BC Naturalist"To know Nature and to keep it worth knowing"

Offshore oil and birds:Do they mix?

Dry forests:Life in the tinderbox

Secret Places:Drylands of the Fraser

EC NaturalistVolume 41 No. 4

Editor's messageThe nature of dry forestsNatural considerations in managing dry forest ecosystems..Wild forests, wild firesA strategy for managing NDT4 dry-belt ecosystems

Table of ContentsEditorialfeatures are the sole responsibility of their authors and opinionsexpressed therein are not necessarily those of the FBCN.

34567

The Seabird Survival Program: Protecting the seabirds of Active Pass 9BCCDC; A voice for species at risk 10Conservation Report 11Hope is the thing with feathers 12Offshore oil and birds: Do they mix? 14Secret Places: The Drylands of the Fraser Canyon 17Your Federation is working for you 18Budding Naturalists: 2003 Science Fair Winners 19Book Reviews 20News for Naturalists 21BC Naturalists'Foundation 22President's message 23Club Chat 24Raptor Alert!-Falconry management in BC 26Events 27FBCN Executive Committee & Club Directory 30

Go to Goldstream to see wildlife..— Of Antarctica?

Whether you're visiting India,Costa Rica, or England theGoldstream Nature House hasthe field guides you need foryour next trip abroad.* Proceeds help keep the NatureHouse open and providesenvironmental education.

Nature guidesfor home andabroad now in BIRDS OF

stock at theGoldstream

Nature HouseMail Orders

Accepted

To inquire about our selection,please contact us

Uncial Pa* I (250> 478'9414 goldstrm@island.net

BC Naturalist is published quarterly by the Federationof BC Naturalists. Publication Agreement No. 40043545Circulation 4, 500Editor: Dawn Hanna (dawnhanna@telus.net)Advertising: Linda Halls (lrhalls@shawca)Production: Jeff Swanson (jeff@swansoncreative.com)"Website: David Lassmarm (djlassmann@shaw.ca)We welcome your articles, photos, camera-ready ads, and letters. Pleasesend them to the Editor; you are requested to send material well in advanceof die deadline whenever possible:

Submission Deadlines:Spring ..... Mar. 1 Summer ......... Jun. 1

Winter ............ Nov. 1Fall Aug. 15

Advertisement Rates$264 Full page $132 1/2 page$99 1/3 page $66 1/4 page$ 33 Business card

Special rates for ad placements in four or more issues!

Federation of BC Naturalists307-1367 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 4A9

Tel: 604-737-3057 • Fax: 604-738-7175http://www.naturalists.bc.ca fbcn@telus.net

Office Manager: Maria Hamann

Objectives of the FBCN1 . To provide naturalists and natural history clubs of British Columbia witha unified voice on conservation and environmental issues.2. To foster an awareness, appreciation and understanding of our natu-ral environment, that it may be wisely used and maintained for futuregenerations.3. To encourage the formation and cooperation of natural history clubsthroughout British Columbia.4. To provide a means of communication between naturalists in BritishColumbia.A membership form is provided on the back page.

Lexicon of

British Columbia

MammalsPETER OMMUNDSEN

Meaning and pronunciation of wildlifenames. 65 illustrations. $14.95

Great gift for a naturalist or student.

Sandhill Book Marketing ISBN 0-9682084-1-XOrder from your local bookstore or from www.chapters.indigo.ca

BC Naturalist

Editor's messageby Dawn Hanna

fT^he summer of 2003 will burn in our memories for quite some timeI - no pun intended. Forest fires cut a wide swathe through the southern

-L portion of our province. Many of us experienced some of the effectsfirst-hand, be it valleys filled with smoke or eerily beautiful nightscapesflecked with flames.

(Even those who didn't live within sight of a large fire had the experienceof living with the consequences of tinder dry conditions in southern BC whena sweeping backcountry ban forced us out of the forests, mountains andother wild places we cherish.)

As members of society, we feel for those who lost their homes and treasuredbelongings. And we look to forest managers for ideas on how to avoid suchlosses in the future.

But as naturalists we know that fire is a part of the life cycle of the forest.We known that new shoots will push forth from the ashes, mat the inhabit-ants of the forest will return and that a new cycle of life will begin. And wewill look to the managers of our forests to include those realities when theydecide how best to avoid the large destructive conflagrations yet still allowfor fire to be an integral part of the forest ecosystem.

In this issue, we are fortunate to have a couple of articles that came asthe result of a rather prescient symposium on Dry Forest Ecosystems at thisspring's AGM in Kamloops. Bev Ramey gives us a naturalist's take on theInterior dry forest ecosystems that were the focus of fire activity. And sym-posium coordinator Frances Vyse presents a view of the considerations thatforest managers must include when deciding how to maintain dry forestsfor a multitude of uses.

Also in this issue, lots on birds - from a peek behind the scenes at re-habilitating injured birds at Burnaby's Wildlife Rescue Association to aneye-opening report on seabirds and how they might be affected by a liftingof EC's oil and gas moratorium.

This might also be a good place to introduce myself as the new editor ofthe BC Naturalist, but first a bit of a confession. I can't really take credit forthis Fall issue since it was really editor emeritus Terry Mclntosh and FBCNpresident Jeremy McCall who are responsible for all the time and effortinvolved in securing most all of the articles.

That said, I'm looking forward to building on the hard work and strengthsof the BC Naturalist (kudos again to Terry Mclntosh). I'd like to do moreto showcase all the regions of BC and help all of us learn more about bothwhat makes each distinct and what commonalities we all share.

In this issue, for example, we' re introducing a new feature - Secret Fixes- in which we'll highlight a favourite place of local naturalists, hopefullythose not found in best-selling guidebooks The drylands of the Fraser, withtheir hoodoos, sand dunes and botanical wonders is the choice of this issue'scontributor - Terry Mclntosh.

If you've got a secret place that you'd like to let other naturalists in on- pretty, pretty please - send me a message at dawnbanna @tekis. net

Pre-CIiristmas SpecialA CD-ROM that focuses on "OIK" birds in B.C.

FromThayer's Binding Software

Special MS/FEW Price.99 Shipping

Included

Regular Price 544.99**quantities limited - first come, first served

• includes color photos, song recordings, video clips,abundance maps, range maps, ID tips and more for the313 species regularly seen in BC

• allows for comparison of two birdsside-by-side

• includes an ID Wizard to help you identify a particularbird, even if you do not know its name - all you have todo is enter the color, habitat, size, and location

• includes a program that allows you to keep track of thevarious birds you have seen

• includes over 300 quizzes, including Christmas BirdCount Quizzes for Vancouver, Revelstoke, Kamloops andDawson Creek

• also available, on special order, any of the other 62state/province CD-ROMS, as well as 3 family CD-ROMsfor Duck, Hawks, and Warblers

• System Requirements: Windows 98, Pentium 233processor or equivalent, CD-ROM Drive & hard/ softwareto support multimedia applications

Available from

^Tfje Victorian ^trb ̂ ouse2493 Beacon AvenueSidney, BC, V8L1X9Phone:250-656-5064

Order on-line at vbh@shaw,caReviewers unanimously agree

"this is undoubtedly the best software on the market"

BC Naturalist

The nature of dry forestsby Frances Vyse

The Dry Forest Ecosystems Symposium was hosted by the FBCN, theKamloops Naturalists' Club and the University College of the Cariboobiology department, in conjunction with the FBCN AGM being held

that weekend. It was sponsored by the FBCN and FORREX (Forest ResearchExtension Partnership).

The idea behind the symposium was to help naturalists understand the dryforests of the interior and consider how they should be managed. It is hopedthat the information gained will help us develop a FBCN position paper onmanaging dry forests similar to the one that was developed for grasslands.

TVo basic questions were posed for the symposium: First, what processesinfluence the dry forest ecosystems of EC's southern interior? And second,what issues are faced by managers of these forest ecosystems and what aresome of the management options to address the issues?

Naturalists are concerned that our dry forest ecosystems be managed sothat the diversity of native species and their habitats is maintained - bothwithin protected areas and elsewhere. And that EC's livestock and forestindustries continue to thrive.

We brought together speakers with expertise in their fields to talk about thisspecial ecosystem and about how best to reconcile the many different intereststhat use our dry forests. There was an opportunity at the end of the day todiscuss the issues and possible scenarios for management in small groups.

Dr. Ken Lertznian, associate professor at the School of Resource andEnvironmental Management at Simon Fraser University, was our guidethrough the process, summarizing the discussions as the day went on.Dr. Bert Brink, retired professor of plant sciences at the University of BC,and founding member of FBCN, summed up the day. He said that whilethe situation may seem confusing at the moment, we have come a longway over a very short time towards understanding dry forest ecosystems. Hethought the symposium was a very good vehicle for bringing informationto an urbanized population.

Two articles follow. One by Bev Ramey, FBCN Conservation Coordinator,sums up the presentations from a naturalists' perspective. The other; byFrances Vyse, reports on the presentation made by Drs. Walt Klenner andAndre Arsenault, both ecologists with the Ministry of Forests, KamloopsForest Region.

BC Naturalist

Natural considerationsin managing dry forest ecosystems

By Bev Ramey

This account is synthesized from a number a/presentations madeduring the ciay-longDiy Forests Ecotystetm Symposium onMay8, 2003. Preseiiters included Andre Arsmault, Waltffiennerand Dennis Lloyd of the Ministry? of Forests; Rick Howie ofthe Minishy of Water, Land and Air Protection, Frances Vyseof the Federation of BC Naturalists, Lori Daniels of theUnivmity of EC and Km Lerlzmann of Simon FraserUniversity,

BackgroundDry forests occur in three biogeoclimatic zones (rangingfrom very dry to dry), namely Bunchgrass, PonderosaPine and Interior Douglas-Fir. Dry forests are typi-cally found at lower to mid-elevations (335 metres to1450 metres). Their open understorey and grasslandmeadows are attractive to people. And, indeed, thereis heavy demand in the dry forests for many uses.Much habitat loss has occurred because of populationexpansion, agriculture, and increased demand for water.

Dry forests support numerous and unique species, especially ungulates,reptiles, birds, amphibians and insects. They are strategically located forwildlife mat migrate along valley corridors, passing through grasslandsand on into forests above.

Dry forests are characterized by disturbance and, in fact, are also knownas Natural Disturbance Type 4 (NDT4) forests. Examples of distur-bances are: natural fire, insects (spruce bud worm, tussock moth,Douglas fir bark beetle, mountain pine beetle), burning byFirst Nations, and more recently, livestock grazing, log-ging and noxious weeds. The dry forests are in a state ofdelicate balance where grasslands and forest meet. TheNDT4 label is perhaps too simplistic, since topogra-phy, aspect and soils produce different microregimeswithin the forest type. This has an effect upon, forexample, the burning severity of a fire.

The vegetation of the dry forests has variousadaptations to withstand fire. For example, ponde-rosapine, Douglas fir and larch have thick bark towithstand all but the most severe fires; lodgepolepine cones need heat to open and release theirmany seeds; and aspen suckers emerge from rootsfollowing a fire. Several shrubs and flowers suchas waxberry, birch-leaved spirea, Saskatoon berry,pinegrass and arnica grow from rhizomatousroots. Species such as snowbrush and ceanothus can bank seeds for up to200 years waiting to germinate after a fire. Several flowers grow from tubers,bulbs and corms that can withstand fire. Species such as Rocky Mountainjuniper are also fire-tolerant,

Arrow- leaved Bateamroot

The Question of ManagementIn many locations, tree seedlings are spreading into the

grassland meadows. Should this be called forest encroach-ment (which is value-laden against the trees)? Or forest

succession? Or simply changes in the vegetation structure?Recently thinking has been shifting to seeing fire as a

positive force because fire is thought to maintain thesestands. However, it could be argued that insect damage

is just as positive. Logging could also be seen as a typeof disturbance since it often increases the establish-ment of dense stands of young trees.

Prescribed burns may not emulate natural firedisturbance. Natural fires typically occur in Julyor August but prescribed burns are usually set inthe spring or fall when they are more controllable.Attempts to emulate natural disturbance maynot be feasible or even desirable. For example,noxious weeds may contaminate a site after a

prescribed burn.Fire frequency and severity is linked to climate events such as

El Nino and La Nina. However, there is not always agreement in methodsand data-gathering to determine fire history. What you see depends on the

methods you use. It is often difficult to reconstruct fire history, since mereare typically big gaps in information. Severity of fire differs significantly

depending on topography and site aspect, so there can be much vari-ation within one general area.

NDT4 is perhaps too simplistic a classification. It is a verycomplex picture mat includes continental and regional climate,

site topography and fuel loading.

No Simple AnswersScientists have put forward two hypotheses on the NDT4zone: A) that forests are in a state of equilibrium throughfrequent, low severity fires; or B) that forests are not in astate of equilibrium and instead are subject to mixed

severity fire regime. It is most likely a mixed sever-ity, non-equilibrium fire regime. Perhaps the public

should be asking if it is natural to expect trees to alwaysbe there? Maybe patience will solve our problems.

Our current situation is very different than it was acentury ago. Today little old growth remains in the dry

forests. There are homogeneous stands, noxious weeds, fuelbuild-up, human buildings and access roads.

What is natural and what is natural variation depends on the time framebeing considered. The volcanic eruption of the Mount Meager complex(Plinth Peak) in the upper Lillooet Valley occurred only 2,400 years ago,

"Natural considerations" continued on page 8

BC Naturalist

ts, wild, •' "

north of Kamtoops less than 3® minutesafter U was first detected in August, 2003.Theplume of the Barriere-McLurefire thatburned homes and businesses can be seenin the distance.

