Naturalists' Club News

The latest Club News, Trip Reports and Updates are available and can be viewed HERE.

Club Chat

Club President Pamela Jenkins wraps up club activities for the past month and shares her thoughts and musings with club members HERE. For a full list of recent club articles visit Naturalist News HERE.

May - June NewsPacket

The May - June edition of the full colour NewsPacket is ready and can be viewed HERE. Archived editions of the NewsPacket can be found HERE.

Gravel Pit Threatens Sensitive Wild Life Area

The residents of the Westside Rd area have asked NONC members to help quash a proposal that should concern us all. Read the whole article HERE.

Subscribe to NONC'S Informative Weekly Email

Every week there are events in NONC and the community. A weekly e-mail keeps members informed (only available to current members of NONC). Contact Harold Sellers to subscribe: hikerharold@gmail.com

Sightings

If you have a Sighting of interest that you would like to share with other Club members please forward the photo(s) with a brief description to View current Photo Albums HERE.

Nepal Trek Photos

Pam Jenkins has generously donated photos of her recent trip to Nepal that can be viewed HERE.

BC Nature Annual AGM

The annual BC Nature AGM was held in Kamloops at the Thompson Rivers University, (TRU) overlooking the Thompson River Valleys on May 13 thru 16th. For more in depth information about this annual event please read full article HERE.

Track Pam’s Himalayan Trek On This Website

Pam Jenkins Nonc’s President has joined a small group of adventurers for a trek that will be traveling to Nepals and exploring the Himalayans. The group plans on keeping us informed of their travels while in remote mountain locations via a satellite uplink. You can follow the entire journey directly on Nonc’s website HERE. Have a great adventure Pam!

Middleton Mountain Photos

Photos of Middleton Mountain on Thursday Hike HERE.

Grizzly Bears 'Keystone Specie' Unprotected

Grizzly Bears are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem. Known to scientists as a "keystone" species, grizzlies support plant and forest health. British Columbia is home to as many as half of Canada's Grizzly Bears and is one of the planet's last safe havens for these iconic animals. Find out more about how to help protect Grizzly Bears HERE.

Knox Mt. Hike Photos

Harold Sellers shares his recent Knox Mt. Hike Photos HERE.

Humming Bird Feeders

Gail Loughridge, Nonc's Humming Bird expert provides complete information on how to maintain a healthy Humming bird feeder. Read article HERE.

Up Coming Humming Bird Banding Season Workshops

Gail Loughridge, Nonc's Humming Bird expert will be offering a series of Hummingbird Banding and Monitoring work shops in three separate sessions. Every one is welcome to attend. You can read full announcement including session dates and topics HERE.

Signs of Spring Photos

Here are several signs of spring photos from around The Vernon area provided by Harold Sellers and Pam Jenkins. Click HERE to view.

Resolution for BC Nature Annual General Meeting (2010)

A resolution for funding for BC’s Provincial ParksNature Vancouver / Vancouver Natural History Society was submitted by North Okanagan Naturalist's Club. Read full resolution HERE.

Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program

The Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program is a partnership of organizations and businesses with shared goals, which include maintaining regional biodiversity, protecting Species at Risk, maintaining ecological connectivity, and balancing regional growth with conservation. For more information on OCCP visit off site link HERE.

Swan and Eagle Count

The North Okanagan Naturalists' Club held a Swan and Eagle count on Sunday, January 10, 2010. A report detailing all of the sightings in the area can be found HERE.

Suffering Scorpions

Scorpions are among the world's most misunderstood and feared animals. This perception, compiled with the fact that invertbrates rarley recieve protection under laws from cruelty, abuse, or death, makes scorpions extremely vulnerable to human exploitation. Read full article HERE.

North American Hummingbird Monitoring Network

Team Calliope is part of the North American Hummingbird Monitoring Network. This is a group of scientists, citizens, land managers who are dedicated to the conservation of hummingbird diversity... Read complete article HERE.

The Bluebird Trail

Jack and Lyn Smith graciously share some very special photos of bluebirds incubating and hatching on the Bluebird Trail located back of the tree plantation on Bench Row Road. Photos were taken on or about May 20th of this year. To view photos please click HERE.

