Selected Excerpts from the Vancouver Natural History Society “Bulletin”
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- Point Roberts Geology Trip
- Crystal Lake – Garibaldi Park
- Mushroom Trip, Stanley Park
- The Vancouver Natural History Society Display
- Note
- End Note 1: Botanical Notice (see pages 261-262) Iona Island Bird Trip
- Skagit Valley (May 31 – June 1)
Note: The date and duration of this camp were not noted but it probably took place in July 1951. Cathedral Lakes did not become a Provincial Park until May 2nd, 1968. #72 September 1951 Bird Trip to Christie Island Few bird trips offer wider interest than the annual expedition to Christie Island in Howe Sound. This year a large turn out set forth on Sunday, June 17th from Horseshoe Bay under Bill Hughes’ able direction. Our three sturdy inboard motorboats plied through a brisk June breeze and brilliant sunshine, arriving without incident at the small group of rocks of which Christie Island is the largest. The protection afforded the nesting seabirds by the isolation of the rocks, holds a strange appeal. One feels that these wild creatures have used a deep wisdom in selecting this site for the delicate purpose of procreation. No sign of the teeming life – the hundreds of adults and nestlings – is evident even from a short distance. It is not until one climbs on the rocks and a general alarm is raised by the worried parents, that one discovers the fascinating multitudes, the stirring chorus of ringing bird notes, the beating of hundreds of pairs of wings, as flocks swirl overhead in agitated vigil. Everywhere at one’s feet lay the nests of glaucous-winged gulls. Midst a scattering of twigs, grasses and softer interlining nestle two or three greenish-brown mottled eggs. At the time of our visit one or two eggs in each nest had hatched. Soon after the chicks have dried from the shell they squirm from the center of the nest and snuggle down in the deep grass among which most of the nests are set. Here, camouflaged by the peculiar brownish-grey and yellow of their downy feathers, they are well protected. Appealing little creatures, they are soft, but large-boned and awkward with huge gaping mouths. This writer was struck by the orderliness and cleanliness of these breeding grounds, the vague rhythm of a pattern of accomplishment working within the clear, fresh winds that sweep over grey-washed rock, the bright green of grass and rock plants. The gleaming white adult birds mingling with apparent planned amiability. The breeding gulls are but one species of interests on Christie Island, for here too are found the curious nests of Baird’s [pelagic] cormorants, piles of matted debris with three or four long bluish eggs on top. Mr. Hughes pointed out that some nests are used year after year, growing into considerable structures on the rocky ledges. He also said that there was an increase in the number of cormorants’ nests on the Island this year. On one side of Christie Island grows a small bush land where several [northwestern] crows have taken up residence. We failed to find their nests, but three or four young that had just learned to fly, were fluttering through the thickets. Bill, sneaking up on one of them, succeeded in grabbing it by the legs and securing it for everyone to see. One of the highlights of the day was the search for a pigeon guillemot’s nest. They are known to breed there but it took the earnest attention of 30 members over an hour to finally seek out one nest. Deep in a dark crevice lay two small greyish eggs protected only by their rocky seclusion. During our lunch on the Island, grouped around a huge kettle of tea, we trained our field glasses on the sea birds that plied the surrounding waters. A flock of scoters skimmed the surface; hair [harbour] seals played in the quiet bays, and gulls watched us as they settled back beside their nests. One pair on a log nearby flirted and skipped clumsily about one another, all the while glaring into each others eyes with great intensity. The Christie Island trip is a rare treat for every bird lover. New members are given precedence so that all may have an opportunity to make one visit there. To all who have not yet had this adventure we can say do make a mental reservation now to visit Christie Island next summer. R.B. Mr. Christie, after whom the Island was named, was a long time VNHS member. He bought the Island in Howe Sound because of the bird colony. His two sons became biologists, one with the Department of Agriculture and the other as a high school teacher. Mr. Chrstie Sr. had a small farm in what is now the Collingwood area of Vancouver. Trip to Table Mountain In view of the curtailment of mountain trips due to this year’s dry weather, members were especially fortunate in being able to enjoy a most interesting trip. Over 40 people arrived at the scheduled starting place on Sunday July 22nd and it was only with the help of a few private cars that everyone was successfully transported to the Mount Baker Lodge. The journey was without incident and with a clear blue sky we could not fail to enjoy the unfolding panorama that culminated in the sight of magnificent Mount Shuksan. This granite mass [ Ed Note: not a ‘true granite; this rock is known as “greenschist” a metamorphosed submarine basalt] overhung with snow and ice, dominates the Mount Baker Lodge area and its small lake. Mount Baker cannot be seen from the Lodge, but climbing a slope on the way to Table Mountain it can be seen in the distance, almost ghostlike with the sun behind it and its cover of snow nearly merging with the sky. Lunch was eaten at the Lodge and the hike to Table Mountain started around 1:30 p.m. Table Mountain is roughly between Mount Shuksan and Mount Baker and is not hard to climb. However, the main party followed a trail more or less around the Mountain to some alpine meadows beyond. Patches of snow still remained, but much of it had been gone for some time and the ground dried, with the result that the alpine flowers were not plentiful. One feels in such areas that around the next bend the floral display will be better. However, time did not permit a lengthy hike so we returned to the car park for a meal and a cup of refreshing tea provided by the Gleggs. With a trip so interesting as this one was, it is hoped that future years will see the Society paying an increasing number of visits to neighbouring parts of Washington State. N.P.
