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.
Are you interested in birding? Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with the Burnaby Lake .Park Association.
DATE: Saturday, October 14 TIME: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm* MEET: Burnaby Lake Nature House
Join BLPA Directors, volunteers and local birders as they share their knowledge and enthusiasm for the birds of Burnaby Lake and beyond. With fall migration in full swing, this is a great time to see both seasonal visitors and local year-round species.
Visit our display* (from 10 am to 2 pm) to learn about the birds you might see at Burnaby Lake, how you can keep birds safe all year especially during migration, our nest box program including getting nest box plans.
We’ve got several guided outings that you can register for.
This year, World Migratory Bird Day is focused on the importance of water for migratory birds. The vast majority of migratory birds rely on aquatic ecosystems during their life cycles. Inland and coastal wetlands, rivers, lakes, streams, marshes, and ponds are all vital for feeding, drinking, or nesting, and also as places to rest and refuel during their long journeys. Unfortunately, aquatic ecosystems are becoming increasingly threatened around the world and so are the migratory birds that depend on them.
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.
Please note that advance registration is required as space is limited. These outings will take place, rain or shine. If you are no longer able to make it, please cancel your registration so that another person may attend.
More information:
MEETING LOCATION: We will be set up 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 the weather is nice, the parking lot can be very busy. You may need to park along Piper Avenue or at Warner Loat Park right off of Winston which is a 450 m/5 minute walk to the Nature House. There are also train tracks crossing which may be blocked from time to time. See map below.
If you would like detailed driving directions or how to get there by transit, click here.
Join the Burnaby Lake Park Association on guided walks to help you connect to nature in the environment around you.
Have you ever gone for a walk in the park and saw a cool looking insect, pretty flower or beautiful bird and you wondered what it was?
Sign up for a guided Nature Walk with a BLPA Guide to learn how to use some of the most popular nature apps to help identify what you have seen and connect to Nature! They will review how to make an observation using the app and offer tips and tricks to get the best identification for your nature encounters and keep track of them.
You will be able to go out and use the apps right away in the park and may “snap” a photo of many of the native species that BLPA volunteers have planted, and the year round and seasonal birds that have been observed at Burnaby Lake!
Our tent and display will be set up twice this month in front of the Nature House from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm:
Sunday, August 13th
Sunday, August 27th
There will be a session for iNaturalist and one for Merlin Bird ID/eBird on each day. For details and registration information, click on the dates above.
Spaces are limited. Guided walks are FREE but registration is required for each walk. When you register, The registration links above will provide full details on how to download the apps and set up your accounts so you are prepared for the day of the event.
What is iNaturalist?
It is one of the world’s most popular nature apps
It helps you identify the plants and animals around you.
What are Merlin and eBird?
They are 2 of the world’s most popular birding apps
The Merlin app helps you identify the birds around you – by sight or sound!
eBird creates a checklist of the birds you have seen so you can track your observations
By recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature. Using these apps connects you to a community off over a million citizen scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature!
You can take your skills with these apps with you! Whether you are going for a walk in your neighbourhood, on a hike in a provincial park or even travel to a different country thousands of kilometers away, these apps will help you identify the nature around you.
