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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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Birding at Trout Lake Feb. 18th

Birding at Trout Lake Feb. 18th

Harvey and Michelle were met by an eager group of birders on the south beach of Trout Lake Sunday morning.  Today’s attendees were mostly Nature Vancouver members interested in learning what the park has to offer for birders. Once again, we began our tour by examining the birds visible from the beach.  As usual, we had a nice assortment of ducks (Mallards, Green-winged Teal, Wood Ducks, American Wigeon, and Northern Shovellers), American Coots, Canada Geese, and gulls (Glaucous-winged Gulls and Ring-billed…

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Birding at Trout Lake — the prequel

Birding at Trout Lake — the prequel

Harvey and I originally planned to do a birding walk at Trout Lake on Sunday February 18th.  Unfortunately, when Harvey went to post the walk on Meetup, he accidentally advertised it for the 17th.  Ooops!  Rather than change the date for the five people who had instantly accepted the invite, we decided instead to simply lead walks on two consecutive days.  On Saturday morning we arrived on the south beach of Trout Lake a bit early, and immediately noticed a group…

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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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Birding at Pitt-Addington Marsh – Feb 4, 2024

Birding at Pitt-Addington Marsh – Feb 4, 2024

Trip Report by Michelle Baudais The mist was thick as we arrived at the Grant Narrows parking lot at 8:30 am Sunday morning.  But we were all pleased to avoid the snow and cold that had cancelled the first attempt at this gathering on January 20th, and the mist added a lovely atmospheric touch to the gorgeous views.   Even better, the mist didn’t deter the many Trumpeter Swans who greeted us with a series of honking fly-bys, or the Great…

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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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White Rock Birding – Jan 27, 2024

White Rock Birding – Jan 27, 2024

Trip Report by Thomas Plath Rain and wind did not deter the five members that showed for birding at White Rock Pier. We stood under the shelter/shop at the base and scoped the birds out of the rain. The two common scoters White-winged and Surf were busy feeding in front of us and with patience the group able to view a female Black Scoter feeding in front of us. Further out a large flock of about 80 Red-breasted Mergansers flew…

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Reifel Refuge Birding – Jan 25, 2024

Reifel Refuge Birding – Jan 25, 2024

Trip Report by Thomas Plath Despite the bad weather, six participants showed up to bird Reifel Bird Sanctuary in the rain. The recent cold spell and snow had pushed out most of the birds so the refuge was quieter than usual. An adult Black-crowned Night-Heron was roosting at the usual location at the entrance slough and nice male Anna’s Hummingbirds at the feeders. A thorough search for Saw-whet Owls along the east dike was unsuccessful but did produce several Wood…

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