Peg Neilon, with educational displays and activi- As we enter the fall season, our edu- Nigel Peck and Bill Kinkaid, are to be ties. More than 25 people attended the cational coordinator Yvonne Dawydiak commended for once again selecting a Shorekeepers methods training work- with Lynn Pollard resume the school wonderful site for the camp and man- shop in May with Department Fisher- program scheduling classes of students aging both without a hitch. Both camps ies and Oceans support and all six sites for the “Birds in Focus”, “Marine Dis- were close to maximum attendance (50). in Boundary Bay were again surveyed covery” or “Pond/Wetland Discovery” In addition to the beauties of the park it- with the excellent project coordina- programs. We continue to provide self, the journey to and from Vancouver tion of Sharon Jones. We are anxiously teachers with a resource kit, intro- was particularly pleasant, greener than awaiting Department Fisheries and ductory presentation and an outdoor usual due to our long wet spring. Oceans data entry to the Shorekeeper nature experience with nine resource In July we had our picnic at Lighthouse atlas. kits available. The program success- Park in West Vancouver for members It was exciting to again be mapping fully reached more than 1000 students and guests, a fine day for guided trail the eelgrass meadows in Boundary this past 2010/2011 season. walks before and after the picnic. This Bay this year after a sojourn of three Financial cutbacks have presented first time event will no doubt become a years with the BC Seagrass Conserva- many challenges to us for ongoing summer tradition. tion Group who is providing project delivery of programs but our volunteer A well-attended 93rd Annual Gen- team is amazing and their dedication eral Meeting of Nature Vancouver support. Our project coordinator Ali-  son Prentice had few very low tides makes all the difference. was held in April. The Conservation this year thus mapping concentrated section reported their focus this year mainly on the zostera japonica. In June, Little Campbell Watershed has involved drawing attention to we also hosted an Eelgrass mapping Society increased oil tanker traffic in Burrard & monitoring methods training work- ~Submitted by David Riley Inlet, searching for ways to protect a lit- shop with over 50 people attending. tle known wetland in rural Richmond, Alison also coordinated our participa- ittle Campbell Watershed Society and urging that the North Arm Jetty be tion and contribution to the Spartina Lmembers are currently extremely incorporated into Iona Beach Regional anglica removal effort in Boundary concerned about a proposal to load Park. The Marine Biology section con- Bay providing volunteers for mapping, structural fill along the bank of the tinues to enjoy a supportive partnership plant removal and seed head clipping. main stem where important coho with the Vancouver Aquarium. Field World Ocean Day in June was a great spawning occurs. Decades ago gravel trips included eelgrass beds near the success with approximately 2500 peo- was extracted from the site and it has Tsawwassen ferry terminal, the Marine ple attending a gorgeous, sunny day at since been used for grazing. If the pro- Mammal Rescue and Rehabilitation Blackie Spit Park. More than 30 exhibi- posed fill sloughs off or fine sediment Centre, the invertebrate teaching lab at tors provided informative educational enters the river and spawning gravels, the Vancouver Aquarium and the inter- displays and fun family activities. This members believe the river will be ir- tidal zone at Stanley Park. Botany and event also formally launched our sum- reparably damaged. Geology sections are chaired by David mer Beach Hero Marine Interpretive Volunteers continue to closely moni- Cook, and included talks on vegeta- Program and this year Christina and tor other development sites and meet tion change on the Saanich Peninsula, Amanda have done an amazing job with city staff regularly to voice con- Cypress through the Seasons, Wind as of guiding families and school groups cerns. The role of watch dog is not wel- a Natural Disturbance Agent in Coastal in gaining beach etiquette and knowl- come but what choice is there in these BC Forests and field trips to study the edge of the marine environment. They days of development rules. geology of the Lower Seymour Con- continue to collect data on recreational Little Campbell Hatchery volunteers servation Reserve, geology of Jericho fishing and crabbing and also report continue to work around the clock and Beach park, ascent of Mt. Strachan, poachers to Department Fisheries and this past spring they hosted more than hikes to Dog Mountain and Norvan Oceans whose funding support is 80 school tours and released over 30,000 Falls. Jude Grass is chair of the Bird- essential for us to provide the program. salmon fry. They continue to monitor ing Section which enjoys well-attended Attending numerous public events and local wildlife and nesting birds, the monthly meetings and many birding farmer’s markets they are raising pub- barn owls laid another brood, great field trips. Nigel Peck, chair of the Out- lic awareness about Boundary Bay and horned owls raised young as did spot- reach Committee, with Sue Garber and its importance for migrating birds. ted sandpipers, Rufus Hummingbirds, Nellie Bacou participated at such events Mid September we will again be par- Red Breasted Sapsuckers, barn and tree as Earth Day at Jericho and Everett ticipating in the Great Canadian Shore- Swallows etc. Active beavers and river Crowley Parks, Commercial Drive Car line Cleanup at Blackie Spit where coor- otters keep things lively. Free Day, and farmers’ markets to pro- dinators Alison & Andrew Prentice will The interpretive signage project is mote Nature Vancouver. Membership organize volunteer teams for debris raising awareness about the current Committee, chaired by Jeremy McCall removal of the sensitive salt marshes. status of the riparian and forest plants, reports membership consistent at 650- Other cleanups this year have removed some being overwhelmed by invasives 700; concern about retention of mem- huge amounts of Styrofoam and plas- such as buttercup, Himalayan black- bers led to a members’ survey created berry and grasses. The fall planting Continued Page 25 24 BCnature Fall 2011 Club Chat Continued about saving the wild salmon. We also increase in website traffic that lasted for by Daphne Nagorsen to help discern brought Treaty 8 Tribal Chief Liz Logan over four months. Paul Levesque was members’ needs and wishes within the and Diane Culling from the Peace Val- the lead organizer of the pelagic trip.  organization. ley Environment Association to the hall Publications include reprinting of the to talk about impacts to biodiversity Northern BC pamphlet Explore the Rocky Shore at Stan- from the proposed “Site C” dam. ley Park, by Sheila Byers as a small book- We are working on responses to sev- Kitimat Valley Naturalists let; an Updated History of Nature Vancou- eral provincial initiatives such as the ~Submitted by April MacLeod ver and the Discovery Index, committee Species At Risk Task Force and five chair Cynthia Crampton, expected at new draft Landscape Unit Plans (Bute he spring and summer of 2011 have the end of this year; a Birding Guide East, Bute West, Brittain, Cortes and Tbeen very busy for the Kitimat val- Update, Jude Grass/Cathy Aitchison; Howe). As well, the Sunshine Coast ley Naturalists. As intervenors in the Discovery, editor Jeremy McCall, now Forest District is undergoing a Tim- Enbridge projects, KVN have been busy published once a year; and the club ber Supply Review and we are par- with meetings, gathering data and re- newsletter, Vancouver Naturalist, editor ticipating. A 38% increase in the rate of viewing data provided by Enbridge Julian Hudson, published four times annual timber harvesting is proposed. to the public. We are in the process of per year. Our members are skeptical that this can writing our technical report for the NEB Ron Long chairs the Photography Sec- accomplished without doing substan- hearings that will commence in 2012. tion which attracted 230 photographs tial harm to fish and wildlife popula- We have also had time to do some fun from 32 photographers for the annual tions. Our responses to these and many activities: 4 members of KVN attended competition, including five Young Nat- other issues, are available on the SCCA the spring meeting of BC Nature hosted uralist Club members. He conducted website www.thescca.ca by the Williams Lake Field Naturalists. four photography classes at the Reifel This is a civic election year and as The bird outings were great, the talks Migratory Bird Sanctuary this year usual the SCCA will host the Green excellent and the people fabulous! which were fully subscribed. Kelly Issues Forum just prior to our Novem- Back in Kitimat the naturalists are Sekhon continues his able management ber election day. It’s important (and taking part in several activities: Storm of our website - www.naturevancouver. very interesting) to give all candidates Drain Marking and Long term monitor- ca; complementing the Nature Van- an opportunity to voice their environ- ing for Amphibians. Also the recording couver website is a Nature Vancouver mental perspectives. And of course, of birding data goes on year long. We Facebook page which features upcom- preparations are underway for the participated in the fourth year of the ing events, news and announcements. SCCA’s annual November fundraising breeding bird atlas project with many Kelly also provides a weekly e-mail to gala the Celebration of Conservation. sightings this spring.  members for reminders of upcoming Everyone is welcome!  