Northern Vancouver Island
Young Naturalist Club for Northern Vancouver Island
Explorer Day Update – September 10, 2012
For information on the Northern Vancouver Island YNC please use the following link:
Please
confirm participation by dates indicated.
Date
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Explorer Day
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“Host”
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Time & Location
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Further Details
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Confirm by
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October 6th – Saturday
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Whale Watching
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Stubbs Island Whale Watching + Jackie as your smiling naturalist.
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Telegraph Cove be at the end of the
boardwalk at 08:15 at the latest!
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Very generously, the
owners of Stubbs Island Whale Watching are continuing the kindness of taking the
YNC out for an annual trip for only a $25/person contribution to fuel.
Note, the trip is being
made available ONLY to Young Naturalist Club members. In respecting the
generosity being made available to us, note that this is not an
opportunity for non-members (child or adult) to go whale watching for a
highly reduced rate. If we do not respect this, we understandably jeopardize
having this trip made available in coming years.
Starting time: Be outside the Stubbs Island Whale Watching office at the far end of the boardwalk in Telegraph Cove at 08:15 at the latest. Return time: We will be back by 12:45 at the latest and you may then chose to visit the Whale Interpretive Centre with its new displays (entry by donation). How to dress: Layers with the outer layer being waterproof; skid proof shoes; good idea to have hats and gloves. What to bring: Snacks; water; camera; binoculars; PFDs advised for children 10 and under (we will have some on the boat and of course have enough Coast Guard approved lifejackets). What if the weather is bad?: Heaven forbid but if it looks like it is going to be bad, I would call you the evening prior. |
A few spaces still available. See below for how to reserve your spot.
Limited space.
Participation is confirmed when I receive a cheque at $25/person made
out to “Stubbs Island Whale Watching” (okay to date for October 6th) and
mailed care of “Jackie Hildering” to Box 1347; Port McNeill, VON 2R0.
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Possibly October 20th or November 3rd
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Where does it go when it goes “away”?
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Patrick Donaghy (Regional District) and Paul
Getman
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Tours of 7-mile landfill and a water & waste
treatment plants.
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This builds on an Explorer Day we did in October 2009.
The tour addresses some of the key questions in
understanding our connectedness to nature and how we can create positive
change with our daily behaviours. The main idea to be strived for with this
outing is – that there is no “away”; that we must be responsible for our
waste. Key questions:
-Where does our drinking water come from?
-What happens
to our wastewater when we flush it away?
-What happens when you throw
something away?
Things to bring:
YNC passport; lunch and snacks; outdoor, waterproof clothes; camera.
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Will relay as soon as a date for this event is
confirmed
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December 29, 2012
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Winter Bird Count
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Malcolm Island Bird Count
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Meet at the Sointula Firehall at 09:00.
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Please contact Annemarie Koch (250-973-6465) if you are able to join the bird count. This will ensure that they know to wait for people coming off the ferry.
The timing of the event will allow return on the 13:40 ferry from Sointula.
Details will also be posted on the Bird Club’s Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/
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Please do call Annemarie Koch
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January 19, 2013
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Cougar and Bear Awareness
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Tanner Beck Conservation Officer
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MoF board room Port McNeill 10:00
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Tanner Beck,
Conservation Officer, will educate us about the natural history of bears
and cougars and how we can wisely share Northern Vancouver with these
wild neighbours.
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January 1st.
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February 23, 2013
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Marine Debris – Where does it come from and what you can do
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Will Soltau – Living Oceans Society
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Sunset School Library – to be confirmed
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Learn about tsunami debris and Will having found a
wrecked boat with Japanese lifejackets on the west coast recently. http://www.livingoceans.org/
Will works for the Living Oceans Society and they
are undertaking a program to “Clear the Coast” http://www.livingoceans.org/
This presentation may lead to a west coast beach
clean-up for the Club.
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Please let me know ASAP, Feb 19th at the
latest.
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April 2013
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Spring Bird Count
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Malcolm
Island Bird Count
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Details to follow.
