Author Archives: Irene

Fall Sunday Funday with the BLPA

It’s tempting to let the cooler and damp days coax you into hibernation. But research has shown time and time again that the more time we spend outdoors, the happier and healthier we become. Nature is a necessary part of our wellness for body, mind and spirit.

With that in mind, we have planned a Fall Sunday Funday! You can roll up your sleeves and plant some native species, go on a guided nature outing and or learn how to use iNaturalist, one of world’s most popular nature ID apps, and go on a themed walk and look for Pokémon characters that are based on real life animals and plants or a Lord of the Rings themed walk and see how Burnaby Lake Regional Park can stand in for Middle Earth!

Click on the links for more information.

Events are free but spots are limited and registration is required.

Make sure you follow us on social media to keep up to date on happenings and seasonal changes in Burnaby Lake Regional Park!
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Salmon Sunday at Cariboo Dam

One of the great things about the return of the traditional fall weather – cooler temperatures and rain – is the return of spawning salmon. Join the BLPA and our friends to celebrate their return!

DATE: Sunday, October 27
TIME: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
MEET: Cariboo Dam

Cariboo Dam, located at the east end of Burnaby Lake, is a great spot to view one of the great miracles of the natural world as salmon return from the ocean to their natal stream to spawn and complete their life cycle.

Visit our display to learn about salmon, the history of Cariboo Dam, the birds and wildlife you will see around the park during this time of year, the history of the BLPA, our activities and how to get involved!

We will be joined by our friends from Eagle Creek Streamkeepers and the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society, who run the fish hatchery and collaborate with Department of Fisheries and Oceans to operate the camera and fish counter at Cariboo Dam.

Pick up a Waterways of Burnaby poster so you can find the streams in your neighbourhood.

We are also offering 2 guided nature walks

You can also share your salmon sightings with the Watershed Watch Salmon Society‘s annual Salmon Spawn Watch. With climate change and other pressures, the number of salmon returning to each stream every year is changing. You can help them better understand what is happening with salmon around the province with just your phone and a social media account. Learn how to take part here and be eligible for prizes!

Cariboo Dam overlooks the Brunette River to the East where the salmon have made their way from the Fraser. They will spawn in the Brunette or make their way up any of the tributaries such as Stoney Creek or Eagle Creek. Some of them will rest and continue up the beautiful fishway into Burnaby Lake.

The start of the salmon spawning season at Cariboo Dam on October 17, 2024. The Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society operate the hatchery in east Burnaby and will be joining us on the 27th. – Photo: D. Nadalin

Salmon come back to their natal stream where they were ‘born’ because they ‘know’ it is a good place to spawn; they won’t waste time looking for a stream with good habitat and other salmon. Scientists believe that salmon navigate by using the earth’s magnetic field like a compass.When they find the river they came from, they start using smell to find their way back to their home stream. They build their ‘smell memory-bank’ when they start migrating to the ocean as young fish.1

Cariboo Dam is located on Cariboo Road between Government Road and Avalon Avenue in Burnaby, BC. You can park at the lot at 9157 Avalon Avenue or look here for directions.

1 US Geological Survey

World Migratory Bird Day – Fall 2024

Are you interested in birding? Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with the BLPA! With Fall migration in full swing, this is a great time to see both seasonal visitors and local year-round species.

We’re offering guided outings and workshops to show you how to use the top birding apps.

Stop by the BLPA display booths to learn more about migrating birds, how to help birds, the work we do and how to get involved! SFU Masters student Vanessa Hum will be there to educate about bird and window collisions and what you can do to help out at your home, business or school. Our friends from the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC will join us to show you what to do if you find an injured bird and how to keep birds safe.

We welcome everyone, including people with disabilities, people who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC), and people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+). We’ll be using Burnaby Lake Regional Park trails which are accessible to wheelchair-users, people who use mobility aids, or child strollers.

This year, the theme for World Migratory Bird Day is Protect Bugs, Protect Birds! Insects are essential sources of energy for many migratory bird species, not only during the breeding seasons but also during their extensive journeys and greatly affect the timing, duration, and overall success of bird migrations. Along their migration routes, birds actively seek out insects in fields, forests, wetlands, and various habitats during stopovers.

The timing of bird migration often coincides with peak insect abundance at stopover locations, supplying nourishment for birds to replenish their energy reserves before continuing their journeys. The loss and disturbance of insect populations at breeding sites and along avian migration routes threaten bird survival and well-being. Natural spaces like forests and grasslands that have been transformed or endangered by intensive agriculture and urban development and its effects such as light pollution can result in a decline in insect populations.

The 2024 WMBD campaign stresses the need for proactive conservation measures. This includes reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and where possible, switching to organic farming. Other measures include maintaining and connecting areas of natural vegetation which provide food and shelter for birds and other species, in agricultural landscapes.

Please note that advance registration is required for the outings and workshops as we will have a maximum of 15 participants per outing. These outings are approximately 90 minutes in length, rain or shine.

More information:

MEETING LOCATION: Meet near the kiosk in front of the Burnaby Lake Nature House – look for the BLPA flag.

*Construction notice* – Please take note that there is construction along Winston Street which includes single lane traffic that may add an additional 5 minutes to your trip. Details for the Winston Street Sewer project can be found here.

If you would like detailed driving directions or how to get there by transit, click here.

We look forward to seeing you! Space is limited. If you are no longer able to make it, we ask that you cancel your ticket so that someone else may attend.