information and record cards. Let us see who can reach 100; come on Seniors, see if you
can beat the Intermediates [Intermediate Section members of the V.N.H.S.].
Magnolia Warbler George Sirk Hollyburn Mountain November 23rd
White-winged Crossbill George Sirk Hollyburn Mountain December 26th
Chestnut-sided Warbler Lowell Orcutt ) George Sirk ) Pt. Grey July 27th
Common Redpoll George Sirk Hollyburn Mountain November 23rd
December 26th
Pine Grosbeak Daryl Livingston Grouse Mountain January 8th
Harris’s Sparrow Errol Anderson )
Lowell Orcutt )
George Sirk ) West Vancouver
End Note #16 - #135 June - August 1967 (from page 163)
Report on Intermediates:
Birding continues to hold most interest for the intermediates. There is a nucleus of from six
to eight youths who are very well informed on birds and a further group of six to ten who
are coming on.
Attendance at meetings and trips has taken big ups and downs throughout the season and it is most difficult to know what progress is being made with the organization.
The first mentioned group needs little incentive but it becomes increasingly difficult to
provide new and interesting fields, for balance, to those who are not so dedicated.
The real lack is a young inspired leader with lots of time to spare and an enthusiasm to
arouse and hold their interest.
Introduction of subjects other than birds has met with some success but little more than lip
service is paid to them by most.
The loss of Robin Best was keenly felt as no one has arisen to replace him.
Frank J. Sanford
Annual Report - Vancouver Junior Naturalists
The Junior Section is suffering a bit from lack of members. During the 1966-1967
season 30 were all we could muster. This fall-off in membership began when the
Intermediate Section was formed, as the nucleus of older children moved away from the Juniors, leaving us rather raw. At many of our meetings there are as many or more parents
than children.
This is fine, as we need the help of the parents and their cars, but children tend to pay less
attention to the leader when Mum and Dad are along and the children’s “own club” feeling
is lost. This is very noticeable when only children show up for a trip. We have no solution
to this “problem”.
We had 19 field trips, mostly fairly well attended, 7 evening meetings and our annual
Christmas party. Those who attended were most enthusiastic.
We have an executive who meet three or four times a year, made up of the Intermediate and Junior leaders, two intermediates and two juniors, as well as several parents, and one or two senior members.
It is our present plan to have a membership drive this fall. The last one we had, about eight
years ago, resulted eventually in our top membership of 95 children.
As always, we should appreciate any help from senior members and wish to thank all of
them who so kindly offered their time and talents to make our year an interesting and
instructive one.
Winnifred I. Pearson, Chairman.
Vancouver Natural History Society - Intermediate Section
The Intermediate Section has, I feel, left a great many people in the dark as to what we are
doing. In addition to most of us spending our spare days in the field, there have been at least
two planned and organized field meetings a month since the section came into being in
January 1965. Although our primary interest at the moment lies in ornithology, we are
anxious to incorporate other subjects, such as perhaps botany, entomology, mycology and
astronomy.
Hand it not been for the great help and support from our leaders, especially Miss W. Pearson
and our co-ordinator, Mr. Sanford, this section would never have got off the ground.
Even though some people get plastered with mushrooms, get a little wet, lose their car
keys (sorry Mrs. Smith), had their cars demolished (Mr. Sanford), get a plague of fleas
from cleaning wood duck nesting boxes under the slave driving Wayne Campbell, escape to
India, or get stranded on islands and have their boat stolen, the twenty-four paid up members whom we now have, learned a great deal as well as had a lot of fun.
The Intermediate Section, whose ages range officially from 14 to 18, have their evening
meeting with the Juniors to ensure adequate attendance.
Although we have had quite a few work parties at the George C. Reifel Waterfowl Refuge,
we are in desperate need of another project to work on.
Rob Gray.
End Note #17 - #137 December 1967 - February 1968 (from page 167):
Attention Intermediates - Specimen Hunting for the Aquarium
This year the Intermediate Section of the Society has a project to work on. As of early
January, with the help of some of the Aquarium staff, we will go out occasionally to find
and return to the aquarium, live marine plants and animals, for the biology classes held by the
Education Department.
