Author: Friends of Uplands Park

Bugs Abound at Garry Oak Cafe: Wed August 7, 2019 [10-Noon]

Bugs Abound at the Garry Oak Cafe

Wed August 7, 2019 from 10:00am to noon

Uplands Park grassy field entrance to Cattle Point

Did you know that Garry oak trees are a favourite café to over 800 insects?  Join naturalist Stephanie Weinstein and UVic entomologist Steve Perlman to collect bugs and explore the Garry Oak Ecosystems of Uplands Park, one of the oldest “restaurants” of Victoria. Bring your family, use our equipment and make a crafty insect to take home.  All ages, donations welcome.  Picnics desirable.

Tide Pool School at Kitty Islet on August 3 big success [163 participants]. See Photos!

THANK YOU EVERYONE!  From Margaret , FOUP President 
Tide Pool School at Kitty Isleton August 3 was a big success with 163 participants!  Many thanks to our expert, Tina Kelly, marine educator from the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea.  Thank you to our registration volunteers, Elizabeth Garrett and Penny Cassidy, and to our volunteer team of leaders and helpers on the site:  Cathy Savage, Joanne Thomson, Susan McRae, Marissa Waddell, Sarah Bennett, Margaret Boyes, Ann Finlay and Rick Marshall.
People said they really appreciated learning about the challenges of living in the intertidal zone, the diverse species, and how people can be respectful, have a small footprint and still have fun.  Highlights included the large red rock crabs, porcelain crabs, a white sea cucumber, and tiny lined chitons.
The generous donations will help us to run more programs and buy equipment for restoration.

Please take your family to the wonderful Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea in Sidney and say hi to Tina.

FOUP’s TIDEPOOL SCHOOL @ Kitty Islet, Oak Bay [Sat. Aug 3, 11:00am-12:30pm]

TIDEPOOL SCHOOL
SATURDAY AUGUST 3, 2019
11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Kitty Islet, Oak Bay

A low tide of 0.3m presents an amazing view of the diversity of low intertidal marine life. Tina Kelly, marine educator, and Friends of Uplands Parkwill present the challenges for life here, the tides and zonation in this rocky ecosystem.  Respect for and preservation of the Kitty Islet’s marine life will be a focus.   Look at specimens in large containers under our tent on the shore and ask questions. For part of the program, you will be able to use a small net and container to catch creatures, watch and ID them and then return them to the same place.

Using a smart phone, you can take photos and put them online at iNaturalist.ca.  All ages.

Sign in at the Welcome Table.  DONATIONS APPRECIATED.

Focus on Crow Garlic in Uplands Park & Cattle Point – Invading the Meadows

Update from Margaret Lidkea :

CROW GARLIC

Crow garlic is invading the meadows of Uplands Park.  The garlic bulbs, not tasty, are crowding out bulbs and roots of native plants.  The bulbs produce bulblets and the flowers make seeds and bulblets.  Nothing eats it.
This is an extremely invasive plant.  It probably arrived in Victoria from Europe or Asia accidentally with other seeds.

No strategies for removal have been developed.  An experimental removal of the plant in Uplands Park by pulling it up in June to get the main bulb has resulted in fewer and smaller plants.

Last year many plants were pulled on Cattle Point and in the central meadow.  In 2019 plants were again removed.  Volunteers have been essential do this time consuming removal.

University of Victoria international students from the City University of Hong Kong have helped in both areas.  Many thanks to them and volunteers, Felicity Bradley, Betty Thacker, Ryan Blacoe, Ron Carter, Jacquie Bird, Famiko Yamaguchi, Nick Blumberg and Conway Carruthers for 18 hours of work.  Margaret has also removed it from Cattle Point for over 15 hours.

Cattle Point maritime meadows and rocky areas are virtually free of crow garlic plants.  Shrubby areas are still full of it.   Alas not all bulbs are able to be pulled because of the clay soil and the compaction of the soil by so many visitors over the years.  Visitors should consider rock hopping.

