Our activities include Hiking, Nature Walks, Birding, Bat Monitoring, Botanizing, Education and Outreach, Conservation and Monthly Meetings featuring informative guest speakers.
Non-members are welcome to participate in these activities as a way to preview our club and meet our friendly members prior to joining our group.
Visit our calendar of events for a list of scheduled activities.
Burke Mountain Naturalists (BMN) was formed in 1989 by local residents interested in enjoying nature, encouraging nature awareness, and conserving local green spaces.
We are a club based in Coquitlam, BC, with a focus on the enjoyment and awareness of nature through activities and education.
Whether you are starting your exploration of nature in the Tri-Cities area (Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam) or are an experienced naturalist, we invite you to join us. Meet people who share your interests such as hiking, walking, birding, nature appreciation, and conservation.
Come as a guest and drop in to one of our monthly meetings, or participate in an scheduled activity,to learn more about us.
Family-friendly event of talks, tastings, and displays about restoring and sustaining a healthy Coquitlam River Watershed.
Meet with friends, make new ones, listen to 5-minute pop-up talks from watershed interests and view environmental displays to:
* Hear what we are doing to keep our watershed healthy,
* Help us to care for our healthy watershed and carry on with our plan, and
* Give your voice to sustain the Roundtable!
There is no fee to attend. The first 50 attendees will receive a complimentary Limited Edition Roundtable / Mariner Brewing growler!
Light refreshments, snacks and activities for children will be provided.
On this moderate hike we will follow the course of the Capilano River from Ambleside Park to Cleveland Dam. We will enjoy a variety of terrain: from beaches and rocky shores to canyon cliffs and dense rainforest. Depending on numbers, we may arrange a car shuttle. If we are not able to arrange a shuttle, we will return the same way. With a shuttle, one-way distance is 7.5 km and the elevation gain is 236 m. Without the shuttle, roundtrip distance is 15 km . Meet at 9:00 am. Return (depending on distance travelled) 2:30 or 5:00 pm. Please contact Mark (604. 552. 0727) for more info.
Cheer on the salmon returning home to spawn in Kanaka Creek. Engage with displays, games and fisheries experts from the Bell-Irving Hatchery and other community organizations.
Meet at fish fence on 240th St, north of Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge.
Presented by Metro Vancouver Parks and the Kanaka Education & Environmental Partnership Society.
The Hoy Creek Fish Hatchery celebrates the return of BC’s favourite fish with fishy activities including salmon viewing, children’s crafts and music. BMN will be at this annual celebration with our display and children’s puzzles along with many other volunteers and local stewardship groups. Dress for the weather.
The Hoy Creek Hatchery is a 7 min. walk from the Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain Station, and is located in Hoy Creek Linear Park, west of the City Centre Aquatic Complex ( Pinetree and Guildford Way). Free parking is available at Coquitlam City Hall, Pinetree Community Centre and Douglas College. Location via Google maps.
For more details, visit the Hoy-Scott Creek web site
Join us for a moderate hike, with steep sections, as we explore the Seymour River in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. This outing is all about water and the long history the area has with Vancouver’s water supply. We’ll access the Seymour River via the Twin Bridges Trail descending downhill through beautiful coastal forest. Arriving at the river, we’ll see the large pool and flooded foreshore that resulted from the December 2014 rockslide. We’ll then head northward along the Fisherman’s trail with several access points to the river, see remnants of pipes and a tunnel from the early water supply feed, and pass foundations from old homesteads. Lastly we’ll return to the parking lot via the Homestead Trail with more views of the coastal forest. Roundtrip distance is 8 km with an elevation gain of 200 m. Meet at 9 am. Return 3:30 pm. Please contact Chris (chris@ckwright.ca or 604-315-5345) for more info.
The final event, called Winter Wings, will take place in the Port Moody City Hall Galleria (100 Newport Drive). This event will be themed around winter preparation of local birds and will include activities such as: the weaving of nests that can be taken home; a Birds in Flight” animation display ,a presentation by local ornithologist, Dr. Rob Butler; and a bird walk (11:00 am – 12:00 pm) led by BMN volunteers along the Shoreline Trail.
DeBoville Slough
Join the members of the Friends of DeBoville Slough for a leisurely three hour nature walk along the north side of DeBoville Slough. Meet at the kiosk on the north side of the slough at 9:00 am.
DeBoville Slough starts at the corner of Victoria Drive and Cedar Drive on the border of NE Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. It runs approximately 2 kilometres out to the Pitt River. There is a wide gravel trail along the top of the dyke which is used by walkers, cyclists, and horse riders.
