Selected Excerpts from the Vancouver Natural History Society “Bulletin”
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- Dogwood and Rhododendron Protection Act
- Supplementary Bird Count
- Editorial – The First Fifty Years: 1918 – 1968
- Volunteer Opportunities at the Centennial Museum And H.R. MacMillan Planetarium
- End Note 18: Docent Training – Vancouver Aquarium (see page 269) Report on B.C. Nature Council Meeting, Vancouver, May 11, 1968
- Flowers, Shrubs and Trees on Panorama Ridge and Whyte Lake (near Whytecliffe, West Vancouver)
- Plants: Finisterre Island, April 27
- Glaucous Gull at Iona Island
| A Good Bird Trip
On January 27th Rob Butler and I went on a field trip to the Delta marshlands. We first stopped at Iona Island and observed a number of birds: rough-legged hawk, short-eared owl, horned lark, water [American] pipit and a loggerhead shrike. The latter, a rare winter visitor, was on the fence surrounding the sewage ponds, then it flew to nearby shrubs, then to some stumps. There it attacked a winter wren but failed to make a meal of it. One would think that a bird made up of three basic colours would be drab, but the soft grey breast and black mask combined with a striking black and white wing pattern made it one of our more interesting sightings of the day. Next destination was White Rock. We saw our second unusual bird, the emperor goose, at the end of the pier. It had been in the area since early January. On the way to Westham Island we stopped by a hawthorn bush growing in the marsh. It was covered with small red berries that were being eaten by four birds. Two of them were vermilion red and the other two, bright yellow. We saw that they had white wing bars and a crossed bill. These white-winged crossbills are alpine residents, but the quick cold snap must have forced them down to the lower elevation. The total number of birds we saw that day was 70. This included 7 raptors, 17 ducks and 6 shorebirds along with many other species. Dogwood and Rhododendron Protection Act No person shall pick, cut down, dig or pull up, or knowingly injure or destroy, in part or in whole, in blossom or not, any dogwood or rhododendron. The offense is punishable by a fine. The Act does not apply to free miners, land-surveyors, timber cruisers, foresters and lumbermen in the lawful carrying-out of their occupations, or to persons engaged in the lawful carrying-out of any public work. Dogwood is defined as Cornus Nuttalii, and rhododendron as the evergreen or deciduous shrubs [in the genus] Rhododendron. Supplementary Bird Count It is unfortunate that due to a confusion of dates my bird-watching activities were not eligible to be included in the results of the annual Christmas Bird Count, or “B” Day, as it is known among the cognoscenti. Possibly the remarkable success of my efforts was due to a relaxation on the part of the birds, “B” Day being past and over with for another year. Or possibly it might have been beginners luck. More likely, however, it was due to the trained perception and erudition of my companion. I met Professor Egbert Peckham at the annual convention of the Vancouver Wildlife Federation that is always held on New Year’s Eve, because at that time, Vancouver’s wildlife is at its wildest. We studied wildlife mostly through our glasses until long after Auld Lang Syne (that famous Scotsman) had been honoured in song, and we finally found ourselves faced with the choice of finding a new subject for research or going to our separate homes and explaining to “guess who”. At this moment of crisis, I remembered “B” Day and erroneously assumed it to be the day after New Year’s Eve instead of the day before. The professor jumped at the idea and after I had helped him back on to his feet, we set off. We covered a large area and for the sake of brevity I will omit the location of the sightings, except where pertinent. We saw the following: a Ginger Rail, an Orange Thrush, two Kippered Herons, a flock of Pot-headed Hippies, a Turtle-necked Singlet, a Seamless Stockingbird, several Chocolate Chippits, a Gagliardi’s Road-runner, a bird with a harsh, scratchy voice – probably a Sandpaper, an Exorbitant Lightbill, and Inflated Sterling – from the British Properties, a flock of Western Teenagers making a great clamour, (when alone, this bird utters a plaintive cry of “gimme, gimme”), that tiniest of birds the Halffinch, and nine imported Flycatchers in the baseball park. There