Abbotsford Mission Nature Club

Mission Forest Field Trip
2024-03-26 00:00 (America/Vancouver)
Roy Kittles Trail in the Mission Forest
Leader – Kelly Kitsch – Registered Forest Technologist with the City of Mission Forestry
“The trail is well suited to a guided hike with children and grandchildren and there is a lot to see, including an old growth Douglas-fir, a pacific yew, wildlife trees, hemlock mistletoe disease, and whatever else we mightsee along the way. It is not a long trail, but there is so much information we can
talk about”.
To register haroos12@gmail.com or 604-853-4283 (Directions to follow)

Annual Picnic/Social 2024
2024-03-26 00:00
June 12, 2024 – Annual Picnic/Social @ 6:30 pm

McDonald Park (Dark Sky Park)
Time: 6:30 pm
What to bring: Picnic Lunch (not potluck), plates, cutlery, cups, chairs
Provided: Coffee, tea, and our traditional dessert of strawberries and ice cream
The park is located at No. 3 Road and the Sumas River. Take the 104 exit on Hwy 1, turn north back over the highway to the end.

Forest Bathing Workshop
2024-03-26 00:00
June 22, 2024 – Fieldtrip – Aldergrove Regional Park @ 10:00 am “Forest Bathing Workshop”
Step into nature, take a deep breath of forest air, and let your body relax. Awaken your senses and experience the Japanese practice.
Join Lisa Ferris, Park Interpretation Leader, MetroVancouver Regional Parks, for a 2-hour Forest Bathing workshop from 10 am until 12 pm on June 22 in Aldergrove Regional Park. Cost per AMNC member is $10.00. This program is only available for current members.
Registration form link: Forest Bathing Information and Registration Form-1

Hillkeep Regional Park - July 3 walk
2024-06-12 00:00
July 3rd Walk– Hillkeep Regional Park on Chilliwack Mountain

Little Campbell River Watershed Exploration, Surrey/Langley
2024-06-12 00:00
Wednesday 10 July
Little Campbell River Watershed Exploration, Surrey/Langley
Leader: Wendy DaDalt
10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. from Fergus Park Trailhead start
Both easy, flat with boardwalks

Site 1: Fergus Watershed Biodiversity Preserve Loop (1 km) Location 1277 168 St., Surrey just off 16th Avenue
Site 2: Campbell Valley Regional Park, Little River Loop (2.5 km). Location 16th Avenue between 208th and 200th Streets

We will visit one of Surrey’s newest parks, Fegus Watershed Biodiversity Preserve, which has special meaning for BC naturalists. Along the 1 km easy walk is a dedicated rest area named in honour of beloved naturalists Al and Jude Grass. The trail loop wanders through meadow, wetland and forest and Fergus Creek, an important tributary feeding the Little Campbell River.

Then we will walk along the Little Campbell River in Campbell Valley Regional Park through Douglas Fir and mixed forests to a viewing/resting area over the River. We will be walking along wetlands where waterfowl and birds are often seen.

Bring your binoculars and lunch for a picnic.

To register and/or for questions contact Wendy DaDalt at wendy@dadalt.net.

Manning Park Meadows - July walk
2024-06-12 00:00
July 17th – Manning Park Meadows – Weather Permitting – morning & afternoon – Viewpoint Loop and Paintbrush Trail

Matsqui Trail Regional Park - July walk
2024-06-12 00:00
July 24th – Matsqui Trail Regional Park @ 6:30 pm

Sumas Mountain - July walk
2024-06-12 00:00
July 31st – Sumas Mountain – morning

September meeting - Mosses & Lichens
2024-07-29 00:00
Regular meeting.
Phil Henderson will be speaking.
Mosses and Lichens: Beauty and Beyond
“…mosses, like love, make even the ugliest objects beautiful, for they hid all defects within their own loveliness.” – Day, Helen Evelyn. (fide: Russell (1908) (in Edwards, S.R. 1995. Mosses in English Literature. Supplement Three. Bull. Brit. Bryol. Soc. 65:45-47.)
Imagine a Monet with color; a forest without trees. Imagine a world without mosses. To do this you must appreciate the world without mosses. This talk will attempt to sharpen your focus on these ubiquitous, beautiful and fascinating plants.

October meeting - Identify mushrooms
2024-09-11 00:00
“Learning to Identify Mushrooms” by Willoughby Arevalo, mycologist, artist, kitchen wizard, father, and educator
Fungus enthusiast Willoughby Arevalo will share his principles of mushroom identification based on features visible with the naked eye. This program will help you develop your field ID skills to be able to recognize most mushrooms to form group and learn skills to work towards quickly recognizing important genera and species. Learning the basics of fungal biology and ecology will help you know where and when to look. Learn how to collect specimens for ID and how to harvest honourably and safely. Connect with local, print and online resources for further study. Special attention will be given to some of our most common edible, medicinal and toxic species.