A s these articles about our Dry Forest Ecosystems Symposium were being/\, a number of large fires in the interior were still burning.

L JL The Barriere-McLure Fire, north of Kamloops, and the OkanaganMountain Park Fire near Kelowna literally burned many families out of houseand home. Other fires and other places will be seared on our memories ofthe summer of 2003, including the Lamb Creek Fire near Cranbrook, theMcGillivray Fire near Chase, the Venables Valley Fire near Cache Creek andthe Hells Gate Fire near Boston Bar

The large fires that made the news were mostly those that threatenedcommunities and peoples' homes. But it's worth noting that more than 800fires burned throughout the province during the month of August. Somewere fought; others were allowed to burn. Most were started by lightning,but at least two were known to have been started by discarded cigarette butts.All spread with unbelievable speed in tinder-dry forest conditions, exacer-bated by extremely high winds, creating extremely dangerous conditionsfor firefighters.

These summer fires were the one-in-150-year events that Dr. Walt Klennerand odier speakers at the Dry Forest Ecosystem Symposium referred to in theirpresentations. A winter with little snow, a dry spring and little rain made forextremely dry conditions in the Interior grasslands and forests.

The fires burned across highways and rivers, through harvested areas,through previously-burned areas and through pastures where cattle havegrazed for decades. It seemed that no amount of previous disturbance of theforest could stop the fires from spreading under these extreme conditions.

Already politicians and firefighters are talking about possible ways toprevent fires like these from happening again. "Science" has been men-tioned by Minister of Forests Mike dejong. And references have been madeto a program of "prescribed burning".

As naturalists, we hope that the messages we heard at the symposiumwill be included in any management program. Messages such as: Set clearobjectives and proceed with caution to ensure a diversity of conditions aremaintained. (That is, don't do the same thing everywhere). Identify andprotect species and habitats of concern. Pay attention to the cost and riskof the treatments to be carried out. Identify and monitor key values such ashuman safety, investments, livestock forage.

We hope the Minister and those advising him will also hear those mes-sages and listen.

We wish everyone affected by the fires the very best as they put their livesback together. The dry forests of the southern interior will regrow. But thefires are also a reminder that forests are often shaped by forces beyond ourcontrol.

The proceedings from the symposium will include a special section re-flecting on this summer's fires in the context of the information given in thevarious presentations. They will be mailed to each symposium participantand all FBCN clubs by year's end.

The following website has information on many of this summer's largerfires, some with maps of the extent of the fires: mvw.for.gov. be. ca/pScripts/Protect/WildfireNews/index. cisp

BC Naturalist

A strategy for managing NDT4 dry-belt ecosystemsin the Kamloops Forest Region

A report on a presentation by Drs. Walt Klenner (Wildlife Habitat Ecologist) and Andre Arsenault (SilviculturalSystems Ecologist), Kamloops Forest Region

By Frances Vyse

suitable they are for protecting ecological diversity.And for how they, at the same time, address the un-certainty presented by the many uses (e.g. resourceextraction, grazing, recreation) being made of ourdry forests. Our understanding of these dry forestecosystems is still only limited. We must accept thatmanagement solutions will be complex and will in-clude trade-offs between values, Planning for diversitymust take place at both the larger landscape scale andat the smaller stand level. And there should be con-sistency between the two levels.There are a numberof issues that currently face dry forests. For example,there are insufficient areas of old growth. At the sametime, there are too many homogeneous stands thathave similar landscape level objectives and that usetreatments that are likely to compromise ecologicaland livestock forage issues. There is also the issue ofmanaging the forest at the urban interface - wherehomes intermingle with the trees. Also on the list:

access management, soil erosion and weeds.Some management options foraddressing these issues at both the landscape and stand level were offeredby Dr. Klenner:

'anypeople who attended the Dry Forestlfcosystems Symposium At die landscape level it is important to ensure that a diversity of conditionssaid afterward that a presentation by Dr. Walk Klennei* helped are maintained in the right place, at the right size and are consistent withfocus all that they had heard during the course of the day.Eartier other values. The effects of natural disturbances such as wind and fire should

speakers had given a wealth of information about the dry forest ecosys-tems, so we appreciated both Dr. Klenner's synthesis and look to thefuture. I hope this brief overvieiu captures the presentation.

Our dry forests have had a long history of natural and humandisturbances. Fires of varying intensity and extent have burned manyareas of the forest over the centuries. Large-scale harvesting of trees hastaken place since the 1800s. Overgrazing by livestock has declinedin recent years on crown lands, but weeds are ^ .still widespread. (It's not known how manynative species have been lost as a consequence.)Past climatic fluctuations and the uncertainty about xthe climate of the future makes defining simple targetconditions difficult. In light of current information on thedynamic nature of ecosystems and the changes that havealready taken place, trying to re-establish historical trends maynot be appropriate, or even feasible.

The challenge for forest managers is to maintain ecologicaldiversity while managing these forests for a range of other values.Management plans need to be reviewed and monitored to see how

Douglas-fir forest ecosystems of the Fraser Rive)- valley west of Williams Lake. Notethe landscape-level variety of open and closed forests with grasslands on steepersouth-facing slopes.

A/PVkJLT JL/o<

BC Naturalist

be estimated and built into the plan. Management objectives must be clearto make sure they take care of both ecosystems and single species.There is areal need to identify and protect old growth management areas of a varietyof sizes and in a variety of locations. "Old growth" need not mean simplybig, old trees, but may be very small, slow-growing trees, or dense patchesof small trees. Each would provide habitat areas not found in the managedlandscape and are important benchmarks for assessing the effects of man-agement treatments.There is also a need to identify and protect rare habitatsas well as habitats for species of concern. Managing access is an importantelement in planning and must be carefully designed. Weeds - which oftenenter dry forests and grasslands after any disturbance - are a problem and willlikely continue to be so in these ecosystems.Diversity is also important at thestand level, as is an appreciation of how the stands are going to change overtime. A variety of stand treatments should ensure that important structuralelements are maintained. Modeling tools are available to provide managerswith information about the suitability of their proposed treatments.

Management of our dry forests is not a simple exercise and will dependon good strategic planning at many levels. It is not desirable to do the samething everywhere or all at once. Attention must be paid to the cost of treat-ments and to the risk involved in putting those treatments into practice.Finally, it is important that we identify and monitor key values to determinewhether treatments are actually achieving and/or maintaining the desiredconditions.Frances Vyse organized the Dry Forest Ecosystem Symposium. She hasbeen involved in bringing a naturalist's perspective to forest manage-mentplanning for a number of years.

"Natural comiderations" continued from page 5

and spewed ash in a band as far east as Alberta. Such a disturbance hadsignificant effect on vegetation.

SuggestionsOne discussion group suggested mat if dry forests are to be managed throughprescribed burns, then such a practice should be tried first in an area outsideparks and the results monitored carefully. This would provide better informa-tion before experimenting in parks.

Volunteers/naturalists could play a useful role in monitoring changes indry forests, but the reporting method should be standardized. It would behelpful if Ministry of Forests scientists could suggest an area where naturalistscould assist with monitoring, and provide a standard format to record data.Possibly a local naturalist club could link with local classroom teachers andstudents to involve youth in recording information.

Afterthought: with the recent huge fires in BC, it would be helpful tomonitor the renewal and regrowth on some of these sites. Having baselinedata before the fires would have been helpful, but some monitoring couldstill be done as the sites regenerate. Naturalist clubs could help here, if astandardized method for monitoring was developed.Bev Ramey -Is the FBCN Comervation Chair. She also worked as a parkplanner with the Greater Vancouver Regional District for 12 years.

Nature Explorations onVancouver IslandPacific Rim Park and Yellow PointExperience the Island's natural beauty atPacific Rim Park and Yellow Point!

Here's your chance to enjoy a leisurelyvacation while you learn about theextraordinary environment of VancouverIsland. Led by facilitator Anne Fraser andbiologist Marc Bell, these unique programscombine explorations of Canada's westcoast wilderness with accommodations atits most memorable resorts.

For details or to register, please call(250)721-8458.

Spring Explorations at YellowPoint Lodge in Ladysmith

DATES: Monday, April 19 to Friday,April 23,2004FEE: $740 Includes accommodation (basedon double occupancy), meals, taxes,gratuities, and tuition (tax deductible);transportation is NOT included.PLEASE REGISTER BY: March 19,2004

University of Victoria

Pacific Rim Park Explorations atMiddle Beach Lodge near Tofino

DATES: Monday, March 15 to Thursday,March 18,2004FEE: $925 Includes accommodation,meals, taxes, gratuities, and tuition(tax deductible); transportation is NOTincluded. Tofino is accessible by air, bus,and car.PLEASE REGISTER BY: February 16,2004

BC Naturalist

has not enjoyed the experience of travelling through ActivePass on the BC Ferries run from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay and theSouthern Gulf Islands? And who has not felt awe at the upwelling

waters and whirlpools generated by tidal flows of more than six knots?But many people are not aware that Active Pass, located between Galiano

and Mayne islands, is also a globally significant wintering area for Pacificloons, Brandt's cormorants and Bonaparte's gulls. As a result it has beendesignated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and is one of five IBAs clusteredoff the east coast of Southern Vancouver Island. The other four are:• Snake Island, a 3.4 hectare islet situated off the entrance to Departure Bay,clearly visible from the Nanaimo ferry• Porlier Pass between Valdes and Galiano islands• Sidney Channel between James & Sidney islands off Saanich Peninsula• The Chain Islets, a group of about 18 islets off Oak Bay. It also includesthe Oak Bay Islands Ecological Reserve (ER 94).

Each of these other four IBAs is also an important home for the speciesdescribed, In the case of Snake Island, there are globally significant numbersof glaucous-winged gulls and pelagic cormorants. At Porlier Pass, there areglobally significant numbers of mew gulls and three species of cormorant,as well as lesser populations of loons, grebes and alcids. At Sidney Channel,there are globally significant numbers of Brandt's cormorant during the fallmigration, as well as nationally significant numbers of mew gulls, brant,pigeon guillemots and black oystercatchers and summer populations of mar-bled murrelets and rhinoceros auklets. At the Chain Islets, there are globallysignificant populations of glaucous-winged gulls and Brandt's cormorants.(For more information on IBAs, please consult www. ibacanada. com}

The Seabird Survival Program is based on the conservation plan for thefive IBAs that was prepared in 2001 by Barry Booth for the FBCN. There aremany factors that affect the abundance of the seabirds in these areas, not theleast of which are water pollution, pressures from fishing andpredation anddisturbance by bald eagles. However, one of the greatest factors is disturbanceby people in the vicinity of the breeding colonies. While eagles may not bereadily influenced by our efforts, we can certainly try to do something aboutthe human aspects of the problem, So, the principal emphasis of the SeabirdSurvival Program will be to minimize human disturbance.

The program, being put in place by the FBCN between now and December2003, seeks to raise awareness of these significant seabirdpopulations amongthe boating and outdoor recreation communities, as well as the generalpublic. Viewing guidelines for the areas will be developed and an informa-tive brochure - based on those guidelines - will be designed. The nextstep is to conduct an outreach program in the communities mat have themost impact on the IBAs and surrounding areas. These would include sea

kayakers, whale watching and ecotour operators as well as marinas and thegeneral boating community.

A copy of the IBA Conservation Plan for the five South Vancouver IslandIBAs can be reviewed at the FBCN office. Our contractor for this project isBruce Whittington. If members have questions or suggestions for Bruce,please direct them to him through the FBCN office.

We particularly want to acknowledge the principal funding that made thisprogram possible - major grants from the TD Friends of the EnvironmentFoundation, the Canadian Nature Federation's Community Action Fundand the Vancouver Foundation. The FBCN will provide the balance of thefunding required to match the grant from the Vancouver Foundation. Thesefunds are provided from the annual grant we receive for conservation fromthe BC Naturalists' Foundation.Jeremy McCall is the president of the FBCN and always keen to take ina hip that involves sea-birding.

Herbal Arthritis Formulafor treatment of arthritis

The movement of the muscles,joints and limbs constitutes the active

life of the body. Excellent results.

BC Naturalist

A voice for species at risk: The British ColumbiaConservation Data Centre

By Jenifer Penny

A ccurate information on the rare elements of/\y is essential in order to manage

L \and protect both individual species and thecommunities in which they live.

Compiling and disseminating informationon rare and endangered species and ecosystemsis at the heart of what the British ColumbiaConservation Data Centre does. Each specialtygroup - Botany, Ecology, and Zoology - withinthe CDC conducts annual risk assessments of theplants, animals or communities that may beendangered, threatened or of special concern.

Each year, species are ranked as to their conservation status in BC toproduce two lists. (Some new species may be added; others may be deemedno longer at risk.)

The Red list includes species or communities that are threatened orendangered - the most critical category - or those that have been extir-pated or may be extirpated in the province. The Blue list includes speciesor communities that are considered vulnerable, i.e. those not immediatelythreatened but that are of special concern because of characteristics thatmake them particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events.

While the CDC provides expertise and guidance for recovery planning, itdoesn't actively manage species or function in a stewardship role. The CDCis involved with some site monitoring, but only to obtain data that mightbe useful in determining conservation status. Ideally, the CDC would preferto monitor ail at-risk occurrences but there are limited staff resources.

