Nature Salt Spring invites Bird and Nature Lovers to the ‘June Nature Extravaganza‘
June 10-13
We’ve put together 12 amazing different events for the June 10-13 weekend, and we have award-winning Guest Naturalists, Darren and Claudia Copley from the Royal BC Museum here to help explore our Salt Spring Nature. Please join us for the events that interest you. Brief descriptions are found below, with more details on our web site at: https://www.naturesaltspring.org/category/events/
Our two evening presentations at the Salt Spring Conservancy Blackburn Lake facility will have new membership table or you can become a member on-line. Please feel free to invite friends interested in natural history to join those presentations and the ‘club’.
Spaces are limited for most of the events, and registration is required. Please fill out this electronic PDF registration form by computer and then email to: daviddenningssi@gmail.com
Nature Celebration Weekend – June 10-14
Join Nature Salt Spring for an action-packed weekend of nature exploration, appreciation, study and fun. The weekend will include presentations, birding walks, family/children events, nature walks, nature restoration and workshops.
Presentations
Nature Salt Spring is excited to announce two illustrated natural history talks at the SSI Conservancy Building at Blackburn Lake. Space is limited to 40 people and registration is required. For the health safety of all, masks are requested inside the building.
Slugs, Slime, and Suction – Nature Stories from the Salish Sea
Presented by David Denning, SSI Marine Naturalist. Friday, June 10, 7-8:30 @ SSI Conservancy, Blackburn Lake ($10 admin./Free for Nature Salt Spring Members)
The Amazing Natural History of BC’s Dragonflies Presented by Claudia Copley, Curator, Royal BC Museum. Saturday, June 11, 7-8:30 pm. @ SSI Conservancy, Blackburn Lake ($10 admin/Free for Nature Salt Spring Members)
Guest Naturalists Darren and Claudia Copley, Curators at the Royal BC Museum
Birding
No matter your skill level, from beginner to ‘seasoned’, you will find these naturalist-led birding walks valuable for improving/building your skills and interests in Salt Spring Island birds. Early Bird Birding will take place on both Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12 starting at 6:30 am @ Xwaaqw’um / Burgoyne Bay.
Families with Children Events
As part of our NatureKids BC program to provide more nature connections for children and their families, we’ve organized two engaging activities on the June 11-12 weekend led by Kathleen Maser and Jean Wilkinson.
Muddy Buddies – Pond Studies for Families with Children with Kathleen Maser & Jean Wilkinson, Sat. June 11, 1:30 – 2:30pm at SSIC Blackburn Lake
Bonkers about Birds! Birding for Families with Children – with Kathleen Maser & Jean Wilkinson, is on Sunday June 12, 8-9am at SSIC Blackburn Lake.
Nature Walks
Join local and guest naturalists to explore the fascinating natural history in different Salt Spring habitats. Darren and Claudia Copley are Curators at the Royal BC Museum. Jeff Shatford is a Salt Spring – based Ecosystem Biologist and forest management/recovery specialist. Peter McAllister, David Denning, and Pat Miller are active Salt Spring naturalists and founding organizers of Nature Salt Spring.
Walk and Gawk – Exploring Nature w/ Darren and Claudia Copley (Special guest naturalists) – Two Nature Walks – 1) Saturday, June 11, 10:30 – noon @ SSIC Blackburn Lake and 2) Sunday, June 12, 9:00 am, @ Xwaaqw’um / Burgoyne Bay
Forest Ecology Walk with Jeff Shatford. Jeff will provide insights into the stories trees and forests tell, the natural recovery process and techniques for re-wilding your forested property with native plants. Sunday, June 12, 1:30 – 3:00 @ SSIC Blackburn Lake
Shoreline Nature! – Purple Martins w/ Peter McAllisterand Beach Explorations w/ David Denning & Pat Miller. We’ll learn the natural history of the beautiful and melodic Purple Martins now recovering on SSI thanks to the Purple Martin Recovery Project. We’ll also explore the rocks and eel grass below the Fernwood Dock to find some fascinating sea life. Monday, June 13, 9:00 am – 11 @ Fernwood Dock
Nature Restoration
Xwaaqw’um Watershed Restoration Project Demonstration w/ John Millson & Stqeeye’ Learning Society. An important Salt Spring restoration project at Xwaaqw’um / Burgoyne Bay will be the focus of this walk and talk. Learn about watersheds, restoration techniques and this model partnership project blending indigenous knowledge and scientific methods. Saturday, June 11, 10:30 – noon @ Xwaaqw’um / Burgoyne Bay
Workshops
Using iNaturalist, Merlin & eBird for Personal and Community Nature Studies – w/Darren Copley. Darren developed innovative techniques to engage citizens in community science data collection using phone/tablet identification and recording apps. He will share his experience and describe some of the amazing community science studies already in progress. Darren is the Environmental Education Coordinator for Saanich Municipality, teaches at UVic, and is a BC Museum Curator. Saturday, June 11, 2:00 – 3:30 (please note revised timing) @ SSIC Blackburn Lake
Nature Journaling with Briony Penn, Salt Spring Island geographer, researcher, artist, author and environmentalist. Briony will teach how to capture personal experience and understandings of the natural world through art and writing in a nature journal. ($10 Fee for materials) Sunday, June 12, 1:30 – 3:00 @ SSIC Blackburn Lake