Abbotsford Mission Nature Club

Annual Picnic/Social
2023-02-05 00:00 (America/Vancouver)
Annual Picnic and Social. Neilson Regional Park, Mission, BC, 6:30pm
Bring your own picnic food. Dessert will be provided.

Earth Day in Mission
2023-02-05 00:00
An hour to one-and-a-half-hour leisurely walk from the Mt. Thom Park Churchill Parkway in Ryder Lake.
The lookout offers views of surrounding mountains, Cultus Lake and the Fraser Valley.
There are pit toilets at the trail head.
On your way back through Chilliwack you can take in the Chilliwack Climate Fair.
Save the date now – more details to follow.

BC Nature Conference in Langley
2023-02-05 00:00
Check out the scheduled speakers and fieldtrips listed in the winter magazine of BC Nature. Since Langley is so close consider registering for some of the events. You won’t be disappointed!
Registration is now open at https://www.langleyfieldnaturalists.org/

Mt. Thom View trail
2023-02-05 00:00
Details to follow.

April meeting
2023-02-05 00:00
Regular monthly meeting, topic to be determined.

Willband Creek Park birding
2023-02-05 00:00
We will join avid birders, Vince Clements and his wife Ruthanne who will lead us to view the many waterfowl that are present on the ponds.
Meet at 9:30 a.m. in the main parking lot on Bateman Road.
To register email haroos12@gmail.com

Houston Trail field trip
2022-12-27 00:00
Houston Trail in Derby Reach Regional Park
Explore a mature, coniferous, and mixed forest environment along a rolling, 4 km gravel loop trail. Stop at a viewing platform over Langley Bog and look for wetland bird species. Some steep sections.
Meet at the Derby Reach Regional Park, Heritage Area parking lot, off Allard Crescent, west of Fort Langley.
http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/ParksPublications/DER_RP_Trail_Brochure.pdf

March 8, 2023 Monthly Meeting - Willband Walkers and Photographers
2022-12-27 00:00
Willband Walkers and Photographers
Willband walkers and photographers will present some of their photos of this area. More information to follow.

March 22, 2023 World Water Day Field Trip
2022-12-27 00:00
To the Raingardens in Delta
Rain-water run-off enters Mill Lake and local creeks through catch basins and culverts. This water may contain, for example, brake and tire dust, road salt, excess fertilizers and pesticides, cigarette butts, plastic and paper litter. A rain garden absorbs this runoff instead. Interested in seeing some rain gardens examples. Join us on March 22nd.
We will need at 10:30am at Cravings coffee shop at the corner of 112 Street and 84 Ave in North Delta. There is plenty of mini-mall parking and of course coffee, tea, washrooms, at Cravings. We will leave at 11:00am for a walking loop-tour of several “Social Heart” rain gardens in the area from 112 to 115 Street and 84 to 83 Ave. This takes about 1.5 hours, depending on level of interest and speed of walking. If desired, we can drive a few blocks to North Delta’s largest school rain garden, McCloskey-Hydro, on 80 Ave at 114 Street. It is also feasible to walk there as part of the loop-tour, depending on what the group.
Register with Quirien Mulder ten Kate at qmuldertenkate@gmail.com.

Jan 11, 2023 Monthly Meeting - Raingardens to the Rescue
2022-12-27 00:00
Raingardens to the Rescue
A presentation about raingardens presented by Quirien Mulder ten Kate, on behalf of Deborah Jones (Raingarden Coordinator for Delta). This presentation will describe the what, how and why of raingardens in preparation for a possible field trip on March 22.

Feb 8, 2023 Monthly Meeting - Member Slideshow night
2022-12-27 00:00
This is an opportunity for you to share your photos of a favourite park, a recent trip, your backyard, or any other nature related theme.
No photos from Willband please as we will have a different group presenting photos of this area during our March meeting. Please email your photos to Quirien at qmuldertenkate@gmail.com by December 28, 2022. She will sequence them in a power-point presentation. As your set of photos appears on the screen, we would like you to say a few words about them. Please indicate if any text needs to be added to any of the photos. I will add your name to each photo. We would like you to send enough photos so you can present for about five minutes.

Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count
2022-12-27 00:00
No Experience Required. Counting the birds at your feeders is important too!
Please contact Ken Summers to get involved ken.summers@telus.net

Aldergrove Regional Park Field Trip
2022-12-27 00:00
Aldergrove Regional Park Field Trip
Details to follow.

Chehalis-Harrison River Eagle Watch
2022-11-04 00:00
Chehalis-Harrison River Eagle Watch
Come on November 19, 9:30-1200 to observe the large number of Bald Eagles that congregate on the flats at the outlet of the Chehalis River. Besides eagles expect to see herons, several species of waterfowl (this is a hotspot for the Gadwall), Trumpeter and possibly Trunda Swans, loons, and grebes. Register in advance with Ken Summers (ken.summers@telus.net)–you will be notified of any changes. Dress for the weather. We’ll be mostly on level gravel trails, but there may be short off-trail excursions for those who wish (boots recommended for the latter).
Meet at the lookout parking lot at 0930. There will be no organized car-pooling, but participants can arrange their own or come in your own vehicles. Head east along the Lougheed Highway from Mission and turn off onto Morris Valley Road at the Sasquatch Inn. Proceed past the Sandpiper golf course/Rowena’s Inn; the parking lot is the first driveway on the right (after crossing a creek). Depending on your starting location, allow 45 minutes to drive.

Matsqui Trail Regional Park - Riverside nature walk
2022-03-29 00:00
Join a Riverside Nature Walk at Matsqui Trail Regional Park, Mission Bridge to Kelleher Road

When: Wednesday, December 7, meet at 10:00 a.m.
Location: Matsqui Trail Regional Park, Main Day-use Parking lot (under the Mission bridge), end of Riverside Street
Difficulty: Easy, 5-6 km return; 1.5 to 2 hours
Description: Stroll along the Matsqui Dyke trail with views of Sumas Mountain, Matsqui Prairie farms and the Fraser River; return on a lower riverside trail through riparian, cottonwood forest. Watch for hawks, eagles, woodpeckers and seals.
Other: Dress for the weather; consider windchill. Bring binoculars and maybe a warm drink.

Please pre-register with Wendy DaDalt, trip leader: email wendy@dadalt.net

*Walk my be cancelled if snowing, or extremely windy.

Masking not mandatory. Please stay home if ill or having flu/COVID symptoms.

Christmas Seasonal Social
2022-03-29 00:00
Nature Club Christmas Social”
Wed. December 14 at 7:30 pm
Join members of the Nature Club for a festive evening of fellowship, light snacks, music, singing, year-in-review slideshow, a game and a bake sale.
Please bring a dessert or an appetizer in individual portion sizes (to be served with tongs or in paper muffin cups).
Hot apple cider will be provided. Please bring your own mug.
The bake sale is a fundraiser for Nature Club activities. Bring a wrapped treat e.g., loaf cake, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, etc. Maybe you have a favourite holiday recipe! All items will be sold for $15.00.
And don’t forget to bring your $$ to buy some baking, too!
Masking not mandatory. Please stay home if ill or having flu/COVID symptoms.

October 2022 Monthly Meeting
2022-03-29 00:00
Monthly AMNC Meeting

There is a change in the program for October 12 as Rick Skerry is unable to give his presentation due to a family emergency. We look forward to his presentation at a later date.
Speaker: Dr. David Clements, Ph.D. Professor of Biology; Assistant Dean, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences (Research) at Trinity Western University
Topic: “Australia’s mesmerizing mammals, implausible plants and absurd birds”
David Clements will share stories, pictures, and videos of his encounters with some of the world’s most unusual animals and plants from two recent sojourns to Australia, crisscrossing the continent. Many of these Australian creatures and plants symbolize the marvels of the world’s biodiversity, and yet are threatened by the calamity of climate change. We see this in the recent fires that ravaged many Eucalyptus woodlands in 2019 and 2020, and even more recently in record-breaking floods have impacted Australian ecosystems in 2022.
Masking not mandatory. Please stay home if ill or having flu/COVID symptoms.

Wilband Creek Park Wildlife Features Tour
2022-03-29 00:00
Wilband Creek Park Wildlife Features Tour
Led by Hank Roos and Herman Venema.
View Club installed wildlife enhancement structures, including: bat houses, Osprey nesting platform, duck and bird boxes and learn about their features.
Easy, flat walking tour.

