http://www.bmn.bc.ca Latest articles. en 40 Thu, 17 May 2012 21:33:08 +0000 Critical public consultations for the future of Riverview will take place this spring and fall. The spring meetings have just been announced (see below). Their focus is on identifying the important heritage aspects of the site (i.e., buildings, trees, history, etc.) and ensuring that those values will be carried forward into the future. In the fall, we expect a future land use plan for Riverview to be developed. h3. Riverview Lands Heritage Conservation Planning *Two Public Drop-in Workshops:* Tuesday, May 22, 2012 4:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. The Outlet - Work Room, Port Coquitlam *and* Wednesday, May 23, 2012 4:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Executive Plaza Hotel - Aspen Room, Coquitlam *Two Open Houses:* Monday, June 11, 2012 4:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. *_date confirmed_* Mabbett Room, Port Coquitlam Recreation Complex, Port Coquitlam *and* Tuesday, June 12, 2012 4:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. *_date confirmed_* Centennial Room, Coquitlam Recreation Centre, Coquitlam _Check back for more details on the format of these meetings and opportunities for on-line consultation. More info will be posted here as it becomes available to us._ h3. Background Information Please see "Appreciating the Heritage of Riverview Hospital":http://bmn.bc.ca/assets/bmn/doc/TCNRVheritage.pdf, an article published in Elaine Golds' biweekly column in the _TriCity News_ on May 4, 2012. For more detailed information on the history and present values of the site, please see the 2004 report prepared by BMN (6.5MB) "The Riverview Hospital Site. Respecting its Past, Realizing its Future":http://bmn.bc.ca/assets/bmn/doc/Riverview2004.pdf. Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 -0700 http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/126/riverview-update-dates-for-heritage-planning-meetings-announced http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/126/riverview-update-dates-for-heritage-planning-meetings-announced At the May meeting of the Burke Mountain Naturalists, owl researcher "Sofi Hindmarch":http://www.sfu.ca/biology/wildberg/sofi/index.htm told us about the problem of owls eating rats that have been exposed to rat poisons. To expand her research, Sofi would like to know of locations where owls (Barn Owls, Barred Owls or Great Horned Owls) are roosting or nesting in urban parks and neighborhoods, as these owls are more likely to eat rats or house mice that have ingested rat poisons. If you can help, contact Sofi at sofi.hindmarch at gmail dot com. To read a great article on Sofi's work in _The Tyee_, please click "here":http://thetyee.ca/News/2010/12/13/BarnOwls/. Wed, 09 May 2012 10:00:00 -0700 http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/127/sfu-owl-researcher-wants-to-know-where-the-owls-are http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/127/sfu-owl-researcher-wants-to-know-where-the-owls-are In late March, members of the BMN-Young Naturalists Club visited the facilities of the _Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC_. To see photos of their visit taken by BMN member Paul Steeves, please click "here":https://picasaweb.google.com/100140541392075335928/BurrowingOwlTour?authkey=Gv1sRgCLGO8u6uy7PxsgE&feat=email. To learn more about these tiny endangered owls and the work done to try to conserve their numbers, click "here":http://www.burrowingowlbc.org/. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:00:00 -0700 http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/125/bmn-young-nats-learn-about-burrowing-owls http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/125/bmn-young-nats-learn-about-burrowing-owls BMN members have been building and installing nest boxes for local birds for many years. One BMN member in particular has been involved in the design and building of the boxes, and now Kiyoshi Takahashi has compiled all that he has learned over the years in a comprehensive 21 page booklet that is available for viewing and downloading in the '_Publications_' section or by clicking "here":/assets/bmn/doc/HowtoBuildNestBoxes3.pdf. Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:00:00 -0700 http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/124/new-bmn-booklet-available-how-to-build-nest-boxes-for-common-birds-in-the-tri-cities-area http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/124/new-bmn-booklet-available-how-to-build-nest-boxes-for-common-birds-in-the-tri-cities-area Researchers at SFU are studying Cooper's hawks in rural and urban environments around Vancouver. If you have any information about a COHA nest location or know of a frequently sighted COHA, please contact Jason Brogan at jbrogan AT sfu. DOT ca. