East Kootenay, British Columbia, Canada
Rocky Mountain Naturalists
  • About / Contact
  • Join RMN
  • RMN Calendar
  • RMN Newsletter
  • RMN Blog
  • RMN Projects / Issues
  • Nature Photos by Us
  • RMN Checklists & Products
  • Christmas Bird Counts
  • Nature Education & Quiz
  • Other Websites of Interest

President's Report 2020

17/5/2021

0 Comments

 
What a year it’s been!  As so many have already said, 2020 was a year like no other.  The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in many ways, not least of which were the ways Rocky Mountain Naturalists adapted to a province-wide lockdown and varying levels of restriction while still trying to keep our membership active and engaged.
 
The year began with our AGM in January.  Our Executive changed somewhat, with Rob stepping down from his position as BC Nature Rep after a two-year term.  Wendy stepped down from her position as Member-at-Large and was elected as the new BC Nature Rep, while Janice was elected to the now-vacant Member-at-Large position.  Gretchen was elected to a second term as Treasurer and the remaining Executive members continued into the second year of their respective terms.
 
We had an encouraging increase in memberships in 2020.  We currently have 93 memberships and 141 individual members.  Sue R. managed our membership records for several years, but has recently moved out of the area, leaving this position vacant.  We would like to extend our appreciation and thanks to Sue for her dedication to the Rocky Mountain Naturalists over the past three decades and we wish her well in her new home.  Hasi has graciously volunteered to take over the management of our membership records.
 
Your Executive had many discussions in 2020 about what kinds of activities would be safe to offer and protocols for participation were developed.  In the spring we cancelled all activities from late March until early June, when strict provincial health orders were in place, and we did so again in November.  The most recent restrictions are ongoing and will continue until infection rates drop and provincial orders are eased or lifted.  This has affected many of our activities and has forced us to become creative in how we approach this “new normal”.
 
In order to comply with provincial public health orders and out of an abundance of caution, only four of our six usual bi-monthly meetings were held.  The March and May meetings were cancelled.  When COVID numbers went down over the summer, we were able to hold our July meeting at Reade Lake again, using protocols such as social distancing, a contact list and an RSVP required for participants, prior to attending.  In September we once again held an outdoor meeting at Idlewild Park in Cranbrook, utilizing the same protocols.  By November, infection rates were rising again but we were able to have a virtual membership meeting using ZOOM for the first time.
 
Communications and Outreach
 
Susan W. continues to be the editor for our quarterly newsletter.  Four excellent issues of The Kestrel were published online, with reports on outings and articles on a variety of subjects.  Sincere thanks to Susan for the time and effort she puts into every issue and a big thank-you also to the many contributors of articles and photos.  We have an interesting and informative newsletter that we can all be proud of!
 
The Rocky Mountain Naturalists Facebook page has grown a little more since last year, with 215 members.  Dianne continues in her role as Administrator of this closed group and the page is active, with members adding photos and articles of interest as well as ongoing online conversations about a variety of subjects.
 
Dianne is also the Administrator of the Rocky Mountain Naturalists website, which can be visited by both members and non-members.  Forms on the website have been used for inquiries and comments, dues payments and registration for events such as the Christmas Bird Count.  Thank-you, Dianne, for your expertise and your time and effort spent on keeping both the website and Facebook page up to date.
 
We have had a number of queries and proposals from individuals and organizations over the past year.  These include subjects such as:
  • Dark Sky Initiative
  • Logging on private land
  • Fossil Repository at Cranbrook History Centre
  • Kootenay Dirt Bike Association proposal for trail development at Ta Ta Creek
  • Requests for support of individual projects
 
The Executive has discussed and responded to all inquiries.  A letter was sent to Premier John Horgan supporting the designation of a Fossil Repository at the Cranbrook History Centre.  A detailed response to a proposal by the Kootenay Dirt Bike Association was sent to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development and the RDEK.
 
Birding
 
RMN birders were out all year, in groups and individually, while still adhering to public health orders.
 
Early Morning Birding was in full swing from early January to the end of March, when this activity was temporarily suspended.   Birding continued on Wednesday mornings in early June and was suspended again in November.  Thank-you to Jim, who is responsible for organizing the group’s outings and reporting results.
 
