BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN
TZID:America/Vancouver
X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Vancouver
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:957@naturevancouver.ca
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260305T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20260305T210000
DTSTAMP:20260207T174811Z
URL:https://naturevancouver.ca/events/chasing-birds-and-records-a-24-hour-
 mad-dash-to-see-as-many-of-bcs-birds-as-possible/
SUMMARY:CHASING BIRDS AND RECORDS: A 24-HOUR MAD DASH TO SEE AS MANY OF BC
 ’S BIRDS AS POSSIBLE
DESCRIPTION:As the only province that touches the Pacific Coast and spans b
 oth sides of the Rocky Mountains\, British Columbia is arguably Canada’s
  premier birding destination. From temperate coastal rainforests to dry in
 terior grasslands\, alpine meadows\, and vast wetlands\, BC’s landscapes
  are remarkably diverse — and so is its birdlife. Move across the provin
 ce\, and the species change dramatically.\n\nThis diversity leads to a tan
 talizing question that has long intrigued birders: \n\n\nHow many of BC
 ’s birds could a determined team find in just one day?\n\nThat challenge
  — known as a “Big Day” — has been taken up by some of BC’s most
  accomplished naturalists. In 2011\, former Member of Parliament and conse
 rvation biologist Richard Cannings set the official provincial record by s
 eeing 202 species in 24 hours\, alongside his son Russell and two teammate
 s on May 18\, 2011. Big Days are not casual bird outings: they are intense
 \, high-stakes marathons involving meticulous planning\, rapid travel betw
 een far-flung sites\, quick decision-making\, and usually very little slee
 p.\n\nInspired by this legendary attempt — and eager to push the limits 
 — our team of five birders began plotting a route that might one day cha
 llenge the record. After months of scouting\, mapping\, and weather-watchi
 ng\, we launched our own BC-wide Big Day on May 24\, 2025. We knew where w
 e were starting\, but we had no idea what the day — or night — would u
 ltimately hold.\n\nJoin us to hear what happened next.\n\nEvent details:\n
 This presentation will be delivered via Zoom Video Conferencing. On the Mo
 nday preceding the event\, Nature Vancouver members will receive the Zoom 
 link in the weekly e-News. The talk will begin at 7:30 pm. Non-members are
  welcome and should email zoom-request@naturevancouver.ca a few days ahea
 d of time to register for the link.\n\nSpeaker profile:\n\nPeter Thompson
  is a research biologist whose professional work and personal passion are
  both rooted in biodiversity and conservation. He first fell in love with 
 birds growing up in a small\, forested town in Connecticut\, where backyar
 d feeders and surrounding woodlands sparked a lifelong fascination with th
 e natural world.\n\nSince then\, birding has taken Peter to remarkable pla
 ces across North America and beyond\, deepening his appreciation for ecosy
 stems and the importance of protecting them. He is especially drawn to the
  challenge and excitement of Birding Big Days\, which combine careful plan
 ning\, teamwork\, and fieldcraft with a sense of adventure.\nIn 2025\, Pet
 er undertook his first province-wide BC Big Day as part of a team with fri
 ends Ben Lambert\, Kalin Ocaña\, Mark Swanson\, and Yousif Attia — an e
 xperience that tested both endurance and observational skill.
CATEGORIES:Birding,Monthly Meeting,Online
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Vancouver
X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Vancouver
BEGIN:STANDARD
DTSTART:20251102T010000
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
END:VCALENDAR