On the afternoon of October 26th, the old and new executive of the group went down to the
Aquarium to discuss the plans with Miss [Sharon] Proctor. We hope you will all do a little
studying on the invertebrates, crustacea and marine plants to ensure a little knowledge of
what we will be involved with. We hope you will all enjoy this project as it should prove
very interesting as well as educational.
Jim Switzer
End Note #18 - #139 - June - August, 1968 (from page 178)
Docent Training - Vancouver Aquarium
The Vancouver Public Aquarium will be holding another docent training course this fall, commencing in early September. The course will include training for conducting
elementary school tours and the Grade 11 program. V.N.H.S. members have been active docents in the past and their participation is much appreciated. We are also encouraged to
continue the good work by taking the fall Docent course and helping to lead the tours next
winter. Watch the next bulletin for information regarding the dates for the fall course, and
information on how to apply.
End Note #19 -#139 - June -August, 1968 (from page 183)
Ornithology Comments
The Snowy Owls and Northern Shrikes departed about the end of March. Would members
please report any April sightings of these species to J. [Jack] Husted.
Members are reminded that the shorebirds migrate south
through Vancouver starting in
July. Later in August, Point Roberts is an excellent site for the terns, Jaegers and other species.
There are no ornithology field trips scheduled for July or August.
End Note #20 - #140 - September – November, 1968 (from page 186)
Chairmen of Sections
The following new officers have recently been appointed:
Geology Mr. Charlie Ney
Mycology Mr. Foote Waugh
Entomology Mr. Allan Wooton
Co-ordinator of Evening Meetings Mr. Arnold Greenius
Botany Section - Orchids
Attention members of the orchid group:
Summer is almost over and I hope you have found many orchids in many places. I would
like to remind you to get your reports ready and send them to me. Should any of you have seen orchids, but did not posses the proper maps, please phone me, as the Society has maps
including Vancouver Island, Vancouver and the region up to Manning Park. In many
instances you will still be able to pin-point your findings on the maps and then send your
reports, according to the instructions, to me. Reports should be in by October, or early
November. What would you think of an evening of your slides and comments regarding the
orchids? Mrs. Fred (Emmy) Fisher
End Note #21 - #140 September - November, 1698 (from page 190)
Some Interesting Plants from Crescent Beach
Crescent Beach, from the botanical point of view, is a very interesting area. One of the attractions is the large selection of marsh species. There are other interesting habitats, each
with its characteristic flora. These habitats can be classified as: salt marsh, Upper Beach,
Fields and Meadows, Woods, Bushy Hillsides, and what I call the ‘roadside zone’. Fresh-
water plants are limited to a few ditches and low spots.
Listed here are some of the more interesting and colourful plants:
[Seaside] Arrow Grass, [seashore] Salt Grass, Small False Solomon’s Seal, [Hooker’s] Fairy Bells,
Asparagus officinale [garden asparagus], Fumitory, Whitlow Grass [common draba], Sea Rocket, Tower Mustard, Beach Salt Bush [silvery orache], [American] Glasswort, Sweet-
after-death [vanilla-leaf], Goat’s-beard, Rough [Norwegian] Cinquefoil, Wild [beach?] Pea, Giant Vetch, Small [common?] Vetch, Naked-stemmed Hog-fennel [barestem desert-parsley], [saltmarsh] Dodder, Hemp-hettle, [European?] Bittersweet, Canada [blue] Toadflax, Seaside [sea] plantain, Oyster Plant [common salsify], Sand Bur [silver burweed], Brass Buttons, and Collomia linearis [narrow-leaved collomia].
Al Grass
Note: Mr. Grass’ text includes scientific names, and some general notation as to habitat,
which space limitations have regrettably forced us to delete. - Editor.
End Note #22 - #140 September - November, 1968 (from page 191)
Ornithology Section - Interesting Bird Sightings
Al Grass reports the following:
Stilt Sandpiper Burnaby Lake May 20, 1968
Horned Grebe Crescent Beach June 16, 1968 In breeding plumage.
