Coast Restoration Projects

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Bob Kennedy

The Clean Foundation is currently undertaking several projects to restore wild habitat along Nova Scotia’s coasts. You can find out more at cleanfoundation.ca

Posted in conservation | Leave a comment

3 locations for iNaturalist City Nature Challenge in NS this year

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Bob Kennedy

The annual world-wide City Nature Challenge for 2022 is being hosted again by iNaturalist from April 29 to May 8. This year we have three separate NS sites participating: HRM, the Annapolis Valley (Kings and Hants counties) and CBRM.

You can find out about it here. We will keep members updated as more information develops.

This graphic shows last year’s results

Posted in events | Leave a comment

National Invasive Species Awareness Week – February 28th – March 4th

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Bob Kennedy

Registration for the many invasive species webinars being held during the week can be found at https://mailchi.mp/canadainvasives/nisaw2022webinars?e=b9a5a72e31

Posted in conservation | Leave a comment

Feb 28 Online Member’s Meeting: Introducing iNaturalist and the City Nature Challenge

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Bob Kennedy

There will be a members Zoom meeting on Feb 28 at 7:00PM. All NSWFS members should have recently received an email invitation. Please contact Anne Mills ocotillo8@gmail.com if you did not.

Mary Kennedy will provide us with an introduction to both iNaturalist and the City Nature Challenge. Learn how to join the iNat community, contribute to a global citizen science program, and help highlight wild flora found here in NS.

As part of this presentation you will learn how to explore content, how to create your own account, how to share observations (old and new), and how to comment on observations shared by others. Learn how to contribute to projects and how to provide feedback on how to improve content associated with wild flora.

The second part of the presentation will be ‘hands on’. Members can learn how to create their own profile on iNat and practice uploading and reviewing observations. In preparation please have handy a number of photos of wild flora from known locations.

There will be plenty of time to discuss issues, to share feedback, and to exchange ideas.

 

iNaturalist is a recognized citizen science program. iNaturalist Canada is led by the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) along with Parks Canada, NatureServe Canada and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), which collectively make up the iNaturalist Canada Steering Committee. The platform is managed by the steering committee in collaboration with iNaturalist.org which is a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society.

The primary objective of iNaturalist is to help people connect with Nature.

In 2019 to help introduce iNat to Nova Scotians HRM was registered to participate in the global City Nature Challenge. The following year three areas in NS were registered. In 2022 HRM, CBRM, and the Valley (Kings and Annapolis Counties) are once again registered to participate. This 4-day event is an excellent opportunity to encourage people to get outdoors, to explore, to observe nature, to share observations, and to have fun.

Prior to the 2022 CNC event local groups such as the NSWFS are encouraged to browse and review existing observations and provide feedback on ways to improve content. A quick review filtered for plants with locations in Nova Scotia shows 207,712 observations of 2,633 species from 7509 observers. Over 3000 members helped suggest names for these observations.

 

 

Posted in Featured Talks | Leave a comment

Friends of Eisner’s Cove Wetland seeking support 14Feb2022

Posted on February 14, 2022 by admin

Rhodora in flower at Eisner’s Cove Wetland. View more about the site 

From Susan Van Iderstine:

“I am writing on behalf of the Friends of Eisner Cove Wetland, a group of citizens headed by Bill Zebedee. We are dedicated to the preservation of the wetland and its protective forest belt, situated in Dartmouth, and we are very concerned about a large residential development proposal currently in planning for the wetland site. We are asking for your help and support.

“The property including and surrounding the wetland and its watercourse was once owned by the Province. It was sold a few years ago to private ownership. In 2021 the owner, A. J. LeGrow Holdings, partnered with Clayton Development and Zzap Consulting to propose a mixed residential neighbourhood, including single and multiple family dwellings and two apartment buildings, as well as an elevated access roadway that will cross directly over the wetland. The site is referred to by the city as the Southdale Future Growth Node. The planning process has been initiated and was approved by Halifax City Council on January 11, 2022. You can find information about the proposal here: https://www.shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/southdale-planning Continue reading →

Posted in conservation | Leave a comment

Upcoming Eagle Hill Online Mini-Seminar 2022

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Bob Kennedy
 

The Genus Quercus: Ecology, Evolution, and Global Distribution

Instructor: Paul Manos
Dates: March 21st–March 25th, 2022
Times: 7PM–9PM ET

Scheduling Details: Three sessions: March 21, 23, 25
Tuition Cost: $125

Description: The oaks (Quercus, Fagaceae) comprise more than 430 species distributed across temperate and tropical regions of the northern hemisphere. They are among the bestknown and most ecologically significant forest trees in North America (including Mexico) and Eurasia. Oaks have shaped forest and savanna ecosystems and the diversity of urban forests, often molding the development of human civilization and mythology. This 3-part seminar introduces students to basic oak biology and traits, with a focus on the evolutionary history of the eight major clades. We examine recent investigations into the pattern and timing of the oak tree of life, historical biogeography, ecological niche differentiation, and consequences of hybridization. Case studies include oak species complexes from western and southeastern North America, with updates on the current state of oak classification as informed by phylogenomic data. Current research will highlight what the future might hold for oaks and the myriad of associated biota that depend on them. Ethnobotanical notes on oaks will be presented throughout the seminar. Along with introductions, the first session provides organization details for
sharing oak-related content/photos with the group for later discussion.

• Full, color flyer for this seminar is available here.

