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Message from the Executive Director
As the days get cooler and our evenings get darker, much has been happening anew at the BC Conservation Foundation. We have just launched our new website, refreshed our logo and are launching our new newsletter with this first edition, Winter.
Please sign up to receive regular updates. Follow us on social media and stay in the know about the latest happenings with the Foundation and conservation news in BC.
We successfully held our Annual General Meeting on Saturday, November 18, 2023. We welcome back our directors and welcome new directors, Darlene Clark and Ed George. We want to say so long to Mark McDonald and thank Mark for his many years of service.
We also want to welcome Nich Tuovila as our new Northern Spotted Owl Regional Coordinator and Rina Guxholli, as our Aquatic Research & Restoration Centre Regional Coordinator for Vancouver Island. We are pleased to share that Lisa Limerick has moved over to be our new Payroll and Accounts Clerk.
David Hendrickson
Project Spotlight
Bring Back the Bluebirds
Bring Back the Bluebirds is an ambitious species recovery initiative aiming to re-establish a breeding population of Western Bluebirds in the Cowichan Valley through translocations, habitat enhancement and community engagement.
Initiated by the Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery Team in 2012, the Foundation took over the project a few years later with funding from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Municipality of North Cowichan, Community Gaming Grants and BC Nature.
More adult birds are returning each spring to Vancouver Island. We translocated ten adult and 12 nestling bluebirds from Washington State this year. Five bluebirds returned on their own, two pairs formed nests and 38 young bluebirds joined in their new home. Nevertheless, the Bluebirds remain vulnerable. Further translocations, habitat enhancement and community efforts are required to ensure a long-term presence. Learn more at https://cowichanbluebird.wordpress.com/news/.
Thompson-Shuswap Wild Stock Guardian Project
Many anglers fishing on Shuswap Lake travel from outside of BC and are unaware of local fishing regulations. The Guardian Project involves educating anglers about local fishing regulations, aids wild and stocked fish conservation and management, provides regulation compliance and tracks species of fish. Guardians provide education to anglers unaware of specific fishing regulations. The project also provides data to BC Government officials that supplements the BC Conservation Officer Office records.
Tire Toxin Project to Protect Salmonid Habitat
This newly launched initiative identifies major sources of tire wear toxins from motor vehicles that enter salmonid-bearing streams. An innovative technical and chemical analysis provides real-time data to determine “hotspots” to protect freshwater salmonid habitat. We are very excited about this new partnership with Vancouver Island University’s Applied Environment Research Lab, University of Victoria’s Community Water Innovation Lab, local First Nations and numerous stewardship groups and local governments. For more information visit xxx.
Survival Bottlenecks Study
For the latest news on our Survival Bottlenecks Study, in partnership with Pacific Salmon Foundation, check out BC Outdoor Sport Fishing TV on YouTube! The episode shows how Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) are inserted for tagging juvenile salmon and steelhead in the Salish Sea. The data provides information on where “survival bottlenecks” could be occurring to establish strategies for salmon and steelhead recovery around Vancouver Island.
WildSafeBC
WildSafeBC Community Coordinators have been running 32 community programs across the province this summer and fall. Recently, WildSafeBC entered into a new partnership with BC Parks to support provincial campground operators and staff with resources and WildSafeBC Bare Campsite Program training in efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflicts in BC Park campgrounds.
We also want to give a shout out to Kathy Murray, who received the BC Conservation Officer Service Special Recognition Award. Congrats Kathy!
Wildlife Collision Prevention
Wildlife Collision Prevention has been working with ICBC and the BC Government Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to erect billboards in a public education campaign for highway motorists. Drivers are being reminded of potential wildlife collisions now as we enter rutting (breeding) season.
We recently launched Report Roadkill BC, a campaign to gather important information about wildlife vehicle collisions. The campaign uses iNaturalist – a citizen science app and website - to collect images of roadkill on BC highways to identify potential wildlife collision hotspots and help determine effects of under-reporting. The campaign on iNaturalist is @wildlifevehiclecollisions. See www.wildlifecollisions.ca for more information.
Community Conservation Fund (formerly Small Grants Fund)
Our Small Grants Fund has been updated and renamed to the Community Conservation Fund. Funding applications are available to community groups each November. Funding announcements will be made in February 2024.
Land For Wildlife Fund
The updated land acquisition fund is available at www.bccf.com. Grant intakes occur twice per year. Check back on our website for the latest announcements.
Join Our Team
Openings
Administrative Assistant - Nanaimo
Do you have excellent administrative and communications skills that you want to use to support our project staff and project managers? Looking for something part-time? We’re looking for an Administrative Assistant, based out of our Nanaimo office.
WildSafeBC Program Administrator - Kamloops
Are you passionate about wildlife conservation and possess exceptional administrative and communication skills? We invite you to join our team as a WildSafeBC Program Administrator, based in Kamloops, BC.
The Delta Optimist wrote an article on our innovative Spartina removal methods, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited Canada.
Global News aired a television piece on the latest release of two Northern Spotted Owls into the wild.