Victoria Natural History Society – To know nature, and keep it worth knowing

Victoria Natural
History Society

Sharing a love of nature since 1944

Field Trips & Events

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The Victoria Natural History Society (VNHS) formed in 1944 and currently has about 750 members. We are a volunteer-run organization. Members have developed their interest in nature in a wide variety of ways—some are professional biologists, others are students, most are amateur or volunteer naturalists. VNHS provides an opportunity for those interested in the natural world to come together to share their ideas and experiences.

The Victoria Natural History Society offers many field trips and presentations each month for its members. Note that while evening presentations are open to the public, field trips are designed for members. Guests may join for up to three trips, after which they are expected to join the Society. If you like what you see, please support VNHS by becoming a member and/or making a donation.

The primary objectives of the Society are:

To stimulate active interest in natural history
To study and protect flora and fauna and their habitats
To work with other societies and like bodies having interests in common with this Society.

LATEST POSTS IN INVERTEBRATE ALERT

2021 September 21

Jeremy Tatum sends a photograph of a creature found in his bathroom this morning. It belongs to the Order Thysanura (Zygentoma of some authors), Three-pronged Bristletails. Taxonomists don’t seem to have settled whether or not they belong in the Class Insecta. The three species most commonly encountered indoors are the Firebrat Thermobia domestica, the Silverfish Lepisma saccharina and the one below, Ctenolepisma longicaudata, whose English name varies from author...

2021 September 20

Black Witch! Today the local bird hotline https://groups.io/g/bcvibirds/topic/85753993 reports a Black Witch discovered and photographed on September 19 by Klaus Emmaneel behind the Cedar Hill ballbark. I hope the bird hotline and the observer will not mind my taking the photograph from that site and re-posting it here. This gigantic tropical noctuoid moth is a rarity anywhere in Canada. In 2018 there were two records from Vancouver Island reported on this sit...

Calendar

September 22, 2021

Birders' Night

September 22, 2021 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
On ZOOM

Monthly Birders' Night

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A Tale of Two Puffins

September 22, 2021 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
On ZOOM

BIRDERS’ NIGHT

A Tale of Two Puffins

The waters of the Salish Sea are home to a number of alcids, including two closely related “puffins,” Rhinoceros Auklets and Tufted Puffins. Since 2004 a team of collaborators has been assessing the status and trends of coastal and Salish Sea colonies. Scott Pearson from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will describe the natural history and breeding habitats for these seabirds and compare and contrast population trends, diet, and reproduction of these puffins with implications for the health of these species. The presentation will begin after announcements and items of general interest. Come early to socialize!

To join us, please register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAufumorT0iHtOfbcVL7S6n4LhSQXyl98Wu

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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September 25, 2021

Hawkwatch

September 25, 2021 @ 10:30 am - 2:00 pm
East Sooke Regional Park - Aylard Farm Parking Lot, 1 Becher Bay Rd, Sooke, BC V9Z 1B7, Canada

FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 3)

Hawkwatch

The VNHS Birding Group will start from Aylard Farm in East Sooke Park to get to the vantage point above Beechey Head to watch for raptors. We ask that participants have both vaccines, to come on this walk. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Becher Bay Rd at 10:30 am. Rick Schortinghuis will lead the way up to the lookout. Rick and others will be available up at the top to help you find those illusive raptors till about 2 p.m. The hike up to the viewpoint requires a 20-minute trek up a steep and rocky trail. Bring binoculars, water and perhaps a lunch. You can stay as long as you like and then return to the parking lot whenever you wish. If you do not want to make the trek up to the hill, there are good opportunities in the field near the parking lot to look for raptors as well. You must register for this trip up the hill as the number is limited to 10 people at the top. WE ASK THAT PARTICIPANTS BE DOUBLE VACCINATED, KEEP PHYSICAL DISTANCE BUT IF UNABLE, PUT ON A MASK. Contact Agnes at thelynns at shaw. ca or (250) 721-0634 to register or for more information. PLEASE COME ON A DIFFERENT DAY IF YOU WISH TO COME ON YOUR OWN TO AVOID OVERCROWDING.

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