BMN Committees

Education and Conservation Committee

We advocate for the environment through outreach and citizen science. Our group conducts bat and bird surveys, maintains nest boxes, performs water quality tests, invertebrate surveys, and invasive species removal. We also lead nature walks and field trips, all while speaking up for the environment in the Coquitlam area and beyond. Join us!

BMN Bat Stewardship Program

The BMN bat program was established to create awareness of the ecological importance and benefits of bats, as well as promote measures to conserve bats and protect their habitat. This program is currently coordinated under the direction of John Saremba. The main components of the BMN bat program include the following activities:

• Surveys and site assessments to determine the presence and characteristics of bat species at natural and artificial roosts.
• Monitoring sessions and bat emergent counts to study bat populations at known roost sites. The results from such monitoring sessions are collected in support of the BC Annual Bat Count and the BC Community Bat program.
• Community science and research projects to advance knowledge about local bat species and their associated habitats, including the use of bat acoustic recording devices, data loggers, and other equipment.
• Education and outreach activities, such as bat walks and presentations, to inform the public and agencies about bat biology and conservation measures.
• Bat habitat conservation to guide others in the protection and enhancement of bat habitat, including installation of artificial bat roost

Friends of DeBoville Slough

The Friends of DeBoville Slough Society established the committee to protect and maintain the environment surrounding the slough. Under the leadership of David Mounteney and Jeff Rudd, the committee participates in the following activities:

• Maintain and enhance the ecological integrity of DeBoville Slough and the surrounding area through education, community involvement, research, land preservation and partnerships based upon stewardship principles.
• Attend events such as The Port Moody The Fingerling Festival, Salmon Come Home Festival, Riverview Centre Horticultural Society Tree Walks, PoCo Rivers and Trails Festival and The Hyde Creek Watershed Society’s Salmon Festival. Look for us to find out more about DeBoville Slough.
• Removes Japanese Knotweed four times a year, marks storm drains, participates in community outreach.
• DeBoville Slough walks and information days
• Visit our Friends of DeBoville Slough page for more information.

Bird Surveys at ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park (Colony Farm)

BMN members and friends conduct regular bird surveys of the field that is on your right as you travel from the Lougheed Hwy towards the parking lot near the Community Gardens. Our surveys began 3 years ago when Trans Mountain leased a portion of this field was for pipe assembly and storage. Our goals are to document the importance of this field to birds (and other wildlife), and to gather data that we hope will be useful for restoration work once the lease ends.

Surveys usually take place on Sunday mornings during the winter months. In spring/summer, the surveys are more frequent. Surveys are weather-dependent. We have 7 stations along the public trail on the edge of the field, and we identify and count all birds seen and heard within 5-minute intervals at each station. Each survey takes 1.5 – 2 hours to complete. Over the past 4 years, we’ve done approximately 250 surveys, and recorded an astounding 110 bird species using that field!

The team leader will send out an email announcing when a survey is on. Observers meet in the parking lot at 9am (winter) or 8am (spring/summer). There is no need to RSVP – people just show up if they are available. It is a very friendly group – we all learn from each other, and our birding-by-ear skills have improved immensely. Yours will too! There is no need to be an experienced birder. Please email burkemtnnats@gmail.com if you have questions or would like to join the mail list to receive notifications of upcoming surveys.

Marketing and Communication Committee

Volunteer For Events and Activities:

• Contact BMN at burkemtnnats@gmail.com to get on the volunteer call out list to participate in Invasive plant removal, BMN displays at community events, nest box cleaning, bird counts, botany walks, etc.