A review of the scientific method with an emphasis on the human element of problem solving and particular reference to the challenges of understanding complex natural systems like the
Unfolding Climate Science and Powering the Future with Erik Krough – May 16, 2019 Read More »
A Blog Post by Staffan Lindgren Click on Staffan’s blog post below to read about his recent visit to Harewood Plains and see his wonderful photographs of the flora which
Harewood Plains – Nanaimo’s flowering jewel! Read More »
A Photo Blog by Lynda Stevens We’re thrilled that Lynda has shared this remarkable experience with us. Please enjoy her following contribution: This spring I was fortunate to be able
Anna’s Hummingbird Nest – Buttertubs Marsh, March/April 2019 Read More »
Staffan Lindgren Purple Martins, Progne subis, are the largest swallows in North America. The Western Purple Martin subspecies, Progne subis arboricola, is distinct from its eastern cousin in several respects.
Club Project: Western Purple Martin Nest Boxes Read More »
Note: Dr. Jamie Gorrell is a faculty member with the Department of Biology at Vancouver Island University. Jamie presented a similar version of his talk at the VIU Science and
Eight members from the Nature Nanaimo club ventured up to Parksville to experience part of the annual Brant Wildlife Festival. Hosted by the Arrowsmith club, Brant in the Bay featured
Brant in the Bay with the Arrowsmith Naturalists – Mar. 31, 2019 Read More »
VIU Science and Technology Lecture Series, March 27, 2019 Liz Gillis, Department of Resource Management and Protection, Vancouver Island University by Lance Nordstrom Dr. Gillis opened her lecture with an
Nature Nuggets – Mar. 21, 2019 At the March 21st meeting, Kidston Short and Larissa Thelin from the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute (MABRRI) provided an overview of the Plant
Nikki talked about the five-year nearshore habitat restoration work taking place within the Salish Sea funded by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Pacific Salmon Foundation and the Sidney Anglers
Salish Sea Nearshore Habitat Restoration with Nikki Wright – Mar. 21, 2019 Read More »
VIU Science and Technology Lecture Series, March 20, 2019 Eric Demers, Department of Biology, Vancouver Island University by Lance Nordstrom Dr. Demers introduced his topic by describing the current status
VIU Bird Banding Project: Engaging Students in Research Read More »
Unfortunately today’s club outing leader, Staffan, was hit with a bad cold and couldn’t make it out. However, we received this fantastic report by Ilse: We certainly missed you at
Herring run outing – Mar. 17, 2019 Read More »
Twenty enthusiastic Nature Nanaimo members boarded “Janie’s Got A Bus” last Saturday morning and headed across the island to Port Renfrew and Botanical Beach for some nature enjoyment under a
Botanical Beach trip report – Mar. 16, 2019 Read More »
Lance Nordstrom, with contributed photographs by Bob Harvey Braving a rather chilly wind, a dozen Nature Nanaimo members ventured out onto the mud flats at Rathtrevor provincial park to view
Nature Ramble to Rathtrevor Beach – Mar. 9, 2019 Read More »
By Staffan Lindgren Our planet is full of organisms, and it can be very frustrating to try to identify what you see. It used to be that you had to
Identifying what you see! Read More »
VIU Science and Technology Lecture Series, February 20, 2019 David Greenwood, Department of Biology, Brandon University by Lance Nordstrom Professor Greenwood presented a lively and entertaining lecture about ancient plant
Reading the Fossil Tea Leaves: New Perspectives from BC’s Eocene Floras Read More »
Nature Nugget – Feb. 21, 2019 By Staffan Lindgren Of all the insects in the world, the ants are some of the most successful (Guénard 2013). To date, about 13,000
Dracula ants: Another oddity from the world of insects Read More »
On a sunny but slightly chilly morning, 15 Nature Nanaimo members gathered for a walk around the trails of Morrell Nature Sanctuary. Lance Nordstrom led us up the Tranquility trail
Nature Ramble to Morrell Nature Sanctuary – Feb. 2, 2019 Read More »
Dear Nature Nanaimo members, We have now completed our first full calendar year as a functioning club. Our membership has quickly increased to about 150 members, distributed among 75 paid
President’s Perch: Looking back at 2018 Read More »
The 2018 Christmas Bird Count is coming up. Volunteers are always needed. If you are interested in participating, there are two ways of doing so. The first way is to
Participate in a Christmas Bird Count Read More »
A cheerful crowd of 13 Nature Nanaimo members gathered at the Morell Nature Sanctuary at 9 am. To everyone’s surprise and delight, the weather gods were in a good mood,
A mushroom walk with Andy MacKinnon – Nov. 23, 2018 Read More »
Four of our board members were thrilled to attend the BC Nature Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands Regional Seminar in Comox last week (Oct 27-28, 2018). They have provided us
BC Nature Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands Regional Seminar Read More »
A Newsletter for Nature Nanaimo By Mike McCall Nature Nanaimo’s newsletter will soon begin to appear on the society’s website. I have volunteered to act as editor, and I
A Newsletter for Nature Nanaimo Read More »
Nature Nugget – October 18, 2018 The Rise and Fall of Tansy Ragwort By Staffan Lindgren At the September meeting, Michael Stebbings described the scourge of giant hogweed, a plant
How Cinnabar Valley Got Its Name Read More »
Nature Nugget – September 19, 2018 A member of the Board coined the name Nature Nugget to describe these little 5 minute topics we like to add to the evening.
Giant Hogweed shows up in Duncan Read More »
Trip to the Raptors – Sept 16, 2018 An enthusiastic group of a dozen plus Nature Nanaimoites visited The Raptors in Duncan, on Sun. Sept 16th, carpooling together
Trip to The Raptors – Sept 16, 2018 Read More »
One year has almost passed since we revived the Nanaimo naturalist club as Nature Nanaimo, and we can look back on a very successful first 11 months of activities. We
From the President’s Perch Read More »
We joined local paleontologist Graham Beard for a fossil hunt in Nanoose.
Fossil Hunt – June 24, 2018 Read More »
A small group of members gathered outside the Oyster Bay Cafe at the Ladysmith Community Marina where we received an excellent education about the biology and conservation of our largest
Western Purple Martin Recovery Program – June 8, 2018 Read More »
We explored Lotus pinnatus park to view the abundant wildflowers.
Wildflower Walk – May 19, 2018 Read More »
A small but intrepid group of Nature Nanaimoites met at Milner Gardens in Qualicum on Sat. April 28. The rain didn’t stop us from enjoying a tour of the Gardens
Milner Garden Phenology Tour – April 28, 2018 Read More »
Nature Nanaimo members joined author and marine biologist Rick Harbo, on an outing to examine life in the intertidal zone on Holland Bank beach in Ladysmith.
Ladysmith Seashore Outing with Rick Harbo – April 21, 2018 Read More »
Nature Nugget – April 19, 2018 By Michael Stebbings Cytisus Scoparius and a Scottish Army Captain { Sit eesus scar parius} Captain Walter Colquhoun Grant was born of a military
Scotch Broom & Captain Walter Colquhoun Grant Read More »