Next year we officially turn twenty. Wow! Twenty years. The stories we have to tell! The drama we lived, the victories we celebrated and the losses we suffered are all part of the Somenos story.
Writing our story now is a fitting tribute to our past, and to our principles, which still guide us today. Our operating principles,defined in our constitution, were recently reviewed at an all-day strategic planning session and it was unanimous that theyremain unchanged. It was a great reminder that we are still the primary advocates for the Somenos marsh and that these principles have brought us to today where Somenos is reasonably safe from development's shovel. Every year the positives grow and the successes build...
Tundra to Tropics: Connecting Birds, Habitats, and People
Migratory birds travel long distances between breeding and non-breeding sites throughout the Western Hemisphere. In 2008, IMBD will explore the birds that make these fantastic journeys, the habitats on which they depend, and the people who are important to the conservation of birds and their habitats along the way.
International Migratory Bird Day is officially celebrated on the second Saturday in May in the U.S. and Canada. Most events will take place on May 10, 2008.
From late April to late May, the Taylor’s Checkerspot appears in open meadows, pastures, wetlands, and young clearcuts. Its wingspan is about 4 cm with distinctive red and white spots on its wings.
Don't attempt to capture Taylor's Checkerspot but photographs and accurate site records are very useful.
Taylor’s Checkerspot occurred historically in meadows of the Georgia Basin from Victoria to Courtenay. Most of these populations have disappeared in the last 50 years as a warming climate, invasive plants, and urbanization have reduced meadow habitats. It is now found on Denman Island.
Taylor's Checkerspot is an endangered species in Canada and has also declined in Washington and Oregon.
Please report any sightings to the BC Conservation Data Centre at 1-800-663-7867 (toll free) or or to Jennifer Heron at (604) 222-6759 or . This project issponsored by BC Ministry of Environment and Parks Canada.