Blog

Trip Report – Jericho Beach Park Bird Walk – May 31, 2025

Trip Report – Jericho Beach Park Bird Walk – May 31, 2025

Trip Report By Christine Balkwill, Photos by C Balkwill 13 intrepid birders joined Christine and Neill on what turned out to be a very rainy outing. Attendees included a few seasoned birders who were very helpful at spotting and hearing and also some eager beginners who were excited to meet some of their first birds. Neill spotted a Western Wood Pewee from the parking lot, setting a hopeful tone for the outing. Starting out from the East we found a…

Read More Read More

2025 Volunteer Appreciation & Annual Awards

2025 Volunteer Appreciation & Annual Awards

This year’s Volunteer awards were presented on 15th May, 2025 at the AGM. Kaye and Charles Ney Award The premier award of the Society for “lifetime” exemplary service and dedication to the Society. Active Directors of the Society are not eligible for this award until they have served more than 10 years as a Director. This award was established in 1975 in memory of Kaye Ney by her husband and renamed after his death. Denis Laplante & Teresa Gagné Denis…

Read More Read More

2025 Hugh Hamilton Memorial Scholarships

2025 Hugh Hamilton Memorial Scholarships

Undergrad Scholarship – Tara Brudar Tara is an upper-year undergraduate at UBC, studying natural resources conservation with a primary interest in science communication. Through UBC’s Harley Lab, Tara leads ocean acidification outreach across the province, closely collaborating with local organizations such as False Creek Friends Society (FCFS) to increase knowledge-sharing and community engagement.  This summer, through UBC’s CCEL Connect to Community Grant, Tara is organizing a community-based project which seeks to advance ocean acidification (OA) knowledge, adaptation capacity, and community engagement in False Creek,…

Read More Read More

2025 Nature Vancouver Scholarships

2025 Nature Vancouver Scholarships

Undergraduate Scholarship – Agraj Rathi Agraj Rathi traded business strategy for conservation after discovering a passion for protecting wild spaces through Nature Vancouver’s citizen science projects. Now in BCIT’s Fish, Wildlife and Recreation program, he combines scientific knowledge with practical fieldwork while serving on WildResearch’s board and participating in CPAWS’ Young Leaders in Conservation Program. Drawing on his perspective as someone who grew up in urban India without access to wilderness, Agraj is passionate about making conservation more inclusive. Through…

Read More Read More

Trip Report – Dawn Chorus at Burnaby Lake – May 18, 2025

Trip Report – Dawn Chorus at Burnaby Lake – May 18, 2025

Trip report by Kelvin Yip; Photos by Richard L & Kelvin Y Thirteen early birders joined trip leaders Neill and Kelvin at Burnaby Lake to audience the daily “dawn chorus” when the birds all wake up right before sunrise and start singing their songs. The birds didn’t sing for very long and within half an hour started their day of searching around for food and going about their day. We heard mostly Song Sparrows, American Robins, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Spotted…

Read More Read More

Birding Musqueam Park – May 10, 2025

Birding Musqueam Park – May 10, 2025

Trip report by Donna McKenzie This Nature Vancouver Field Trip was held on May 10, 2025 in Musqueam Park. This local park is a good mix of forest, trails and meadows, and off leash dog park. We had 16 participants, and 5 experienced birders as resources. We met at the little parking lot at the corner of SW Marine Drive and Crown Street. After introductions and waivers, we briefly reviewed the use of binoculars and the process of how to…

Read More Read More

Bird Walk Trip Report –  ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park- May 4

Bird Walk Trip Report –  ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park- May 4

Trip report by Neill Vanhinsberg; Photos by Richard L Nine birders joined Kelvin and Neill at ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park on a beautiful Sunday morning. For two folks it was their first bird walk and one intrepid birder drove in from Washington! After introductions we headed off through the community gardens area getting great looks at Tree Swallows on their houses while a White-crowned Sparrow or two serenaded us. One of the best things about leading beginner bird walks is the…

Read More Read More

Birders’ Night – Queen Elizabeth Park – May 1, 2025

Birders’ Night – Queen Elizabeth Park – May 1, 2025

Trip report by Jan Lowcock; Photos by Harvey Dueck The last Birders’ Night of the Nature Vancouver Spring season was held outdoors, with a birding field trip in Queen Elizabeth Park, reprising an end of season tradition (pre COVID) led by the late Adrian Grant-Duff.  Twenty-eight Nature Vancouver members enjoyed a warm, sunny evening in the park. Birding was quiet, but we were on a “nest quest”, locating Red-breasted Nuthatch, Cooper’s Hawk and Anna’s Hummingbird nests. Two hummingbird nestlings occupied…

Read More Read More

In Memoriam – Richard Swanston 1955 – 2025

In Memoriam – Richard Swanston 1955 – 2025

Submitted by Jennifer Swanston Richard Swanston, of Tsawwassen, passed away unexpectedly on April 3. He was born in Vancouver in 1955 to parents Doug and Ella Swanston. A loving brother, uncle and friend, Rick will be dearly missed. He kept connected to his elementary school and high school friends with strong bonds that in some cases crossed date lines and equators. Rick was destined for life on the sea – in a letter home written from Sea Cadets camp he…

Read More Read More

Birding Musqueam Park – April 26, 2025

Birding Musqueam Park – April 26, 2025

Trip report by Donna McKenzie This trip was a Nature Vancouver field trip lead by Donna McKenzie with the assistance of 4 other experienced birders. It was a sunny 12 C morning as the participants and leaders met at Musqueam Park. It was a full trip with 17 people including the leaders. Most participants were new to birding and keen to learn more. While we were getting ready we could hear Pine Siskins, Chickadees and Song Sparrows. After introductions, we…

Read More Read More

Nature Vancouver