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BC Coastal Waterbird Survey

BC Coastal Waterbird Survey

Submitted by Graham Sorenson Bird Studies Canada organizes a Coastal Waterbird Survey in British Columbia, and is looking for more volunteers in the Vancouver area, and throughout BC’s coast. This long-term Citizen Science monitoring program involves counting ducks, loons, grebes, gulls, and other waterbirds on the second Sunday of each month from Sept-April. The BC Coastal Waterbird Survey results play an important role in monitoring populations, species recovery strategies, oil spill response planning, and international research initiatives like the Migratory Shorebird Project.  In…

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The Deep Sea Cities of Glass & Marine Life Sanctuaries Society

The Deep Sea Cities of Glass & Marine Life Sanctuaries Society

Volume 46 (2018) of Discovery, a journal of natural history, published by Nature Vancouver, contains the following two articles written by Sheila Byers. The Deep Sea Cities of Glass. (Click HERE to download a PDF copy). The Marine Life Sanctuaries Society and Conservation of Howe Sound Rockfishes and Glass Sponge Reefs. (Click HERE to download a PDF copy). Sheila Byers, a Registered Professional Biologist and a marine biologist, is the Past President and a current Director of the MLSS since 2007….

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Snow Shoe Hike in Cypress Provincial Park

Snow Shoe Hike in Cypress Provincial Park

Leaders Anne Leathem and Bill Kinkaid. Trip report by Jane Srivastava On January 26, 2019, eleven persons participated in this snowshoe trip jointly organized by Nature Vancouver and Friends of Cypress Provincial Park. Carpools were arranged at Park Royal and we assembled a second time at Black Mountain Lodge. Some, as the trail was well packed and not mushy, left their snowshoes in the cars and donned a variety of crampons, others, electing to be ready for any terrain, strapped on their…

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PITT RIVER DYKE – DEBOVILLE SLOUGH BIRDING FIELD TRIP REPORT – January 19, 2019

PITT RIVER DYKE – DEBOVILLE SLOUGH BIRDING FIELD TRIP REPORT – January 19, 2019

This 3-hour, 5.7 km birding field trip with leader Larry Cowan, started in Port Coquitlam on the Pitt River dyke, just north of the Lougheed Highway, at the east end of Nicola Place. We then walked north on the dyke, then west along DeBoville Slough (in Coquitlam). 27 birders braved some rain showers along the way and were rewarded with 30 species. The full eBird report is here: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S51835048 One highlight was a female Evening Grosbeak and Janice White luckily…

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Birds of Nunavut

Birds of Nunavut

Birds of Nunavut edited by James M. Richards and Anthony J. Gaston. UBC Press (2018). Following Text and Cover Photo Courtsey of  UBC Press The price of the two-volume set is $125.00 Canadian. For Nature Vancouver subscribers, UBC Press is offering a 20% discount on the book and free shipping within Canada. Please visit the UBC Press website at http://www.ubcpress.ca/birds-of-nunavut and use the discount code NATUREVAN-20 when ordering. This offer is good until March 31, 2019. Happy birding! Nunavut is home to some of the…

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Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project

Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project

The Fraser River has the largest estuary on North America’s Pacific Coast. This is Canada’s major stopover of the Pacific Flyway with millions of migrating birds travelling over 3 continents, including 20 countries. The estuary and surrounding watershed supports Canada’s largest populations of wintering waterfowl, shorebirds and birds of prey with global and local recognition: the most significant Important Bird Area (IBA) in Canada highest designation site under the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network designation as 4 provincial Wildlife Management Areas…

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Wild Things: The Power of Nature in Our Lives

Wild Things: The Power of Nature in Our Lives

This exhibition continues at the Museum of Vancouver (MOV).  MOV produced this exhibition in partnership with Nature Vancouver as part of our 100th anniversary year.  Special admission rates for seniors have just been advertised:  $5 admission for seniors (65+) on the first Tuesday of each month, plus these additional days in January:  January 15, 22 or 29.  A good time to visit, plus your entrance allows you to visit all the exhibitions now showing at MOV  https://museumofvancouver.ca/

Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Project

Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Project

Metro Vancouver held a community workshop January 9, 2019 to gather views about the upgrade project.  Several Nature Vancouver members attended and provided input.  If you missed the workshop, you still have the opportunity to provide input by completing an online feedback form.  Find background information and the online feedback form HERE. Deadline to submit comments is January 25. Metro Vancouver will hold three more community workshops over the next year. Nature Vancouver members are encouraged to get involved.  This…

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Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Project

Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Project

The Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, adjacent to Iona Beach Regional Park, is in the planning stages for a major new treatment plant.  This project will be a special interest to Nature Vancouver birders, given the numerous and sometimes unusual birds that currently use the sewerage treatment ponds.  Metro Vancouver is holding its first Community Workshop on Wednesday January 9, 2019, 6 to 8:30 pm, at 3688 Cessna Drive.  See details on Metro Vancouver website.

Proposed National Park Reserve in South Okanagan-Similkameen

Proposed National Park Reserve in South Okanagan-Similkameen

Parks Canada invites Canadians to discuss the proposed national park reserve in the South Okanagan-Similkameen.   Parks Canada is seeking input on the current proposed boundary and key aspects regarding management.  Deadline to submit comments is February 28, 2019.  Read more and find the survey at:  https://LetsTalkSouthOkanaganSimilkameen.ca/

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