Christmas Seasonal Social
2022-03-29 00:00 (America/Vancouver)
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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Annual Picnic/Social
2023-02-05 00:00
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/

May monthly meeting
2023-02-05 00:00
Sandhill Cranes – to be confirmed.

Earthwise Agassiz - Plant Sale
2023-05-20 00:00
Earthwise Agassiz – Plant Sale
Saturday, May 20, 11:00am to 2:00pm
6031 Golf Rd,Agassiz, BC
Plant Sale
See the rain garden
Talk with the staff
Choose from native, pollinator and water-wise plants and veggie starts
Take a self-guided tour through the lush streamside and woodland trails that meander along the Miami River.

Ravine Hatchery - Fin Clipping
2023-05-20 00:00
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Ravine Hatchery fin clipping of Coho fry.
Friday June 2. To volunteer, contact Dale Taylor (daletaylor2@shaw.ca)

October monthly meeting - Nature photos
2023-09-12 00:00
Taking Nature Photos with Rick Skerry

November monthly meeting - Beavers
2023-09-12 00:00
Beaver Facts and Ecology with Ted Lightfoot

September events/walks
2023-09-12 00:00
Watch for announcements about River’s Day events provided by others.

September monthly meeting - Nature Stewardship
2023-09-12 00:00
How to be a Nature Steward by gardening with native plants
Tamsin Baker from the Fraser Valley Conservancy
Want to have a thriving garden that helps local wildlife? This presentation will discuss reasons for gardening with native plants, native plant recommendations, where to find them, more tips on how to be a nature steward, and an overview of the Fraser Valley Conservancy’s Nature Stewards Program.

December Annual Christmas Party
2023-09-12 00:00
The annual Abbotsford Mission Nature Club Christmas party. Please bring an appetizer or dessert item to share.
Special guest speaker Natalie Lang, author of “Remnants: Reveries of a Mountain Dweller”. A book about Sumas Mountain. There will also be the year-end in review slideshow.
Note: Fundraiser – Bake sale, bird box sale and natural candle holder sale, bring cash or cheques please.
MEMBERS ONLY

January meeting
2023-12-01 00:00
Bob Dhaliwal from Ocean Wise will be presenting “Marine Mammal Conservation: Non-invasive Research and Community-based Science”

March meeting
2023-12-01 00:00
Three mini-presentations!
Unfortunately, our March speaker had to cancel for personal reasons.
Quirien will show us how to use the iNaturalist app. in preparation for the City of Abbotsford’s participation in the worldwide City Nature Challenge Bioblitz from April 26 to 29th. Install the iNaturalist app on your phone at home prior to the meeting. It is helpful to have some photos of fungi, animals and plants stored on your phone ahead of time, too. Make sure you have enough data as there is no wifi in the hatchery. We probably will not be able to go outside as, despite the time change, it will still be too dark outside.
In memory of the recent passing of Al Grass, a well known naturalist and activist in B.C., we will share a short presentation to recognize his contributions to our province.
Lastly, we will share a PowerPoint that highlights the arrival of an early spring, the Reiffel Island field trip and the work parties at Willband.

February meeting
2023-12-01 00:00
Derek Matthews (VARC) “For the Love of Birds” (via Zoom)
Email for Zoom meeting credentials.

April meeting
2023-12-01 00:00
“Ravine Park Hatchery Presentation and Tour”
by Dale Taylor and Rob Moynahan
They will give a History of the Abbotsford Ravine Park Salmon Enhancement Society (ARPSES),, Hatchery Operations, Stream Walks, Future Directions, and Hatchery Tour.
