Category: Nicola Naturalists


Dandy lions and bees. So does everybody know that Google is said to have rented goats and got service from both ends on its lawns at it’s headquarters. That begs the question what other nuisance is employed against the grain of some people’s sensibility.

When coming to the environment one must be careful there is something in it to offend everyone and often it does.

So Bees…

There are literally hundreds of these little creatures that we call bees. Some are pollinators extraordinary which when it comes to some flowering weeds might put them on the wrong side of you. Manicured lawns often do better with lots of watering that seems weeds take advantage of it when there isn’t this much watering.

New environmentally friendly communication boxes..

Utilities box with new graphics Photo KDG

Water table level as of end of July/16 File photo KDG

Source: Gardening Know How, dandelions

Painted lawns

Before we go silly with this there are good reasons for this endeavor as it relates to the environment.

One being :

Reflection

In the absence of naturally occurring coloration a substitute for light colors such as white over dark colors such as black will decrease the absorption of heat and promote the reflection of light and heat back towards space.This is a good thing especially in times when the white reflective pools covered in snow and ice are diminishing and showing dark ground that would love to absorb any heat that was available. As well painted panoramas of live trees may have a calming effect on some people as they walk about or drive about. You could test this theory by painting some relief of weedy ground maybe ad a goat. Some how this idea lacks comfort in my viewpoint. So that leaves the actual property Care at home that would have less of a permanence and be comforting in the fact that it can be managed and it’s not forever.

Firesafe courses

The province of British Columbia how often puts on fire safe courses and I know from experience that they’re easily questioned and open the discussions on what’s the best way to make your property fire safe and at the same time not inconveniencing the present ability of the property.

Window of opportunity

The time in the spring that dandelions are a nuisance is only compounded by the fact that they spread seeds however you can spread your seeds you can put them in a pile on the dry out nicely in the window pick them up and send them away and if you get big black plastic bags to deal with them they’re out of your control by for part of the time that they go to the landfill perhaps try a black polyethylene sheet a black polyethylene sheet glued out on the ground to absorb heat, place the dandelions and Weeds on it and just get an idea of how quickly they can be dried out in a way that makes disposal in a local burial pit practical.

A villain in puberty…

So in one sense we view this photo as a good thing.

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A curb to sidewalk concrete entrance is poured, with feeling slots for the blind. Photo KDG

Being blind to the fact this youngster could be nefarious conductor of heat you might say more everywhere please.No no weeds under concrete!

Yes, and this conductor doesn’t have an orchestra. It only conducts heat and cold and it’s up to you on how you employ it which it will choose to do. So you could plan it’s they so it wouldn’t be lost and lonely and it could be productive preserving heat for when you need it and conducting the cool 😎 when most beneficial to you. That’s also your value to begin it is like contractors city planners and more. The way you put these things out and the way you plant around them can be as planned as you want it to be.

Dandelions you be the judge..

So back to our main topic those dandelions, round up the cost of not buying toxic poisons and make a donation at your local outlet that offers these things or to organizations like mind it to you in your rebirth has a environmentally astute liver.

Happy Earth Month 2022

Stay safe ❤️

The Nicola Naturalist Society is having it’s April meeting on the 21st at 7:00 p.m. at the NVIT lecture theater. They’re fond of saying all are welcome membership or donation is requested.

This month’s speaker is Camille Rbberge, At biologist taking her master’s degree at the Thompson Rivers University.

Her presentation will be on moose and whether or not cut blocks are beneficial to their habitat.

A member presents…

Dr Kerridge gives a talk on bats at local college File photo KDG

Nicola Naturalist Society will host.

On February the 17th 2022 the nickel and Naturalist Society will host a presentation by a former director of wild safe BC Frank Ritcey.

The presentation will be held at the Nicola Valley institute of technology lecture theater Thursday February 17th at 7:00 p.m.

Frank will go in to save viewing practice as well, he comes from a background where in Kamloops he encouraged safe interactions between public and wildlife.

Free Parking

There is free parking at the college, some might view the meeting raffle as a offset against environmental issues around the use of non-green vehicles. The Nicola naturalists are fond of saying all wanted all welcome. Enjoy the evening.subgect to Covid – 19 restrictions

On this Day: February 10th 1878.

New work Tchaikovsky

Christmas bird count 2021.

Merritt Nicola Naturalists

The local Merritt Naturalists are going out to count birds this Saturday, December 18th, 2021. The club has a 22 KM, circle area for their count. Data is submitted to the continent corresponding count, conducted by the Audubon’s.

You can contact the local club to report a bird sighting or interest at nicolanaturalists@gmail.com.

ird count

Mallard ducks at Nicola River in Merritt BC File Photo KDG

On this Day: Decenber 16th 1907

The Great White Fleet begins its trip around the world on the high seas.

Naturalist is as Naturalist does…

December 16th 2021, bees of the British Columbia interior.

The November meeting of the Nicola Naturalist Society was postponed to December 16th 2021. Elaine Sedgman from Kamloops will present a postponed show from May 2020 and October at the NVIT lecture theater on next Thursday at 7:pm.

She believes in the native quality of BC bees to pollinate.

Program side note…

On this Day: December 9th 1951

Montreal becomes the first North American city to have a YMCA.

Natural world

LOCAL BIRDERS
NICOLA VALLEY NATURALISTS

The Nicola Naturalists are having their members photo night. The venue is tomorrow night at the NVIT lecture theater at 7PM.

NVIT top of the hill on Belshaw avenue in Merritt BC.

We keep the necessary business meeting short so there is ample time to enjoy local nature photos taken by our talented membership. We haven’t seen members’ photos on the big screen for many months so this will be a gala occasion.