events. Jude Grass continues to coordi- Prince George Naturalists nate evening programs and workshops. WildResearch ~Submitted by Clive Keen YNC Vancouver is now in its 10th year -Submitted by Christine Rock under the leadership of Eva Nagy and he Prince George Naturalists Club there are now two new clubs in the Van- n mid-August, WildReseach assist- Tis continuing to rediscover its feet, couver region : YNC Stanley Park and Ied with organizing the 4th Western with a number of field trips and evening YNC North Vancouver as well as YNC Hemisphere Shorebird Group Meeting; presentations, with talks ranging from Lower Mainland home learners, all of held at Simon Fraser University. sturgeon recovery to effective wildlife which provide excellent monthly pro- WildResearch offered three field trips photography, and trips ranging from a grams to their members, children and for the meeting participants to shore- visit to The Ancient Forest to a guided families in the Vancouver area.  bird hotspots in the lower mainland. walk around private parkland. Samantha Franks organized the field For birders in the club, a high spot Sunshine Coast Natural History trips and the field trip guides included was production of a new edition of the Society Christine Rock, Willow English, Checklist of North-Central Birds. This ~Submitted by Daniel Bouman Nathan Hentze, Paul Levesque, Anna guide, which lists 297 birds known to Drake, and Samantha Franks. have occurred in the area, also clearly embers of the Sunshine Coast WildResearch’s Fall Bird Monitoring indicates when they are likely to be MConservation Association had a Program started mid August at Iona seen, and how likely they are to be very busy summer and the pace is ac- Beach Regional Park in Richmond, seen. It is a gem -- and yet we were all celerating as we move into fall. Most of and will run until mid November. The delighted when it was made slightly out our organization’s activity right now objectives of this monitoring program of date when the first breeding record involves the Habitat Area Nomina- are to conduct a) conservation science of a Lazuli Bunting was recorded not tion Project, the first phase of which is through obtaining information on long after the guide emerged from the about collecting data to support Mar- the abundance, species diversity, and printers. bled Murrelet Wildlife Habitat Area demographic composition of migratory Members are also contributing to con- nominations and also nominations for birds using Iona Beach as a stopover site servation issues both practically with Fisheries Sensitive Watershed (FSR) during migration, and b) education and bird-box erection (a forthcoming project designation. Currently there are no training by increasing public awareness -and by contributing comments about FSR designations in the province. Our and appreciation for wildlife and their developments with potentially nega- goal is to change this! The project has habitats. tive effects on the environment. A wide an educational component underway WildResearch also organized a pelagic range of activities is currently (Mid as well; in December we will begin a birding trip aboard the M.V. Frances August) being finalized for the Fall.  schedule of public presentations about Barkley from Ucluelet to La Perouse biodiversity, old growth, and species Banks. The trip was advertised inter- Skeena Valley Naturalists and plant communities at-risk in our nationally and drew participants from ~Submitted by Judy Chrysler region. Ontario, Alberta, Washington State and During the summer, SCCA mem- across British Columbia. The pelagic t our April AGM, Margaret Kujat bers packed out the Roberts Creek trip was a major fund raising event and Agave a very good overview of the Hall to hear Alexandra Morton speak membership drive. We also had a sharp Continued page 26 Fall 2011 BCnature 25 Club Chat continued and we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the sky. No outings were organized comprehensive programmes that the of The Nature Trust of BC.  on the last day, so everyone did what Lakelse Watershed Society participate suited them best. in and around the Lakelse watershed. Thompson Shuswap A reunion tea will be held at the She is the coordinator of the pro- Okanagan Benvoulin Church end of August. grammes that address fish issues, water There are still a number of events com- quality issues and aquatic plant survey, Central Okanagan Naturalists ing up to celebrate 50 years as a club, to name a few. The club has tripled its Club culminating in the BC Nature 2012 AGM membership from four to 12 . Several ~Submitted by Don Guild (see the website at http://www.okanagan- new members expressed an interest in nature.org/EventsSchedule.pdf ).  participating in local birdwalks so five he CONC 50th anniversary events were arranged and led in Spring. Tare successfully unfolding. In June Kamlooops Naturalists Club The club has become involved with an these activities included bicycle bird- ~Submitted by Teresa Corboy extensive amphibian monitoring pro- ing along Mill Creek (Cec Dillabough), gramme here in the northwest. a botany outing in Mission Creek Re- his spring the Kamloops Naturalist Dr Purnima Govindarajulu in MOE gional Park (Peter & Kitty Green) and TClub hosted a series of trips for the and Dr Norma Kerby, a local consul- a geology walk in Glen Canyon Park, public through Kamloops Parks and tant have spearheaded the funding Powers Creek and the Gellatly trails Rec. The Complete Naturalist series and construction of the boards with (Bob Fulton). July brought an interpre- was hosted every Wednesday night our cooperation. Dr Kerby and her tive hike to Angel Springs (Bob Fulton); over a six week period. The talks were son, Ken have installed boards in 55 a tour of a xeriscape demonstration on a variety of topics; Waterfowl, Song- locations creating 134 sites. From west garden (Gwen Steele & Heather Do- birds, Trees, Geology, Amphibians and of Dease Lake, down to Ft St James, in heny); a family pond study day (Dr. Reptiles. People who attended all the the Bulkley Valley and out to Lakelse Ian Walker); a riparian walk along Mill trips were given a membership in the Lake where 15 boards have been in- Creek, Chichester Pond and Mission club for the upcoming year. stalled, members are monitoring their Creek (Doreen Wierenga); wildflowers The club celebrated parks day mid boards, once a month. at Big White Mountain (Peter & Kitty July with a day on Dew Drop flats in To celebrate BC Parks’s 100th birthday, Green) and a butterfly outing to learn Lac du Bois Grasslands Provincial Park. we partnered with Dennis Horwood about their lifecycle was attended by 15 Members of the public were invited to of the Kitimat Valley Naturalists on a people (Denis St. John, SONC). In Au- attend walks and talks by club mem- guided walk to the Williams Creek Eco- gust there has already been an historic bers. Topics included; Big Horn Sheep, logical reserve, with a BC Park Ranger. fur brigade trail hike on the west side Spadefoot Toads, Rattle Snakes, Blue- Later in the summer, we participated of Okanagan Lake (Linley McKenna), birds and the ecological reserve its local in an amphibian awareness and cel- Coming up in August, there is a discov- history and the work of volunteer war- ebration day, held at the government er nature hike in Myra-Bellevue Prov. dens. campsite at Furlong Bay at Lakelse Park (Penny Gubbels {FOSS} & Brenda This fall we are looking forward to Lake Thomson) and at the end of August, a resuming our regular monthly meet- More than 75 people attended and look at a section of Mission Creek modi- ings our kick off meeting in September participated in children’s activities on fied by dikes will examine what would will feature polar bears and walrus.  a drizzly cool day. Dr. Purnima Govin- be needed to restore it to a naturally darajulu addressed the throng and functioning stream (Dr. Peter Dill & Dr. Lillooet Naturalists Society Dr. Kerby led a smaller group on an Leif Burge). ~Submitted by Vivian Birch Jones amphibian search, alas to no avail this In mid June, the annual picnic was time. Some of us are planning to attend held at Keloya Park in Oyama where en of the Lillooet naturalists trav- the Fall General Meeting, see you there! 30 members shared a potluck supper, Telled to Williams Lake for the AGM Reifel is not to be missed!  short walks and enjoyed conversing in and events. Well done Williams Lake the peaceful setting of the park. Field Naturalists! (At the AGM I vol- Williams Lake Field Naturalists Twenty five CONC members camped unteered as regional coordinator for our Society out at Otter Lake and several hotels in area and we held a well-attended meet- ~Submitted by Fred McMechan the Tulameen area from June 23-26 and ing in Merritt mid July) The BC Hydro were joined by some of the Vermilion funded FWCP research reports on the e enjoyed being the hosts for the Forks Field Naturalists to enjoy hiking bats, falcons and owls from last season WBC Nature AGM and Conference. and nature exploration in the area. are in and very good to see. We have We appreciated being able to show the For the major summer hike, 19 mem- a copy of the bat report in the library. registrants the beauty and nature of the bers met in E. C. Manning Prov. Park We also purchased a copy of the latest Cariboo Chilcotin. from August 2-7 and tackled a wide bat reference book “Bats of the Rocky The Scout Island Nature Centre was variety of trails there, ranging from Mountain West”. Lillooet is a very bat an active place during the summer. We hikes around the lower elevation lakes friendly town. Kim North attended the employed four university students to to a more strenuous climb up the parks Rivershed Society meetings with three act as nature interpreters. They and highest peak, Mt. Frosty. The first day other naturalists. We are sponsoring our educators stayed busy giving pro- was spent enjoying the flora around two youth to go on the rafting trip this grams to school classes, children’s and Lightning, Flash and Strike Lakes. The summer. We are looking forward to Fin family groups in the summer and act- next day saw the group hiking the Donnelly and the rafting crew arriving ing as hosts to the visitors to the Nature Heather Trail. Most of the group hiked in Lillooet on the day we celebrate the House. Mt. Frosty on the third day. At the mid Salmon in the Canyon, August 20th. We continue to operate a nursery to elevations on this hike a wonderful Work on the second edition of the Lil- provide native trees and shrubs for Western Larch forest, carpeted in some looet Hiking Guide is in progress now this area. Weed management and trail areas by Glacier Lilies, delighted us. that some of the access issues have been maintenance also kept our volunteers Upon reaching the summit an excep- cleared up with MOF. Of course this busy. During the Nature Centre ban- tional panorama of mountains in all means a great deal of hiking is going on. quet Rob Butler was the guest speaker directions greeted us with unusual vis- FWCP Grizzly Bear work has started ibility to the horizon due to the clarity Continued Page 27 26 BCnature Fall 2011 Club Chat Continued monitor the quality of local wetlands – Shuswap Naturalists Club and the biologists are visiting the area but it is also such fun to yield to one’s ~Submitted by Janet Pattinson as always we enjoy providing some inner child, grab a net, put on local logistical support. The cooler gumboots and go frogging! ne project for our club has been weather delayed some of the field Other activities this summer includ- Othe production of a new bird list.It work, as well as our spring flowers ed bird identification outings and includes 291 species, of which 166 are In partnership with the St’at’imc participation in the BC Breeding Bird breeding in the area. Tribal Council we hosted the Whitebark Atlas program.  