Join Us On Our Next Field Trip or Event.
Listed below are upcoming and recent field trips and events of the Rocky Mountain Naturalists. You are welcome to join us. Please let us know if you are interested.
For anyone who is not a member and would like to join us on one of our outings, please be advised that there is a $2.00 fee for the day (for liability insurance purposes).
For anyone who is not a member and would like to join us on one of our outings, please be advised that there is a $2.00 fee for the day (for liability insurance purposes).
Early Morning Birding (Jim)
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - 8:00 am
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot area in front of Staples at 8:00 am. This EMB shall involve a walk in the vicinity of St. Eugene Mission so that some of our members may be able to prepare for an upcoming conference in which they have committed to assisting with some outings. Please note that any birder may volunteer to assist as "guides" if interested, as per the particulars below from Marianne. For any birders not interested in "guiding", we can meet as usual at 8:00 am at Tamarack mall and carpool to St. Eugene's for 8:15 am.
Daryl, Gretchen and probably Marianne will meet the EMB at 8:15 am Wednesday in the parking lot in front of the big white tent, at St. Eugene Mission just off the main road. We can then continue to bird from there. Anyone is welcome to join us at 7:00 am in front of the big white tent to do a dry run through of leading Environmental Educators on an early morning walk about during their weekend conference. Daryl will drive past the usual Tamarack Mall meeting place at 6:45 am to see if anyone needs a ride.
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Christmas Bird Counts - most likely dates (Dianne)
This year we have the luxury of scheduling the Kimberley Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on the first weekend in January. So the likely dates for two of our counts are:
Cranbrook, Saturday December 29, 2018
Kimberley, Saturday January 5, 2019
More details to follow.
Cranbrook Community Forest Big Hill Outing (Susan)
Saturday, October 13, 2018 - 10:00 am
Please meet at the College of the Rockies Trailhead in the upper parking lot ready to leave at 10:00 am sharp. The hike will be going up to the Big Hill and is estimated to be about 7 km. The elevation gain will be about 240 m and there are beautiful views at the Big Hill. Please email Susan if you are interested in attending.
Eagle and Hawk Migration at the Steeples near Wasa (Virginia)
Sunday, October 7, 2018, noon (Cranbrook carpooling), 12:30 (Wasa) to 5 or 6 pm
This Sunday the Naturalists will travel to Wasa and head up to the Steeples site to watch eagle and hawk migration. Vance Mattson will be our host, and he said around this week is typically the period with the highest numbers of eagles in the autumn migration. However, bird migration is highly variable and weather-dependent so we just have to hope the birds are there and the forecast is for sunny skies and the resulting thermals. If the weather is not conducive, the trip will be cancelled. Please dress in layers as it can be quite windy and cool and we are not moving around. Bring water, food, binos, a scope and a folding chair, if you have these items.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Room 210
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 - 7:00 pm
Beth Millions from RoadWatchBC will be presenting a seminar at tonight's meeting. RoadWatchBC together with Wildsight, have developed an ap and a web site that allows wildlife sitings along major roads to be entered into a database. The first real test of the technology has started in the East Kootenays. This database can then be used to choose locations for wildlife crossings over/under major roadways. Beth will be showing us how the database works, what they have accomplished to date and possibly how we can help in their research to keep wildlife safe. A brief business meeting will follow this presentation.
Limber Pine Outing (Myra)
Saturday, September 8, 2018 – 10:00 am
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 10:00 am. In 2016, the RMN assisted with planting seedlings of limber pine, a species at risk, on Mt. Broadwood, located near Elko and Morrissey. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and I would like to invite interested RMN members to visit the site planted in 2016 to assess the survival of the limber pine seedlings. We will hike to the planted site and conduct 10 radius plots within the planted area to assess survival and health of the seedlings. Kate MacKenzie, Stewardship Coordinator of NCC’s Rocky Mountain Region, will also be joining and she will provide some history on the Mt. Broadwood area and why it is a land base conserved by NCC. Estimated time at the site on Mt. Broadwood is 2-3 hours. Please dress appropriately and bring snacks/lunch and water.
RM Nats Annual Summer Social
Sunday, August 19, 2018 – 2:00 pm
2 - 4 pm mini golf at Elizabeth Lake Lodge
4:30 pm till dusk at Jim Smith Lake picnic area for potluck supper and swimming or paddling. More details will follow.
