Delta Naturalists Society

On Saturday, Sept. 15, seven Nats (wo)manned our Display at the foot of 72nd Avenue on the dike path in Boundary Bay Regional Park (BBRP).  This first-time event was organized by Metro Vancouver Parks and the Cammidge House Committee (CHC), and called “Art Fair and Open House”.  There were other exhibitors along the BBRP trail, MV Interpreters were at 12th Avenue and CHC organized the Open House at Cammidge House.  It ran from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

At 12:30 p.m. we (Valerie, Annie K, Elizabeth P, Eleanor, Lorna, Astrid D and me) began setting up our new red tent, new table and our Nats Display material next to Bruce H. and the OWL Display.  See Astrid’s photo (taken by OWL Bruce) of the Fab Seven and our Display.  Laura of MV Parks came by to check up on us, and a young MV lad brought us a few chairs.  They were two of the “number” of visitors we had at our booth.  We had visitors walking with and without dogs, on bicycles, even on horseback.  Our gregarious Display Personnel eagerly hauled the few passersby into our booth and then “entertained” them.

It was a gorgeous afternoon on the dike. Between the multitude of visitors, we entertained ourselves by watching the Northern Harriers (could not find Eric’s Short-eared Owl), Swallows, Vaux Swifts higher up, and the golfers at Kings Links.  And, of course, with six chicks and me, there was no lack of chatter.  The carrots, nuts and my cooler with drinks and “special coke” was valuable sustenance.  Bottom line is, we educated a few people about the beauty and importance of our BBRP paradise, and we had fun doing it.

Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists’ Society