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Tofino Shorebird Festival
Tofino Shorebird Festival
April 30, 2021 - May 2, 2021
https://raincoasteducation.org/what-we-do/events/tofino-shorebird-festival/
The 2021 festival will proceed with consideration of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please follow our social media channels and sign up for our newsletter for announcements closer to the festival dates about event schedules. Ultimately, health and safety concerns are at the top of our mind.
The birds will be migrating and there will be spectacular opportunities for birding in early May regardless of the festival. As the situation develops we will entertain the possibility of celebrating the shorebirds with small, informal, educational events. We are committed to creating as many opportunities for locals and visitors alike to learn while prioritizing health and safety. Updates will be available through our newsletter and social media channels.
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Cedar/Yellowpoint/Cassidy BioBlitz
Cedar/Yellowpoint/Cassidy BioBlitz
May 1, 2021 - May 3, 2021
For more information: https://yellowpointecologicalsociety.ca/2021/02/11/bioblitz/
Are you free the first weekend in May? That is the date for our first Community BioBlitz. National Geographic says “a BioBlitz is an opportunity to take a snapshot of the biodiversity in a specific place. In a BioBlitz event, students, scientists, naturalists, and community members join together to find and identify as many plants, animals, and other organisms as possible in a short period of time.”
So if you live in Yellow Point, Cedar or Cassidy, or would like to visit one of our parks that weekend, we invite you to join the BioBlitz – the details will be on our website by March 25th. In preparation, download the iNaturalist app on your phone and start practising. Find any plant, flower or wandering frog. Take a photo, and the app will tell you its likely name, based on four million observations by Canadian naturalists. See www.inaturalist.ca.
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Tofino Shorebird Festival
Tofino Shorebird Festival
April 30, 2021 - May 2, 2021
https://raincoasteducation.org/what-we-do/events/tofino-shorebird-festival/
The 2021 festival will proceed with consideration of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please follow our social media channels and sign up for our newsletter for announcements closer to the festival dates about event schedules. Ultimately, health and safety concerns are at the top of our mind.
The birds will be migrating and there will be spectacular opportunities for birding in early May regardless of the festival. As the situation develops we will entertain the possibility of celebrating the shorebirds with small, informal, educational events. We are committed to creating as many opportunities for locals and visitors alike to learn while prioritizing health and safety. Updates will be available through our newsletter and social media channels.
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Cedar/Yellowpoint/Cassidy BioBlitz
Cedar/Yellowpoint/Cassidy BioBlitz
May 1, 2021 - May 3, 2021
For more information: https://yellowpointecologicalsociety.ca/2021/02/11/bioblitz/
Are you free the first weekend in May? That is the date for our first Community BioBlitz. National Geographic says “a BioBlitz is an opportunity to take a snapshot of the biodiversity in a specific place. In a BioBlitz event, students, scientists, naturalists, and community members join together to find and identify as many plants, animals, and other organisms as possible in a short period of time.”
So if you live in Yellow Point, Cedar or Cassidy, or would like to visit one of our parks that weekend, we invite you to join the BioBlitz – the details will be on our website by March 25th. In preparation, download the iNaturalist app on your phone and start practising. Find any plant, flower or wandering frog. Take a photo, and the app will tell you its likely name, based on four million observations by Canadian naturalists. See www.inaturalist.ca.
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Cedar/Yellowpoint/Cassidy BioBlitz
Cedar/Yellowpoint/Cassidy BioBlitz
May 1, 2021 - May 3, 2021
For more information: https://yellowpointecologicalsociety.ca/2021/02/11/bioblitz/
Are you free the first weekend in May? That is the date for our first Community BioBlitz. National Geographic says “a BioBlitz is an opportunity to take a snapshot of the biodiversity in a specific place. In a BioBlitz event, students, scientists, naturalists, and community members join together to find and identify as many plants, animals, and other organisms as possible in a short period of time.”
So if you live in Yellow Point, Cedar or Cassidy, or would like to visit one of our parks that weekend, we invite you to join the BioBlitz – the details will be on our website by March 25th. In preparation, download the iNaturalist app on your phone and start practising. Find any plant, flower or wandering frog. Take a photo, and the app will tell you its likely name, based on four million observations by Canadian naturalists. See www.inaturalist.ca.
