About Rockfish Rockfish (Sebastes), are a fascinating genus of fish with many unique characteristics that make them quite distinct from others. Their Latin name Sebastes translates to “magnificent” in Greek. How fitting for these special creatures. Populations British Columbia’s surrounding ocean houses nearly 40 species of Rockfish, with a total of around 96 species in […]
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Conservation and Deer on Galiano Island
Background The Southern Gulf Islands are home to populations of native Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and, in some cases, introduced fallow deer (Dama dama). Due to the near-extirpation of native predator populations (including wolves, cougars, and bears) from the islands, and decreasing human hunting pressure over the past century, local deer populations have […]
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Galiano Conservancy’s Annual Battle of the Broom
The yellow blooms that pepper rocky outcrops and disturbed slopes each spring signal the advent of the Galiano Conservancy’s annual Scotch broom removal campaign. As has become tradition, interns and the summer students, led by the fearless Jenna Falk, hike up the face of Mount Sutil every year armed with loppers and harnesses, ready to […]
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Help Bats for Halloween
As Halloween approaches Images of scary, blood-sucking bats become common place in fall. This is the perfect time of year to join with the BC Community Bat Program, and the Little Brown Myotis Bat Project on Galiano Island to counter these bat myths and do something to help bats. “The conservation of bats in BC […]
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Battling Broom on Mt. Sutil
The resilient and invasive Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) is back in full force this season, with flowers quickly coming into bloom in disturbed sunny sites across the island. Distinguished by its bright yellow flowers and woody stem, the perennial plant can have up to 3500 seed pods per individual, which when released, can travel up […]
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Annual Bat Count on Galiano Island
Volunteers for BC Bat Counts The Galiano Conservancy Association is seeking volunteers and bat colonies for the Annual Bat Count. This citizen-science initiative encourages residents to count bats at local roost sites. “Bat counts are a wonderful way for residents to get involved in collecting important scientific information” says biologist Mandy Kellner, coordinator of the […]
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Spring brings increasing interest in bat health and public reports of bats
Fortunately for the bats of BC, it has been a quiet winter. The Little Brown Myotis Conservation Project on Galiano Island, in collaboration with the Province of BC, is on the lookout for signs of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). WNS is a fungal disease harmless to humans but responsible for the deaths of millions of insect-eating […]
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Community Dialogue: What do you value in the Salish Sea?
Are you concerned about the state of the Salish Sea ecosystems and species at risk? Have you heard about the proposed National Marine Conservation Area for the Southern Strait of Georgia? Do you have questions or input that you would like to discuss in regards to protecting the Salish Sea? Come join us for a […]
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