Calendar

Note that while evening presentations are open to the public, field trips are for members only. Click here for our Field Trip Guidelines for participants and leaders.

If space allows, guests may join for up to three trips, after which they are expected to join the Society.

Codes for Field Trip Difficulty Levels:
LEVEL 1—Easy walking, mostly level paths.
LEVEL 2—Paths can be narrow with uneven terrain.
LEVEL 3—Obstacles in paths or steeper grades, requiring agility.
LEVEL 4—Very steep, insecure footing, or longer hikes requiring good physical condition.
Please—no pets on VNHS field trips.

If you would like to do a talk or know someone who might, please contact one of the presentation night coordinators. If you have an idea for a field trip or wish to volunteer as a leader, please contact the Field Trip Coordinator. Many of you do interesting things either for fun or for work, and it would be great to share! See Contact page for email addresses and phone numbers.

TUESDAY MORNING BIRDING – Meets every Tuesday one block south of the foot of Bowker Ave on the waterfront (off Beach Drive) at 9:00 a.m. or at the foot of Bowker Ave at 9:30 a.m. Birding activities take place at various locations around Greater Victoria. For more information call Bill Dancer at 250-721-5273. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome.

SATURDAY MORNING BIRDING – Meets every Saturday morning, usually at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine. Check on the Calendar on the Thursday/Friday before to find out the week’s location. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome. For more details, contact Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634.

SWAN LAKE GUIDED BIRD WALKS – Every Wednesday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Jointly sponsored by Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary and Victoria Natural History Society. 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.

