News from The Nature Trust - A call to action, a photo contest and a lesson in "Bee"haviour

CALL TO ACTION

Pemberton Wetlands

Situated on the east bank of the Lillooet River near Pemberton there is a picturesque 26 hectares (65 acres) of land waiting to be conserved. Providing a range of habitat including a wetland formed by an old oxbow of the river, a year round creek, moose and deer winter range and old growth forest, this property deserves our attention.

With a value of over $420,000 we need your help to raise $250,000 to complete this acquisition.

Please call 604-924-9771 or 1-866-288-7878 to donate.

White Lake Basin in the Okanagan.
Photo by Graham Osborne
White Lake Basin by Graham Osborne

ART FOR A CAUSE

A big thank you to nature photographer, Rusty Joerin, who has generously
pledged to donate 10% of the sales of his Englishman River photos to
The Nature Trust. The photos will be exhibited at the Old School House Gallery in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island from September 13 to October 9.

For more information on Rusty, his photos and upcoming exhibits go to: www.woodsgift.ca.

GENERATIONS OF CONSERVATION GALA

Reserve Your Seat Now

Honourary Patrons Mary & Gordon Christopher

The Nature Trust of BC is hosting our annual fundraising gala on Tuesday, September 28. If you haven't reserved your spot, contact Tracy Loewen at [email protected].

This outstanding event will recognize the importance of inspiring the next generation to share a passion for nature and its many gifts.

"We were fortunate to be raised in families that had a great love and respect for the wonders of nature - a philosophy passed on to our children and grandchildren." - Gordon & Mary Christopher

You will be treated to:

An uplifting children's choir performing with Holly Arntzen and the Dream Band
A snappy live auction
And food to tantalize the taste buds

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

6 p.m. reception

7 p.m. entertainment, dinner and presentations

$225 per person ($100 tax receipt)

$2,250 per table of 10 ($1,000 tax receipt)

$4,000 per Gold Table of 8 ($3,000 tax receipt)

HSBC CONSERVATION YOUTH CREWS
Crew Gets a Lesson in "Bee"haviour

Crew member Joe Strong installing a wooden nest box

The Nature Trust's HSBC Kootenay Conservation Youth Crew recently had the opportunity to assist Lincoln Best, a Master's student at York University, with the identification of native bees on The Nature Trust's Hoodoos conservation property.

Armed with butterfly nets and a keen interest, the crew spent an afternoon capturing bee specimens while learning about the different types of bees, identification tips, and habitat requirements. In addition, the crew installed over 30 artificial nest sites.

Sweat Bee on Three Spot Mariposa Lily

Currently an estimated 450 species of bees have been identified in British Columbia. Native bees are in decline and, in places, experiencing local extinction due to loss or destruction of their habitat. Consequently, managing for native pollinators on conservation lands, located in the Kootenay region, has been elevated in importance.

If you are interested in learning more about our native bees and how you can assist these pollinators, refer to The Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation (www.xerces.org).

The Nature Trust is pleased to have HSBC Bank Canada as the title sponsor of the crew program for the fifth year. Other sponsors include BC Hydro, BC Ministry of Environment, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, HRSDC, The Tony Cartledge Fund and Victoria Foundation.

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE NATURE PHOTOS

Our 4th Annual Photo Contest

2009 winners clockwise from left: Don Erhardt, Kevin Lee, Len Langevin, Daphne Eze

What's your most memorable nature shot: a Great Blue Heron taking off with its long legs dangling, a waterfall crashing over a rock face, a panoramic view from the top of a mountain, a close up of a small frog resting on a flower?

The Nature Trust invites amateur photographers in BC to submit to the Celebrating Nature Photo Contest. The categories are:

The Web of Life (plants, wildlife, birds, insects and more)
The Big Picture (landscapes)
The Power of Nature (storms, waterfalls, etc.)
Making a Difference (parks, green spaces, rain gardens)

The contest closes October 8 and public voting begins October 18. The grand prize winner will be announced October 29. Prizes are donated by Lens & Shutter, Nikon Canada and Booth Photographic. For all the details, visit www.naturetrust.bc.ca. To see entries check out our flickr page.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday Night Museum Cafe: Join The Nature Trust's Tim Clermont at the Royal BC Museum for a discussion on water in BC.

Thursday, September 16, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

For more information and to reserve tickets go to: http://bit.ly/9BEbPF

Rivers Day: Join The Nature Trust at the Allco Fish Hatchery and Rivers Heritage Centre in Maple Ridge for the Ridge Meadows Rivers Day. It is a day celebrated across BC, and since 2005, around the world by people and organizations raising public awareness of rivers and the many benefits they provide to all.

Sunday, September 26, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Allco Fish Hatchery and Rivers Heritage Centre, 24959 Alouette Road, Maple Ridge, BC

Chehalis River Eagle Watching Tour:
Join The Nature Trust's Jason Northcott and Dan Buffett from Ducks Unlimited for a walking tour of a 500 hectare conservation area on the Chehalis River during the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival. Binoculars, comfortable hiking shoes and proper outer wear are recommended.

November 21, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

For more information or to pre-book contact Robin Rivers at 604-924-9771, ext. 226 or by e-mail [email protected]