was also a small bird that Prof. Peckham said was always the last one to arrive in the spring – the Also Wren. The Professor had a great deal of detailed information about birds. For instance, when one small yellow bird approached swaying from side to side in a most irregular fashion, he immediately recognized it as a Wilson’s Wobbler. “How do you know that it’s a Wilson’s Wobbler?” I demanded. “Because it lives in Wilson’s backyard”, he replied. “Wilson is good to it, but his wife is bothered by what the neighbours might think when they see it wobbling around.” I am sure that very few of my readers knew that. At one time during the outing when the Professor identified a very ordinary-looking bird as a Red-wooded Headpecker, I ventured to question his qualifications, and he gave me a thumbnail sketch of his career. “Originally I was a marine biologist” said Professor Peckham, “but the Marines transferred me over to the Navy and I became a Navel surgeon. However, I objected to operating on an empty stomach and resigned my commission. It was only 5% anyway. I got a position at City Hall where I sold licences by the Pound. I soon became an expert clock-watcher and shortly after, I won a cuckoo clock in the civic bowling league and by watching that, I became a bird-watching enthusiast.” Reassured by this frank recital I resumed my avian research and saw a Pigeon, a Nor Widgeon, a Canadian Legion, and a Short-winded Puffin. But time was moving on and upon spotting a Kellogg’s Corncrake, we realized that the breakfast hour was at hand and called off the project. Before we parted, Peckham insisted on telling me about an experiment he had conducted wherein he had crossed a Bald Eagle with a Hairy Woodpecker. The experiment backfired and the result was a common Wigtail. The moment of truth could no longer be postponed and we proceeded reluctantly to our respective homes, composing explanations to offer to “guess who”. Author ‘unknown’ - ? P.J. Croft #139 June 1968 Editorial – The First Fifty Years: 1918 – 1968 As the “Bulletin” goes to press pleasant memories linger from the annual meeting and banquet held at Frank Baker’s restaurant on May 19th in an atmosphere of Pomp and Circumstance befitting our Society’s golden jubilee. Nearly two hundred people – 195 to be precise – gathered to enjoy a good dinner and the excellent arrangements made by Mrs. R.V. Kirkby and her hard-working committee, to whom great credit and sincere thanks are due. No detail seemed to have been forgotten. A sizeable group of our charter members were on hand to reminisce on the events of the past half-century, and Dr. Brink, that silver-tongued charmer, reminisced for us all in a delightful after-dinner address entitled The Beginning of Wisdom [see Bulletin #140]. A magnificently decorated 50th birthday cake was presented on behalf of our “mother-society” the B.C. Mountaineering Club, by its president, Mr. Woodfield, a head table guest. The Intermediate members showed us what they can do with a collection of extremely fine colour slides, mostly birds and wildflowers by Errol Anderson and Barry Edwards, many taken during banding excursions to Long Beach and Mitlenatch Island. The showing was accompanied by a synchronized tape, made by the boys, giving interesting and informative commentary, laced with sallies of refreshing wit. We’re proud of you, boys! O yes, and we held an annual meeting! Our members trusted its Executive to the extent it permitted a “short form” of meeting with a brief state-of-the-nation speech by the President, Mrs. W.J. Smith, a short financial report by the Treasurer, Mr. E.G. Barnes, and a general waiver of all detailed committee reports and minutes. The President’s Report, however, embodying the substance of the principal Committee Reports will be published in extension in the next issue of the Bulletin. The President announced the names of the elected officers and Executive Committee members for the ensuing year, together with the appointees to various working committees, each of whom rose to acknowledge the appointment. P.J. Croft, Editor