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For information on the Northern Vancouver Island YNC please use the following link:
YNC Vancouver
YNC EXPLORER DAY
EXPLORER DAY – February 24th, 2013
Instructor: Chris Stinson, Curatorial Assistant, UBC Biodiversity Collections / Faculty of Science / University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Rafting With Raptors - Natural History
River Explorations
-breaking 3,700 Bald Eagles.
They can accommodate any number of enthusiastic rafters.
Please register early so we can anticipate the number of children.
Looking forward to seeing you on the river.
Eva
YNC Vancouver
Leader Eva Nagy
EXPLORER DAY - Rescheduled for Saturday, June 29th
BIRD BANDING - at COLONY FARM
Please set this day aside for a very
interesting activity! More details to follow next week.
One
of the challenges is bird banding is a very early morning activity – we start
at dawn and continue until mid-morning depending on capture rates. Bird
activity is highest in the period immediately following dawn and then dies down
as the morning progresses so you would need to be at the banding station no
later than say 8 but the earlier the better.
The
way we structure group visits is to give a very short talk when people arrive
to tell them who we are, what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. We then
typically split groups in to 2 – one group accompanies our net extractors on
net rounds while then other group stays at the banding station to watch the
banding, take photos and ask questions etc – we then supervise the holding and
releasing of a bird with each kid. We then switch the groups up so that the
first group goes out on the net rounds and the second group then observes the
banding etc.
At
the end of the visit we talk briefly about habitat conservation and then
importance of safeguarding areas like Colony Farm for breeding and migratory
birds and have flyers we hand out telling kids how they can help to make a
difference. Our schools program talks about creating bird friendly campuses –
preventing window strikes, feeders, nest boxes etc.
EXPLORER DAY – April 28th,
2013
CANOPY WALK at
UBC Botanical Gardens
Interact with
nature and the forest in an adventurous way
Guided
walk of the upper parts of the forest and
Option
to visit the Native Plant Garden
Date:
Sunday, April 28th 1 pm
Location:
UBC Botanical Garden
Please
pre-register with Eva Nagy
604
929-4286 or evnagy@shaw.ca
The Greenheart Canopy walkway is located in the David C. Lam Asian
Garden. The areal trail system allows for the interpretation of the tree canopy
where we will be introduced to the upper parts of the forest, a world of flora
and fauna that thrives in this lofty environment. We will also learn about the
First Nations use of local forest materials. The area is home to some
spectacular wildlife, such as bald eagles, woodpeckers and coyotes. It’s not
uncommon to spot these garden residents while on the Canopy Walkway.
It’s important that all visitors wear proper footwear. For safety
no open-toe shoes or sandals are allowed on the walkway. You should also ensure
that both hands are free to hold onto the canopy guide ropes. Children must be
able to walk on their own. Free carrying of children is not
permitted.
After the 45 minute canopy walk, with those who are interested, we
plan to walk over to the Native Gardens where another guide will introduce us to
some local plants and vegetation.
The costs are $20 for
adults, $15 for seniors and youth, $10 for children 12 and under. The
quotes do not include the GST at 5%. All non-profit groups receive a 15%
discount. The maximum number on a tour is 20 people. Accordingly,
we would
appreciate one parent per family with the 2nd on the waiting list in case the
program is not full. If there is sufficient interest we could repeat the program
some other time.
***Meet at the UBC Botanical Garden gate at 12:45 to allow for
sorting out entrance fees.
For more information please check the website: www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
EXPLORER DAY - March 23rd, 2013
THE BALD EAGLE - A success
story
Learn about the Amazing comeback of the Eagles to the
Vancouver area
A
talk by David Hancock, who established the Hancock Wildlife
Foundation
Date: Saturday, March 23rd 1 to 3
pm
Location: Stanley Park Ecology Society, 2nd floor
Stanley Park Dining Pavilion,
Salmonberry room.
Please pre-register with Eva Nagy
604
929-4286 or evnagy@shaw.ca
David Hancock spent most of his life studying west coast and arctic
wildlife. He has published numerous scientific and popular books on his
specialty, the northern raptors. Prior to starting Hancock House Publishers he
was a pilot and wildlife film producer -- again specializing in the native
cultures and wildlife of the coast and north.
