Island View Beach events

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Created: Friday, 04 June 2010 10:45

It’s time to talk about survival in some of British Columbia’s rarest ecosystems. The endangered sand dunes of IslandViewBeach along the TIXEN/Cordova Shore are an fishfunexceptionally beautiful and rare part of the SaanichPeninsula. HAT has partnered with the Tsawout First Nation and CRDParks, to host community events in July and August through our Cordova Shore Good Neighbours Project. The Project aims to engage landowners, families, and other park visitors in stewardship of sensitive natural areas along the Shore. The upcoming events for this summer include:

Eelgrass Mapping Workshop

Sunday, July 11th

9am to 2pm

IslandViewBeachRegionalPark

Help SeaChange and Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) map rare and sensitive Eelgrass habitat during a super low tide! Seagrass Conservation Working Group Co-Chair Nikki Wright leads a workshop training session beginning at 9am. Find out why this unique park is home to threatened eelgrass "meadows" that nurture fish populations. Your family may see shore birds, hermit crabs, and moon snails residing along Island View's living beaches.  Participants please bring your GPS (optional) and beachwear. Meet us at the parking lot at the end of 

Homathko Road
, left turn off
Island View Road
 (drive one kilometre parallel to the beach and through the campground). Call 250 995 2428 for more information, or call 250 812 7467 on the date.

 

Birding at Low Tide 

Sunday, July 25

11am to 2pm

IslandViewBeachRegionalPark

A morning low tide during the full moon attracts feeding shorebirds, and IslandViewBeach is one of the best places to see them. Visit the bird of prey demonstration and watch the ScallyWags Dog Agility Group stars run challenge courses (two show times: 12:30pm & 1:30pm). Observe wild birds through high-powered scopes in the beach and dunes, and visit the tidal touch tank. Get your free guide to gardening for birds. This special family event is co-hosted by Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) and CRDParks.  Meet us at the CRD tents off

Homathko Road
, off
Island View Road
 (drive one kilometre parallel to the beach and through the campground). Call 250 995 2428 for more information, or call 250 812 7467 on the date.

 

Super Dog Day

Saturday, August 14

11am to 2pm  

Island View Beach Regional Park

The dogs days of summer are super on the beach with your pet! See the amazing Wonder Dogs perform stunts at IslandViewBeach (two show times: 12:30pm & 1:30pm).  Take the dunes tour with biologists and other dog lovers to learn about the wild side of the seaside. Meet us at the CRD tents along

Homathko Road
, left off
Island View Road
 (drive 400 metres parallel to the beach, parking before the campground entrance). Call 250 995 2428 for more information, or call 250 812 7467 on the date.

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The Birds and the Bees, and Turtles

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Created: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 12:29

Spring is in the air, and the turtle’s mind turns to, well, chasing tail.  In this exclusive video  taken by HAT’s Land Care Coordinator Todd Carnahan, 2 male Western Painted Turtles try their luck with an adult female.  After being spurned, the males engage in combat to prove their worth, before being frightened from the scene by ducklings.

 

Beware the ducklings!

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New Western Painted Turtle populations?

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Created: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:34
In the past week, 2 potential Western Painted Turtle populations have been identified.  The first identification was made by 2 biologists who identified an endangered Western Painted Turtle at Kemp Lake in Sooke this week.  "It was basking on a log with 2 Red-eared Sliders and an Eastern Painted Turtle, both of which are introduced species." says Christian Engelstoft (MSc, RP Bio). On top of that, last week a HAT member also sent in a photograph of an adult Western Painted Turtle near the Metchosin Golf Club - exactly where the turtle was living is still unknown.

While there we still have many more questions than answers about these turtles, the report highlights the importance contribution keen observers of nature make to our understanding of species at risk.  Each year, new populations of rare and at-risk species are found when members of the public send us their photographs and observations.

If you think you’ve seen something unusual, take a photograph and tell us about it by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

turtle_pile

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New Western Painted Turtle populations?

Details
Created: Tuesday, 18 May 2010 09:30

In the past week, 2 potential Western Painted Turtle populations have been identified.  The first identification was made by 2 biologists who identified an endangered Western Painted Turtle at Kemp Lake in Sooke this week.  "It was basking on a log with 2 Red-eared Sliders and an Eastern Painted Turtle, both of which are introduced species." says Christian Engelstoft (MSc, RP Bio). On top of that, last week a HAT member also sent in a photograph of an adult Western Painted Turtle near the Metchosin Golf Club - exactly where the turtle was living is still unknown.

While there we still have many more questions than answers about these turtles, the report highlights the importance contribution keen observers of nature make to our understanding of species at risk.  Each year, new populations of rare and at-risk species are found when members of the public send us their photographs and observations.

If you think you’ve seen something unusual, take a photograph and tell us about it by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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CRD Parks Strategic Plan - Public Input sessions

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Created: Wednesday, 12 May 2010 10:04
CRD Parks is hosting a series of public consultations to gather input for their new 10 year strategic plan.

We sometimes take it for granted that parks are protected places, but it important to let our regional government know that people value these parks as fragile natural environments whose primary purpose is to conserve ecosystems.  Especially when a barrage of new user groups seek to access and to change the use of parks.

There is also an online form here:  http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/planning/strategicplan.htm

Meeting dates are:

Juan de Fuca
Otter Point Fire Hall, 3727 Otter Point Rd

May 12

Doors open: 6-7pm
Dialogues: 7-8:30pm
Wrap-up: 8:30-9pm

Sooke
Sooke Hall, 2037 Shields Rd.

May 13

Doors open: 6-7pm
Dialogues: 7-8:30pm
Wrap-up: 8:30-9pm

Saanich Peninsula
Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave, Sidney

May 18

Doors open: 6-7pm
Dialogues: 7-8:30pm
Wrap-up: 8:30-9pm

Westshore
Lady of Our Rosary Parish, 798 Goldstream Ave.

May 17

Doors open: 6-7pm
Dialogues: 7-8:30pm
Wrap-up: 8:30-9pm

Salt Spring Island
Anglican Church, 110 Park Drive

May 19

Doors open: 6-7pm
Dialogues: 7-8:30pm
Wrap-up: 8:30-9pm

There is also an opportunity for community groups to make presentations to the Parks Strategic Planning Citizens’ Advisory Panel on May 29th.

I encourage you anyone who can to attend one of the sessions.

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