Several members have been writing Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada articles for the “Nature’s Corner” col- conference in July. The presentations North Okanagan Naturalists’ umn in one of the local newspapers. were fascinating and we all enjoyed Club To support our activities we have to field trip to the Yalakom and Poison ~Submitted by Pamela Jenkins undertaken some fund-raising projects. Mountain. Bluebird box outing in June We organized a garage sale, some guided during which we enjoyed a sighting of embers, Peter and Hylda May- tours and a dinner party hosted by mem- a Prairie Falcon. We held a weed day at Mfield, were honoured with an bers. our WHA, where the new educational environmental award from the City of Our club takes a continuing interest in sign is up, and a few brave souls came Vernon in June. the Peter Jannink Park in Salmon Arm out to fight the invasive weeds. It’s very Cools Pond signs and viewing plat- where many of our native plant species good we have the new Invasive Species form repairs were made possible using are growing. This summer we hired a group starting up in our area, and that a grant from BC Nature for the signs, student to do some weeding there. they have received some government and help from the city for the platform Shuswap Naturalists applaud the funding. We were invited to participate repairs. work and dedication of Karen Beggs, a in the Provincial Park planning process Weeding, planting and watering are member who has recently retired from and the BC Hydro Water Use Planning continuous activitiesat the Swan Lake her role as manager of the Kee Two process. Time permitting, we would property. A parking space has been Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre after 20 like to do both. We are planning to host provided by the city giving access years of service to the community. at BC Nature camp at Lillooet in the avoiding some private property. More This fall our club will present its fall of 2012, more information to follow plans are being made for interpretive annual award to a student of Thompson when dates finalized.  signs, trails and lookout blinds in this Rivers University in memory of Marga- evolving nature park. A display of rette Johnson, a long-time member who Nicola Naturalist Society NONC activities at Swan Lake was set passed away in January.  ~ Submitted by Alan Burger up at the Fintry Field Day in May. There is much concern about the South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club ur amphibian monitoring project grassland area known as the Com- ~Submitted by Glenda Ross Ogot under way this spring and sum- monage. Various conservation mer in the Merritt area. With funding groups, including ourselves, are ur club has had a very busy few from the BC Public Conservation As- attempting to prevent further rezon- Omonth even with it being summer- sistance Fund (to our society) and the ing, which inevitably leads to more time Our new website is now up and BC Habitat Conservation Trust Founda- lands disappearing to various devel- running, check us out at http://southo- tion (to our professional collaborators opments. We have been attending kanagannature.com/south/okanagan. at Biolinx Environmental Research Ltd. city council meetings to express our Bob Handfield has worked with in Victoria) we were able to purchase preservation points of view. Okanagan Falls Parks & Rec commission waders, nets, minnow traps and other In June, we celebrated the 100th anni- and installed a slightly modified version equipment needed to monitor frogs. versary of BC Parks and the 25th anni- of our Okanagan Lake Waterfront bird The Biolinx team (Dr. Kristiina Ovaska, versary of Kalamalka Lake Provincial sign on the KVR Trail in Ok Falls. We’ve Lennart Sopuck and Christian Engelst- Park at the Kal Park Twin Bays picnic been busy working with the Penticton oft) visited Merritt three times in May, site between the two bays. There were Museum and NNC (Nature Conservancy June and July to train volunteers from official Parks and government people of Canada) organizing our 50th anniver- our society and establish the monitor- in attendance. NONC had set up their sary to put a six month long show on the ing protocols. A training workshop at display again. history of Conservation in the Okanagan the Merritt Civic Centre mid May led No one has reported about recent and we continue to work with Pentic- by the Biolinx herpetologists drew 26 birding activities, but I do know there ton Golf & Country Club collecting bird adults and children and was followed are weekly birding trips at the week- data. At the end of August at the Subaru by field training over the next few days ends.Snowshoeing continued into Ironman Canada we will again clean and in June and July. Our field efforts fo- June on Silver Star Mountain. There up a section of the course, with money cused on reconnaissance – mapping out have been some good Thursday out- earned going toward our Okanagan Col- lakes and ponds which had breeding ings, including one to Twin Lakes, lege Bursary and an award for the local amphibians – and testing sites for mul- which has only recently become acces- Science Fair. ti-year monitoring. A highlight was the sible because of the abundant snow With the return of September we start discovery of several sites with breeding pack this year. Our summer “camp” up our monthly meetings. . With the Great Basin Spadefoots – a threatened was held in Wells Gray park. Ten of slower birding months of winter we will species in Canada - in the grasslands of us chose to stay at the Clearwater have to look into reprinting the Okanagan the upper Nicola Valley and Douglas Country Inn and campsite and drove Valley Birding Trail as we’ve been busy Lake plateau. We also discovered some into the park each day to see spectacu- with sales.  thriving breeding populations of West- lar waterfalls and hike various trails. ern Toads (a species of special concern), There were thunder storms and show- Vermillion Forks Field Naturalists Columbia Spotted Frog, and Pacific ers every night, a few during the day ~Submitted by Cathie Yingling Chorus Frog (formerly tree frog), plus a time, so real camping would not have few sites with Long-toed Salamanders. been a good idea. One day we hiked his year beside the usual hikes and More details and photos can be seen to the Trophy Mountain Meadows to Tevening presentation and ongoing at our website: www.nicolanaturalists. see hillsides covered with glacier lilies. ca. Amphibians are excellent species to The snow had only just gone.  Continued Page 28 Fall 2011 BCnature 27 Club Chat continued development, and ATVs’ damage. In a small committee has been working work at Swan Lake we participated in May, our guest speaker was Cowichan on the details of the bursary and then two events. Valley’s Genevieve Singleton, warden selecting the successful candidate. The first was the Meadow Lark Fes- for the Honeymoon Bay Ecological Re- The 100th Anniversary of BC Parks tival. We organized three hikes. Each serve and wildflower enthusiast. With was celebrated in Eves Park in June with Hike met at the Riverside for coffee and wonderful photos and commentary, she a talk on invasive species. This was fol- muffins and hospitality. The morning described a year’s progression of wild lowed by a work party which removed hikes were lead by Sue Elwell to Ver- flowers on Vancouver Island. At June’s a huge pile of invasives (mostly broom milion Bluffs and the Hoodoos for Bird- meeting, members’ slides revealed their and Daphne) from the Park. The working and Madelon took a group to Swan passion for photographing nature’s ers were then served a lunch of local Lake also for Birding. In the afternoon beauty, whether in their own backyard produce. A cake was cut following some Madelon lead 19 hardy souls to the or beyond. The reluctant arrival of short speeches celebrating the occasion. “Top of the World” for wildflowers and summer made our wind-up picnic at In the afternoon there was a talk on local views. All the evaluations came back as Rathtrevor Beach Park a little chilly, but geology which was followed by guided excellent. The evening presentation of the potluck was delicious, and a raffle tours of the park. the “The Last Grizzly of Paradise Vally raised enough to cover the Park fee. Funding has been offered to build an presentation by Jeff and Sue Turner As weather warmed, so appeared the Interpretive Centre for the Cowichan (local biologists and international doc- ubiquitous Spotted Knapweed, which Estuary. The funding is contingent on umentary producer) was attended by became the vengeful target of the our raising $35,000. A number of fund- over 100 people and was well received. “broom bashers” down at the English- raising events have been held and at The second presentation was a display man’s River estuary. time of writing $5,000 is still needed of Birds and Birding and fauna at the Our sincere thanks to Pat Bourgeois, and 3 weeks remain before our dead- “Arts in the Park event celebrating “!00 our dedicated Director for several years, line. The Land Trust has taken the lead years of Parks” in Manning Park. This who has passed the baton to long-term in this project. was organized by our umbrella group environmentalist Sandy Gray. In late July the Land Trust organized Princeton Community Arts Coun- In September, we will meet again to a work party to try to reduce the large cil and we had members there to talk share summer stories and continue number of baby Western Toads being with the public. Joan Kelly, Madelon educating and inspiring others about killed each year as they cross two of our Schouten,Trish Reid all participated. our special natural world.  local roads. Volunteers erected plastic Wonderful photos of local birds were fences to guide the toads into pit-fall provided by our own Amanda La Haie. Cowichan Valley Naturalists traps by the roadside as they leave the This was well attended and we were Society pond where they were born. Volunteers very pleased with the event. Looking ~Submitted by Eric Marshall regularly emptied the traps and carried forward to the fall hikes and speakers the toads to the other side of the road particularly Sue Elwell’s presentation of ur Monday morning CoffeeHouse until the migration was over. local birds.  