Inventory work provides the foundation for the data that we manage. Newinformation based on intensive specific inventories of species at risk helps usmore accurately assess their status in the annual updates. These inventoriesare especially useful in identifying species that may be more abundant manpreviously known. If we can downlist those species, it reduces workloads forthose people who must identify, assess and manage for species at risk. TheCDC is also responsible for inventory standards for rare species.

The CDC is a member of NatureServe, an international network of NaturalHeritage Programs and Conservation Data Centres. NatureServe provides a

Quantum Leaps Guest House & Adventure LodgeA very unique private riverside retreat in Golden, BC. We offer a well ap-pointedlodge,cozycottagesandtraditionaltipis.Activitiesincluderafting,horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking and wildlife watching.

Complete your day in our hot tub, relaxing in the glow of a CanadianRockies' sunset.

Visit our website: www.quantumleaps.caTo book your backcountry holiday package,

email info@quantumleaps.ca

or call toll-free at: 1-800-716-2494

framework for members that includes software andguidelines for managing conservation data as wellas training, technical support and opportunities toshare information.

CDC staff field requests from a variety of usersincluding government (of all levels), special inter-est groups and industry. Our main clients are in theprovincial public service, especially the Ministry ofSustainable Resource Management (to which CDCbelongs) and the Ministry of Water, Land and AirProtection-

Over the years, the CDC has produced a numberof publications and research tools, including eight volumes Of BC's vascularflora, many status reports, species at risk brochures, custom reports andmaps. Recently, we launched a web tool that aids in searching out informa-tion on species at risk. The CDC will soon launch another web-based tool tohelp in searches for detailed records for a given species or a study area.

The CDC's biological scope includes mammals, birds, amphibians,reptiles, freshwater fish, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, vascularplants and nonvascular plants (mosses and lichens). As well, the centretracks forest, grassland and wetland plant communities and maintains theBig Tree Registry for the province.

There are other groups that the CDC would like to start tracking, in-cluding freshwater molluscs, marine benthic invertebrates, tiger beetles,stoneflies, marine fish, seaweeds as well as alpine and other non-forestedecosystems.

Budget constraints, however, mean that we can'tyet look at these groupswhich would allow us to more thoroughly report on the province's truebiodiversity.

Recent changes have also meant that the CDC has been downsized andits focus shifted. CDC staff are to act as information specialists on at-riskplant and animal species and plant communities and will not be gatheringdata in the field.

This means that the CDC will be depending more on contributions fromfield observers. So, we'd ask anyone working in the field in any region of BCto use the lists provided on our website to help identify potential new locationsor to update known records of species or plant communities.

CDC staff are always happy to assist in inventory planning and identify-ing rare species. Detailed instructions are also available at the ResourceInformation Standards Committee website at http://smiwww.gov.bc.cayrisc/standards.htm.

Without this continued input, keeping the Red and Blue lists currentand meaningful will be difficult. Our data is provided free of charge and isavailable to anyone who requests it.

Jenifer Penny is a botanist with the BC Conservation Data Cmtre mVictoria.

10 BC Naturalist

Conservation ReportBy Bev

Successful Gathering forVolunteer Ecological Reserve Wardens

The FBCN, together with Friends of Ecological Reserves (FER), organizeda Gathering for Ecological Reserve volunteer wardens, Sept. 5th to 7th inKamloops. The Gathering was well attended (55 people) and began withan inspirational talk by Rick Searle, (author and co-host of EnviroMentalon The New VI television). On Saturday, an informative presentation wasgiven by Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection Assistant Deputy MinisterNancy Wilkin.

Throughout the weekend, recommendations were developed on how toimprove communication between WLAP and wardens, between wardens andthe public and how to encourage new wardens. Management issues andconcerns were discussed. Look for a full report in the next BC Naturalist.FBCN and FER wish to thank sponsorship from Ministry of Water, Land andAir Protection and from Tides Canada Foundation - Endswell Fund, andassistance from the Kamloops Naturalist Club.

Identified WildlifeElaine Golds represents FBCN on the Provincial Identified WildlifeManagement Strategy. She reports that after almost four years of work, thereports are now in their final draft. Electronic copy is available from theFBCN office. The document is 824 pages long and contains 81 reports onprovincially red- and blue-listed species affected by forest or range manage-ment on Crown land.

Each of the 81 species reports summarizes the status, life history, distribu-tion, and habitats of identified wildlife and outlines specific prescriptions formanaging their habitats,

Responses to our resolutions:Here's an update on some of the responses received to the ten FBCN resolu-tions passed at the Kamloops May AGM. Space limitations in this issue don'tallow us to report all the responses. More, including responses to the fiveresolutions that fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Water Land andAir Protection, will appear in the next issue.

Full copies of these resolutions, covering letters, and response letters areavailable by contacting the FBCN office.

1 Reinstate Nature Interpretation - details to come2 Moratorium on Oil & Gas Exploration & Marine Protected areasThe Prime Minister's office replied, thanking us for our correspondence.

The Premier of BC replied to the protection of marine areas by stating he hadasked the Honourable Joyce Murray to reply. More details to come.

3 Phase-Out of Single Hulled Oil TankersThe assistant to the federal Minister of Transport replied at length stating

that the federal government requires all new tankers to be double-hulledand all existing single-hulled tankers to be phased out. Older single-hulledtankers now face both an enhanced survey program and a condition-assess-ment scheme, the aim of which is to ensure the structural integrity of thosevessels. At the international level, proposals have been made to advance theschedule forphasing-outsingie-hulled tankers. Transport Canada will assesswhether further domestic initiatives are required.

4 Fish Farming

RameyMinister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries John van Dongen replied in

a detailed two page letter. On sea lice, he states: "To date, there has beenno conclusive evidence mat closing down the aquaculture industry in theBroughton Archipelago would result in a change in natural sea lice levelsin the area." He also notes that: "All active salmon farms are inspected aminimum of once per year by Provincial inspectors... Spot audits are alsoperformed". On siting of farms, he reports that all sites were evaluated andthat in the 1999 '"first wave' of site evaluations, 11 farms were notified torelocate to more suitable sites. The 'second wave' in 2001 identified a further30 farms that were inappropriately sited. All of these farms have now movedor are in the process of researching and identifying better sites."

On closed containment he notes that "currently, the economic costs ofshifting to a closed-containment standard are prohibitively high", but thatthe government does ''support research into alternative and innovativeapproaches".

The federal Minister of Fisheries Robert Thibault replied, "Let me assureyou that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is committed to ensuring thatits regulatory responsibilities under the Fisheries Act, the Navigable WatersProtection Act, and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act are satisfiedbefore issuing any regulatory approvals for new aquaculture sites.'' He notesthat "owners of fish farms are now required to implement a monitoringprogram to ensure compliance with section 35 of the Fisheries Act. He alsoreports that "there have been no reported cases or scientific evidence" oftransfer or spread of disease from open-net farmed fish to the wild fishery.On closed containment, the federal government also "continues to supportinitiatives to develop this and other green technologies that will improve con-tainment for farmed fish.'' DFO is involved in reviewing proposals to relocatepoorly-sited fish farms. He reaffirms that DFO is committed to safeguardingwild stocks and ensuring the wise use of aquatic resources.

5 Provincial Protection for Species at Risk - details to come6 MarbledMurrelet Recovery - details to come7 Protect Integrity of Ecological Reserves - details to come8 Lower Fraser River Dykes and Shoreline - details to come9 Sale of Crown Land Lake Lots on Okanagan Reservoir LakesMinister of Sustainable Resource Management Stan Hagen replied mat

a contract has been awarded to Lakeshore Environmental Ltd. to conducta study of the potential impacts that the possible sale of the leases mayhave on water quality. Affected local governments were invited to assist inestablishing appropriate terms of reference for the study and also will havethe opportunity to review and comment on the final report.

10 Spotted Owls and Lillooet LRMPMinister of Sustainable Resource Management Stan Hagen replied that:

"The government is currently considering a number of options to manageSpotted Owl, including a deferral of logging in active owl sites, and additionalprotection in the Lillooet area.. .Any decision would be an interim measure,pending completion of the recovery plan by the Spotted Owl Recovery Teamwithin two years." He notes that eight known sites of spotted owl activity havebeen documented in the Lillooet LRMP area since 1997.Bev Ramey is the Conservation Chair of the Federation of BCNaturalists,

BC Naturalist 11

Raising abandoned nestling and hatchlingbirds is as much art as it is a science.Think of it as a combination of the old-

fashioned art of commonsense and the scienceof modern wildlife rehabilitation.

Licensed care centres around BC are nowreviewing the results of a busy summer season.Trained staff and volunteers at Burnaby's WildlifeRescue Association of BC have handled morethan 1,000 juvenile birds since May, rangingfrom hummingbirds to herons, from mallardsto ravens.

A nestling finch eats likethere's no tomorrow.

While some of these juvenile birds were actu-ally inj ured or abandoned, many baby birds havebeen brought in by well-meaning individuals whodidn't realize that the parents were nearby.

"It's not unusual for baby birds to be leftalone while the parents forage for food," ex-plains Jackie Ward, team leader for the WildlifeRescue Association's care centre. "The presenceof humans might frighten an adult bird. So, itmight appear that the baby has been abandonedwhen in reality the parent is simply waiting forthe human to disappear.

"Our first approach," adds Ward, "is to see ifthe youngster can remain with its parents. Thisis the best option."

Fledglings (well-feathered baby birds that arenot quite ready to fly) are usually out of the nestand can be seen hopping around on the groundwith the parents nearby. The best thing to do,suggests Ward, is to keep watch of the juvenilebird - making sure that the area is kept clear ofcats - and wait for the parent to return. If onedoesn't make an appearance after a couple ofhours, then it's time to call a wildlife rehabilita-tion facility.

The first thing rehab staff do when a baby birdcomes in to a centre is to assess whether it actuallyneeds to be there.

"If we find the baby is healthy and theparents are near by, we'll encourage people toreturn it," says Ward. "Fledglings have a great

A fledgling robingets a second chance.

deal to learn from their parents - that is wherethey should be."

If it's decided that the bird does need care,staff will assess the young bird for dehydrationand injuries.

Hydration is key to a bird's health. Signs ofdehydration include sunken eyes, flak)' and/orwrinkly skin on the abdomen and excess mucousin the mouth. At this stage, it's also important todetermine the species and age of the bird so thata feeding regimen can be established. Youngerhatchlings and nestlings need to be fed ever}'15 minutes; fledglings need food every 30 to45 minutes.

Three formulas are used, depending on thespecies. The recipes have been developed byrehabilitators over the years and are continu-ally refined.

One of the most important nutritional ele-ments for young birds is the right balance ofcalcium and phosphorous. Birds that do nothave the right amounts of these elements candevelop a metabolic bone disease that results indeformed and fragile bones.

The young birds are continually evaluated asto their level of development. Each stage requiresdifferent food, different feeding techniques andhabitat. Hatchlings are kept in incubators; nest-lings are kept in buckets on heating pads; andfledglings are graduated to small flight cages.

In the wild, parents teach their babies first tofly and then to feed. In rehabilitation, the process

12 BC Naturalist

is reversed. As a result, the rearing process takes weeks rather than days. Oneexception is the fledgling crow, that can be on the ground for seven days ormore before it can fly.

As the birds grow, their diet gradually changes. The initial liquid diet issupplemented with insects. (Even seed-eating babies are fed insects by theirparents to ensure a high protein diet.) The birds in the care centre are handfed using toothpick-sized sticks. As they get older, they are shown food andare encouraged to look for it themselves. The change from being fed to self-feeding is gradual, similar to the human weaning process.

Once the birds are moved to outside aviaries, the objective is to make theenvironment and the food as natural as possible. Most birds will spend atleast seven to 10 days in the flight cages to ensure they are flying well beforebeing released. Birds are also checked pie-release to make sure their weightis good for their species and that their feathers are waterproof.

Where possible, the WRA will house similar species together. Mirrors aresometimes used to fool the birds into thinking they have company, tapesare played of same-species bird calls and, if necessary, birds may be sent toother rehabilitation centres so they can grow and learn from their own kind.Sometimes older birds raised in the Care Centre take on the task of feedingand socializing younger same-species birds.

When birds are young they are naive and unafraid of people. As theymature they develop a natural fear of people - a good thing. The WRAencourages mis by covering the cages with sheets and by training staff andvolunteers to care for the birds in a way that will ensure that birds do notimprint on people and thus retain their wild nature.

Our banding program has helped us identify a very good survival rate ofyoung birds reared in the Care Centre. Gulls and geese banded here havesurvived three, five, even 10 years. Jays and house finches raised at the WRA

VANCOUVERTELESCOPE CENTRE

optical instrumentssince 1978

birding and nature study binoculars and spottingscopes by bushnell and bausch &. lornb

VANCOUVER TELESCOPE CENTRE2565 YEW STREET, VANCOUVER, BQ V6K 4T7

TEL/FAX: 604-738-5717WWWVANCOUVERTELESCOPE.COM

have been recorded as breeding. In one instance, a fledgling robin that hadbeen attacked by a cat, treated and released was brought back again - fiveyears later. It was treated and released again.Nicky Fried Is the Communicatiom Manager for the Wildlife RescueAssociation of EC, which cares for injured, abandoned and pollution-damaged'wildlife. For more information on the WRA, check the websiteat www. luildliferescue. ca/ or call (604) 526-7275.

Join us on a 5-day all inclusive excursion in theBlackfish Archipelago

The 'Magnificent Seven'Marine Mammal Tour provides the

opportunity to gain deeper insight into thebehaviours and mysteries of our many

wonderful marine mammal species.

