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Wildsight gears up for fall with two events

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The Columbia Wetlands Waterbird Survey runs this fall for three dates in September and October. Photo Submitted

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Searching for some fun fall activities? Look no further.

Now is the perfect time to get involved with local environmental non-profits.

Join the growing team of citizen-scientists and help collect invaluable scientific data on birds that are using stopover habitat in the Columbia Wetlands or head out to Golden’s own Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival at the end of September and support local community programs. There’s an activity for everyone this fall with Wildsight Golden.

Nearing its fourth round of fall waterbird surveys the Columbia Wetlands Waterbird Survey (CWWS) aims to gain data on the internationally significant Columbia Wetlands, a valuable ecosystem for approximately 250 species of birds.

The overarching goal of the waterbird survey is to collect baseline data that was previously lacking so that an application can be made to nominate the Columbia Wetlands to become part of the Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) program. The IBA program is a global initiative that works to identify, monitor and conserve a network of sites that provide essential habitats for birds. Stationed at more than 100 sites located between Canal Flats and Donald, 77 volunteers were able to count nearly 48,000 individual birds during the 2018 spring waterbird surveys. This number is the highest spring count to date. This brings the total count since 2015 to 260,000 birds, counted by 153 volunteers over 21 survey dates. These numbers will continue to grow and they will increase soon, with three fall survey dates coming up on Saturday, September 29, Friday, October 5, and Monday, October 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Free bird identification training sessions are available for volunteers, participants can be paired up, and high quality optical gear can be lent to those in need. If interested, please contact CWWS program biologist Rachel Darvill at 250-344-5530 or racheldarvill@gmail.com.

To get involved from a more comfortable position with a tasty treat in hand, join Wildsight at the Golden Civic Centre on September 29 for the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival. The night will be filled with entertainment, popcorn and snacks, a cash bar, and great company. Local band Small Town Revival with be there to provide some pre-show and intermission tunes to enjoy. The films will illustrate Earth’s extraordinary beauty, as well as the efforts people are taking to maintain and conserve it. Festival goers will get to experience whitewater kayaking, rock-climbing, and passing on the skills and love of nature. Wildsight has also chosen a feature film about two professional skiers from Revelstoke who realize just how large their carbon footprint has become, and what they do to try to reduce it as recreationalists in a modern world. These films will raise awareness and hopefully encourage others to use the beautiful trails and alpine in the surrounding areas even more responsibly.

People can get more involved by volunteering or donating to the event. Please e-mail coordinator Gemma Cobb at golden@wildsight.ca for more information on how you can become a behind the scenes key player in this inspirational evening.

Come together with the community and support the conservation of the Earth and the backyard in Golden with one of these fall activities.