• Participants need to have a Zoom account (https://zoom.us ; sign-up is free). They will receive a secure link to join the seminar before it begins.

• Individual classes will be recorded and made available to stream (not download) for the duration of the seminar by its participants, so they are able to review them or make up missed ones.

Register at The Eagle Hill Institute

Also, if you are interested in oaks, you might enjoy reading “The Nature of Oaks” by Douglas W. Tallamy (recommended by Bob Kennedy)

Posted in natural history | Leave a comment

Miss Members’ Slide Night? It’s posted on YouTube 27Jan2022

Posted on January 27, 2022 by admin

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

NSWFS Field Trip. Jan 29/22 – Crystal Crescent Beach

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Bob Kennedy
Photos Charles Cron
Crystal Crescent Beach Park. Meet 10:00 am. Weather permitting. Meet at the Park entrance which is gated and closed. There is parking space for at least 5 -7 cars , with additional spaces along the side of the entrance road outside the gate. Be careful not to block the road.
We will follow the road to the first enlarged parking lot inside the gate. Then along the boardwalk and trail bordering Coote Cove and may go to Mackerel Cove and “The Enchanted Forest”. There is also an alternate trail to the south east which we may also visit but may be too icy. Plants to see: Amophila, Elymus, Black and White Spruce, Viburnums, Chokeberry, Ilex verticilliata, Alders,  Juncus gerardii,  Carex silicea and others.
Directions to Crystal Crescent: Follow road signs to Harrietsfield, Williams Wood and Sambro (at intersection turn right – at Misoo’s Riteway store), then East Pennant Road (left turn) then left again to Sambro Creek: The park entrance is about 1/2k,  at Back Cove see sign and entrance road on the right. This is a Provincial Park and should not be difficult to find.
Please register  with me  By Friday  Jan 28 ; Call 902 477 8272 or email >ccron72@hotmail.com< .Do not email on Sat Jan 29 I will not see it. Call my cell 902 430 4785 if lost or change plan. Covid -19 precautions will be observed.
Dress for winter weather: parka, insulated boots, wool socks, warm gloves, etc. The wind is very cold out there.
Posted in walks | Leave a comment

Jan 24 Online Members Meeting: Member’s Slide Show

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Bob Kennedy

NS Wild Flora Society is inviting all members to participate in our Members Slide Night, which is part of the scheduled NS Wild Flora January Zoom meeting on January 24.

If you have 10 or so slides that you would like to share, please read the attached document Slide Presentation Specs 2022 and contact bob@grimsey.ca

Netted Chain Fern – Photo Bob Kennedy

All members should have received an email invitation to the Zoom meeting. Please contact Anne Mills ocotillo8@gmail.com if you have not.

Posted in events | Leave a comment

Housing development proposed on forested slopes by Eisner’s Cove Wetland 10Jan2022

Posted on January 11, 2022 by admin

Rhodora coming into full bloom  in Eisner’s Cove Wetland on May 29, 2017
Click on images for larger versions

Further Updates on this site/situation will be posted on Eisner’s Cove Wetland (new page on this website)

UPDATE, 2:46 p.m. Jan 11, 2022. The Motion received unanimous approval: “1.Initiate a process to amend the Regional Centre Secondary Planning Strategy and Land Use-By-law to develop site-specific Comprehensive Development District (CDD) policies and an associated development agreement to enable development on the Southdale Future Growth Node site that considers the review items identified in the Discussion Section of the staff report dated December 6, 2021; and 2. Follow the public participation program as set out in Attachment A of the staff report dated December 6, 2021”  I guess the train had left the station when I wrote this piece.  ‘Echoes of the Whopper Dropper.

————-

A critical decision related to the Eisner’s Cove Wetland could be made at Halifax Regional Council on Jan 11, 2022 re: Item 15.1.3 

Is land in HRM now so intensely developed that we  have to move into some of the most ecologically precious places, the linked climate and biodiversity crises and need for green space in settled areas notwithstanding? 

Post by David Patriquin, member NSWFS

“Eisner’s Cove Wetland” is a near pristine, approx. 15 ha forested wetland located within a densely settled area of Dartmouth. NSWFS has organized several visits to the area in the last 5 years or so.

The  wetland corridor downstream  was filled in years ago, but somehow this  Eisner’s Cove Wetland* was spared. Mixed Wabanaki-Acadian forest occurs on the slopes leading into   the wetland.
*It’s not clear why it is known as “Eisner’s Cove Wetland” as it currently drains to the northwest and ultimately into MicMac Lake, not southeast towards Eisner’s Cove, although perhaps it did before the Circumferential Highway was built.

A large portion of the wetland and the adjacent forested land was owned by INNOVACORP when NSWFS members visited it in years past; INNOVACORP put it up for sale in early 2018.

INNOVACORP OFFERS MASSIVE DARTMOUTH ACREAGE. Devin Stevens. Government venture capital agency is inviting property developers to submit potential uses for more than 100 acres of land just inside Dartmouth’s Circumferential Highway, and the lease could be for the next 100 years. – from an ad in allnovescotia.com Mar 5, 2018

That land was owned by the Province before that, presumably it was turned over gratis to InnovaCorp, “Nova Scotia’s early stage venture capital organization”, when this quasi-government entity was formed. Continue reading →

Posted in conservation | Comments Off on Housing development proposed on forested slopes by Eisner’s Cove Wetland 10Jan2022