October 5-11 , 2003J^ __^. September 19 - 25, 2004

**** 1-800-665-3066

www.stubbs-island-com

B.C.'s First Whale Watching Company Established 1980

BC Naturalist 13

~Offshore oil and birds: Do they mix?

By Oonagh O'Connor

Fishermen tell stories aboutthe old days on the BritishColumbia coast when flocks

of birds were so dense that theydarkened the sky as they rose fromthe water. Such a sight, however, is be-coming rare on the coast. Throughoutthe 1990s, research showed dramaticdeclines in several species of marinebirds off Canada's West Coast, including asteady reduction in overwintering sea ducksand a decrease in shorebird populations thatmigrate along our coast. Researchers have alsofound fluctuations in the breeding patterns ofsome seabird species.

Possible explanations include changes in oceanicconditions, global wanning trends, El Nino events andhuman-related xtivities such as development, industrialpollution and pesticide use. While scientists struggle to un-derstand these declines in BC's coastal bird populations, anotherpotential threat looms.

This fall and winter the federal government will review its 30-year mora-torium on BC offshore oil and gas. A panel of scientific experts will conducta review to be followed by a series of public hearings that are expectedto be complete by next spring. At that point, federal Minister of NaturalResources Herb Dhaliwal will make a decision about whether to maintaindie moratorium on offshore oil and gas.

Living Oceans Society, a marine conservation organization located inSointula, has spent the last three years researching the offshore oil and gasindustry and its implications for coastal communities and marine ecosys-tems. Our findings raise concerns about the possible impacts of introducingan offshore oil and gas industry to the British Columbia coast. Among otiierissues, the implications for the birds of coastal BC are serious.

Feathered friendsAs an integral part of the coastal marine environment, seabirds are common-ly used as indicators for the health and conditions of the marine ecosystem.Indeed, a 1997 provincial government report found that' 'seabirds are amongthe most 'charismatic' and sensitive categories of organisms associated withBC's marine environment. Because of their high position within food chains,they are vulnerable to marine-borne pollutants and to major changes in theabundance of other organisms that constitute their prey."

The Canadian Wildlife Service estimates that more than 5.6 millionseabirds breed at more than 500 locations along the coast. (Researchersestimate that the breeding portion of the seabird population represents lessthan 50 percent of the entire population.) BC's coast offers essential habitatfor marine birds, some of which are threatened or endangered. For example,40 percent of the world's population of ancient murrelets and 70 percent ofthe world's Cassin's auklets depend on the health of the coastal waters for

BC's marbled murrdetpopulation accounts for 20 to30 percent oftbe worldbreeding population.It is red-listed in BC andconsidered ilyreatened in all ofCanada by CQSEWIC.

ritishColumbia

Off the coast ofBritish Columbia,more than ninemillion hectares havebeen leased to oil and gascompanies, prior to anyenvironmmtal assessment or FirstNations consultation. Map courtesy of JeffArdron, Living Oceans Society.Photo: T. Znrowski

food and shelter. Half of the global population of Barrow's goldeneye usesBC's coast during molting and wintering.

Although much remains unknown about the population dynamics ofsea ducks, one trend that puzzles scientists is their continued decline. "Thecause of the declines are entirely obscure," said researcher Ron Ydenberg,in an interview, "but data shows the declines to be so steady, for so long andin so many species."

Our coast is also critical habitat for a variety of shorebirds as well as amain migratory route for billions of birds each spring and fall. While detailedinformation on shorebird populations is lacking in BC, indications are thattwo-thirds of the population is in decline. The cause is not fully understood,but diere are concerns about their health and protection, their habitat andtheir migratory stopovers.

14 BC Naturalist

In the last 20 years, efforts have increased to better understand and protectbirds that inhabit the coast of British Columbia. One such attempt is thecollaborative effort by BirdLife International, Canadian Nature Federation,the Federation of BC Naturalists, Bird Studies Canada and others to identifyImportant Bird Areas (IBA's).

Important Bird AreasAn Important Bird Area (IBA) refers to a siteproviding essentialhabitat for oneor more speciesof breeding or non-breedingbirds. IBAs have been identified all over Canada,including coastal British Columbia. The area leased to oil and gascompanies overlaps with 57 IBAs and goes right through the Pacific Flyway,the main migration pathway in Western North America for millions ofbirds.

The Skidegate Inlet IBA on the Queen Charlotte Islands (also known asHaida Gwaii), for example, supports globally and nationally signifi-cant populations of migratory birds. Black brant gather in thethousands and 37 species of shorebirds have been recorded ^during migration.

Because the BC coast is such a haven for birds,conservation groups, scientists and naturalistsare working to understand their habitatneeds and to protect the birds. Given themany unknowns in this area of study, itis disconcerting that the provincial andfederal governments are considering lifting the rnoratoria on offshore oiland gas development.

One Canadian Wildlife Service report identified the possibility of resum-ing offshore oil exploration on the BC coast as "a significant concern forseabirds".

Birds and Oil: Do they mix?All evidence suggests that oil and birds are a deadly combination.

Seabirds are among the most obvious and dominant victims of oil spills,Species most likely to be affected are alcids such as murres and murreiets,diving ducks such as scoters and mergansers, tubenoses such as shearwatersand others.

The Exxon Valdez oil spill killed an estimated 275,000 birds - at least8,400ofwhichweremarbledmurrelets. The 1988 Nestucca spill off the WestCoast of Washington State killed between 30,000 and 40,000 murres andCassin's auklets residing off northern Washington and Vancouver Island.More recently, the sinking of the tanker Prestige off the coast of Spain resultedin the death of thousands of seabirds.

While major spills are an obvious concern, small spills can be equallydevastating though perhaps less obvious. Research shows that it only takesa small drop of oil - no bigger than a dime - to kill a bird. Hundreds ofsmall spills already occur annually in BC, mainly from boat traffic and fuelbarges. Establishing an offshore oil and gas industry will only increase therisk of more spills.

Hibernia, operating off the coast of Newfoundland since 1997 has reportedat least 92 small spills. Elsewhere, in US waters, more than 8,350 incidents

Toe commonis one qthat overunnters inEC'scoastal'waters.

spilled more than 3,250 tonnes of oil during 2000. Of those, 96 percent weresmall spills of less than a third of a tonne.

Oil kills birds in a variety of ways. It can break down the insulatingproperties of a bird's feathers leading to hypothermia. Once ingested, oil candamage a bird's liver, kidney and lungs. Oil on the feathers of an incubat-ing bird can also pass through eggshell pores and either kill the embryo orcause abnormalities.

Harlequin ducks, almost extinct on the East Coast from human intru-sion, can still be found on the West Coast. Scientists studying the long-termimpacts of oil spills found that the Exxon Valdez spill affected the stabilityand health of the harlequin ducks (both individually and as a population)as much as nine years after the spill occurred.

Offshore platforms and birdsWhile there are many reasons to be concerned about the impact of oil spillson coastal birds, there are also other issues regarding birds and offshore oiland gas development.

Seabirds are known to be attracted to large offshore structures such asoil drilling platforms. Studies have found that bird flocks were seven timesdenser within a 500m radius of a platform than flocks in the surroundingwaters. It is not clear why birds appear to be attracted to the rigs but light isthought to be one of the factors. For example, storm-petrels and shearwatershave been seen circling platforms and gas-flares for days until they die ofstarvation. They have also been seen flying directly into the lights and tooclose to the flares which has resulted in severe injury or death.

BC Naturalist 15

Bestway Tours presentsNature Tours for 2003-200$

Atrtarctica with Dave EraserExpedition cruise. &ef 26 -Jan 16/17, 2QOQ

Ptonama with Bruce Whittinqton•_•'Focus of? Binding Fsb 09 - 23, 2OW

* Valparaiso & Colon with Bristol FosterExpedition e raise April 05 - 21, 20&t-

with David Sr Lee KittferFocus on Nature. Sr Culture. May i5 - 29, 2QO1

Irafrrwf with Alan MorganFocus on Geology July 25 - August OSr 2OW

5vrfffbflrd with Biff Merilees/Dave StirlingExpedition cruise Aug 20- 27, 2Q&1

Zf*ehri»f with Mark HobsonFocus on Nature Painting August - Sept 2QQQ

NeH'fMffidlbrfKf with Kevin BeltExpedition cruise Sep 23 - Oft 02, 2OC$-

South Africa with Ron LongFocus on Photography September 200*1-

Betize/Cattao with Briony PennExpedition cruise Oct 19- Nov W? 20O3-

with Alison WattCruise $ Land November 200$

Indiccxtes tours in p&rt net-ship wtihCaptfano College Continuing Education

CapilanoCollege

TOUnS .5 5Jr.

BET'S dee nail Avenue .Su lLc, EC V5J 3MB

Cohtacfcjosephine by phone @o r by E-mail: Jose p h i ne'J? bestw ay. oo m

om (BC Reg #S 92}

According to researchers, there is a dangerous relationship betweenCanadian offshore oil platforms and birds but the degree, nature and extentof the bird mortality has never been assessed.

How to get involvedAs the federal government gathers public input on lifting the oil and gasmoratorium, it is important that concerned individuals speak out. Anessential point to raise is that existing offshore leases were granted to oilcompanies more than 30 years ago, long before environmental assessmentsand ecological evaluations were considered.

Today, we know that sea duck populations are in decline and that scien-tists do not fully understand why. However; scientists have gained a muchbetter understanding of the devastating long- and short-term impacts of oilon birds. Do we want to increase the risks with development of an offshoreoil and gas industry?

We urge you to attend a public hearing in or near your community.Watch oilfreecoast.org/press.htm for up-to-date information. Also writeto your MP and MIA expressing your opinion regarding an offshore oil andgas industry in BC.

You can also help by contributing data to add to our knowledge of birdsthrough the Birds of Canada data collection process. For more information,see the website tiwww.ibacanacki.com/invQlve.html

Or help with the beached bird surveys to help monitor the causes and num-bers of beached birds on BC's coast. For more info, see ivww. bsc-eoc. orgAuthor Oonagh O'Connor holds a BSc Degree in Biology andEnvironmental Science. She works as a researcher for LivingOceans Society in Sointula and can be reached by email atOonagh @lnnngoceans. org.

References and further reading• Burger, A.E. 2002. Conservation assessment of marbled murreletsin British Columbia: A review of the biology, populations, habitat as-sociations and conservation. Technical Report Series 387. CanadianWildlife Service, Pacific Yukon Region, British Columbia.www.sfu.ca/biology/wildberg/bertram/mamurt/PartA.pdf• Burger, A.E. 1992. The effects of oil pollution on seabirds off the westcoast of Vancouver Island. In: Vermeer, K. Butler, R, Morgan K eds.Theecology and status of marine and shoreline birds on the west coastof Vancouver Island. Occasional paper No. 75. Ottawa, ON: CanadianWildlife Serviec; 120-128.• Dale, N.G. 1997. An overview and strategic assessment of key con-servation, recreation and cultural heritage values in British Columbia'smarine environment. Prepared by ESSATechnologies Ltd., Vancouver, BC104 pp. http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/dss/coastal/mpa3b.htmttc23• Esler. D.,T. Bowman, K.Trust, B. BallacheyJ. Dean, S. Jewett, C. O'Clair.2002. Harlequin duck population recovery following the'Exxon Valdez"oil spill: progress, process and constraints. Marine Ecology ProgressSeries. Vol. 241:271-286, 2002.• Gaston, Anthony. 2003. Pacific and Yukon Region: Bird Trends: areport on results of national ornithological surveys in Canada. CanadianWildlife Service. www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/birds/news/bt99/ins6_e.cfm• Huettmann, F. 2002. Appendix 16B. Considerations for Seabirds inWestern Canada, British Columbia, in regards to Offshore Gas and

"Oil" continued on page 28

16 BC Naturalist

Secret Places: The Drylands of the Fraser CanyonBy Terry Mclntosh

A few decades ago, while pursuing elusive dryland bryo-/\s for my PhD, I decided to take a field trip into the

L iFraser River valley northwest of Clinton. Up to that time,I had focused all of my work in the south-central arid areas ofthe province, from Cache Creek to Osoyoos. But since someonehad put a burr in my ear about these lesser-traveled dry areas,off I went.

I took a left just past Clinton onto the Big Bar Lake Road intoforested country, then followed the Canoe Creek Road towards theFraser. After passing across open, rolling countiy and through afew steep, wooded valleys, I reached the high point on the roadabove the Fraser River and was taken aback by the vista. Vastflats of shrub-steppe habitat stretched out before me, interspacedbetween some of the steepest bare valley walls and scree slopesmat I had ever seen.

I drove down the road that follows the east side of the Fraserdirough the sagelands, finally dropping down to the Gang Ranchbridge. I stopped and collected quite a bit, but was constantly dis-tracted by the scenery. The extent of mis dry corridor left a distinctimpression, but I also kept thinking about the similarities to parts south.

I have been back many times, both for work and pleasure - even ridinga horse onto the distant McGhee Flats, led by my friend Fred Knezevich.Yet I am constantly surprised at how few people seem to visit or even knowabout the area. It is not often mentioned in popular travel or natural historybooks for the province.

This part of BC is relatively straightforward to explore, although goodtires and brakes, a full gas tank, lots of water, and a hand lens to examinemosses and lichens are necessary. Also, none of the roads are paved, someof the roads can be extremely slick after a rain and a great deal of cautionis required when driving during and following wet periods.

Once across the Gang Ranch bridge, there are two different explorationroutes for the area. One is south into the fairly new Churn Creek ProvincialPark. This park contains not only crown land, but also private land onceowned by Empire Valley Ranch and purchased by the provincial governmentin 1998- Along this route, there are many places to get out of your vehicleand explore both up, over, and down slopes, but you must turn around beforeyou come to the Empire Ranch.