For the first time in many years, we were not able to hold Little Big Day as a competitive team event.  A small group of birders worked together to create a new COVID version of LBD, the “Rocky Mountain Bird Blitz (LBD 2020)”, where individuals and small family groups or buddies could bird within the East Kootenay boundaries within a 24-hour window on May 23rd.  All the lists were counted and totalled to try and match or beat the totals of previous years and, although there was no count-up potluck, a good time was had by all.  Thanks to Greg for coordinating this event.
 
RMN birders were invited to participate in the Kootenay Bank Swallow Survey.  Birders made a number of observations over the spring and summer months, which were forwarded to the project coordinator, who added them to the Survey’s database.
 
Our annual Christmas Bird Counts required some changes in procedure to comply with the current COVID restrictions.  Cranbrook and Kimberley counts both had good turnouts.  Cranbrook’s CBC was held on December 26th and attracted 19 field counters and 13 feeder counters.  Kimberley’s CBC was held January 3rd and had 15 field counters and 8 feeder counters.  Other details can be found on our website.  Thank-you to Dianne, who organized and reported on these events.
 
Marianne coordinated activities involving our Bluebird Trail project, with 23 active routes and 30 volunteer monitors.  Our Club holds a membership in the Southern Interior Bluebird Trail Society.
 
Dianne monitors the Skookumchuk Prairie IBA (Important Bird & Biodiversity Area).
 
Projects and Special Events
 
Our annual Winter Social was held on February 23rd.  Twenty-three hardy RMNs participated in a hike up Wycliffe’s Lone Pine Butte followed by a pot-luck dinner attended by 31 naturalists and graciously hosted by Sandy and Hasi.
 
Responsibility for organizing the 2020 Baynes Lake bat count passed to residents of the area.  Several RMNs joined in the June count, which reported 472 bats.  Thanks to Scott for reporting on this count.
 
Several of our most popular annual activities were suspended in 2020 because of COVID restrictions.  Turtle Day, Club Camp and our summer social all had to be cancelled.
 
The turtle monitoring project at Elizabeth Lake continues under the stewardship of Greg and Katrin, who have done an excellent job repairing fences, constructing and placing cages to prevent predation, rototilling and weeding the beds and monitoring the nests.  Two groups of RMN members spent two days removing invasive weeds from the area.
 
The recipient of the $1000 Mildred White Scholarship was Adelina Morello.  There was no formal presentation at the College of the Rockies, due to the COVID restrictions.
 
Elizabeth Lake
 
The Elizabeth Lake Committee had a number of meetings and conference calls with Chris New, Director of Community Services for the City of Cranbrook, to discuss plans for future improvements at Elizabeth Lake.  Chris submitted applications for funding in the fall of 2020 but there has been no confirmation of grant money at the time of this report.  Chris retired at the end of the year, so we will continue our discussions with his replacement.
 
The Elizabeth Lake Committee was contacted by Ariana McKay, Terrestrial Habitat Biologist with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development, regarding remediation and possible improvements to the contaminated Chevron/Parkland site adjacent to Elizabeth Lake and Jim Smith Creek.  Your Executive has agreed to a limited partnership with the Ministry, Ducks Unlimited and the BC Wildlife Federation to provide feedback on Ms. McKay’s plan for habitat improvement and a possible small wetland to be created on the site.  There will likely be no further activity for the next year or two, as the site will be monitored for contaminants.
 
 
Outings
 
Compared with 2019, our scheduled outings were far fewer in 2020.  There were 9 outings last year in addition to Early Morning Birding, the winter social hike and two weed pulls.  Reports on those outings can be found on our website.  Hopefully, when restrictions ease, we will once again be able to join our fellow naturalists in exploring our beautiful region.
 
In conclusion
 
I will be stepping down now from my position as President to become Past President.  I would like to thank my fellow Directors for their support, initiative, hard work and willingness to take on sometimes difficult issues, especially in such a challenging year.  It has been my privilege and honour to work with such an exceptional group of people during my term.  Thank-you also to the members, whose interest, knowledge and engagement have made it so much fun to be a part of this Club.  I look forward to many more years of learning and making new friends.
 
