Author Archives: Irene

The BLPA invites you to Regional Parks Snap & Share

Visit Burnaby Lake Regional Park to discover and connect with nature, contribute your observations to citizen science, and learn about the natural world around you.

Two easy steps to participate:

1. Go to iNaturalist.ca or download the iNaturalist app on your smartphone and set up an account.

2. Take photos in any Metro Vancouver regional park or greenway from May 15-June 13 and upload them to iNaturalist.

This spring, explore Metro Vancouver’s regional parks and greenways. Pay attention to plants and wildlife you haven’t noticed before. Then simply snap photos of what you discover and share your photos on iNaturalist.

iNaturalist is a great way to build your nature knowledge and get feedback on your observations. What’s more, you’ll be joining a global community of citizen scientists and contributing to biodiversity science.
It’s a fun outdoor activity for everyone, on your own or with your family bubble.

You can check out the Regional Parks Snap & Share project page on iNaturalist to see what others have been observing and view the leaderboard.

Please take photos safely. Don’t approach wildlife, stay on trails, and don’t pick or remove anything.

Win prizes!

  1. All registered participants will be entered into weekly draws:
    • Monday May 24: Family membership to Museum of Anthropology (2 adults and up to 4 children under 18)
    • Monday May 31: Family membership to Beaty Biodiversity Museum (2 adults and up to 4 children under 18)
    • Monday June 7: Family membership to Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association and commemorative book
    • Monday June 14: Gift certificate for 2 adults for any 1.5 hour-long virtual or in-person tour with Talaysay Tours
  2. Individual with the most observations: OWL Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society 40-minute owl pellet program with a bag of 10 owl pellets, plus a $60 gift card from Book Warehouse
  3. Individual with the most species observed: $120 gift certificate for Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, plus a $60 gift card from Book Warehouse

Please note:
To be eligible for prizes you’ll need to register for this project using this form. Register any time up to June 13.

If you’re new to iNaturalist:

We’re hosting a FREE “Introduction to iNaturalist” webinar on Tuesday, May 11th, 6:30-7:30pm. Presented by John Reynolds, SFU professor and iNaturalist expert. For the Zoom webinar link, click here.

You can also check out these tutorials on how iNaturalist works:

From the iNaturalist phone app: How to make an observation on iNaturalist

From the iNaturalist website: How to use iNaturalist’s Photo and Sound uploader

Generously hosted by:

The Pacific Parklands Foundation was founded in 2000 to protect and preserve Metro Vancouver’s regional parks. We understand that healthy parks help build healthy, happy people and strong communities. Please join us!

Other Participating Organizations

Boundary Bay Park Association, Catching the Spirit Youth Society, Colony Farm Park Association, Kanaka Education & Environmental Partnership Society, Minnekhada Park Association, Pacific Spirit Park Society

Prize Donors

Aboriginal & Eco Tours, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Museum of Anthropology, Talaysay Tours, Van Dusen Botanical Garden & Bloedel Conservatory

Tips & Tricks

  • Remember to turn on the GPS location function for your camera or mobile device so coordinates can be embedded into your photo
  • While you can use the app in the park, it can take time and data.
  • We actually recommend you take as many photo observations as you can while in the park and when you get home, upload them via your computer.
  • Either download your photos onto your computer or upload from your mobile device (like an external drive).

BLPA Board – Call for Expression of Interest

The BLPA is looking for a few new directors to join the Board at our next Annual General Meeting which will take place on May 19, 2021. For the term ahead, we are currently searching for individuals who can contribute to the organization with their developed skills in one or more areas such as:

  • Financial Management
  • Stewardship and Ecological Restoration
  • Project Management
  • Human Resources

In addition, ideal candidates will have any of the following:

  • Passion for Burnaby Lake Regional Park and Nature
  • Strong interest in protecting our parks
  • Experience working with nonprofit boards

So what does it mean to be on the BLPA Board? 

  • This graphic shows the general responsibilities both of the Board as a collective of its Fiduciary duties, and for the individual board member. 
  • The term is for two years. 
  • Additional information can be found in the BLPA’s Constitution & Bylaws in sections 5, 6 and 7.
  • The BLPA Board meets on the third Wednesday of each month, 7-9 pm. We are currently meeting by Zoom.
  • When we are able to meet in person again, they will take place at the Metro Vancouver Central Area office on Avalon Avenue.
  • Additional time spent depends on what else you decide to get involved with such as subcommittees (e.g., governance, stewardship) and/or hands on volunteering with activities such as stewardship and outreach. 

We appreciate our new members providing a valuable fresh perspective on things and new ideas.

Interested candidates are asked to prepare a cover letter and resume outlining their skills and experience related to the position. Both should be submitted with an Expression of Interest form to Manish Kumar, Chair of the Nominating Committee at manish.k.mani (at) gmail.com.

DEADLINE: 5 pm, March 30, 2021.

If you have any further questions, you can contact the BLPA’s Chair, Irene Lau.

Download: Expression of Interest form.

Three Years and Things are Still Ducky

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

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!

Remember – dogs are not allowed onto Piper Spit and must follow the Regional Park Canine Code of Conduct, and bicycles are not permitted on the park trails, only on the Central Valley Greenway.

You can send questions about birds or any topic on our Feedback Form here.