Masking not mandatory. Please stay home if ill or having flu/COVID symptoms.

Monthly meeting "Butterflies of the Season"
2022-03-29 00:00
“Butterflies of the Season”

Speaker: Eric Habisch, Naturalist
Eric a member of the Langley Field Naturalists, will show
us some beautiful and colourful butterfly pictures taken
last season – plus he will give us some information about
how to identify some of the different species seen in our
area.
7:30pm-9:00pm, Ravine Park Hatchery (2395 Crescent Way)
Masking not mandatory. Please stay home if ill or having flu/COVID symptoms.

April 2022 Monthly Meeting
2022-03-29 00:00
Monthly AMNC Meeting (Via Zoom)
Old Growth Forests

Guest Speaker: Ken Woo, Executive Director of Endangered Ecosystems Alliance and Chair of Ancient Forest Alliance.

March 2022 Monthly Meeting
2022-03-07 00:00
Monthly AMNC Meeting (Via Zoom)

Guest Speaker: Natashia Cox, Program Director for Fraser Valley Watershed Coalition, Importance of Wetlands
Natashia is a Registered Biology Technologist and qualified Environmental Professional. She holds a professional certification in Ecological Restoration from the University of Victoria and has a Bachelor of Arts in physical geography and ecology concentration from the University of the Fraser Valley. She is dedicated to resource management and watershed planning. Her goal is to conserve natural assets and create opportunities for communities to connect with nature. As an experienced project manager, she leads complex projects and programs including designing and implementing habitat restoration projects, sensitive habitat inventory mapping, radio-telemetry, and bio-engineering.

Learn more about the importance of local wetlands and their protection and restoration from Natashia, and enjoy a very engaging presenter.

Vedder River Walk
2022-03-07 00:00
Vedder River Walk with Rita Bot
Easy flat walk with open views and waterfowl viewing opportunities from trails along wetlands.
We will walk on the dike and part of the Vedder Loop Trail from the parking lot of the Yarrow Community Centre.
(Drive into Yarrow, turn left on to Community St. just past the Mighty Moose and Gift Shop.Go to the end of the road.)
Bring a lunch or buy a tasty snack at Chestnut Springs Bakery. We’ll eat at the picnic shelter in Yarrow Park.

Please register in advance by contacting Rita: rbot12@shaw.ca

Member meeting (Zoom) Justine Nelson & Lara Volgyesi, Rivershed Society of BC
2022-02-04 00:00
Foodlands Corridor Restoration Program
Details to follow.

Fieldtrip - Saturday Jan 15
2022-01-11 00:00
Aldergrove Regional Park, Saturday, January 15, 2022, 10:00am – Noon
This outing can be adapted to the group and the weather to be either easy or have a few gentle slopes. You will walk through mixed forests, along a creek and wetlands and hopefully get some great vistas. You must register in advance for this fieldtrip. You will receive full location details upon registration. To register please contact wendy@dadalt.net or 604-856-2575.

Zoom Meeting - January 12, 7:30p,
2022-01-11 00:00
Coastal Western Painted Turtle Recovery on the South Coast of BC
Speaker: Aimee Mitchell, Biologist
Hear updates on the conservation of this Species at Risk and local projects underway to create new habitat and assist it’s survival. The Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) is the only remaining freshwater turtle species in BC.

Field Trip - Sumas Mountain
2021-10-04 00:00
John Vissers will be hosting a field trip to Sumas Mountain.
Please email John (john.vissers@gmail.com) to pre-register.

Zoom Annual Christmas meeting
2021-10-04 00:00
Annual Christmas meeting via Zoom.

Field Trip - Harrison Bay eagles
2021-10-04 00:00
Eagles at Harrison Bay.
Please contact Ken Summers (ken.summers@telus.net) to register for this outing.

Zoom Meeting - Sarah Schreier - Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society
2021-10-04 00:00
Sarah Schreier is the Executive Director of the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society. Ms. Schreier is passionate about protecting and restoring White Sturgeon populations in the Fraser River. With over 20 years of experience working with social and environmental issues, Ms. Schreier is inspired by the energy and dedication of all those working together to make difference to protect critical habitat on the Fraser River and the incredible species that depend on it for survival.

Club meeting via Zoom
2021-10-04 00:00
Speaker Sofi Hindmarch
Topic – Barn Owls
