Vancouver Naturalist_Sept 2011.pdf - Nature Vancouver

Vancouver Naturalist 

Newsletter of Nature Vancouver 

September 2011 Volume 13 Issue 3

Nature 

Vancouver 

Nature Vancouver was founded as the Vancouver Natural History 

Society in 1918 by Professor John Davidson with the following 

objectives: 

• To promote the enjoyment of nature 

• To foster public interest and education in the appreciation and 

study of nature 

• To encourage the wise use and conservation of natural 

resources 

• To work for the complete protection of endangered species 

and ecosystems 

• To promote access to, and maintenance of, natural areas in 

the vicinity of Vancouver. 


ISSN 1491-526X 

Vancouver Naturalist is published four times a year by 

Nature Vancouver 

P.O. Box 3021, Vancouver, BC V6B 3X5 

Reproduction without permission is prohibited. 

Editor: Julian Hudson 604-278-4451 

Submissions 

Please submit all material for publication to 

vnhs_news@hotmail.com 

Deadlines for submissions 

February 20, May 20, August 14 and November 14 

Advertising Rates* 

Full inside page: $150.00 

Half inside page: $90.00 

Quarter inside page: $60.00 

*Pay in full with the first issue, and receive 4 ads for price of 3. 

Cover Photo: 

Hike up Lineham Creek Trail,Waterton National Park, 

Nature Vancouver Summer Camp 2011 

photo by Daryl Sturdy 

Nature Illustrations 

by Jenny Hards 

Visit NatureVancouver on the Web 

www.naturevancouver.ca 

Website maintained by 

Kelly Sekhon and Murat Gungoraydinoglu 

info@naturevancouver.ca 

Board of Directors 

2011-2012 

Daniel Overmyer 

President; Privacy Policy Administrator 

eodano@shaw.ca 604-732-6719 

Cynthia Crampton 

Secretary; Field Trips Co-ordinator; 

Lead on updating history of VNHS and Discovery Index 

cynthiacrampton@yahoo.ca 604-738-1405 

Bill Kinkaid 

Vice President; Liaison with Camp Committee 

billkinkaid@gmail.com 604-710-6329 

Dorothy Nelson 

Representative to BC Nature 

dnels@shaw.ca 604-224-5668 

Jeremy McCall 

Treasurer; Chair Membership Committee; Liaison with 

Conservation Committee; 

Liaison with Vancouver Naturalist 

jpmccall@telus.net 604-876-7694 

Nellie Bacou 

Director at Large; Membership Outreach 

nellieba@telus.net 604-221-1620 

David Cook 

Chair of Botany and Geology Sections; 

Representative on various stakeholder groups 

cookeco2@yahoo.com 604-924-0147 

Jude Grass 

Liaison with and Chair of the Birding Section; Co-ordinator of 

General Evening Programs and Education Workshops 

judegrass@shaw.ca 604-538-8774 

Daphne Nagorsen 

Liaison with Website Committee; 

Reference Binder Coodinator 

dnagorsen@yahoo.com 778-230-8007 

Viveka Ohman 

Liaison with Marine Biology Section 

ohmanv@hotmail.com 604-531-3401 

Nigel Peck 

Membership outreach 

nigel@npeck.ca 604-255-0121 

2 Vancouver Naturalist September 2011

Society 

News and Information 

Welcome to New Members 

by Sandra Booth, Membership Secretary 

boothsj@shaw.ca 

Welcome to all new and rejoining members. Our online and 

therefore paperless newsletter is a favorite for many of us. 

Please notify me if this is of interest to you. My e-mail is 

boothsj@shaw.ca. 

We regret to advise that the June newsletters addressed to Edith 

Fisher, a Long Life member who joined the VNHS in 1972, and 

to Peter Skrimshire, a Paid Life member who joined in 1978, 

have been returned. We would appreciate hearing from any 

member having recent information about these members. 

New Members since May 30, 2011 

Nadine Adams, Jamie Donaldson, Siril Stenerud, Gareth 

Williams, Gurmeet Kubicek, Ann Kent and Don Fraser, Bill 

and Cathy Payne, Truus Clark, Carole Nakonechny, Eko 

Handjatmeko, Carole Dedhar, Rikke Rytter, Teresa O’Kelly, 

Carina Thompson, Herb Johnston 

A reminder to all members to let me know when personal 

information changes. This means that you will receive all 

newsletters and other mailings promptly and you can be 

contacted when needed. 

In This Issue 

Society News and Information 3 

Conservation Matters 4 

General Evening Programs/Section Programs 5-8 

Richard Greyson Obituary 7 

Nature Vancouver Field Trips 9-11 

Nature Vancouver Workshops and Seminars 12 

Summer Picnic Review 13 

Young Naturalists’ Club 14 

Editor’s Corner 

As usual, this September issue is packed. Unfortunately, I had to 

cut several photographs and departments to fit important text and 

new items. I really like the YNC photos showing young, budding 

naturalists outdoors working and learning, so it was hard to 

“bump” them. Hopefully, I can get them into the December 

issue. 

I hope you all got a chance to get out and explore our province 

this summer, as it seems like a good year for most animals, birds, 

insects and plants. Enjoy the upcoming programs. 

Archives 

Nature Vancouver archives are maintained at Vancouver City 

Archives by Mike McNulty. For more information, please 

contact Mike at mj.mcnulty@gmail.com or 778-235-1303. 

Discovery 

Discovery is an annual journal of natural history published by 

Nature Vancouver as a service to its members. Non-members 

may also subscribe. Editor, Jeremy McCall, jpmccall@telus. 

net or 604-876-7694. Book Review Editor, Christine Adkins, 

adkins@zoology.ubc.ca or 604-731-6377. 

E-mail Bulletins 

To receive weekly news and updates about programs and field 

trips, or to place information on Nature Vancouver’s website, 

please contact Kelly Sekhon at info@naturevancouver.ca. 

Finance Committee 

Chair: Bob Dyer, bob_dyer@telus.net 604-922-9798. 

Membership Committee 

Chair: Jeremy McCall jpmccall@telus.net 604-876-7694. 

Secretary: Sandra Booth, boothsj@shaw.ca 604-926-6914. 

Nature Tours 

Occasionally, nature tours to areas farther afield are organised 

by Nature Vancouver. Please contact Jude Grass at judegrass@ 

shaw.ca or 604-538-8774 if you have any suggestions. 

Nature Vancouver Photo Competition 

This annual competition is held in March. Members are eligible 

to enter digital photos in five different categories. Photos by 

Young Naturalists are eligible as a separate category. Send 

your photos to Ron Long at rlphoto@shaw.ca or 604-469-1651 

between Jan 1 and Feb 28. 

Nature Vancouver Scholarship 

Every year a scholarship of $500 is awarded to a student 

registered in an institute of higher learning in BC. More details 

available on the website or from the Finance Committee Chair. 

Reference Binder 

Up-to-date information about past and present activities, bylaws, 

procedures and policies of Nature Vancouver is compiled 

in a reference binder. Volunteers can obtain a copy from Daphne 

Nagorsenat at dnagorsen@yahoo.com or 778-230-8007. 

Summer Camp 

Annual Summer Camp is organised by a committee chaired 

by Don Griffiths. For more information please contact Don at 

donansol@interchange.ubc.ca or 604-228-1450. 

Volunteers 

All programs, field trips and other activities of Nature Vancouver 

are made possible by a dedicated group of volunteers. New 

members are always welcome to contribute their time and 

expertise. To find out more about how you can help please 

contact Kelly Sehkon at info@naturevancouver.ca. 

