Wed Nov 7, 2018: Documentary & Discussion on Forest Bioenergy

Posted on November 5, 2018 by davidp

The Halifax Field Naturalists Club is one of the partners in showing the film ““Burned – Are Trees the New Coal?” on
November 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History

There will be a panel discussion following the film.

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Thurs, Nov 1, 2018: REDISCOVER MCNABS ISLAND

Posted on October 31, 2018 by davidp

How long has it been since you went to McNabs Island, a unique provincial park and national historic site in the outer Halifax harbour? This 400ha island is an oasis for wildlife with over 250 species of birds including osprey and blue heron and boasts seven different terrestrial habitats from sandy beaches and marshes to forests and abandoned pasturelands. Cathy McCarthy, President of the Friends of McNabs, will help you renew your acquaintance with McNabs Island and discuss how the Friends have been cleaning up and protecting the island from major development since 1990 while re-introducing it to the public via guided tours and annual events. For those who might be interested, the Friends’ book, “Discover McNabs Island” will be available for a cost of $20 after the talk.
This HFN talk is at 7:30pm at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History (1747 Summer Street, Halifax). All welcome.

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Monday October 22, 2018: The Natural History of the Halifax Backlands

Posted on October 12, 2018 by davidp

A public lecture for SCANS (Seniors’ College Association of Nova Scotia) by David Patriquin on The Natural History of the Halifax Backlands 

Date and Time: October 22, 2018 – Monday, 1:30 – 3:30 pm

Place: Captain William Spry Community Centre

The “Backlands” is a Thomsonesque wilderness located only a few kilometers from peninsular Halifax. It includes nine lakes, spectacular views and dozens of informal hiking and biking trails. David will take us on a virtual tour through the area, describing what we see, discussing what makes it all work and explaining what is needed to sustain it.

View more details on SCANS website
View/download  Poster

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New documentary on Hemlock Wooly Adelgid in Nova Scotia

Posted on September 11, 2018 by davidp

An informative, up-to-date documentary on Hemlock Wooly Adelgid in Nova Scotia has just been released by the Blomidon Field Naturalists.

The significance of eastern hemlock in NS and the possible impacts of HWA (aka “hemlock vampires“) are discussed in the YouTube video, followed by  “what you can do to help prevent or slow down this pest in Nova Scotia.”
Continue reading →

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EAC kicks off Biodiverse-city Guided Hikes with Sandy Lake walk on Sep 15, 2018

Posted on September 11, 2018 by davidp

From EAC website:

Join the Ecology Action Centre and the Sandy Lake Conservation Association as we go for a hike at Sandy Lake and in its environs. Learn about the biodiversity of this special place (old growth forest! wetlands!), and how it fits into the new Green Network Plan for HRM. See for yourself why this area has been proposed as a regional park, and hear the story of why supporters of the area have been fighting for its protection.
Continue reading →

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Thurs Sep 20, 2018: Event for Proposed Halifax Wilderness Park

Posted on September 10, 2018 by davidp

Thursday, September 20, 2018
Neptune Theatre, 1593 Argyle Street, Halifax
Doors open at 4:00 p.m | Presentation begins at 4:30 p.m.
Light refreshments will be provided and a cash bar is available.

Please join the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and partners, The Shaw Group, and HRM for the launch of our fundraising campaign for the Halifax Wilderness Park.

The site of the proposed Halifax Wilderness Park is mere minutes from downtown on Purcell’s Cove Road. With lakes for swimming, hiking trails to explore, and stunning panoramic views of the city, the property also contains rare forest and intact wildlife, including more than 40 species of breeding birds.

We’d love to tell you more about this community initative, so please join us at this event to learn more about this proposed wilderness park

View more about it

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Friday September 14th, 2018: Sackville Rivers Association dinner & auction

Posted on September 10, 2018 by davidp

“Dear Friend:

“Last year, community contributions to the Sackville Rivers Association’s (SRA) Annual Dinner and Auction helped us raise over $8,000 for the improvement and conservation of the Sackville River and surrounding watershed.

“The SRA continues our mandate of conservation, including in-stream habitat improvements at various locations throughout the watershed, fish stocking, and river clean-ups by volunteers of all ages. We have continued improvements to our Bedford-Sackville Connector Greenway trail that now stretches from Bedford Basin to Lower Sackville and is used by thousands of walkers, cyclists and runners and are currently constructing phases 2 and 3 of Section B of the Sackville Greenway from Glendale Drive to Sackville Drive along the Little Sackville River.
Continue reading →

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Question called, and Motion passes!! The Halifax Green Network Plan has been passed at Council!!!