Remember:  NOTHING IS TO BE REMOVED FROM OAK BAY PARKS WITHOUT PERMISSION.

You can join the Friends of Uplands Park on days that are arranged, or contact Margaret to arrange your own date with permission.   People that are pulling crow garlic and leaving it in piles are really distributing seeds and bulblets and more invasive plants

Remember you can help by joining Friends of Uplands Park.

 

Royal BC Museum Fieldtrippers: In-seine Sailfins, Shrimps and Sea Slugs!

Sat. June 8, 2019 1:30 to 3:30 pm
Willows Beach with Friends of Uplands Park

Join researchers from the Royal BC Museum,as they conduct a beach seine at Willows Beach. As many as 20 species of fish, crabs, shrimp, and other invertebrates will be brought in using a large net, so everyone will get an up-close look at what lives beneath the waves.

Meet at Willows Beach. From Estevan, turn left onto Esplanade and drive toward the north end of the beach. Park on the right near the large white Royal BC Museum van.  Friends of Uplands Parkwill have small nets and containers to help you collect creatures.

Dress appropriately with water shoes or rubber boots.

Donations to the Royal BC Museum are greatly appreciated.

https://www/royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/events/../fieldtrippers-seine-sailfins-shrimps-and-sea-slugs

Thank you to Participants: Garry Oak Meadow…a Celebration of Volunteers – April 28-2019

Margaret Lidkea, FOUP Chair, sends the following thank you:

Garry Oak Meadow…a Celebration of Volunteers on April 28 was a beautiful sunny day with about 300 people stopping by to enjoy all the displays, the 3 wildflower walks, the children’s activities, the food, drinks and the wonderful music of the Bald Eagles Band.  Mayor Kevin Murdoch, and Parks liaison, Councilor Hazel Braithwaite, welcomed people at the official opening.  Other councilors attending were Andrew Appleton, Esther Patterson, and Tara Ney.

A BIG THANK YOU to the Bald Eagles Band, all the volunteers who helped, and to the organizations that displayed:

Bowker Creek Initiative CRD
Compost Education Centre
Saanich Parks Pulling Together
Friends of Ecological Reserves
Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society
Greater Victoria Green Team
NatureKIds and their ivy removal
Parks Canada
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary
Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Victoria Natural History Society
World Fisheries Trust.

Did you see the secretive burrowing sea cucumber?

It was lovely to see the inspired artists, Victor Lotto, Patricia Lortie and Avis Rasmussen painting in the park.  Thanks for being inspired and inspiring.

Thanks also to all the businesses that provided food and coffee:
Thrifty’s Food
Fairways Foods
Cobb’s Bakery
Hide + Seek Coffee
Starbucks.

Thanks to those who donated prizes:
Bowker Creek Intitiative CRD
The Bungalow
Cobb’s Bakery
Friends of Uplands Park
Gardenworks, Oak Bay
Greater Victoria Green Team
Penny Farthing Pub
Willows Galley Fish & Chips
John Olafson and Linda Beare
GOMPS.

Thanks to Oak Bay Parks for all their work providing tents, tables, chairs, electricity and their total support. Friends of Uplands Park is so fortunate to volunteer with Oak Bay Parks and to have the continuing support of our Oak Bay Council and the Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culuture Commission.

PDF of Thank You: Apr 28 Thank you to all for posting

[Photos forthcoming.]

iNaturalist guide of 500 flora and fauna found in Uplands Park

Selecting from various sources, Bob McDougall has put together a very helpful and comprehensive iNaturalist Guide of 500 flora and fauna that can be found in Uplands Park. Thanks to Bob for offering to share this resource. See: https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/9530.

Bob notes “iNaturalist gives various cc-by options to its members. As well, some of the sources for the images are from flickr and the Encyclopedia of Life. People can view these photos as non members. ”

Here are some screen shots from this iNaturalist Guide of some of the flora and fauna you will be able to explore in the wonderful resource. The expandable Table of Contents on the left panel is very helpful in navigating this guide.