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:00:00 -0700 http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/123/scientist-looking-for-location-of-coha-nests http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/123/scientist-looking-for-location-of-coha-nests Crews of BMN members have just completed this spring's cleaning and maintenance of the 200 or so bird nestboxes installed in various locations around the TriCity area. To view a pictorial summary of each day, click on the links below: Sat Feb 4, 2012 "along Oliver Rd and near the barns at Minnekhada":https://picasaweb.google.com/BurkeMtnNats/2012MinnkehadaNestboxes?authkey=Gv1sRgCP2byo-KgeyQEQ - V. Otton photos. Sat Feb 11, 2012 "Colony Farm":https://picasaweb.google.com/BurkeMtnNats/2012ColonyFarmNestboxes?authkey=Gv1sRgCJqjx-zt_KKltwE - H. Maguire photos. Sat Feb 18, 2012 "Widgeon Reserve Regional Park":https://picasaweb.google.com/BurkeMtnNats/2012WidgeonNestboxes?authkey=Gv1sRgCJaBm9iihYi-HA - P. Steeves photos. Sun Feb 18, 2012 "Minnekhada Regional Park":https://picasaweb.google.com/BurkeMtnNats/2012MinnekhadaParkNestboxes?authkey=Gv1sRgCIuThpXUxbqdXg - H. Maguire photos. Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:00:00 -0800 http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/122/2012-nestbox-cleaning-forays-in-pictures http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/122/2012-nestbox-cleaning-forays-in-pictures BMN has a new trifold brochure that describes all you need to know to have a successful nest box in your yard this spring. "How to build a chickadee nest box":/assets/bmn/doc/ChixNestbox.pdf was written by BMN master bird box builder, Kiyoshi Takahashi and contains info he's learned over the years about what makes a nest box appealing (and safe) for birds. Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:00:00 -0800 http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/121/spring-is-almost-here-learn-how-to-build-a-chickadee-nest-box http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/121/spring-is-almost-here-learn-how-to-build-a-chickadee-nest-box Watch the 6 minute film on the `Plight of the Barn Swallow', made by the Vancouver Avian Research Centre in collaboration with the Wilderness Committee to promote the fact that BC has no Endangered Species legislation. The video can be viewed on YouTube via the link on the "VARC homepage":http://www.birdvancouver.com/ or by clicking "here":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X04AUd6JFu4&context=C32bbdccADOEgsToPDskJl0HIHaLZeZEMU0fvt4Dnq. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800 http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/119/plight-of-the-barn-swallow-video http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/119/plight-of-the-barn-swallow-video Can't swing a quick birding trip to Texas this spring? Don't worry, you can watch Texas birds coming to a feeding station at the "Sabal Palm Sanctuary":http://sabalpalmsanctuary.org/ from the comfort of your own home (or office!). Click "here":http://sabalpalmsanctuary.org/feedercam/ to watch the live "feeder cam", and be prepared to not get anything else done today. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0800 http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/120/texas-feeder-watch-from-your-home-computer http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/120/texas-feeder-watch-from-your-home-computer Once again, BMN showed how to keep the _fun_ in fundraising. Our December silent auction -- together with the bake, book, and seasonal greenery sales -- raised $1,910.94. This will be donated to the "Critter Care Wildlife Society":http://www.crittercarewildlife.org/index.php in Langley, with a very small portion being held back to support the operating costs of our club. _Critter Care_ is one of only four bear rehabilitation centres in BC, and they have experienced a bumper year for orphaned black bear cubs. We are grateful to the many members who donated (and bought!) items, and to the following businesses for their generous gifts for the auction tables: * Backyard Bird Centre (Port Moody) * Bosley’s Pet Food Plus (Coquitlam) * Build-a-Bear Workshop (Coquitlam) * Gerry's Vintners (Burquitlam) * Hungry Hound Pet Store (Sapperton) * Lassthetic Salon and Spa (Coquitlam) * Rhodos Kouzina Mediterranean Grille (Port Moody) Please support these local businesses during the year ahead. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:00:00 -0800 http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/78/another-successful-silent-auction-in-2011 http://www.bmn.bc.ca/articles/78/another-successful-silent-auction-in-2011