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Birding Witty's Lagoon Park
Birding Witty's Lagoon Park
March 2, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Victoria Region
Difficulty Level: 2.5 Meet–8:00 a.m. at the Witty's Lagoon parking lot.
With a diversity of habitat types, Witty's Lagoon (https://ebird.org/hotspot/L269486) is a year-round birding hotspot and one of the 10 most productive sites in our region. It hosts a wide variety of shorebirds, gulls, diving ducks, dabblers, raptors, and passerines. Our route will take us through the upper Douglas-fir forest, the Sitting Lady Falls overlook, the lower forest next to the lagoon, and finally an orchard to reach the beach. We will look for early spring migrants, and possibly some shorebirds along the estuary and in the trees beside the beach and salt marsh. The trail will likely be muddy so please wear boots. DIRECTIONS: The parking lot is on Metchosin Road across from the golf course (map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Cn3BRVwaN1vbM3wt9). For more information, please contact birdingfieldtrips@gmail.com
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Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding
March 5, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria
TUESDAY BIRDING. We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria. For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome.
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Birding at Island View Beach
Birding at Island View Beach
March 9, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Victoria Region
FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 1.5)
Meet: 8:00 a.m.—Island View Beach is the only local location that offers relatively undisturbed beach, dune, wetland, and shrub ecosystems, and is home to numerous resident and migratory bird species. At this time of year, Haro Strait continues to host large numbers of diving ducks, loons, grebes, cormorants, and gulls. Throughout March and April, flocks of Brant Geese stop here to rest and refuel on their northbound migration. Northern Harrier and Northern Shrike are among the possibilities in the fields. A spotting scope will be helpful to see distant birds offshore and up on the ridge.
DIRECTIONS: To reach Island View Beach, go north on the Pat Bay Highway, turn right at the lights at Island View Road (Michell’s Market) and follow that road to a left on Homathko Drive, whichleads to the parking lot. Meet at the north end of the parking lot.
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Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding
March 12, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria
TUESDAY BIRDING. We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria. For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome.
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Natural History Night
Natural History Night
March 12, 2024 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Berwick on Zoom and in person at Berwick Royal Oak - Retirement Community, 4680 Elk Lake Dr.
TUESDAY, MARCH 12
NATURAL HISTORY NIGHT
Saving the Jewels of the Forest
Isolated from parent gene flow, and encountering a myriad of novel niches on this topographically and climatically diverse island, the ancestor of Kauai's forest birds evolved into a tremendously diverse and spectacular assemblage of species. However, humans colonizing the island destroyed bird habitat and introduced many alien species, including invasive plants, non-native mammalian predators, and avian diseases carried by introduced mosquitoes. Since then, several forest bird species have gone extinct, and those that remain live only in the most pristine mountain areas, including three endangered species each numbering fewer than 1000 birds. Their precarious existence is further threatened by climate change, which will bring warmer and drier weather to Kauai, thus accelerating disease transmission and further degrading bird habitat. In this lecture, Jack Alexander, of the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project, will discuss evolution, endangerment, and conservation of these "jewels of the forest".
Please note: Parking is available at Our Lady of Fatima Church a short walk from Berwick Royal Oak. Attendees may find parking on Marsett Place. Parking is NOT permitted in Berwick Royal Oak's visitor parking as the spaces are reserved for guests of their residents.
Also, note that masks are required to be worn inside Berwick Royal Oak at this time.
Zoom participants, please register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsce6ppzkuG9a5_kxUzlKwruvENDYgx6T-
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Birding Centennial Park and ȾIKEL/Maber Flats
Birding Centennial Park and ȾIKEL/Maber Flats
March 16, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Victoria Region
FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 1)
Meet: 8:00 a.m. at the main parking lot on Hovey Rd (next to the lawn bowling club)
Centennial Park is a small, wooded area in Central Saanich, surrounded by agricultural land, so we'll look for both forest birds and those that like the open farm fields. ȾIKEL/Maber Flats is also in a mostly agricultural area. In recent years, rare shorebird, goose,and raptor species have been found there.
