Feedback by Nigel Peck on Ron Long’s Experience in Port Moody. (Please see Ron’s article on page 63 of Vol. 48 of DISCOVERY) Here in East Vancouver, we do not have all the critters that Ron Long had to contend with in Port Moody, however I am sure that the contingent of rats on our block (right next to Commercial Drive restaurant garbage bins) would take your breath away. Therefore, our bird feeding system includes a tin roof covering the…
Over the past 100+ years, the Vancouver Natural History Society (now known as Nature Vancouver) has used various publications to communicate program and natural history information to its members. VNHS News – Bulletin of Vancouver Natural History Society (or just The Bulletin), was published from 1943 to 1971. In 2005, Bill Merilees compiled important articles from The Bulletin. Click HERE for a PDF copy. A hard copy is available at Vancouver Public Library. The Bulletin itself evolved over time as you can see from…
UPDATE: Feb 2021 The Camp Committee met via Zoom in January 2021 to review whether the 2021 Big Bar camp would be held this summer after being postponed in 2020. In the interest of everybody’s well-being, it is with regret that we have decided to cancel the 2021 summer camp as well. Instead, the Big Bar summer camp will be held next year from July 3-10 and July 10-17, 2022. Campers who are registered and would like to keep their spot for 2022 may leave their deposits…
By Nigel Peck Nature Vancouver (Vancouver Natural History Society) has always been involved in projects to protect and enhance natural areas in Vancouver and surrounding municipalities. Specific endeavours arising from our members’ efforts include the protection of Jericho Park, Pacific Spirit Regional Park including Camosun Bog and its restoration, protection of the UBC Farm, support for the establishment of the Stanley Park Nature House, the Sanctuary at Hastings Park, Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy Area, Everett Crowley Park, Surrey Bend, Wildlife Management Areas at Boundary Bay and Roberts Bank, Cypress Provincial…
For many years now there has been an ongoing problem of birds of prey being harassed by unethical photographers in the Metro Vancouver region, particularly in the salt marshes of Boundary Bay and Brunswick Point. Recently the problem has been especially serious in the Brunswick Point area. For example just in the past week photos have been taken by ethical birders witnessing violators off-trail, out in the marsh, getting as close as possible to perched Short-eared Owls. The violators show…
There have been numerous sightings of large flocks of Pine Siskins in the Metro Vancouver region this winter. Dirty bird feeders are prone to salmonella infection, which is often lethal to Pine Siskins and other species. You might not actually see them at your feeder while you’re home. However since they tend to move around frequently, they might visit your feeder while you’re out and infect it without you even knowing it. Therefore it’s safest to assume they do come…
by Ron Long I’m an old dog, and I have been a photographer for over 60 years – but I’m still learning new tricks. I have lots of birds coming to my feeders and to the special photography perches that I have set up outside my kitchen. During warm weather I sit at the open patio door and happily snap away. But what to do when it’s too cold to sit at an open door? Conventional wisdom tells us not…
Friday Jan 8 Teresa and I hiked from White Pine Beach to the junction with Diez Vistas trail, half along the logging road, and half along the parallel Ted’s Trail, then back along the ridge of Sugar Mountain (sometimes known as Buntzen Ridge). We enjoyed a lovely 4 hour walk under drizzle, 7.4km with 360m elevation gain, and met 6 people and 4 nice dogs. It’s a nice trail, a good workout, not much mud, and lovely trees and greenery….
Since 2005, members of Nature Vancouver have participated in a New Year’s Day birding walk along Sturgeon Banks in SW Richmond, followed by lunch at a restaurant in quaint old fishing village of Steveston. We missed one year due to heavy snowfall. This year due to Covid, we did not organize this walk but a few members decided to keep the tradition going and met at Garry Point Park at 10 am. The forecast was for heavy rain but it…
by Bev Ramey These dark days of November and December have been a productive time to spend at my computer, posting plant photos onto the iNaturalist – BC Parks website. The photos are from our summer weeks spent in Kakwa Provincial Park over the past eight years. My husband, Bill, has posted butterfly and other insect photos, as well as bird photos, with more yet to come. The iNaturalist website encourages all to post your nature photos. Two “Project” areas that may interest you are: BC Provincial Parks and Metro Vancouver Regional Parks. View more photos for Kakwa that Bill and I have posted, from…