Osessions finished the season in May Over the past year there have been with a tour of the Koksilah River from discussions locally over abandoned Vancouver Island Cowichan Bay upstream as far as the boats in our waterways which may Kinsol Trestle. Stops were made at vari- sink, become adrift or otherwise cause Arrowsmith Naturalists ous places en route and we saw several a nuisance. Meetings with our local ~Submitted by Pam Helem sites where steps were being taken to MLA and MP have now resulted in our stabilize banks and provide better fish MP, Jean Crowder, drafting a Bill, C-231 ur programs committees arranged habitat. A barred owl kindly posed at “An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Oexcellent spring events for us to our lunch stop in Bright Angel Park for Act, 2001 (derelict vessels and wreck)”, experience the differing habitats in the photographers in the party. which will be coming before Parlia- our area. These included the mighty The BC Nature AGM in Williams ment in September. This bill designates giants in Cathdral Grove, dunes and Lake saw three couples from CVNS in the Canadian Coast Guard as being marshes along Oyster River, riparian attendance and we were all pleased to responsible for dealing with abandoned habitat along Kitsuksis Creek dyke in be able to take in the various field trips vessels. At the present time the Coast Port Alberni, and a local, non-profit and see different birds from our usual Guard can only deal with them when native plant nursery in Nanaimo. Par- coastal species. The Williams Lake folk they are clearly a danger to the environ- ticularly popular was a guided trip to put on a really great conference! ment or other vessels and this usually Harewood Plains in late May, during The Tuesday evening program closed only happens too late for steps to be which Charles Thirkill, coordinator of for the summer break with a picnic in taken to prevent any problem.  Friends of Harewood Plains shared his Eves Park in June where some of our expert knowledge of this unique habi- Young Naturalists joined the ‘old’ natu- Pender Islands Field Naturalists tat. The mossy meadows were a canvas ralists for a pot-luck meal followed by ~Submitted by Gerald McKeating of pink, blue and yellow. Sea Blush, young and old heading off in small Camas and Yellow Monkey-Flower are groups in search of aquatic species, pril - A wildflower walk led by associated species for an endangered fungi and historical artifacts in the park. ABonnie Parks was well attended. A species (COSEWIC) called Lotus pinna- In May and June Dr Rusty Sweeting late spring disrupted blooming. A few tus. The tiny yellow and cream pea-like from the Pacific Biological Station in lilies were left to view; however, there flowering plant’s needs are simple.... Nanaimo continued his study of Chi- were more than 300 Calypso orchids in seasonally wet meadows, shallow soils nook fry moving into Cowichan Bay evidence. Our observation elsewhere on conglomerate rock, such as found from the Cowichan River. We provided is that Calypsos were very prolific this on Harewood Plains. However, these volunteers to haul in the seine. The year. In April, Richard Philpot gave a meadows are surrounded by Douglas by-catch was always of interest and lively talk entitled “Close ... Encoun- Fir coastal forest, and privately owned changed from week to week and site to ters with Whales and Dolphins” – this by private stakeholders. Charles and site. In June one of our members pre- was a photo-based presentation with his dedicated volunteers have worked sented the first CVNS annual bursary marine mammal vocals accompanying tirelessly in broom removal and to have to Kevin Ianson a student heading to the slide show. This special event was permanent protection from logging, Carleton University. Over the past year Continued Page 29 28 BCnature Fall 2011 Club Chat Continued monitoring Northern Saw-whet Owls remarkable counts, such as a sig- cosponsored by the Pender Island Con- Aegolius acadicus on their fall migration. nificant increase in Northern Flickers, servancy Association. Again, this talk The NSWO Project runs from mid- White-fronted Geese, Barrows Gold- filled the Library meeting room. September until October 31st. RPBO eneyes, and Anna’s Hummingbirds; June - The sailing trip to Saturna Island continues to do public education and not recorded in the last ten years but on the “Blue Jacket” was a great success. outreach regarding bird awareness and included in this count were Long- We had two trips in June, attended by conservation. billed Dowitchers and Western Sand- 11 field naturalist members. Except for In addition, RPBO has several new pipers. Robins and Siskins were down the winds, the weather cooperated and fundraising projects this year where in numbers under Jack Ferguson’s expert seaman- people can adopt a bird and/or spon- Presentations: On our monthly presen- ship, we traversed Boat Pass at high sor one of our fall migration passerine tations nights we had very interested tide slack both days. The Belle Chain or owl nets through RPBO “Adopt-A- speakers. Some of these evenings were Islets were virtually covered with wild- Bird, Sponsor-A-Net” and “Sponsor- jointly organized with the SSI Conser- life, hundreds of seals hauled out on An-Owl-Net” programs or buy Rufous vancy. the rocks and on the first trip, some sea Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus cards Acquisition of a Salt Spring Nature lions. Numerous Pigeon Guillemots as a fundraiser for the Hummingbird Reserve: The acquisition of the 320 acre floated on the water close to the cliffs, Project of BC. If you are interested in Alvin Indridson Nature Reserve by the resplendent in their black and white supporting RPBO’s various programs SSI Conservancy is another example plumage and bright red legs. Eagles or learning more about our activities of the joint efforts between the SSI seemed to be everywhere. On Cabbage please visit our website at rpbo.org. Conservancy and SSTNC. The offi- Island, we watched a young eagle on its To keep up-dated on the fall migra- cial inauguration took place with the nest, exercising its wings, almost ready tion season at Rocky Point visit RPBO’s Indridson family in attendance as well to go to try life in that great big world. A blog http://rpbo2011.blogspot.com/ where as most of the significant sponsors and weekly banding news and bird identifi- donors. A number of SSTNC members highlight for most of us, was the explo-  ration on foot of Cabbage Island. The cation quizzes will be posted. were invited as well to acknowledge geology on the Georgia Strait side was their contributions to the purchase. especially interesting and on the first Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club The future: Looking ahead, SSTNC will trip we had the benefit of David Spald- ~Submitted by Nieke Visser be hosting another BC Nature Field ing’s presence to interpret it. Camp, this time from June 4 to 8, 2012. Future Activities - Geology Hike with Regular activities: Another success- Details will appear in the BCnature ful year was marked by interesting Magazine and on the website as they David Spalding, September, Stanley  Point, Boat trip to Race Rocks, October weekly outings exploring all corners become available. Working/ExecutiveCommittee - Judith of our island as well as Vancouver Allen retired from the committee after Island. Participation is always great, Victoria Natural History Club several years and she was thanked for but we have encountered a shortage ~Submitted by James Miskelly her input into the planning of events of leaders in the past couple of years. for the Club. We welcome two new This problem seems to worsen as time he Victoria Natural History Society members to the committee: Denny goes on. Tis currently enjoying our summer Ferguson and Diane Swindell.  Overnight excursions: Last September schedule of field trips. We had a cold about 40 club members spent three spring that created hardships for birds, Rocky Point Bird Observatory days exploring Quadra Island. In insects, and plants, but as I write this ~Submitted by Shona Lawson May, 30 club members went to Tofino the weather has become more seasonal. and stayed in the Ecolodge at the In September, we will return to a full 011 season is in full swing. RPBO Tofino Botanical Gardens, an excellent speaker program, with four presenta- 2started in June with our Monitoring facility for retreats. Outings included tions each month. Also this fall, we Avian Productivity and Survivorship shoreline explorations, excursions to will again hold a member-appreciation (MAPS) program. This year’s success- Flores Island and Meares Island and barbeque. This will mirror last year’s ful season took place at Witty’s Lagoon boat trips into and around Clayoquot event, held in conjunction with Hawk Capital Regional District Park and Sound for bear and whale watching. Watch at East Sooke Regional Park. Madrona Farm, a working farm and a We also enjoyed an evening presenta- This past spring the VNHS surveyed property of The Land Conservancy. In tion on sea otters by a local marine its membership for the first time in late July our fall migration monitor- biologist and great bird watching. many years. Board Member Shona ing season began at Rocky Point a De- Trail maintenance: Trails in our pro- Lawson coordinated and analysed the partment of National Defense (DND) vincial parks have been maintained survey, which covered a range of top- property. Rocky Point is a unique area by our club regularly for many years. ics. Results were very positive. The that has both Garry Oak Meadow and This past fall, however, this came to a majority of respondents assist the soci- coastal Douglas Fir habitats, that sup- grinding halt when BC Parks changed ety in a number of ways, especially in port many federally and provincially their policies. Hence trails in Ruckle, promoting our events to family and species and ecological communities. In Maxwell and Burgoyne Bay Parks are friends. However, many members were addition, the property is an important in bad shape. Many trails are over- unaware of existing volunteer oppor- migration corridor on the Pacific Fly- grown and /or blocked by downed tunities. Our members should expect way as it is a short jump as the bird flies trees; board walks and bridges are de- more taps on the shoulder in the future! from Vancouver Island to Bainbridge caying. On the positive side, we were Other recommendations from the sur- Island, Washington State and the US able to continue our annual broom pull vey included a desire for more social mainland. The fall migration field sea- in May and have successfully managed events, a greater variety of field trips, son runs until October 31st. Fall migra- the eradication of broom (for now, the and an increased emphasis on conser- tion targets passerines though some- broom will be back in due time). Next vation. Results of the survey will be year we will focus on broom in other invaluable to the board as we work on times a few interesting bird such as a,  Coopers Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) are parks such as Burgoyne Bay. new projects in the upcoming year. also caught and banded. As passerine Christmas Bird Count: Turnout of monitoring winds down RPBO starts volunteers was high. Comparing to a 10 year average we noticed some