Our new emblem, in the form of lapel buttons and pins, is now available at $1.25 each. Please send the correct amount to Mrs. H. Pinder-Moss, Chairman of the Emblem Committee, stating which you prefer, a lapel button or pin. Cuff links are $4.75 a pair and key rings are $1.50. Volunteer Opportunities at the Centennial Museum And H.R. MacMillan Planetarium Members of the Vancouver Museums Association are eligible to act as volunteers in various categories. Of particular interest to the Natural History Society are the plans for the Education Department. Docents are required to lead school children through exhibits depicting the history of man with particular reference to British Columbia. Training will be by a short course of twelve sessions twice a week, starting mid-September, with a proposed extension course of possibly one term in conjunction with UBC. The former is required for all docents; the latter for those interested in guiding high school students. The Junior Museum will eventually train volunteers interested in a creative program derived from the exhibits. The Museum staff intends to use specially picked docents in an exploratory programme at Jericho Hill School for the Blind. The children will be encouraged to handle and discuss animal and bird specimens. Besides these opportunities in the Education Department, there is a place for those interested in clerical work in the Association office, especially typists. There is a need for those interested in hospitality. The Association plans to put out a Newsletter…do you have experience along this line? Finally, the new Museum Gift Shop requires sales people. For all of these jobs, a volunteer orientation day is planned. Other categories requiring special skills such as geology and taxidermy have not even been touched upon. The Planetarium also plans to use docents in its exhibit galleries. Specialized knowledge though welcome is not required, simply a desire to learn and to teach. Please contact the Volunteer Chairman if you feel that one of these suggested activities suits you. End Note #18: Docent Training – Vancouver Aquarium (see page 269) Report on B.C. Nature Council Meeting, Vancouver, May 11, 1968 Eight Clubs with a membership of 1,700 comprise the B.C. Nature Council. Seven had delegates at the May 11th meeting; the only club not represented was Cowichan Valley. In addition to the seven delegates, the President, Dr. R. Stace-Smith, the Vice-President, Peter Legg of Vernon, and the Treasurer, Eric Garman of Victoria were present. The Secretary, Miss M. Briault of Vancouver was unavoidable absent so Mrs. Pinder-Moss acted for her. Two observers from Comox, three from Victoria and eight from Vancouver also attended, including the President Kay Smith and the new delegate, Arnold Greenius. I believe an observation is in order here. I have attended all the meetings of the Nature Council since it was founded in 1962 and the poorest attendance of local members is at the meetings held in Vancouver. Our members apparently do not identify themselves with the Nature Council. Undoubtedly I am partly to blame for not selling the idea, but I think the main trouble is that our club is too inwardly oriented, and much too busy with its own affairs. The members of individual clubs are non-voting members, only the delegate votes for the club. Each club pays 25c per member each year to the Nature Council. This year Vancouver paid for 598 members the sum of $149.50. Meetings of the Council are open to all members of federated clubs. Any member in good standing can speak on any subject under discussion at the Council meetings as well as raising new business. To repeat, you are all members of the Council! The Council session lasted from 9:30 .am. to 5:30 p.m. with a break for lunch provided by the Vancouver Club. Conservation was a major topic. Dr. V.C. Brink expressed his concern about the lack of recognition waterfowl receive in the Roberts Bank development. He also expressed his concern about strip mining and whether controls will be put into effect to save grazing lands in the East Kootenay coal mining area. What can we do to see that in future major industrial developments are not planned without concern for the natural environment. Too often we don’t hear of major developments until they are a fait accompli, then when naturalists complain we are told that jobs are more important than the natural environment. We believe we can have both without excessive cost. Somehow we must convince our governments to inform the public in advance of announcing major industrial developments that may wipe out flora and fauna, desecrate habitat and cause pollution, so that we can try to gain some support for environmental quality. Any pollution problems brought to the attention of the Nature Council will