Fish and Wildlife TWS Student Chapter 2010-2011 Events
Quiz Bowl 2011
Congratulations to the Quiz Bowl winners for 2011: Luke Spooner, Tashana Warkentine, Sam Barnes, Krista Sittler, Louisa Bates. We just under 40 participants on 8 teams — a great time was had by all.
2011 Annual General Meeting
The 2011 Annual General Meeting was held on March 31st (just before the Quiz Bowl). at 18:00 in the Bentley Centre — immediately preceding the Quiz Bowl. The 2011-2011 Executive was elected at the meeting and we received a report from Dr. Wini Kessler (President-Elect of the Wildlife Society) on the recent TWS Executive Council meeting. The Student Chapter presented Wini with a Life-time Honourary Membership in the UNBC Student Chapter.
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Wolves of the Yukon Presentation
On March 21st at 7:00 PM, Bob Hayes (Retired Biologist and Author) gave a presentation entitled “The Wolves of the Yukon”. This special NRESI Colloquium was sponsored by the TWS Student Chapter. For 20 years, Bob Hayes was the Yukon’s wolf biologist. During that time he studied hundreds of radio-collared wolves and conducted several long-term wolf-prey studies. He is considered a world expert on kill rate by wolves on moose and caribou and the effects of wolf control on wolves and their prey. Bob’s long-term research has led him to believe widespread aerial control of wolves is biologically wrong and that non-lethal methods of reducing predation is the future of wolf management. Bob served as a Canadian member of the IUCN Wolf Specialist group for nearly a decade. Bob’s talk will integrate some of the science that he did while a biologist in Yukon with some of the material in his recent book “The Wolves of the Yukon”.
Second Annual Ice-Fishing Derby
On Saturday February 26th, the UNBC Fish & Wildlife Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society hosted its second Annual Ice-fishing Derby at West Lake Provincial Park — even the sometimes near-white-out conditions didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the approximately 30 participants. Thanks to our sponsors (Northern Hardware, Northern Troutfitters and Canadian Tire for their generous support). A portion of the proceeds were donated to the Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative. Here are some of the winners and participants!
2nd Annual Wild Foods Potluck
The 2nd Annual Wild Foods Potluck was a great success. Thanks to Spruce City Widlflie for letting us use their facilities!
Reading Break Trip to the John Prince Research Forest
Back row from left: Liam Thwaites, Alex Koiter, Heinrich Butow, Tyler Dixon, Burke McKone, Sefanie LaZerte. Front: Jamie Svendsen, Roxy dog.
From February 17th to 20th, 7 club members travelled to the cabins on Tezzeron Lake, located in the John Prince Research Forest. Members were able to participate in fish and wildlife related activities such as: ice fishing, snowshoeing, mink tracking, GPS and compass skill building and attempted owl calling. We would like to give a special thanks to Dexter Hodder for allowing our group to stay at the research site, and for teaching our members important wildlife related skills. Despite cold weather, it was an excellent experience for all involved!
The 2011 TWS Student Chapter Calendar
WILDLIFE SHELTER TRIP – Oct 23/24
The student chapter organized the third annual trip to Smithers to do some volunteer work for the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter (http://www.wildlifeshelter.com) over the weekend of Oct 23/24. A crew of 20 students participated this year, and with that many hands we got an extraordinary amount done around the property! The shelter is currently home to over 25 bear cubs (the most they have ever had) as well as other animals such as deer, moose, cougar, lynx, owls, rabbits, guinea pigs and a raccoon. Everyone got the chance to see all of the wildlife residents, and had some up close and personal interactions with the deer and moose. With this heavy rehabilitation season, Peter and Angelika Langen were incredibly grateful for all of the work the student chapter put in. Thanks to Corrie Turner and Janelle Sloychuk for the photos.
Kennedy Siding Caribou-Viewing Trip — Nov 6th 2010
On Saturday November 6th, Dr. Dale Seip (Wildlife Ecologist with the Ministry of Forests and Range) led a field trip to Kennedy Siding to view wintering caribou. Although the group learned a lot about caribou and lichen ecology, visited long-term monitoring sites, and saw several other different kinds of wildlife, we did not find any caribou!
3rd Annual Photo Contest
On Wednesday, October 13th and Thursday, October 14th, the Winter Garden was the site for the 3rd Annual Fish and Wildlife Student Chapter of TWS Photo Contest. The event was a great success with a total of 59 entries.
Voices of the Night: the Owls of British Columbia
On Wednesday October 6th at 7 PM (Weldwood Lecture Theatre), the Fish and Wildlife Student Chapter and the Prince George Naturalists hosted a special NRESI Colloqium by John Nevilee, President of Nature BC. John’s presentation was entitled “Voices of the Night: the Owls of British Columbia“
Amphibian Walk
The 2010 Amphibian Walk with Mark Thompson was a huge success! Despite the rain, about 20 people showed up, and the amphibians were out and about too! There were 2 long toed salamanders, 2 spotted toads, and 9 western toads that participants got to see and photograph.
September 2010 trip to Mugaha bird banding station near Mackenzie to band migratory songbirds
The bird banding trip to Mackenzie was a great success. Fourteen participants attended, spending the day collecting birds from the mist nets around Mugaha Marsh. The two bird banders at the observatory then demonstrated proper banding techniques and everyone got hands-on experience with how to handle and release a bird. Participants saw over thirty birds caught and banded, as well as got the chance to use the scope in order to watch some of the water fowl and shore birds on the marsh. Members are already looking forward to next year!