Vancouver Naturalist September 2011 3

Conservation Matters 

Proposed Expansion of the Deltaport Container 

Terminal Threatens the Birds of the Fraser Estuary 

Important Bird Area 

by Jeremy McCall (with information obtained in part from the 

Important Bird Areas website) 

Background 

The Fraser Estuary is considered to be the most important of the 

nearly 600 Important Bird Areas in Canada. In 1992, Boundary 

Bay and Roberts Bank were proposed as a World Biosphere 

Reserve by the Boundary Bay Conservation Committee. The 

proposal was endorsed by 22 community groups and the 

Municipal Councils of Delta, Surrey, and White Rock. Boundary 

Bay exceeds the recognized criteria for a wetland of international 

importance (a global designation under the Ramsar convention) 

and for a hemispheric category Western Hemisphere Shorebird 

Reserve Network (WHSRN) site. It later received the WHSRN 

designation. 

In 1995, 11,000 hectares of Boundary Bay outside the dyke 

were designated as a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) by the 

province. In 1998, Sturgeon Bank was designated a WMA, and 

the BC government still has the stated intention of giving the 

WMA designation to Roberts Bank but has delayed doing so. 

Management plans have been prepared for all areas by the BC 

Ministry of Environment but have not been finalized. Roberts 

and Sturgeon Banks are primarily provincially-owned crown 

land, except a small portion on Westham Island which is part 

of the federal Alaksen National Wildlife Area, containing the 

George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. However, the fate 

of the surrounding farmlands is uncertain. Research studies are 

increasingly demonstrating the importance of these lands to the 

adjacent wetlands and coastal ecosystems. 

Significant species 

Boundary Bay, Roberts Bank and Sturgeon Bank form one of the 

richest and most important ecosystems for migrant and wintering 

waterbirds in Canada. The most numerous species found here is 

the Western Sandpiper. There are one-day estimates of at least 

500,000 during spring migration. Numerous species, including 

the Western Sandpiper, move from one part of this site to 

another; this is why these three areas have been amalgamated 

into one IBA. It is thought that a substantial proportion of the 

global Western Sandpiper population stops on the delta in the 

spring. 

Both Dunlin and Black-bellied Plovers winter in significant 

numbers. Dunlin occur in impressive numbers; one-day counts 

in the spring represent about 10% of the Pacific population, and 

8% of the North American population. Large numbers of Blackbellied 

Plovers are recorded every year with one-day counts of 

as much as 3% of the estimated North American population. In 

total, 50 species of shorebirds have been seen in the area. 

During the fall and early winter, one-day counts of greater than 

100,000 waterfowl are made regularly. Other abundant species 

include: American Wigeon (2% of the global population), 

Northern Pintail (1% of the North American population), 

Mallard (often occurs in numbers >20,000) and American Greenwinged 

Teal. Although not as numerous, significant numbers of 

Trumpeter Swans also winter here, with a minimum of 4% of the 

Pacific Coast population being recorded. About 47% (or 46,700 

birds) of the Wrangel Island Snow Goose population also use the 

banks. In the fall, one-day totals of 10,000 to 15,000 are more 

typical. In the spring, thousands of Brant Geese (mostly ssp. 

nigricans) pass through the area. Numbers peak in April, with 

recent numbers typically between 1,250 and 3,300, or 1 to 2% 

of the Black Brant population. In the winter, smaller numbers 

of a different population are found; in recent winters about 200 

Western High Arctic, or Grey-bellied Geese have been noted. 

During the late summer and early fall, the area is also very 

important for moulting grebes. Between 2,000 and 3,000 

Western Grebes were regularly present in Boundary Bay at one 

time. Thus, probably about 4% of the global population of the 

species has been found here at this time of the year. Western 

Grebes have been recorded in significant numbers during the 

spring, fall and winter periods. As many as 2,500 Red-necked 

Grebes (about 5% of the estimated North American population) 

have also been recorded here in early fall. Large numbers of 

Glaucous-winged Gulls are present in the winter with an average 

of 19,000 gulls (from 1992 to 1997) being recorded (about 3.8% 

of the North Pacific population). 

At least two nationally vulnerable species breed here. Three 

heronries of the Great Blue Heron occur adjacent to Boundary 

Bay (at Point Roberts, Nicomekl River and Serpentine River). 

These colonies represent 6% of the total population. These 

herons, and others presumably from colonies further away, 

feed in Boundary Bay and the banks throughout the year. The 

Fraser River delta also supports one of the last Canadian nesting 

populations of the nationally vulnerable Barn Owl. An average 

of 15 birds that were recorded on the 1992 to 1997 Ladner 

Christmas Bird Counts represents 1.5% of Canada's estimated 

population. 

The marshes of Roberts and Sturgeon Banks support breeding 

American Bittern, Sora, Virginia Rail, waterfowl and Northern 

Harrier, and outside the breeding season, Bald Eagle, Northern 

Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, and large numbers of feeding 

swallows. The area also supports large numbers of Short-eared 

Owl, Red-tailed Hawk and Rough-legged Hawk in the winter. 

Deltaport 

The original two berth container terminal at Deltaport was 

opened in 1997. A proposal by the Port of Vancouver, as it then 

was, to add a third berth resulted in a lengthy environmental 

assessment process which began in 2004. This was conducted 

by both the BC Environmental Assessment Office and the 

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, which used the 

"comprehensive study" approach. The Third Berth was given the 

go-ahead in 2006 and it was completed in 2010. 

Development pressures 

There is constant pressure in this area from non-agricultural 

development such as housing, recreational and industrial 

expansion. Since the banks are situated adjacent to Greater 

Vancouver the pressure to expand industrial, residential, and 

port facilities is intense. Recent expansion of airport activity at 

continued on page 15 


For programs not yet scheduled as of publication of this newsletter, please refer to the website and/or email notifications. 


Evening Programs 

The General Evening Programs of Nature Vancouver are 

held from January through April and September through 

November on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. 

at the Unity Church, 5840 Oak Street, Vancouver. These 

programs are open to the public and members are encouraged 

to invite their friends. For more information and suggestions for 

future programs please contact the Co-ordinator Jude Grass: 

judegrass@shaw.ca or 604-538-8774. 

Thursday, September 22 

TBA 


Birding Section 

Chair: Jude Grass judegrass@shaw.ca 604-538-8774 

Committee Members: 

Martin McNicholl sterna@shaw.ca 604-294-2072 

Adrian Grant Duff angrantduff@gmail.com 604-263-7957 

Wayne Weber contopus@telus.net 604-597-7201 

Julian Hudson vnhs_news@hotmail.com 604-278-4451 

The election of the Birding Section Committee for 2011 - 2012 

will take place at Birders’ Night on October 6. 

Thursday, October 27 

Roberts Bank and the Proposed Terminal 2 at 

Deltaport 

A panel discussion presented by the Conservation 

Section and moderated by Jeremy McCall 

Thursday, November 24 

TBA 

Wandering Tattler 

The newsletter of the Birding Section, Wandering 

Tattler, includes articles on almost all aspects of 

birding: behaviour, optics, field trips, humorous 

anecdotes, site guides and much, much more! 

The Wandering Tattler runs from September 

through April and is available at Birders’ Night 

for $2.00 or by mail subscription for $20. To 

subscribe or to submit an article, please contact 

Editor, Jude Grass at judegrass@shaw.ca or 604- 

538-8774. 

Bird Checklists 

Vancouver Area Bird Checklists are available 

from: 

• Wild Birds Unlimited, 1302 West Broadway, 

Vancouver and 1190 Marine Drive, North 

Vancouver 

• Reifel Bird Sanctuary giftshop 

• Birders’ Nights 

• http://www.naturevancouver.ca/Main_Birding 

Vancouver Area Rare Bird Alert 

604-737-3074 

Observations can be reported on the alert line or 

on the Nature Vancouver website 

(Birding Section pages). 

The Rare Bird Alert is operated by volunteers 

from the Birding Section and is sponsored in part 

by Wild Birds Unlimited. 


