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What Can You Do

What We Do

The club takes an active role in special events such as:

  • The Christmas Bird Count as part of the North American National Audubon Society count.
  • Stewardship of the Englishman River Estuary, which includes the removal of invasive plants. In November 2015, Ducks Unlimited gave the Wetlands Conservation Award to the Arrowsmith Naturalists Club for the work of its members, who have been monitoring and preserving wildlife habitat at the Englishman River Estuary for more than a decade.Come join us pulling broom for about 90 minutes. on the first and third Thursday of each month at 9:30 at the foot of Shelly Rd. The group goes for coffee afterwards.
  • Conducting various nature surveys such as the Coastal Waterbird Survey and the Beached Bird Survey
  • Supporting the Nature Kids BC.
  • Supporting and networking with other organization concerned with nature conservation.

Bird Counts

Christmas Bird Count

Brant Counts

GBBC

Canada Geese

Other Citizen Science

Birdathon

BioBlitz within Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere using https://www.inaturalist.org/

Beached Bird Surveys

                                                        

                                                

 

 

The Nature Trust of BC and the City of Parksville have partnered to protect the ecologically important property at 130 Shelly Road. The 5.2ha (13 acre) site is a vital habitat for wildlife, a haven for birds and enhances protection for the five types of salmon and 3 kinds of trout which spawn in the river.

The Arrowsmith Naturalists recently donated $5,000 to The Nature Trust of BC for the conservation of land adjacent to the Kwa’a’luxw(Englishman) River estuary. The funds resulted from a successful BC Nature conference the club hosted in Qualicum Beach in May.

For nearly twenty years, members of the Arrowsmith Naturalists have dedicated time and effort to removing invasive plants from the Kwa’a’luxw (Englishman) River estuary land area. Plants such as Scotch broom and Daphne laureola can choke out and inhibit the native species that the insects and birds rely upon.

The Nature Trust of BC and the Snaw-Naw-As Nation are working together on the restoration and management of the estuary lands. Along with partners such as the Arrowsmith Naturalists and the Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society(MIVHES), they are committed to preserving the cultural and ecological values of this rare and precious natural treasure.

Stewardship

The Englishman River Estuary

The Arrowsmith Naturalists are committed to “know, enjoy, and preserve nature”, an important commitment of which is the stewardship of nature. Since 2005, in an agreement with The Nature Trust of BC, our group have been stewards of the Englishman River Estuary.

Much of our work has been to remove invasive plants such as Scotch broom and spotted knapweed from the estuary, but we also assist in replanting areas which have lost much of their native vegetation. As stewards, we also monitor practices which may be harmful to the restoration of the estuary lands and the wildlife which inhabit the area.

We have accomplished much in removing invasive plants from the estuary, but much remains to be done. Please feel free to join us in our work. We meet at either the Shelly Road or the Mill Street entrances to the estuary on the first and third Thursdays of most months. A great way to meet like minded people. Because our work is subject to the whims of weather and other factors, please contact Dave Hutchings at asmithnaturalists@gmail.com to receive up-to-date information of meeting times and places.

 

Pictured:

Left to right: Dr. Jasper Lament, CEO of The Nature Trust of BC; Bill Cox, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of The Nature Trust of BC; Dave Hutchings, Stewardship coordinator with Arrowsmith Naturalists.

More info: naturetrust.bc.ca and arrowsmithnats.org

Submitted by Sue Wilson, Arrowsmith Naturalists.  Photo attached from The Nature Trust of BC.