#73 October 1951 Point Roberts Geology Trip On Saturday August 25th we left Vancouver in the smoky haze that was still with us as we went through New Westminster and crossed Patullo Bridge. There we learned that we could not follow west along the Fraser River through Sunbury, so we traveled via Scott Road and saw the pall which hung over the Delta. However, when we met Dr. Armstrong at Boundary Bay customs, we were happily in clearer air. He took us out to Point Roberts where everything was bright and sunny. We descended to the shore to view the cliffs, remnants of the plain that once spread over the Fraser area, created by the material brought down by the Cordilleran Glacier and sand carried by the waters which flowed from the glacier as it receded. Afterwards, we were taken over to a drainage ditch at Tsawwassen and dug fossils of shells that seemed as fresh as if just removed from the sea. Altogether we had an enjoyable and instructive time and expressed our thanks to our leader who kindly furnished a resume [listed below] of what we saw: J.J.P. Pleistocene Section near South Beach, Boundary Bay, U.S.A. Section 200 feet thick comprising: Top 0 – 5 feet – boulder gravel (possibly beach) 25 feet – till (boulder clay – Vashon) 140 feet – sand, minor clay. Uniformity here, possibly outwash. Bottom 30 feet – sand and clay – interglacial (Quadra) The unusual features were – 1. A kind of intra-formational conglomerate, consisting of large angular blocks of clay in sand and gravel (not true conglomerate). The accumulation seems to have resulted from the burying of small talus on which the clay fragments fell as the sand was cut away beneath it. Later, there was a reworking and mixing by wave action. 2. Clay dikes, clay sills and boulders in sand clay “conglomerate”. These features are all the result of pressure being exerted on highly plastic clay, causing it to intrude the surrounding sands. The intrusions apparently occurred after the sand was deposited, but while the clays still contained enough water to be highly mobile. 3. The unconformity near the base of the section appears to represent a considerable erosion interval with large slides prevalent. 4. Fossil wood, shell fragments and concretions in sand below unconformity. Pleistocene Fossil Shells seen near Tsawwassen Beach, Boundary Bay, B.C. Shells in a drainage ditch at approx. 200 feet elevation. Shells in sand and on till (boulder clay) underlying sand Shells buried under 8 feet of sand. Observed were – Fossil Clams - Chlamys (pecten), Nuculana (Leda), Macoma, Clinocardium, Saxidomus, Serpula, Serripes, Mya and others. All free living forms in depths up to 100 feet. Perfectly preserved – show hinge lines and muscle scars. Represent water temperature similar to that now found at latitude 50 degrees, that is slightly colder than at present. Probable age, 15,000+ years, believe it or not. J.E.A.