Two of our Executive members will also be stepping down at this time and I would like to acknowledge them.  Virginia, our Past President, and Jim, our Secretary, will complete their terms today.  Thank-you, Virginia and Jim, for your leadership, your candid and honest feedback on a range of issues, your dedication and the time you’ve spent on your Executive duties.  It has been a joy to work with you both and I will miss you at our Executive meetings.
 
As we begin a new year, we look forward to returning to a less restricted way of doing things and to new adventures with our fellow naturalists.  I will leave it to your incoming President to lead us into 2021.
 
 
 
Respectfully submitted by
Helga Knote
 
20 January 2021

0 Comments

RMN 2020 Activities Report

27/4/2021

0 Comments

 
RMN 2020 Activites:
Following is a summary of our work and involvement in nature and environmental issues as reported at our Annual General Meeting January 2021:
 
Upper Columbia Basin Environmental Collaborative - representative/member: Emma.  The UCBEC is an independent committee made up of representatives from several environmental groups. Its objective is to ensure ecosystems are considered in operations and mitigations of all upper Columbia hydroelectric dams and in the Columbia River Treaty.  This is accomplished by providing knowledge, technical support, comments, and support of public involvement in Treaty discussions.
 
Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resource Society - representative/member: Jo Ellen.  The Trench society is a non-profit made up of nine other East Kootenay environmental societies.  They oversee the restoration of grasslands through partnerships with government, industry, First Nations and other non-government agencies.  Restoration work last year was at the Old Kimberley Airport, Hidden Valley/Silver Springs, Hatchery Ridge, and Sheep Mountain.
 
Early Morning Birding - a regular Wednesday morning field trip dedicated to birdwatching.  The skill of the birders varies from beginner through expert level. This year (2020) some of the more interesting outings involved hiking into McGinty Lake, hiking along the bootleg hoodoos trail, and through the Moyie Lake narrows by canoe or kayak. Two most notable events this year were on March 18th, while near Jaffray, a golden eagle attacked a Canadian goose close by.  Then near Wasa we witnessed a juvenile cowbird being fed by a junco and later by another adoptive mother of a different species.  This activity is co-ordinated under and adheres to club’s new Covid19 guidelines.
 
Kootenay Community Bat Project - RMN co-ordinator: Scott.  We assist other groups and conduct counts of bats and build and maintain bat boxes.  Members assisted the Baynes Lake Community in setting up and conducting a bat count on 12 June 2020 where we counted a total of 472 bats.  Hopefully the RMN will have our own count location for 2021.

Bat Project Website: bcbats.ca/regions/kootenays/

 
Elizabeth Lake Western Painted Turtle Nest Monitoring - RMN co-ordinator: Greg.  We monitor and maintain a turtle nesting area at Elizabeth Lake, Cranbrook under the auspices of the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program.
 
2019 / 2020 nesting year - eggs laid early in the year may hatch before winter, eggs laid in the fall will overwinter and the hatchlings emerge the next spring
 
100                                  nests found
952                                  total number of eggs found
333                                  dead eggs
223                                  dead turtle hatchlings found in the nests
69                                    live turtle hatchlings in nests
124                                  hatchlings that must have emerged on their own
193                                  Total hatchlings
50%                                 predation rate of turtle nests
 
In April/May of 2020, while repairing minor problems with the turtle fence, it was discovered that there was a major problem at the north end of bed A. There was essentially a ‘skunk highway’ from a downed tree over the fence. Thanks to Helga and Andy for delimbing the tree and removing the branches. The fence was repaired, and a cross fence was added to prevent skunk movement onto the beds. All the other minor breaks in the fence were repaired and the fenceline was brushed, to assist future monitoring. 
 
In 2020, there were 94 nests laid. So far, we have had no predation of the nests. In fact, there were no signs of skunks at all on the beds throughout the summer after the fence was repaired.
 
The weeds have been getting worse and worse over the years and it has become physically impossible to maintain weeding by hand. This year, 2 beds (beds C and D) were rotatilled and raked in the narrow window between fledging and nesting (2nd week of May) and it was a success. Thanks also to the Rocky Mountain Naturalist Volunteers that came to help weed out the invasive weeds in and around the beds. The invasive weeds are also on the increase in this area and will require constant monitoring.

