The past year has been a busy one for Nature Nanaimo. We had a slate of monthly public meetings as well as a wide variety of organized outings – big and small. We are continuing to use zoom to enable easy online attendance for our own members as well as for members of other VI Naturalist clubs and the public. Nature Nanaimo’s membership has grown to just over 150 members at last count.
We hosted many fascinating and educational presentations throughout the year. Presentations included: Dan Baker’s talk on Ancient Sturgeon, Bernard Schroeder’s presentation on the Marbled Murrelet, Western Painted Turtle Conservation with Linda Brooymans, a talk on the Western Screech Owl by Jeremiah Kennedy, Vancouver Island Marmots by Adam Taylor, a travelogue presentation by acclaimed author Lyn Hancock, and a very important Panel Discussion on Saving the Harewood Plains. At our upcoming November AGM, Chris Pearce will give a presentation on the Secret Powers of Sea Cucumbers.
During the 12 months we organized a diversity of outings. We ended last year with a tour of the Wildwood EcoForest, the opportunity to participate in the Christmas Bird Count and a full day visit to beautiful Brackendale near Squamish to view the large numbers of bald eagles that gather there during the winter. We arranged explorations of the intertidal zone during low tides on Gabriola, in Cedar, and in Ladysmith – the latter led by expert Rick Harbo. We participated in two boat tours from Hornby Island during the Herring Spawn Festival and members travelled aboard the Lady Rose to view the sights and sounds of nature from Port Alberni to Bamfield. We had the fabulous opportunity to join Eric Demers and his VIU students for early morning bird banding sessions in Buttertubs Marsh and also participated in a highly informative walk around Buttertubs led by marsh guru Bill Merilees. We enjoyed an always amazing spring wildflower ramble in Harewood plains and walked the Cable Bay to view sea lions near Dods narrows. Several members were able to participate in the wonderful Meadow Lark Nature Festival in the Okanagan in early summer and in late summer members visited Mt Washington on two guided outings to look for the Vancouver Island marmot and learn more about the work being done there to bring back this critically endangered species. Members also pitched in to clear invasive species in Buttertubs Marsh and in Lotus Pinnatus Park.
Nature Nanaimo continues to be very actively involved with Buttertubs having led our second series of Interpretative Tours from May through August. We are a member of the Buttertubs Marsh Conservation Area Management Committee and continue to work towards the creation of an Interpretive Centre at the Miner’s Cottage.
This year also saw the return of Nature Nanaimo’s popular “Summer Picnic” graciously hosted by Lyn Hancock at her wonderful location on Nanoose Bay in early September.
Nature Nanaimo continued to maintain an active online presence through our website, Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter accounts and via email.
Nature Nanaimo continues to liaise with BC Nature and other member clubs as part of the Vancouver Island Region.
I look forward to the year ahead which I know will include numerous and diverse opportunities for our members to learn about, protect, and share our love for, our beautiful natural surroundings.
Lasty, I wish to thank each of our board members for their continued efforts!
Sincerely, Doug Fraser
President