Fall 2011 BCnature 29 BC Nature (Federation of BC Naturalists)

Member Phone Email President John Neville 250-537-4121 [email protected] Vice President Vacant Past President Bev Ramey 604-224-7689 [email protected] Treasurer David Tsang 778-688-5777 [email protected] Secretary Claudia Copley 250-479-6622 [email protected] Conservation Chair Rosemary Fox 250-847-5150 [email protected] Kootenay Regional Coordinator Greg Ross 250-489-2566 [email protected] Lower Mainland Regional Coordinator Jude Grass 604-538-8774 [email protected] Northern BC Regional Coordinator Fred McMechan 250-392-7680 [email protected] Vancouver Island Regional Coordinator Vacant Thompson Okanagan Reg’l Coordinator Vivian Birch-Jones [email protected] Parks and Protected Areas Coordinator Don Guild 250-768-3334 [email protected] Education Chair Joan Snyder 250-365-7633 [email protected] Communications Director John Neville 250-537-4121 [email protected]

Other positions: Awards Chair Pat Westheuser 250-769-6605 [email protected] IBA Coordinator Anne Murray 604-943-0273 [email protected] Young Naturalists’ Club President Daphne Solecki 604-736-9471 [email protected] Young Naturalists’ Club Coordinator Kristine Webber 604-737-8001 [email protected] BC Naturalists’ Foundation Bob Dyer 604-922-9798 [email protected] Consultants to BC Nature: Ross C. McCutcheon Partner, Maitland & Company, Barristers and Solicitors 700-625 Howe, Vancouver V6C 2T6 Reid/Hurst/Nagy Certified General Accountant 105-13900 Maycrest Way, Richmond V6V 3E2

