Maybe it was the free pancakes. Maybe it was the glorious weather. Seventy people showed up for Pemberton Trails Day the other weekend, including out-of-towners, locals and kids. “That’s a huge number for such a small community,” said Dean Linnell, one of the directors of NIMBY Fifty which will incorporate 37 kilometres worth of local … Continue reading Column: In Dirt We Trust
One of the first native flowers to emerge after the snow melts around Pemberton is the chocolate lily (Fritillaria lanceolata). This springtime beauty is found in grassy meadows, bluffs, and open forests. Anyone who has been biking with me at this time of year has experienced multiple and sudden (sometimes dangerous?) stops when I first … Continue reading Flowers of the Forest: Chocolate Lilies
Snake-watcher, Dr Leslie Anthony, has been sighting lots of snakes in Pemberton this month. We repost this "heads-up" from his Instagram account (which is pretty cool.) The elusive, completely harmless but preternaturally beautiful rubber boa is emerging from winter dens. These ancient creatures live 50+ years but only have a few babies—much like turtles—so killing … Continue reading Snakewatch: Swerve for Rubber Boas!
Maxine Joseph-Bruce is the Fisheries Manager for the Lil'wat Nation, so whenever I want to know how many salmon have come home to spawn, I email her. (I love her because she has an amazing smile with a lovely flash of mischief in it, her email signature includes this series of characters: <*)}}}>< , and … Continue reading RiverWatch: Birkenhead River flood mitigation efforts
I promised back in January that we would tap Veronica Woodruff's amazing knowledge and passion for wetlands critters... Here she shares her enthusiasm for the arrival of the Pacific Chorus Frog. I have been anxiously awaiting the annual glee club convergence of the Pacific Chorus Frog. One of the random things I have been keeping … Continue reading Critter Watch: Pacific Chorus Frog
A local birder, Ray Mason, sent our Birding Guru, John Tschopp, two outstanding pictures of Ptarmigans taken at Hope Creek a few days ago. They appear to be White-tailed Ptarmigans. Thanks guys! The White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura), aka the Snow Quail, is the smallest type of grouse, and changes its speckled gray brown plumage in winter to dress whites. … Continue reading Birdwatch: Ptarmigans
Our birding correspondent, John Tschopp, reports that on Sunday, a Prairie Falcon was taken into care at Clover Road in Pemberton. It still has the hunting skills, as it ate some fowl. This bird is listed as "accidental" on the Pemberton list. We are happy to have a picture record of it now.
For the last three years, Stewardship Pemberton, along with herpetologist and doctor of zoology, Leslie Anthony, have been tracking snakes in Pemberton and he's been doing his darnedest to avoid breaking into a bad Australian accent: Crikey. This week, get the chance to hear the results of all that snake-stalking and bush-walking, and discover what … Continue reading Event: Snake Talk, Nov 7
Thanks to Lil'wat Fisheries Manager, Maxine Joseph Bruce, for this awesome update. Ama Sqit Nsneknukwa7 (Good day friends and relatives!) Kalan’ wi (Everybody listen!) As of Sunday September 29th, 80,161 sockeye passed through the counting fence/Didson Sonar Camera on the Birkenhead River, known to the Statimcw as Qwelimak. Over the past few days, less than … Continue reading River Watch: Update with Maxine Joseph Bruce
Wondering how to engage your students or children in outdoor activities and help them connect to Nature? Join locally renowned outdoor educator Delores Los in an exciting day course where she will share more than 30 years worth of acquired knowledge and skills through hands-on games, learning activities and so much more. Date: Saturday September … Continue reading Event: Outdoor Ed Mentoring with Delores Los, Sept 21
The Wellness Almanac 