Shorebird Outing (Dianne)
Saturday, August 11, 2018 – 7:30 am
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 7:30 am. Shorebirds are few and far between in the southern East Kootenay Trench but very much fun to try to identify. If we find some on our drive, we will focus on studying the non-plumage features such as relative size, body-part proportions, and habitat niche that make identification much easier. This outing will be mostly driving for approximately 4 hours or more. Bring: water, lunch/snacks; a spotting scope is very handy - bring yours to share if you have one - I will have mine, of course.
Moyie Narrows Paddle (George)
Sunday, July 29, 2018 – 8:00 am
Please meet at the Elizabeth Lake Tourist Information Centre ready to leave at 8:00 am. Kayaks, canoes, rowboats, we don’t judge. We will drive to the put in at Porto Rico Rd. This is an easy to medium paddle (depending on the wind) up stream to the north lake and around to Lamb Creek where there are some petroglyphs to see. I would guess it would be between 2.5 - 3 hours maybe more depending on how much time we spend at the petroglyphs or Lamb Creek beach. Bring a snack/lunch, water and swimming suit as it is nice to get in the water at Lamb Creek. There is not a lot of parking down there so lets buddy up if you are able.
Maus Creek Tarns Outing (Gretchen)
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 – 7:00 am
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 7:00 am. The plan is to carpool to the trailhead (1 hour up a rough road), then walk up to the tarns, enjoying the birds and flowers along the way. We'll pass the old Victor Mine and stop at the tarns for an early lunch. About 1.5 km of the trail is on an old road, the rest is narrow, uneven, and sometimes steep and rocky until we get to the meadows around the tarns. After walking back down to the vehicles, we might stop several times along the road to look for more birds and flowers.
One way hike 3.1 km, elevation gain 405 m. Rated Moderate for Elevation Gain and Hard for Outing Length using the RMN scale. Bring a small pack with layers of clothes, water, lunch or snacks, insect repellant, sun screen and hat, hiking poles (for crossing small creeks on logs), and wear sturdy light hiking boots (no sandals, Tevas, etc.). Don't forget your binoculars and camera or any personal first aid or medications you might require.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - 8:00 am
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot area in front of Staples at 8:00 am. This EMB shall involve a walk in the vicinity of St. Eugene Mission so that some of our members may be able to prepare for an upcoming conference in which they have committed to assisting with some outings. Please note that any birder may volunteer to assist as "guides" if interested, as per the particulars below from Marianne. For any birders not interested in "guiding", we can meet as usual at 8:00 am at Tamarack mall and carpool to St. Eugene's for 8:15 am.
Daryl, Gretchen and probably Marianne will meet the EMB at 8:15 am Wednesday in the parking lot in front of the big white tent, at St. Eugene Mission just off the main road. We can then continue to bird from there. Anyone is welcome to join us at 7:00 am in front of the big white tent to do a dry run through of leading Environmental Educators on an early morning walk about during their weekend conference. Daryl will drive past the usual Tamarack Mall meeting place at 6:45 am to see if anyone needs a ride.
=================================================================
Christmas Bird Counts - most likely dates (Dianne)
This year we have the luxury of scheduling the Kimberley Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on the first weekend in January. So the likely dates for two of our counts are:
Cranbrook, Saturday December 29, 2018
Kimberley, Saturday January 5, 2019
More details to follow.
Cranbrook Community Forest Big Hill Outing (Susan)
Saturday, October 13, 2018 - 10:00 am
Please meet at the College of the Rockies Trailhead in the upper parking lot ready to leave at 10:00 am sharp. The hike will be going up to the Big Hill and is estimated to be about 7 km. The elevation gain will be about 240 m and there are beautiful views at the Big Hill. Please email Susan if you are interested in attending.