Or you can choose to go north from the Gang Ranch bridge. Head upslopeand along the road through the ranch, past their buildings and hayfields.Stay to the right of the hayfields, cross Gaspard Creek and take a right at aY-junction. Continue across the wide flats until you cross a forest creek draw.Here, the roadforks again. Take the left fork that almost immediately crossesa cattleguard, then takes you over Saddle Horse Mountain along 2700 Road.At a stop sign, turn right onto 2200 Road, a major gravel road that takes youto 2000 Road. Continue northeast and soon you'll descend into spectacularFanvell Canyon, where Farwell Creek meets up with the Chilcotin River.

The canyon is a "must see" destination. Hoodoos carved from the siltsand till and a large sand dune are the most distinctive features in this steep,eroding landscape.

Farwell Canyon is more easily accessed from the north. West of WilliamsLake, it is located some 20 kilometres south of Riske Creek along 2000 Road(Farwell Creek Road). Just past the store at Riske Creek, turn south onto thewide but often dusty road and drive into an expanse of rolling rangelands,much of them beginning to be encroached and covered by trees. Gradually,the road veers southwest and passes a rough road to the east mat headsinto Junction Sheep Range Provincial Park. (Another area of abject beautyand the site where two of the province's mightiest rivers, the Fraser and theChilcotin, merge and send their waters coastward.)

Just past this turnoff, the road begins its sharp and switchback-filleddescent into the valley. The vegetation changes from grasslands to shrub-steppe, with big sagebrush dominating much of the landscape. The roadflattens out somewhat in places before reaching Farwell Canyon bridge.Across it and to the right is a flat parking area where some of the best viewsof Farwell can be seen.

If you look carefully in this desolate-looking area, you will see a diversityof wildlife. In 1981,1 saw a rubber boa on the roadside, although this is un-likely a common species here. The largest herd of California bighorn sheepin North America live in the area and are frequently seen, as are deer andthe occasional black bear. Grizzly bears have been spotted on Saddle HorseMountain. There are many species of birds and butterflies as well, and a bitof everything for everybody.Terry Mclntosh is a botanical and ecological consultant who ivorksmainly in seasonally dry environments from inferior shrub-steppeand grasslands to coastal Gamy oak ecosystems. He is also -is develop-ing a broad-spectrum image bank in order to pursue a career as aprint maker.

BC Naturalist 17

SOUTH CHILCOTINMOUNTAINS PARK

GUIDED HIKING RETREATS

SOUTHWESTERN BC

Located on the lee side of the Coast Mountains, theSouth Chilcotin Mountains lie within a transition zone.This favoured position produces a "Rainshadow", andthis means sunny skies and a dry climate. The area is

renowned for its bio-diversity with an abundance of wild-flowers that bloom May to September, and an outstand-

ing variety of wildlife.

Like true explorers, you and your licensed guide(s) accessthe alpine by foot. Unlike the granite ranges to the south,

our Chilcotin Mountains have rounded tops and broadU-shaped valleys. The glaciated shale terrain makes al-

pine hiking challenging yet achievable, and personal gearis transported for you.

Novice hikers are based out of our Ranch and hike dailyinto the alpine with our licensed guides. Seasoned hikerscan choose between one camp, or a series of our perma-

nent alpine camps.

Chilcotin Holidays is a Licensed Outfitter with a 5,000sq km operating area encompassing the new S. Chilcotin

Mountains Park and surrounding ranges.• 4 and 7 day all inclusive packages

• accommodation in our Ranch or alpine camp(s)• alpine camps are permanent and stocked• licensed wilderness guides and camp cook

• delicious dr hearty meals (vegetarian menus available)* stunning scenery * fossil-beds • wildlife

CHILCOTIN HOLIDAYSGun Creek Road, Gold Bridge, BC VOK IPO

Phone/Fax (250) 238-2274Website: www.chilcotinholidays.com

Your Federationis working for you

Letters SentJune 11/03-To Dave Sheffield of Timberlands and Properties, Weyerhaeuser. Re: EagleHeights grasslandsAugust 8/03~ To Premier Gordon Campbell. Re: Sale of Crown lands in BCAugust 8/03~ To Minister Joyce Murray, thanking her for the decision to NOT allow waterdiversion in Strathcona Provincial Park for power generation by BolidenMines in Strathcona Provincial Park

Letters ReceivedJune 26/03- From Premier Gordon Campbell. Re: Protection of marine areasJuly 4/03- From Minister John van Dongen. Re: FBCN fish farming resolutionJuly 9/03- From Fraser Basin Council. Re: Lower Fraser River dikes and shorelineJuly 14/03- From Minister Stanley B. Hagen. Re: FBCN resolution on sale of Crownland lake lotsJuly 24/03- From Minister Joyce Murray. Re: Strathcona Provincial Park decisionJuly 25/03- From Minister Stanley B. Hagen. Re: FBCN resolution on spotted owlsJuly 30/03- From Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Hounourable Robert G. Thibault,Re: FBCN resolution on single hulled oil ankers(Further details on letters responding to resolutions are provided in theConservation Report on page 11.)

Meetings Attended:May 29- Doug Walker & Jim Hope, Nature Trust of BC. Re: Fraser Valley wetlandsJune 17- Larry Wells, MWLAP. Re: BC Wildlife WatchJune 19- Canadian Nature Federation Annual General Meeting, Medicine Hat,AlbertaJune 26- Environmental Fund of British Columbia. Re: 2003/04 programJuly 4- Leading Edge Conference for Environmental Stewardship, VictoriaJuly 16- Eva Riccius, CPAWS. Re: Proposed project to reintroduce interpretation

programs in BC ParksOrganized September 5- Gathering of Volunteer Ecological Reserve Wardens, Kamloops. (Organizedby the FBCN in conjunction with the Friends of Ecological Reserves)

18 BC Naturalist

Budding Naturalists: 2003 Science Fair Winners

(ach year, studentsH across the prov-

Jince participatein science fairs. They'rea great way for buddingscientists to create origi-nal research or innova-tive projects which arethen displayed at variouslevels of competition,starting at school, thendistrict, then regionaland beyond.

In BC, there are 13 regional fairs that culminate in the province-wide BCRegional Science Fair held at Science World in Vancouver.

In addition to the gold, silver and bronze medal winners there are alsospecial awards sponsored by a variety of organizations. The Federation ofBC Naturalists sponsors a namesake award that is given to the best naturalhistory project done by a student (or students) in Grades 7-12 for exh region.The project can include studies of any aspect of natural history, conservationof natural habitats or the conservation of natural species. Each recipientreceives a certificate and $50.

Tliis year, seven award winners were chosen. (Some regions - the CentralInterior and the Yukon/Stikine - did not generate a suitable candidate. Otherregions - the North Okanagan/Shuswap, Northern Vancouver Island and theWest Kootenay/Boundary - did not have a regional science fair.)

Below, a bit more about the this year's winners and their projects:

Central Okanagan RegionMolly Harries, Grade 7, Holy Cross School, PentictonProject: What? No More Clean Water?

lam concerned about the amount of oil being spilled into the oceans. Iwanted to find a good way to get rid of it using dispersants. After I didmy trials I found out that the Plant Prod worked the best, then the lemonjuice and ammonium nitrate and then the ammonia,

Greater Vancouver RegionStephen Ellis, Grade 9, Handsworth Secondary, North VancouverProject: BC Bears... Are They Getting Their Rest?

The project looked at whether temperature affects the activity level dur-ing grizzly hear hibernation. Data was recorded from cameras insidetwo grizzly bear dens during hib&wation. I recorded the date, minutesawake and the average temperature that day. I compiled the data into apair of graphs, a day-by-day analysis and an ascending temperaturegraph, for each pair of bears.

I concluded that thebears are generallyless active during coldstretches and moreactive during warmtrends. Also, I concludedthat there is a "comfortzone" at which Grinderand Coola ivere mostrestful. I did notconclude a similarphenomenon with Canand Boo.

Pacific Northwest RegionLaura Duursma, Grade 7, Bulkey Valley Christian School, TelkwaProject: For the Birds

/ did this experimmt to determine whether chickadees would he morelikely to feed from brightly colouredfeedei*s. I built and painted a yellow,a green and a black feeder and filled them with seeds. I concluded thatthe yellow feeder attracted the most chickadees.

Cariboo/Mainline RegionKacie Young, Grade 6, Sacred Heart Elementary, Williams LakeProject: Something Fishy is Going on Around Here.No detailed description available.

East Kootenay RegionMelissa Starden, Grade 7, South Creston Elementary, CranbrookProject: Wolves, Packs and Rules.No details available.

Vancouver Island RegionKatrina Andres, Grade 10, St. Margaret's School, VictoriaProject: Effects of "Killex" on Soil OrganismsNo details available.

Fraser Valley RegionMrs. McAuliffe's Class, Barrowtown Elementary, AbbotsfordProject: Bird Feeder ProjectNo details available.

Northern BC RegionLaine Bowrassa, Grade 7, Ecole Frank Ross, Dawson CreekProject: Name not availableNo details available.

BC Naturalist 19

Book ReviewsLexicon of British Columbia Mammals -Classification, pronunciation, meaning

and derivation of wildlife names

by Peter QmmundsenThis is indeed an interesting little booklet that deliversexactly what the title states. In the opening chapter"Understanding Animal Names", information is pre-sented under such headings as Construction of Name,Synonyms, Homonyms and Heteronyms, Tautonyms,Authorship, Subspecific Names: Trinomials.

Some knowledge of these topics is important if we areto understand the systems in plxe, methods for clas-sifying and naming plants and animals. The authorcovers and explains these subjects, along with helpful

examples, in a manner mat is easily understood.The second chapter deals with the mammal species found in BC, in

phylogenetic sequence. In addition to the common name of each species,the meaning and pronunciation of each scientific name is presented alongwith some brief additional comments.

Occasionally, technical descriptive terms are used with which many natu-ralists might not be familiar. Also, considering the vast body of interestinginformation that could be drawn upon for each species, the level of coverageis somewhat disappointing and inconsistent from one species to the next.

For example, subspecies are mentioned in the opening chapter but neverin the species accounts. With the public fascination for bears, a brief mentionof our endemic Kermode bear and possibly the cinnamon bear would seemappropriate. These named colour variations, along with the glacier or bluebeat; are morphs of recognized subspecies of the black bear.

Over the past 20 or so years in BC, a series of publications has evolvedthat standardize scientific and common names for both plants and animals.Unfortunately, the Lexicon of BC Mammals has not followed the provincialformat (The Vertebrates of BC: Scientific and English Names, Version 3-0,2002, Resources Information Standards Committee).

In cross-referencing these two publications, there are considerable dis-crepancies in the order of presentation and the names used. While most ofdiese differences can be easily sorted out, following the provincial standardwould have been better.

FOR SALE20 - 60x zoom eyepiece

for Kowa 820 series scopesReplace at $450 or more

As new, in box, $350 firm, including shippingBruce at 250-477-8611 • fieldnat@padficcoast.net

For the serious naturalist this lexicon will be a big help in understand-ing the naming and meanings behind our provincial mammal fauna. It'sequally useful as a reference for writers and/or editors of club newsletters.Cape West Publ i sh ing , Saltspring Is land, BC 2002 $14.95- Book review by Bill Merilees

Vancouver, City on the Edge: Living with a dynamicgeological landscape

by John Clague and Bob TurnerSouthwestern BC is filled with all kinds of geological biis that pique die

interest of just about anyone who has ever stepped foot outdoors whether fora walk, hike, paddle, sail, birding or botanizing trip, whatever.

There are the huge erratic boulders in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park,die pock-marked chunks of lava that dot the trails of Garibaldi ProvincialPark, the magnificent monolith that is the Stawamus Chief, not to mentionthe superlative rock-and-ice scenery of the Sea to Sky corridor. But they'rereally just the dramatic end results of even more compelling processes.

Being an inveterate geology junkie, I've collected what books I could onlocal geology - the now out-of-print 1990 Vancouver Geology by Dr. JohnArmstrong, the classic 1975 Garibaldi Geology by Dr. William Matthews- and scoured what information I could from technical papers, websites,lectures and field trips. Imagine my level of covetousness then, when a fel-low Vancouver Natural History Society member showed up one night with afresh copy of Vewcouver, City on the Edge. It was all I could do to keep fromtucking it slyly into my briefcase and slipping out of our meeting room.

Now that I have had a chance to read the bookfrom start to finish, I'm notletting it out of my sight. John Clague and Bob Turner have done a master-ful job of writing about a subject mat is both vast and frequently steeped intechnical jargon. And they have done it in a way that helps the reader graspconcepts that often tend to the abstract - simply because many geologicalprocesses take place over such long periods of time or so far in the past.

The book is essentially a primer to the forces of nature within our regionand covers such topics as plate tectonics, glaciers, volcanism, mountainwatersheds, avalanches and earthquakes. Don't let the "Vancouver" in thetitle fool you; the book covers much more area than just the Big Smoke,stretching south to the Cascade Range volcanoes, north to the Coast Rangevolcanoes, west to Vancouver Island and east to the Hope Slide.