#74 November 1951 Crystal Lake – Garibaldi Park Many artists have tried to capture the wonders of Garibaldi Park. I believe the dozen or so members of the Vancouver Natural History Society who spent Labour Day weekend (Sept. 1st – 3rd) camping near Diamond Head Lodge would agree with a chance remark made by one of the group. We had climbed from the Ring Creek snow bridge and were resting amid heath and heather on a high ridge, a panoramic view before us of Garibaldi, Pyramid, Spire and Mamquam mountains – all majestic in the purple splendour of late afternoon. “This can be seen only with the naked eye; it defies the artist,” said our friend dreamily. Our delight in the beauty of the area and in the perfect autumn weather was enhanced by Dr. Brink’s concise and fascinating outline of the geology of the surrounding mountains said to be the most interesting on the Pacific Coast. He told us of the peculiar proximity of the area of vulcanism, encompassing Mount Garibaldi, with the much older granite dirate [sic] [granodiorite] massive of Mamquam directly across the valley. The ancient area was formed under thousands of feet of ice sheets and later volcanic action from the cinder cone on Mount Garibaldi that resulted in a lava flow now to be seen extending several miles from the mountain down Ring Creek to Squamish. With the lateness of the season the floral life was at low ebb, although in the long stretches of moraine bordering the glacier we found colourful patches of alpine fireweed [broad-leaved willowherb], some saxifrage, Tolmiei [Tolmie’s saxifrage] and Mimulus lewisii [pink monkey-flower]. Apparently at no season, due to the acid volcanic soil around Mount Garibaldi, is the floral life as full as in areas of cretaceous rocks such as those found in the meadows of the Black Tusk with their masses of alpine blossom. The blueberries were a joy to behold. In fact many of us would no doubt have progressed further with our botanical observations had these tempting tidbits not beckoned at us around every bush. Bird life was quiet except for the ubiquitous Canada [gray] jays, although we did have the good fortune to come within a few feet of a water ouzel [American dipper], and spent ten minutes watching it dip and duck in search of larvae in the rushing cascade of Ring Creek. Our visit to Diamond Head represented something of a milestone in the development of this area as most of our party and all our camping equipment arrived by jeep direct to the Lodge from Squamish. Although a caterpillar tractor has been used for some time to bring supplies to the Lodge, this was the first party to arrive by means of a four-wheeled vehicle. I think we were all impressed by the vision and perseverance shown by the Brandvold family in opening up this wonderland for public enjoyment. Diamond Head Lodge, conceived and built in all its rustic beauty by Ottar and Emil Branvold, is in itself a monument to their love for this rich parkland.
Saturday, October 13th was the date of the annual Fungus Foray in Stanley Park. Fifty or more members met at the picnic grounds and after introductory remarks by our leader, Mr. Waugh, the group scouted around to see what could be found. Some had keen eyes and brought in fine collections. Owing to the late season the findings were somewhat different from previous years. Thirty-six specimens collected, not all traced to their species, but the genus was settled. Thanks to Mr. Waugh for the following details: Coprinus comatus – shaggy mane mushroom, one of the foolproof four - was collected in fair quantity. Lycoperdon – puffballs, and Marasmius oreades – fairy ring, were collected in large enough quantities to be eaten and at least one family enjoyed a meal of them. No Amanita appeared in the collection, but orange Chanterelle was more common than usual. This [orange variety] is not an edible species. After an interesting and instructive talk by Mr. Waugh, we enjoyed a cup of tea provided by Mrs. Waugh with her usual hospitality. M.T. The Vancouver Natural History Society Display One of the highlights of our year’s activities was the Society’s display held last December 1st at U.B.C. This exhibit was planned in order to bring into the light of day many excellent collections made by our members for their own interest, but which few others have had a chance to see. Participation and interest were both demonstrated before the day drew to a close. Not only did many members contribute their time and energy, but many more and their friends arrived to congest the rooms and corridors in their desire to see everything. Tables were covered with geological, entomological, mammalian, marine and botanical specimens (comprising pathological, mycological and taxonomic specimens). The display of photography and handicrafts as well as the books and magazines from our library also around considerable interest. #76 February 1952 Bird Feeder Sighting A rare visitor to Vancouver was recently seen at the Bradleys’ bird feeding station. Four Hepburn’s [common] rosy finches arrived at the feeding tray and stayed long enough for a number of our members to seem them. An event such as this is one of the highlights for making available a supply of food for birds during the winter months. Bird Emblem of B.C. The Victoria Natural History Society desires to choose a bird emblem for