Birders’ Nights 

Birders’ Nights are held on the first Thursday of each month 

from September to May at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall of 

St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Kerrisdale, 2490 West 37th 

Avenue (at Larch Street), Vancouver. The programs start 

with introductions and items of general interest. The main 

presentation begins after a short break for light refreshments. 

These programs are open to the public and members are 

encouraged to invite their friends. For more information and 

suggestions for future programs please contact the Program Coordinator, 

Jude Grass at judegrass@shaw.ca or 604-538-8774. 


Hybrid Sapsuckers: a nuisance or a rare opportunity? 

Dr. Sampath S. Seneviratne 

Continental-scale warming and cooling events have triggered 

eastern bird species to contact with their western counterparts. 

British Columbia is placed in the centre of this melting. With 

colleagues at Dr. Darren Irwin’s Biogeography Laboratory at 

UBC, I examine hybrid zones of sapsuckers in B.C. resulted 

from these broader biogeographic events to understand more 

about their taxonomic status and some of the underlying 

evolutionary reasons behind hybridization. Across the only 

known contact zone of Red-breasted and Yellow-bellied 

Sapsuckers, the variation of plumage characters and body size 

measurements matched well with that of genetic characters. 

Therefore colour and body measurements are reliable predictors 

for the genotype in this species pair. As expected, the hybrids 

had a mixture of both phenotypic and genetic characters. 

According to these markers, the present centre of this hybrid 

zone is positioned at about 50km west of near the community of 

Mackenzie, to the crest of Rocky Mountains. Now I am looking 

at other similar hybrid zones of sapsuckers in B.C. especially 

along the Hwy 20 from Bella Coola to Williams Lake area. 

Krista De Groot is a biologist with the Canadian Wildlife 

Service. Her focus is on the conservation of landbirds throughout 

their life cycle. “She completed her M.Sc. at UBC, under the 

late Dr. Jamie Smith, examining the effects of brown-headed 

cowbirds on songbird communities.” 

Thursday, December 1 

Preparation for the Christmas Bird Counts 

in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland 

This meeting is a great time to learn about and sign up for 

the local Christmas Bird Counts. Bird identification tips will 

be shared by our experienced birders through a PowerPoint 

presentation. This year’s count dates are: Vancouver on 

December 18, 2011, Ladner on December 27, 2011 and White 

Rock, Surrey and Langley on January 2, 2012. 

Dr. Seneviratne is with the Biodiversity Research Centre at 

UBC and is currently working on postdoctoral research on the 

biogeography (speciation) of woodpeckers in western North 

America. 


Bird Collisions with Glass 

Krista De Groot 

We have all heard the sickening thud of a bird hitting a window. 

Estimates indicate that up to 1 billion birds in the U.S. and 

56 million birds in Canada are killed this way every year. 

Collisions with glass is considered one of the largest sources 

of anthropogenic mortality in birds, next to habitat loss. Many 

of those who feed birds and builders of “green” homes are 

unwittingly exacerbating the problem by drawing birds towards 

windows, where they become vulnerable to collisions. Find 

out why collisions happen, what stages of the annual cycle and 

under what conditions birds are most vulnerable, and some 

concrete solutions to reduce and/or prevent collisions. You will 

learn what you can do in and around your own home as well as 

within your community. 



Botany Section 

Chair: David Cook cookeco2@yahoo.com or 604-924-0147 

Botany Nights are held from January through April and 

September through November on the third Thursday of each 

month at 7:30 p.m. at the Unity Church, 5840 Oak St., 

Vancouver. These programs are open to the public, and 

members are encouraged to invite their friends. For more 

information and suggestions for future programs please contact 

David Cook. 


Exciting Trends in Botanical Field Research 

in British Columbia 

Dr. Terry McIntosh 

Terry McIntosh, PhD, plant ecologist and taxonomist, will 

give an overview of ‘what’s happening’ in botany these days 

in B.C., at least from one person’s perspective. For example, 

there are many new discoveries. Many areas in BC have not 

been thoroughly inventoried and botanists continue to make 

new finds. He will discuss the newest trends in botanical 

taxonomy (all those name changes!). He will also address some 

of the issues surrounding conservation of rare plant species and 

biodiversity-critical habitats. 

Ron Long was a professional photographer at Simon Fraser 

University for 36 years. Now retired, he travels extensively and 

enjoys sharing his experiences and photographs with interested 

groups. 


Constantine Rafinesque: 

The Controversial Titan of American Natural History 

Daniel Mosquin 

Peppered with Daniel’s photographs of plant species named 

by Rafinesque, this presentation will briefly share the story of 

this early 19th-century naturalist. Rafinesque was described 

as “the only (naturalist) who might clearly be called a titan... 

amongst all the naturalists who have ever worked on the 

American continent”. A controversial figure, he was shunned 

and disregarded by his contemporaries, due in part to both his 

eccentricity and his (over)enthusiastic naming and renaming of 

plant species and genera. Rafinesque died alone and in poverty, 

but his scientific legacy lives on. 

Daniel Mosquin is the Research Manager at UBC Botanical 

Garden. He frequently travels throughout North America to 

photograph plants and landscapes, and has a keen interest in 

botanical history. 


Some unique plants of southern Oregon 

Ron Long 

Southern Oregon is not that far from British Columbia in 

distance but geologically and botanically it seems much farther. 

The unique geology that is found there has allowed an unusual 

set of plants to evolve. The British Columbia naturalist finds 

many old friends in southern Oregon but also many, often rare, 

new species.This talk will look at the familiar and the unfamiliar 

aspects of the plants, birds, animals and landscapes of this 

fascinating region. 

Richard Irving Greyson 

May 26, 1932 - July 23, 2011 

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Dick Greyson, 

age 79, in Vancouver, after a brief struggle with esophageal cancer. 

Dick was pre-deceased by his wife, Dorothy (Auterson), and is survived by his 

children Maureen, Peter, John, Philip and Cecilia, his eight grandchildren, his 

sister-in-law Maureen Davis and her family, and relations across British Columbia. 

In particular, we will miss his wry sense of humour, his great kindness and generosity, 

his quiet commitment to social justice, his love of camping with friends and family, 

and his fascination with the stars and planets. 

Born in Nelson, BC, Dick studied botany at the University of British Columbia and the 

University of Oregon, and taught for three decades at the University of Western 

Ontario. In 1994, he was awarded the George Lawson Medal from the Canadian 

Botanical Association. In this same year, his well-regarded book ‘The Development 

of Flowers’ was published by Oxford University Press. A pioneering research scientist 

and the author of numerous research articles, he will be greatly missed by his many 

colleagues and students, who in 1989 presented him with a plaque inscribed to 

“…a teacher and a friend," a tribute to the profound personal connections he 

forged with many. 

In common with many scientists, he had a great concern with the condition of the 

earth and a great love of all things in nature, particularly plants. Throughout his life, 

walking in wilderness areas in British Columbia and Ontario with friends and family 

was a source of great joy, both for Dick and those with him. 

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: 

Treasurer, Nature Vancouver, PO Box 3021, Vancouver BC V6B 3X5. 

Lunch at Bellevue Prairie, Summer Camp 2011 

photo by Daryl Sturdy 



Conservation Section 

Coordinator: 

Margaret Coutts at margaretcoutts@shaw.ca or 604-512-1413 

The Conservation Section meetings are held St. Mary’s 

Anglican Church, Kerrisdale, 2490 West 37th Avenue (at 

Larch Street), Vancouver, on the second Wednesday of each 

month except for July, August and December, starting at 7:30 

PM. Most meetings take the form of round-table discussions on 

conservation issues brought to the Section by Nature Vancouver 

members or others for consideration and action. 