Surf Scoters (23) Point Roberts June 30, 1968
White-winged Scoters (45) “ “ “ “
Eastern Kingbird (6) Blaney Creek August 4, 1968
Green Heron (2) “ “ “ “
Heerman’s Gull (15) Point Roberts August 11. 1968
Black Brant “ “ “ “
Kay Smith submits the following species as having been sighted at the VNHS Summer
Camp at Garibaldi Park: Common Goldeneye, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Ruffed Grouse, Bald
Eagle, White-tailed Ptarmigan, Pectoral Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Rufous
Hummingbird, Gray Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee,
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Dipper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, [American] Robin, Hermit Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Water Pipit, Gray-crowned Rosy Finch, Pine Siskin, Slate-coloured and Oregon [both Dark-eyed] Juncos, and Golden-crowned Sparrow.
End Note #23 - #141 - December, 1968 -February, 1969 (from page 201)
Pacific Nest Record Scheme
Mrs. V. Gibbard, of 465 Ellis St., Penticton, is the Corresponding Secretary for the Pacific
Nest Record Scheme. In the two years since Mrs. Gibbard took on the task, there has been
an increase in the number of contributors of nest record cards from 40 in 1966 to 127 in
1968. However Mrs. Gibbard is not satisfied; are there not a number of “birders” who could
add to the interest of their field trips by recording nests? Nest Record cards and instructions
can be obtained from Mrs. Gibbard at the above address.
Botany Section Dr. K. I. Beamish, Co-ordinator
Attention Orchid Group
Dr. Beamish has kindly invited us to an evening of orchid slides and exchange of
information on the orchid project. The meeting will be on Thursday November 21st at 8:00
p.m. in the taxonomy lab at the Biological Sciences Building, U.B.C. Room 3220.
Please bring your orchid slides . There will also be our maps available for those who have
not yet pinpointed their findings, as reports have to go in soon.
Do try to come. There will be some interesting slides to be seen, and we would like to hear
about your experiences collecting orchids.
Mrs. F. Fisher, Co-ordinator Orchid Group
Attention Botanists and photographers
In the spring and summer of 1969 we plan to pool our talents, and produce a slide series that
will become the property of V.N.H.S.
The object of this series will be to give instructions in identifying common plant families of
British Columbia. Content will be directed by Dr. Katherine Beamish.
Four Wednesday meetings will be held in which the series content, and the necessary
photographic techniques will be discussed. These are scheduled for Jan 15th, February
12th, March 12th and April 16th.
It would be most helpful for planning purposes to know the number of photographers
prepared to take an active part in this project, also the number of members likely to attend
the above meetings.
If interested please phone Roy Edgell, 922-2664.
End Note #24 - #141 - December, 1968 - February, 1969 (from page 202)
V.N.H.S./B.C. Nature Council-Joint Conservation Committee
Dr. V.C. Brink, Chairman of the joint committee had the second annual meeting with the
Hon. Kenneth Kiernan, Minister of Recreation and Conservation, in Victoria on 9th October,
1968.
Points of interest to members of the V.N.H.S. which emerged were:
1. Agreement that a committee on Conservation and Recreation was desirable. That the
Minister would chair such a Committee and that its composition should include
naturalists and other outdoor groups, and professional groups concerned with the use of
natural resources. Function of the committee would be communication.
2. Trail construction in Mount Seymour [Provincial] Park will continue.
3. Minister accepted with interest the idea of a major park in the inner Chilcotin area,
first scouted by Norm Purssell.
4. Minister concerned to conserve open areas in the Lower Fraser Valley, and the
V.N.H.S. should support his Department’s efforts. In organized (municipal) areas 25%
of cost of purchase, etc. will be met by the province.
5. Situation concerning access to Cathedral Lakes well understood by the Minister, and
action being taken by the Crown to ameliorate the situation.
Peg Briault, Secretary, B.C.N.C.
End Note #25- #142 - March - May 1969 (from page 203)
Editorial - The High Cost of Living
The attention of members of our Society is drawn to the Notice of Motion, printed in the
following paragraph, in connection with a proposed amendment to the By-laws, raising the
annual membership dues. The membership will be asked to vote upon and approve this
motion at the regular meeting of March 19th, 1969. For reason well know to all, the Society
has always endeavoured to keep the membership dues at a rock-bottom figure so persons
from every walk of life might enjoy the benefits of membership, and these dues have been
raised only twice before in the Society’s long history. Currently heavy increases in costs of
every kind now render a further increase unavoidable. The increased cost of producing the Bulletin, and the recent “hike” in mailing costs are only two examples of our rapidly rising operating costs.
