Bulletin Board

We Need Your Binoculars!
Not the Swarovskis hanging around your neck! We need that second pair you bought a while ago. If you haven't had the caps off them lately, maybe the young birders of San Blas can put them to better use. Some of our birding friends in Mexico don't make as much money as we do. Its challenging for them to spend $50 or $100 for a pair of binoculars so they can observe birds. I have offered to help by rounding up unused binoculars here in British Columbia and getting them to young birders in San Blas. We need to encourage these high school and university students to develop an interest in birding, to gain an understanding of the conservation ethic, and to see the importance of preserving local bird habitat. The Okanagan Basin Thru-hike to be held May 14-25 will showcase the pressing need to preserve good bird breeding habitat in the Okanagan Valley and good wintering habitat in Mexico and Central America. I'm coordinating a binocular drive in Victoria and in Okanagan communities with a target of 50 pairs of binoculars for the San Blas Bird Club. The donated binoculars and interactive teaching software will assist in promoting conservation amongst the local youth. Partnerships with environmental organizations in the Okanagan and Mexico will help preserve local habitat for birds as well as allocating land for birds along migration routes.

If you would like to donate binoculars or support the thru-hike on a “per kilometre” or “per bird” pledge please contact Dannie Carsen at dcarsen@telus.net or 250-544-2117.

The Baillie Birdathon (http://www.bsc-eoc.org/organization/brdathon.html) is an annual event to raise funds for Bird Studies Canada and other nature organizations across Canada. You can help by participating in a birdathon event of your own or by sponsoring someone who is. If you would like to sponsor Ann Nightingale's birdathon effort while at the American Birding Association conference in Texas, you can make your donation at http://birdathon.annnightingale.ca or make a pledge by calling Ann at 250-652-6450. A portion of the funds raised will go to the Rocky Point Bird Observatory.

Become a volunteer at Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary and expand your knowledge of the natural history of this area. Volunteer opportunities include Nature House Receptionist and Assistant Naturalist (working with school groups). A commitment of 2 to 3 hours once a week is all that is required. Training is provided. For further details contact Joan at 479-0211 or email volunteer@swanlake.bc.ca.

Are you going on one of the field trips? Willing to pick up a VNHS member in James Bay? If yes, please telephone 384-7553. Thank you for your consideration.

Bird Walks at Swan Lake: There are regular guided bird walks at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary on Wednesdays and Sundays. Meet at the main parking lot at 9:00a.m.

CRD Parks: To check out what field trips are going on at CRD parks, go to their web site, CRD progams