Category: Flora


Carbon is life…

Filed under: Flora by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 2, 2019

The lightest and most abundant element in the universe is hydrogen. The sun ( our star) is burning hydrogen in a compressed fusion reaction, mostly at its core. The by-product of the reaction is helium. When a star burns up its hydrogen it goes to the next element on the periodic table, helium. The by-product of that fusion is carbon. All life on earth is carbon based that means that the element that gives use life came from a burning out star so long ago it is barley fathomable.

Carbon in a cycle on earth.

The limited supply of carbon is in a cycle of production of life giving oxygen giving us the means to make energy, the bi-product of this is carbon dioxide that will be taken up by plants to make oxygen again.

The carbon in this flora is reacting to photo chemistry to make oxygen from carbon dioxide. File photo KDG

Life sustaining balance of gases.

Our atmosphere has been through many changes over time including some mass extinctions. Man has in recent times interceded ( acid rain and sulphur). Man is capable when deployed to sustain most natural short term unbalances.

Enjoy the suns magic today.

The sun is young and strong we are able to take action at this time.

On this Day: July 2nd 2019

Once in 400 years total solar eclipse in viewed in South America.

Tags: , ,
Comment

Species at risk public library, registry.

Filed under: Fauna, Flora by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 19, 2019

The Monarch Butterfly is listed as endangered in all ten Canadian provinces in the Canadian Species at Risk Library.

Library

Southern resident killer Whale conservation agreement.

The goal of this agreement is to reduce the acoustic and physical disturbance to SRKW by large commercial vessels in Pacific Canadian waters, in particular those vessels that call at the Port of Vancouver, or otherwise operate in SRKW critical habitat, through the continuation of existing voluntary efforts and the commitment to develop and implement new voluntary threat reduction measures to support the recovery of the SRKW.

Species at risk act.

Keep their feet to the fire

Feeding on milk weed…

On this Day: June 19th 1978

Garfield is published.

Tags: ,
Comment

Once they were Hats…

Filed under: Fauna, Nicola Naturalists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
May 14, 2019

The Nicola Naturalists last presentation meeting of the season is titled “Once they were Hats.” Beavers in the Canadian ecology.

Beaver

castor canadensis

Thursday May 16th 2019, 7 PM at NVIT Lecture Theatre: Frances Backhouse –  “Once they were hats” The biology of beavers and their role in Canada’s history.   
[This presentation was postponed in 2017 due to weather – rescheduled by popular demand]
Biologist and author Frances Backhouse has published books on a wide range of nature topics, including owls and woodpeckers, and also on historical topics such as the women in the Klondike gold rush. Her latest book examines humanity’s 15,000-year relationship with Castor canadensis, and the beaver’s even older relationship with North American landscapes and ecosystems. This will be a fascinating presentation blending biology and history. Some of you have heard Frances’s recent CBC Radio Ideas program on beavers.

The society says all welcome, membership or donation requested.

On this Day: May 14th 1918

Two minutes silence is used for the first time, by Sir Harry Hands.

Tags:
Comment

Grizzly Bears, Francis Iredale

Filed under: Nicola Naturalists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 14, 2019
Alan Burger and a speaker discuss a presentation, Nicola Naturalists, Merritt BC ,Ca File Photo KDG

The Nicola Naturalists are having their February meeting on February 21st 2019. Francis Iredale will present on Grizzly bears in the south Chilcotin.


Everyone loves hearing about Grizzly Bears and the presentation by Francis Iredale is especially worth attending. Since 2008 Francis has worked for the Province to conserve and manage species at risk and big game animals in the Thompson Region. He enjoys collaborating with indigenous communities and non-government organizations towards the long-term conservation of local wildlife populations. For several years Francis has been studying the special relationship that Grizzly Bears in the dry mountains of the Chilcotin have with Whitebark Pine in the fall. Understanding the resource use of these bears is essential to build up their diminished population. At the same time, the selection of Whitebark Pine needs to be understood for the conservation of this endangered tree species. Not to be missed!

