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April 30, 2021

Hello Park Ambassadors, Members, and Friends!

In this newsletter you'll find:
  • DRBIPA Nature Video: Salmon River Highlights & Spring Bird Calls
  • Pollinator Power: Dandelions
  • Online Event May 6th at 7PM - Fish Community & Habitat Issues
  • Blog Post: Winter in Langley Bog
  • May = Invasive Species Action Month
  • DRBIPA Recommends!
  • Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Snap & Share Event: May 15 - June 13
  • Thank You Volunteers!
DRBIPA Nature Videos
Join us as we learn more about the historic significance of the Salmon River with Matt Foy and Doug McFee. 
Join local birder, Vincent Clements (with 20 years of experience!) as he shares a few spring bird calls with us as we go along Tavistock Trail at Brae Island.
Pollinator Power: Dandelions
Thought of so often as just a nuisance weed taking over our lawns, dandelions are anything but! Here are 5 interesting facts about this amazing perennial power plant:
  1. The dandelion is an herb of the sunflower family, or Asteraceae, the largest family of flowering plants. But the flower heads are actually made of hundreds of tiny individual flowers, known as pseudanthium, or "false flower".
  2. From root to leaf to flower, this plant is both edible and medicinal. It is used to make tea, coffee, wine, salads, natural dye, and more. 
  3. Dandelions can be found at most elevations around the world and have been used commonly by humans throughout history. Also called pioneer plants, meaning they are one of the first plants to colonize barren ecosystems after natural disasters such as wildfires. They are really good at adapting!
  4. Dandelions are not a native plant species to North America but they are great for our local bees and other pollinators as an early nutrient source in the spring. The pollen and nectar are packed will protein that bees, insects, and butterflies love and need. 
  5. Dandelions are actually good for the grass, despite being seen as a "weed". The deep roots pull up nutrients to also be used by other plants, they loosen packed soil and reduce soil erosion.
So here's to recognizing the power and beauty of each and every flowering plant as they awaken and flourish this spring!
Online Event: Fish Community & Habitat Issues

Join us online as we learn about our local fish community and habitat issues of Derby Reach, Fort Langley, and the Fraser Valley - with unique insight and wonderful photos from biologist Mike Pearson.
 

Thursday, May 6th | 7PM - 8:15PM on Zoom


Mike is a Registered Professional Biologist with 30 years of field experience. Find out more HERE or register for the event!

Please register for this event by Monday, May 3rd (using the link or simply reply to this email and let us know you want to sign up). We'll send the Zoom login link information out to all registered attendees on Tuesday, May 4th, two days before the event.

Winter in Langley Bog
As an environmental researcher, I’ve been collecting monthly data at Langley Bog for the last six months as part of my master's thesis in ecological restoration.

Bogs are wetlands that offer an array of ecological benefits, such as flood protection, drought mitigation, water filtration, and carbon sequestration. Ideally, water stays at the surface of the bog throughout the year. This allows for moisture-loving plants such as mosses to survive, and prevents large trees from establishing, which would change the wetland into a forest. The good news is from November to March, the water levels in Langley Bog remained on average just at the surface. This is expected because of the amount of rain experienced over these months. However, even with the high rains, one monitoring site had levels too low to support moss establishment...

 
Read the full blog post HERE - written by Sara Alaica, Graduate Student at SFU & BCIT
Invasive Species Action Month

Each year, the BC government proclaims May as Invasive Species Action Month to raise awareness of invasive species and encourage the public to take action. Invasive species threaten BC’s environment, economy, and society, including human health. It's why at DRBIPA we regularly carry out invasive plant removals in the parks. Stopping invasive species is possible if we take action now to prevent, detect and manage invasive species. 

The Invasive Species Council of BC encourages all organizations, governments, and individuals to plan events to engage British Columbians and inspire our communities to take action on invasive species during the month of May. Find out more HERE and how you can get involved

DRBIPA Recommends!
Article: How scientists are restoring boreal peatlands to help keep carbon in the ground. Find the full article by Bin Xu, HERE

Webinar: Check out these great webinars from the Invasive Species Council of BC, such as learning how to create your own plant press or finding out about exotic reptiles in BC.

Resources: Bat Packs (Android and iOS compatible versions) are now part of The Playground at Fraser Valley Regional Libraries. They are available for loan – free with your FVRL card!

Community: Bye-bye, outhouses at Edgewater Bar? Find the full Aldergrove Star story by Matthew Claxton HERE.

Activity: Regional Parks Snap & Share Event: May 15 - June 13, 2021. Explore Metro Vancouver’s regional parks and greenways this spring! Pay attention to plants and wildlife you haven’t noticed before - then simply snap photos of what you discover and share your photos on iNaturalist. It’s a fun outdoor activity for everyone, on your own or with your family bubble. Plus, you might be eligible to win some awesome prizes, check it out!
Thank You Volunteers!
Thank you Park Ambassadors for everything that you do big and small.
Volunteers are our community heroes!
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Copyright © 2021 DRBIPA, all rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
DRBIPA c/o Metro Vancouver Regional Parks East Area Office
1558 - 200th Street  Langley, BC  V2Z 1W5

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Derby Reach Brae Island Parks Association · Attn: DRBIPA · c/o 1558 200th Street · Langley, BC V2Z 1W5 · Canada

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