DNS Monthly Meetings will be held on the FIRST TUESDAY of each month (except July and August) at 7:30 p.m. at BENEDICTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5575 6th Ave, Tsawwassen (map at goo.gl/iVFyV7).
After the business is concluded, and a refreshment break, there will be a Presentation by a guest Speaker (8:15 pm to 9:45 pm).
Next DNS Monthly Meeting:
TUESDAY, December 4, 2018, 7:30 p.m. at BENEDICTION LUTHERAN CHURCH
Speaker: Noreen Rudd & David Hoar
Topic: Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica
Poster by Geof Hacker – see previous posters at DNS Poster Archives
THE ANTARCTIC
An Expedition Cruise from the Falkland Islands to South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula
Starting in Punta Arenas, Chile we flew to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, to board the “Akademik Yoffe” which became our home for the next 18 days.
We began by landing on the East Falkland destinations of Sea Lion Island and Bleaker Island to visit Southern Sea Lion and Rockhopper penguin colonies before the 2.5 day crossing of the Scotia Sea to South Georgia. As South Georgia is south of the Antarctic Convergence, there is a big change in climate and hence, flora and fauna. Massive King Penguin colonies and smaller colonies of Gentoo, Macaroni and Chinstrap penguins were rearing chicks and the southern aerial and aquatic predators were all present.
Returning across the Scotia Sea to Elephant Island, we made a close approach to B-15Z, a piece of the Ross Ice Shelf that broke away in 2000 and still measured 22 X 7 km. From Elephant Island we crossed to Antarctic Sound, and our first landing on the continent of Antarctica. The next 4 days we explored historic sites and visited Antarctic Research stations as we continued southwards along the peninsula.
South of Lemaire Passage at Petermann Island, we turned back for the 2-day crossing of Drake Passage to Cape Horn and Ushuaia, where the expedition ended.
With Naturalists and Scientists giving presentations on our sea days this was a busy and remarkable introduction to this fascinating part of our world.
David Hoar is a retired Molecular Geneticist who served on the faculty of University of Toronto, University of Calgary and University of British Columbia during his working career as a research scientist, teacher and consultant. Research interests were in DNA genetic diagnosis, forensic DNA identification, and most recently as a consultant in tissue matching for the B.C. Transplant Program.
Noreen Rudd is a retired Physician (Pediatrician) research scientist and Medical Geneticist who served on the faculty of University of Toronto and University of Calgary before retiring in 1991. She was instrumental in developing prenatal testing in Canada, and a founding member of the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists.
Since retirement in 1991 until recently, they have spent their summers exploring the B.C. and Alaska Coasts on Pacific Voyager, or later Pacific Sapphire, two power vessels ideally suited for remote and independent coastal travel to areas like Haida Gwaii. In the winters they prefer to travel to warmer climates but have travelled to the extremes of the Arctic and more recently the Antarctic. While on such adventures, their focus is on the wildlife, and particularly the birds. At home in Tsawwassen they are active members of the Delta Naturalists Casual Birding Group.
Previous DNS Monthly Meeting:
TUESDAY, November 6, 2018
Speaker: Ron Long
Topic: Pink Mountain: A story of biodiversity, conflict and success.
Poster by Geof Hacker – see DNS Posters Archives for previous posters
The Biodiversity on Pink Mountain seems to be unmatched in BC, but it
is threatened by industrial development. The Pink Mountain Biodiversity Research Initiative was designed to quantify the diversity, and eventually protect Pink Mountain.
The results of the surveys have exceeded all expectations and have identified more rare species than any other location in BC.
This talk is a follow-up to one presented several years ago at the beginning of the Pink Mountain project. It will review the significance of Pink Mountain, the very interesting results of the surveys, and the progress made towards preservation.
Ron Long worked as a professional photographer at Simon Fraser University for 36 years. For much of that time he photographed exclusively for the Biological Sciences Department, and so has a great deal of biology in his background.
Now retired, Ron travels regularly to interesting places around the world to, of course, take pictures. Nature photography in general, and wildflowers in particular, are his preferred subjects.
Closer to home, Ron has worked for the last eight years to preserve one of his favorite wildflower locations in the far north of BC.
During his brief periods at home Ron enjoys giving talks about his experiences to interested groups.
Ron is past president of the Native Plant Society of BC, is active in the Vancouver Natural History Society, and is on the board of the Alpine Garden Club.
