Tag: Features

Beavers as Bioengineers

The B.C. Wildlife Federation is turning to expert engineers—otherwise known as beavers—to help protect our province’s precious land and water resources. Our 10,000 Wetlands project aims to use beaver-based restoration to enhance watershed resilience by harnessing the industrious skills of beavers, a species that has faced near eradication. The project aims to build dozens of…
Beaver-Based Restoration — From Oregon to B.C.

Advancing Watershed Security Through Training Investment in watershed security training is vital to the future of our province. The B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Watershed Team is continuously learning and improving our knowledge and skills base so that we can lead innovative, effective projects that restore habitat and prevent or mitigate the impacts of drought, fire, and…
Becoming a Community Scientist

Community science is a fun activity for everyone to enjoy – no matter your skill level! Did you know Earth Day is April 22? With nature shaking off the winter blues, it’s no wonder we celebrate this beautiful planet in the spring! And as the first sightings of spring pop up throughout the province, there…
Quadra Island Wetland Restored

The rejuvenated wetland surrounding Quadra Island Elementary has transformed the way students learn by turning the school’s backyard into a vibrant classroom of native flora and fauna. Last year’s efforts converted a soggy segment of a sports field back to its original state. Nestled in the north-west corner of the schoolyard, this restored wetland serves…
Species Profile — Red-winged Blackbird

We often see them dancing on telephone wires or hear their song as spring returns. The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is one of the most common birds in North America, with a range stretching coast to coast across southern Canada. As is often the case in nature, the sleek black body and vibrant red-and-yellow shoulder…
Final Report 2022

We’re proud to share this final report from the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s Wetlands Workforce project, showcasing the accomplishments of our dedicated crews and the meaningful partnerships formed and strengthened throughout 2022.
Mapping Our Marshes with the Wetlands Education Program — 2023

The Wetlands Education Program (WEP) runs several workshops throughout the year in order to engage and educate interested participants about wetlands. One of these programs is Map our Marshes (MoM). This is a 1.5 day workshop that focuses on entry-level technical and field skills for mapping smaller wetlands using free software, GPS, and your smartphone!…
Volunteer-run rehab centre returns beavers to the wild

The B.C. Wildlife Federation is dedicating significant energy and attention to learning about the services beavers offer to wetlands, and how to leverage those behaviors to our mutual advantage. We visited the Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (IWRS) in Summerland in July to view the society’s new Beaver Hotel, a facility dedicated to rehabilitating beavers and…
Ephemeral Wetlands

It’s July and you are thinking of building a cabin somewhere far away from civilization. You come across this beautiful, relatively flat area full of sedges and grasses. The best part is the large pond just a few meters away. You take several photos of the area and plan all the logistics for building the…
Quadra Island community comes together to install 500 native plants at new B.C. wetland

When COVID-19 hit, elementary school teacher Sheldon Etheridge shifted to outdoor learning, guiding his students to a nearby forested area for immersive education. But as the weather turned wet, he noticed that a muddy, unused section of the sports field was trying to return to its former life as a functioning wetland. He decided to…