This post has been contributed by Dan Straker, Dipl. Tech., B.A., Co-Existing with Coyotes Coordinator with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). I have been following SPES since I moved into the West End almost eight years ago and I recently became a member. I wanted to offer the team an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I have created “SPES Saturday” where they will be contributing stories with my audience once a month.
Birds, Berries, and Bogs OH MY
Summer is fast approaching, and there’s a lot to see in Stanley Park right now. Vancouver is a very important stop for migrating birds, and they are taking time to stop, rest and refuel for an even longer migration. Earlier this spring you may have heard the light-sabre like hum of Rufous hummingbirds as they swarmed and sucked the sweet nectar from the blooming salmonberry flowers. By now most of the pinkish-purple flowers have been sucked dry and shriveled to make way for the wonderfully colourful salmonberries of vibrant oranges, reds and yellows. Salmonberry thickets can be found throughout the park, but are most common on the brighter paths of creekside trails, like North Creek or South Creek trail around Beaver Lake.
A Spotted Towhee in Stanley Park. Photo credit:
colink. on Flickr
Don’t forget to perk up your ears for the echoing song of the Swainson’s Thrush and the quizzical yet resolute chirps of the American robin as they look to dine on a fine delicacy of salmonberries. Many birds desperately need all the food they can get this time of year, so please refrain from picking the berries in the park and think of the birds. Even better why not come to our Create a West Coast Garden* workshop (Sunday, June 23rd, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm) and learn some tips to create much needed bird habitat in your garden, backyard, or any greenspace you have access to. By encouraging local birds and butterflies to visit your backyards and gardens, you are helping to promote a much richer and healthier ecosystem and you will get to see some of these wonderful birds up close without having to leave the comfort of your home.
As the salmonberries are busy sewing their seeds, so too are the birds that eat them… so to speak. Many of our local birds have long since finished building their nests and are busy watching eggs hatch andhelping their little chicks to fledge – that’s just a fancy way of saying “learning to fly.” If you come across a young bird on the ground squawking away, don’t panic or try to save them, this little guy is just testing out its wings. Grab a friend, or make one, at our Birds of a Feather program (Sunday, June 30th, from 9:00am to 11:00am, by donation) while we take you on a walking tour to learn about bird identification and behaviour in the park. You might even catch a glimpse of a first time flyer.
Maybe birds aren’t your thing, that’s OK, not everyone loves birds. Get your feet wet and explore a world of waves and constant change on an intertidal adventure with our Surprising Shoreline Walk (Sunday, June 9th from 1:30pm to 3:30pm, ages 6 and over, by donation). Discover the amazing creatures, like otters and crabs, that live in this unique environment and the creative ways they survive. Or if that doesn’t float your boat, come check out our Wonderful Wetlands* (Sunday, June 16th, 1:30pm to 3:30pm) walk where you’ll learn all about the importance of bogs and marshes in keeping our water fresh and clean, and the amazing creatures like beavers and salamanders that live in them.
*Nature Program Fees: $5 for SPES members, children and seniors. $10 for non-members. For more information on SPES events, please visit the events calendar. Pre-registration is recommended for nature programs. Email programs[at]stanleyparkecology.ca or call (604) 718-6522.
After hints of summer-like temperatures tease us in late May, the beginning of June is usually rather gloomy in Vancouver. The long weekend doesn’t come until the end of the month, the kids are still in school, and rain showers often put a damper barbecue and camping plans.
However, there’s always a lot happening around the city, from farmers markets to Father’s Day festivities, and everyone is in good spirits awaiting the glorious sun-soaked days that are ahead. I browsed the Vancouver Public Library and City of Vancouver archives today to see what was happening in Vancouver during the month of June over the years, here’s what I found:
1938
In mid-June, nine of the road-bed sections are in position between the towers of the new Lions Gate Bridge:
Archives item# CVA 265-66
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Tech toys will be hot ticket items for Father’s Day this year and Best Buy has one of the latest and greatest available now. The Samsung Galaxy S Camera is a 16.3 megapixel camera from the smart phone makers that uses the Android operating system. You’re used to phones that have cameras, apps and connectivity, well now this camera has WIFI, 3G/4G connectivity, 21x optical zoom and more.
The Galaxy S has a 4.8 inch LCD touchscreen display system on the back and with its connection options, it has the ability to upload photos right to Instagram, Facebook, and whenever else you would like share them. There are also editing features right on the camera and an optional cloud backup system using your Dropbox account.
The following are photos by my friend John Biehler which he took with the Samsung Galaxy S Camera, including a panorama:
The Samsung Galaxy S Camera is available now at your local Best Buy (and Best Buy online) with a price point of $599.99 and Best Buy would like to give one away to a lucky Miss604 reader, just in time for Father’s Day. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, June 13, 2013. Update The winner is 409cope!
The Surrey Fusion Festival, BC’s largest multicultural celebration, returns this summer to Holland Park on July 20th and 21st bringing with it a splash of international flavours and music.
Last year saw over 100,000 people flood the grounds for this free festival that boasts dozens of pavilions representing various nations and cultural group along with free family activities and entertainment.
Entertainment Line-Up
Announced this morning, rapper, singer and songwriter k-os will be the headliner on Saturday night and Shiamak Davar’s TOIFA Bollywood Remix will close out the festival on Sunday night.
Other confirmed acts so far for the free concert series include The Zolas, Kyprios, Jordan Klassen, along with Jim Byrnes and Steve Dawson.
I have been a sponsor of the Fusion Festival since its creation in 2008 when Surrey received the Cultural Capital of Canada designation and it’s always one of our favourite events to cover. We’re looking forward to a few new elements this year such as a Sunday morning matinee for kids with puppets, stories, singers and the BC Junior Talent Search winners.
Flavours of Surrey
The Flavours of Surrey exhibition area, that celebrates food and agriculture in Surrey, will also feature special guests and workshops:
SuperChefs
SuperChefs teaches kids how to cook on the Safeway Celebrity Cooking Stage. Chef Greg Chang will host SuperChefs Cookery for Kids on Sunday, July 21st at 2:30pm and will welcome guests like Wally Buono, GM for the BC Lions and Giulio Caravatta from TEAM 1040 who will teach Italian family pasta-making. Click here for a full schedule.
Be sure to put the Surrey Fusion Festival on your calendar this July and follow @Surrey_Events on Twitter for the latest information. Miss604 is the proud Social Media Sponsor of Surrey’s Fusion Festival and Canada Day celebrations.
Canada Day at Canada Place will host the 5th annual Canada Day Parade in downtown Vancouver this summer with patriotic celebrations spilling into the evening for this free family event on July 1st.
Starting from the corner of West Georgia and Broughton at 7:00pm, the Canada Day Parade will head over to Burrard and turn left, ending around West Pender. It will feature over 60 entries with floats, performers, and community groups along with the BC Lions and Fin from the Vancouver Canucks.
The parade will be a great way to transition from Canada Day activities at Canada Place (from 10:00am to 6:00pm) to the fireworks display in Coal Harbour starting at 10:30pm.
Canada Day at Canada Place will host a variety of activities and entertainment from the Vancouver Convention Centre down to Harbour Green Park. Canada’s Army, Navy & Air Force will be on-site, there will be an Extreme Sports Show, the Great Canadian Art Experience, a Canadian Citizenship Ceremony, the Port Metro Vancuver Zone, and many more attractions throughout the day. More details about the full entertainment line-up will follow this month. Miss604 is a proud media partner of Canada Day at Canada Place.
