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Nature Vancouver Field Trip Schedule Some trips not rated at time of publication. Saturday, March 12 Date has changed since last newsletter. Birding: Brunswick Point to Roberts Bank Search the fields and tidal marsh for resident and wintering birds, early migrants and rarities. Scenes of predation can also be observed, as falcons and harriers hunt the shorebird flocks. Dress for the weather. Meet at the end of River Rd in Ladner at 0800. If you will be taking public transit, want to carpool or can provide a ride, please contact the trip leader Julian Hudson at 604-278-4451. Diffuculty: A4-6. Saturday, March 19 Barnston Island Birding Walk Half-day walk to look for migrant birds and other signs of spring on Barnston Island. This is an easy but long walk on paved roads so be sure to dress for the weather including comfortable footwear. Carpool at Franklin and Penticton at 0800 or meet by the ferry landing (free) at the east end of 104th Avenue at 0845. Please use the parking lot on the north side of the road and do not park on the road. Contact leader Bill Kinkaid at 604-710- 6329. Difficulty rating: A4. Saturday, March 26 Birding at DeBoville Slough/Minnekhada Regional Park Osprey, hummingbirds, and swallows should be back on their breeding grounds. Spring migrants should also be moving through the area. With luck we should catch a glimpse of Sandhill Crane, Red Crossbills, Band-tailed Pigeon and Western Meadowlark. We average over 40 species on this outing with a high of 51 in 2002. Meet at the parking area at Victoria & Cedar Drives in Port Coquitlam at 0900. Several vehicles will be positioned in the Minnekhada gravel parking lot off Quarrie Rd. for the return trip.Contact trip leader Larry Cowan at 604-465- 1402. Sunday, March 27 Hike in Capilano River Regional Park Join us for an easy hike in Capilano River Regional Park. Elevation gain: Approx 100m. Duration: Approx 4 hours. Dress for changes in the weather, wear sturdy shoes as trails may be slippery at this time of the year and bring lunch and water. Meet at 10 a.m. near the White Spot in Park Royal Mall, West Vancouver. Please contact leader Nellie Bacou at 604–221–1620. See map online at http://www.metrovancouver.org/about/maps/ Maps/Capilanomap.pdf Wednesday, March 30 Herring Spawn and Birding on Vancouver Island Bill Merilees has offered to lead a day trip to Parksville, Qualicum and Rathtrevor Beach, on Vancouver Island, to see Brant, Herring Spawn (a nature sight not to be missed, if we can catch it), and other shorebirds. The annual Parksville Brant Wildlife Festival takes place around this time. Bill will hire a Budget 12-16 passenger van to take us to our destinations. We will catch the 8:30 a.m. ferry from Horseshoe Bay as foot 10 Vancouver Naturalist March 2011 passengers, and take the 5 p.m. ferry back to Horseshoe Bay. BC seniors travel free on the ferry. Cost for the bus will be $20 per person. Contact Cynthia Crampton at 604-738-1405 to arrange car pools to Horseshoe Bay. NOTE: This trip is now full but Cynthia is compiling a waitlist. Sunday, April 3 Birding - Terra Nova Area in Richmond This walk will cover some of the dike path, Terra Nova Rural Park and Terra Nova Natural Area. Visit a variety of habitats where we may see a wide range of species, including summer arrivals, migrants and possible rarities. Beginners are encouraged and help with identification will be provided. We will be walking on the dike path and paths that may be muddy. Dress for the weather. We will meet at 0730 at River Road and Lynas Lane, a few blocks west of the No. 2 Rd. bridge. Area is accessible by transit. If you need to carpool or can provide a ride, please contact the trip leader Julian Hudson at 604-278- 4451. Diffuculty: A4-6. Saturday, April 9 Spring Flowers and Birds at Horth Hill Join John and Marian Coope on their annual botany and birding trip to see the spring flowers and birds at Horth Hill, within walking distance of the Swartz Bay ferry terminal. Carpool at 42nd and Oak at 0745 to walk onto the 0900 ferry at Tsawwassen (allowing time to reach the ferry terminal ten minutes before sailing time, as required). Join the Coopes on the ferry or at the Swartz Bay ferry terminal. Plan on catching the return ferry at 1700; arriving back at Tsawwassen at 1845. Bring lunch, drinks and suitable clothing for a day in the open. Contact Marian Coope for details at 604-224-6192. Saturday 16 April Spring Birding and Botany Hike to Galiano Island This is a moderate loop hike of about 18km, climbing from sea level to 100m, back to near sea level and then again to the high point of Mount Galiano at 300m. Bring lunch and water and dress for the elements, including sturdy footwear with good tread. Carpool at 0715 at 49th and Ash (one block west of Langara Station on the Canada Line) or meet on the 0835 Gulf Islands ferry from Tsawwassen ferry terminal. Walk-on passengers must be at the terminal ten minutes before sailing time. We’ll catch the return ferry from Sturdies Bay at 1740, arriving back at Tsawwassen at 1835. Please note: ferry times are subject to change so make sure you confirm with the leader or at www.bcferries.com. Contact leader Bill Kinkaid at billkinkaid@gmail.com or 604-710-6329. Difficulty rating: C7. For information and a map of trails on Galiano, see http://www. galiander.ca/galianotrails/index.html. Sunday, April 17 Birding Trip to Iona Regional Park Join John Chandler for an afternoon birding trip to Iona Regional Park in Richmond. We will be looking for returning shorebirds and other migrants. The high tide is at 6:30 so we’ll work our way through the outer ponds before exploring the inner ponds. If