Posted on August 14, 2018 by davidp

A festive group greeted Councillors this am including Lisa Blackburn (3rd pic dpwn) & Lindell Smith (4th pic)

So reads a final Tweet from this morning from Our HRM Alliance.

View Council eagerly approves Halifax Green Network Plan by Yvette D’Entremont in the StarMetro Halifax (Aug 14, 218) for more details and comments by Walter Regan of the Sackville Rivers Association.

The sequence of Tweets from @OurHRMAlliance:

@OurHRMAlliance
56m56 minutes ago
More
HRM Planner Ben Sivak is here to present the final draft of the Plan and to introduce the background. “There has been 3 rounds of public engagement, the State of the Landscape Report, and this is the first time we’ve been able to look at HRM as an entire landscape.”

@OurHRMAlliance
54m54 minutes ago
More
Sivak – “The Halifax Region has incredible assets in wilderness and recreation. The intent of this Plan is to build on these assets and protect what we have here.”

Continue reading →

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Tues Aug 14, 2018: Rally to support the Green Network Plan

Posted on August 11, 2018 by davidp

Our HRM Alliance Photo

From OurHRM Alliance:

“Join us on Tuesday, August 14th at 9:00 (ish) to show your support for the Halifax Green Network Plan!

“The Green Network Plan will FINALLY be going to Council that day at 10:00AM. We want to be there with signs, smiles, and support to ask the 16 Councillors to vote YES to pass this incredible plan. The Councillors typically begin arriving around 9:00, so pop by while you can during that hour, or come and stay the whole time!

“We’ll be having a sign-making party the night before at Ecology Action Centre. Either make your own sign, or borrow one of ours for the day!

“There will also be a crew of people attending the Council meeting to watch the presentation and debate and show our support. Feel free to join for this as well, if you’re interested. Want some more info about the Green Network Plan? Check out http://ourhrmalliance.ca/halifax-green-network/”

View Facebook Event Page

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NS Nature Trust Urban Wildlands Celebration Wed, Aug 15 7 PM – 8 PM

Posted on August 10, 2018 by davidp

From Event Facebook Page:

“Join us in celebrating the protection of new urban wildlands that protect important freshwater and wildlife habitats.

“Please RSVP to: events@nsnt.ca (902) 425-5263.

“We will host a guided Wildlands Walk of the new conservation lands on September 22nd (more details coming soon).”

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Mission-Monarch Blitz July 28 to Aug 5

Posted on July 28, 2018 by davidp

Naturalists,

The Mission-Monarch Blitz is scheduled this coming week of 28th July through the 5th of August.
I am sure you would like to help document the status of the Monarch butterfly in Nova Scotia. If you know where there is milkweed growing that is where the Monarchs reside to lay eggs, feed and pupate.
At the moment there are all forms present (eggs, larvae, pupae, and butterflies). We would like you to search patches of milkweed and report what you discover. There is an easy one page form to report your results at http://mission-monarch.org. If you find nothing, that is of value also.
Continue reading →

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Biodiverse-City Hike Series: #1 Blue Mountain Hikes Sun July 29th, 9am and 1pm

Posted on July 23, 2018 by davidp

Click on image for larger version with hike details

“Hello HFNers! Karen McKendry here, in my new capacity as Wilderness Outreach Coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre. I’ve been given the wonderful task of leading hike that connect people with the region’s biodiversity, and was wondering if you would promote the first hike of a series on your social media streams.

“On Sunday, July 29th, I’ll be leading the first of our Biodiverse-city hikes, at Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes. We’ll explore the area’s biodiversity and examine how the area connects with the city’s Green Network Plan. We’ll also introduce people the other area’s new stewardship group. I hope HFN members will join us! Attached is a poster about the event.

“- Karen McKendry
Wilderness Outreach Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre
Kjipuktuk, Mi’kmaq Territory
2705 Fern Lane, Halifax, NS, B3K 4L3
Phone: (902) 442-5008”

… and congratulations and thanks to you, Karen, from HFN , on your new position.

Note: space limited, so sign up right away if serious..

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