[BNS_members] Update from the Blomidon Naturalists Society

Fri Feb 12 09:24:22 CST 2021

Here's what's happening this month

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Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing well. In the past month, we had a number of wonderful events. Soren led two snowshoe hikes with about ten participants at each. Thank you to Suzanne Stewart for the photos below.

At our January meeting, Alanna Syliboy introduced us to her incredible work with the Apoqnmatultik (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=244bfd3e83&e=b24cf58224) research project. A recording of this meeting can be seen here. (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=ed16f3963d&e=b24cf58224)

We also held the Science of Climate Change Webinar with Drs. Rob Raeside and Ian Spooner from Acadia University. With approximately 90 attendees, we had a very interesting and important discussion following the short, informative lecture. The recording of the webinar can be seen on Facebook here. (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=bf9f21d6d0&e=b24cf58224)

There are a number of interesting events coming up this month that we are excited to share with you. Our goal is to provide at least one field trip, in addition to the meeting, each month.

And finally, as we expand our programming to provide more field trips and virtual events, we would like to extend an invite for each of you to become more involved. See further down this email to hear about some volunteer opportunities.

Wishing you a safe and peaceful February,
Riley

** EVENTS
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** February General Meeting: Invasive Species
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Monday, February 15th @ 7:30pm

You must register through zoom here (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=150c1800ab&e=b24cf58224 ) .

Kristen Noel from the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council will be talking about what invasive species are, how they spread, the impacts that they can have, how climate change is affecting them, and how we as naturalists can help prevent the introduction and reduce the spread! Kristen will also be going over a few examples of invasive species that are particularly prevalent in Nova Scotia.

** Field Trip: Exploring the Life of a Beaver
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Saturday, February 27th @ 11:00am (rain date is the 28th)

Please read all the information here (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=3ae8dda523&e=b24cf58224) before registering here (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=5c05e5551f&e=b24cf58224)
https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=d5befd3c77&e=b24cf58224
Led by Carolyn Green, we will make our way through the 200 acre property of the Lorax Woodlands, up the brook trail to a pond which has been created by a large beaver dam. We will view the dam and two secondary dams, as well as the large beaver hut. While the beavers are hibernating, we will discuss general beaver activity and the role they play in managing waterways. We'll also keep our eye out for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and any other interesting observations we may encounter.

** Women, Girls' and Female-identifying Winter Hiking Series - 2nd series
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March 6th - April 17th  (4 sessions)
10 am - 12 pm

Women, girls and female-identifying individuals ages 16 and up with important girls/female-identifying youth in their lives ages 9 and up are welcome to join Flying Squirrel Adventures for a Winter Hiking Series. Come as a pair, trio, etc. or on your own for some physical activity, community connection and winter fun. No experience required.

Brought to you in partnership with Wolfville Community Development & Kings County Recreation. Registration required, contact: recreation at wolfville.ca / 902 599 3693

** Wild Explorations: Outdoor Adventure for Youth
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February 11th, 3:30 - 5:30 pm
(every Thursday after school for 5 weeks)
For more info visit here. (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=c6f2b17c2e&e=b24cf58224) Or email valleyflyingsquirrels at gmail.com

Beat the Covid (and winter) blues with outdoor fun: meet new people, learn new skills, connect with nature.

Flying Squirrel Adventures, in collaboration with the Portal Youth Outreach Association, is offering a weekly outdoor nature program for youth in the Annapolis Valley.  Wild Explorations is a weekly recreation program created to support youth to build healthy connections to nature, themselves and others.   This after school program is geared at youth aged 12-15 years.

** Great Backyard Bird Count
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Visit https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=145b5c2794&e=b24cf58224 (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=23660f5779&e=b24cf58224)   (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=7ae8bcd329&e=b24cf58224) for more information on how to participate
February 12th - 15th
(Photo by Jamie Burris/GBBC)
Mother birding with child in snow.
"Participating is easy, fun to do alone, or with others, and can be done anywhere you find birds. Simply watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days, February 12-15, and report what you see!"

** VOLUNTEERS WANTED
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** Lead a BNS field trip
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We are looking for volunteers to lead field trips with the society! These field trips can take one of two forms:
(1) Educational field trip
You are an expert in some environmental field and you'd like to share that knowledge with folks who have no or little experience in that area.
(2) Recreational field trip
You and a group of like minded folks share a walk at your favourite hiking spot. No natural history expertise required.

If this is something you're interested in, please email me at rileyscanlan16 at gmail.com. I'd love to chat about how these might work and what you'd like to do.

** Nova Scotia Winter Nature Blitz
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Anywhere in Nova Scotia
February 1st - March 31st
https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=adbb181617&e=b24cf58224

(Photo by Bev Wigney)
https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=4e475d8427&e=b24cf58224
This is a project to observe animals and their tracks, scat, signs and sounds across Nova Scotia from February 1 to March 31, 2021. Late winter affords us some special opportunities to observe animals and their activities. 'Join' the iNaturalist Project linked above to contribute your animal observations and help build this important database.

** NEWS
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https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=1a6a2deba2&e=b24cf58224
The provincial government has announced (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=c6bb5a0e86&e=b24cf58224) their commitment to create 20 new protected areas (including expansions of current sites). Once protected, these new sites will ensure the province has met it's goal to protect 13% of land in Nova Scotia.

Photo from CPWAS-NS of The Cherry Hill Beach Nature Reserve in Lunenburg County, one of the sites to be protected.
I was surprised to learn that periodic cicadas burrow underground (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=44f3658df8&e=b24cf58224) as nymphs for many years, to then emerge in mass numbers as adults. This summer, billions of cicadas are expected to be flying around eastern US (I wonder if perhaps we might see an increase of them here in Nova Scotia)!

** UPDATES FROM BNS
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We will continue with the current membership model for the 2021 year. Please renew your membership by e-transferring $30 (for individuals/families) to treasurer at blomidonnaturalists.ca. More details on the website here (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=358fda2627&e=b24cf58224) .
A reminder that the 2021 photo calendars are still available for purchase! This annual funding campaign allows the society to continue to provide nature programming, support this great community and to protect our environment. You can purchase a calendar at one of our many local vendors or online (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=849eb31abc&e=b24cf58224) . See link for list of vendors.

https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=e7aa61288e&e=b24cf58224
One of the many benefits to being a part of this community is our ability to connect with like-minded folks and to share the incredible knowledge this group, collectively, has acquired. If you, or someone you know, has a natural history (or related) initiative on the go, we would be happy to help you plan, promote and/or carry out that project. Get in touch!
If you enjoyed reading this, please feel free to forward it to someone you think might also appreciate it.

As a non-profit, the Blomidon Naturalists Society relies on the tireless of effort of our volunteers and the support of individuals such as yourself. If you are able, we ask that you might consider donating to further enable this work.
Donate Now (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=f0b0b90cf2&e=b24cf58224)
Donate Monthly (https://blomidonnaturalists.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0dbe0d10c2ef002331c94c4f9&id=8e2be0d67d&e=b24cf58224)

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