The Section relies on members to identify local concerns related 

to conservation and development. The Section also invites 

guest speakers to make presentations to larger audiences on 

conservation issues of special interest. Action arising from 

Section meetings usually takes the form of letters to municipal, 

provincial or federal decision-makers and may be undertaken 

in conjunction with other associated organizations such as BC 

Nature. Other forms of action may be through meetings with 

decision makers, presentations to municipal councils, or use of 

the media. 

The meetings of the Conservation Section are open to all 

members of Nature Vancouver. If you have a conservation 

concern to bring to our attention, or if you would like to assist 

with the Section’s research, letter writing and other projects, 

please contact Daniel. 


Geology Section 

Chair: David Cook cookeco2@yahoo.com 604-924-0147 

The Nature Vancouver Geology Section conducts field trips 

throughout the Vancouver region during the year. The present 

Geology Section is a relatively recent reintroduction of a Section 

that was strong in former years of Nature Vancouver. 

In most instances the geology field trips also include 

observations on the ecology of the area visited, the purpose 

being to show the relationship between natural ecosystems and 

the substrate upon which they depend. 

The Geology Section also has an ongoing program of compiling 

outlines of self-guiding geology field trips. These can be found 

on the Nature Vancouver website. 

For details of the geology field trips refer to the Field Trips 

section of Vancouver Naturalist and the Nature Vancouver 

website. 


Marine Biology Section 

Chair: Joan Lopez joan.lopez@live.com 604-682-1617 

The Marine Biology Section evening programs are held from 

January through April and September through December, on 

the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Unity 

Church 5840 Oak St., Vancouver. These programs are open to 

the public, and members are encouraged to invite their friends. 

For more information and suggestions for future programs, 

please contact Joan Lopez. 


Wolf-eels: Taming a Predator 

Jonathan Wong 

Wolf-eels have been appreciated by many a diver, and 

occasionally by a lucky fisherman. Wolf-eels do not school 

like salmon, and are not a big game fish like halibut or tuna, 

so most people have never imagined this strange fish lurking 

in our coastal waters. Under the direction of Dr. Jeff Marliave, 

Vancouver Aquarium Fish Research has been conducting wolfeel 

research for over 30 years, both in the field with SCUBA 

equipment, and in the lab. Fish research staff are collaborating 

with Dr. Shannon Balfry, of the Fisheries and Oceans Canada 

Centre for Aquatic and Environmental Research (CAER) to 

determine how wolf-eels may be farmed for food in the near 

future. Jonathan Wong has been working as a marine biologist 

for 10 years; at sea on Alaskan fishing boats and now in the rich, 

local green waters of British Columbia. Come for an informative 

session about the elusive, demersal wolf-eel and a video tour of 

the research facilites at the Vancouver Aquarium. 


Shark Night 

Dr. Chris Harvey-Clark 

Dr. Chris Harvey-Clark is a marine biologist, veterinarian, 

cinematograher, photographer, author, SCUBA diver and 

currently, the director of the animal care centre at the University 

of British Columbia. Dr.Harvey-Clark is also the co-director of 

the Greenland Shark and Elasmobranch Education and Research 

Group (GEERG). He will be sharing with us his extensive 

knowledge of sharks, particularly those that patrol the coastal 

areas of British Columbia. 

Intertidal Pamphlet - 

Rocky Shore in Stanley Park 

In 2009, the Marine Biology Section of Nature Vancouver 

published a pamphlet that contains a field guide to 40 

prominent intertidal species of marine life which inhabit 

the rocky shore in Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C. The 

pamphlet is printed on waterproof and durable paper. It 

is available at Nature Vancouver evening programs. You 

may also download a PDF copy from the website at http:// 

naturevancouver.ca/Marine_Biology. 


Nature Vancouver Field Trip Info 

General Information 

Field Trips are offered almost every weekend by Nature Vancouver 

and are the most popular activity for members. Non-members are 

welcome to join these trips as a way to review the activities of the 

Society but are asked to limit their participation to three events. 

Our liability insurance coverage only applies to members in good 

standing. Those who participate do so at their own risk. Depending 

on the nature of the field trip, participants will be required to sign a 

Release of Liability form at the start of the trip. PDF copy of this 

form is available on the website at http://www.naturevancouver. 

ca/Main_Field_Trips. It is recommended that members read it 

before the day of the trip to avoid delays when signing it at the 

meeting place. 

Important Information for Participants 

Members planning to join these trips should contact the leader in 

advance to confirm carpool arrangements, especially when ferry 

travel or border crossings are planned. Please do not call after 9 

p.m. An adult must accompany children under 15. On trips to the 

United States, a valid passport or enhanced driver's licence is now 

required for identification and it is advisable to have additional 

medical insurance as the BC Medical plan covers only a small 

portion of any medical costs in the US. For information on travel 

to the United States, see http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel. 

Safety Tips for Participants 

Consider the weather in the trip area (it is often very different 

from where you live) and bring suitable clothing and footwear! 

Depending on destination and season, bring insect repellent, 

sunscreen, a hat, lunch if necessary, more water than you think 

you’ll need, raingear, walking poles and boots with deep-tread 

soles and ankle support. Stay together and stay on the trails. Keep 

behind the coordinator (and ahead of the tail person, if there is one). 

To avoid false alarms, please tell the coordinator if you’re leaving 

the group and sign yourself off on the waiver form. 

Guidelines for Field Trip Leaders 

In order to conduct field trips, leaders do not need to be especially 

knowledgeable about birds, plants or other aspects of nature, since 

that sort of expertise is generally found among the participants. 

However, it is essential that one person coordinate the organization 

of the trip for the safety and well-being of all participants. That 

person is the field trip leader - and that is you. These guidelines 

are important both for your own legal protection and that of 

Nature Vancouver. Please read them carefully. The full text of 

the Guidelines for Field Trip Leaders and the PDF copy of 

Release of Liability form are available on the website at http:// 

www.naturevancouver.ca/Main_Field_Trips. Please return the 

completed forms to Field Trip Co-ordinator, Cynthia Crampton, 

1230 Shorepine Walk, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3T8. 

Public Transit Information 

For public transit information in the Lower Mainland, contact 

TransLink at 604-953-3333 or http://www.translink.ca. For trips 

requiring a ferry journey, please confirm ferry sailing times. 

Contact British Columbia Ferries at 1-888-223-3779 or http:// 

www.bcferries.com/ 

Co-ordinator: Cynthia Crampton 

cynthiacrampton@yahoo.ca; 604-738-1405 

Trip Difficulty Rating 

For risk management purposes Nature Vancouver uses a system of 

classifying field trips by rating their level of difficulty and adding 

an estimate of the time to be spent on the trail. The trip leader 

is responsible for deciding on the appropriate classification in 

conjunction with the Field Trip Coordinator. The difficulty rating 

system is as follows: 

A. Easy path or road with minimal elevation change and minimal 

hazards. 

B. Trail with possible rocks, roots or other hazards. Moderate 

gradient, occasional steep but short sections. Up to 100 m elevation 

change. 

C. Moderately steep gradient. 100 m to 500 m elevation change. 

D. Constant steep gradient. 500 m to 1,000 m elevation change. 

E. Any of the above with some scrambling, use of hands or 

bushwacking. Not commonly found on regular day hikes but 

sometimes experienced during Summer Camp field trips. 

The expected duration is then added to the letter category to obtain 

a combined letter/figure rating. Example: A C6 hike will be a C 

hike, as described above, with an estimated time on the trail of 

6 hours. The estimated time spent during a field trip should be 

estimated to the nearest hour, and should not include driving time 

or time spent on ferries. 

Information for Carpooling 

On all trips, passengers should share gas expenses with their driver. 

The suggested cost of carpooling is $10 per car / per hour of driving, 

the total cost to be shared by all passengers excluding the driver. 