B.C. They suggest that all the schools of the Province be contacted to have the students choose the species by popular vote. They have written to our Society asking us to choose not more than eight suitable species. The plan is then to have the Victoria Natural History Society collect ours and other similar lists. The favourite species will then be submitted to Dr. Carl, Director of the Provincial Museum, for approval by the Museum staff [prior to being distributed to the schools.] V.N.H.S. members interested in submitted the name of bird they would like to see chosen, please send in its name within ten days, to the Secretary. A committee of Mr. Sanford and Mr. Rogers, appointed at a recent executive meeting, will then select our eight most popular species and send them to Victoria Note: Thirty-five years later, in 1987, the Steller’s jay was finally chosen as B.C.’s Provincial Bird!. Trumpeter Swans At our meeting on Wednesday, November 14th, Mr. Ron McKay [Canadian Wildlife Service] gave a brief survey of the history of the Dominion Wildlife Officers and their work preliminary to his talk on trumpeter swans. The Service came into being in 1917 with the passing of the Wild Life Act by parliament. Mr. Dave Munro became the first Wildlife Officer for B.C. and also for a time, for an area considerably to the east of B.C. On his retirement, Mr. McKay took over the position and it was in connection with his work that he was able to give us a very interesting lecture on the trumpeter swan. Acting on instructions to ascertain the numbers in B.C. and to check their movements, Mr. McKay undertook a number of journeys, including counting from the air, and trips into the most rugged parts of the Province. Small groups of birds were located at various places, one of the largest being at Lonesome Lake near Bella Coola, but it was noted that they do not always group together and counting them was difficult since they are to be found in the most inaccessible parts of the Coast Range. A rough [preliminary] estimate was that 700 trumpeter swans were in B.C. The swans normally winter as far north as open water in the lakes can be found, but will remain near a frozen lake if food is available. The whistling [tundra] swan winters in California and nests in the Arctic. Trumpeter swans are a larger bird, 20 to 30 lbs, compared to the whistling [tundra] swans of only 18 lbs., but it is often difficult to detect the differences. The lecture was illustrated with colour photographs and concluded with an illustrated talk showing a visit to a [American white] pelican colony for the banding of the young birds. #79 May 1952 End Note # 1: Botanical Notice (see pages 261-262) Iona Island Bird Trip Our trip to Iona Island this year on Sunday, March 30th, began with unpromising weather. The skies were dull and cloudy, a strong, cold wind was blowing, and every indication was that we would soon have a heavy rainstorm as big black clouds rolled up from the south. Nevertheless about 20 members turned out for the trip. The party split into two for the boat trip across. Once the complete group had assembled we began our tramp along the sandy, wind-blown Island. A strong gale continued to blow from the south and got colder and stronger the farther we went. Fortunately the rain kept off and as the group was well clad no great hardship was felt by anyone. The weather at least kept us on the move. Because of the strong wind and low temperatures, bird life was not as abundant as we would have wished. One interesting view was obtained of a flock of several hundred snow geese perhaps only two hundred yards off shore. Whether the wind was responsible for their quietness we did not know. At any rate, they made no effort to leave and everyone had an excellent view; so different from a year ago when we could not get within a quarter of a mile of them. The little horned lark did not disappoint us this time either. A pair was observed. We also saw a [northern] flicker, killdeer, song sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, a flock of unidentified sandpipers, an owl, perhaps a short-eared, but no close view was obtained, and [northwestern] crows and [great blue] herons. Of the water birds we saw western grebes, short-billed [mew] gulls, [northern] pintails, baldpates [American wigeon], scaups, mallards, double-crested cormorants and white-winged scoters. A big roaring fire at noon built behind the shelter of a log provided a warm and cheery atmosphere for our lunch. The smoke from the fire was more than offset by the heat from the flames. To make sure that the trip was properly recorded Mr. Dave Martin lined up the ‘hunters’ and had them train their field glasses on some geese decoys set out on a sand bar while he busily photographed them from various angles. We could not conclude our record of the day’s events without mentioning a bushtit nest on the road back to Marine Drive that Mrs. Bradley had found on a previous trip. It was about one foot long and suspended from the branch of a conifer. It seemed big enough to house a dozen bushtits instead of the two we saw darting about. Capilano Canyon Under the leadership of Dr. Armstrong the Society held one of its most successful trips on Saturday, April 26th. Although rain was falling early in the morning it did clear up in the afternoon. Unfortunately this