Wandering Tattler - February 2009.pdf - Nature Vancouver

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NATURE VANCOUVER EVENING PROGRAM THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 7:30PM TEXAS: A NATURAL HISTORY WITH RON LONG FEBRUARY BIRD FIELD TRIPS…AND OTHERS… NOTE: There are more birding trips listed on the website than are in the Winter Vancouver Naturalist. ** Colony Farm Regional Park, Coquitlam February 7 Colony Farm in winter can provide interesting birding. The Farm is home to many over wintering raptors, sparrows, shrike and waterfowl. Join leader Larry Cowan for a halfday outing. Meet the leader at the parking area at the east end of Colony Farm Rd. in Coquitlam at 9:00am. 604-465- 1402 Birding at Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta February 15 Join John Chandler for a half-day birding trip to Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Ladner. We will be looking for Snow Geese, swans and other waterfowl and raptors. Remember to bring some money for the small admission fee and dress for chilly and/or wet weather. You may want to bring your lunch and a hot drink to enjoy in the warming hut after your walk. Meet John at the Reifel gift shop at 9:00am. Contact John at 604-274-4117. ** Jericho Park, Vancouver February 21 Look for unusual ducks and spring arrivals. Meet in East Parking lot at 8:00am. Contact Adrian Grant Duff 604-263- 7957. ** Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver February 28 Look for early migrants and species discovered on recent surveys. Meet Adrian Grant Duff 604-263-7957 at 8:00am in front of Entrance to Pitch and Putt Golf Course, north of tennis courts, Queen Elizabeth Park. THE WANDERING TATTLER INDEX Great Backyard Bird Count 5 Bird Studies Canada Latest News 6 Backyard Birding with Al 6 Birding Section Committee Meeting Minutes 7 Natural Selection…..changing faster… 10 Rare Bird Alert Sightings for August 2008 12 The size of Texas is legendary but with size comes diversity and for the naturalist it is this diversity that is truly astonishing. Habitats range from the lush, well watered Hill Country to the absolute desert of the Big Bend of the Rio Grande to the mild year round climate of the Gulf Coast. Within these habitats the variety of birds, animals, and especially plants seems never ending. This talk will take a long look at the marvellous natural history of this the largest of the Lower 48. OTHER EVENTS FOR BIRDER’S MAPLEWOOD FLATS CONSERVATION AREA All levels of birders are welcome to join the Wild Bird Trust’s monthly bird survey of Maplewood Flats Conservation Area, North Vancouver. This survey is conducted on the first Saturday of each month. Meet at 0800 in the parking lot of the Pacific Environment Science Centre, 2645 Dollarton Highway. If the gate is closed, park adjacent to the highway. For details, please contact Janice Wilson, Bird Survey Coordinator at 604-987-5586. On the second Saturday of each month, you’re welcome to join the Wild Bird Trust’s Nature Walks with Al Grass at Maplewood Flats Conservation Area. Meet at 1000 in the parking lot of the Pacific Environment Science Centre, 2645 Dollarton Highway. If the gate is closed, park adjacent to the highway. HASTINGS PARK SANCTUARY Members of the Hastings Park Conservancy’s Environmental Committee and guest naturalists lead nature walks through the Sanctuary in Hastings Park. In winter/spring 2009, the walks will be held on the fourth Saturday of each month, starting at 0900. All walks leave from the northeast corner of the Sanctuary (near the red barns and the Playland restrooms). There’s free parking on site for visitors to the Sanctuary, or take the bus to Hastings & Renfrew Streets. For further information, contact Pat Miller at 604-294-1272. REIFEL BIRD SANCTUARY Every Sunday, enjoy a bird walk with John Ireland at Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta. Meet at the reception area at 1000. Reifel’s admission fee is $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children (2-14) and seniors (60+). Phone 604-946-6980 for more information. The Wandering Tattler February 2009 page 2