• For trips to West Vancouver, Cypress, Howe Sound, Squamish 

and Whistler, car pool at McDonald’s in Park Royal, West 

Vancouver. Take bus #250 or 257 Horseshoe Bay from any stop 

on Georgia Street downtown. From North Vancouver, take #239 

or 255 Park Royal. Get off at the first stop after Taylor Way. Cross 

on the pedestrian crossing directly behind the stop, turn right and 

walk underneath the first overpass to the McDonald’s car park 

where we meet. 

• For trips to North Vancouver, Fraser Valley and Mt. Baker 

area, carpool at Franklin & Penticton in Vancouver. From 

downtown, take bus #10 Hastings or #16 29th Avenue Station. 

Get off at Kamloops Street (the first stop after Nanaimo) and walk 

one block east and one north. From Skytrain, take bus #16 Arbutus 

from 29th Avenue or Renfrew station and get off at Hastings and 

Penticton. From north Burnaby, take bus #135 and from Coquitlam 

or Port Moody, take #160 and get off at Nanaimo. 

• For trips to South Vancouver, Richmond, Delta and the 

Islands, carpool at 49th and Ash in Vancouver. Meet near the 

southeast corner of Tisdall Park on the north side of 49th. Day 

parking is available on the west side of Ash and the north side of 

49th west of Ash (on weekends only). By transit, take Canada Line 

to 49th / Langara Station and walk one block west to Cambie. Or 

take bus # 49 between Dunbar and Metrotown, get off at Cambie 

and walk one block west. 


Nature Vancouver Field Trip Schedule 

Some trips not rated at time of publication. 

Saturday, September 10 

Birding Coquitlam’s DeBoville Slough & Minnekhada RP 

Join Larry Cowan for a half day birding trip to Coquitlam’s 

DeBoville Slough/Minnekhada RP. We will be on the hunt for 

fall migrants. Meet in the main parking area on Cedar Drive 

in Port Coquitlam at 0900. An appropriate number of vehicles 

will be positioned in the Minnekhada gravel parking lot off 

Quarrie Rd. for the return trip. Contact Larry at 604-465-1402 or 

lawrencecowan@shaw.ca. 


Metro Vancouver: Coquitlam Watershed Bus Tour 

Enjoy beautiful views of Coquitlam Lake. Tour stops showcase 

everything from drinking water infrastructure to giant old-growth 

Western red cedar and Douglas fir. Catch a glimpse of the past 

as you visit the 1913 water intake tower. The tour includes stops 

and a short walk on a flat, unsurfaced trail (less than 100 m) into 

a beautiful section of mature trees. Meeting Place: 0830 at Glen 

Park Parking Lot. 

An MV guide will take you to several key points of interest 

within the watershed. At each stop you will be asked to 

disembark the bus to learn about a particular topic. Each stop 

lasts about 15-20 minutes. Participants should be capable of 

getting on and off the bus. Wear sturdy footwear appropriate for 

the terrain and pack raingear. Bring water, a snack and lunch. 

Please note: The Metro Vancouver cancellation policy is strictly 

enforced. Nature Vancouver members who have made the 

reservation on your behalf request a cancellation notice of 5 days 

prior to the tour. There are 18 seats available. To register contact 

Nellie Bacou at 604-221-1620 or nellieba@telus.net. 

Friday, September 23 

Port Moody Harbour Boat Tour #1 

We have scheduled two Boat Tours in Port Moody Harbour: 

September 23rd and 24th. Our captain and guide will be Dr. Rod 

McVicar, educator and marine conservationist who will share 

his incredible knowledge with us. For the 4 hour tour we will be 

using a small uncovered craft with a capacity for 15 people. Its 

size will allow us to get closer to the harbour seals, seabirds, etc. 

We will keep a species list of seabirds, seaducks, and mammals 

as we cruise the harbour. Please keep in mind that we hope to see 

a lot of bird and mammal animal life, however we cannot make 

an appointment with wildlife. We may observe harbour seals 

hauled out on the log booms. We have several options depending 

on how the day turns out: if it fits with the research schedule 

we may visit the UBC Open Water Sea Lion Project; we may 

tow some phytoplankton and krill nets; we may stop at the Reed 

Point Marine Education Centre, which specializes in sealife of 

marinas. 

An uncovered boat allows us to get closer to wildlife; however 

it leaves us more exposed to the elements, so please bring full 

raingear and extra warm clothing. Bring a snack, lunch, water, 

binoculars and your camera. Carpool at Franklin and Penticton, 

in Vancouver at 0830. Meet in the parking lot at Rocky Point 

10 Vancouver Naturalist September 2011 

Park in Port Moody, close to the WC building no later than 

0930. The fee is $20.00 per participant with a maximum of 15 

people per boat. Registration will be confirmed on receipt of 

payment. To register, contact Nellie Bacou at nellieba@telus.net 

or 604 221 1620. 


Port Moody Harbour Boat Tour #2 

See September 23 trip for details. 


Birding at Iona Regional Park 

Join John Chandler for a half-day, late afternoon birding trip 

to Iona Regional Park in Richmond. We will be looking for 

migrants including shorebirds and warblers. We’ll start by 

exploring the outer ponds and then work our way through the 

inner ponds. If you are interested, you can walk the South Jetty 

before the field trip. Dress for chilly and/or wet weather. Meet 

John in the parking lot by the washrooms at 1500. Contact John 

at 604-274-4117 or john@alandaletraining.com. 

Saturday, October 1 

Hike at Mount Baker or ??? 

Difficulty rating: C6-8 

There will be a hike on this date but the actual hike will be 

determined closer to the date. It will depend on road, snow and 

weather conditions. I will make the final decision no less than 

a week before the date. Either way we will carpool at Franklin 

and Penticton at 0700 - please contact the leader beforehand, 

especially if planning to meet us closer to the trailhead. Pack 

lunch, water, sunscreen, rain gear and wear good hiking boots. 

Contact Bill Kinkaid at 604-710-6329 or billkinkaid@gmail. 

com. 


Marriott Meadows backpacking trip 

Bill Kinkaid is planning a two-night backpacking trip to the 

Wendy Thompson Hut in Marriott Meadows, off Duffey Lake 

Road from Saturday, October 8 to Monday October 10. The 

hut must be booked in advance ($12/person/night) through the 

Alpine Club in Whistler, no later than one week before arrival. 

The capacity of the hut is 16 persons, first come first served. 

Please contact Bill Kinkaid at 604-710-6329 or billkinkaid@ 

gmail.com for more information. See the Alpine Club’s website 

for information on the hut. 


Birding at Colony Farm Regional Park 

Colony Farm Regional Park will be the location of today’s half 

day birding field trip. There should be a good variety of late 

migrants and returning over-wintering species. Notables over 

the years on this outing have been Anna’s Hummingbird, 

Northern Mockingbird & Short-eared Owl. Meet your leader 

Larry Cowan at the parking area at the end of Colony Farm Rd. 

adjacent to the Community Gardens at 0900. Contact Larry at 

604-465-1402 or lawrencecowan@shaw.ca.

Nature Vancouver Field Trip Schedule 


History and Nature in Jericho Beach Park 

Join Daphne Solecki for a two hour leisurely walk in Jericho 

Beach Park. Daphne has been interested in the park for many 

years and was involved when certain decisions and policies were 

made, making the Park what it is today. Meet by the bridge over 

the pond at 1000 Bring binoculars and plant guides, if you have 

them, and your questions. Contact Daphne at daphsol@telus.net. 


Mosquito Creek Old Growth Forest 

Difficulty rating: C4 

Join David Cook for a hike up the south-east slopes of Grouse 

Mountain to see the Mosquito Creek old growth redcedar forest. 