The Most Comprehensive Legacy Data Set on Bird Migration

Six million hand written note cards located in the basement of the U.S. Geological Survey building in Laurel, Maryland, are the most comprehensive legacy data set on bird migration that are know to exist. Read more about the North American Bird Phenology Program at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center at off site link HERE.

BC Hydro Keeps an Eye on Shrinking Glaciers

In a province where we get the majority of our power from clean and renewable hydroelectricity, we now have to be concerned about shrinking glaciers. Read full article at off site link HERE.

Bird Studies Canada

Bird Studies Canada (BSC), established under the auspices of Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO), conducts and promotes studies on avian distribution, abundance and population changes and their underlying causes; communicates the results to the public; and generates information in support of the conservation of Canadian birds and their habitats. To learn more click HERE.

BirdLife International

BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources. BirdLife Partners operate in over one hundred countries and territories worldwide. To learn more click HERE.

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Ducks Unlimited Canada's mission is to conserve wetlands and associated habitats for the benefit of North America's waterfowl, which in turn provide healthy environments for wildlife and people. To learn more click HERE.

Canada’s Boreal Forest North America's Bird Nursery

The billions of birds raised in Canada’s Boreal Forest leave their nests in the fall and migrate to winter locations throughout North, Central and South America. In recent years, we have seen long-term declines in many Boreal bird species due to unchecked oil and gas, mining, logging, and hydro development. Read full article at off site link HERE.

The Green Bylaws Toolkit

The Green Bylaws Toolkit for Conserving Sensitive Ecosystems and Green Infrastructure is an important resource for understanding how local governments and developers can safeguard the environment, from a regional to a site level. It clearly explains each tool, and provides case studies and examples of bylaws that are in use across the province. The Green Bylaws Toolkit is available and can be downloaded at no charge HERE.

Grass Roots for Grasslands

Grass Roots for Grasslands is a new organization dedicated to 'Preserving Our Grasslands Heritage'. To learn more click HERE.

Swan Lake Nature Reserve Committe Report

Read the latest Swan Lake Nature Reserve Committe report HERE.

The Dawn of a New Generation of Solar Energy

The challenges of climate change have caused us to look deep into other sources of sustainable energy, which has resulted in scientists exploring the most abstract sources of how energy actually occurs. Read full article on off site link HERE.

City of Vernon Bylaw # 5159

The need for more lake shore recreational access for the vast majority of people, both tourists and locals who are not able to afford such expensive property, is known to all. Yet the city lacks real authority when it comes to providing boat launch ramps and swimming beaches for public use. . . . Read complete address to Vernon Council HERE.

The Largest Private Conservation Project in Canadian History

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) announces a bold commitment to protect 550 square kilometres of remote valleys, mountains and lakes in south-central British Columbia. The acquisition of an exceptional property, known as Darkwoods, launches the largest single private conservation project ever undertaken by a Canadian non-profit organization. Read complete story HERE.

Live Smart British Columbia

Climate change threatens our forests, our watersheds and our way of life. Globally, 11 of the past 12 years rank as the warmest in over 150 years. Here in British Columbia, an unprecedented mountain pine beetle outbreak, wildfires, flooding and drought are all symptoms of a problem . . . Read more HERE.

The Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia

Over the last ten years, the Land Trust Alliance of BC have developed educational, research and resource programs that have helped conservation groups steward, protect and restore our natural and cultural diversity. Land trusts, with the help of generous donors and willing land owners, have now protected well over 350,000 hectares of significant lands in BC. Read more HERE.

BC Citizens for Public Power

BC Citizens for Public Power (BCCPP) is a grassroots, advocacy organization established to give voice to British Columbians' demand that the province's power generation system remain in public hands. For more information on BC Citizens for Public Power click HERE.

The Official Reptiles of British Columbia Website

The Official Reptiles of British Columbia Website was designed to provide information on British Columbia’s reptiles to members of the public, devoted naturalists, professionals, students, and even young children with an interest in these animals. If you would like to visit the website click HERE.