Wandering Tattler Apr 07 - Nature Vancouver

STANLEY PARK ECOLOGY SOCIETY (SPES)DISCOVERY WALKS leave from the Lost Lagoon Nature Houseevery Sunday, 1300-1500. Different topics and leaderseach week. Walks led by local experts and naturalists.Explore the natural and cultural history of Stanley Park.Rain or shine. Pre-registration is recommended. Cost:$8/public, $5/members. Contact: Annmarie De Andrade,Public Programs Manager: 604-718-6522.BIRDING IN STANLEY PARK:Join naturalist CatherineAitchison for a two-hour walk in Stanley Park to identifymigratory and resident birds and learn bird-watching skills.Meet at the Lost Lagoon Nature House at 0900 on the lastSunday of every month. Fee by donation. For additionalinformation, check the SPES’s website athttp://www.stanleyparkecology.caTERRA NOVA NATURAL AREAOn the third Saturday of each month, anyone interested inbirds is welcome to join the VNHS’s monthly bird survey ofthe Terra Nova Natural Area in Richmond. Meet in theTerra Nova parking lot at 0800 (October-March) or 0700(April-September). For details please contact the coordinator,Eric Greenwood at 604-737-4724. The NatureReserve is reached by driving west on WestminsterHighway past No. 1 Road, and following it through the TerraNova residential area.OTHER EVENTS FOR BIRDER’SCARETAKERS WANTED FORBC’S IMPORTANT BIRD AREASAs part of a joint initiative between BC Nature (Federationof BC Naturalists) and Bird Studies Canada to re-invigoratethe Important Bird Area program in BC, we are looking forvolunteers – in the form of individuals, groups or clubs – toact as Caretakers for each of BC’s 84 IBAs. This is part ofthe first step in a process that aims to build on the IBAidentification, designation and conservation planning workdone over the past decade. At the same time, we will beconducting outreach work to promote the IBA programamong relevant stakeholders, from naturalist groups toconservation and land management agencies. The eventualaim is to set up a system for IBA-based monitoring of birdpopulations and their habitats to inform the management ofthese sites. The Caretaker Network is based on anapproach to IBA site conservation and monitoring pioneeredin Denmark, and will be the first IBA Caretaker Network tobe set up in Canada.IBA site status, threats, bird populations, and any otherrelevant conservation issues. These data will be used toupdate the Canadian IBA database. Visit the websiteand take a look at the list of BC’s 84 IBAs to see whichones are near you, or view them using the online mappingtool. Caretaker roles are currently vacant for many ofBC’s interior IBAs (e.g. Osoyoos Oxbows, ChopakaCustoms, Chilcotin Junction), and more remote coastalsites that may only be visited by boat during the summermonths (e.g. Solander Island and Brooks Bay). If you areinterested in volunteering as an IBA Caretaker, pleaseget in touch with either Pete Davidson at pdavidson@bsceoc.orgor Anne Murray (BC Nature) atsanderling@uniserve.ca.DELTA FARMLAND AND WILDLIFE TRUSTHEDGEROW HABITAT PROGRAMLOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERSThe Trust has now accumulated close to 7 acres ofhedgerow habitat throughout Delta farmlands ,consisting of native trees and shrubs densely planted inprepared beds.Unfortunately the installations are frequently quicklyinvaded by invasive plants. We pay between $4,000 and$8,000 annually to weed the hedgerows. In an effort tosave some funds so that they can be directed to otherfield programs, Jeremy McCall has suggested a workparty of volunteers might achieve good results withoutthe cost to the Trust. I could see that 2 or 3 Saturdaysover the summer could accommodate an organized workparty of 5 to 10 volunteers and me plus several Directorsand could do a great deal in this regard.We would supply tools, gloves and refreshments plus abagged lunch.The volunteers would supply enthusiasm, hard work andbinoculars. Although the use of binoculars will have to beminimized to ensure good results.Interested people could e-mail or call me and I wouldarrange appropriate dates and times for the weedingevent. If you are interested in helping out and learningmore about the Hedgerow Habitat Program pleasecontact Markus Merkens at (604) 946-7820 ordfwt@dccnet.comWe invite volunteer birders and naturalists in communitiesaround BC to act as the “eyes on the ground,” committing toat least one annual, seasonally appropriate site visit peryear, with a report back to provide current information onThe Wandering Tattler March 2007 page 3