This forest of dozens of old growth redcedar up to 3 meters in 

diameter is the largest remaining fragment of this forest type 

in the Vancouver area. The hike takes about 2 hours along 

skid roads. We will have lunch beneath the giant cedars. The 

elevation gain from the Skyline Drive parking area is about 300 

meters. Other highlights will be a separate patch of old growth 

Douglas-firs and a forest of Pacific yew trees, some of which 

are old growth. Many sections are rough and steep. Deep-tread 

hiking boots with ankle support are essential. Do not wear 

sneakers. Poles are highly recommended. Wooden cross ties 

on skid roads can be very slippery and dangerous if wet. This 

field trip is for hikers experienced with rough, steep and slippery 

terrain. 

Meet at 1000 hours at the top of Skyline Drive which is off Mont 

Royal Boulevard in North Vancouver. Estimated time of return is 

mid-afternoon. Bring lunch and water, and prepare for changes 

in weather. Arrangements can be made for pick-up at Phibbs bus 

exchange for up to 4 persons by contacting David Cook at 604- 

924-0147 or cookeco@yahoo.com. 

Sunday, October 30 

Walk around Spanish Banks 

Join Terry Slack for a walk to Capt. Vancouver’s Breakfast Bay 

and back around Spanish Banks on Sunday, October 30th. The 

walk takes about two hours there and back. A steep and slippery 

trail on top of the escarpment and cobble beach requires good 

hiking boots. No dogs please. Children must be supervised 

and helped up and down the numerous ravine steps, and when 

crossing North West Marine Drive. Terry grew up on the 

booming grounds, and is a fount of knowledge on this area. Meet 

at the Spanish Banks Creek parking location, just west of the 

concession stand at 0900 hours. In the event of wet weather, the 

escarpment trail could be dangerous, in which case an alternate 

trail along the beach will be used. Contact Terry at aquastar@ 

telus.net 

Saturday, November 5 

Ascent of Mt. Strachan, 

Cypress Provincial Park, West Vancouver 

Difficulty rating: Intermediate between C5-6 or D5-6 

Join David Cook for a hike from the down-hill ski area at 

Cypress Bowl, up the Collins ski run to the peak of Mt Strachan 

(1454m); an elevation gain of about 500m. The duration of 

the hike is 5-6 hours. On the way there will be numerous stops 

to view the geology of the area in rock-cut exposures formed 

during the construction of the ski run. While this field trip will 

be primarily to look at the geology, we will make a short sidetrip 

to look at an area of sub-alpine pasture recovering back to 

forest after a prehistoric lightning fire. The highlight will be 

the southern peak of Mt Strachan where there are magnificent 

views of Howe Sound, and where the glaciation has smoothed 

a remarkable pavement of metamorphic rocks; the oldest rocks 

to be found in the region. If visibility is favourable and there is 

time, we may continue to the main peak of Mt Strachan. This is 

a full day hike, so bring lunch, water and prepare for changes 

in weather. If it is a clear day, a hat will be required, as the full 

length of the route is open to the sky. 

Most of the route will be up a steep ski run with a loose, pebbly 

surface that is treacherous on descent. Deep-tread hiking 

boots with ankle support are essential. Do not wear sneakers. 

Walking poles are highly recommended. Meet at 0930 hours for 

car pooling at McDonalds, Park Royal, West Vancouver. Contact 

David at 604-924-0147 or cookeco@yahoo.com. 


Birding in Point Roberts 

Half-day birding trip to Point Roberts, Washington. We’ll 

carpool and visit three or four different areas on the peninsula, 

looking for pelagic, open field and woodland species. Dress for 

the elements including waterproof footwear. Carpool at 49th 

& Ash at 0730 or meet at Diefenbaker Park on First Avenue 

in Tsawwassen (north of the border) at 0800. A valid passport 

or Enhanced Driver’s Licence is required to cross the border. 

The leader Bill Kinkaid can be reached at 604-710-6329 or 

billkinkaid@gmail.com. 


Birding at DeBoville Slough/Minnekhada Regional Park 

Join leader Larry Cowan for a half-day birding field trip to 

DeBoville Slough/Minnekhada RP. This area is home to many 

over wintering species with waterfowl in the sloughs, ponds 

and river, and the chance of raptors over the fields. Meet in 

the parking lot adjacent to the washroom facilities at Cedar & 

Victoria Drives in NE Coquitlam at 0900. We will position an 

appropriate number of vehicles in the parking area off Quarry 

Road in Minnekhada RP for our return trip. Contact Larry 

Cowan at 604-465-1402 or lawrencecowan@alandaletraining. 

com. 

Saturday, December 3 

Dipper Quest Birding Field Trip 

This half day outing is our annual search for American Dippers 

in the Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge area. We have been successful 

since 2006 finding our quarry. After locating a dipper or two, 

we will spend the balance of the morning travelling the Pitt 

Meadows/Maple Ridge area in search of raptors, waterfowl, and 

other winter migrants. Meet at 0900 in the McDonald’s parking 

lot on the SW corner of Lougheed Hwy & Harris Rd. in Pitt 

meadows for carpooling. Contact the leader Larry Cowan at 604- 

465-1402 or lawrencecowan@alandaletraining.com. 


Nature Vancouver Workshops and Seminars 

Location: The following workshops and seminars will take 

place at Burnaby Lake Regional Park – Nature House, at the 

foot of Piper Avenue off Winston Street, on the north side of 

Burnaby Lake. 

Cost: Each session is $35.00 for members of Nature Vancouver 

and other BC Nature Clubs, and $45.00 for non-members. 

There is a limit of 15 students per session. 

What to bring: camera, an empty memory card, camera 

instruction book, notebook and pen, lunch and snack. Coffee, tea 

and juice will be provided. 

All sessions will be led by Ron Long. 

Ron graduated from the Photographic Arts program at Ryerson 

University and for thirty-six years was employed as a full-time 

photographer at Simon Fraser University. Ron, a VNHS member, 

has been a judge for the VNHS photo competitions; he coordinated 

the first digital photography award competition in the fall of 2006 

and continues to administer the annual completion and the Young 

Naturalists photo competition. 

Digital Photography Workshop 

Saturday, October 29 from 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM 

This workshop will include a lecture and question period in the 

morning, a shoot at midday and a critique later in the afternoon. 

This class is for anyone who still has questions about digital 

photography. 

Please bring your camera, camera instruction book, an empty 

memory card, notebook and pen, lunch and snacks. Coffee, tea 

and juice will be provided. Also bring clothing for the outdoor 

portion. 

Please register by phoning or emailing Jude Grass at 604-538- 

8774 or judegrass@shaw.ca, and then mailing a cheque payable to 

Nature Vancouver - Digital Photo Workshop, to 17375 27A Avenue, 

Surrey, B.C. V3S 0E9. 

Photography (Composition) Seminar 

Saturday, November 12 from 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM 

This seminar will provide information and techniques that will 

significantly improve your photography regardless of the kind of 

camera you are using. The seminar is fully illustrated with hundreds 

of photographs to demonstrate the techniques being discussed, 

and will provide many suggestions and a few simple guidelines to 

improve your compositions. 


8774 or judegrass@shaw.ca, and then mailing a cheque payable to 

Nature Vancouver – Photography Seminar - composition, to 17375 

27A Avenue, Surrey, B.C. V3S 0E9. 

Photography (Lighting) Seminar 

Saturday, November 26 from 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM 

Photography, of course, depends on light but light effects are 

extremely variable. How you use these effects can make the 

different between a stunning photograph and a boring snapshot. 

This class will provide insights into the awareness, understanding 

and application of naturally occurring light effects. 


8774 or judegrass@shaw.ca, and then mailing a cheque payable 

to Nature Vancouver – Photography Seminar - Lighting, to 17375 

27A Avenue, Surrey, B.C. V3S 0E9. 

Alpine Meadow Hiking 

Durrand Glacier Chalet in the Selkirks 

Hiking trails, blooming meadows… waterfalls 

and mountain lakes… marmots, mountain goats 

and birds… over one hundred different flowers, a 

mecca for naturalists and photographers. 