The book is filled with all kinds of maps, illustrations and photographsthat graphically show the reader what is being discussed, There are also anumber of sidebars within each chapter that delve further into a particularlyinteresting aspect of that chapter's subject. At times, it can be a bit tough totake it all in -1 found myself torn at times between reading each sidebar asit came or finishing the main text first and then flipping back to the sidebars.For a naturalist with an interest in geology, the book provides most of thebasics and provides some interesting insights in a lucid, well-illustrated wayIt's also a great way to introduce kids of all ages to the land that surroundsus. Vancouver, City on the Edge belongs on your shelf of essential BC naturebooks - just don't let it out of your sight.Tricouni Press, Vancouver, BC 2002 $27.95- Book review by Dawn Hanna

20 BC Naturalist

News for NaturalistsWonder Weed?

Usually considered a spiky nuisance to hikersand other outdoor enthusiasts, devil's club(Oplopanax horridus) is getting a second lookin Alaska.

The state parks division has been using it tomake natural "fences" to keep visitors from wan-dering offtrail. Landscape architects are plantingit next to office buildings as a native ornamental.But there is also a renewed interest in the use ofdevil's club as a medicine.

Traditionally, First Nations used parts of devil'sclub as a remedy for everything from stomxhaches to psoriasis to tuberculosis, For the pastthree years, one Alaska company - aided bygrants from the US Department of Agricultureand the National Science Foundation - has beenexperimenting with methods for harvesting theplant's bark and roots. Now company research-el's want to assess the plant's effectiveness againsttuberculosis.

Previous studies have associated the anti-tubercular properties of devil's club withpolyenes, pigment-producing molecules foundin some plants, said Guido Pauli, a research as-sociate professor at the Institute for TuberculosisResearch in Chicago. But other compounds maybe responsible. "We are really open to looking atanything," Pauli said.-National Geographic Today

New study shows 700-plusthreatened species unprotected

At least 223 bird, 140 mammal and 346 amphib-ian species threatened with extinction currentlyhave no protection whatsoever over any part oftheir ranges, according to the most comprehen-sive analysis of its kind of the world's protectedarea system.

In addition, many existing protected areasare so small in size as to be virtually ineffectivein conserving species, placing another 943, and

probably many more bird, mammal and am-phibian species, at risk. Without an immediateand strategic expansion of the protected areasystem, scientists expect a major wave of extinc-tions within the next few decades.

The "global gap analysis" provides an over-view of how well the world's species are covered bythe global network of protected areas. The studywas released by the Center for Applied BiodiversityScience (CABS) at Conservation International(CI) in a joint project with the lUCN-WorldConservation Union's World Commission onProtected Areas (IUCN/WCPA).

"This analysis clearly shows that there aresevere gaps in the protected area system," saidGustavo Fonseca, CI's Executive Vice Presidentfor Programs and Science. "Nevertheless, byidentifying the most urgent priorities that requireprotection and acting strategically and quickly,we still have a chance to save the vast majorityof these species."

fo t&e

THE 2ND ANNUAL CANADA TAIWAN BIRD FAIR, Oct. 24 - Nov. 10, 2003, VancouverPublic Library, 350 W. Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC. Proceeds will aid Young

Naturalists' Club of BC.

Main events:

Nov. 1; 11 a.m.-6 p.m- Opening Ceremonies> Welcome; Canadian and Taiwanese delegates> "Humans in the Web of Life", Dr. Rob Butler> "In Love with Mud", Andrea Pomeroy> "Songbird Cabaret", Kevin Bell, Simon Liao> Bird art, prizes*, music, winners of Silent Auction

Nov. 2; 1-5 p. m- Slide Presentations> "Birding in Taiwan", Simon Liao and Jo Ann MacKenzie> "Birding in Canada", Dr. Peter Candida and Hank Tseng

"Birding Around the World", keynote speaker Michael ToochinBird art, prizes*, music, winners of Silent Auction

*Prizes include Vancouver-Taipei return ticket, courtesy of EVA Air, value C$1450.

Nov. 8: 1-5 p.m: Videos of Nature in Taiwan> "Taiwan Has Stood Up", "Wild Birds of Taiwan", "Fairies On the Pond—Jacana and Neighbors", "Mikado

in the Mist"; Peter Chen, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Vancouver. Bird quiz by Rob Butler,Simon Liao, Jo Ann MacKenzie; prizes donated by Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

On-going'- Exhibitions of wild bird photography, wild bird paper relief sculpture, bird paintings. For further

details on events and speakers, please see our website: httf)'//WWW. CanadablrdfaJr. >

>>

BC Naturalist 21

BC Naturalists' FoundationHarnessing the financial resources of naturalists

By Jeremy McCall

f I 1he Board of Directors of the BC Naturalists' Foundation recently de-1 cided that the Foundation's priority for the immediate future must be

JL a concerted effort to grow its capital base using the resources whichare most readily accessible to it. And those resources are the estates of thoseof the 4,000 or so naturalists in the FBCN's member clubs who are at a stagein their lives when they have either made, or are about to make, a will.

We arrived at this position firstly because we badly need greater financialstrength and secondly because we have not yet done everything possible to"harness" the resources of naturalists themselves. Greater financial heftis needed because, whenever we have a really worthwhile conservation orenvironmental education project, we have to go cap-in-hand to financialinstitutions and other foundations to try to get grants for our project. Wedon't always succeed.

A case in point is the Young Naturalists' Club of BC. The YNC is an amaz-ing project in which some 500 families are now enrolled, with a total ofabout 1,500 youngsters involved in one way or another. So far it has reliedprimarily on the untiring volunteer efforts of one dedicated individual. Yeta project such as this cannot operate without outside funding and, untilvery recently, the only funding available was strictly hand-to-mouth fromvarious donors and institutions. Although the immediate financial future

of the WC has been secured at this time, the project could well end up inthat position again.

The YNC is not alone. Oilier equally deserving projects require fundingfrom time to time. Since we have the ability to do so we must assemble the re-sources required to fund that type of project or activity ourselves if we can.

You may well ask, where are these resources to come from? Have not someof our senior naturalists already made some provision for the Foundation intheir wills? The answer is yes, both our clubs and the Foundation have fromtime to time received generous bequests. However the emphasis should be onthe words "from time to time" because it is not a frequent event.

According to information obtained from the Leave a Legacy project, anorganization which provides information about charitable bequests and otherforms of planned giving, surveys have shown that as many as 70 percent ofCanadians do not even have wills and, of those that do, only about 7 percentmake any provision for charitable gifts in their wills. Take the VancouverNatural History Society with its 900 members as an example. In the pastfive years, it actually received the proceeds of just one bequest, albeit a mostgenerous one. I should also say that the club was recently notified abouttwo future potential bequests.

It is understandable that many members may only have modest estatesand that these individuals will want to leave those estates entirely to theirfamilies or other heirs. And that is as it should be. The persons I am reallyaddressing here are those who may have larger estates with, perhaps, an.interest in real property such as a house or an apartment. While these in-dividuals will still wish to leave the bulk of their estates to their families, itwould make comparatively little difference to each of their heirs if a smallfraction of the overall estate were to be left to the environment by way of aregistered charity.

This is especially the case because a gift or bequest to a registered charilyis eligible for a donation receipt for tax purposes and this can reduce theamount of tax payable in the final tax return of the deceased taxpayer. Inother words a significant part of a bequest to a registered charity would actu-ally be funded by the government! And just imagine the potential benefitsto the naturalist community if a registered charity such as the Foundationwere to receive a number of small bequests each year. In a very few years thecapital base would grow significantly and the Foundation's ability to fundnaturalists' conservation and education projects, which are its two primaryobjectives, would grow proportionately with the income derived from thatcapital base.

In the next issue of BC Naturalist we will provide more information onsome of the procedures involved in making and amending a will, as wellas the associated tax aspects of making bequests to registered charities, andwe will provide further details about the purposes of grants made and to bemade by the Foundation.Jeremy McCall is the chair of the BC Naturalists'Foundation and the pastchair of the Vancotww Natural History Society's Finance Committee.

22 BC Naturalist

President's messageBy Jeremy McCall

Iam writing this piece four months after visiting Nelson at Easter, threemonths after the FBGN's AGM in Kamloops, two months after attendingthe Canadian Nature Federation's AGM in Medicine Hat, Alberta, one

month after spending a week at the Vancouver club's summer camp at GhostPeak some 2,000 metres above Revelstoke and a few days after spending aweekend with the Ecological Reserve wardens in Kamloops. I am certainlythankful that the Coquihalla toll was not increased after all!

The point of all that is I have spent a good deal of time driving back andforth across BC's southern interior this summer, always a most enjoyableand instructive experience. And what a summer it was. We have gone fromdiscussing the theoretical pros and cons of forest fires in May to actuallywitnessing the burning of vast stretches of grassland and forest in August andSeptember. The outcomes of many of these fires have been devastating andupsetting for many of the local residents in the Okanagan, the Shuswap andthe East Kootenays and on behalf of you all I extend our sympathy to them.The patience and good humour they have shown as their lives were beingturned upside down has been extremely impressive. We must be thankfulthat there have only been two deaths reported to date.

The May Symposium on Dry Forest Ecosystems had much to say on thesubject of forest management and I am happy to be able to report that wewill not only have the brief reports on the symposium as a whole which areincluded in this issue, but we will be publishing the proceedings from thepresentations given during the symposium.

There is usually something to say about BC Naturalist and this issue isno exception. On behalf of all members I want to thank Terry Mclntoshfor acting as the Features Editor of the past three issues. He brought somevery fresh ideas to those issues. I also want to thank Melody Yiu, who hadjust stepped down as the production editor of the Vancouver club's journalDiscovery, for producing the Summer issue for us at short notice. The new BCNaturalist team is now in place, with Dawn Hanna as the content editor andJeff Swanson looking after production. Jeff is a self-employed graphics anddesign consultant who wants to give some of his time to an environmentalcause. He has already been a considerable help to us with the kinds of designwork we frequently need for some of the documents we issue or publish.

This next issue of BC Naturalist will contain a report on the Gathering ofEcological Reserve Wardens which took place in Kamloops on September6.1 really want to commend Eva Durance and Bev Ramey, as well as PeggyFrank of the Friends of Ecological Reserves, for coming up with the initiativeand making it happen. I was very proud to be associated with the FBCN'scontribution. The FBCN was, after all, one of the prime movers in gettingthe volunteer warden program initially established so it is only fitting thatwe do whatever we can to ensure that these volunteers are supported ap-propriately.

As BC Naturalist goes to press I have been told that more man 70 directorsand members have signed up for the Fall General Meeting and Conferencein Kimberley. I myself am very much looking forward to my sixth trip intothe southern interior this season.

Nature Store67 F R O N T S T R E E T * P E N T I C T O N

F O C U S I N G O N T H E

BAUSCH & LOMBELITE SPOTTING SCOPE

15-45 x 60mmmodel 62-1548p

'Compact design

• 100% waterproof,

fogproof & shockproof

*Lifetime warrantee* Fully multi-coated optics

Weighs only 26.5 oz/750 g

Renowned biologists John & Mary Theberge, authors of the bookWolf Country, Eleven Years Tracking the Algonquin Wolves, published

by McLelland & Stewart, say this about their Elite scope:

"Not all optics are the same.We found that the Bausch &

Lomb Elite provides outstand-ing sharpness, brightness, and

a clear image, even in low lightconditions. It is the best dual

purpose scope on the market.It's great for general use and |

backpacking."

Everything you needfor enjoying nature and the outdoors!

Bird feeders • Fountains & Garden Ornaments • Field Guides •

Nature Books • Puzzles • Cards • Shade-grown Coffee • Wild

Puppets • Games • Burl's Bees Bodycare • Binoculars • Scopes

We sponsor the Rare Bird Alert Line.If you see a rare one or want to see one,

call 250.491.7738

Tel: 250.492.7742Toll Free 1.866.848.7742

tumbleweed@img.net

BC Naturalist 23

Club ChatCompiled by

• The Kamloops Naturalist Club's annual picnic was held at the KaniloopsWildlife Park. Several club members went to Medicine Hat in June for theCanadian Nature Federation AGM and Conference. Afew field trips were heldduring the summer including a trip by chairlift up Sun Peaks to view themagnificent display of wildflowers the week before the McLure fire started.The first meeting of the Young Naturalists Club starts in September.• The Ullooet Naturalist Society has become a fully-federated club and isnow 13 members strong. Members have lots of ideas and enthusiasm but theclub is still a little short on time and money. The annual meeting included atalk from one of the First Nation area experts and a slide show by two localphotographer/explorers. The club hopes to have a new member attend thefall meeting in Kimberley. There is also interest in the YNC.• The Williams Lake Field Naturalists: The Scout Island Nature Centreprovided services to visitors throughout the summer. President FredMcMechan reports that the club employed four university students and acoordinator to help present nature programs to children and to act as hoststo tourists from many parts of the world.• Nanaimo Field Naturalists have been removing purple loosestrife fromButtertubs Marsh in August. Bill Merilees represents the club as chairman ofthe committee working hard in instituting a new plan for die marsh,

English ivy is permeating the garry oak meadow at Pipers Lagoon. JohnButterworth has worked out a plan with the city for club work parties toremove the ivy during the next few months.

Maria Hamann• The Victoria Natural History Society had abusy summer. Club memberswere involved with Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT), the capital region's landtrust organization. Through the "Good Neighbours" project, landownersare contacted and given suggestions on such nature-friendly initiatives asmaintaining native trees and natural areas, adding native plants and habitatfeatures to the garden, reducing the amount of water used, eliminating pes-ticides and chemical fertilizers and composting. Other stewardship optionsare made to landowners. They are left with a comprehensive informationpackage and asked to sign a Voluntary Stewardship Agreement, statingtheir commitment to environmental stewardship. Voluntary Stewards arealso awarded a stewardship sign, to proudly post on their property, lettingfriends and neighbours know that they care about our region's natural areas.Funding from the TD Friends of the EnvironmentL was used by the VNHSto help HAT pay for these "Environmental Steward" signs.