November Meeting - Bats
2024-09-11 00:00
“Bats, Sounds and Sonograms” by Keith Chrystall
Recordings acquired with the Langley Field Naturalist’s Bat Echometer will be presented, along with some details regarding bats and bat species found in the lower mainland. Audio samples of the calls made by several types of bats will be played to illustrate the differences between species and also the use of echolocation for hunting.

Mosses & Lichen Field Trip
2024-09-11 00:00
Meet at 10 am at the visitor parking lot on Brae Island, Fort Langley for a two-hour stroll to explore mosses and lichens with Phil Henderson. This walk will provide a good introduction to some common species you are likely to encounter elsewhere along the Fraser River. Dress for the weather. Bring a water bottle and snack. Register by emailing Quirien at qmuldert@gmail.com between September 29th and October 3rd.

May meeting - Garter Snakes
2024-09-11 00:00
Carmen Sprang will share her three years of experiences and observations of the garter snakes and the hibernaculum area along a Delta dyke. The Spring emerge this year has been quite a contrast to last year’s. We are going to hear the reasons.

January meeting
2024-09-11 00:00
Zoom meeting with Christine Thuring Pollinators in the City: How urban environments can support native bees.
Pollinator gardens are gradually becoming common features in the urban landscape, which is great for biodiversity, for human well-being and for the biosphere. There is always room for improvement, of course, and this talk offers resources to help enhance pollinator garden design and maintenance. After introducing the diversity of BC’s native bees, this presentation explores a range of tools that can help and guide well-informed plant selections and provisions for healthy forage and safe nesting.

February meeting - Wolves in the Yukon
2024-09-11 00:00
Bernie Walter will be speaking on Wolves in the Yukon.
Details to follow.

March meeting - Conservation Collaboration
2024-09-11 00:00
Andrea Gielens – Conservation Collaboration: A Tale of three species
Explore the biology and reintroduction efforts at The Greater Vancouver Zoo to save three small but iconic BC species and the science and advancements that have led to challenges and successes over the past 20 years. Andrea manages the Zoo’s captive breeding and release programs for the Oregon spotted frog, the Coastal Western Painted turtle, and the Taylors Checkerspot butterfly.

Homegrown National Park - Dr. James Scott
2024-09-11 00:00
The Homegrown National Park project encourages people to turn their yards into wildlife-friendly habitats, creating interconnected corridors that are like a park. By planting native species and promoting richness and variety, individuals can support native wildlife and healthy air quality, reduce their water usage, and lessen flood risk. The homegrownnationalpark.org website offers resources and tools to help people get started on their conservation journey. By being part of the HNP movement, the Abbotsford-Mission Nature Club can be a leader in the community, modelling how their neighbours, too, can become better stewards of the earth we all love. The David Suzuki Foundation has partnered with the HNP movement

CANCELLED - Reifel Waterfowl Refuge field trip
2024-12-28 00:00
TOUR IS CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER.

Annual Club Summer Picnic
2024-12-28 00:00
Our annual summer picnic. Details to follow.

2024 Christmas Bird Count
2024-12-28 00:00
The annual Christmas Bird Count, please contact Ken Summers for details.

Peach Creek field trip
2024-12-28 00:00
John Vissers will be showing us the new spawning channels that were built at Peach Creek in Chilliwack.

Greater Vancouver Zoo Field Trip
2025-03-03 00:00
Fieldtrip to Greater Vancouver Zoo and tour the breeding facility.
Join Andrea Gielens for a two-hour behind-the-scenes tour of the captive breeding programs of the Oregon Spotted Frog, the Coastal Western Painted Turtle and the Checkerspot Butterfly at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. Meet at 9:45 am on March 19th at the Zoo’s entrance, 5048 264th Street in Aldergrove.
We were able to get a group rate which is – Adults $20 (Reg $36), Children $13(Reg $25) for a minimum of 15 people. It being Spring Break we encourage members to take their children and grandchildren. Not suitable for children under the age of 10.
After the breeding program tour, you can visit the rest of the zoo at your own leisure.
Register with Quirien at qmuldertenkate@gmail.com by 7 pm on March 17th.
Please include the names of the people attending and a cell phone number in case she needs to contact you and have no access to Wi-Fi!