It should also be remembered that the Society offers much more to its members than formerly
was the case. Our participation in the valued work of the B.C. Nature Council, which surely
no member would wish to repudiate, represents a substantial annual cost to the Society,
which is about to be increased. Our affiliation with the Vancouver Museums
Association, whereby our members enjoy the privileges of the fine new Civic Museum, is a further very worthwhile item which, however, also involves a substantial cost not formerly
facing the Society. It may be reflected that the great bulk of the Society’s year-to-year
activities, enjoyed by all, are provided gratis by a group of dedicated members, experts in
their several fields.
It is confidently expected that the membership will ratify this very necessary increase in
annual dues by approving the following motion on March 19th, 1969, to approve a
recommendation that the Society renew for a further year, its affiliation with the Vancouver
Museums Association, at a cost (to the Society’s treasury).
Moved Dr. Fred Fisher, Seconded P. [Phil]Croft that;
“The Annual Dues shall be five dollars per year for an individual and eight dollars
per year for a family”.
End Note #26- #142-March-May 1969 (from page 203)
Night School Courses in Botany and Ornithology
The Adult Education Department of the North and West Vancouver Night Schools is
putting on a number of courses this spring of particular interest to natural history people.
“Botany for Campers and Hikers” will be a ten week course commencing Tuesday, March
18th, from 7:30 to 9:30 in Delbrook Secondary School, Room B-2. “Bird Watching”, a ten
session course commencing Wednesday, March 18th, 7:30 to 9:30 in Carson Graham Senior
Secondary School, will be on field recognition of birds and includes field trips. Other
courses in Astronomy, Photography, Geology for Rock Hounds, and Driftwood Finishing are also being given. For further information phone the Night School office 985-8741.
End Note #27 - #142-March - May 1969 (from page 205)
Ornithology Section - Birds for the Record - Co-ordinator Wayne Campbell
Buff-breasted Sandpiper (3) Iona Island Sept. 28 R. E. Luscher
Spotted Sandpiper (1) Stanley Park Nov. 1 J. G. Sarles
Harris’s Sparrow (1) West Vancouver Nov. 17 E. G. Barnes
Townsend’s Warbler (1) Stanley Park Nov. 23 W. J. (Kay) Smith
Hutton’s Vireo (1) Stanley Park Nov. 26 John Yak
Barn Swallow (6) Westham Island Dec. 5 Campbell, Foottit
and Weber
Whistling Swan (2) Pitt Meadows Dec. 8 Ken C. Boyce
Green Heron (1) Ladner Dec. 21 Grass & Ryder
Short-Eared Owl (1) Reifel Refuge Jan. 28 Grass & Ryder
American Bittern (1) Reifel Refuge Jan. 26 Al Grass
Snowy Owl (2) Richmond No 3 Rd. Feb 1 Al Grass
End Note #28 - #143 - August 1969 (from page 208)
Ornithology Section - Birds for the Record (1969) - Co-ordinator Wayne Campbell
Band-tailed Pigeon (2) South Vancouver Feb. 18 R. E. Luscher
Trumpeter Swan (2) Westham Island Feb. 22 Brian Davies
Gyrfalcon (1) Westham Island Feb. 22 W. Campbell
Emperor Goose (1) White Rock March 2 John Toochin
Cinnamon Teal (2) Westham Island April 2 Brian Davies
Barn Swallow (1) North Burnaby April 7 W. Campbell
Sandhill Crane (2) Ladner April 8 G. Trevitt
Yellow-headed Blackbird (1) Iona Island April 13 W. Campbell
Sora Rail (1) Iona Island April 13 Ian Kennedy
Whimbrel (1) Beach Grove April 14 W. Campbell
& Ian Kennedy
Vaux Swift (1) North Vancouver April 25 W. Weber
Myrtle [Yellow-rumped] Warber (1) North Vancouver April 25 W. Weber
Black-throated Gray Warbler (1) North Vancouver April 25 W. Weber
Blue-winged Teal (1) Iona Island April 30 R. Foottit
House Wren (1) Galiano Island May 3 T. Stevens
Turkey Vulture (1) Sea Island May 7 G. Peatfield
Nashville Warbler (2) Alice Lake May 7 Campbell & Foottit
Hammond’s Flycatcher Alice Lake May 3 Campbell & Foottit
Olive-sided Flycatcher Alice Lake May 8 Campbell & Foottit
Solitary Vireo Alice Lake May 6 Campbell & Foottit
Marbled Godwit Iona Island May 11 Bill Anderson
End Note #29 - #144 - September to November, 1969 (from page 209)
Intermediate Section
During the past twelve months, we have been fortunate in having a good variety of
meetings. For the benefit of those who were not able to attend, here is a short resume of the
most outstanding ones:
On the 23rd of November, we had a most interesting expedition to the Salmon Fisheries Lab
at Cultus Lake, where Maisy Ferguson showed us both the histology lab, and a dissection
of the alveoli [sic]. In the former, salmon tissues were first dehydrated, and then placed in a block of wax, to be finely sliced (1/10,000mm) for microscope study. In the early spring, we hiked about Bowen and Finnistere Islands and as well as birds and spring flowers, we had a short look at the intertidal landscape. Three weeks later, Foote Waugh took us about
the rocks at Lumberman’s Arch, where we had a more detailed study of marine biology.