Lower Mainland Director Address Phone Email Abbotsford-Mission Nature Club Jacqueline Reznick Box 612, Abbotsford V2S 6R7 604-557-1828 [email protected] Alouette Field Naturalists Duanne Vandenberg 506-12148 224th St., Maple Ridge V2X 3N8 604-463-8743 [email protected] Bowen Nature Club Everhand van Lith de Jeude 602 Collins, Bowen Island V0N 1G6 604-947-9562 [email protected] Burke Mountain Naturalists Elaine Golds 554 Yale Rd., Port Moody V3H 3K3 604-937-3483 [email protected] Chilliwack Field Naturalists Helen Turner 47564 Mountain Park Dr., Chilliwack, V2P 7P6 604-792-0972 [email protected] Delta Naturalists’ Society Ursula Easterbrook Box 18136 - 1215 C-56th St., Delta V4L 2M4 604-948-1749 urs@ telus.net Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society Margaret Cuthbert 15425 Columbia Ave., White Rock V4B 1K1 604-536-3552 [email protected] Langley Field Naturalist Society Annabel Griffiths Box 56052, Valley Centre PO, Langley V3A 8B3 604-530-2778 [email protected] Little Campbell Watershed Society David Riley 4700 224 St. Langley V2Z 1N4 604-536-2636 [email protected] North Shore Urban Bear Club Betty Carrington 221 1st Street East, Saskatoon, SK S7H 1R8 306 280-2040 [email protected] Pender Harbour & District Wildlife Society Joe Harrison Box 220, Madeira Park V0N 2H0 604-883-9958 [email protected] Royal City Field Naturalists Gareth Llewellyn 903-1219 Harwood St., Vancouver V6E 1S5 604-609-0679 [email protected] Squamish Environmental Conservation Soc. Mary Mitchell Box 2676, Squamish V8B 0B8 604-815-0801 [email protected] Stoney Creek Environmental Committee Alan James 7551 Kraft Cres., Burnaby V5A 1Z4 604-420-0771 [email protected] Sunshine Coast Natural History Society Tony Greenfield Box 543, Sechelt V0N 3A0 604-885-5539 [email protected] Surrey Environmental Partners (SEP) Deb Jack 7680 – 143 Street, Surrey, BC, V3W 9Y4 604-590-3037 [email protected] Texada Stickleback Group Association Tim Atwood Box 353-2404 Van Anda Ave, Van Anda, V0N 3K0 604-486- 7775 [email protected] Nature Vancouver Dorothy Nelson 4175 W 10th Ave., Vancouver V6R 2H2 604-224-5668 [email protected] Nature Vancouver Margaret Coutts 302-1230 West 12th Ave., Vancouver V6H 1M1 604-512-1413 [email protected] Whistler Naturalists Society Kristina Swerhun P.O. Box 845 Whistler V0N 1B0 [email protected] White Rock and Surrey Naturalists Society Esther Johnson Box 75044, White Rock V4A 0B1 [email protected] WildResearch Christine Rock 1222 East 22nd Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5V 1W6 [email protected] Kootenays Director Address Phone Email Fernie Nature Club Bob Livsey 3 Elkview Pl., Fernie, BC V0B 1M3 250-423-6699 [email protected] Rocky Mountain Naturalists Greg Ross Box 791, Cranbrook V1C 4J5 250-489 2566 [email protected] West Kootenay Naturalists’ Association Joan Snyder 2410 12th Ave., Castlegar V1N 4I8 250-365-7633 [email protected] Northern BC Director Address Phone Email Bulkley Valley Naturalists Anne Hetherington 3377 Mountain View Rd., Smithers V0J 2N6 250-847-4618 [email protected] Kitimat Valley Naturalists April MacLeod 72 Skeena St., Kitimat V0C 1Y9 [email protected] Mackenzie Nature Observatory Vida Tattrie Box 1598, Mackenzie V0J 2C0 250-997-6913 [email protected] Prince George Naturalist Club Clive Keen 5980 Salmon Valley Road, Prince George V2K 5W2 [email protected] Quesnel Naturalists Lorna Schley 128 Lindsay St., Quesnel V2J 3E3 [email protected] Skeena Valley Naturalists Judy Chrysler 1677 Lupine St., Terrace V8G 0G1 250-798-2535 [email protected] Timberline Trail & Nature Club Meredith Thornton 701 105th Ave., Dawson Creek V1G 2K5 250 782-7680 [email protected] Williams Lake Field Naturalists Soc Fred McMechan 1305A Borland Dr., Williams Lake V2G 5K5 250-392-7680 [email protected]

