Nicola Naturalist Society

Evening meetings of the Nicola Naturalist Society are held at 7PM on the third Thursday of the month in the Lecture Theatre of NVIT (Nicola Valley Institute of Technology) on Belshaw Road, Merritt. Admission is free to members. We have awesome raffles. Scroll down to see what is coming up from September through December 2016

To join the Nicola Naturalist Society click here: Membership Page

Thursday September 15th 2016 (7 PM at NVIT): Annual General Meeting and Members’ Photo Night.

We keep the business meeting short to leave plenty of time to view excellent photos of local wildlife and nature. See great photos on the big screen at NVIT!

A sample of NNS members’ photos coming up at the September meeting: Beetle (© Bob Scafe), Bighorn youngster (© Alan Burger), Mariposa Lily (© Cindilla Trent), Canada Geese (© Bonny Kozub).

Thursday October 20th 2016 (7 PM at NVIT): Dr. Rob Higgins: The Ants of British Columbia: Ecological Giants.

Ants are one of the most successful groups of animals on the planet. About 15,000 species have been described and they contribute more biomass to most ecosystems than any other animal group. Dr. Rob Higgins is an entomologist at Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops – a keen naturalist and an enthusiastic speaker. He will describe this diversity of ants and the ecological roles that ants play in British Columbia. He will also talk about new arrivals – the fire ants – that are overshadowing our native species.

Formica aserva ants, a widespread species in Canada, with their pupae. Photo courtesy Rob Higgins

Thursday 17^th November 2016 (7 PM at NVIT) T.J. Gooliaff (UBC Okanagan): Potential Range Shift of Bobcats and Lynx in BC.

T.J. Gooliaff is a graduate student at UBC Okanagan in Kelowna. He is studying Bobcat and Lynx distributions in the BC Interior. Climate change is causing numerous species across the planet to shift their range to higher latitudes and elevations. Using historic harvest records and sightings, T.J. is analyzing whether Bobcats and Lynx are among those species moving northwards. He is also using photographs submitted by the public to map the current provincial distribution of both species. This will be a fascinating presentation on these elusive cats.

Bobcats in the Merritt area. Photos: © David & Corinne Pitt (left), Gerry & Jill Sanford (right).

Thursday, 1st December (7 PM at NVIT). Documentary presentation by the Wilderness Committee, co-hosted by the Nicola Naturalist Society: Toad People.

This new documentary focuses on the need for Endangered Species legislation in British Columbia and how threatened species like the Western Toad are not getting the protection they need in this province. Excellent footage and a strong message. By donation to the Wilderness Committee.

Saturday 10^th December 2 – 4 PM, NVIT Room L017 – Winter Bird Identification Workshop

Do the birds at your feeder sometimes confuse you? Do you need to brush up on identification for the upcoming Christmas Bird Count? Come to the bird identification workshop led by Alan Burger. This will focus on birds likely to be seen in and around Merritt in winter.

American Goldfinch in winter plumage. Photo © Bob Scafe

Sunday 18th December. Merritt Christmas Bird Count

You don’t have to be an expert birder to participate in our Christmas Bird Count. It is a great way to get to learn the local winter birds – each birding group has at least one experienced birder. Followed by a festive potluck for participants. If you are interested in participating and not already on the contact list send us an e-mail  nicolanaturalists@gmail.com

A male House Finch in winter, Merritt, BC. Photo: © Bob Scafe

Coming up in 2017:

Thursday January 19th 2017, 7 PM at NVIT Lecture Theatre: Tracy Wimbush (Nicola Tribal Association fisheries biologist): Salmon and salmon habitat in the Nicola Valley

Thursday February 16th 2017, 7 PM at NVIT Lecture Theatre: Frances Backhouse (author of the recent book on beavers): “Once they were hats” The biology of beavers and their role in Canada’s history.

More presentations in March, April and May.

The Nicola Naturalists organized the Merritt Christmas Bird Count on 20 December 2015. This count has been running since 1995. Here are some of the highlights of our count day.

For a complete list of birds seen (and in previous years) click here: Merritt Xmas Count data 1995-2015

This was a record-breaking count. We set new records for:

• Number of participants (34 in the field and 3 feeder-watchers)
• Number of field groups (8)
• Number of species (74 – our previous record was 70 species in 2001)

The excellent weather (mostly sunny, not too windy and around 0C) made it a very pleasant and rewarding day.  The total number of birds (3,074) was about average over the 17 years that the Merritt count has been done.

