PGNC News & Notes, May 1, 2024


  • PGNC Nature Walk and Introduction to eBird, 8:30 a.m. Saturday May 4
  • PGNC Memberships: New and Renewals
  • PGNC Next Executive Meeting, Wednesday June 12
  • Report: PGNC Curlew Field Trip, April 21
  • Report: PGNC Hudson’s Bay Wetland Cleanup, 9 a.m. Sunday April 28
  • REAPS Annual General Meeting, 2 p.m. Saturday May 4
  • BC Nature: Bat Ambassador Training, May 30 and June 6
  • FWCP: Deadline to submit applications to join the Board: Monday June 3, 2024
  • BC Nature webinar: Tackling the Problem of Agricultural Pesticide Use to Protect Bugs & Birds
  • Good News from Nature Trust of BC
  • About this newsletter

Club News and Events

PGNC Nature Walk and Introduction to eBird, 8:30 a.m. Saturday May 4

PGNC Memberships: New and Renewals

Thank you to everyone who is joining the PGNC or renewing memberships for 2024.

 Your membership supports the Prince George Naturalists Club and BC Nature, our parent organization, in all their good work.

E-Transfer is available by sending to PrinceGeorgeNaturalistsClub@gmail.com and it goes directly into the Club’s bank account. No secret word is needed. Payments by cheque can be mailed to Prince George Naturalists Club, PO Box 1092, Prince George BC V2L 4V2. 

Memberships run from January 1 to December 31. Cost is $25 per calendar year for individuals, $40 for a family, and $15 for students. Benefits of membership: Subscription to the online version of BC Nature magazine, liability insurance coverage for Club work parties and field trips, and access to popular events limited to Club members only. Add $5 if you wish to receive a printed version of the BC Nature magazine in the mail.

“To be a naturalist is to be joyful, inquisitive, and at home in the world. To be home is to treat every life form as a family member”: Marina Richie.

PGNC Next Executive Meeting, Wednesday June 12

The next Executive meeting will be on Wednesday June 12. All members are welcome to attend. If you wish to attend, send an email to the Club at princegeorgenaturalistsclub@gmail.com to obtain meeting details.

Report: PGNC Curlew Field Trip, Sunday April 21

Nineteen people joined us for our annual field trip to see the Long-billed Curlews and to check out the marsh at the end of the road. It was a fun day and the weather…mostly cooperated. Of course we observed plenty of bird species besides the numerous Long-billed Curlews. Thanks for coming!

Report: PGNC Hudson’s Bay Wetland Cleanup, Sunday April 28

Special thanks to the five brave souls who chose nature on April 28 and came down to Hudson’s Bay Wetland with us to pick up garbage despite the rain! Nature appreciates your efforts!

Other Events and News

REAPS Annual General Meeting, 2 p.m. Saturday May 4

The Recycling and Environmental Action Planning Society (R.E.A.P.S.) AGM will be at the Bob Harkins branch of the Prince George Public Library from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday May 4. The Society is seeking passionate, dedicated individuals to join the Board to bring a collaborative, joyful, and energetic approach to bolster their work for a green sustainable community where people and the planet thrive.  

You will obtain valuable volunteer experience that looks great on your resume; share your skills, time and expertise; meet and network with others who are active in the recycling community; help green your local community; learn new skills and create a better work-life balance. 

Our board provides leadership and oversight for our programs and activities.  Directors collaboratively represent the interests of our members and the broader community.

For more information on the positions email volunteer@reaps.org. Contact the R.E.A.P.S. office at 561-7327 and check out our website at www.reaps.org

BC Nature: Bat Ambassador Training, May 30 and June 6

BC Nature is offering an online training opportunity with BC Community Bats Program to become a certified Bat Ambassador. Registration can be completed here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bat-ambassador-training-tickets-885673933577?aff=oddtdtcreator

More information about Bat Ambassadors can be found here: https://bcbats.ca/get-involved/become-a-bat-ambassador/

FWCP: Deadline to submit applications to join the Board: Monday June 3, 2024

The Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program is seeking a new public board member for the Peace Region Board. If you’re interested in fish and wildlife, have experience working with stewardship groups, and are ready to help make important decisions about our work in the Peace Region, apply by Monday, June 3 to join our Peace Region board. We hope to welcome a new public board member this summer. For more details see this link: https://fwcp.ca/join-peace-region-board/

BC Nature webinar: Tackling the Problem of Agricultural Pesticide Use to Protect Bugs & Birds

Dr. Christy Morrissey of University of Saskatchewan recently presented a webinar on tackling the problem of agricultural pesticide use to protect bugs and birds. A recording is now available on Nature Canada’s Youtube channel here. If you have any questions for Dr. Morrisey you can reach out to her at:  christy.morrissey@usask.ca

Good News from Nature Trust of BC

Thanks to your help, we have reached our $1.5 million fundraising goal that will protect two critical conservation areas in Northern B.C. Known as Crescent Spur and Cranberry Marsh – West, the protection of these two land areas will ensure a variety of rich ecological landscape is protected forever, from ancient inland forests to grassland ecosystems. The journey is not over. We need to provide ongoing support through restoration and management of these 285 acres. You can ensure this by donating today. Go to https://www.naturetrust.bc.ca to donate.