Migratory Bird Day at Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary
2025-03-03 00:00
The second Saturday of May marks peak spring migration in Canada—a time to connect, admire, and advocate for these incredible travelers. As they journey across borders, we must ensure they have safe habitats along the way. Join us in celebrating and protecting migratory birds. Wonder at their incredible journeys, learn about conservation efforts, and take action to help them thrive in our cities, towns, and villages. Together, we can make a difference for our shared spaces and bird populations.
Leaders: Vince and Ruthanne Clements
Admission: Adults $8, Seniors (65+) $6, Children (2-14) $6
Register: Hank/Alice Roos 604-853-4283 or haroos12@gmail.com

Blackberry Removal Blitz - Willband Creek Park
2025-03-03 00:00
We are hoping to be able to do the whole park in one day. At this time of the year the shoots and patches are very accessible. The park will be assessed whether there are ground nesting birds active just in case. This has been an ongoing activity when the weather is favourable. The City with their equipment flailed areas that we had mapped for them, but we still need to try and get rid of areas along the trails.
Needed: 20+ volunteers ages 10 and up
Equipment: Garden clippers, loppers, leather gloves (some equipment available)
Time: 9:30 – 12:00
Lunch: Pizza lunch courtesy City of Abbotsford (20+ volunteers)
Register: haroos12@gmail.com by March 21

Hogan Family Nature Park Springtime Walk and Work Party
2025-03-03 00:00
Easy: There are no toilets or picnic tables at the park.
Leader: Wendy DaDalt
Location: A small dead-end parking lot at 28632 Debruyne Road, west off Bradner Road and north of the Fraser Highway.
Come to Hogan Family Nature Park to enjoy a quiet, mixed forest with blooming spring flowers. The 8ha (20 acre) City of Abbotsford Park on the headwaters of the Salmon River, is open again after the 2021 “Atmospheric River” damaged its small bridges. We will start with a 1 km easy walk around the trail loop. This should be a great time to see and photograph trilliums, vanilla leaf and bleeding hearts. During this walk we will also flag invasive plants.
The AMNC has “Adopted” this park, which was donated to the City. A lite work party will follow for those wishing to prune or remove plants needing attention. Details will be
provided to registrants.
Register by emailing wendy@dadalt.net.

iNaturalist City Nature Challenger 2025
2025-03-03 00:00
From April 25-28, 2025, cities around the world will be working together to share observations of nature in the 2025 City Nature Challenge. The CNC encourages people to explore and document the wildlife in their cities while using the iNaturalist platform. This helps to raise awareness of local biodiversity while contributing to a better understanding of urban ecosystems.
Come out and participate in Citizen Science! We can all make a positive difference.
Joan Septembre is coordinating the following group activities in Abbotsford:
April 12 @ 1 pm – iNaturalist training walk at Stony Creek Park (meet at parking lot off Bateman Rd).
April 26 @ 1 pm – Abbotsford Parks Bioblitz (meet in front of The Reach Gallery Museum)
Please email Quirien Mulder ten Kate (qmuldertenkate@gmail.com), the AMNC club representative for this iNaturalist project, if you any questions.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2025-abbotsford

Earth Day in Mission
2025-03-03 00:00
‘Green Living’ earth day celebration at the Fraser River Heritage Park. The event will feature a variety of family fun, including live performances, guest speakers, interactive activities and demos, food trucks, a sustainable marketplace and more.
The Abbotsford Mission Nature Club will have a display. This is a free event

2025 BC Nature Conference and AGM - Nature in the Rainshadow
2025-03-03 00:00
The Nicola Naturalist Society is hosting the 2025 BC Nature Spring conference and AGM in Merritt, 22-24 May 2025.
For more information and to register https://bcnature.org/2025-bc-nature-conference-and-agm/

Jackman Wetlands & Aldergrove Regional Park Walk
2025-06-27 00:00
Wednesday July 9 – Jackman Wetlands and Aldergrove Regional Park Northwest corner ( Langley)
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Optional: Bring lunch for a picnic.
Level: Moderate. Approx 5 km.

Stroll around a scenic wetland system created by former gravel extraction which seasonally supports a variety of waterfowl. A very open area so wear a hat and sunglasses if nice. Then we will go cross-country through the new disc golf course located on the former Jackman landfill site and follow a connector trail into Aldergrove Regional Park. We will walk a short distance through a cool young forest before returning to the parking lot.

Meet at Jackman Wetlands 1111-272’nd Street parking lot on the west side of the road.
Register with Wendy DaDalt at wendy@dadalt.net or call 604-856-2575

Houston Trail, Derby Reach Regional Park
2025-06-27 00:00
Wednesday, July 16 – Houston Trail
Join Quirien Mulder ten Kate for a three-hour nature walk on the Houston Trail, part of the Derby Reach Regional Park Trail system. Meet at 9:45 am on July 16th at the Heritage Area Parking Lot on Allard Crescent. Dress for the weather and bring a snack and water. An outhouse is available at the start and mid-way the walk. The trail is slightly hilly in places so you may wish to bring hiking poles. Bring binoculars for some birding, too.

Time: 9:45 am
Level: slightly hilly (undulating)
Please register by 7 pm on July 14th by emailing Quirien qmuldertenkate@gmail.com your name and cell phone number.