Club members continue to install interpretative signs at EsquimaltLagoon. The lagoon is the only area in the Capital Region designated as an"Important Bird Area", so it is particularly fitting mat VNHS has contributedin this way. The club will be seeking additional signs for other locationsaround the lagoon. Rick Schortinghuis led two natural history field trips overto the Olympic Peninsula to visit Hurricane Ridge and Cape Flattery.• Burke Mountain Naturalist member Kiyoshi Takahashi was busy thisspring and summer recording local bird songs, which he has compiled on

To Portuguese sailors in the 16lh century, it was Ilha Formosa, "Beautiful Island", because of itsforested beauty. Taiwan, about the size of Vancouver Island, still has beautiful forested mountains.To the visitor, Taiwan could also be called a "land of smiles" because of its friendly people.

For birders, Taiwan offers Formosan Whistling-Thrush, Steere'sLiocichla, Taiwan Barwing, White-eared Sibia, Taiwan Yuhina, TaiwanMagpie, White-whiskered Laughingthrush, the elegant Swinhoe's andMikado Pheasants...just some of Taiwan's unique endemic birds. On ourMarch 2003 trip, we saw 147 species; 13 of the 15 endemics and the globallythreatened Black-faced Spoonbill. Other treats included Malayan Night-

Heron. Collared Finchbill, Black-browed Barbet, Formosan Rock-monkey and exquisite orchids.Taiwan is a safe country, with good infrastructure, classic mountain scenery, a strong conservation

movement, friendly people, wonderful food, and much more to offer the eco-tourist.

The next trip will be November 10-18, 2003, with expert birders Simon Liao and Wu Ten-DLGroup size: 10 participants, with 2 leaders.

Trip cost, from Vancouver, is CAD $3800 (double); $4JOO (single). Thanks to support fromthe Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society, we can offer the trip at this low cost.

For more information (November itinerary or trip report and bird list from March 2003), contact SimonLiao, 5560 Linscott Court, Richmond, BC, V7C 2W9, e-mail: simonliao624@ho_tmaiLcom, phone 604-272-9717.

good 0ifd$, good fft**d$, good food/

24 BC Naturalist

CD. Noted naturalist Al Grass provides introductory remarks, and the CDcomes with a small booklet outlining key identification tips. The CD will beavailable through BMN in time for Christmas. This project is part of BMN'sfundraising to support its educational activities. For more information, pleasesee BMN's new website tiuvww.bmn,bc,ca. Also over the summer, Kiyoshiand other BMN members monitored the small (but growing) populationof purple martins that have occupied nestboxes located off Port Moody'sshoreline since 1996. It was a successful year, with 17 young martins fledged(up from 5 fledged last year). Most of the young birds were banded for futuremonitoring.• The Central Valley Naturalists had a huge turnout for their annualspring picnic held at the great blue heron reserve in Chilliwack. Summerwalks were held every Wednesday evening at various central valley locations.The club now has a website at www. cmtmlvalleynaiuralists, org.

Monthly meetings will now be held at McCallum Activity Centre onMcCallum Road, starting the 2nd Wednesday evening in September. Speakersfor the monthly meetings have not been finalized, however a very excitingslate of field trips has been organized to destinations such as Bowen Island,Pacific Spirit Park, Lynn Valley Headwaters and Capilano Fish Hatchery.

Members are preparing for the final phase of the National Energy Boardhearings in September regarding the proposed SE2 power plant. Sadly, dedi-cated, long-serving, very active members Sylvia and Keith Pincott have movedfrom Abbotsford. We wish mem well in their new Pender Island home.• This summer a crew from the Comox Valley Naturalists did much workin the Courtenay River Estuary again. Purple loosestrife was found in lowernumbers, with fewer large plants and many more smaller plants. Think of

it this way - we prevented a possible two million seeds multiplied by 6,500plants from contaminating the estuary!

Headed by Ernie Sellentin and assisted by Heather West (a MalaspinaCollege graduate), workers broadened their invasive species targets by attack-ing yellow-flag iris, blackberry and knotweed. A sad setback was the theft ofthe Ernie's boat and motor from the Courtenay Marina. Fred Constable hasbeen doing a plant inventory of the Courtenay River Estuary.

Funding from the Regional District has grown with new money thisyear from Canadian Nature Federation (IBA) as well as InternationalForest Products. A full report of this project is available on our website atwww. comoxualleynaturalist. be. ai

The crew has also helped with eradicating broom in the Courtenay Airpark,on the Estuary. They watered native plants planted by members under FrankHovenden's guidance in creating a Garry oak meadow.

The daily fall bird migration count is well under way. No hotline discover}'yet, but we are keeping our eyes and ears open.• The Young Naturalists' Club has new clubs in Venion and Penticton(YNC North Okanagan and YNC South Okanagan) that got off to a roaringstart. Regine Pasquier is the North Okanagan leader. Arlene Reid, who gotthe club going, has unfortunately become ill and has had to step down. Herplace is being taken by Tanya Westby whose family recently joined YNC.

YNC Kamloops plans to begin activities in the next few months. YNCVictoria is currently without a leader. Volunteer(s) urgently required for thisposition. Eltliea Dale (Oceanside), Alison Bakker (Nanaimo) and I are tomake a presentation on YNC to the Comox Valley Naturalists on Sept. 21,wecertainly look forward to mat. YNC now has its own T-shirts for sale by YNCleaders to club members.

ARIZONA IN FEBRUARY - JfflBOtt OF THE AMERICAN HBTArizona is home to some of the most unique and famous landscapes in the world. Thetour is an introduction to its landscapes and life zones.Join us for a mid-winter tour to the blue skies, mild temperatures and fascinating desertsof this famous state.

SONORAN DESERT

CANYON cle CHELLY CHIRACAHUA MOUNTAINS

"Tony, there is no better way to have visited Arizona than with you. TharuVyou".Mr.&Mrs.PW. -February 2003 participants."Fabulous scenery and a very spiritual experience. The tour was well thought out andgreat fun...A truly memorable trip Tony. Many thanks". -Mr. M.J. 2003 participant.

14"24th February 2004Cost: approx. $1950 CAD (from Phoenix) Leader: Tony Greenfield

(Pres, Sunshine Coast Natural History Soc. Past Pres, BC Field Ornithologists)

WHISKEYJACK NATURE T<Box 319, Sechelt, BC, VON 3AO

TEL: 604-885-5539E-M: grcenfieldtony@hotmail.com

BC Naturalist 25

Notices

Raptor Alert! - Falconrymanagement in BC

The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection recently published recom-mendations for the use of raptors for falconry in BC. These will be used tointroduce regulations and eventually to amend the Wildlife Act. Among othertilings, the recommendations could involve the following:• The classification of all captive-bred raptors as domestic animals to removethem from the jurisdiction of the Wildlife Act• Licensing the capture and possession of certain species of wild raptorsfor falconry• Provisions for the banding of blue-listed raptors• Allowing the use of wild passage bald and golden eagles for falconry• Allowing the use of great horned owls for falconry; and• Restrictions on the harvesting of Peale's peregrine falcons

The FBCN has been asked to provide comments on these recommendationsby October 31. To do this we need comments from any of our members havingknowledge of the abundance and habits of the raptor species affected.

To coordinate the FBCN response we would appreciate comments frommembers by October 14. Copies of the recommendations can be obtainedfrom the FBCN office. For more information please contact Jeremy McCallthrough the FBCN office or flt.jmccall@h8lJx.net

LJIS L>O V h KY Open Subscription Form

We are now Differing subscriptions to readers everywhere, without the obligation of membership in theVancouver Natural History Society. (Members of the society will, of course, continue to receive theirjournal as part of their membership.)

Name :

Address:

E-mail :

Subscription enclosed: Q $7.50 for one issue G $15 for two issues

Please mail this to:The Editor, Discovery, 4635 Bellevue Drive, Vancouver, BC, V6R 1E7 Canada, with your cheque or money order payableto Vancouver Natural History Society.

26 BC Naturalist

Events

"The Nature of Island Artists"Victoria, September 19 to October 13, 2003

Goldstream Provincial Park, Habitat Acquisition Trust, and the VictoriaNatural History Society are co-sponsoring a show of nature-inspired art. Itwill showcase artists from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands and be heldat the Freeman King Visitor Centre at Goldstream Provincial Park. For moreinformation, see the VicNHS website at www. vicnhs. be. at.

Science in our community

Lecture Series - VancouverPresented by the Vancouver Public Library.

Octobw 15,2003 at 7p. m. -Dr. Ron Ydenberg of Simon Fraser Universityon "Return of the Raptors"October 22, 2003 at 7p.m. -Dr. Val Schaefer of Douglas College on"Protecting the Environment: What one person can do."October 29, 2003 at 1p.m. -Dr. Rob Butler of the Canadian WildlifeService on "Our Web of Life"Free. Central Branch, Vancouver Public Library at 350 W. Georgia St. For in-formation, contact the Science & Technology Division at (604) 331-3646.

World's Indigenous PeoplesConference: Perspectives & Processes

Kelowna, October 16 to 19, 2003The conference includes sessions on ethnobotany, environmental re-

sources and conservation. Full information is at the conference website:www. ouc. be. ca/anth/conference/

Hope is the Thing with Feathers: The Past,Present & Future of BC's Burrowing Owls

Vancouver, October 23, 2003Part of the Vancouver Natural History Society's evening programs, bi-

ologist Mike Mackintosh takes a look at BC's burrowing owls. The lecturestarts at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of the H.R. MacMillan Space Centreat 1100 Chestnut Street. For more information, check the VNHS website atwuw. naturalhistoiy. be. ca/VNHS/

Canada Taiwan Bird Fair

Vancouver, October 24 to November 10, 2003An annual event to raise international awareness of environmental protec-

tion by building bridges between conservation groups in Canada and Taiwan.Featured speakers include Dr. Rob Butler, Dr. Peter Candido, Larry Halversonand Simon Liao. Bird photography, bird art, bird-inspired music and activitiesfor kids. Information is on the website at www. canadabirdfair. org

Goldstream Salmon Run Run

Victoria, October 26, 2003Afundraiser to keep the Goldstream Visitor Centre open to provide educa-

tion programs to schoolchildren. This 5 km family fun run was a big hit lastyear and is destined to be an annual event. For info go to www.bat.bc.ca

arm Mountain Summit -Mountains as Water Towers

Banff, AB, November 23 to 26, 2003The summit, part of the UN International Year of Fresh Water and

Canada's Wonder of Water celebrations, offers three days of exciting key-note sessions, panel discussions, photo exhibitions, case studies and posterpresentations, cultural slide shows, and artistic performances. If you love themountains and want to know more about the water that flows from them,you won' t want to miss this event.

For more information, check the website at:www.banffmoimtamfestivals.ca/festwals/siimmit/

Workshop on DNA and Wildlife

Nelson, December 1 to 4, 2003The Columbia Mountain Institute of Applied Ecology presents a weekend

workshop on "Applying DNA Methods to the Study of Wildlife Distributionand Abundance".

For more information, see the website atunoiv.cmiae.org

WILDFLOWERS IN THE VALLEYOF THE GODS

AN EASY HIMALAYAN HIKE - MAY, 2004

Though less known than the famed Valley of Flowers in the IndianHimalaya, the Valley of Gods boasts a richness in the variety offlora second to none. Walking on gentle trails through mountainvillages untouched by time, we reach our base in two days. In theshadow of 21000 ft. high snow peaks, we spend a leisurely threedays in camp birding and seeking alpine wildflowers in thegrandest of settings. Post hike Taj Mahal sightseeing is available.

Kelly Sekhon, who has led many natural history tours for the VNHS

as weil as four successful nature trips to India will lead this tour.

For program and price details contact:PEAK ADVENTURES

(our 7th successful year in BC)Email: info@peakadventures.ca

Phone: (604) 888 0634Website: http://www.peakadventures.ca

BC Naturalist 27

For more information on the report, visit Conservation International'swebsite at imw.cons&vation.org/xp/CIWEB/home

Harbour seals tip off biologists to Pacific pollutionCanadian and American researchers are studying harbour seals to find outwhat kind of contaminants are polluting the water of the BC and Washingtoncoasts.

"These harbour seals are telling us what types of persistent chemicals arecirculating in the environment and accumulating in high concentrationsat the top of the food chain," said Peter Ross of the Department of Fisheriesand Oceans.

Tiny samples of blood, blubber, hair and skin are taken and analyzed.The seals are stand-ins for a much more vulnerable species: die killer whaleor orca. The southern population currently stands at 82 - a drop of 20 percent in less than a decade.

Biologists need more data to explain the decline so they're turning to theseals, who share the whales' space and snacks. Researchers looking at salmon- a staple of both seals and orcas - have found that 98 percent of chemicalsin a salmon's flesh were acquired after they left their spawning grounds.