Source Nicola Naturalists

The meeting time is 7PM at the NVIT lecture theater, free parking, no food or drink in the theater. The group is fond of saying all welcome membership or donation requested.

Alan is giving a presentation at the Merritt Library on Tuesday the 19th as well.

File Photo KDG

On this Day: February 14th 1966

Austrailian currency is decriminalized.

Tags:
Comment

Naturalists silviculture…

Filed under: Nicola Naturalists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
January 9, 2019
Forestry service building Merritt BC, Canada .Plaque`s for service. File photo KDG

January 17th 2018, Richard Chavez

The Nicola Naturalists are having their January monthly meeting on the 17th at the NVIT lecture theater top of the hill Belshaw avenue in Merritt. Richard Chavez will present Silviculture: More than Just Planting Trees.


Silviculture, the science of trees in the treatment of a forest, is highly relevant to our local forestry-based economy and ecology. Human population increase and changing climate has put pressure on forest resources. Has our understanding and application of silviculture kept pace with these changes? Are our forestry practices keeping up with modern demands? This talk reviews current practices and other factors that challenge foresters, and possible ways to improve forest management. Richard Chavez is an Registered Professional Forester with Aspen Planers. He has a degree in Forest Engineering and a Master of Forestry degree from Yale University. Richard has extensive experience in silviculture, ecology and forest planning in tropical and temperate forests.

Nicola Naturalists

On this Day: January 9th 2007

I phone introduced by creator Steve Jobs.

Tags:
Comment

TGIF- Christmas bird count

Filed under: Climate, Nicola Naturalists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
December 14, 2018
Mallard ducks at Nicola River in Merritt BC       
File Photo KDG

Nicola Naturalists

The Nicola Naturalists Society conducts a Christmas bird count every year here in the Nicola Valley. This years effort is on Sunday December 16th 2018. The 2017 results are on their site: http://www.nicolanaturalists.ca/2018/02/22/merritt-christmas-bird-count-december-2017/

 

You don’t have to be an expert birder to participate in Christmas Bird Counts. Participants spend all or part of the day in a group covering a specific section of the 22-km diameter count circle. It is a great way to get to know the local winter birds and contribute to the world’s longest-running citizen science project. For more details on the Merritt CBC keep checking this website or contact    nicolanaturalists@gmail.com

Source Nicola Naturalists Society



On this Day: December 14th 1960

The UNESCO convention against discrimination   in education is adopted in Paris:

Tags:
Comment

Nicola Naturalists, Wolfs, Bears and Snakes, Thursday November 15th…

Filed under: Environment, Fauna, Nicola Naturalists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 31, 2018

Frank Ritcey is the Provincial Coordinator for WildSafeBC, based in Kamloops. In this presentation he will focus on the public perception of charismatic mega-fauna vs. bugs and snakes, and the challenges in trying to promote the preservation of some of the ‘lower’ creatures on the public’s list of what is important. Expect some pretty cool videos of both the charismatic mega-fauna and some of Frank’s favourite “less desirable” species. Frank was raised in the wilds of Wells Gray Park by his pioneering mother, Clara Ritcey, and Park Biologist father Ralph Ritcey. His love of nature has been with him his whole life and he still spends much time filming and studying nature. Frank often contributes to CBC’s popular North by Northwest show.

The local naturalists society is having there monthly meeting on Thursday, November 15th 2018, NVIT, top of the hill Belshaw avenue in Merritt.

Free parking, no food and drink in lecture theater. All welcome membership or donations available.

149

Adult Black Bear Canada October 31 2013 File Photo KDG

 

On this Day: October 31st 2011

Human population reach’s 7 billion

 

Tags: , ,
Comment

Bats, Nicola Naturalists, October 19th meeting. Mount Mabel wind project.

Filed under: Nicola Naturalists by Kevin Griffiths — 1 Comment
September 26, 2018

DSC_7595

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

Alternate Energy:

The local Merritt Naturalists are having a presentation on the ecology of bats for their October regular meeting.