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Broom Busting at Buttertubs
Broom Busting at Buttertubs
May 5, 2021 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Hi Nature Enthusiasts,
It is now an ideal time to tackle invasive scotch broom at buttertubs so we are looking for volunteers for the following two times . .
- Wednesday May 5th from 10AM - noon
- Thursday May 6th from 10AM - noon
You will need a mask, gloves, sequiturs or some other pruning device, and (hopefully) sunscreen. The work is not too difficult- you can work as energetically as you like :-) We will be putting the broom in a pile(s) that the city will pick up later.
We can quite easily maintain physical distancing so everyone can be very safe.
If you are available please let us know - don't forget to indicate which day (or both).
We will be meeting at two different locations so we will send directions to each group.
PLEASE let us know soon if you might be able to join us by emailing naturenanaimo@gmail.com. We need to submit a list of names ahead of time. If you find out later that you can't make it, that is ok - just let us know.
Thanks!!!! -Doug
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Broom Busting at Buttertubs
Broom Busting at Buttertubs
May 6, 2021 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Hi Nature Enthusiasts,
It is now an ideal time to tackle invasive scotch broom at buttertubs so we are looking for volunteers for the following two times . .
- Wednesday May 5th from 10AM - noon
- Thursday May 6th from 10AM - noon
You will need a mask, gloves, sequiturs or some other pruning device, and (hopefully) sunscreen. The work is not too difficult- you can work as energetically as you like :-) We will be putting the broom in a pile(s) that the city will pick up later.
We can quite easily maintain physical distancing so everyone can be very safe.
If you are available please let us know - don't forget to indicate which day (or both).
We will be meeting at two different locations so we will send directions to each group.
PLEASE let us know soon if you might be able to join us by emailing naturenanaimo@gmail.com. We need to submit a list of names ahead of time. If you find out later that you can't make it, that is ok - just let us know.
Thanks!!!! -Doug
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Global Big Day
Global Big Day
May 8, 2021
For more details: https://ebird.org/news/global-big-day-8-may-2021
Be a part of birding’s biggest team! Global Big Day is an annual celebration of the birds around you. No matter where you are, join us virtually on 8 May and share the birds you find with eBird.
Participating is easy—you can even be part of Global Big Day from home. If you can spare 5 or 10 minutes, report your bird observations to eBird online or with our free eBird Mobile app. If you have more time, submit checklists of birds throughout the day. You never know what you might spot. Your observations help us better understand global bird populations through products like these animated abundance maps brought to you by eBird Science.
Last year, Global Big Day brought more birders together virtually than ever before. More than 50,000 people from 175 countries submitted a staggering 120,000 checklists with eBird, setting a new world record for a single day of birding. Will you help us surpass last year’s records? However you choose to participate, please continue to put safety first and follow your local guidelines.
How to participate
- Get an eBird account: eBird is a worldwide bird checklist program used by millions of birders. It’s what allows us to compile everyone’s sightings into a single massive Global Big Day list—while at the same time collecting the data to help scientists better understand birds. Sign up here. It’s 100% free from start to finish.
- Watch birds on 8 May: It’s that simple. You don’t need to be a bird expert or go out all day long, even 10 minutes of birding from home counts. Global Big Day runs from midnight to midnight in your local time zone. You can report what you find from anywhere in the world.
- Enter what you see and hear in eBird: You can enter your sightings via our website or download the free eBird Mobile app to make submitting lists even easier. Please enter your checklists before 11 May to be included in our initial results announcement.
- Watch the sightings roll in: During the day, follow along with sightings from more than 170 countries in real-time on our Global Big Day page
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Southern Resident Orcas: Combatting Contaminants for Healthy Habitats by Georgia Strait Alliance
Southern Resident Orcas: Combatting Contaminants for Healthy Habitats by Georgia Strait Alliance
May 12, 2021 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/southern-resident-orcas-combatting-contaminants-for-healthy-habitats-tickets-152158234375
Did you know that one of the most insidious threats facing the endangered Southern Resident orcas is largely invisible?