During his program we will learn about the amazing comeback of the Bald
Eagle in the Lower Mainland (the only eagle unique to North America). Back in the 60s biologists could only
find 3 bald eagles nests in this area. Now we have records for 380 eagle nests
in the Lower Fraser Valley! He will talk about his pioneering research on Eagles
as well as the various eagle cams he has set up for study
purposes.
The birds flourish in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley (Harrison) and
Squamish rivers because of the Salmon. Dead or dying fish are a vital food
source for Bald Eagles, and explains why they are drawn to our major salmon
rivers in November, where many thousands remain until February while feasting on
spawning Salmon.
Due to limited space registration is limited to 50 participants. We would
appreciate only one parent per family.
How to get there: Please look for directions on the web
by typing "610 Pipeline Road, Vancouver" and find directions to
Stanley Park Dining Pavilion - Pay parking is in effect throughout the park or
take the #19 bus to it's last stop in Stanley Park, just North of the
Pavilion.
EXPLORER DAY – February 24th, 2013
WILDLIFE HABITS AND HABITATS
Learn about local wildlife and the four parts of a habitat. Get
familiar with
food chains including producers, consumers and
decomposers.
Leader: Krystal Brennan and her
assistants
Date: Sunday, February 24th at 10
am
Please pre-register with Eva
Nagy
Please join us at the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC. The
program will start with
(1) - an introduction to what WRA is doing in their hospital and
(2) - information on what people should and shouldn’t do around
wildlife.
The interactive presentation will include pictures and videos
illustrating the four habitat components and examples of producers, consumers
and decomposers in our wildlife trees and urban streams.
This will be followed by hands-on activities examining real bird
wings, nests and skulls and working in groups to answer habitat related
questions.
Before we wrap up the program we will be going outside on a
wildlife scavenger hunt to look for signs animals leave behind, and we are
guaranteed to see a beaver lodge out there too!
This will be a truly unique experience for children and adults to
discover local wildlife and signs of animals in your backyard.
**Meet at WRA office 5216 Glencarin Drive, Burnaby
From Kensington Avenue turn east (towards Burnaby Lake) on
Sprott Street and right on Sperling Ave., which will turn sharply to
the left and become Glencarin Drive. For detailed Map & Directions please go
to the website: www.wildliferescue.ca Bring
your binoculars for our nature walk and please dress warmly for the weather is
sometimes cooler by the lake.
***The presentation
cost is $75 which will be covered by the generous donations of Nature Vancouver
members.
EXPLORER DAY – February 3rd, 2013
SEARCHING OUT BC’S AMPHIBIANS
The
quest to see all the frogs, newts, salamanders and toads of British Columbia in
the wild and at the Beaty Museum of UBC.
Instructor: Chris Stinson, Curatorial Assistant, UBC Biodiversity Collections / Faculty of Science / University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Date: Sunday,
February 3rd, 11 am
Please,
pre-register with Eva Nagy
AMPHIBIANS
– Chris Stinson wrote: This is sort of my personal
and continuing quest to see all of the amphibians in the wild. The word comes
from Greek words amphi-“of both kinds” and bios -“life”; this dual life refers
to the Amphibian metamorphosing from fully aquatic to more land based
creature.
I will pair this up with natural history stories
about each of the species as well as
specimens from the museum and perhaps one or two live ones as well. I
will have a total of 20 species represented in various life stages. There will
be a general talk on what is an amphibian. We will also have a couple of exotic
specimens like Andrias Japonicus a
Giant Japanese Salamander and a Caecillian (Dermophis mexicanus) the other major
group of amphibians with frogs and salamanders. A
very
interesting program you don’t want to miss.
Registration is limited to 30 participants
(including parents). Please come early so we have time to pay the fees before
Chris arrives.
** Meet at the Admission Desk 10:45 am – Cost is $6 per
child and $10 per adult There will be no charge for the members of the
museum.
How to get to
the museum:
Coming by bus? Walk west from the bus terminal
to Main Mall. The Beaty Museum is located at 2212 Main Mall, a short walk south
on University Boulevard.
