Halifax Field Naturalists

Matt Miller of the Ecology Action Centre will talk about Otter Ponds Demonstration Forest (OPDF), in Mooseland, on the Eastern Shore. It’s a community forest project where a 1500 acre parcel of Crown land is being managed cooperatively by 4 NGOs (EAC, Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators, Eastern Shore Forest Watch and Mooseland Community Association). The first of its kind in Nova Scotia! Their mission is to demonstrate the philosophy, science, and practice of uneven-aged management in the Acadian Forest. They produce timber for market using the best forest practices presently known, while protecting wildlife habitat and the Tangier River watershed, respecting the ecosystem services provided by the parcel, and enhancing the social and cultural value of the forest. Management practices are certified to the Forest Stewardship Council’s Maritime Standard. This presentation is being made to the NS Wild Flora Society with cooperation of HFN. All welcome! HFN/NSWFS plan a field trip to the site in the summer or fall. 7:30 p.m. at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History

An Op-ed in the Chronicle Herald by HFN member Richard Beazley reviews some of HFNs accomplishments and activities and invites members of the public to our 40th anniversary events and, of course, to become members of the Halifax Field Naturalists. View article

Karen McKendry was our guest presenter at our first monthly meeting of 2015 when she talked about “Your Conservation Lands”, referring to lands conserved by the Nova Scotia Nature Trust. Before Karen began, she was presented with a donation from HFN towards the Nature Trust’s 100 Wild Islands Campaign, a good start to the year! The donation was in the form of a pledge as it is being made from an investment coming due in June.

HFB received a Special Invitation: Please make plans to attend : A Press Conference and Rally in support of the Final Report of the Doelle–Lahey Independent Panel on Aquaculture Regulations. It is a ground breaking Report which calls for major regulatory reform of the aquaculture industry in Nova Scotia from top to bottom . It is good and must be supported and implemented in its totality without delay .
Where : The Lord Nelson Hotel
When : 12 noon – Thursday, January 8th – one hour in duration Continue reading →

An article by Zack Metcalfe on Halifax media Co-op highlights our need to respect the significance of coastal habitat. “The piping plover is an excellent example of how dangerous unintended consequences can be, everything from taking your four-wheeler down the beach to enjoying a fire in the sand with friends and family. Public awareness of the piping plover’s plight could be its last best hope for survival.” Read more

The Nova Scotia Nature Trust, now in its 20th year, has formally protected 65 ‘Conservation Lands’ across Nova Scotia for wildlife and people to enjoy. Karen McKendry, Conservation Coordinator with the Nature Trust will highlight a few of the protected sites, and delve into the world of working with landowners to accomplish private land conservation. 7:30 p.m. at the NSMNH. Read more

Discovery of Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana) in Frog Pond (Halifax, N.S.) by Halifax Field Naturalists Burkhard & Ingrid Plache appears to be the first report of this species in Nova Scotia. The source is likely discarded aquarium contents. It may have been in Frog Pond for more than five years. Read more

The June to December 1980 issue of the Halifax Field Naturalist, No. 24, includes info. on the geology, soils, history, habitats, vegetal history, birds, and the intertidal zone with species lists for lichens, liverworts and mosses (likely not comprehensive) and vascular plants (more comprehensive). It’s a good introduction to the area, not readily available elsewhere.
View Issue No 24 | All archived issues

The Nova Scotia Nature Trust, now in its 20th year, has formally protected 65 ‘Conservation Lands’ across Nova Scotia for wildlife and people to enjoy. What is special about these properties? How did they come to be? How do we get to them? These and other questions will be addressed by HFN member Karen McKendry, Conservation Coordinator with the Nature Trust. 7:30 pm at NSMNH Read more

HFN and the Nova Scotia Bird Society, led by HFN/NSBS member Dennis Hippern, will visit all the favourite winter bird sites in and around Halifax Harbour looking for ducks, gulls, and alcids–Hartlen Point, Eastern Passage, Dartmouth Cove, Sullivan’s Pond, Tuft’s cove, and the Bedford Waterfront. Read more

Large areas of northern regions are covered by permafrost. As the Arctic warms, the permafrost will degrade and lead to increased emissions of greenhouse gases such as methane. Recently, global atmospheric methane concentrations have begun to increase again after being stable for a decade, and the Arctic is one of the possible sources. Dr. Rachel Chang will outline results from her Arctic research and discuss potential causes that could be contributing to this increase in a talk to the Nova Scotia Institute of Science on Monday Jan 5, 2015. Read more

In the Saturday Chronicle Herald, Bob Bancroft, wildlife biologist, Chair of Nature NS, and co-author of the 2010 report Restoring the Health of Nova Scotia Forests writes that “…protected areas need to be connected by ecologically healthy working forests over about 60 per cent of the province. Quality forests would replace prices like $8.20 per tonne for fibre that now exist….It’s time to think beyond four-year terms with respect to DNR’s mandate for forests and wildlife. Politicians talk about balance, but there is no ecological balance in Nova Scotia’s current forest practices. Effective environmental legislation is long overdue. ” Rick Howe and Bob will be discussing these issues on News 95.7 Monday Dec 15 at 12:30 pm (link to archive). Read more