Turtle radio media:
www.thedrivefm.ca/2020/08/19/fwcp-reports-improved-western-painted-turtle-hatchling-survival-rate-at-elizabeth-lake/


 
Bluebird Trails - RMN co-ordinator Marianne.  Nest boxes for cavity nesting birds are built, distributed, maintained and checked by many of our members.  We had 23 active routes this year with 22 providing data for the 2020 summary.  This involved about 30 dedicated volunteer monitors, most of them Rocky Mountain Naturalist members. The data is sent to the Southern Interior Bluebird Trail Society (SIBTS) to be included in their annual data collection.
 
There was an 89% occupancy rate in the total number of boxes.  Mountain and Western Bluebirds use a little over half the boxes followed by Tree Swallows.
 
This year the success rate of both Western and Mountain Bluebird from hatchlings to fledglings was lower by about 10% compared to 2019.  There were 485 Western Bluebird fledglings and 314 Mountain Bluebird fledglings.  Tree Swallow success was lower by about 15%.  One possibility for mortality, often at about one week to two weeks of age, was cool, wetter conditions in late June and early to mid July.  447 Tree Swallows fledged.  Interestingly, the only ‘other’ bird species reported nesting in the boxes were House Wrens.  They used 4 boxes and also had a lower success rate than usual with 14 fledging out of 21 hatchlings.
 
Christmas Bird Count - RMN co-ordinator: Dianne.  The #121 count, our 23rd officially, was conducted successfully in both Cranbrook and Kimberley following public heath regulations and recommendations.  Cranbrook was 26 Dec 2020 and Kimberley was 3 Jan 2021.  The weather was warm for both; roads were clear for Cranbrook but icy for Kimberley.
 
No new species were seen.  Cranbrook recorded 47 species which was an average number with the highlight being a "Woodpecker Grand Slam".  Kimberley recorded 51 species - a new record for number of species.  The number of individual birds counted was Cranbrook 3,424 - which is low, average 2640 - and Kimberley was very low: 1,284 - average 2,405.  Participation was about average with 19 field observers and 13 feeder watchers for Cranbrook and 15 field counters and 8 feeder watchers for Kimberley.

CBC #121 report:
www.rockymountainnaturalists.org/christmas-bird-counts.html

 
Skookumchuck Prairie Important Biodiversity Area - IBA Caretaker: Dianne.  All seemed well out on the prairie - no major habitat issues were noticed.  Long-billed Curlew and Lewis's Woodpecker were observed in their usual spots.  The annual field trips for Wings Over the Rockies did not happen due to public health measures.
 
Data from the 2018 and 2019 cavity nesting surveys for Lewis's Woodpecker and American Kestrel were submitted to the BC Species Inventory.  Lewis's Woodpecker nests were searched for on two days.  Major contributions to iNaturalist observations in Wasa Provincial Park were made by BC Parks consultants.
 
The RMN submitted a comment to Recreation Sites and Trails, Gov't of BC regarding a land use application made by the Kootenay Dirt Bike Association which would see them manage existing dirt bike / off road trails north of Ta Ta Creek and build a day use and camping area.  Most of the trails are within the IBA and some trails impact the western-most curlew nesting field and Wildlife Habitat Areas designated for antelope brush and bluebunch wheatgrass.  A decision on this land use has not been made at time of writing.
 
A crown land request for a log-sorting area within the IBA was not supported by the Regional District of East Kootenay; the RMN did not comment on this application.

iNaturalist Project for Skookumchuck Prairie IBA:
www.inaturalist.org/projects/skookumchuck-prairie-iba
 

East Kootenay Invasive Species Council - RMN representative: Frank.  The EKISC AGM Oct 7, 2020 - delayed from May 2020 due to Covid shutdown.  Inventories of invasive plants in the Upper Elk Valley and Wycliffe were started.
 
The 2020 Golden Shovel Award went to Pam Turyk of the Kootenay Livestock Assn. for her contribution to the board of directors over many years.  Dave Ralph of ISCBC was Keynote Speaker.  He talked about using herbicides in the Fall.
 