About This Newsletter

The newsletter is sent from the PGNC mailing address: princegeorgenaturalistsclub@gmail.com. We welcome contributions from members and supporters about matters of interest to naturalists. Feel free to send stories and links to princegeorgenaturalistsclub@gmail.com.

PGNC News & Notes, January 21, 2024


  • PGNC Next Executive Meeting, Wednesday February 14, 2024
  • PGNC Memberships: New and Renewals
  • BC Nature Magazine paper version now costs $5 a year
  • NCENBIRD is up and running again!
  • Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWPC) Events
  • BC Nature Webinar, Thursday February 8, 6 to 7 p.m.
  • Ferguson Lake Wetlands
  • About this newsletter

Club News and Events

PGNC Next Executive Meeting, Wednesday February 14, 2024

The next Executive meeting will be on the evening of Wednesday February 14. All members are welcome to attend. If you wish to attend, send an email to the Club at princegeorgenaturalistsclub@gmail.com to obtain meeting details.

BC Nature Magazine paper version now costs $5 a year

BC Nature has found it necessary to charge $5 a year to each member if they wish a paper version of BC Nature magazine. If you would like to receive a paper version of BC Nature Magazine, send $5 to the PGNC by e-transfer, along with your membership renewal, to princegeorgenaturalistsclub@gmail.com. The club’s membership person will adjust the database so you receive your paper copy in the mail.

PGNC Memberships: New and Renewals

Thank you to everyone who is joining the PGNC or renewing memberships for 2024. Your membership supports the Prince George Naturalists Club and BC Nature, our parent organization, in all their good work.

E-Transfer is available by sending to PrinceGeorgeNaturalistsClub@gmail.com and it goes directly into the Club’s bank account. No secret word is needed. Payments by cheque can be mailed to Prince George Naturalists Club, PO Box 1092, Prince George BC V2L 4V2. 

Memberships run from January 1 to December 31. Cost is $25 per calendar year for individuals, $40 for a family, and $15 for students. Benefits of membership: Subscription to the online version of the BC Nature magazine, liability insurance coverage for Club work parties and field trips, and access to popular events limited to Club members only. Add $5 if you wish to receive a printed version of the BC Nature magazine in the mail.

“To be a naturalist is to be joyful, inquisitive, and at home on the world. To be home is to treat every life form as a family member”: Marina Richie.

NCENBIRD is up and running again!

In 2020,Telus bought our host ISP, ABC Communications. Without any warning to us, Telus decommissioned everything ABC Communications at the end of October, 2023. That meant no more NCENBIRD, no more access to the subscription list, no more access to stored messages.

To sign up for the new NCENBIRD send an email to ncenbird@googlegroups.com OR sjkinsey@direct.ca OR bstevent@telus.net and we will subscribe you directly. Any questions can be sent to Bob or Sandra.

Other Events and News

Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWPC)

The FWCP is running a series of information sessions in early 2024. Here are details about two in the Peace Region.

  • Spatiothermal ecology of Arctic grayling in the Parsnip River Watershed (UNBC’s Colloquium Series), Wednesday, January 24, at 12 p.m. PST.
  • Improving fish passage in our Peace Region, Friday, February 23, at 12 p.m. PST  

For registration see this link: https://fwcp.ca/events/

BC Nature Webinar, Thursday February 8, 6 to 7 p.m.

BC Nature invitation: Join us for an evening with Dr. Jennifer Bonnell to learn about her new book Stewards of Splendour: A History of Wildlife and People in British Columbia. This one hour webinar will begin with a conversation between Dr. Bonnell and retired wildlife biologist Tom Ethier, then move to an open question period at the end. Please note: This event will be recorded and posted afterwards if you are not able to join at this time. Here’s the link to the registration: http://tinyurl.com/4nh6s6s8

Ferguson Lake Wetlands

Prince George Naturalists Club has a long history of connection with the Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve. The Club worked with the BC Nature Trust to establish the Reserve in the 1990s. The Nature Trust is now raising funds to protect 129.2 hectares of wetland, riparian forest, and mixed forest ecosystems next to the Ferguson Lake Conservation Area owned by the Trust. For more information see: https://www.naturetrust.bc.ca/our-projects/ferguson-lake-wetlands

About this Newsletter 

The newsletter is sent from the PGNC mailing address: princegeorgenaturalistsclub@gmail.com. We welcome contributions from members and supporters about matters of interest to naturalists. Feel free to send stories and links to princegeorgenaturalistsclub@gmail.com.