SQUAMISH ESTUARY Squamish estuary monthly bird counts are held on the first or second Sunday of each month, depending on the tide. For these half-day counts, meet at 0700 (April to September) or at 0800 (October to March) at the Howe Sound Inn and Brew Pub at the end of Cleveland Avenue in downtown Squamish. All levels of birders are welcome to participate. The count usually lasts until 1300, at which time we meet back at the Brew Pub for lunch. For more information, contact Judith Vetsch at 1-604-892-3340. STANLEY PARK ECOLOGY SOCIETY (SPES) Discovery Walks are two-hour guided walking tours with a naturalist or local expert, leaving from the Lost Lagoon Nature House on the south-east shore of Lost Lagoon. Explore the natural and cultural history of Stanley Park. Rain or shine. Walk themes and leaders vary. $10 public, $5 members and under 18. Pre-registration is recommended. Contact: Public Programs Manager: 604-257-8544. Calendar: www.stanleyparkecology.ca Birding in Stanley Park: Join naturalist Catherine Aitchison for a two-hour walk in Stanley Park to identify migratory and resident birds and learn bird-watching skills. Meet at the Lost Lagoon Nature House at 0900 on the last Sunday of every month. Fee by donation. TERRA NOVA NATURAL AREA On the third Saturday of each month, anyone interested in birds is welcome to join the Nature Vancouver’s monthly bird survey of the Terra Nova Natural Area in Richmond. Meet in the Terra Nova parking lot at 0800 (October- March) or 0700 (April-September). For details please contact the co-ordinator, Eric Greenwood at 604-737- 4724. The Nature Reserve is reached by driving west on Westminster Highway past No.1 Road, and following it through the Terra Nova residential area. BIRD SURVEYS AT UBC FARM Every third Sunday of each month, join in a bird survey at the UBC Farm. Meet at 8am (March to August) and 9am (September to February) at the main gate to the farm. The farm is located on the UBC south campus off Westbrook between 16th and Southwest Marine Drive. Directions to the farm can be found at: http://www.landfood.ubc.ca/ubcfarm/contact.php. The farm is normally locked on Sunday but the group has a key. Currently the key is held by Sue Kay-Downs (604- 569-3058). As the holder of the key, Sue is our leader, contact person and scribe. The survey is very informal, experts and beginners are all welcome to help and learn. The gate has to be closed again once we start so punctuality is helpful. MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW…. BRANT WILDLIFE FESTIVAL IN PARKSVILLE, QUALICUM BEACH AND NANAIMO BIG DAY BIRDING SATURDAY, APRIL 4 Counting: 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Post-count gathering 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. $20 per person MORE details in March edition or on their website……. EBIRD – NEW MAPPING TOOL I just noticed that eBird has a brand new mapping tool for exploring bird records in the database. If you look for records of a certain species from a province, for instance, instead of the old provincial maps with green dots, you get a Google Maps interface that allows you to zoom in as close as you like. Then if you click on a location dot, all the records for that species at that location are displayed. Very cool. You can easily check this out by clicking on one of the provinces on the right hand side of the home page (www.ebird.ca). That will display a bar graph checklist for the province based on eBird records, then click on any species you like. Dick Cannings Naramata, BC WESTERN HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT - NEW PROGRAM The US Forest Service and the Hummingbird Monitoring Network (HMN) are pleased to announce a new “Wings over the Americas” program—the Western Hummingbird Project. Attached is the announcement of the program. A kick-off workshop will be held April 16-18, 2009 in Tucson, Arizona, in conjunction with the Cooper Ornithological Society’s annual meeting. We hope many of you will be able to attend. April 16 is the primary workshop day; the preliminary agenda is included in the attached program announcement. During this time, the Partners In Flight Western Working Group is holding its meeting in British Columbia where the Rufous Hummingbird, a PIF species of continental concern, breeds. We apologize for this conflict but hope it is an opportunity to investigate hummingbird conservation issues in Canada. Our goal is to bring focus on hummingbird conservation through effective collaborations. If you are interested in participating or have suggestions on improving the WHP workshop, etc., please let us know your ideas by contacting Susan Wethington at swething@dakotacom.net. The Wandering Tattler February 2009 page 3
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Wandering Tattler - February 2009.pdf - Nature Vancouver

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