DIRECTIONS: To get to the starting point, turn off Wallace Drive at the Hovey Road entrance to Centennial Park. Map Link
On your way to the starting point, watch for the American Kestrel that often hangs out on the hydro lines around Stelly's Cross Road and Wallace Drive.
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Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding
March 19, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria
TUESDAY BIRDING. We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria. For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome.
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Botany Night: The Quillwort Quest
Botany Night: The Quillwort Quest
March 19, 2024 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
in-person at Berwick Royal Oak 4680 Elk Lake Drive or by Zoom
Botany Night
March 19, 2024 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm On Zoom and in person at Berwick Royal Oak - Retirement Community, 4680 Elk Lake Dr.
The Quillwort Quest
Adolf Ceska will present his and his wife Oluna's journey to find Quillworts, enigmatic relatives of ferns that grow in wet places. The journey took them from the barbed wires on the Czech/German borders to Trial Island, Mohun and Summit Lakes, Hokkaido Japan, Pullman Washington, and Whistler. Their obsession was kickstarted by University of Guelph Professor Donald Britton, who helped them along the way.
Please note: Parking is available at Our Lady of Fatima Church a short walk from Berwick Royal Oak. Attendees may find parking on Marsett Place. Parking is NOT permitted in Berwick Royal Oak's visitor parking as the spaces are reserved for guests of their residents.
Also, note that masks are required to be worn inside Berwick Royal Oak at this time.
Zoom participants, please register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkduyqpz0qGN23ZtEm7xriH3ssQr0NAkG3
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Swan Lake Bird Walks
Swan Lake Bird Walks
March 20, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Rd, Victoria, BC, Canada
Every Wednesday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. We ask that participants be double vaccinated, keep physical distance but if unable, put on a mask. Bring your binoculars and walking shoes and meet in the parking lot for this informal and informative walk around the lake area. Walks are generally led by Victoria Natural History Society members. Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is at 3873 Swan Lake Road, off Ralph Street. Note that the Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Store in Shelbourne Plaza posts the bird reports from the Sunday walk.
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Birding at Panana Flats
Birding at Panana Flats
March 23, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Victoria Region
Birding Panama Flats
FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 1.5)
Meet: 8:00 a.m. at the Hyacinth Park "main" parking lot on Marigold Rd. (beside the softball diamonds). Join us at one of the best spots (https://ebird.org/hotspot/L633025) for ducks and arriving spring migrants. DIRECTIONS: Map Link
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Marine Night
Marine Night
March 25, 2024 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
On Zoom and at Berwick Royal Oak, 4680 Elk Lake Dr.
MONDAY, MARCH 25
MARINENIGHT
High functional vulnerability across world’s deep-sea hydrothermal vent regions
Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are near-pristine habitats considered wonders of nature.These habitats in the remote deep sea are home to highly endemic and specialized animals that depend upon bacteria and that have remarkable tolerances to extreme conditions, including high heat, toxic reduced sulfide,and low oxygen. In this presentation, Dr Joan Alfaro-Lucas, Department of Biology, University of Victoria, is a marine biologist interested in the patterns of biodiversity and their drivers, and how human activities may change them, in the deep sea, describes the state of our knowledge and opportunities for future actions. Despite over forty years of research shedding light on ecological processes governing faunal communities at vents, the overall picture remains incomplete. This gap in understanding raises concerns, especially as human activities, such as the emerging industry of deep-sea mining, are on the rise, posing potential threats to these unique ecosystems. The continuous discovery of new vents challenges our fundamental understanding, even in well-explored regions. Recent analyses on functional diversity patterns indicate that ocean change and anthropogenic threats could significantly impact many vent species, potentially pushing these systems towards functional collapse. The unprecedented opportunity exists now to take precautionary actions to limit the rates of extinction, now ubiquitous in more accessible areas of Earth.
Please note: Parking is available at Our Lady of Fatima Church a short walk from Berwick Royal Oak. Attendees may find parking on Marsett Place. Parking is NOT permitted in Berwick Royal Oak's visitor parking as the spaces are reserved for guests of their residents.
Also, note that masks are required to be worn inside Berwick Royal Oak at this time.