Elizabeth Lake Committee - RMN co-ordinator: Stewart.  Elizabeth Lake was the top birding hotspot in the East Kootenay with 167 species in 2020 according to eBird. In a year when Covid 19 affected all our lives, Elizabeth Lake proved to be a popular spot for birders including the EMB group, nature lovers, school groups at both the elementary and middle school level, people looking for a safe area to walk, as well as those who taking advantage of the picnic tables to enjoy a break. However, there was no Turtle Day for schools and the community in 2020 because of Covid, although Greg and Katrin continued to monitor the western painted turtle nesting areas on the W side of the lake.
 
Chris New, Director of Recreation and Culture with the City of Cranbrook, continued to liaise with the Elizabeth Lake group, consisting of Helga, Greg, George F. and Stewart, up until his retirement in December 2020. Prior to that Chris submitted a proposal for funding for an upgrade of outdoor amenities including the trail, which forms a loop between the Tourist Information and the Elizabeth Lake Lodge, as well as an upgrade of the parking area off Wattsville Road, which would include an outhouse. A wooden observation tower close to the concrete hide was also part of the proposal.
 
Thanks to those who volunteered their time to pull invasive weeds near the turtle nursery area.
 
Membership Committee - RMN co-ordinator: Hasi. Sue R., long time member of the Naturalists, managed our membership position for many years.  She collected the fees, made sure forms were complete and updated including waivers, as well as communicating with the Executive.  Sue then submitted this information to BC Nature, our umbrella organization, so that members receive the quarterly BC Nature Magazine.  Sue has now retired from this position.  Sue, thank you for the time and effort you spent keeping our membership records.
 
In 2020, the Rocky Mountain Naturalists had 85 memberships on our list – a combination of family and single. Many of those people have renewed their membership for 2021.  Thank you for your support. 
 
Other committees and work: nothing to report or no reports available
Club Camp - no camp in 2020
Cranbrook Community Forest Planning Team
Kootenay Conservation Program
Little Big Day - no LBD in 2020 - replaced with Regional District of East Kootenay Big Day

Field Trips of 2020:
Aug 5 - Birding - Irrigation Ponds - Attendance: 6
Aug 14 - Weed Pulling Turtle Beds, Elizabeth Lake - 10
Aug 19 - Birding - Stump Lake - 8
Aug 26 - Birding - Haha Creek Rd - 7
Sep 2 - Birding - Elizabeth Lake - 4
Sep 7 - McGinty Lake Hike - 10
Sep 8 - Moyie Narrows - Paddling, Birding - 6
Sep 23 - Idlewild Park - Bi-monthly Meeting - 15
Sep 23 - Birding - Irrigation Ponds - 6
Sep 30 - Birding - Wardner/Fish Hatchery - 4
Oct 7 - Birding - Fish Hatchery/Fort Steele Wardner Rd - 10
Oct 15 - Hike - Steeples - 10
Oct 17 - Birding - October Big Day - 7
Oct 21 - Birding - Moyie north - 8
Nov 4 - Birding - Wycliffe - 8

0 Comments

    Where we talk about


    - Elizabeth Lake issues
    - other stewardship
    issues
    - ongoing projects

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2025
    October 2023
    May 2021
    April 2021
    November 2018
    October 2018
    April 2017
    January 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    October 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014

    Categories

    All
    American Badger
    Annual General Meeting
    Bats
    BC Government
    Bird Counts
    Bluebirds
    British Columbia Field Ornithologists
    Bummer's Flats
    Cariboo
    Castlegar
    Chickadee
    Cooper Lake
    Cranbrook
    Crown Land
    Early Morning Birding
    Elizabeth Lake
    Environmental Spill
    Field Scabious
    Floating Islands
    Flooding
    Greenwood
    Ha Ha Creek
    IBA
    Invasive Plants
    Kelowna
    Knapweed
    Lake Country
    Land Office
    Lewis's Woodpecker
    Lilooet
    Logan Lake
    Long Billed Curlew
    Long-billed Curlew
    Loosestrife
    Membership
    MFLNRO
    Nest Boxes
    News Release
    Nuthatches
    Osoyoos
    Penticton
    President's Report
    Regional District Of East Kootenay
    Report Natural Resource Violations
    Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society
    Scholarship
    Skookumchuck Prairie
    Skookumchuck Prairie IBA
    Solar
    Sparrows
    Storm Drain
    Swallows
    Vernon
    Western Painted Turtle
    White Lake
    Williamson's Sapsucker
    Wycliffe

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.