30 BCnature Fall 2011

Thompson-Shuswap-Okanagan Director Address Phone Email Central Okanagan Naturalist Club Don Guild Box 21128 RPO Orchard Park, Kelowna V1Y 9N8 250-768- 3334 [email protected] Kamloops Naturalist Club Theresa Corboy #68 1221 Hugh Allan Drive, Kamloops V1S 1M7 250-320-0889 [email protected] Lillooet Naturalist Society Vivan Birch Jones Box 1065, Lillooet V0K 1V0 250-256-4062 [email protected] Nicola Naturalists Alan Burger Box 2539, Merritt V1K 1B8 250-378-2468 [email protected] North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club Pamela Jenkins Box 473, Vernon V1T 6M4 250-545-0490 [email protected] North Shuswap Naturalist Club Rudy Vervoort Box 24030, Scotch Creek V0E 3L0 250-679-8763 [email protected] Oliver-Osoyoos Naturalists Harold King Box 1181, Osoyoos V0H 1T0 250-495-6907 [email protected] Shuswap Naturalists Club Janet Pattinson 2451 Sherry Road, Sorrento V0E 2W1 250-835-2270 [email protected] South Okanagan Naturalists’ Club Dennis St. John Box 23050, Penticton V2A 8L7 250-498-6651 [email protected] Vermilion Forks Field Naturalists Trish Reid Box 2074, Princeton V0X 1W0 250-295-6002 [email protected]