That day happened to have about the lowest tide in the year. The Valley Tour on June 21st
took us to Kanaka Creek, where most of us found at least one or two fossils, leaf imprints estimated to be between 50 and 75 million years old! That was the last scheduled trip in the
1968-69 year, and it looks as if the next programme will be just as good. Please note that Sunday is now our meeting day, which means that more will be able to turn out. Finally, your name will not be included in the membership list unless you pay your dues by the
beginning of October.
Elaine Matthews (President)
Junior Section - Leaders Bob Foottit and Ken Kennedy
The Juniors have been quite busy this summer. There was a total of seven field trips to various parts of the Lower Mainland. We would like to thank Dr. Stace-Smith, for leading a group of youngsters through the intertidal zone at Brockton Point. We would also like to
thank Mr. R. D. Harris for taking a group to the George C. Reifel Waterfowl Refuge.
The field trips in the summer and the ones coming up now are not on any single topic. It is hoped to get the juniors interested in all fields of natural history and not be too specific at such an early age. This does not mean that if a junior likes one particular topic better than any other, that he cannot work harder at it. In the fall program there will be field trips, weather permitting, or a program of films and other indoor projects will be carried out in the Junior museum.
All field trips will begin at the Centennial Museum and Planetarium at 10:00 a.m., unless
you are otherwise notified. Always bring a lunch, notebook, binoculars and/or a camera.
End Note #30 - #144 - September - November, 1969 (from page 211)
Botany Section - Co-ordinator Stan C. Roberts
With the start of the Camp in the latter part of July, the Botany workshop Study Group, under the competent guidance of Kay Beamish, curtailed their activities for the rest of the
summer. Since early June, about a dozen interested amateur botanists spent at least one
evening each week in the University area, generally returning after an hour field trip to Kay
Beamish’s lab to key the specimens collected. The workshop had its humorous incident,
one being the time when the members formed a sort of shield to protect Kay from the view
of the University Police Station while she collected specimens in the boulevard exotic
flower plot!
It is hoped that the Botany Workshop can be continued during the fall and winter months on
an information basis limited to the study of family groups. Kay Beamish has indicated that her
lab may be available for one evening every week or two weeks. Possibly those in the
Botany-Photography group may like to attend these meetings so as to learn to key the plant
in the family which they are photographing in order to become familiar with their
characteristics.
Botany - Photographic Group - Co-ordinator: Roy Edgell
A meeting of this group will be held at Pacific Press, 2250 Granville on Tuesday,
September 9th at 8:30p.m.
Before the meeting, groups are requested to choose the slides they wish to present on their selected family (botanic) so that we may show and assess the results of our project to date.
Attention - Orchid Group - Co-ordinator: Emmy (Mrs. F.) Fisher
This group will meet on Saturday, September 20th at 2:30 p.m. in Dr. Beamish’s lab to make
up their yearly reports. The available maps will be there.
Please remember that reports must be typed in triplicate with triple spacing.
