Abbotsford Mission Nature Club

Winter Songbirds - Dilan Praat
2026-09-09 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Vancouver) | Ravine Park Hatchery, 2395 Crescent Way, Abbotsford, BC
Investigating Winter Songbird Movement and Survival along an Urbanization Gradient – Dilan Praat, M.Sc Candidate, SFU.
Description:
Urbanization involves the modification of natural habitats but also creates novel urban habitats which are full of both opportunities and perils for birds. As global urban landcover is expected to double over the next 30 years, it is critical to learn how birds interact with and survive in these novel habitats. While past research projects have investigated how breeding songbirds navigate city life during the summer, there is very little research into how wintering songbirds are using cities. My ongoing thesis investigates how the survival and movement of Golden-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia atricapilla) vary across an urbanization gradient in the Vancouver area. During this talk, I will discuss techniques used to study urban songbirds including radio-tagging and colour-banding, findings from my research so far, and share some steps both people and communities can take to make cities safer for our feathered friends.
Biography:
Dilan Praat completed his BSc, with honours at the University of the Fraser Valley. He has also worked as an environmental technician at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve and as a laboratory technician at the University of the Fraser Valley’s Biology Department. He is currently completing his M.Sc. in Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University where he is supervised by Dr. David Green and Dr. Elizabeth Gow.

Oct meeting - Remarkable Trees Around the World, Susan Murray
2026-10-14 19:30 - 21:30
Remarkable Trees Around the World – Susan Murray
Please join nature photographer and arborist Susan M. Murray as she takes you on a colourful journey around the world to view some of the most amazing trees on earth! Some of these wonderful trees are giants, a few are dwarves but all are important to the world’s biological diversity. Some are so old or growing in conditions so severe that their resilience is truly remarkable. Several outstanding local trees will be highlighted in this talk.
Ms. Murray taught horticulture and arboriculture at the post-secondary level from 1979 to 2013 at both BCIT and KPU and is now enjoying her retirement activities. Passionate about plants and photography, Susan has collected thousands of images of plants from around the world, both in their native habitats and in garden settings. Recently, she visited and photographed gardens in Japan and the United Kingdom.
Locally, the Rhododendron and Magnolia collections in Darts Hill Garden Park (DHGP) are favorite photography subjects. Since first touring the garden with Francisca Darts in 1991, Susan has had a keen interest in the plants in the garden and is currently the chair of the DHGP Collection Committee. Susan is also the author of Our Sylvan Heritage, a Guide to the Magnificent Trees of the South Fraser, a full- colour book describing 350 tree species growing along the streets, in the parks and other public spaces of the South Fraser region.
Her most recent publication (2025), available for purchase from the author, is Rhododendron Hybrids and the Trees that Shade Them: A Guide to Darts Hill Garden Park. This easy to use and beautifully illustrated guide features over 200 rhododendron hybrids found in Darts Hill Garden Park and includes over 250 full-colour photographs.

Invasive Species, A Threat to Biodiversity
2026-11-11 19:30 - 21:30
Erica Mulder will be speaking on invasive species and their threat to biodiversity.
Invasive species are considered to be one of the greatest threats to biodiversity world-wide, second only to habitat loss. Join us for an introduction to invasive species, what they are, how they came to be here and what impacts they have on our local ecology. Learn about some of the highest priority species for the Fraser Valley, including new and emerging species, as well as information on decision making and management practices.
Erica Mulder is the Outreach Coordinator for the Fraser Valley Invasive Species Society (FVISS). She is currently working on a diploma in Restoration of Natural Systems out of the University of Victoria and is involved in a variety of community stewardship projects.
