The Nicola Naturalists hosted a very successful BC Nature Conference/AGM in Merritt, May 22-25, 2025. Here are some photos from that event.
To download the conference program click here: BC Nature Conference Program
We had 185 registrations, from naturalist clubs across British Columbia.
The welcome sign recognizing our major donors and the scene inside the main auditorium of the Merritt Civic Centre. Photos: Vic Newton.
Dr. Jillian Harvey from Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops gave the keynote address on wildfires and their effect on the ecology of the BC Interior. Photo: Liam Ragan
As part of the conference, Okanagan artist Lyse Deselliers held an exhibition of her paintings, celebrating Key Biodiversity Areas. Photo: Vic Newton
Our silent auction offered 80 high-quality items, donated by local businesses, Nicola Naturalist Society members and supporters. Photo: Vic Newton.
Another table of silent auction items and a poster thanking all the auction donors. The silent auction brought in almost $4,000 to offset the costs of the conference. Photos: Vic Newton.
Our club’s skull quiz was a popular item – participants had to match skulls of local wildlife with photos. Photo: Vic Newton.
The field outings were a big feature of the conference. We laid on 17 options for daytime outings (most repeated on Friday and Saturday), 5 night outings (3 owling, 1 moth, 1 spadefoot) and 6 Sunday farewell outings. Most of the conference folks were from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island and many of them had their first experience with the diverse wildlife, wildflowers and scenery of the Nicola Valley. Descriptions of the outings are here: BCN Conference Field Trip descriptions
Liam Ragan, BC Nature’s coordinator of the IBA/KBA Programs, led numerous birding and night outings. Here he points out a bird to one of his birding groups. Photo: Liam Ragan.
A few of the Nicola Valley specialties that wowed our visitors (L to R) – Williamson’s Sapsucker male at a nest site; a hybrid Calliope-Anna’s Hummingbird at a Coutlee feeder; and four Wilson’s Phalaropes at Hamilton Commonage. Photos: Liam Ragan and Loekie van der Wal.
Birders on the Hamilton Commonage field trip. Photo: Alan Burger
Two more local specialties seen during the conference: Eastern Kingbird and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Photos: Dawn Brodie (L), Alan Burger (R).
The Sunday morning Bluebird Outing was popular, especially when the group found birds banded in previous years in this area: Mountain Bluebird male (centre) and Western Bluebird male (right). Photos: Vic Newton.
One field trip group was amazed to see two rare local species interacting right above their heads – a Swainson’s Hawk dive-bombing a Golden Eagle at Pennask Lake Road. Photos: Alan Burger.
A closer look at the immature Golden Eagle at Pennask Lake Road. Photo: Alan Burger
The geology field trip led by Gerry Sanford explored many local features, including a fossil bed (L) and a coal seam (R). Photos: Gary Hunt.
The Tunkwa Lake Sunday birding group at the lunch break. Photo: Alan Burger
The field outings were not without a few mishaps – changing a tire at Hamilton Commonage. Photo: Alan Burger
The formal proceedings wrapped up on Saturday night with a banquet. Bar-keepers Vic and Susan Newton ready to serve. Photo: Jennifer Newton.
The inspirational keynote banquet address was given by Lennard Joe (Suxwsxwwels, meaning Grizzly Man): “First Nations Stewardship – a journey from the past to the present to look after our future generations.” Lennard is a Registered Professional Forester and member of the Nlaka’pamux First Nation, has a company called Grizzly Path Consulting, leads the BC First Nations Forestry Council as CEO and is the chair of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) Council.
Lennard Joe (Suxwsxwwels, Grizzly Man)
The evening opened with a world premier live performance of the conference theme song “Rain Shadow” performed by songwriter/lead vocals Peter Ballin and guitarist Chris Lepsoe, with gusto contributions from the audience. You can sing along too – Rain Shadow.