About this Event
The waters orcas call home contain chemicals that can accumulate up the food chain and cause negative effects to orcas and their prey (Chinook salmon). Environmental Quality Guidelines can be used to assess whether a contaminant is present at a level that poses a risk to the environment.
Join Georgia Strait Alliance and Environment and Climate Change Canada to explore the impacts of contaminants on Southern Resident orcas and what the Government of Canada is doing to tackle this threat.
Speakers:
Shinjini Pilon is a Program Scientist with the Whales Initiative Contaminants Team at Environment and Climate Change Canada. This team is seeking to reduce the threat of contaminants to Southern Resident Killer Whales and other endangered whale species in Canada. Shinjini completed Master’s and PhD degrees at the University of Ottawa in Chemical and Environmental Toxicology. Her prior experience includes researching legacy pollutants in remote First Nations communities in Ontario and toxic algal blooms in several locations across Canada. She also has experience conducting Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessments for contaminated sites. When she’s not working, Shinjini enjoys being outdoors (canoe camping, cross country skiing, and frequenting neighbourhood parks with her daughter).
Kathleen McTavish is an environmental quality guidelines specialist with the National Guidelines and Standards Office (NGSO) of Environment and Climate Change Canada. NGSO develops environmental quality guidelines (EQGs), in various environmental media (water, sediment, tissue, soil, groundwater etc.) for a variety of chemical substances. Kathleen has been working with this group for the past 4 years, with a focus on developing water guidelines for various metals and organic substances. She is also involved with the Whales Initiative, helping recommend and develop EQGs for the protection of Southern Residents and their prey. In her free time, Kathleen enjoys camping, home brewing beer, and going for jogs with her dog.
ACCESSIBILITY NOTES:
This webinar will be hosted on Zoom with live generated captions. In order to get the most out of the experience, participants should have reliable internet connection.
Georgia Strait Alliance is committed to providing accessible and inclusive programming, if you have any questions about the event, or specific needs, please contact kirsten@georgiastrait.org at least 48 hours before the event.
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Gull ID - Rocky Point Bird Observatory
Gull ID - Rocky Point Bird Observatory
May 13, 2021 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Facebook Event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1613405212178306/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22search_results%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22search%22%7D]%7D
Back by popular demand! Gulls - often termed ‘seagulls’ by the wider public - are notoriously difficult to tell apart. These identification challenges make them one of the least favorite groups of birds, and often end up in the ignored category, even with experienced birders. The Pacific Northwest takes that to the next level, as hybrid gulls are almost as common as pure ones in this region, and species concepts fade. Joachim has always had a strong interest in the less explored fields of birds and birding and has made it one of his favorite pastimes to scan flocks of gulls while trying to find unity in the variety. He has managed to get a good feel for the taxa that occur on the Westcoast and is eager to share his knowledge with you, as well as what’s still to be explored.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZEldOusqTkvHdVCT9aj8qFAKS2g2...
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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SeaTalks: Vanishing Fish
SeaTalks: Vanishing Fish
May 15, 2021 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Vanishing Fish: Shifting Baselines and the Future of Global Fisheries.
Dr. Daniel Pauly, Principal Investigator, Sea Around Us, UBC
The world’s fisheries are in crisis. Their catches are declining, and the stocks of key species, such as cod and bluefin tuna, are but a small fraction of their previous abundance, while others have been overfished almost to extinction. The oceans are depleted and the commercial fishing industry increasingly depends on subsidies to remain afloat.
Award-winning biologist Dr. Daniel Pauly offers a thought-provoking look at the state of today’s global fisheries—and a radical way to turn it around. He draws on decades of research to provide an up-to-date assessment of ocean health and an analysis of the issues that have contributed to the current crisis, including globalization, massive underreporting of catch, and the phenomenon of “shifting baselines”, in which, over time, important knowledge is lost about the state of the natural world.
He also provides a way forward—a vision of a vibrant future where small-scale fisheries can supply the majority of the world’s fish.