Driving: The nearest parking is in Health
Sciences Parkade ($6 per day). From the parkade walk north on East Mall and turn left on Biological Sciences (Bio Sci) Road. Go
left at the turnaround and walk up the ramp. If you are coming up the ramp from
the Biological Sciences Rd you will see the whale first and the admission is at
the head of the whale. The Admission Desk is inside the Blue Whale exhibition
Building
- behind the Niche café. Please be aware that there is lots of
construction in the area, it would be of great help if you print off the map
from the website.
NB: Chris will meet
us at 10:55 and take us all down to the lab. The Lab is a restricted area not
open to the public, so it’s important to be on time.
For those of you who are
interested to stay longer there will be a lecture on Forensic Ornithology at the
auditorium at 1 pm.
Hope to see you at the UBC Beaty
Museum on February 3rd,
Eva
EXPLORER DAY - NOVEMBER 25, 2012
Our next Explorer Day will be
a unique experience:
Rafting with
Raptors on the Squamish River.
More than the average number of
salmon are returning to our area this year which makes it one of the best
chances to see raptors along the river.
I'm also pleased to be able to offer
this as a free trip
for YNC members, thanks to generous donations
from Nature Vancouver members in past years.
DATE:
Sunday, NOVEMBER 25th
Time of rendezvous 11:00 am in Brackendale
Please pre-register with Eva Nagy evnagy@shaw.ca
or call
604.929.4286
-breaking 3,700 Bald Eagles.
The mild months of November through February are the hot months to
view these feathered monarchs. Climb aboard our rafts and behold one of the
greatest wildlife spectacles in North America!
Our Float Trip Includes:
- Trip Leader and Naturalist Sebastian Wade
- A Gourmet Riverside Luncheon Buffet
-Over 2,000 Bald Eagles To Host The Event, with other great
guests such as Trumpeter Swans, Harbour Seals, Chum Salmon,
Buffleheads, Goldeneyes, American Dippers, Mergansers and many
more
The discounted group rates are: $35
per adult
with more than 18 participants (including children) in the group and
$40 per
adult with 18 or less participants. Children under 14 go free.They can accommodate any number of enthusiastic rafters.
Please register early so we can anticipate the number of children.
Looking forward to seeing you on the river.
Eva
YNC Vancouver
Our Float Trip Includes:
- Trip Leader and Naturalist Sebastian Wade
- A Gourmet Riverside Luncheon Buffet
-Over 2,000 Bald Eagles To Host The Event, with other great
guests such as Trumpeter Swans, Harbour Seals, Chum Salmon,
Buffleheads, Goldeneyes, American Dippers, Mergansers and many
more
Please note that trips do depart Rain Or
Shine so it is always best to plan for the worst and hope for the best. Lots
of layers (wool, polypropylene, thermal...no cotton!), a good set of rain gear
(jacket and pants) and rubber boots is the outfit of choice. More is always
better than less when rafting at anytime of the year but especially in the
winter.
EXPLORER
DAY- OCTOBER 20TH
GRASSLANDS; Delta Farmlands and Wildlife Trust interpretive
Tour
With David Bradbeer, DF & WT Program
coordinator
Saturday, October 20th from 11 a.m. – Duration about two to four
hours
Please pre-register with Eva
Nagy
We will be touring several agricultural fields
enrolled in the Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust stewardship program. The
tour will include a stop at a local farm on Westham Island in Delta and discuss
how farmers manage their fields for Wildlife. There should be plenty of wildlife
to see, including raptors and snow geese. David will set live traps for small
mammals in advance, so that our group can see what the different raptors in the
area feed on. We will also look at owl pellets. – Bring your binoculars there
will be opportunities to observe migratory waterfowls and wintering
raptors.
David Bradbeer will also be introducing the
citizen science project that YNC members can participate in. The project will be
surveying various grasslands raptors, including the Short-eared Owl. You will
receive more information about this during the
fieldtrip.
Please dress appropriately for the weather (maybe
cold and windy out there). The most critical piece of gear is waterproof rubber
boots (hiking boots, unless very waterproof would be a poor alternative. There
are washrooms only at the beginning and end of the tour at Westham Island Herb
Farm.
Please bring your lunch and water, we will have a
lunch break.