Note: Some presentations can also be viewed on the VNHS’ Youtube Channel

	November 2023
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1 Swan Lake Bird Walks Swan Lake Bird Walks November 1, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Swan Lake Bird Walks Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Rd, Victoria, BC V8X 3W1, Canada Weekly on Sunday, Wednesday 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. See more details •	2	3	4 Saturday Birding - Goldstream Park Saturday Birding - Goldstream Park November 4, 2023 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am Goldstream Provincial Park, Langford, BC, Canada Birding Goldstream Park FIELD EVENT (LEVEL 2) The VNHS Saturday Birding Group will meet at Goldstream Park on Sat Nov 4. Meet at 8:00 am at the parking lot near the bridge. We will start at the bridge and walk to the estuary. Besides the gulls, eagles and other raptors that come for the spawning salmon, there should be birds like Great Blue Heron, American Dipper, Steller’s Jay, possibly Varied or Hermit Thrush, several species of woodpeckers and ducks on the estuary. To reach Goldstream Park, go out on the main highway leading up-island. For more details, contact Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634 if email not available. See more details •
5	6	7 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding November 7, 2023 @ 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. See more details VNHS Board meeting VNHS Board meeting November 7, 2023 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm See more details • •	8 Swan Lake Bird Walk Swan Lake Bird Walk November 8, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Swan Lake Bird Walks Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Rd, Victoria, BC V8X 3W1, Canada Weekly on Sunday, Wednesday 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. See more details •	9	10	11 Saturday Birding - Island View Beach Saturday Birding - Island View Beach November 11, 2023 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am Island View Beach Regional Park, 3215 Island View Rd, Saanichton, BC V8M 1W3, Canada Birding Island View Beach FIELD EVENT (LEVEL 2) Join the Saturday Birding Group who will be going to Island View Beach on Sat Nov 11. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the north end of the parking lot. It’s challenging to know what birds we will see on the water and the land around us but we’ll keep our eyes open. A spotting scope will be helpful to see those distant birds. We’ll walk back on the trail away from the water to check for other interesting birds. To reach Island View Beach, go north on the Pat Bay highway, turn right at the lights at Island View Rd (Michell’s Market) and follow that to a left on Homathko Rd which leads to the parking lot. For more details, contact Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or 250-721-0634 if email not available.  Organiser: Victoria Natural History Society See more details •
12 Swan Lake Bird Walk Swan Lake Bird Walk November 12, 2023 @ 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. 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. See more details •	13	14 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding November 14, 2023 @ 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. See more details East Africa: Giraffes, etc East Africa: Giraffes, etc November 14, 2023 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm ON Zoom TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14 NATURAL HISTORY NIGHT East Africa: Giraffes, Gorillas and Gonoleks Andrew Harcombe will take us on a natural history safari through parts of Tanzania and Uganda. This photo journey travels through several national parks, including the Serengeti. Although bird watching was the primary focus, highlights included gathering of wildebeest, herds of zebra, and hippopotami everywhere! The pace of bird watching allowed the group to see other many kinds of wildlife, including chimpanzees, cheetahs, and chameleons. Andrew saw over 300 “lifers” during this 3 week safari. By Zoom - Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAldOippjktGt2fyQo3Ko3SO0kzYFMr1m2N See more details • •	15	16	17	18 Saturday Birding: Martindale Saturday Birding: Martindale November 18, 2023 @ 8:00 am - 11:00 am Island View Road & Lochside Dr., Central Saanich, BC V8M 1Y3, Canada SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18 FIELD TRIP (LEVEL 2) Martindale Area The VNHS Saturday Birding Group will be birding around the Martindale area on Sat Nov 18. All members are welcome to join them. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the corner of Island View Rd and Lochside Dr. Park along Lochside Dr north of Island View Rd. Please don’t park in Michell’s lot for the whole time, although you might want to shop there afterwards to support our local farmers. Martindale is one of our most diverse birding areas. There could be some interesting sparrows and it’s a good time to watch for raptors. Also the shrikes and swans may be around. We might find a meadowlark or some pipits and lots of other smaller birds are possibilities as well. Wet weather boots are recommended, as we will probably be going through wet fields. For more information, check with Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or call 250-721-0634 if email is not available.  Organiser: Victoria Natural History Society See more details •
19 Swan Lake Bird Walk Swan Lake Bird Walk November 19, 2023 @ 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. 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. See more details •	20	21 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding November 21, 2023 @ 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. See more details Botany Night: Rhododendrons Botany Night: Rhododendrons November 21, 2023 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Zoom TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 BOTANY NIGHT The Wild Pacific Rhododendron The Pacific Rhododendron is an enigmatic species on Vancouver Island, naturally occurring in only a few small and dissimilar areas. Agnes Lynn has a fondness for both wild and cultivated rhododendrons and has visited many wild populations of Pacific Rhododendron. She will share photos and observations of this species in its natural habitat on Vancouver Island as well as introducing us to the other native plants surrounding those native rhododendrons. By Zoom - Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvcuuvqT8pGdKqpjP5H9tOQXsykY3o8Y9X See more details • •	22 Swan Lake Bird Walk Swan Lake Bird Walk November 22, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Swan Lake Bird Walk Wednesday, November 8⋅9:00am – 12:00pmSwan Lake Bird Walks Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Rd, Victoria, BC V8X 3W1, Canada Weekly on Sunday, Wednesday 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. See more details Birders' Night: Marbled Murrelets Birders' Night: Marbled Murrelets November 22, 2023 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Zoom WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22 BIRDERS’ NIGHT Marbled Murrelets of Vancouver Island’s Forests and Waters Join Bernard Schroeder for a presentation about Marbled Murrelets, the small seabirds that nest in mossy branches of old growth forests. Bernard has coordinated and conducted long-term BC coast-wide Marbled Murrelet population monitoring studies for Canadian Wildlife Service and the Province using ornithological radar. Bernard has also done many nesting behaviour studies, at-sea studies, habitat and environmental assessments and nest searches. He will share his experiences monitoring these birds. Time permitting, the discussion will include experiences studying other night flyers in BC exploring the uses of ornithological radar. By Zoom - Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtceupqD0oHNVOWMbxbj_c6Tec-B6Lo5i1 See more details • •	23	24	25 Saturday Birding - Finlayson Point - Holland Point Park Saturday Birding - Finlayson Point - Holland Point Park November 25, 2023 @ 8:30 am - 11:30 am Finlayson Point, Dallas Rd, Victoria, BC P0H 2H0, Canada Birding - Finlayson Point - Holland Point Park FIELD EVENT (LEVEL 2) The VNHS Saturday Birding Group will meander around the Finlayson Point/Holland Point Park area. We will see if we can find another rare bird hidden in the bushes. Start at 8:30 am on Dallas Rd. Meet on the waterfront side near the crosswalk that comes down from Beacon Hill. Our route is to walk a loop starting at Finlayson Point. From there, we will cross Dallas Rd and skirt the exposed side of Beacon Hill up to flag pole, then down the slope and past Mile 0. We will make our way to the Harrison Yacht pond and then check out the bluffs and shore at Holland Point Park. We will work our way back along Dallas Rd waterfront where we will end at Finlayson Point parking area. Weather will be chilly so dress warmly. For more details, contact Agnes Lynn at thelynns at shaw.ca or call 250-721-0634 if no access to email.  Organiser: Victoria Natural History Society See more details •
26 Swan Lake Bird Walk Swan Lake Bird Walk November 26, 2023 @ 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. 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. See more details •	27 Marine Night: Snorkelling Adventures Marine Night: Snorkelling Adventures November 27, 2023 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Rm. 162, Elliott Building (ELL), 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27 MARINE NIGHT - 7:30 pm We recommend attending in person in order to appreciate the Show and Tell of specimens. This will be our first combined live and Zoom talk so there may be technical issues. Snorkelling Adventures Around Vancouver Island and The Gulf Islands The chilly waters of the Pacific Northwest might not be top of your snorkelling bucket list, but our oceans are chockfull of stunning wildlife. Here, you can find some 30 species of seastars, giant anemones, fabulously coloured nudibranchs and of course the giant Pacific octopus. Although BC is a well-known scuba diving location, it is less appreciated that the vast majority of these species can be found in the intertidal and shallow sub-tidal zones that are accessible to snorkelers. In this talk, Dr. Sara L. Ellison will share adventures and experiences, explaining the gear you need, the kinds of critters you will see and personal top picks for places to go to see our wondrous wildlife. Copies of Dr. Ellison’s book will be available for purchase for $25 cash only. NOTE: This will be a hybrid event In person University of Victoria Elliott Bldg, Rm 162 (part of the Elliott building labeled as lecture theatre). Campus map https://www.uvic.ca/info/_assets/docs/apr2023-map-colour.pdf Parking: $4 max in the evenings - use Lot 1). For info see https://www.uvic.ca/security/parking/rates/index.php By Zoom Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYodeuqqz8vE9EWa9K0WRdb__b9rG4K3cj0 See more details •	28 Tuesday Birding Tuesday Birding November 28, 2023 @ 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. See more details •	29 Swan Lake Bird Walk Swan Lake Bird Walk November 29, 2023 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Swan Lake Bird Walk Wednesday, November 8⋅9:00am – 12:00pmSwan Lake Bird Walks Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Rd, Victoria, BC V8X 3W1, Canada Weekly on Sunday, Wednesday 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. See more details •	30

Note that while evening presentations are open to the public, field trips are for members only. Click here for our Field Trip Guidelines for participants and leaders.

November 2023