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Author: Kelly Sekhon

City Nature Challenge 2024

City Nature Challenge 2024

April 26-29 Have Fun and Support Nature at the same time! Are you looking for a good reason to get outdoors that also helps nature and is fun for everyone? There is a great challenge for you and it’s easy and free to do. The City Nature Challenge 2024 is an opportunity for individuals or groups to spend time outdoors, make observations of nature and document them in a way that allows others to get a better understanding of biodiversity wherever they…

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In Memoriam – Michael Feller

In Memoriam – Michael Feller

Submitted by Bev Ramey Dr. Michael Feller died peacefully and unexpectedly in his sleep on January 20, 2024, just shy of his 78th birthday. He is remembered as a keen birder with Nature Vancouver, for his work to revegetate habitat, as an outdoor enthusiast and historian with the BC Mountaineering Club, as well as an associate professor emeritus at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry. Michael received the BC Achievement Community Award (2014) which commended his initiatives regarding land use policies along the Sea…

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Vanier Park Birding – February 25, 2024

Vanier Park Birding – February 25, 2024

Submitted by Leona Axbey A stalwart group of 10 braved the elements on Sunday, and we were not disappointed.    Among the first to greet us at our meeting spot were Red-winged blackbirds, topped by a male Anna’s hummingbird surveying his kingdom. It was clearing up nicely as we made our way to the ponds behind the Vancouver Museum. Troops of American wigeons greeted us, including one Eurasian wigeon.  Maureen’s bird guide helped us identify short-billed gulls, as well as other species.  Some…

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In Memoriam – Al Grass

In Memoriam – Al Grass

A long-time member of Nature Vancouver, Al Grass, passed away on February 14, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Jude Grass. Al was an all-round naturalist. The depth of his natural history knowledge was unsurpassed. Al worked for three decades as a BC Parks Naturalist in Manning, Wells Gray, Mt Seymour, Cypress, Golden Ears and Rolley Lake Provincial Parks. He’s remembered for readily filling an interpretive amphitheatre and with kids on nature walks, he was the ‘pied piper’. Al…

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Reifel Refuge Birding – Feb 17, 2024

Reifel Refuge Birding – Feb 17, 2024

Trip Report by Thomas Plath Once again Reifel refuge did not disappoint. A dozen people enjoyed each other’s company and nice birds at the sanctuary. The first stop was to view the Great Horned Owl roosting in a cedar spotted along the entrance road. One turned to two as the male was located roosting near the female. A small group of immature Barn Swallows were foraging over the parking lot and feeders at the side of the entrance building attracted a few Anna’s Hummingbirds, including…

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Winter Birding at Boundary Bay – Feb 13, 2024

Winter Birding at Boundary Bay – Feb 13, 2024

Trip Report by Thomas Plath The few participants that did show on this sunny Tuesday morning were rewarded with a few sought after open-country bird species. From the foot of 72nd Street we walked westward along the dike towards 64th Street. A few very early immature Barn Swallows foraged overhead and we soon came across a small flock of Western Meadowlarks foraging in the tidal marsh. An immature Northern Shrike perched characteristically on top of a large shrub was viewed through the…

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Protect Our Parks

Protect Our Parks

or VANCOUVER PARK BOARD ABOLITION PRIMER by Nigel PeckMonday, February 26, 2024 The Provincial Government has been asked to approve the Vancouver ABC Party motion to abolish the Vancouver Park Board.  Unless there is massive opposition presented to the Provincial Government this is what they may do.  Once the Park Board is abolished parcels of park lands may be reallocated (sold) for other purposes, most likely starting with housing. The only thing that can stop this is a massive individual email campaign…

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The Long Green Line – Shaking Hands with History

The Long Green Line – Shaking Hands with History

A brief historical account of the Vancouver Park Board, with SUPPORT for its continuation Submitted by Terri Clark, Park Board Communications Officer for 35 years, now retired. I arrived in Vancouver in 1973, straight out of University in Washington DC. I was 23 and a new Permanent Resident with zero knowledge about the Vancouver Park system. That was soon to change. My newly minted Communications Degree seemed a perfect fit for a job offered on the notice board at the…

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Metro Vancouver – Night Quest 2024

Metro Vancouver – Night Quest 2024

Help Wanted! – Friday March 22nd & Saturday March 23rd. Night Quest, hosted by Metro Vancouver Parks, a tradition of, what is now two evenings, to celebrate Nature at Night in Pacific Spirit Park is coming again this March. Nature Vancouver has hosted at table there since 2015 – nine years – and will be back this year. It is a wonderful night for volunteers but very busy so we need more volunteers. Last year we had seven people on Friday…

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Starting a Landslide – Three People at a Time

Starting a Landslide – Three People at a Time

Submitted by Nigel Peck I have been working more or less full time to do my part to try to save the Vancouver Park Board since December 13th, 2023. You can get more information about that effort through links at the bottom.  Overall the effectiveness of those seven weeks of work feels pretty marginal. In particular, it feels challenging that talking to people who I expected to know more about the issue, constantly illustrates that people are not aware of…

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