Nature Chilliwack
46361 Yale Road V2P 2P8 Chilliwack, BC, Canada

"As well as wild sheep, there are both mule and white-tailed deer; rattlesnake, gopher snake and racer; and birds such as canyon wren which I recently spotted... there. An endangered badger was sighted on the property this past August. Both properties have habitat for at least six federally-listed species-at-risk," SILT president Judie Steeves said. See more

What is this? A massive fuzzy green worm? Part of Snuffleupagus' trunk? In fact it's a fallen mat of moss and licorice ferns that was once on the branch of an o...ld growth bigleaf maple tree west of Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island. As some of you know, I am fascinated by epiphytes (plants that grow on trees) like the moss and licorice ferns that grow on the bark of bigleaf maple trees, and of the general luxuriance of these old-growth temperate rainforests. The combination of the rough bark surface on bigleaf maples that provides an ideal anchor, the calcium in their bark that supports the growth of epiphytes, the great age that bigleaf maples can attain that allows for epiphytic growth to accumulate (including soil that forms underneath these moss mats over decades and centuries on their branches - that the maples send roots to tap into!) and the great precipitation in these temperate rainforests provides the ideal conditions for epiphytes to grow. Old-growth bigleaf maples are in fact covered in a greater abundance of epiphytes than any other tree in North America! A distinctive feature of the endangered old-growth temperate rainforests on the West Coast. Also check out the camel-looking giant bigleaf maple (Photo by TJ Watt). See more

This #WildWednesday, we take a look at the diversity of birds' beaks and their purposes. Remember that bears are still active throughout BC so, bird feeding should only be done with proper safety protocols in place.

This Downy Woodpecker is after parasitic wasp larvae (Diastrophus kincaidi) inside galls on a Thimbleberry stem. These Thimbleberry galls form an important late fall/winter food for this bird. If you were to cut a gall open, you would find numerous small white larvae inside. To distinguish the Downy Woodpecker from the slightly larger Hairy Woodpecker, note the the dainty bill on the Downy Woodpecker and how the bill is about one-third the length of its head. A Hairy Woodpecker has a much larger heavier bill that is the same length as its head. The Downy Woodpecker also has several spots on its outer tail feathers in comparison to the solid white outer tail feathers of the larger Hairy Woodpecker.

Win a chance to band a baby bird or a gift certificate to the Conservancy's spring native plant sale. Details below.

This article has an interesting size comparison chart for other wasps, hornets and bees as well as contact information for the Invasive Species Counsel so you can report any local sightings.

With Halloween just around the corner we thought it would be fun to feature a creepy crawly! This is a six-spotted fishing spider (Dolomedes triton) and it is o...ne of the largest native spiders found in the nature reserve. They can be found on the emergent vegetation that grows along the edges of ponds and wetlands, from which they can dash out on the waters surface to catch insects. They also can dive underwater to hunt aquatic insects and even small fish! Females (such as the one in the photo) carry their egg sacks in the jaws until they are ready to hatch, at which point she will build a small nursery out of silk and a folded leaf and guard the young until their first molt. See more

Different stages of the Bald Eagle

To say that native plants invite and support birds is a major understatement. When I think of the species I see now, (today: 15 species!) compared to the few wh...o visited when we first bought our house nearly 20 years ago, it's amazing. Sure, I've recently started offering peanut butter suet again due to low temps, and it does appeal to quite a few species, but there are many others that come to forage in the native trees and shrubs and natural organic detritus, or duff, that falls to the soil. And though I can't see them, I'm sure many birds roost at night in evergreens that help them stay dry and sheltered from wind. Here are just a few seen recently ... Pine siskin, Townsend's warbler, Bushtit, Golden-crowned sparrow. See more

With the fall/winter season bringing lots of change to the forests you may enjoy this Nature of Things production on What Trees Talk About. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LFvL_iYVaY

Now that Anna hummingbirds are wintering in the Fraser Valley, I recently picked up a heated feeder and extra bulb after years of trying to gerry-rig a method to keep the feeder from freezing in winter.

#StoryTime This loon had been receiving care in Quesnel for some time. It was ready to be released but there was one big problem... their lakes were frozen ov...er already. Elizabeth received the call asking for help, and didn’t hesitate. It was a resounding YES! There was an animal in need and EWC, like always, was going to do everything in our power to ensure its successful release back into the wild. Our little friend hitched a ride with a truck driver at Bandstra Transportation Systems all the way from Quesnel to Abbotsford where an EWC employee was eagerly awaiting its arrival. All animals receive an examination through our intake process at the center. The loon was deemed healthy and fit to be released. After feeding the loon a last meal in captivity, EWC staff were now back in action and took our bird for the final car ride to the release site. Carefully maneuvering to secure that dagger-like bill, removing the bird from the transport container, and a few extra pushes meant only one thing for our latest patient FREEDOM!!! We watched our loon dive and surface in joy as, for us, that rewarding feeling that comes with every release set in.

An update to this post: Chandra Elaine kindly shared these photos with colleagues who corrected my identification. This is Wild Lily of the Valley (Maianthemum ...dilatatum), a plant I thought I knew well! What threw off my identification was the berry colour. I have photos I have taken of the berries as a beautiful copper colour with red markings. What I did not realize that those berries that are not eaten later in the season turn a bright red!!! So much to learn about nature!!! Wild Lily of the Valley is also now a member of the Asparagus family and not a Lily. Original Post: A few days ago I found these glowing red berries deep in the forest gloom near a raging river. I was instantly puzzled to find these berries in November, since the plants I know like this have berries in early summer. My in-house botanist, husband Dave Polster, and I have decided that our most likely guess is the Large False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum), previously known as Smilacina racemosa. False Solomon's Seal was in the Lily family, but after recent research it was determined that this along with Speenhw, Camas (Camas quamash) are actually members of the Asparagus family! Who knew!!! We welcome other thoughts on the ID of this. #quwutsunnaturerambles #crazyaboutbcplants #vancouverislandnativeplants See more

As the woodland trails get muddy and the snow falls, you might want to try to identify some of the tracks you see (Photo below - bobcat track in mud). Here is an old guide from the province on some of the common tracks you may see. Your local library will also have books on animal tracks. Press Ctrl and click the link to open. http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eirs/finishDownloadDocument.do

Please leave the leaves! Birds, pollinators and other wildlife all rely on leaf litter for food and shelter. Moth and butterfly caterpillars winter in leaves emerging in spring. Leaves are not litter!

Can anyone give Genevieve an id on this one?

Bird's Nest fungus. Photo: Lee Larkin

A sad but wise decision

Nature Chilliwack members recently went on a mushroom field trip identifying and photographing mushrooms. What have you seen lately? Post your pictures below for us all to enjoy.

This puts it in perspective

Here is an email full of uplifting stories about victories for the planet from Green Peace Swedish oil company drops $1.65 billion expansion plans after Greenpeace protests Last month, activists from Greenpeace Nordic held up a Paris or Preem? sign as they blocked a crude oil tanker heading to Preem's oil refinery in Lysekil, Sweden. ...Continue reading

A little stewardship pays big dividends