End Note #31 - #144- September-November 1969 (from page 212)
Ornithology Section - Co-ordinator Wayne Campbell
Birds for the Record (Summer 1969)
Ruddy Turnstone (1) Iona Island Jetty May 13 Bill Wilson
Ring-billed Gull (1) Iona Island May 13 Bill Wilson
[Northern] Mockingbird (1) Pitt River, May 24 F. Pratt
[Gray] Catbird (1) Pitt Meadows . May 24 J. Toochin
Turkey Vulture (1) S. Pender Island June 2 Eve Smith
Least Flycatcher (1) Stanley Park June 7 Wayne Weber
Avocet (2) Iona Island June 13 Bill Anderson
Bank Swallow (5) Trout Lake June 17 Barry Edwards
Green Heron (1) Iona Island June 28 Bob Baker
[Greater] White-fronted Goose (1) Iona Island June 28 ) Bill Anderson,
Cackling [Canada] Goose (1) Iona Island June 28 ) Switzer & Baker
Bullock’s Oriole (1) Langley June & July Glen Ryder
Lesser Yellowlegs Westham Island July 6 ) Madelon
Greater Yellowlegs Westham Island July 6 ) Schouten
Ruddy Turnstone (1) Iona Island July 24 Wayne Weber
Semi-palmated Plover (1) Westham Island July 27 Jack Husted
End Note #32 - #145 - December 1969 - February 1970 (from page 214)
Birds for the Record (Fall 1969)
Sora Rail (1) Iona Island Aug. 13 Bill Anderson
Franklin’s Gull (1) Iona Island Aug. 16 Jack Husted
Ruddy Turnstone (2) Point Roberts Aug. 23 V.N.H.S. Trip
Black Turnstone (1) Point Roberts Aug. 23 V.N.H.S. Trip
Northern Phalarope (3) Diamond Head Aug. 30 Barbara Howie
Parasitic Jaeger (1) Roberts Bank Sept. 1 Peter McAllister
Golden Plover Point Roberts Sept. 6 Ken C. Boyce
Lewis’s Woodpecker (2) Point Roberts Sept. 6 Ken C. Boyce
Ruffed Grouse (1) ) Iona Island Sept. 7 Bill Rae, Verna
Willet (1) ) Newson & M. McFeat
Sabine’s Gull (1 Imm) Richmond Sept. 7 Wayne Campbell
Peregrine Falcon (1) Westham Island Sept. 7 V.N.H.S. Trip
Green Heron (1) Westham Island Sept. 7 V.N.H.S. Trip
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (1) Iona Island Sept. 14 W. H. Hesse
Semi-palmated Sandpiper (2) Iona Island Sept. 15 Bill Wilson
Oregon [Dark-eyed] Junco (1)Iona Island Sept. 15 Anderson, Baker
[Northern] Goshawk (1) Westham Island Sept. 24 Brian Davies
Black-billed Magpie (1) Queen Elizabeth Park Sept. 26 Ken C. Boyce
Harris’s Sparrow (1) West Vancouver Sept. 26 Kay Smith (Barnes)
White-throated Sparrow (1M) Pitt Meadows Sept. 28 M. Schouten & E. Fisher
Yellow-shafted [Northern] Flicker (1) South Vancouver Oct. 2 J. Toochin
Skua (1) Brocton Point Oct. 9 Ken C. Boyce
Ancient Murrelet (2) Galiano Island Oct. 12 Tom Stevens
Rough-legged Hawk (2) Iona Island Oct. 14 Wayne Campbell
Northern Shrike (2) Iona Island Oct. 14 Wayne Campbell
European [Eurasian] Wigeon (1) Stanley Park Oct. 17 Ed Moody & John Yak
Saw-whet Owl (1) Stanley Park Oct. 17 Ken Kennedy
White-winged Crossbill (1) Point Roberts Oct. 25 Wayne Weber
Whistling Swan (5) Spanish Banks Oct. 27 George Sirk
End Note #33 - #145 - December, 1969 - February, 1970 (from page 216)
Christmas Bird Count
This year the day-long count will be held on Sunday, December 21. All people interested in participating please contact Wayne Campbell so arrangements can be made for a meeting of
participants before count day. Anyone can participate, at least one experienced birder will
be with each field party.
A post- count smorgasbord supper is being arranged for all participants, their families and
friends.