Great weather on the Merritt CBC – view across Nicola Lake. Photo: ©Rick Howie

Scanning for birds on the frozen edge of Nicola Lake, 20 December 2015. Photo: ©Corey Burger

Two new species were added to the Merritt CBC list – Wood Duck (3 seen) and White-throated Sparrow (1). With most of Nicola Lake ice-free it was a good year for waterbirds. We got four species of grebes (Horned, Pied-billed, Red-necked and Western) and a couple of Common Loons. Canada Geese (305) and Mallards (506) were once again in abundance. A single Tundra Swan was found (only the second record for a Merritt CBC) and Trumpeter Swans were in record high numbers (57).  Only one lonely American Coot was seen on the count day on Nicola Lake.

A pair of Trumpeter Swans on Nicola Lake, 20 Dec 2015. Photo: ©Corey Burger

Canada Geese fill the air at the Merritt municipal settling ponds, 20 Dec 2015. Photo: ©Krystal Woodward

Raptors were also plentiful, especially eagles attracted to several deer carcasses within the count circle and we ended up with record highs for both Bald Eagle (56) and Golden Eagle (4). Among the eight Rough-legged Hawks we encountered was a stunning dark-phase bird – looking quite different to the pale-phase hawks we normally get.

Light and dark phases of Rough-legged Hawk near Quilchena on the Merritt CBC. Photos: ©Corey Burger

Not all our local species are doing well. The numbers of chickadees (2 species) and nuthatches (3 species) continue to be low, as they have been for the past few years. The loss of many big Ponderosa pines due to the mountain pine beetle seems to have caused a reduction in the numbers of Pygmy Nuthatch, which are often found in these trees.

The dramatic increase of the introduced Eurasian Collared Dove has been a feature of our CBCs since they were first recorded in 2009. But the count this year (63) is well below the maximum (115 in 2012). Perhaps their numbers are stabilizing? At the same time we’ve seen a marked decrease in the native Mourning Dove. This year’s count (55) is well below the average over 16 years of 110 birds. The closure of a popular feed-lot within the count circle is at least partly to blame for this decrease in Mourning Doves.

A Marsh Wren was recorded – only the second time we’ve had this species on our count. Several other species seen on count day are not usually found on the Merritt CBC. These include American Kestrel (2 seen), Ruffed Grouse (2), Great Horned Owl (1), Pacific (Winter) Wren (1), Gray Jay (3), White-crowned Sparrow (6), and Pine Grosbeak (48).

Female or immature Pine Grosbeaks, 20 Dec 2015. Photo: ©Carol Madryga

A major highlight of our count day was the post-count dinner at the Coldwater Hotel. Our group has become too large for a pot-luck in someone’s house and the hotel did a great job to give us a good dinner and a cheery setting to exchange our count-day tales.

Hungry birders gather in the Coldwater Hotel after the Christmas Bird Count, 20 Dec 2015. Photo: ©Corey Burger

More photos from the Merritt Christmas Count below:

Barrow’s Goldeneyes on the upper Nicola River below Nicola Lake, 20 Dec 2015. Photo: ©Bob Scafe

Loads of waterfowl at the Merritt municipal settling ponds. Photo: ©Krystal Woodward

Bohemian Waxwings, 20 Dec 2015. Photo: ©Bob Scafe

Sunny skies at the Quilchena Golf Course, 20 Dec 2015. Photo: ©Corey Burger

Northern Shrike – one of 8 found on the Merritt Christmas Bird Count. Photo: ©Corey Burger

Canada Geese at the Merritt municipal settling ponds. Photo: © Krystal Woodward

Birding on the south side of Nicola Lake, 20 Dec 2015. Photo: Alan Burger

Our evening programs are on the third Thursday of the month, at 7 PM in the lecture theatre at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), Belshaw Road, Merritt. Scroll down to see what is coming up from April through June 2015

Thursday 16 April 2015, 7 PM at NVIT: Bill Merilees – Wildflowers.

Few people are as well qualified to talk about BC’s wildflowers as Bill Merilees. Along with the legendary C. P. Lyons he is the co-author of the popular plant guide: Trees, Shrubs and Flowers to Know in Washington and British Columbia (Lone Pine Press). Bill is a retired professional biologist with a long history of nature writing, hands-on interpretation and nature photography. A great speaker and just in time for the spring flowers.

Bill Merilees has updated and added many photos to the classic field guide created by Ches Lyons.

Sunday 19 April, 9 AM Outing to the Douglas Lake grasslands. A visit to the high grasslands and the Douglas Lake Plateau Important Bird Area (IBA). We hope to encounter migrating Sandhill Cranes and there will definitely be lots of waterfowl, raptors and other interesting birds. Meet at 09:00 at the Merritt Civic Centre for carpooling. We’re likely to be out 4-5 hours. Bring a lunch, warm clothes and of course your binoculars and field guides.