Wind turbines generate emission-free electricity. Bats are a sensitive wildlife that can often get killed by wind turbines. This presentation provides insights into the impacts of wind turbines on bats, reviews information on bats in BC, presents the methods for detecting and identifying bat species using echolocation call analysis, and lastly reviews the bat acoustical monitoring program at the future Mount Mabel Wind Project (30 km north of Merritt). Martin Ince, founder and president of MKI Wind Energy and the proponent of the Mount Mabel Wind Project, has been working in the wind-energy industry for over 17 years, as a consultant across Canada and most recently as a wind-project developer in BC.

Meeting time is 7:PM, at the NVIT lecture theater top of the hill on Belshaw avenue, Merritt, BC, Ca. Free parking, no food or drinks in the theater, membership available at the meeting.

On this Day: October 17th 1817

Seti 1’s tomb is found:

 
On this Day: September 26th 1789

The first cabinet is appointed by the first US president. George Washington.

Tags: ,
Comment

Nicola Naturalists AGM

Filed under: Nicola Naturalists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
September 12, 2018

 

 

DSC_7595

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

The Nicola Valley Naturalists are having their AGM and members picture evening on Thursday September 13th.

Evening meetings of the Nicola Naturalist Society are held at 7PM, usually on the third Thursday of the month, in the Lecture Theatre of NVIT (Nicola Valley Institute of Technology) on Belshaw Road, Merritt. Our evening meetings are free to….

The AGM is at the NVIT lecture hall top of the hill Belshaw avenue in Merritt. Free parking no food or beverages in the theater.

All welcome membership or donation requested.

Editors note: The Room changed this AM to NVIT UO 0001, directions are at the entrance of the school..

On this  day for the Nicola Naturalists June 26th 2010:

In glorious sunny weather, the new Nicola Naturalist Society held its first field excursion on Saturday 26 June. Nineteen people turned out to go birding and botanizing, including four visiting naturalists from the U.K. The group explored three areas in … read more

On this Day: September 12th 1959

The first scheduled colour television  program , Bonanza is aired,

Tags: , ,
Comment

Nicola Naturalists: The Old Man and the Vultures. June 6th

Filed under: Nicola Naturalists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
May 23, 2018

 

DSC_7595

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

The last presentation meeting of the season is on June 6th for the local naturalist society.Dave Manning a long time observer and natural fan will present on Vulture populations in BC will do the program.

Dave, a senior from Pender Island who’s been birding for 60 years, became hooked on vultures when he stumbled upon a white fuzz ball of a chick peeking from its nest cave. His program on the three vulture species of North America, particularly follows one Turkey Vulture nest from mating to migration. His recently published Turkey Vulture book, same title as this program, will be available for purchase.

Free parking, NVIT top of hill Belshaw avenue in Merritt, start time 7PM, all welcome, membership or donation requested.

On this Day: May 24th 1958

The United Press International is formed.

Tags:
Comment

The Osprey are back.

Filed under: Environment, Fauna, Fish, Nicola Naturalists by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 19, 2018

 

The Highway 8 entrance to Merritt BC has a nesting platform on a hydro pole for the use of Osprey. ( to keep them off the power lines) There were 4 of these birds back  two asserted  preference to the platform over looking the river and an old CPR rail bridge, after circling over the area on Sunday, Tuesday fishing ,Wednesday they were collecting sticks to rebuild the nest.

Two Canada Geese had also been looking over the nest site and the species had raised a brood before in the nest however the nest had been cleared and the geese were not interested and don’t build nests.

The area has the joining of two small rivers and has many birds and creatures including domestic Lamas  behind private property fencing.

 

 

On this Day: April 19th 1927

Mae West, movie star , gets 10 days in jail for  obscenity.

Tags: ,
Comment

The week that was first of spring / Easter 2018

Filed under: Flora by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 3, 2018

The 1st week pf spring was calm and quiet in this small community in south BC. The burning up of the Chinese space station and the one in ten thousand chance of being struck by something had little effect here.
Spring has its strength building here with a tough sled ride to the Darling Buds of May.

On this Day: April 3rd 2007

A record speed of 574.18 KM per hour is recorded by a conventional train in France.

Comment