“Out in the field”—a term originally used by farmers, and shamelessly stolen by biologists. When I’m having a lucky day free from grant writing or reporting, I’m often ‘in the field’, which could involve anything from invasive plant removal and monitoring past restoration projects to landowner consultations and leading school Read more…
Here at the Mayne Island Conservancy, we have put our guided bird walks on hold for now. Birdwatching can be such a fun social activity, and we have really enjoyed the opportunity to get together and learn from one another. We will resume as soon as it’s safe to do Read more…
Forty-nine people representing 15 different teams surveyed the forests, neighbourhoods, marine waters and the feeders of Mayne Island on December 14, 2019. Collectively, they logged just over 100 km and invested just under 67 hours searching for our wintering birds. The weather was wet in the morning and overcast for the Read more…
We’re pleased to report a fifth native amphibian species has been detected on Mayne Island! Here’s an introduction to all five, including the newest member of our local amphibian family; the common ensatina! What is an Amphibian? Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla) The Pacific chorus frog is the most often Read more…
There are many more deer on Mayne Island now than in previous centuries. The evidence for that statement is available for anyone to see: most native plants on Mayne Island are decreasing in abundance as a result of deer browse. Have you seen sword fern with its tips chewed off? Read more…
Mayne Island Conservancy is excited to be part of a new conservation initiative, in partnership with our neighbouring island conservancies, that focuses on the future of the Strait of Georgia’s whales, dolphins, and porpoises (collectively called cetaceans), and the health of their habitats. In The Beginning You might remember learning Read more…
Three species of snake are known to Mayne Island, and all of them are garter snakes. All three species are similar in appearance yet with practice may be distinguished from each other based on a few subtle features, including details in the way they look and how they behave. None Read more…
Right now, at any time of day—but especially the morning—you can hear the sounds of birds: male birds on their territories; parents attending nests; and the first broods of young birds hungrily trilling to be fed. Out of all these sounds, a few species of birds’ songs stand out. The Read more…
There is a long history of “BioBlitzing” in Canada, which you are cordially invited to participate in this May! By joining our BioBlitz you’ll contribute to the legacy of natural history research on Mayne Island that goes back to the turn of the 20th century, with the collection efforts of Read more…
Rediscovering Mayne Island’s Biodiversity This year the Mayne Island Conservancy and Galiano Conservancy Association are coordinating an unprecedented inter-island BioBlitz enlisting more than thirty specialists in a survey of the biological diversity that surrounds us. Our surveys will target both land-based and marine ecosystems, adding to an existing baseline inventory Read more…