Abbotsford-Mission Nature Club

Next monthly meeting on Wed. March 13 at 7:30 pm.
Location: Ravine Park Hatchery, 2395 Crescent Way (next to the Abby Arts Centre)

Photos from camera in barn owl nesting box in Willband Creek Park.

September 13: Tamsin Baker with the Fraser Valley Conservancy
New Release! Gardening with Native Plants Guide | Species at Risk, South Coast British Columbia, Canada

"How to be a Nature Steward by Gardening with Native Plants"

Want to have a thriving garden that helps local wildlife? This presentation will discuss reasons for gardening with native plants, native plant recommendations, where to find them, more tips on how to be a nature steward, and an overview of the Fraser Valley Conservancy’s Nature Stewards Program.

The meetings will be held again at 7:30 pm in the Ravine Park Hatchery, 2395 Crescent Way, Abbotsford.

Looking forward to seeing you at the meeting and sharing your experiences of the summer.

November was a spectacular month in Willband with the sudden but expected change of seasons. The Trumpeter Swans returned and large congregations of Cackling Geese were observed, plus Mallards, Widgeons, Teals, Mergansers and Coots. The undisputed star in the bird category was the final appearance, after over a year of coming and going, of a family of American Bitterns that seemingly decided to make the park their home. Note how their plumage camouflages so well with the surrounding reeds. Without much ceremony they took the fishing place normally occupied by Great Herons for the last few years.
Photos taken by Alex Lewinsky.

This event is kid friendly, everyone is welcome :) Registration link: https://forms.gle/MgeBFxoRQ4u2ATkYA

"Butterflies of the Season"

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Ravine Park Hatchery, 2395 Crescent Way
(Next to the Abbotsford Arts Centre)

Speaker: Eric Habisch, Citizen Scientist

Eric a member of the Langley Field Naturalists, will show us some beautiful and colorful butterfly pictures taken last season – plus he will give us some information about how to identify some of the different species seen in our area

Don’t forget to bring your loonies, toonies and $5 bills to enter the draw for a Butterfly jigsaw puzzle.

Masking not mandatory. Please stay home if ill or having flu/COVID symptoms

October sightings in Willband Creek Park:
1. A big :Pond Slider" turtle, caught crossing the trail.
2. A "Girdler Moth" in larva form. Mature moths of this type are common in our backyard when is dark. We can assume they are also common in Willband.
3. A "Band-winged Meadowhawk".
4. A froglet "American Bullfrog"
Photos taken by Alex Lewinsky.

Sightings at Willband Creek Park. Photos taken by Alex Lewinsky.

1. Short-winged Conehead (Conocephalus dorsalis). Although from Europe (Scandinavia - Germany), it was recently introduced to our region and spotted since 2008.

2. An always smiling "Paddle-tailed Darner", an abundant dragonfly commonly found this time of the year.

3. A "Common Drone Fly", known for liking yellow flowers.

4. A "Red-legged Grasshopper" laying eggs under the gravel

Art for Wildlife | Powered by Givergy Bid on exclusive money can't buy items & experiences with UFV Wildlife Protection Club. Enter into one of our charity auctions, prize draws or buy exc

You don't want to miss this fun, family-friendly event at Campbell Valley Regional Park this weekend! Owl expert Sofi and all-around-superstar Joelle will be there waiting to see you! 🦉⭐
Peer into grasslands that once were fields to discover the stories of the furry and feathered animals that live and hunt there. Walk like a coyote through a grass maze to find prey, or swoop into a heritage barn to learn how barn owls live. Enjoy fun activities with community partners, dance to live music and munch at a food truck.

August sightings in Willband Creek Park:

1. Water Strider, limnoporos notabilis, one of the many species in the Tribe Gerini showing how it walks on water, adapted to take advantage of the surface tension of the water.

2. A young Wood Duck, always beautiful.

3. A Western Pondhawk, resting and showing his translucent wings.

4. A small American bullfrog, one of the many infesting the park canals.

Photos taken by Alex Lewinsky.

Calling on all naturalists in Abbotsford and the Lower Mainland — now is the time to fight our hardest fight to protect natural values on McKee Peak/Sumas Mountain.

Please explore this page created by our partners at the Fraser Valley Conservancy to lead you to development plans for McKee Peak and the action you can take to voice your concerns for the protection of nature. https://fraservalleyconservancy.ca/mckee-peak-public-hearing/

Go thru the entire page; view the video; and take a next step from the choices laid out for you at the end of the page. Share this link with everyone you know who may be concerned about preserving biodiversity, species at risk, wildlife, native and rare plants, healthy forests; climate change; and connecting people with nature.

The Public Hearing is Monday, July 25, at Abbotsford City Hall. You need to show up, speak up and/or send a comment by this date — this is our last opportunity.

Thanks for caring and acting!
On Behalf of the Abbotsford Mission Nature Club Executive

Last chance to help protect habitat on McKee Peak! | Fraser Valley Conservancy McKee Peak is a unique gem of nature in Abbotsford that is under immediate development pressure. Its fate will be decided at a Public Hearing next week, Monday July 25th. This Public Hearing is the last opportunity to present your views on this plan to develop the area.

Your observations matter! NCC's Big Backyard BioBlitz

Do you like working in GARDENS and would like to volunteer with some horticultural maintenance?

We need your help!!

The City of Abbotsford Culture team is looking to work with some volunteers to assist with some weeding of our park beds around the Mill Lake Labyrinth in preparation for a Culture Days exhibition this September.

Water, a light snack, all equipment and direction will be provided onsite but if you would like to bring along work gloves and weeding hand rakes that would also be helpful. Volunteers are encouraged to be prepared for current weather conditions as this volunteer role takes place outdoors.

Join us on Monday August 8th 2022 10am – 12noon at the Mill Lake Labyrinth at Bevan Road Entrance - 3300 Bevan Ave https://goo.gl/maps/Mn3UErbiaR2hyPr56

Sign up on your profile or REPLY to this email to let us know you are coming!!

Let me know if you have any questions.

Chrissy Borseth MA, CVA
Volunteer Coordinator
Tel: 604.557.7050 Cell: 604.626.6620 Fax: 604.854.5077

Follow us on Instagram

Mill Lake · Abbotsford, BC V2S 6P9, Canada Abbotsford, BC V2S 6P9, Canada

Recent sightings at Willband Creek Park, photographed by Alex Lewinsky, AMNC member.
Western Pondhawk, Pacific Forktail, eight-spotted pond skimmer, and a four- spotted skimmer.

Recent AMNC walk at Hayward Reservoir Trail, with Forest Technologist Kelly Kitsch, focusing on plant identification.

AMNC work day at Willband Creek Park on June 21. Temperature monitoring devices installed in bat boxes, and more trees given protection from beavers.

June bird sightings at Willband Creek Park. Photos taken by AMNC member Alex Lewinsky.