Eagle and Hawk Migration at the Steeples near Wasa (Virginia)
Sunday, October 7, 2018, noon (Cranbrook carpooling), 12:30 (Wasa) to 5 or 6 pm
This Sunday the Naturalists will travel to Wasa and head up to the Steeples site to watch eagle and hawk migration. Vance Mattson will be our host, and he said around this week is typically the period with the highest numbers of eagles in the autumn migration. However, bird migration is highly variable and weather-dependent so we just have to hope the birds are there and the forecast is for sunny skies and the resulting thermals. If the weather is not conducive, the trip will be cancelled. Please dress in layers as it can be quite windy and cool and we are not moving around. Bring water, food, binos, a scope and a folding chair, if you have these items.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Room 210
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 - 7:00 pm
Beth Millions from RoadWatchBC will be presenting a seminar at tonight's meeting. RoadWatchBC together with Wildsight, have developed an ap and a web site that allows wildlife sitings along major roads to be entered into a database. The first real test of the technology has started in the East Kootenays. This database can then be used to choose locations for wildlife crossings over/under major roadways. Beth will be showing us how the database works, what they have accomplished to date and possibly how we can help in their research to keep wildlife safe. A brief business meeting will follow this presentation.
Limber Pine Outing (Myra)
Saturday, September 8, 2018 – 10:00 am
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 10:00 am. In 2016, the RMN assisted with planting seedlings of limber pine, a species at risk, on Mt. Broadwood, located near Elko and Morrissey. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and I would like to invite interested RMN members to visit the site planted in 2016 to assess the survival of the limber pine seedlings. We will hike to the planted site and conduct 10 radius plots within the planted area to assess survival and health of the seedlings. Kate MacKenzie, Stewardship Coordinator of NCC’s Rocky Mountain Region, will also be joining and she will provide some history on the Mt. Broadwood area and why it is a land base conserved by NCC. Estimated time at the site on Mt. Broadwood is 2-3 hours. Please dress appropriately and bring snacks/lunch and water.
RM Nats Annual Summer Social
Sunday, August 19, 2018 – 2:00 pm
2 - 4 pm mini golf at Elizabeth Lake Lodge
4:30 pm till dusk at Jim Smith Lake picnic area for potluck supper and swimming or paddling. More details will follow.
Shorebird Outing (Dianne)
Saturday, August 11, 2018 – 7:30 am
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 7:30 am. Shorebirds are few and far between in the southern East Kootenay Trench but very much fun to try to identify. If we find some on our drive, we will focus on studying the non-plumage features such as relative size, body-part proportions, and habitat niche that make identification much easier. This outing will be mostly driving for approximately 4 hours or more. Bring: water, lunch/snacks; a spotting scope is very handy - bring yours to share if you have one - I will have mine, of course.
Moyie Narrows Paddle (George)
Sunday, July 29, 2018 – 8:00 am
Please meet at the Elizabeth Lake Tourist Information Centre ready to leave at 8:00 am. Kayaks, canoes, rowboats, we don’t judge. We will drive to the put in at Porto Rico Rd. This is an easy to medium paddle (depending on the wind) up stream to the north lake and around to Lamb Creek where there are some petroglyphs to see. I would guess it would be between 2.5 - 3 hours maybe more depending on how much time we spend at the petroglyphs or Lamb Creek beach. Bring a snack/lunch, water and swimming suit as it is nice to get in the water at Lamb Creek. There is not a lot of parking down there so lets buddy up if you are able.
Maus Creek Tarns Outing (Gretchen)
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 – 7:00 am
Please meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot closest to Hwy 3 between the Boston Pizza and the Husky Truck Stop ready to leave at 7:00 am. The plan is to carpool to the trailhead (1 hour up a rough road), then walk up to the tarns, enjoying the birds and flowers along the way. We'll pass the old Victor Mine and stop at the tarns for an early lunch. About 1.5 km of the trail is on an old road, the rest is narrow, uneven, and sometimes steep and rocky until we get to the meadows around the tarns. After walking back down to the vehicles, we might stop several times along the road to look for more birds and flowers.
One way hike 3.1 km, elevation gain 405 m. Rated Moderate for Elevation Gain and Hard for Outing Length using the RMN scale. Bring a small pack with layers of clothes, water, lunch or snacks, insect repellant, sun screen and hat, hiking poles (for crossing small creeks on logs), and wear sturdy light hiking boots (no sandals, Tevas, etc.). Don't forget your binoculars and camera or any personal first aid or medications you might require.
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The fossil box at Nature Bob's Interpretive Centre at Mount Fernie Alpine Resort.
Photo - Greg