see collection of previous posters at DNS Posters Archive
| Delta Naturalists Speaker List 2018 | ||
| Date & Speaker | Bio | Topic will be updated as more information is made available |
| Jan. 2, 2018 Dave Scott |
Dave Scott is the Lower Fraser Program Coordinator for the Raincoast Conservation Foundation. He holds a Masters degree in Resource Management from SFU. His work with RCF has included leading the Fraser estuary juvenile salmon research program, working with local conservation organizations on salmon habitat in the Lower Fraser, and submitting evidence as an intervenor in the reviews for the Trans Mountain Expansion and Roberts Bank Terminal 2 projects. During his masters studies he examined the effects of floodgates and pump stations on fish communities in tributary streams of the Lower Fraser River. | Salmon of the Lower Fraser River and estuary: Current threats and potential solutions
Lower Fraser River and estuary: Current threats and potential solutions This is a crucial time for wild salmon that depend on the Fraser River and estuary. The Fraser watershed hosts a remarkable diversity of wild Chinook, chum, coho, pink and sockeye salmon, all which rely on habitats in the Lower Fraser. However since European colonization the area has undergone a vast transformation, and the quantity and quality of salmon habitats have been drastically reduced. While both abundance and diversity of Fraser salmon have been compromised in the last century, millions of salmon continue to annually return to the watershed supporting First Nations, Recreational and Commercial fisheries. Today, a number of development proposals threaten to push the cumulative effects of human impacts past a tipping point. Finally this talk will detail the work that Raincoast is conducting to protect and restore wild salmon populations for the ecosystems, wildlife and communities that rely on them. |
| Feb. 6, 2018 Laura Stewart |
Birding Where No One Has Birded Before: Laura will talk about her experiences as a CO OP student working for Environment Canada in boreal Saskatchewan. The emphasis was on songbirds of the boreal forest. |
|
| Mar. 6, 2018 Eliza Olson |
A retired teacher, Olson spends more than 40 hours a week at the Burns Bog Conservation Society. Since 1987, Eliza has donated countless hours for the preservation of Burns Bog. Her degree in education has enabled her to skilfully educate others on the importance of saving the bog. | Burns Bog: Ecology and Threats Olson is passionate about the bog and its important role in offsetting global warming.Did you know that sphagnum moss was here in the days of the dinosaurs? It holds up to 20 times its weight in water. Burns Bog stores 10 times more carbon than tropical rainforests! That’s why it is called a carbon sink.Burns Bog was recognized as an internationally significant wetland when it became part of the Fraser River Ramsar site in 2012. However, it still faces dangers from construction of roads, and proposals to develop the land. |
| Apr. 3, 2018 Ross Dixon |
Ross Dixon is the Raincoast Conservation Foundation Communications and Development Director. Originally from Cumbria, in the beautiful Lake District of England, he moved to Canada several years ago, in part inspired by the work of Raincoast and their mission to protect the land, waters and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. | Safeguarding Coastal Carnivores
Ross will discuss Raincoast’s wildlife welfare ethic and their use of rigorous, peer-reviewed science and community engagement – “informed-advocacy”. This research includes extensive study of bears and wolves on BC’s coast and informs Raincoast’s conservation campaigns. Ross will specifically discuss Raincoast’s campaign to Safeguard Coastal Carnivores. Partnered with Coastal First Nations, this campaign aims to permanently end all commercial trophy hunting of large carnivores in the Great Bear Rainforest. |
| May 1, 2018 Marg Cuthbert |
Friends of Semiahmoo Bay
Marg Cuthbert was born on BC’s coast in Garden Bay and lived her early years in nature in the wilds of the province. Twelve years of post secondary studies and studio work focused on education, fine arts and architectural design and many moves, brought her to White Rock- Surrey where she designed and built custom homes in the area. Between projects Marg travelled south exploring the southern states and Central America, appreciating the landscapes, architecture and art. The birds and all the wild creatures in these places reinvigorated and inspired her passion for nature. The environmental conservation bug bit in the mid 1990’s with an awareness of the development siege on Boundary Bay’s watershed and rivers. Actively involved with the White Rock and Surrey Naturalists Conservation Committee and the Little Campbell Watershed Society, concerns led to further action in initiating the Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society. The goal being to work with local residents, business and government agencies to raise public awareness through community events, school programs, meaningful citizen science and habitat enhancement projects. She hasn’t stopped working for conservation ever since, except to follow her bliss travelling to new lands to see the landscapes and wild creatures, especially the birds! |
Birding and Nature in Mozambique |
| June 5, 2018 David & Diane Reesor |
Birdlife and the Sloth Bears of Sri Lanka | |
| Sep. 4, 2018 Anne Murray |
Anne recently spent several weeks birdwatching in China, including a tour with Birdquest. This vast country has some beautiful scenery and numerous large mammals as well as a great diversity of birds. A highlight of the trip was finding the rare and recently rediscovered Sillem’s Mountain Finch – previously seen by only a handful of people.
Anne Murray is the author of A Nature Guide to Boundary Bay and Tracing Our Past ~ A Heritage Guide to Boundary Bay and a major contributing author to the Georgia Basin Habitat Atlas: Boundary Bay. All these books were published by Nature Guides BC, a company founded by Anne in 2005. Anne is currently providing editorial assistance to the Bird Studies Canada and partners publishing committee, working on the online BC Breeding Bird Atlas. Anne volunteers with a number of non-profit organizations including Bird Studies Canada (Board Secretary), the Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust (Board member), the Delta Naturalists’ Society, and BC Nature (the Federation of BC Naturalists), of which she is a past-President and currently the BC Important Bird Areas liaison member. She is a past-trustee of the Delta Museum and Archives. Among other awards, she was a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal for nature conservation, BC Nature’s Elton Anderson Award, and Nature Vancouver’s John Davidson Award for Conservation. Anne has had a life-long interest in birds, nature, history and different cultures. Born and educated in England, where she received her BSc (physics and geology), she has taught mathematics and science to every age group. She took up writing about nature, ecological history and conservation in 2004. She has lived in Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Alberta and for the last two decades, in Tsawwassen, British Columbia. Anne is married with three daughters. |
In Search of Birds: Adventures in China Anne recently spent several weeks birdwatching in China, including a tour with Birdquest. This vast country has some beautiful scenery and numerous large mammals as well as a great diversity of birds. A highlight of the trip was finding the rare and recently rediscovered Sillem’s Mountain Finch – previously seen by only a handful of people. |
| Oct. 2, 2018 | Peter Candido | Wildlife of Brazil |
| Nov. 6, 2018 | Ron Long | Pink Mountain |
| Dec. 3, 2018 |
Noreen Rudd & David Hoar |
Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica |
| WED Jan. 2, 2019 |
Paul & Carol Rennie |
?? |
Tentative schedule for DNCB outings: see DNS Upcoming Events page.