Wing Tagged Gulls - by R. [Rudi] Drent
As part of an intensive study of the ecology of the Glaucous-winged Gull, 119 adult birds were
marked by University of British Columbia ornithologists with wing tags this past summer at
one of the breeding colonies in the Gulf Islands. These tags are circular pieces of bright red
plastic attached to the right wing by means of an aluminum rivet. Each tag bears a number, or a number and a letter combination printed in black so that each bird can be recognized as
an individual.
the object of marking these birds in such a conspicuous way is to allow their movements to
be traced throughout the year especially with the view of finding out how important garbage
dumps may be as feeding areas.
Please report any sightings on these birds, even if you have not been able to read the
Number, to John Ward, Dept. of Zoology, U.B.C., Vancouver. Progress reports will be
prepared from time to time and sent to all co-operators.
End Note #34 - #145 - December 1969 - February 1970 (from page 222)
Use of V.N,H.S. Membership Cards to Gain Admittance to the Museum
The attention of the Members is drawn to the fact that the Society is an Affiliate group in
the Vancouver Museums Association, and free admittance to the Museum is available to all
V.N.H.S. members in good standing, upon presentation of their V.N.H.S. Membership
cards. This year the Museums Association is not issuing separate Affiliate Membership
cards to V.N.H.S. members (as was done last year), and your V.N.H.S. card will be your
passport into the Museum. The free admittance does not include the Planetarium.
End Note #35 - #146 - March - May 1970 (from page 223)
Dr. Beamish reports that the Lighthouse park project [Nature West Coast] is progressing slowly but steadily. Our dozen artists have finished 200 line drawings and have others in various stages of completion. The ferns and seed plants, marine life, insects and the mushrooms are well in hand. Mosses, lichens, mammals and birds are following closely. Discussions of geology and ecology are done and a number of people are writing data and comments to accompany the drawings. Maps are in preparation. The goal for publication is now dimly in sight.
Library News
Some time ago Mrs. H. Pinder-Moss listed all the books belonging to the Society,
numbering about 150 volumes.
The Society has permission to place the locked bookcase in the Museum’s Members’ Lounge
so that the books may be more readily available to members. Plans are underway to obtain a
bookcase compatible with [the] Museum furnishings. Mrs. Pinder-Moss has offered to look
after the signing out of books at our regular meetings and at other times convenient to her.
Mr. C. F. Connor has recently offered the Audubon Encyclopedia to the Society. His
generosity and that of others who have recently presented books to the Society is sincerely
appreciated. Books will be listed in a future edition of the bulletin.
Vancouver Junior Naturalists - Co-ordinator Ken Kennedy
It has been confirmed that we will have our first Nature Display Day on March 21, 1970. It
will be held in the Junior Museum beginning at 10:00 a.m. There will be some time for you
to set up your project. Once all the projects are set up then you will have a chance to hear
what the others have done. You will be able to ask questions. The public may be allowed in
from 12:00 noon if time permits.
Your project would be best in the form of a chart. Maybe you have a small collection or a
pet you might like to bring and tell a little about. You might want to show what plants and
animals might be found in a wooded area or a list of inhabitants of a salt water tide pool? It
is entirely up to you how much detail you include and how big your project should be.
Because of limited space it should not be TOO large! If you need help in any way or have
any other questions please give me a call.
It is hoped that you will learn from this project and that you will help in teaching others. So
good luck and don’t forget to bring your parents out!
End Note #36 - #146 march - May 1970 (from page 223)
The Name Game
A Committee of Selection appointed by your executive, and consisting of Mrs. Nancy
Anderson, Mr. Charlie Ney, and your Editor met to consider the 44 names suggested by 23
contributors as a future title for our quarterly Bulletin. A great variety of suggestions
included many very attractive names, and the Committee has made a first, second and third
choice. Following an investigation to make sure that the “first-choice” infringes no
copyright, and following ratification by the Executive, announcement of the winning name
will be made, and the name used on the next Bulleting cover.