This is a free presentation. Please pre-register in advance here:
https://seatalks.ca/vanishing-fish/?mc_cid=d1e1f51c32&mc_eid=4975ee00f9
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BC Nature AGM
BC Nature AGM
May 15, 2021 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
https://bcnature.org/agm-2020-may-15-2021/
You are invited to attend this online meeting.
To ensure that there is a quorum, please register your intention to attend the meeting by email to the BC Nature now, indicating if you will attend the meeting. Please state if you will attend online or by phone.
WHY HOLD AN ONLINE MEETING?
The Societies Act and BC Nature bylaws requires that BC Nature hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year. Some funders require BC Nature to provide an Annual Report as a condition of funding. A government order permits the meeting to be held on-line and by phone during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The meeting will be held online, by Zoom, with the possibility of telephone attendance. Zoom will accommodate a maximum of 500 people in the room.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE AGM?
All 6,000+ members of BC Nature are entitled to attend the AGM.
A quorum consists of 30 members (two should be Directors).
The Board requests and invites:
- all BC Nature Board Members,
- all members of the Finance Committee
- all Club Representatives, people who are elected by the clubs to represent the clubs at BCN general meetings
- the President and Treasurer of all Clubs
- any other interested BC Nature members
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Finding The Mother Tree: A Conversation With Suzanne Simard
Finding The Mother Tree: A Conversation With Suzanne Simard
May 19, 2021 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
A free webinar hosted by Sierra Club BC and Dr. Suzanne Simard
Wednesday, May 19 at 7 – 8:30 p.m. PT
https://sierraclub.bc.ca/finding-the-mother-tree-a-conversation-with-suzanne-simard-webinar/
Did you know below the forest floor is an underground world of fungal networks that allow trees to communicate and act as a single being?
Join us for a webinar with TED Speaker and UBC Professor Suzanne Simard to celebrate the launch of her new book, Finding the Mother Tree, a moving account of her scientific quest to discover the tree elders that nurture forests in ways that remind us of human families – by caring for each other, sharing food, and sheltering their young.
Following a reading from the book, SCBC will facilitate a discussion and Q&A with Dr. Simard. We will also hear from Kwakwaka’wakw artist Rande Cook and SCBC’s Robin Strong and Flossie Baker, who will update attendees on the current old-growth movement in B.C.
Join us for this fascinating conversation about the wisdom of the forest on Wednesday, May 19 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.!
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Monthly Meeting: Gypsy Moths with Tim Ebata
Monthly Meeting: Gypsy Moths with Tim Ebata
May 20, 2021 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Keeping BC Gypsy Moth Free
With Tim Ebata and Jennifer Heron
7 PM via Zoom
Tim will describe the ongoing efforts to keep the highly destructive gypsy moth (both European and Asian) from establishing in B.C. He will discuss the biology, the known ecological and economic impacts, the integrated pest management options that have evolved since 1979 when GM was first treated in Kitsilano, and touch on some issues that make this program highly effective while being somewhat controversial. Jennifer will cover efforts to survey for rare and endangered lepidoptera in areas that may potentially be treated for gypsy moth to fully understand where conflicts could arise.
Tim Ebata grew up in Vancouver and went to UBC to study bugs and fish in the department of zoology graduating with a BSc in 1982 followed by a MSc from the faculty of forestry in 1986 in forest entomology. He began his forest service career as the regional entomologist in Smithers from 1986 to 1995 then moved to HQ working on provincial level forest health projects and eventually became the Forest Health officer responsible for administering and coordinating the provincial forest health program. He has been directly involved in gypsy moth eradication programs for 22 years prior to his retirement on April 1st of this year.
Jennifer Heron has been working on invertebrate conservation topics beginning with her MSc in 1998 studying ants in the Okanagan. She is currently the provincial Invertebrate Conservation Specialist with the B.C. Ministry of Environment. She works with other invertebrate specialists, conservation and stewardship groups to develop recovery-planning approaches and conservation status ranks to invertebrate groups and achieve common public outreach goals. Jennifer is also co-chair of the Arthropods Specialist Subcommittee for the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
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