be referred to ENQUAL, a Victoria University group working on environmental quality. The Hon. K. Kiernan announced last week that a new provincial park had been established in the Cathedral Lakes area of the Similkameen. The Park consists of about 16,000 acres [64 square kilometers]. Dr. Brink reports that to the best of his knowledge the Park boundaries will essentially be those requested by the Vancouver Natural History Society and the B.C. Nature Council. The Vancouver Society has had their summer camps in the area on several occasions. One of the Council’s aims is to produce a Naturalists’ Guide to B.C The guide to the Victoria area was published last year. The Vancouver Club is preparing one [Nature West Coast] to Lighthouse Park. Eventually, it is hoped, Vancouver will publish a Nature Guide to the Lower Mainland. A new Council Committee has been set up to give directions to clubs on publication format, content etc. Each club is encouraged to put together a slide kit (35mm) with a taped story to accompany it. Other topics discussed were the threatened species; hunting with skidoos; increased hunting of small fur-bearing animals; lack of clearing behind dams; west coast trails, grade school nature curriculum; litter along highways, and Paradise Valley. Some action is underway, or being contemplated on all of the above. It has been a pleasure to be the Vancouver Club’s representative to the Nature Council. I have thoroughly enjoyed the work and prize the friendships I have made with members of other clubs. J.E. Armstrong Flowers, Shrubs and Trees on Panorama Ridge and Whyte Lake (near Whytecliffe, West Vancouver) (Field Trip, May 12th; Weather: high overcast. Leader: Dr. K.L. Beamish) Panorama Ridge In Bloom salal (Gaultheria shallon) orange [western trumpet] honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa) [sitka] mountain-ash (Sorbus sitchensis) red elderberry,.(Sambucus racemosa) Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) Pacific crab apple (Malus fusca) bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata) arbutus (Arbutus Menziesii) [Pacific] dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) [dull] Oregon-grape (Mahonia nervosa) falsebox (Paxistima myrsinites) thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) [scotch] broom (Cytisus scoparius) dwarf rose (Rosa gymnocarpa) [trailing] blackberry (Rubus vitifolius, ursinus) [pink] corydalis (Corydalis sempervirens) [Siberian] miner’s-lettuce (Claytonia sibirica) field chickweed (Cerastium arvense) small-leaved montia (Montia parvifolia) yarrow (Achillea millefolium) strawberry (Fragaria) [small-flowered] blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia bedstraw (Galium) parviflora) sea blush (Plectritis congesta) [Pacific] bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa) Indian paintbrush (Castilleja) yellow [chickweed] monkey flower (Mimulus alsinoides) death camus (Zigadenus venenosus) [early] blue violet (Viola adunca) [small-flowered] alum root (Heuchera micrantha) chocolate lily (rice root) Fritillaria lanceolata [herb-Robert] geranium (Geranium robertianum) Panorama Ridge Not in Bloom oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) hardhack (Spiraea douglasii) twinflower (Linnaea borealis) [hairy] manzanita (Arctostaphylos [columbiana] tomentosa) rattlesnake-plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia) tiger lily (Lilium columbianum) St. John’s-wort (Hypericum) groundcone (Boschniakia [hookeri] strobilacea) yellow pea (Vicia) [?] common wild [Nootka] rose (Rosa nutkana) Panorma Ridge Bloom Over [red] huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium) white [fawn lily] (Erythronium oregonun) [sheep] sorrel (sour grass) (Rumex acetosella) broadleaf [bigleaf] maple (Acer macrophyllum) willows ( a number of different catkins were found on the ground)
parsley fern (Cryptogramma (crispa) [acrostichoides] bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) sword fern (Polystichum munitum) licorice fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza)
Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) groundcone (Boschniakia [hookeri] strobilacea) [trailing] yellow violet (Viola sempervirens) large-leaved avens (Geum macrophyllum) fringecup (Tellima grandiflora) Flowers not in bloom along the trail to the Lake pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) (Prince’s Pine) [creeping] buttercup (Ranunculus repens) fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) Whyte Lake In Bloom sweet gale (Myrica gale) swamp laurel [bog-laurel] (Kalmia (polifolia) microphylla)