For more information, email info@fodbs.org
Join leader Larry Cowan and members of Nature Vancovuer for this half-day birding field trip to DeBoville Slough and Minnekhada Regional Park. The area is home to many over wintering species with waterfowl in the sloughs, ponds and river and the chance of raptors over the fields. Meet in the parking lot adjacent to the washroom facilities at Cedar & Victoria Drives in NE Coquitlam at 09:00. Birders will position an appropriate number of vehicles in the parking area off Quarry Road in Minnekhada Park for the return trip.
It has been a super-active year for BMN, and this slide presentation will give some of the highlights of 2018. BMN President Ian McArthur will show photos from this year’s hikes, cycle trips, birding, bat monitoring, botanizing outings, community events and more. This is the perfect opportunity to learn about BMN if you’ve been thinking of joining us, or if you’ve recently joined and are not yet aware of all that the club does. We enter our 30th year in the community in January, and always welcome new members.
Please note that this slide show is a compilation of photos taken by BMN members, and that Ian is still seeking more photos. If you have photos to contribute, please send them to Ian at imcart@telus.net
This meeting will be held at
King of Life Lutheran Church
1198 Falcon Dr (SW corner of Falcon and Guildford)
Coquitlam BC
There is parking in the church parking lot, off the Falcon Drive entrance.
This is a juried selection of short slideshows by talented photographers, set to music. Not to be missed!
There are two shows to choose from:
1. A Matinee from 2:00 to 4:30 P.M. and
2. An Evening show from 7:00 to 9:30 P.M.
Parksfest is a day of learning with inspiring presentations and practical workshops hosted by Metro Vancouver Regional Parks for anyone who has volunteered in a regional park in the past year. This is a free event, but registration is necessary. The REGISTRATION DEADLINE is Friday, November 9. (Register by Monday, October 1 and your name will be entered into an early bird draw).
NEW FOR 2018
This year, Parksfest has been extended to 3-days!
In addition to Saturday’s day of learning:
Thursday, November 15, 7 – 9 pm
· Keynote: Wade Davis, ethnographer, writer, photographer and filmmaker
Friday, November 16, 6 – 9 pm
· Youth Film Night (For ages 30 & under)
Info and Registration: www.parksfest.com
This event is a wonderful opportunity for participants to come together, make important connections and share experiences.
This is the 19th year of celebrating of the returning salmon to Hyde Creek. BMN will be there with our displays and children’s puzzles at this very popular (indoor) event. Hosted by the Hyde Creek Watershed Society and held at the Hyde Creek Recreation Centre. This is the last local community event of the season and provides excellent views of spawning salmon in nearby Hyde Creek and it’s free!
For more info, click here.
Join Larry Cowan and members of Nature Vancouver on this half-day outing to find American Dippers in the Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge area. Birders have been successful since 2006 finding this quarry. After locating a Dipper or two, they will spend the balance of the morning birding the Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge area in search of raptors, waterfowl, other winter migrants. Meet at 09:00 in the McDonald’s parking lot on the SW corner of Lougheed Hwy & Harris Rd. in Pitt Meadows for car pooling.
Visit O.W.L. (Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society) on December 1st, from 10am-3pm.
O.W.L. is a non-profit organization located in Delta dedicated to public education and the rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned raptors, such as hawks, eagles, and of course, owls.
Get your picture taken with Santa and his owl helper and take a tour around our Wildlife Museum and visit raptors up close. Enjoy hot beverages and treats and find amazing and unique Holiday gifts.
$10 per digital photo. Entry by donation. All proceeds go to the care of injured and orphaned raptors.
Wheelchair accessible. Sorry, No Pets allowed.
NOTE: The December meeting with be on the first Thursday of the month due to a scheduling conflict with the church.
The BMN Annual General Meeting will be a very short session in which officers for the coming year will be elected. The main event at this meeting is the annual BMN Silent Auction. Available at the silent auction will be items and gift certificates donated by local businesses plus items and baked goods donated by BMN members. Calendars from the Wilderness Committee will be offered for sale. There will be musical entertainment and festive beverages and goodies to enjoy. This year, the bulk of funds raised will be used to donate to the [to be determine]. Auction items come in a range of prices, and are ideal as gifts for people on your list or for yourself. Back this year is a 50/50 draw.
Everyone is welcome
NOTE: Doors open early at 7:00 pm for viewing and bidding.
This meeting will be held at
King of Life Lutheran Church
1198 Falcon Dr (SW corner of Falcon and Guildford)
Coquitlam BC
There is parking in the church parking lot, off the Falcon Drive entrance.
