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September 2020
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Events
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Shoreline Exploration Walk with Charlotte Matthews, September 19th
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A Special Event for Conservancy Members
We invite members of the Mayne Island Conservancy to join our summer intern, Charlotte Matthews, for an intertidal shoreline exploration on Saturday, September 19th. Charlotte is a recent undergraduate from the University of British Columbia with a B.Sc. in Biology. Growing up along the coast of B.C. inspired her to study marine ecology, ornithology, conservation and physiology. She became an experienced …
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Join us at the Farmers' Market
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We will be at the Mayne Island Conservancy table at the Farmers' Market from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturdays of the Labour Day Weekend and the Thanksgiving Weekend. Please stop by, say hello, and update your membership. We look forward to seeing you.
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Notes from the Field: the Nootka Rose
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Observations submitted by Deb Foote. Photo credit: Waferboard, Creative Commons
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Have you ever walked along Bennett Bay Road at the change of the seasons on a sunny morning when the dew is fresh? There is a certain smell in the air, and it begins as the first leaves break through on the wild roses. Yes, it is that sweet essence of rose – at first it is faint, only a slight whiff in the air. As the leaves break through and the blossoms begin to form, the scent becomes more intense. Through the weeks that the blossoms are at their peak, the perfume is so heady it is knee-weakening. As the blossoms fall, off so does the essence, so that at the peak of summer it is almost non-existent. In the late summer as the rosehips ripen on mornings where the dew is fresh, the sweet smell of wild rose permeates the air. Not quite as strong now, more subtle, but almost as delicious as rosehip jelly.
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New Articles
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A Day in the Life of An Eelgrass Survey Team
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Author: Charlotte Matthews
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Our day starts off on the dock at Miner’s Bay. As I walk along the pier to start loading the boat, I glance down into the bay to see how clear the water is. The water clarity (turbidity) has a big impact on how much fun my day will be. I can see some perch lazily swimming below the dock, the sky is clear, and only a faint breeze ripples through Active Pass, all …
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The Value of Wetlands
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Mayne Island may be better known for twisting arbutus trees and rocky shorelines than marshes and swamps, but our soggy soiled wetlands have an important role to play. Not only are they a bustling hub of life and energy for plants and animals, they also provide essential services to us humans. These services are known as ecosystem services. What are …
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Understanding Wasps and Hornets
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Hornets in the news In September 2019, a nest of Asian giant hornets was destroyed near Nanaimo. This spring, with pandemic-induced anxieties running high, the New York Times published an article dubbing this invader the “Murder Hornet” after a honeybee hive was decimated in Washington. Unfortunately, this sensationalistic media reporting might be harmful to other important native species of similar …
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Wolf Eel
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Author: Charlotte Matthews
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Wolf eels: the not so terrifying "wolf-ish" fish. Hidden in the darkness of the deep, wolf eels are not as dangerous as they look according to The Marine Detective. Well, maybe not to their prey, but with divers, they tend to shy away in their caves and peek out. While their bulbous heads and large, toothy mouths can …
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Phytoplankton
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Author: Charlotte Matthews
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Weekly Sea Discovery: What are phytoplankton and why are they globally important? In this week's Sea Discovery, we are going microscopic! Lately, you may have noticed the waters surrounding Mayne becoming very green and murky. This colour change is due to microscopic algae known as phytoplankton. What are phytoplankton? Their name derives from the Greek words "phyto" meaning plant, and …
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The Conservancy is grateful for your support and welcomes donations, either one time or monthly.
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And your membership is also important to us.
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