Sandhill Cranes (both Lesser and Greater forms of the species) at Douglas Lake Ranch, 21 April 2013. Photo: © Bob Scafe.

A Merritt Library Event: Thursday 23rd April 2015, 6-8 PM at the Merritt Public Library. Dr. Don McLeod: Mars and Black Holes .
Please pre-register at the Merritt Public Library for this event  (250-378-4737).

A Merritt Library Event: Thursday 7th May 2015, 6-7:30 PM at the Merritt Public Library. Darrel Finnegan, Superintendant of Merritt City Public Works Department: Go with the flow – Merritt’s wastewater. This will cover ” the full circle” — beginning with where the water supply comes from and ending with the treatment of biosolids and returning it to the ground.
Please pre-register at the Merritt Public Library for this event  (250-378-4737).

Thursday 21 May 2015, 7 PM – at NVIT: Bob Scafe – Travels in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Bob Scafe is a Naturalist Society director and one of our club’s keenest photographers. Bob and his wife Bev recently traveled through Vietnam and Cambodia and will share their experiences with the local people, wildlife and places that they visited. Something tropical and exotic – this will be fascinating.

A Black-crested Gibbon and baby. Photo: © Bob Scafe

Close-up of a working Asian Elephant. Photo: © Bob Scafe

Wednesday 17th June at 7 PM (venue to be announced). Kyle Blaney: North American Photo Stories.  [Note that this is on Wednesday not our usual Thursday]

Kyle Blaney is an avid nature photographer from Belleville, Ontario who has extensively travelled all over North America. He is visiting our area while on a photo/camping trip from Ontario to Vancouver via Northwest Territories. In this presentation, Kyle shares his favourite photos, discusses where they were taken, and talks about his photography techniques.

Grizzly Bear, Khutzeymateen, B.C. Photo © Kyle Blaney

Our evening programs are on the third Thursday of the month, at 7 PM in the lecture theatre at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), Belshaw Road, Merritt. Scroll down to see what is coming up from January through March 2015

Thursday 15 January 2015, 7 PM at NVIT: Norm Hansen: Ice Dams of the Nicola Valley.

Did you know that, a few thousand years ago as the last ice-age was coming to an end, the Nicola Valley was deep under a series of huge lakes. Massive chunks of ice blocked valleys to create these lakes, and as the ice melted the water rushing out of the lakes carved deep gorges. Today you can still see the lake shores of these ice dams, high in the hills around the Nicola Valley, and travel along the gorges that they carved out. Norm Hansen, a long-time forester from Merritt and NNS director, has for many years researched the history of these ice dams and their remnants and will share this amazing story with us.

Thousands of years ago as the ice-ages ended, ice (shown here in blue) blocked local valleys creating lakes – like Lake Hamilton which covered the Nicola Valley hundreds of metres deep. From Fulton (1975)

Near Douglas Lake one can still see the old shoreline of Lake Hamilton, now high and dry up the hillside. Photo: Alan Burger

Thursday 19 February 2015, 7 PM at NVIT: Murphy Shewchuk – Dempster Driving – to the Canadian Arctic.

Murphy Shewchuk is a well-known Merritt author of very popular hiking and travel guidebooks. Murphy and his wife Katharine recently travelled up the Dempster Highway to the Canadian arctic regions and will share their experiences. Their travels took them from Dawson City to Inuvik and north to the Arctic Ocean at Tuktoyaktuk. Not to be missed – Murphy is an excellent photographer and storyteller.

A Grizzly Bear in the Yukon Territory – just one of many wildlife experiences Murphy will share with us. Photo: © Murphy Shewchuk

Tombstone Mountains, Yukon Territory. Photo: © Murphy Shechuk

Thursday 19 March 2015, 7 PM at NVIT: Dr. Dan Durall (UBC Okanagan) – Identifying mushrooms of the BC Interior.

Ever wondered about local mushrooms – whether they are edible or poisonous, and what roles they play in the local ecosystems? Dr. Durall is a mycologist (fungus specialist) with many years of experience studying fungi in the BC interior. He is especially interested in fungi found in our forests, understanding their role in carbon and nutrient cycling as well as the effect of forest practices on fungal populations and communities.

The fruiting bodies of Armillaria sp. fungus emerge above the ground to release spores. Photo: © Murphy Shewchuk

A Merritt Library Event: Thursday 9th April 2015, 6 PM at the Merritt Public Library. Ted Kay – Bees and their place in the world (everything you wanted to know about bees).
Ted Kay is a former apiary inspector.  Please pre-register at the Merritt Public Library for this event  (250-378-4737).