The results suggest salmon are importing contaminants from the PxificOcean, which receives a steady plume of contaminants transported in theatmosphere from Asia.- CEC News Online

"Oil" -continuedfrom page 16

Oil Development. BC Offshore Hydrocarbon Development ScientificReview Panel.• Hertzog, S. 2003. Oil and Water Don't Mix -Keeping Canada's WestCoast Oil - Free. David Suzuki Foundation.www.davidsuzuki.org/files/Qceans/Qilandwaterdontmix.pdf• Montevecchi, W.A. F. Wiese, G. Davoren, A. Diamond, F Huettmann,J. Linke. 1999. Seabird Attraction to Offshore Platforms and SeabirdMonitoring from Offshore Support Vessels and other Ships LiteratureReview and Monitoring Designs. Environmental Studies Research FundsReport No. 138. Calgary. 56 p.• Terra.wire 2003. Prestige oil damage likely to top Exxon Valdez, saysdamning Spanish study.www. terradaily. com/2003/030818140910.1 v40ocfa. htmlEnvironment Canada, 2003. Environment Canada's World WideWeb site. Ecosystem Information: What is Happening? Green Lane,www. ecoinfo. ec.gc. ca/envjnd/region/seabird/seabird_e. cfm• Environment Canada. 2003. Birds Oiled at Sea.www.ns.ec.gc.ca/bQds/indexj5.html• Important Bird Areas www.ibacanada.com/bc.htmt• Marine Conservation Information www.livingoceans.org• Oil Free Coast Web Site www.oilfreecoast.org

Northwestern BC is a special place of spectacular beauty, history, and community — NorthwestCommunity College, is proud to develop and deliver unidue programs that take advantage of theseincredible natural surroundings. With campuses in communities from Haida Gwaii to Houston and placesin between, we are a student-centred college offering these environment-focussed programs:

• Coastal Integrated Resources Management • Forest Ecosystem Technology • Wilderness Guiding •Coastal Eco-Adventure Tourism • First Nations Land Stewardship *n^w

Enjoy personal attention, smaller class sizes, and everything the |jgS NQKTI MVvC5Tnorthwest has to offer. Contact us today. 2£*P ""^^^^^COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Call 1 877 277-2288 today.www.nwcc.bc.ca | info@nwcc.bc.ca

28 BC Naturalist

is proud to host

2004 Conference and AnnualUniversity of British Columbia

Exploring the ecosystems of the Fraser River delta and Georgia Straitami - B f* | -j

Tentative Schedule

Thursday, May 13Symposium: Restating the Case for Marine Reset*vesDespite many years of discussion, some noble attempts and

grand plans, the number of marine reserves on the Pacific Coasthas been minimal. The symposium will review why it's so importantto protect critical marine species through protecting their habitat.Internationally-known marine experts such as UBC's Daniel Paulyand Sabine Jessen of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Societywill be among the speakers.

Friday, May 14Morning presentations on the geomorphology of the Lower

Mainland, Bums Bog, the Fraser River and Boundary Bay. Tentativespeakers include geologist/author John Clague, biologist/filmmakerDon DeMille, rivers advocate Mark Angelo and biologist MaryTaitt

Field trips will follow including:• Geomorphology tour of Stanley Park• Birding tour of Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Ladner• Walking tour of Burns Bog in Delta• Boat tour on the Fraser River• Boat trip into the Strait of GeorgiaEvening reception

Saturday, May 15Directors Meeting (morning)AGM (afternoon)Field trips including: The Museum of Anthropology, die UBC

Botanical Gardens, Nitobe Garden, the MY Williams GeologicalMuseum.

Evening Banquet:Keynote Speaker: Dr. Rob Butler, wildlife biologist and author

of the recently released book Tlwjade Coast: The Ecology of theNorth Pacific Ocean

FBCN Awards

Sunday, May 16Tentative field trips include:• Serpentine Fen near Surrey• Minnekhada Regional Park near Port Coquitlam• Pitt Polder Wildlife Area near Pitt Meadows• Cheam Wetlands near Chlliwack

The Annual General Meeting is open to all FBCN members and isan excellent way to learn more about what the Federation is doingon your behalf. It's also a chance to have your say and get involvedon the issues that naturalists take to heart.

Past AGMs have been a great way to take a holiday explore newplaces and interact with people from all over the province whoshare similar interests. You might even want to add a day or two toexperience more of what the Lower Mainland has to offer.

Details on costs and accommodations, as well as confirmation ofscheduled field trips will be in the winter edition of The BC Naturalistand on the FBCN website at www. naturalists, be. ca

For more information on the Vancouver AGM, contact:George Bangham, Conference Chair at (604) 731-7669 or email

gbangham @hotmail. com

BC Naturalist 29

FBCN Executive Committee 2003Member Tel Fax Email

PresidentVice PresidentVice PresidentPast PresidentTreasurerRecording SecretaryConservation ChairKootenay Regional CoordinatorLower Mainland Regional CoordinatorNorthern B.C. Regional CoordinatorVancouver Island Regional CoordinatorThompson Okanagan Regional Coordinator

Consultantsto the FBCN:

Honorary President Dr. Ian McTaggart-CowanPartner, Maitland & Company, Barristers and SolicitorsCertified Management Accountant

Lower MainlandDirTPres. Address Tel Fax Email

Regional CoordinatorAlouette Field NaturalistsBowen Nature ClubBurke Mountain NaturalistsCentral Valley NaturalistsChilliwack Field NaturalistDelta Naturalists' SocietyLangley Field Naturalist SocietyFender Harbour & District Wildlife SocietyRoyal City Field NaturalistsSquamish Estuary Conservation SocietySunshine Coast Natural History SocietyVancouver Natural History SocietyVancouver Natural History SocietyVancouver Natural History SocietyWhistler Naturalists SocietyWhite Rock & Surrey Naturalists Society

1039 Scantlings, Vancouver V6H 3N912554 Grace St Ridge V2X9G3R R 1 D 2 7 , Bowen Island VON 1GOPO Box 52540 RPO Coq. Ctr, Coquitlam V3B 7)4Box 612 Mainstation, Abbofcford V2S 6R7Box 268, Chilliwack V2P6JIP.O.Box 181361215 -56 St, Delta EC V4L 2M4Box 56052 Valley Centre PO, Langley V3A 8B3S4C9RR1, Garden Bay, BON ISO903-1219 Harwood, New Westminster V3M 2L2Box 1274, Squaraish VON 3GOBox543,SecheltVON3AO

gbangham@hotmail.com

Northern BCDhVPres. Address Tel Fax Email

Regional Coordinator Sandra KinseyBulkley Valley Naturalists Lome MclntoshMackenzie Nature Observatory VidaTattriePrince George Naturalist Club Nancy MuirheadQuesnel Naturalists c/o Baker Creek Enhancement SocietySkeena Valley Naturalists Judy ChryslerTimberline Trail & Nature Club Ellen SchoenWilliams Lake Field Naturalists Society Fred McMechan

9860 Alpine Drive, Prince George V2N 5W7Box 4209, SmithersVOJ2NOBox 1598, Mackenzie VOJ2COBox 1092, Stn A, Prince George V2L4V2410 KinchantSt, Quesnel V2J 7)5S13 C-A1RR4 Water Lily Bay Road, Terrace V8G 4V29049 Elwood Drive, Damon Creek V1G 3M8Box 4575, Williams Lake V2G2V6

KootenayDin/Pres. Address Tel Fax Email

Regional CoordinatorBoundary Naturalists AssociationNelson NaturalistsRocky Mountain NaturalistsWest Kootenay Naturalists' Association

30 BC Naturalist

Thompson-OkanaganDin/Pres, Address Tel Fax Email

Regional CoordinatorCentral Okanagan Naturalist ClubKamloops Naturalist ClubLillooet Naturalist Societ)'North Okanagan Naturalists' ClubNorth Shuswap Naturalist ClubOliver-Osoyoos NaturalistsShuswap Naturalists ClubSimilkameen Naturalist ClubSouth Okanagan Naturalist ClubVermilion Forks Field Naturalists

RRl,Sl,C33,TappenBCVOE2XOBox396,StnA,KelownaVlY7N8Box 625, Kamloops V2C5L7Box 1065, Lillooet VOK1VO5777McClureRd,VernonVlB3RlSite 16 B Comp. 24 RR1, Celista VOE1LOBox 1181, OsoyoosVOHlTOBox 1076, Salmon Ann VIE 4P2RRl,G5S33,CawstonVOXlCOP.O. Box 23003, PentictonV2A8L7

'4, Princeton VOX 1WO

Vancouver IslandDir./Pres. Address Tel Fax Email

Regional CoordinatorArrowsmith NaturalistsComox Valley Naturalists SocietyCowichan Valley Naturalists SocietyMitlenatch Field Naturalists SocietyNanaimo Field NaturalistsFender Island Field NaturalistsRocky Point Bird ObservatorySaltspring Trail & Nature ClubVictoria Natural History SocietyVictoria Natural History Society

375 Palm Drive, Qualicum Beach V9K 2H3

4547 Bedwell Harbour Rd R R I , Pender Island VON 2MI

Box 203, Ganges, Salt Spring Island V8K 2V9

Affiliate Groups

twg@horizonnet.cahenigman@pacificcoast.net

Din/Pres. Address Tel Fax Email

Kitimat Valley NaturalistsOsoyoos Desert SocietyMalaspina Naturalist ClubSouthern Interior Bluebird Societ)'Sunshine Coast Conservation AssociationNanoose Naturalists 3265 Huntington Pi, Nanoose Bav V9P 9H6

Allan Brooks Nature Centre Society, Vernon, 250-260-4227Alexander McKenzie Voyageur Route Association, Kelowna,;BC Watershed Stewardship Alliance, VancouverBoundary Bay Conservation Committee, DeBiology Coop. Education Coordinators, Univ. of VictoriaBurns Bog Conservation Society, Delta 604-572-0373Charlie Lake Conservation Society, Charlie LakeCreston Valley Wildlife Mgt. Area Society, Creston, 250-428-3260Comox Valley Project Watershed, CourtenayEvergreen Foundation, Vancouver 604-689-0766Federation of BC Mountain Clubs, Vancouver, 604-878-7007Francis Pt. Marine Park Society, Madeira Park, 604-883-2730Friends of Caren, Madeira ParkFriends of Cortes Island Society, Whaleton, 250-935-0087Briends of Cypress Provincial Park Society, West Vancouver, 604-922-79^9Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society, White Rock, 604-536-2636Friends of the Stikine, GibsonsGarry Oak Meadow Preservation Society, VictoriaGrassy Plains School, Burns LakeThe Land Conservancy of BC, Victoria 250-479-8053, Vancouver 604-733-2313Land Trust Alliance of BC, Salt Spring Island, 250-538-0112Macdonald Wood Park Society, Comox, 250-339-4370

Associate GroupsMarine Life Sanctuaries Society, Vancouver, 604-684-6212Native Plant Societ)' of BC, Vancouver, 604-255-5719Natural History Soc. of Nfld & Labrador, St. Johns, NfldNature Saskatchewan, Regina, SK, 306-713-6698Nature Trust of BC, North Vancouver, 604-924-9771Okanagan Similkameen Parks Society, Sumraerland, \w Horticultural Society, Coquitlam, 604-290-9910

Sargeant Bay Societ)', SecheltSave Our Parkland Association, Vancouver, 604-224-7027Societ)' Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC) .Vancouver, 604-736-7732Soil & Water Conservation Society, Langley, 604-888-7511Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society, DuncanStanley Park Ecology Association,Vancouver 604-257-6908Stoney Creek Environment Commitee, Burnaby, BC 604-420-9132Students for Environmental Awareness, Camosun College, Victoria, 250-370-3139Swan Lake/Christmas Hill Nature Centre, Victoria, 250-479-0811Trails BC, Vancouver 604-737-3188West Vancouver Streamkeepers, Vancouver, 604-984-9311Wild Bird Trust of BC, Vancouver 604-921-8253World Wildlife Fund, 1-800-26PANDAB.E.A.R.S., North Vancouver 604-924-9281

BC Naturalist 31

Jf you want to connect wit A otfor$ovet$, wa invite yott to

I . Join your local naturalist club ORWe invite you to contat your local club to find out when their next

event is and to join us at one of our many activities. You'll meet

other nature lovers and enjoy ali these benefits:

• Learn about nature in your community from local experts

• Enjoy birding, hiking, botanizing, camps, and outdoor field trips

• Participate in local conservation projects such as restoring marshes

and alpine areas, removing invasive plants, instating and monitor-

ing bird boxes, building trails, maintaining

nature centres

• Hear great guest speakers/see slide shows

• Receive the local club newsletter (if published)

• Contribute to dub projects like bird and plant checklists, trail guides,

nature books

• Have opportunities to get involved in park and land stewardship

• Support people working to protect nature in your community

• Act locally, while thinking globally

• Enjoy all the benefits of FBCN Direct Membership

2. Become a direct memberIf there isn't a Federated club in your community then join the FBCN

as a Direct Member. It's only $ 15 per year and you receive all these

benefits:

• Receive the quarterly newsletter BC Naturalist. Discover EC's natural

areas and wildlife and get information on environmental issues and

events

• Attend FBCN exploratory and club camps and learn about BC's wild

heritage from expert naturalists

• Attend FBCN member meetings and learn about other parts of the

province

• Support the Federation in its conservation efforts to protect endan-

gered species and natural areas

• Receive discounts on special fundraising items

• Borrow resource materials from the FBCN office

More information on the FBCN can be found on page 2 of this pub-

lication.

D $15 DIRECT MEMBERSHIP(If you are a member of a Federated Club, you're au-tomatically a member in the FBCN and a direct mem-bership is not necessary.)

D $15 SUBSCRIPTION

D $400 LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP DONATIONA charitable tax receipt will be issued donations abovethe membership fee.

Name

Address

City Prov.

Postal Code

Email

Tel

Mail to: Federation of BC Naturalists, 307-1367 West Broadway,Vancouver, BC V6H 4A9

32 BC Naturalist