bog cranberry (Vaccinium [Oxycoccus] oxycoccus) [Pacific] ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) false azalea (Menziesia ferruginea) [round-leaved] sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) yellow [waterlily] pond lily (Nymphaea cascara (Rhamnus purshiana) [Nuphar lutea] polysepala)
skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) (Swamp Lantern) Mrs. J.M. (Nancy)Anderson Plants: Finisterre Island, April 27th and May 4th Trip #1 Enroute Snug Cove, Cates Bay April 27th. Weather dull, hazy (Brackets ( ) indicate flowers not yet in bloom) [Pacific] dogwood salmonberry elderberry bitter cherry [red] flowering currant salal blue-eyed Mary seablush arbutus Saskatoon berry (thick saxifrage) [stonecrop?] broadleaf [big leaf] maple Oregon grape willow grasses [Pacific] bleeding heart skunk cabbage (honeysuckle) mosses
Yellow mimulus (med.) (briar rose) shooting star [scotch] broom Saskatoon berry bearberry [Pacific] crab apple Indian paintbrush Cerastium [field chickweed] On Finisterre Island yellow mimulus (med & small) chocolate lily death camas large strawberry sea blush Oregon grape (Vetch) blue-eyed Mary arbutus (nodding onion) Indian paintbrush Cerastium arvense [field chickweed] Saskatoon berry [scotch] broom (blackberry) (spring beauty) Douglas-fir (honeysuckle) (sedum) [stonecrop] dogtooth violet [white fawn lily](bloom over) (briar rose) (saxifrage) (phlox- small) (Columbia [tiger] lily) grasses mosses
gooseberry thimbleberry (mock orange) bedstraw starflower vetch valerian false Solomon’s seal Tellima grandiflora [fringecup] miner’s lettuce (columbine) [Pacific] (ninebark) glossy mustard (sorrel) [Pacific] crabapple Pipeline Road, north end of Island - sword ferns At Grafton Bay chocolate lily (sedum) [stonecrop] (spring beauty) [Pacific] bleeding heart dogtooth violet [white fawn lily] (bloom over) At Killarney Lake (water lilies) [pond-lily] Note: [rough-skinned] newts, salamanders and one small [garter] snake were also recorded during the second field trip. Robert C. Harris Robert Harris (wife Rita) was another outstanding, accomplished member of the V.N.H.S. His natural history interests were broad but he had a special interest in botany and photography. Bob led many field trips and hikes and was a summer camp stalwart. He was a civil engineer specializing in bridge construction .This background was evident in his finely researched historical trail mapping and in trail and bridge construction and in his many published articles. Ornithology Section February 8th: An American bittern was flushed from a field near Cod Island. The bird flew into a fir tree, alighting on a limb 50 feet from the ground, thereupon striking the characteristic bittern “pose” with its bill pointing to the sky. May 3rd. Two pileated woodpeckers engaged in a courtship ritual at a farm on the West Road, Point Roberts. May 11th: A Virginia rail with chick at Riverview was seen by R. Lindstrom and D. Stonebridge at Coquitlam River. May 12th On Iona Island during high tide at 6:45 a.m. I saw 35 Wilson’s phalaropes, one whimbrel and 3 American avocets. The avocets were resting on No. 1 sewage pond. At intervals they took wing and circled, calling repeatedly, thereby attracting glaucous-winged gulls, which chased and harried them until they landed. This performance was repeated at intervals until the receding tide exposed enough beach for the avocets to begin feeding. When a Bonaparte’s gull approached too closely, one of the avocets chased it away. The snowy owls and northern shrikes departed about the end of March. If any members had April sightings of these species please report them to me. 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. J. Husted. Glaucous Gull at Iona Island A large, nearly white gull was spotted at Iona Island sewage outlet on Dec. 2, 1967. Fred Bodsworth, Bill Morris and I watched the bird with mew and Bonaparte’s gulls for several minutes. Fred Bodsworth, Canadian author and naturalist who is familiar with glaucous gull plumages, recorded the gull as a third year bird. It is an uncommon winter visitant to the Lower Mainland and southwestern B.C. R. Wayne Campbell 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. Share with your friends:
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