End Note #37 - #146 - March - May 1970 (from page 224)
Birds for the Record (Winter 1969)
Dipper (1) Lost Lagoon Oct. 11 Roy Phillips
Pine Grosbeak (3) Seymour Mountain Nov. 12 Wayne Weber
[Northern] Mockingbird (1) Main & 33rd Ave. Nov. 15 Roy Phillips
Long-eared Owl (1) Iona Island Nov. 23 David Stirling
Harris’s Sparrow (1) Iona Island Nov. 23 David Stirling
European [Eurasian] Wigeon (6) Iona Island Nov. 23 Wayne Campbell
Barn Owl (1) South Richmond Nov. 30 Colin Clark
Pigeon Hawk [Merlin] North Vancouver Dec. 5 Penny Haering
Audubon [Yellow-rumped] Warbler (2) Westham Island Dec. 6 Wayne Weber
Audubon [Yellow-rumped] Warbler (1) Dunbar & 31st Ave. Dec. 9 Michael Shepard
Barn Swallow (7) Westham Island Dec. 6 Weber & Shepard
Green Heron (1) Sea Island Dec. 14 Colin Clark
Common Redpoll (40) Centennial Park Dec. 31 Bill Wilson
Lapland Longspur (12) Centennial Park Dec. 31 Bill Anderson
Orange-crowned Warbler (1) Ladner Dec. 31 Rudi Drent
Harris’s Sparrow (1) Ladner Dec. 31 Wayne Campbell
Lincoln’s Sparrow (1) Iona Island Dec. 31 Wayne Weber
Short-eared Owl (12) Centennial Park Jan. 1 Tom Stevens
Pine Grosbeak (4) Beach Grove Jan. 3 Daryl Johnson
Least Sandpiper (4) Westham Island Jan. 4 Wayne & Robin Weber
Virginia Rail (1) Westham Island Jan 4. Wayne & Robin Weber
Green Heron (1) S. W. Richmond Jan 16 Robert Foottit
Saw-whet Owl (1) North Vancouver Jan. 20 Penny Haering
End Note #38 - #146 - March - May 1970 (from page 228)
Seen on an October Day by Marjorie McFeat
October 25, 1969
On this grey day I joined our Mr. Rae in a walk along the sea wall of Stanley Park. At Third
Beach there was, very suddenly, a great commotion among the many gulls flying about and
in their midst a bald eagle. In close proximity to the shore a lone female goldeneye swam,
the target of the eagle.
Three times, in wide swooping arcs, the great bird dove at the small duck, having evidently
wounded it on the first strike. Failing to retrieve its prize the eagle flew off followed by the
harassing screaming gulls. Quiet descended and the duck swam slowly from the shore,
making futile efforts to raise itself in flight and finally scrambling on to the tip of a rock, as
yet uncovered by the incoming tide.
A seal appeared close by and swimming to the rock seized the duck, shaking and
submerging it. A cruel “drama of cat and mouse” began. Over, and over as we watched
anxiously and helplessly the duck managed, somehow to escape and flutter back to the rock
only to be dragged back to the water by the seal, again vigorously shaken and submerged. It
seemed to go on endlessly and we marveled that this small wounded creature could
withstand such punishment for lengthy a time. The whole period of observation extended
for about half an hour.
It was become dusk and chilly and time to leave. At Ferguson Point we turned our heads for
a last look. Nothing remained - not a gull, nor a seal, nor the little maimed duck, not even
the crest of the rock - only the still expanse of a cold, steel-grey sea.
End Note #39 - #147 - June - August, 1970 (from page 231)
Mount Arrowsmith Area, Vancouver Island (Flower List by Art Guppy cont.)
Tiarella laciniata (Cut-leaved Foamflower)
Tiarella trifoliata (Foamflower) [Three-leaved Foamflower]
Tiarella unifoliata (Foamflower) [One-leaved Foamflower]
Penstemon [
Nothochelone]
nemorosus (Turtlehead Penstemon) [Woodland Penstemon]
Allotropa virgata (Candystick)
Hemitomes congestum (Gnome-plant)
Pterospora andromedea (Pinedrops)
Goodyera oblongifolia (Rattlesnake-plantain)
Moneses uniflora (One-flowered Wintergreen) [Single Delight]
Pyrola asarifolia (Pink Wintergreen)
Pyrola virens [
chlorantha] (White Wintergreen) [Green Wintergreen]
Pyrola picta (Veined Wintergreen [White-veined Wintergreen]
Pyrola aphylla (Leafless Wintergreen) [Now part of White-veined]
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