**Meet
at the Westham Island Herb Farm, 4690 Kirkland Road, Delta – on Westham Island
(where
the Reifel Bird Sanctuary is located). We will be driving after we met to
several farms in the area.
How to get there: Drive Hwy. 99 to River Road and
shortly past the tunnel turn right following it to the Town of Ladner. Turn left
at a T-junction on Elliott Street and at the next light turn right onto 47a
Avenue. This will connect you back to River Road. - About 4 km from town there
is a one lane bridge over the canal to Westham Island (Please note sign for
Reifel Bird Sanctuary). The farm is 1.5 km past the bridge. Turn right on
Kirkland Road and park on the grassy area on your right before the farm
entrance. Please give yourself plenty of time to get
there.
FOSSIL, BOTANY and INTERTIDAL LIFE, Kitsilano Foreshore
Leader: Jennifer Getsinger, PhD, PGeo
Saturday, June 23, 2012 13:00 to 15:00
Please pre-register with Eva Nagy
604 929-4286 or evnagy@shaw.ca
We will meet near the playground and washrooms, and identify a few modern trees on a map of Tatlow Park. Learn how to tell Sycamore trees (Platanus) from Sycamore Maples (Acer platanoides). After about half an hour proceed down to Kitsilano Foreshore (across Point Grey Road through Volunteer Park at foot of Macdonald Street). We can unearth 50 million year old plant fossil-black leaf impressions (if lucky, you can find Metasequoia) from tilted siltstone in tide pools, and explore the abundant modern intertidal life--purple sea stars, mini crabs that camouflage themselves with rock patterns (Hemigrapsus), various bivalves and gastropods, beach arthropods, perhaps even a segmented worm, or something new! Footwear that protects feet from rocks and barnacles is absolutely necessary you will get wet and muddy up to the knees at least. If the weather is bright, don’t forget sunscreen and a hat (and water to drink). Shovels and buckets are useful for collecting fossils (ice cream buckets are great).
**Meet at Tatlow Park, 2800 block West 3rd Ave. ½ block west of Macdonald (accessible by #22 bus at Macdonald and Point Grey Road, or walk down from
4th & Macdonald, bus #4, #7)
SECRETS OF THE BOG
We will visit Camosum Bog near UBC
Date: Sunday, May 6th at 1 pm
Please pre-register with Eva Nagy
604 929-4286 or evnagy@shaw.ca
Camosun Bog is a special place and members of the Camosun Bog Restoration Group (“the Crazy Boggers”) are keen to show it to you. We will share its secrets – insect-eating plants, “the devils hole”, frogs and dragonflies, plants smelling of rotting meat and so on. Things do not rot in a bog and you will see plants hundreds of years old and items that were lost in the bog and have been discovered during our restoration work. There will be hands-on activities, games and the Boggers will provide refreshments like Blueberry tea at the end of the visit.
**Meet at the beginning of the trail at 1 pm.
To get to Camosun Bog, head West on 16th Avenue towards UBC. Turn left on Camosun St. (four blocks beyond Dunbar St) and go to 19th Ave.
Park along the roads nearby.
BIRDING and EXPLORING in DEER LAKE PARK
With leader Istvan Orosi
Sunday, April 22nd from 9 to 11 am
Please pre-register with Eva Nagy
604 929-4286 or evnagy@shaw.ca
Istvan Orosi is a long time member of Nature Vancouver and one of the best birders in the society. His particular expertise is recognizing bird-songs, and he will teach you all there is to know about the birds we will see and birding in general. Deer Lake Park is a great birding spot in the Vancouver area. We should have a great time exploring, bird watching and botanizing. Please bring your binoculars and dress for the weather.
**Meet at the DEER LAKE parking lot on the East side of Royal Oak Avenue close to Deer Lake Parkway. It is at the bottom of the steep hill between Kingsway Avenue and Deer Lake Parkway while travelling NORTH. Since there is no left turn into the parking lot when you are driving South, you must drive past the parking area and turn back at the first opportunity. It is a small lot with an outdoor biff
Congratulations goes out to Owen!
Owen received honorably mention in the YNC Hug-a-tree contest for his wonderful art submission in the 8 and under category. Way to go Owen!
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| Owen, 8 years old, YNC Vancovuer |
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