Nature Vancouver Field Trip Schedule you are interested, you can walk the South Jetty before or after the field trip. Dress for chilly and/or wet weather. Meet John in the parking lot by the washrooms at 5:00. Contact John at 604- 274-4117. Saturday, April 23 Birding at DeBoville Slough/Minnekhada Regional Park We added three species to our list in 2010 bringing our total to 101. The trip highlight was a nesting pair of Great Horned Owls. The target species for this walk are Townsend’s Solitaire, Sandhill Crane and Green Heron. What will we add to our total in 2011? Meet the leader, Larry Cowan, at the parking area at Victoria & Cedar Drives in Port Coquitlam at 08:45. Several vehicles will be positioned in the Minnekhada gravel parking lot off Quarrie Rd. for the return trip. Contact Larry at 604-465- 1402. Sunday 24 April Natural History Walk in Port Moody Join Terry and Rosemary Taylor on an easy natural history and historical walk on the Port Moody Shoreline Trail from Rocky Point to Old Orchard Park. Come for the whole walk or turn back when you like. Bring lunch and dress for the weather. Meet at Franklin & Penticton at 0930 or at the Rocky Point Park parking lot by the washroom building at 1000 (when we were there recently the washrooms weren’t open so be forewarned). Bring lunch. Contact leaders Rosemary and Terry at rtaylor99@ shaw.ca or 604-228-9966. Difficulty rating: A4. Sunday 1 May Spring Birds and Flowers on Burnaby Mountain This will be a moderate hike of approximately 8-12 km depending on the route we take, possibly with some steep up and down sections and damp conditions. Pack lunch and water and dress for the weather, including good hiking boots. Carpool at Franklin and Penticton at 0800 or meet at the parking lot at the Mountain Air Bike Skills Facility on the south side of Barnet Highway at Takeda Drive (across from the entrance to Barnet Marine Park) at 0830. Contact leader Bill Kinkaid at billkinkaid@gmail.com or 604-710-6329. Difficulty rating: B6. Saturday, May 7 Birding in Central Park, Burnaby The walk will be on good park trails but expect some soggy or muddy areas. Meet at the parking lot south of the tennis courts on Patterson at Maywood at 0800. Contact leader Bill Kinkaid at 604-710-6329. Difficulty rating: A4. Sunday, May 8 Othello Tunnels, Coquihalla Canyon Botany Hike The trail begins just past Hope, first along the old Kettle Valley Railway following the Coquihalla River then up and down the Hope-Nicola Valley trail. This easy, approx. 14 km hike is in search of spring wildflowers. There is one steep ascent about 240m (800’) along forest paths to our lunch spot. On this section we expect to see trilliums, calypso orchids, chocolate lilies, fairy-bells, and of course, many other spring beauties throughout the trip. After lunch we plan to descend to the village of Othello and walk through the famous tunnels in the awe-inspiring Coquihalla Canyon. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring raingear, lunch and water. Meet for carpooling at the parking lot on the corner of Franklin and Pentincton at 0800. Please contact leader a week before the trip and leave a contact phone number, as this trip may be affected by closures in the canyon and tunnel area. Participants wishing to join the group in Hope should inform the trip leader to obtain directions to our meeting place. Contact leader Eva Nagy at 604-929-4286 or email evnagy@shaw.ca Saturday, May 21 Birding at Colony Farm Regional Park Our target species will be Colony Farm’s feature bird the Lazuli Bunting. Other species expected include Western Kingbird, Band-tailed Pigeon & American Bittern. Meet your leader, Larry Cowan, in the parking area at the east-end of Colony Farm Rd. at 08:30. Contact Larry at 604-465-1402. Sunday 22 May May Mystery Hike The location is to be determined closer to the date but will probably be a moderate low to mid elevation hike on the North Shore or the Sea to Sky corridor. Details to follow on the website and by email. Contact leader Bill Kinkaid at billkinkaid@gmail. com or 604-710-6329. Saturday 4 June Spring birding walk through Central Park in Burnaby The walk will be on good park trails but expect some soggy or muddy areas. Meet at the parking lot south of the tennis courts on Patterson at Maywood at 0800. Contact leader Bill Kinkaid at billkinkaid@gmail.com or 604-710-6329. Difficulty rating: A4. Saturday, June 4 Burnaby Mountain Hike Look for spring birds and flowers on an exploration of the trails around Burnaby Mountain. This will be a moderate hike of approximately 8-12 km depending on the route we take, possibly with some steep up and down sections and damp conditions. Pack lunch and water and dress for the weather, including good hiking boots. Carpool at Franklin and Penticton at 0800 or meet at the parking lot at the Mountain Air Bike Skills Facility on the south side of Barnet Highway at Takeda Drive (across from the entrance to Barnet Marine Park) at 0830. Contact Bill Kinkaid at 604-710-6329. Difficulty rating: B6. Saturday, June 25 Birding field trip to the Pitt Polder in Pitt Meadows Our initial walk will take us from Grant Narrows south, approx. 3 km, along the Pitt River Dyke. The highlight from our 2009 outing was an American Redstart which we missed in 2010 but it was relocated there, three days after our outing. Highlights in 2010 were Gray Catbird, Eastern Kingbird, Band-tailed Pigeon & Bullock’s Oriole. In June, in the Polder, expect the continued next page Vancouver Naturalist March 2011 11
Page 1 and 2: Vancouver Naturalist Newsletter of
Page 3 and 4: Society News and Information From t
Page 5 and 6: Nature Vancouver Birding Section Ch
Page 7 and 8: Nature Vancouver Marine Biology Sec
Page 9: Nature Vancouver Field Trips Co-ord
Page 13 and 14: Editor’s Note: This workshop was
Page 15 and 16: YOUNG NATURALISTS’ CLUB of Britis

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