Members of Nature Vancouver conduct monthly bird surveys at UBC Farm and UBC Botanical Gardens. All levels of birders are welcome to join. UBC Farm Every second Sunday of each month, join in a bird survey at the UBC Farm. All levels of birding knowledge are welcome to participate. The monthly survey takes from two to four hours, depending on weather conditions and how many birds we see. The survey begins at 8 a.m. (March to September) and 9 a.m. (October…
Report & Photos submitted by Nigel Peck It has now bee just over two months since we began the restoration initiative at New Brighton Park in Vancouver’s northeast corner of the city, just next to the Ironworkers’ Second Narrows Bridge. We began with the removal of invasive Scotch Broom and Himalayan Blackberry from the hillock just to the west of the free-run dog park at New Brighton Park. It has been a great success with the removal of not only…
Report & Photos Submitted by Doug Cooper This is a summary of my observations of the happenings in the green spaces of Hastings Park since early last fall. Access to the infield of the Hastings racecourse was again made possible for a few months during the latter part of 2021, after the pandemic closure of the racetrack grounds was lifted and the horse racing season had ended. The training and racing season has started again, and access to the racecourse infield…
Eleven enthusiastic birders joined trip leaders Michelle Baudais and Harvey Dueck for a birding field trip at Iona early on March 27th. Despite the forecast, the weather was pleasant and rain-free for the entire outing. We started off viewing a mixed flock of dunlin and black-bellied plover on the beach. Some of each species were in their winter and black-bellied breeding plumages, so it was a good teaching/learning flock. We went into the inner ponds next. All four ponds were…
Trip Report by Doug Cooper Ten keen naturalists, plus Maureen Collier and I, chose to take a chance that the early morning rain would not persist and met at the sanctuary at Hastings Park the morning of March 26th to see what signs of spring might also show up. We were rewarded with the sweet songs of a number of American Robins and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, yellow-rumped warblers, as well as the ethereal vocalizations of Varied Thrushes. Salmonberry bushes were in…
Submitted by Ron Long When Roy Edgell started the Vancouver Natural History Society’s annual photography competition many decades ago, his overall plan was so sound that in the fifteen years since Roy retired from the competition there has been no reason to change any of his principles.Roy’s primary objective from the beginning was that the competition would provide an interesting evening for members of the society.With the enthusiastic support of Nature Vancouver’s photographers this principle continues to be fulfilled and…
Trip Report by Janet Snell & Lyn Grants This hike on, March 21, 2022, was scheduled to see the early evidence of spring emerging from the snow in the Yew Lake / Bowen Lookout area of Cypress Provincial Park. Instead, we were treated to 20 cm of new snow on top of another recent snowfall. All evidence of spring was obscured, and winter’s grip stayed strong. The creek leading from Yew Lake was nestled in a canyon-like cradle of snow….
Trip Report by Helen Baker On March 16, Sally McDermott led a group of 13 on a four-hour loop hike through Lighthouse Park. Together we gazed up – way up – at the Douglas Fir and Red Cedar giants and made stops to look out at the ocean at Eagle Point and Juniper Point. Signs of spring were everywhere – bald eagles flying into the treetops with sticks for nest building, salmonberry buds getting ready to burst and skunk cabbage poking up…
Submitted by Donald Hobson Bluebirds are associated with many positive meanings around the globe. People often view bluebirds as symbols of joy and hope; some think it’s like good news on its way. Some people believe that bluebirds are symbols of harmony between the living and the dead. Or as Native American Tribes associate bluebirds with spring, prosperity, and even fertility. When bluebirds look to nest? There’s nothing better than having bluebirds nest in your yard. It’s a metric to…
Submitted by Leona Axbey On Sunday, March 6, 2022, we had a bright, sunny day for our bird walk at Vanier Park. There were 12 of us, ranging from experienced birders to beginners, a good combination. Together, we spotted a total of 28 species and 192 individuals. These were all posted on eBird. There was some reminiscing about our departed friend Adrian and what a truly great birder he was. The first bird to greet us at our meet-up spot was an…