early cloudy weather discouraged many people from turning out to what proved a most enjoyable and profitable afternoon. Dr. Armstrong chose the Capilano Canyon area to explain and illustrate some Pleistocene geology. Beginning on the road above the little park, he explained the formation of glacial tills and how deposits had formed one above the other blocking the Capilano River and diverting its flow, so that it cut a new channel through solid rock 300 feet or more deep. The carving through rock was easier for the River to do than to wear through the glacial tills blocking its old bed. By the action of frost and water the rock split along joint fractures which the river then enlarged until a channel was formed. Carved slits with clearly divided winter and summer bands were apparent in the banks by the roadside. Formed only by silt and clay deposits in fresh water, they enable geologists to age past epochs much the same as botanists use the rings in trees. Coming down in the canyon to the river we were able to see the construction underway on the new Capilano Dam. Some of the difficulties being encountered in the preliminary stages of this were explained. Walking downstream we were shown the joint fractures in the rock of the canyon walls and how these lines will split the rock in three directions. In the granitic bedrock along the river, dykes were seen. The boulders lining the shore, once thought to have been washed down by the river, were in fact brought down by glaciers and gradually settled into their present location by river erosion. Greenstone, volcanic boulders and even some true granite were seen. The true granite consisting of quartz, orange orthoclase, hornblende and chlorite, was of great interests as true granite is scarce here. The afternoon was one of keen interest and enjoyment. The geological map of the area that Dr. Armstrong kindly supplied to each member, aided in illustrating the region in which we were working. We all learned some of the geological history of the Canyon and were grateful to Dr. Armstrong for the time and effort he took to explain the area to us. #80 September 1952 Skagit Valley (May 31 – June 1) Twenty-one people set out from Vancouver around midday. A meeting place was arranged near Hope and the party had a good meal before leaving the main highway for the night’s camp. The Silver Creek logging road proved excellent and the 30-mile drive south was a pleasure, although the weather seemed a little unsettled with the peaks covered by cloud. Near our destination a few members obtained accommodation at the Whitworth Ranch, and the rest carried on to an abandoned logging camp. Here arrangements were made for an early rise, 5 a.m., and all turned in to sleep in the huts either on the floor or on bed springs left by the previous occupants. The following morning was so dull that the pre-breakfast bird trip had to be cancelled. Nevertheless, nearby a number of birds were seen and two nests found, one of a winter wren, and the other that of a [dark-eyed] junco. After breakfast, cooked individually by members on the cabin stove, the main hike of the day commenced. This followed an old trail built many years ago during a minor gold rush. Logging operations had obliterated part of the trail but the rest was in quite good shape. Many plants were observed but probably the most interesting was wild ginger and California [Pacific] rhododendron, both in flower. To complete the day the party drove across the U.S. border to the end of the road to see the desolation brought on by the valley having been flooded for power purposes in the United States. At this time of year the lake was just beginning to fill having been progressively emptied during the late summer and winter. It gave everyone an idea of how much care must be taken to ensure that such flooding is a necessity before it is undertaken. Here in B.C. the Natural History Society had given support to the conservationists who were trying to prevent the flooding of Buttle Lake until it could be proven that such a step was indeed the only possible one. At this point the party broke up, meeting briefly at the main highway. A hearty thanks by everyone was accorded to Dr. Brink who so ably led and organized the trip. The following is a list of the birds seen on this trip: red crossbill, pine grosbeak, olive-sided flycatcher, bald eagle, pine siskin, cedar waxwing, blue [Steller’s] jay, [dark-eyed] junco, winter wren [spotted] towhee, russet backed [Swainson’s] thrush, [American] robin and red-breasted sapsucker Directory: sites sites -> Answer True False 2 points Question 2 sites -> 587 Return function, r i(X) r i(0) r i(1) r i(2) r i(3) 1 0 2 4 6 Thermal Station, I 2 0 1 5 6 3 0 3 5 6 10 sites -> Glossary for Chapter 1 Algorithm sites -> North Carolina Inclusion Initiative Mapping Where Children with ieps are Being Served Purpose sites -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations sites -> Physical custody of 1033 program property accountibility form statement of Physical Custody: By signing for the below 1033 property I am a Law Enforcement Officer of the aforementioned Law Enforcement Agency sites -> Nstructions for Acquiring Excess Equipment online, through the 1033 Program sites -> Memorandum of agreement Download 2.61 Mb. 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