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Category: 2018-2019 Speakers

Barbara Sherriff “Moai and volcanoes of Easter Island…and Patagonian glaciers”

by Andrew Bryant, 23 May 2019. The Club’s very own Barbara Sherriff, well-known for her globetrotting adventures, recently returned from another epic voyage – this time to Easter Island and the glaciers of Patagonia! Always the consumate educator, Barbara provided a hugely informative and highly amusing talk, deftly switching from tidbits about geology (did you … Continue reading Barbara Sherriff “Moai and volcanoes of Easter Island…and Patagonian glaciers”

Jeff Belcher “B.C. Wildfires: past and future”

by Andrew Bryant, 25 Apr 2019. Jeff Belcher works for the BC Wildfire Service.  He spent the first ten years working in the interior of the province out of Williams Lake and Alexis Creek.  He grew up in Courtenay, so made the move to Powell River just over a year ago to be closer to … Continue reading Jeff Belcher “B.C. Wildfires: past and future”

Steve Gordon – “Goats, grizzlies and goshawks: adventures of a habitat biologist”

by Andrew Bryant, 21 Mar 2019. Steve works for the B.C. Ministry of Environment as a “Habitat Biologist” based out of Nanaimo.   He prefaced his talk as “not to be interpreted as expressing government policy”…and then told his story.  And what a story it is.  He’s served variously as a “Land Use Planning Biologist”, “Ecosystem … Continue reading Steve Gordon – “Goats, grizzlies and goshawks: adventures of a habitat biologist”

David Hancock – “Understanding the lives of Bald Eagles”

by Andrew Bryant, 28 Feb 2019. David has spent most of his life studying west coast and arctic wildlife, but is most well-known for his work with Bald Eagles, beginning with his pioneering population surveys during the early 1960s while a graduate student at UBC. Although a world travelor, published author and interested in all … Continue reading David Hancock – “Understanding the lives of Bald Eagles”

Jason Leane – “Citizen Science And The Discovery Of Novel Fungal Species”

by Andrew Bryant, 21 Feb 2019. Jason Leane is not a scientist – he works as a technologist at Brooks Secondary – but citizen-scientist he most assuredly IS.  So a lifelong interest in science and biology has translated into a most unusual and interesting hobby…and a fascinating talk for us! In a nutshell, the advent … Continue reading Jason Leane – “Citizen Science And The Discovery Of Novel Fungal Species”

David Bedry – “Nature photography: basics and more”

by Andrew Bryant, 19 Jan 2019. Long-time club member and skilled photographer David Bedry provided an informative look at “getting it right” when creating images…no matter what gear you use. He began with a 1979 Kodak film called The Beginnings of Photographic Composition.  If that sounds dated or dull, well…trust me it wasn’t!  Indeed, it was solid … Continue reading David Bedry – “Nature photography: basics and more”

Andrew Bryant – “The operation was successful (sort of): reintroducing Burrowing Owls, 1989-90”

Juvenile Burrowing Owl at Osoyoos, 1989 - Andrew Bryant

by Lois Bridger, 22 Nov 2018. Andrew provided a humorous look at the hands-on, and sometimes very labour-intensive methods needed to reintroduce a species.   The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is one of only four species officially listed as “endangered” or “threatened” under the BC Wildlife Act.  They were considered “extirpated” from the province by the late 1970s. … Continue reading Andrew Bryant – “The operation was successful (sort of): reintroducing Burrowing Owls, 1989-90”

Jackie Hildering – “Lessons learned from killer whales”

A Mother Hunting T140 in pursuit of a Pacific White-Sided Dolphin. Mammal-eating Killer Whales diverged from other populations ~700,000 years ago. ©Jackie Hildering; themarinedetective.ca

by Andrew Bryant, 2 Nov 2018. Jackie Hildering (aka “the Marine Detective“) of the Marine Education and Research Society packed the Senior’s Centre with her dynamic talk about orcas, and how they’ve changed us. With a mixture of history, science and irony, Jackie delivered a powerful talk indeed. I was astounded to learn, for example, … Continue reading Jackie Hildering – “Lessons learned from killer whales”

Heather Harbord & Barbara Sherriff – “Heather and Barbara’s Trip to Tuktoyuktut”

by Andrew Bryant, 18 Oct 2018. Heather unfortunately couldn’t make it – but Barbara stepped up and gave a marvellous account of their epic trip to Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. via the Dempster Highway. What an adventure!  Barbara was funny, informative, and vivid.  I can only imagine what it would be like to encounter a “road closed” … Continue reading Heather Harbord & Barbara Sherriff – “Heather and Barbara’s Trip to Tuktoyuktut”

the Club – “Highlights of 2017-18”

by Andrew Bryant, 20 Sept 2018. We tried something a bit different for our AGM this year.  Rather than kick off the new Malanat-year by bringing in an outside speaker, we thought we’d take the opportuity to reflect on the year that’s been – and what a year it was! There were a total of 16 … Continue reading the Club – “Highlights of 2017-18”