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.
This hike has been postponed and we hope to reschedule it for this year, but if not next year.
Mt. Collins is the third-highest mountain on Bowen Island. Unlike the much higher Mt. Gardner, Collins lacks summit views (although, halfway up, there are a couple of rocky outcroppings offering partial views). Nevertheless, the Glorious Mountains guidebook gives the hike a “bang for buck” rating of 3/5, saying that the trail to the top “is a relatively undiscovered gem for runners, hikers, and peakbaggers.” The book goes on to whet the appetite with this further description: “En route you will see mature trees dappled with sunlight, many arbutus clinging to sunny bluffs, and small clearings carpeted in moss. The noises of civilization are masked by birdsong.” What more could naturalist hikers want? The out-and-back route on both road and trail is 9.6 km with an elevation gain of 350 m. After this jaunt, should we find ourselves with time on our hands, we will circle beautiful Killarney Lake, which lies between Gardner and Collins. This will add about 6 km to our distance and several tens of metres to our elevation gain. We will begin and end the day with a short ferry ride between Horseshoe Bay and Snug Cove. Please contact Mark (604. 552. 0727) for more info. and/or to register your interest.
Explore the new Port Coquitlam birding destination, Blakeburn Lagoons with Larry Cowan and members of Nature Vancouver.
Since it’s official opening in April, 2018 it has become a must-bird location for many Vancouver birders. Its eBird list has passed the 115 species mark and continues to grow. After birding this location,birders will drive to another area hotspot to conclude the morning’s outing. Meet at the south end of Elbow Place at 09:00.
For more information, email Larry Cowan or phone 604-307-0931
Note: The meeting location is at the park’s main entrance located on Elbow Place. Street parking is available on Elbow Place but it is limited. An alternative parking location is at the Blakeburn Elementary School, which is adjacent to the park (it’s about 200 meters to walk from the school to the park). The school’s parking lot can be accessed from Riverside Drive.
This hike has been canceled due to lack of interest.
This is a hike sponsored by the City of Coquitlam. Registration (653157) and signed waiver form is required.
This hike will be in Minnekhada Regional Park in north eastern Coquitlam. This park has an abundance of wildlife and the hike will cover most of the trails. The highlight of the day will be a short but steep walk to the High Knoll where the group will be rewarded with great views of the Pitt River Valley, the TriCities, and mountains beyond. Roundtrip distance is 8 km with an elevation gain of 185 m. Meet at 1:30 pm. Return 5:00 pm.
Cheer on the salmon returning home to spawn in Kanaka Creek. Engage with displays, play games and chat with 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.
SALMON COME HOME event is co-hosted with the City of Coquitlam Municipality, and celebrates the return of the salmon to Hoy Creek. The return is special because the salmon return to the creek where they were spawned, after living most of their adult lives at sea. They return solely to spawn and then die. Prime viewing is usually from mid-October through early November.
The free family event runs from 11 a.m. through to 3 p.m. Sunday, October 20th at the Hoy Creek Hatchery as many participating community groups share educational information. The highlight is viewing the returning chum salmon, but there may also be live salmon demonstrations; hatchery tours; musical entertainment; habitat restoration (planting); interactive children’s activities; food, and educational exhibits.
Dress for the weather, as the event runs rain or shine! The Hoy Creek Hatchery is located on Hoy Creek Trail Linear Park, west of the City Centre Aquatic Complex at the corner of Pinetree and Guildford Way.
Join Gay Mitchell and Jeff Rudd in exploring the birds, trees and plants of Riverview Forest’s trails. Dress for the weather, bring water, a snack and binoculars. Meet at the parking lot off Mariner Way near Chilko Drive. If you plan on coming please email Gay.
This is a hike sponsored by the City of Coquitlam. Registration (653162) and signed waiver form is required.
This hike will circle Buntzen Lake on the least difficult trail, but will still be challenging for some. It features a beautiful, lush forest, interesting outcroppings, and views. Roundtrip distance of 10 km and a cumulative elevation gain of 400 m. Meet at 9:00 am. Return 2:00 pm
It has been a super-active year for BMN, and this slide presentation will give some of the highlights of 2019. 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 are winding up our 30th year in the community, 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 this email.
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.
Photomotion is a festival of short slide shows set to music by members of the Pacific Digital Photography Club. If you’ve never attended one of these shows, make sure you go this year!
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.
The guest speaker this year is wildlife photographer Danny Catt.
There will be a great selection of door prizes and an opportunity to meet many of the contributing photographers.
Tickets are $15 each and can be obtained by using the PayPal/credit card link on the PDPC website or by phoning or emailing using the contact info provided here. Tickets can also be purchased at the door on November 16th.
Learn basic birding skills. Use binoculars and a field guide to identify and report findings during this winter bird count. Enjoy the Open House afterwards. Must be accompanied by adult. Please dress for the weather – you’ll be outside after a short classroom session. Bring your own binoculars and guidebooks if you have them. FREE, but registration required: call or
Click here to register Christmas Bird Count at Burnaby Lake. Use Barcode 7860.
Drop into the Nature House for Burnaby Lake Park Association’s Annual Holiday Open House.
Learn bird identification skills, and about the history of the Lake and BLPA activities from our volunteers. Join us for a guided winter walk along forested trails to discover wildlife in the park. Try some crafts, decorating a wood duck cookie and enjoy a hot drink.
This event is free and everyone, of any age, is welcome! Please dress appropriately for the weather.
Schedule of activities will be posted closer to the date.
BMN has been participating in the Tri-Cities portion of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) for the past 25 years, and we’ll be out again this year, rain or shine, by foot, car and possibly by boat. You will be assigned to a team that is sent to one of 14 Areas (e.g., Colony Farm, Como Lake, Inlet Park, Lafarge Lake, along the Coquitlam River). You can also participate by watching your feeders that day if your yard is located within the count circle. The event begins at 8:00 am. Depending on the assigned area, groups may be out for two to eight hours.
To sign up for CBC-2019, please contact us by email, or phone Victoria at 604.937.5379.