Guided or on your own…helicopter access 

only, from Revelstoke, BC…Swiss-style alpine 

chalet…first-class meals and lodging, one or 

two-person rooms…always smiling and helpful 

staff! 

Selkirk Mountain 

Experience 

Gray Jay in moult, photo by Julian Hudson 

Box 2998, Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0 Canada 

Tel: 250-837-2381 

E-mail: info@selkirkexperience.com 

Website: www.selkirkexperience.com 


Nature Vancouver Summer Picnic 

at Lighthouse Park 

by Nellie Bacou 

July 10, 2011turned out to be a most wonderful day for our 

planned Nature Vancouver picnic. It was a bright and pleasant 

day and not a drop of rain. Thank you to all our Nature 

Vancouver members and friends who participated in the day’s 

events. One can organize an event but it is the participants who 

bring energy and soul to it; and what a wonderful assortment of 

food for everyone to enjoy! 

Experience Africa! 

Join Brian and Heather Hartwick 

of Bowen Island, BC 

on the nature trip of a lifetime, and 

experience the excitement of Kenya. 

Our trips are easy and affordable! 

A special thank you to our hosts: The Phyl Munday Committee 

represented by May Loudon; The Lighthouse Park Preservation 

Society represented by Elspeth Bradbury; and Elaine Graham, 

the Lighthouse Park Attendant who were all present for the 

day. Our sincere appreciation to them for working with us and 

allowing us the use of the Phyl Munday Hut for our picnic and 

the starting point for our trail walks. For the enjoyment of our 

members, they set up their eye-catching and informative display 

of Lighthouse Park and brought along their scrapbook which 

recounted the history of the Hut over the years. 

It was welcoming and quite a surprise for us to see a fair number 

of participants for the 8:00am intertidal exploration on the 

rugged shoreline of Second Beach, a stone’s throw from the Phyl 

Munday Hut. The morning low tides deemed it necessary to 

schedule the exploration so early on a Sunday morning. Thank 

You to the Marine Biology team which included Sheila Byers, 

Abby Schwarz and Joan Lopez who were present to explain the 

intertidal fauna and flora before the tide came back in. As it was 

a clear day this location provided exceptional views of the 

water, Stanley Park, Bowen Island and the Strait of Georgia. 

The mid morning and afternoon trail walks were led by David 

Cook, co-ordinator of the Botany Section, who was ever 

enthusiastic to share the vast knowledge he has acquired over 

the years from his association with Lighthouse Park. David led a 

very informative geology walk in the morning. In the afternoon 

he introduced our participants to the fragile remnant of the 

old growth forest in Lighthouse Park along the Valley Trail. 

He explained the ecology of this and other old growth forest 

fragments and why some trees grow to this size. Thank you, 

David, for two very exceptional trail walks from a member who 

knows the area very well. 

Imagine camping in the wilds of East Africa, enjoying 

great meals and exciting wildlife viewing. Witness the 

amazing diversity of the birds of Kenya. Take a nature 

walk with the Maasai. 

Let us help you to plan a special trip for your group. 

The program could emphasize Birding around the Rift 

Valley lakes or General Wildlife in Savanna areas or 

Peoples, Cultures and Environments, even Geology or 

Archaeology. You decide! We will plan it with you and 

ensure the best trip for your group at a low price. 

We have the staff, experience and equipment to make 

it a safe and unforgettable nature trip. Visit the Special 

Programs section at our website for information or 

consider our Explorer and Family trips: 

www.studyinafrica.ca 

I hope everyone enjoyed the day! We welcome any ideas for 

future outings. As well, we welcome volunteers who are willing 

to organize some of these events. 


YOUNG NATURALISTS’ CLUB of British Columbia 

www.ync.ca 604-985-3057 

President: Daphne Solecki Executive Director: Kristine Webber 

YNC Vancouver Co-ordinator: Eva Nagy evnagy@shaw.ca 604-929-4286 

As you may know, the Young Naturalists' Club of BC gets 

children outside discovering their local nature with a network of 

over 50 volunteer-led Nature Clubs across the Province of B.C. 

However, you may not be aware that there are three active 

clubs in Vancouver – YNC Vancouver led by Eva Nagy, the 

Vancouver Homelearners YNC led by Mirella Russel and 

Vicky Parnell and the Stanley Park YNC led by Shelley 

Cherkowski, and offered in partnership with the Stanley Park 

Ecology Society. This fall the YNC is piloting a program for 

older youth, called ecoHEADS offered through the West Point 

Grey Community Centre. 

If you are interested in helping the Vancouver Clubs by sharing 

your expertise and knowledge about the plants, animals and 

ecosystems of B.C. with YNC members, contact @ync.ca and 

register as a Nature Mentor. 

The YNC clubs and members have been busy over the 

summer! 

Vancouver Young Naturalist, Maja, spent her summer organizing 

youth work parties to help restore Beaver Lake Bog in Stanley 

Park. She was awarded a generation green award from 

Vancouver Foundation for this project. You can follow her 

progress by linking onto her bogger blog from the www.ync.ca 

website. 

This summer Young Naturalists across the province helped 

Heather Kharouba, a UBC PhD with her research by 

photographing and recording observations of butterflies across 

B.C. Heather is interested in how butterflies are adapting to the 

impacts of climate change. 

Camping is a great way for a family to enjoy the natural world 

together but can seem daunting for families that have never 

camped before. This summer the YNC offered Camping 101 

for Lower Mainland YNC Members. The program was offered 

in partnership with Metro Vancouver Parks who provided an 

evening bat program and canoeing trip on day 2. And yes we did 

have sunshine! 

For more information on YNC clubs and Province-wide YNC 

initiatives see www.ync.ca and come visit our booth at the BC 

Nature fall General Meeting in Delta. 

YOUNG NATURALISTS’ CLUB of British 

Columbia is for young people aged 5 to 14. A oneyear 

individual or family membership is $25. Family 

memberships receive one copy of NatureWILD 

magazine, four times a year and a membership pack for 

each child of 5 and up. For more information go to 

www.ync.ca 

It may seem a bit early but Christmas is just around the corner... 

consider giving a Young Naturalists’ Club membership to the 

children in your life. For $25 they will be enrolled in their 

nearest nature club, participate in Explorer Days, the Action 

Awards Program and receive NatureWILD Magazine quarterly. 

Purchase online at www.ync.ca. Best of all, no batteries required. 

Thank you for all the support Nature Vancouver members 

provide the YNC. See you on the trails! 

YNC Vancouver Trip Report 

by Eva Nagy 

Lighthouse Park was the location of our June field trip, looking 

for the “Signs of Spring”. Lighthouse Park is a well preserved, 

low elevation old growth ecosystem. There are only a few others 

like it within the Lower Mainland. For its size the park covers 

a great variation of topography and receives around 158 cm of 

annual rainfall in its northern part and less than 130 cm at the 

southern tip, resulting in a wide range of biological species in a 

very short distance. 

Elaine Graham, the resident caretaker of the park for many 

years, took our group around to take a closer look at the signs 

of spring amongst the soil, lush foliage and towering tree trunks 

of Lighthouse Park. As we walked along the trail she pointed 

out some of the insects, birds and mammals that are living 

in its many layers. We also learned how particular organisms 

have adapted to survive in this coastal forest ecosystem. Elaine 

provided hand lenses and bug boxes and we all collected 

specimens for identification (carefully putting them back exactly 

where they were found). 

At the end we visited the Phyl Munday Nature House where 

everyone had a chance to have some interesting hands on 

experience among the many exhibits. It was a great outing and 

we learned a lot from our enthusiastic leader. 

Parks Canada celebrated its centennial in July this year, and 

offered a wide variety of events and activities at every park. 

There were so many programs across the lower mainland. We 

kept our members informed about the most interesting ones, but 

did not organize a trip for just our group. 