Vancouver Island Director Address Phone Email Arrowsmith Naturalists Sandra Gray Box 285 - 1300 Grafton Ave., Errington 250-752-9171 [email protected] Comox Valley Naturalists Society Jackie Gray Box 3222, Courtenay, V9N 5N4 [email protected] Cowichan Valley Naturalists Society Genevieve Singleton Box 361, Duncan V9L 3X5 250-746-8052 [email protected] Nanoose Naturalists Carolyn Dodd 2345 Eaglesfield Place, Nanoose Bay V9P 9G7 250-468-5437 [email protected] Pender Island Field Naturalists Gerald McKeating 6618 Harbour Hill Dr., Pender Island V0N 2M1 250-629-3840 [email protected] Rithet’s Bog Conservation Society Sharon Forrester 6429 Bryn Road, Saanichton, V8M 1X6 250-652-5950 [email protected] Rocky Point Bird Observatory Shona Lawson 954A Queens Ave. Victoria, V8T 1M6 250-508 4021 [email protected] SaltspringTrail & Nature Club Nieke Visser 145 Rourke Road, Salt Spring Island V8K 2E6 250-537 5443 niekevisser @shaw.ca Victoria Natural History Society Tom Gillespie Box 5220, Stn. B, Victoria V8R 6N4 250-361-1694 [email protected] Victoria Natural History Society James Miskelly Box 5220, Stn. B, Victoria V8R 6N4 250-477-0490 [email protected] Victoria Natural History Society Darren Copley Box 5220, Stn. B, Victoria V8R 6N4 250-479-6622 [email protected]

Affiliate Groups BC Spaces for Nature - Gibsons www.spacesfornature.org North Shore Black Bear Network - N. Vanc www.northshorebears.com Boundary Bay Conservation Committee - Vanc. www.sunburyneighbourhood.ca/BBCC/ Raincoast Applied Ecology - Vancouver www.raincoastappliedecology.ca Burns Bog Conservation Society - Delta www.burnsbog.org Raincoast Education Society - Tofino www.raincoasteducation.org Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area - Cres. www.crestonwildlife.ca Riverview Horticultural Society - Coquitlam www.rhcs.org Delkatla Santuary Society - Masset http://www.massetbc.com/html/delkatla_sanctuary.html Ruby Lake Lagoon Nature Reserve Soc. - Madeira Pk www.lagoonsociety.com Friends of Cypress Provincial Park Soc. - N. Vanc www.cypresspark.bc.ca Sargeant Bay Society - Sechelt www.sargbay.ca Friends of the Stikine - Victoria www.panorama-map.com/stikine/stikine.html Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society - Dunc www.somenosmarsh.com Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society www.garryoak.info Sunshine Coast Conservation Association - Sechelt www.thescca.ca Hope Mountain Cen. for Outdoor Learning - Hope www.hopemountain.org The Nature Trust of BC - North Vanc. www.trailsbc.ca/ Malaspina Naturalist Club - Powell River www.armourtech.com/malanat Wild Bird Trust of BC (WBT) - North Vanc. www.wildbirdtrust.org

BC Nature Weekend & Fall General Meeting 29 September to 2 October 2011

Nature on the Move ~ Fall Migration through the Delta Hosted by Delta Naturalists’ Society at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn, 1665 - 56 Street, Delta Come and experience the world-class Fraser River estuary and Boundary Bay ecosystem and enjoy guided tours and presentations with experts in diverse aspects of wildlife and nature. This weekend event takes place during the height of fall migration when nature is on the move and plant life is preparing for winter. Highlights include: presentations on migration, whales, salmon, owls and cranes; birdwatching trips with expert leaders; marine biology on the beach; grassland ecology; boat trip on the Fraser River estuary (numbers limited); walks in Burns Bog and along the Boundary Bay dykes; and a visit to OWL wildlife rehabilitation centre. Social events include a Barbecue in the Park and a delicious Banquet with Silent Auction and special guest speaker, Russ Cannings. To Register: To see the full program and to register: go to www.bcnature.ca or check out the summer edition of BC Nature magazine for a program schedule and registration form. Early registrants receive a free eco-bamboo sports shirt, with embroidered logo: we still have a few available! For accommodation see website or Coast Tsawwassen Inn www.tsawwasseninn.com. For registration after 6 Sept, late charges apply. Cut-off date for meal registration is 22 September, so please be sure and register before then. We are not accepting drop-in registrations on the day. For the Silent Auction, only cash or cheques are accepted. Remember to bring a passport if you plan to join in the Point Roberts, WA, trip. We very much look forward to welcoming you in Delta. Any questions, please contact Anne Murray, FGM 2011 Registrar, at [email protected] or 604 943 0273

Fall 2011 BCnature 31 “Know Nature and Keep it Worth Knowing” Come and enjoy BC Nature with us! Enjoy birding, botany, geology and marine biology; join in camps, field trips and more in communities throughout BC. Participate in local stewardship projects such as restoring a marsh, monitoring bird life, caretaking important habitat, providing nest boxes, removing invasive species or helping run a nature house. The benefits of membership include our quarterly magazine, participation in our field camps and spring and fall conferences. Your membership gives strength to the provincial naturalist voice that BC Nature provides. Getting involved with nature is as easy as joining any of the local clubs throughout BC (you also become a member of BC Nature). Or you can join BC Nature directly. Check www.bcnature.ca for the club nearest you or phone (604) 985-3057.

Annual direct membership fee: $20 + Donation (optional) : ______= $ ______total If paying by cheque, please make payable to BC Nature Name ______

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VISA/MASTERCARD NO. Expiry: Month/Year Mail to: BC Nature, c/o Heritage Centre, 1620 Mount Seymour Road, North Vancouver, BC V7G 2R9 Or phone in your renewal to (604) 985-3057 Income tax receipts will be issued for donations over the annual membership fee. * Donations can also be made at www.bcnature.ca through PayPal (look for the Support Us button).

BCnature is published four times a year by the FBCN, c/o Heritage Centre, 1620 Mount Seymour Road, North Vancouver, BC V7G 2R9

Publications Mail No. 41804027