Halifax Field Naturalists

The joint NSNT/HFN weekend on the floodplain of the St. Mary’s River scheduled for this weekend is cancelled because of heavy flooding caused by recent rain. We may try to reschedule.

Photos from the joint Nova Scotia Nature Trust/HFN field trip of August 18th, 2012, and the full species inventory for the Purcell’s Cove Conservation Lands (PCCL) are posted on this website. See PCCL Photos & PCCL Inventory. The PCCL is the only formally protected area in the “Purcell’s Backlands”.

Artist Deborah Wiles has created a series of 50 paintings featuring Nova Scotia’s wild flowers to raise funds for a modest International Artists’ Retreat that she is building at a rural Nova Scotia site. Read more

Beginning on the eastern shore of Williams Lake, we will traverse a variety of habitat types – Hurricane Juan recovery sites, ravines, wetlands, old forests, barrens, and a recent fire burn-over. On the way are a few splendid views over William’s Lake and the surrounding area. Read more

Exciting news this week – Peter Bigelow will be presenting the BMBC Park Conceptual Plan to the HRM Sustainability Committee on Thursday – 1-4, at former Dartmouth Chambers, 90 Alderney. This presentation is necessary to gain approvals and then to go before Council. To locate the Plan, go to: http://www.halifax.ca/boardscom/swrac/ESSC120906.html see 7.1.2. See also the 7.1.3 Urban Forest Master Plan on same agenda…it may be a long meeting. The public is encouraged to attend.

HFNers will especially appreciate Geoffrey Grantham’s en plein air paintings from the Purcell’s Cove Backlands. They are on show September 8th to 29th, 2012 at the Swoon gallery, with an opening reception on Saturday September 8th. Read more

Dr. Graham Daborn, Acadia Tidal Energy Institute, will review the prospects for, and the problems of, tidal power generation in the Bay of Fundy. 7:30 p.m. at the NSMNH (Our first meeting for the fall season.) Read more

Walk beginning at 1pm, start at the south-eastern corner of Williams Lake, go to Colpitt Lake; a variety of habitat types – Hurricane Juan recovery sites, ravines, wetlands, old forests, barrens, and a recent fire burn-over. read more

This walk is hosted jointly by HFN and Nova Scotia Nature Trust (NSNT), and led by an NSNT staff member. It involves participants in documenting the flora and fauna of Purcell’s Cove Conservation Lands (PCCL). This urban wilderness property is very accessible. Read more

A Rally/Information Session to address options for the Bowater-Mersey Lands will be held at 7 p.m. at the Hubley Community Hall, 4408 St. Margaret’s Bay Road. There is lot’s at stake for forestry, recreation, conservation – please attend! Read more
Note: our next field trip (July 28) is to The Old Annapolis Road Hiking Trail which lies on the Mersey St. Margaret’s Bay Block. See Walks

Dr. Tony Charles at SMU is project leader for a new Community Conservation Research Network. “We’re looking at … achieving a balance between jobs and a reasonably healthy environment,” Charles says. “How do we do that in practice?” Read more

John Klymko & the Maritime Butterfly Atlas are featured in a story n The Weather Network about the exceptional butterfly numbers we’re experiencing – see video, also an earlier report on the Red Admiral butterfly migration