Halifax Field Naturalists

HFN is noted for speedy rather than lengthy AGMs, always followed by wonderful photo presentations. Also, the Colin Stewart Conservation Award will be presented & we have a social (tea and biscuits) afterwards. All welcome. 7:30 pm at the NS Museum of Natural History on Summer Street.

CBC Interview with Matt Miller of EAC. The strategy set timelines but there has been a lack of progress on significant issues. He explains the difficulties with the government’s definition of clearcutting. Go to CBC interview

“This plan advances Nova Scotia’s efforts to protect and conserve the natural landscape, potentially adding 221 properties and more than 245 000 hectares (ha) – a combined landmass equal to nearly one-quarter the size of Cape Breton Island. And it proposes to protect more than 13 per cent of our province’s outstanding lands. This plan will be the basis of our final consultation with Nova Scotians in 2013. Before any lands are finalized, we want to hear from you. ” Read more

“For Just One Time, to Take The Northwest Passage”…Michael Downing, a long time member and former director of the HFN, will show photos, describe highlights, and share impressions from a commercial touring cruise which ran from late August to early September 2011. Read more

This joint trip with the Nova Scotia Bird Society will visit all of our favourite winter birding sites in and around Halifax Harbour looking for ducks, gulls, and alcids. Sites include Hartlen Point, Eastern Passage, Dartmouth Cove, Sullivan’s Pond, Tuft’s Cove, and the Bedford Waterfront. Read more

A Nova Scotia Institute of Science presentation by Dr. Doug Wallace. Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Ocean Science and Technology, Dalhousie University. 7:30pm at Museum of Natural History Auditorium, 1747 Summer St., Halifax. See Poster

Come to our first talk for the New Year and learn about the SS Atlantic, a White Star Line ship that was wrecked on Nova Scotia’s shores in the worst trans-Atlantic passenger ship disaster of the nineteenth century. Bob Chaulk, who helped author a book on the dramatic story of the Atlantic, will share his unique perspective on the loss of this fine ship. NSMNH 7:30 p.m. Read more

Peter and Linda Payzant have redesigned and updated their Butterflies of Nova Scotia website. Every species in N.S. is presented, together with data on distribution, breeding status, flight period etc. See novascotiabutterflies.ca

Many have been expecting that the province would buy the Bowater lands (555,000 acres in total), and a deal was announced today. Amongst many beneficiaries, it’s good news for wildlife in the Blue Mt.-Birch Cove Lakes and Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Areas as the adjacent, much larger St. Margaret’s Bay District Bowater Lands will be under provincial control. The province has asked groups to submit proposals to operate Crown forestlands in their communities as “community forests” a move described as “a huge opportunity for Nova Scotians to pull together and find creative solutions for our economy and our environment”. Read more

Dr. Peter Wells will give an illustrated talk on the evolution of the concepts of conservation from a North American western perspective – from Gilbert White and John Audubon through to modern-day conservationists. 7:30 p.m. at NSMNH. Our Holiday Social follows the talk. Read more

The Association for the Preservation of the Eastern Shore calls on citizens of the Eastern Shore & supporters to march on the legislature. Meet December 7, 2012, 1P.M. @ Grande Parade, Halifax. APES will be depositing its responses to the Environmental Assessments posted as part of Snow Island Salmon’s application for open pen salmon feedlots in Shoal Bay and Spry Harbour with the Minister of the Environment. Read more

On the NatureNS ListServ, a participant felt that “we all need to be reminded of the Principles of Birding Ethics”, commenting that “I have witnessed entire colonies of nesting birds put to wing and young and flightless birds photographed in hand. I have also experienced binoculars staring about in my back yard as I rise from my bed on a Sunday morning, without notice or warning. On some of our lists I’ve even been given lessons on how to trespass and bypass security.” View Code of Birding Ethics