We had a Geology field trip in August. With the help of Nature 

Vancouver geologist, David Cook, we explored Acadia Beach 

in Pacific Spirit Park. The variety and the beauty of the rocks 

represented were very impressive. The glaciers brought many 

different types of rocks to this area as they were moving back 

and forth with the ice age. Among the rounded and polished 

cobbles that litter the beach one can find every type of rock 

found north of Vancouver from as far as the Garibaldi and 

Whistler areas. 


Conservation Matters 

continued from page 13 

YVR and Boundary Bay has brought airplane flight paths closer 

to the birds. There is also the potential for water pollution from 

urban and industrial developments along the Fraser River, as 

well as the risk of oil and ballast pollution arising from shipping 

in the Georgia Strait, Roberts Bank and the Fraser River. Zostera 

japonica (an exotic eelgrass) has been introduced either from 

the port at Roberts Bank or from an oyster fishery formerly in 

Boundary Bay. 

Nature Vancouver's role 

Nature Vancouver, as well as the other BC Nature naturalist 

clubs in the Lower Mainland, have long regarded the Fraser 

Estuary as one of our most complex and precious ecosystems. 

Yet, as noted above, it is also one of the most threatened, and one 

of the greatest threats is the expansion of port facilities, along 

with the expansion of port activity, the associated rail and truck 

traffic and land development which inevitably accompany it. It 

therefore behooves the members of Nature Vancouver to take a 

very close interest in the proposed expansion of Deltaport which 

was recently been announced by the Port. We will want to make 

sure that, if the environmental assessment does proceed, it will 

be the most rigorous possible. It should be an Independent Panel 

Review conducted by the Canadian Environmental Assessment 

Agency similar to that now under way for the Northern Gateway 

Pipeline. We shall want to make our own judgement as to 

whether such an expansion can be justified by economic factors 

or whether the extra traffic could be accommodated elsewhere, in 

the inner harbour, for example, or at Prince Rupert. And we shall 

want to know whether the commitments made by the Port when 

the Third Berth was approved have been followed through and 

whether they have been effective. The Conservation Section will 

begin the process of examining these questions by organizing a 

panel discussion on October 27 at which knowledgeable guests 

will discuss the case for and against the expansion. 

YNC Vancouver Trip Report 

continued from page 14 

David first introduced our group to the basics of Geology: 

What are rocks and How are rocks formed? He answered 

these questions and many more by showing us pictures and 

samples of ingneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks (the 

ones we found mostly). David also taught us how to become a 

“rockhound”; the tools we need, where to look and to ensure that 

it is legal to collect samples in our target area. We spent less than 

half an hour on the beach and collected an incredible variety of 

rocks. David identified a couple from each member’s collection. 

It was amazing how he kept everyone interested for the full 

length of the two hour long program; certainly one of the most 

informative field trips. 

My sincere thanks go to the leaders who helped, by donating 

their time and expertise to provide great programs to help 

develop the knowledge of our budding naturalists. 

5251 Oak St. Vancouver, BC 

www.VanDusenGarden.org 

Gardens heal. 

Study Horticultural Therapy in 2012 

Expand your exisiting skill set or pursue a career 

in Horticultural Therapy. Ideal for recreation 

and occupational therapists, activity workers, 

counsellors, healthcare workers, teachers, 

landscape designers... 

VanDusen’s is the only HT certificate program 

in Canada that is accredited by the Canadian 

Horticultural Therapy Association. The next 

program kicks off on January 14, 2012 with 

Course 1: Introduction to Horticultural 

Therapy running 5 days on Jan. 14 - 15, 27 - 29. 

Instructed by Shelagh Smith. 

Please call 604-257-8669 or refer to our website 

for more information. 

Gardening, art, ecology... 

VanDusen covers it! 

VanDusen is once again offering a variety 

of courses this fall. Visit our website for 

more details! Here is a sampling: 

Sep. 24: The Secret’s in the Soil 

Plant ID for Beginners 

Sep. 29: The Watercoloured Garden 

Oct. 2: Right Plant, Right Place 

Oct. 15: Winter Container Workshop 

Oct. 22: Plant ID for Intermediates 

Oct. 25: F u n g u s A m o n g U s : A n I nt ro d u c ti o n 

to Mushrooms 

Nov. 5: Effective Photo Composition 



Canadian Publications Mail 

Sales Agreement 40038882 

Published quarterly by Nature Vancouver 

P.O. Box 3021, Vancouver, BC V6B 3X5 

604-737-3074 

Founded in 1918 by Professor 

John Davidson, Nature 

Vancouver is a not-for-profit 

charitable society, registered 

under the BC Societies Act. 

All donations to the Society 

other than membership 

dues are tax deductible. 

Membership in Nature 

Vancouver is open to all. 

Nature Vancouver is a 

federated club of BC Nature; 

so members of Nature 

Vancouver are also members 

of BC Nature and receive 

its quarterly newsletter, BC 

Nature. 

Nature Vancouver Membership Information 

BC Nature also provides 

third-party liability insurance 

for members who participate 

in field trips organized by 

Nature Vancouver, BC Nature 

or other member clubs. 

The programs offered by 

Nature Vancouver include 

weekly field trips, and 

evening programs on subjects 

such as birds, botany, marine 

biology and natural history 

topics. 

Workshops on bird 

identification and digital 

photography are also 

available to members. 

Membership Application and Renewal Form (Please Print) 

New Member: ( ) / Renewing Member: ( ) / Please renew my membership for 1 yr. ( ), 2 yrs. ( ), 3 yrs. ( ) 

Last Name(s):_____________________________________ First Name(s):____________________________________________ 

Address:________________________________________________________________ Postal Code:_______________________ 

Phone Number: _______________________________ E-mail:______________________________________________________ 

I am interested in / I would like to volunteer for:_________________________________________________________________ 

I have the following expertise from which Nature Vancouver could benefit:____________________________________________ 

I heard about Nature Vancouver from:__________________________________________________________________________ 

I prefer to receive printed newsletters ( ) / I prefer to read newsletters online ( ) 

An annual week-long summer 

camp is organized in various 

alpine wilderness areas 

different parts of BC, usually 

in alpine wilderness. 

The Conservation 

Section undertakes nature 

conservation initiatives in 

Metro Vancouver area. 

Discovery, an annual 

journal of natural history, 

and Vancouver Naturalist, 

a quarterly newsletter, 

are included with the 

membership. 

Membership Category (Please Select One) 

Donations (optional) 

( ) Family $50 An income tax receipt will be issued for donations. 

( ) Individual $40 ( ) Operating Fund 

( ) Student (18-25 yrs) $20 ( ) VNHS Endowment Fund 

( ) Junior (under 18) $10 ( ) Conservation Fund 

( ) Reduced-dues (after 30 yrs) Family $25 ( ) Education Trust Fund 

( ) Reduced-dues (after 30 yrs) Individual $20 ( ) YNC Fund 

Membership entitles you to membership in BC Nature. If you are already a member of BC Nature through another club, 

please check here ( ) and deduct $14.00 from either Family / Individual or Reduced-dues memberships. 

Dues enclosed: $_______________Donations enclosed: $_____________Total Amount: $ _________________ 

Please mail this application form and a cheque or money order, payable to Nature Vancouver, to: 

For more information please 

contact: 

Jeremy McCall 

604-876-7694 or 

Judy Sullivan 

604-983-2026. 

Privacy Policy: 

Nature Vancouver does not 

share personal information 

with third parties. The 

information collected on 

membership forms will be 

used solely for the purpose 

of providing services 

to members or for the 

organization of the Society’s 

programs and activities. 

Membership Secretary, Nature Vancouver, P.O. Box 3021, Vancouver, BC V6B 3X5 

16 Vancouver Naturalist September 2011 

Printed by Infigo, Richmond, BC

Vancouver Naturalist_Sept 2011.pdf - Nature Vancouver

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