We’re switching up work party locations this month and heading west to Phillips Point at the north west part of Burnaby Lake Regional Park. However, we will meet up at the Burnaby Lake Nature Houselocated at 4519 Piper Avenue. Please see note below about the Winston Street Sewer project which may affect travel times.
We are removing invasive Himalayan Blackberry, English Ivy and Holly plants. As you can see from the photos above, these grow like weeds in this location!
While the current forecast looks good, weather can change quickly. Check the forecast and dress for the conditions. Once you are registered, our coordinator will contact you if there are any changes.
* SPRING 2022 – late 2024: Please note that the Metro Vancouver Winston Street Sewer Project may have temporary lane closures and detours along Winston Street and Lougheed Highway as the project progresses. Bike detours and parking restrictions will be in effect near the work zones. Residents and businesses will be notified in advance about specific traffic impacts as the project progresses. Motorists and cyclists are advised to use alternate routes and follow the direction of signage and traffic control personnel.
Are any of these activities on your goals for the new year?
Get outside
Meet new people
Get exercise
Volunteer
Learn about the nature around you
Actively take part in environmental stewardship
Give back to your community
We have some opportunities coming up that can tick these things off your list!
With the milder winter and no snow on the ground so far – we’re jumping right into our Weedbusters invasive species removal program at the Burnaby Lake Nature House. You will be able to meet other people who care and actively take care of the environment and contirbute to the ongoing stewardship of Burnaby Lake Regional Park.
No experience necessary – training and snacksprovided!
These work parties will take place from 11 am to 2 pm.
We were contacted by Thor Diakow from Vancouver is Awesome to meet him and tell him about our fine feathered friend. It gave us the opportunity to reflect about what this bird has brought to the Burnaby Lake community.
PR. Public Relations. Permanent Resident.
As “Trevor” the Mandarin Duck approaches the “3 year requirement” for his permanent resident status, we figure he has done a lot of PR for for Burnaby Lake and Nature, since he decided to make it his home.
He first appeared on our radar in May 2018 and has delighted park users old and new since. The Burnaby Lake community has been respectful with our local celebrity and kept his presence relatively low key until his counter part in New York City’s Central Park “Hot Duck” shone the spotlight here and drew many people to Burnaby Lake Regional Park, some for the very first time.
There is never a guarantee you will see Trevor on your visit – whether it’s your first or fiftieth visit. Perhaps you have come to the park with the specific goal of seeing him, or you are on a walk for your physical and mental wellness, especially during the pandemic. But while you are here, maybe you will find your spark bird.
In birding, the term “spark bird” defines the one that ignites your interest in birds. Whether you are 5 or 75, there will be one that catches your eye and intrigues you enough to ask someone to identify it and you spend some time learning more. It doesn’t have be a rare fancy duck, but one that is more common here like its cousin – the beautiful Wood Duck, a dapper Northern Pin Tail, a sweet Chestnut-backed Chickadee or like a Red-winged Blackbird. This last one is the species that caught the attention of author Julia Zarankin, at age 35, and sent her on her birding journey as described in her memoir, Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder. And once you connect to birds, you are connected to Nature, which is part of the BLPA’s mission. We hope that you will return often and have the opportunity to enjoy and get involved with our activities once we are able to restart them.
Thor, an avid birder himself, was lucky enough that Trevor decided to show up just before he was about to leave (thanks for spotting him, Sheila Linn!) so he was able to get some footage and share his story on Vancouver is Awesome.
So if you are interested in birds, watch out for news about (Metro) Vancouver Bird Week, taking place May 8-16, 2021. Event details are still being sorted out, and will likely be a combination of webinars and socially distanced events as well as activities you can do you on your own or household group.
Metro Vancouver Regional Park Interpreters will be hosting a few bird related events with safety protocols in place
Piper Spit Bird Count – once a month on Tuesdays, 9-11 AM; ages 15+, co-ed, Free March 9, April 13, May 11, June 8
When visiting Burnaby Lake Regional Park, please follow the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks COVID-19 safety guidelines. While on Piper Spit, take turns to allow others to have the opportunity enjoy the views. When it is not possible to physically distance from others, please wear a mask. If you do want to feed the birds, please do not feed them bread, and only bring a reasonable amount of seed per person. You can see with the amount of people, they will not go hungry!