Zoom participants, please registerin advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrc-mqpjsoGdChX9thCO9OYE0-_yTEnGWh
After registering, you will receive a confirmationemail containing information about joining the meeting
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Tuesday Birding
Tuesday Birding
March 26, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, Victoria
TUESDAY BIRDING. We meet every Tuesday, one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 am, or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 am, rain or shine. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria. For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273 or Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome.
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Birders' Night
Birders' Night
March 27, 2024 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
On Zoom and at Berwick Royal Oak, 4680 Elk Lake Drive
CombiningVolunteering and Birding Around the World
Wherein the world is Jannaca Chick? Jannaca started volunteering with Rocky Point Bird Observatory in 2012. Since that time, she has leveraged the experience she has gained to travel and participate in bird banding projects around the world, including in Azerbaijan, Thailand, Israel, Mongolia, Greece and Cuba. Join Jannaca at Berwick House Royal Oak, or on Zoom to hear stories of her travels and how living and working with the project crews has enhanced her travel and birding experiences. Emphasis may be on Cuba, where she spent several weeks in January and February this year.
Please note: Parking is available at Our Lady of Fatima Church a short walk from Berwick Royal Oak. Attendees may find parking on Marsett Place. Parking is NOT permitted in Berwick Royal Oak's visitor parking as the spaces are reserved for guests of their residents.
Also, note that masks are required to be worn inside Berwick Royal Oak at this time.
Zoom participants, please registerin advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkf-2uqD8rE9whLJLeLqEGiIIoFcFAYU3j
After registering, you will receive a confirmationemail containing information about joining the meeting
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Birding the Parks of Prospect Lake
Birding the Parks of Prospect Lake
March 29, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:15 am
FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 2.5)
Meet at 8:00 a.m.—This is a new birding event for the Society. Although much smaller than nearby Elk and Beaver Lakes, Prospect Lake is one of our largest local lakes and the most significant source of Tod Creek. Gulls frequently visit the lake, bathing to remove salt from their feathers. In winter, a wide variety of duck species can be found, and some should still be present in late March. Prospect Lake is one of few local places where Ruddy Duck can be found,typically staying until the end of March or the early weeks of April. Pied-billed Grebes and Double-crested Cormorants are common sights.
We will start at the lake's outflow in Whitehead Park at the north end of the lake,then we will carpool to Estelline and South Prospect Lake Parks,which have different viewpoints of the lake but limited parking. It will still be the season of respiratory illnesses, so wearing a mask and/or driving with open windows is recommended while carpooling. Some trails may be muddy, so please wear appropriate footwear.
DIRECTIONS: Meet at the parking lot on Goward Road. If that lot is full, more parking is available nearby on Prospect Lake Road.
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Birding at Rithet's Bog
Birding at Rithet's Bog
March 30, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Victoria Region
FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 1.5)
Meet at 8:00 a.m.—This walk is a long a loop trail and may produce Virginia Rails, Anna's Hummingbirds, wetland-loving warblers, and swallows, plus migrating teal and other ducks. There should also be some early migrants among the resident passerines.
DIRECTIONS: Park along Dalewood Lane, just off Chatterton Way at the northwest corner of the Bog.
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Searching for Mist Maidens at Devonian Park
Searching for Mist Maidens at Devonian Park
March 31, 2024 @ 9:45 am - 12:00 pm
FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 3)
Meetat 9:00 a.m.—Metchosin’s Devonian Park is a great place to enjoy both birds and wildflowers as we meander along towards the seashore. We can savour the spring wildflowers that should be at their peak right now. When we get to the seashore, we will look for the hard-to-find, delicate little wildflower called mist maidens (Romanzoffia tracyi) tucked in the rocks. If it's a clear day, we’ll stop to enjoy the fabulous views of the Olympics and try to spot river otters, harbour seals, or orcas that are common in the area. On the way back, we will check for the Great Horned Owls that lurk in the woods.
DIRECTIONS: Meet in the parking lot at the entrance to the park. Go to the end of Metchosin Road or Happy Valley Road onto William Head Road to the entrance of Devonian Park.
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