NNS

On this Day: October 20 1879

Light bulb begins patent process..

Alan Burger and a speaker discuss a presentation, Nicola Naturalists, Merritt BC ,Ca File Photo KDG

Leafing Through History: Exploring Fossil Plant Deposits in Western Canada.

The Nicola Naturalists Society is hosting the Kamloops Exploration Group and giving the meeting over to them evening.

[Note the change in dates – not theusual third Thursday of the month.]

Dr. Christopher West is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He has degrees in Earth Sciences and Paleobiology, including a PhD from the University of Saskatchewan. He has published research on late Paleocene and early Eocene fossil floras from the Canadian High Arctic, British Columbia, and Alberta. Dr. West’s research interests are focused on reconstructing ancient climates and ecosystems using plant fossils in order to better understand ancient forest ecosystems, and how these ancient ecosystems gave rise to the modern forest biome in North America.

NNS

Doors open at 6 lecture at 7PM

In the lecture theater NVIT top of the hill Belshaw avenue in Merritt. The naturalists say all welcome membership or donation requested. Free parking.

On this Day: March 10th 1865

Last legal female slave execution in the US.

Christmas bird count results.

Spring time sees Ospreys return from where they go in the winter File Photo KDG

The Christmas bird count has 120 years of world wide data at the Audubon Society . Good to our feathered friends and be especially mindful of migratory birds as they are protected.

Here are some highlights of the bird count conducted by the Nicola Naturalists Society this winter in the Merritt BC area.

  • American Wigeon 74 up from 50 high
  • Northern Pintail 17 up from a high of 2
  • Greater White fronted Goose 1
  • Northern Shoveler 1
  • Peregrine Falcon 1
  • American Kestrels 6 up from a high of 3
  • Brown Creeper 4 up from a high of 2
  • Black Capped Chickadees 96 up from a high of 58
  • Steller’s Jay 38 up from a high of 37

7 teams of counters were out and had what the club called a pleasant day of counting . A notation that species counts are often effected by food supply an exceptional Douglas Fir cone drop made for a high count in Pine Siskins last year. Siskins were missed this year and joined 2 other species well below average: American Gold finch 9 ( average of 48) and Robins 1 ( average 23).

Source NNA

On this Day: March 3rd 1923

Time Magazine is published.

Alan Burger and a speaker discuss a presentation, Nicola Naturalists, Merritt BC ,Ca File Photo KDG

The February meeting of the Nicola Naturalist will be a presentation on Big Horn Sheep. Edyta Myrcisz.

Originally from Poland, Edyta was drawn to Canada by its vastness, nature and wildlife. She is currently a graduate student at Thompson Rivers University and works in collaboration with Gerad Hales of FLNRORD (Wildlife Management). Using massive data sets collected from Bighorns fitted with satellite-tracking collars, she is looking at long-distance forays by rams in several Bighorn herds, and also the general distribution of these herds. Contact with domestic sheep is of particular interest, because recent declines in one Thompson Region population is thought to result from disease linked with domestic sheep.

Source Nicola Naturalists



The meetings start at 7PM at he Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, free parking no food or drink in the lecture theater, membership or donation requested.

On this Day: January 30th 2009

Iceland’s money crisis begins.

Dr Kerridge gives a talk on bats at local college File photo KDG

Thursday January 16th 2019 the Nicola Naturalists start off their 2020 schedule with a presentation on bats by Paul Mozin.

Paul Mozin is a biologist with the Nicola Watershed Stewardship and Fisheries Authority (Scw’exmx Tribal Council). This group has undertaken an ambitious project to inventory and monitor the bat species in the Nicola Valley. Paul will be presenting the results from last year’s bat inventory, some background on endangered bat species in the Nicola Valley and some actions their group has taken this year. Come and learn more about these important but poorly understood citizens of the night.

NNS

Free parking at NVIT, no concessions consumed in the theater, membership or donation requested.

On this Day: January 2nd 1976

The gale of 76 kills nearly 90 people.

Thermal Refugia Nicola River November 20th 2019

NVIT Lecture theater 7PM

A returning Salmon rises out of the water at the Nicola river Hyway 8 train bridge walking trail, Merritt BC August 12th/16 Photo KDG

There is a speaker and topic change at this months Nicola Naturalists Society meeting. Tom Willms will present on the thermal disparities of the Nicola river.

Tom Willms is a PhD candidate with UNBC, an Instructor at NVIT, and an active member of the Nicola Naturalist Society. He will share some of his research in characterization of thermal refuge habitat in the Nicola River and the importance of these refugia to salmonid fish. His work explores groundwater-surface water interactions in streams and uses some new technologies, including drone-based thermal imagery.

Free parking membership or donation requested.

There is free parking and an opportunity for membership in the society at the meeting. No food or beverage in the lecture theater.

On this Day: November 19th 1998

Van Gogh ‘s Artist wiith out a beard sells for over 70 million dollars US.

TGIF- Loretta Holmes and burrowing owls…

Burrowing owl and friends File photo KDG

Nicola Naturalist Society November meeting 20th at 7PM NVIT lecture theater.

[NOTE  – this meeting is on Wednesday and not our usual Thursday] 

An active member of our club, Loretta has been involved in the Burrowing Owl Recovery Program for several years. The goal is to re-establish these tiny owls as a viable breeding population on their past range in the interior grasslands. There are several sites in the Nicola Valley where captive-bred owls are released and breed successfully. Loretta will explain the difficulties and successes of this worthy program.

A borrowing owl up close File photo KDG

The Naturalists always say all welcome, membership or donation requested. NO food or drinks in lecture theater.

On this Day: November 1st 1982

First Asian cars made in America.