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Contents - 2010

Newsletter, February 2010

The AGM business will include:

• The Directors’ Report, Treasurer’s Report, Committee Reports
• A Special Resolution to approve the transfer of one hectare of Central Park land to DIMS
• Election of Directors

A Cemetery for Natural Burials

The DCA Board is recommending to members the approval of the transfer of approximately one hectare (2.6 acres) in the southeast corner of Central Park to Denman Island Memorial Society (DIMS) for a cemetery.

DIMS is a charitable society formed early in 2009. Its purpose is to establish and maintain a second burial ground for the residents of Denman Island and members of their families, as the original cemetery has reached its capacity.

This proposed use of a small portion of Central Park land has been made known to DCA members from the first discussions of the purchase of Central Park. The land is suitable for burials and it is located at the corner of Denman Road and North Central Road, kitty-corner from the existing cemetery.

DCA and DIMS have agreed that a Conservation Covenant will be attached to the title of the cemetery land when it is transferred. This will provide for maintaining only native vegetation on the land and its use for natural burials. The covenant will give DCA a continuing interest in the management of the land.

Natural burial aims to return human remains to the earth in their natural state, with little or no impact on the land and without the emissions that result from cremation.

The process of defining the parcel of land to be transferred and gaining approval for the change of use (it is currently zoned for agriculture) has been launched. Applications have been made to the Agricultural Land Commission for removal of the land from the ALR and to Islands Trust for rezoning. Neither of these processes has been completed.

The 60 hectare Central Park block is the NE ¼ Section 17 Denman Island except those parts in Plans 14174 & 17286; PID 006-639-411.

The DCA Board recommends the transfer of one hectare of Central Park to DIMS because protection of its conservation values will continue and a valuable service will become available to the community.

Danes Creek Watershed Covenants

During the Islands Trust review of applications for rezoning of the North Denman Lands and The Point the Local Trust Committee asked the two proponents to grant conservation covenants over land in the Danes Creek watershed that was proposed to be zoned Conservation. Danes Creek is at the north end of Denman Island and flows into Henry Bay.

The proponents have approached DCA to hold these covenants and we have commenced discussions. A first draft covenant text has been exchanged. DCA views these areas as valuable conservation areas but does not believe they are suitable areas for public access or recreation. The land is expected to remain privately owned.

Maps of Trails
on DCA managed land on Denman Island

Printing of the maps was generously funded by the Coastal Community Credit Union.

Whalewatch

To report your sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises:

phone: 1 866 I SAW ONE

e-mail: sightings@vanaqua.org

web: www.wildwhales.org

Walks & Talks

New Sign on Lake Road

photo by Andrew Fyson

Eagle-nest Stewardship

As 77% of eagle nest-trees are on private land, and only 23% are in protected old-growth reserves, the participation of land-stewards in the protection and monitoring of eagle nest-trees on Denman is essential. For more information on this survey and eagle-nest stewardship visit:

Newsletter, May 2010

Danes Creek Conservation Covenant

The covenant area is a wetland complex. Cattail marsh pockets are widespread and beavers have created flooded impoundments and are actively altering the habitat. Numerous creek channels flow through the area, both in and under forested stands, as well as in the open. The area was most recently logged in 1999.

The area is host to the endangered Taylors Checkerspot butterfly, adult butterflies were seen there in May 2009, and this wetland complex has small sites of potential breeding habitat for the butterfly. These breeding sites may remain un-forested and available long term. Six other endangered species are also found in the covenant area.

Given that the vulnerable swamp wetland character of the area does not lend itself to trail development, there is no public access afforded by this covenant, though Denman Conservancy has the right to monitor and conduct scientific studies. This covenant brings the total land protected by DCA’s efforts over the past 20 years to 374.2 ha equalling 7.5% of the Island area.

Taylor's Checkerspots in May

photo Andew Fyson
Taylor's Checkerspot on Railway Grade Marsh covenant area, May 2009

The endangered Taylor's Checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha taylori) whose only known Canadian breeding sites are on Denman Island is flying through May and early June. It is most likely to be seen on sunny days as a brown smear whizzing past, sunning itself on roads and trails or drinking nectar from flowers. It is more commonly seen in the northern part of the island (around Denman Road and areas to the north) in clear-cuts, meadows and gardens but there are scattered reports from elsewhere. It is usually seen with its wings open as in the photo below.

The Taylor's Checkerspot has a wingspan 4-4.5 cm (1.5-1.75 inches) across and is the only orange-brown butterfly with a bold checkered pattern flying at present. The often mistaken Mylitta Crescent is smaller and has patterns of black lines and not a checkerboard. If you think you see a Taylor's Checkerspot, note the time and place and let me, Jenny Balke or J Thornton know. Information on sightings is important in our quest to conserve this beautiful creature. Andrew Fyson, DCA Land Manager (250-335-9047).

At the AGM – March 1

DCA Directors for 2010

Cemetery Planning Workshop

The great puzzle for all attendees was how to effectively use the area for natural burials while preserving its natural vegetation and allowing a forest ecosystem to eventually reclaim the site.

A Conservation Covenant will be attached to the title of the cemetery land when it is transferred. This will provide for maintaining only native vegetation on the land and its use for natural burials. The covenant will give DCA a continuing interest in the management of the land.

Natural burial aims to return human remains to the earth in their natural state, with little or no impact on the land and without the emissions that result from cremation.

Spring Walks and Talks

Central Park Update May 2010

At this time of year it is most important that you keep your dogs under your complete control and out of any wetlands because of the risk to nesting waterfowl.

A big thank you to the volunteers who put in a good morning’s work a few weeks ago cleaning up Alder Trail and Trumpeter Trail. It was nice to see the old faithful volunteers as well as several new faces. We will continue working away at our ‘to do’ list as we develop Central Park and hope that you will feel free to give us feedback, make suggestions, or ask to be added to our volunteers list.

There is now a copy of the Central Park Management Plan in the Dora Drinkwater library for those who are interested in having a look at it.

Contributors to this Newsletter: Annie Corddry, Patrick Fawkes, Carol Freeman, Andrew Fyson, John Millen.

Newsletter, November 2010

DCA Annual Fundraising Drive: You Made it Happen!

October is a great time for harvesting and DCA is no exception: early in the month Conservancy sent out ‘seeds’ in the form of over 400 letters to established and potential supporters. Donations are already coming in, and will continue for the next few months. Last year, a similar letter brought in close to $25,000!

This is DCA’s annual fundraising drive, and it provides our financial foundation. Of all the funding sources we rely on, these gifts from individuals are the most important. In fact, your gift brings us much more than its immediate dollar value. Here’s why:

Reliability: Other funding sources such as government or foundations regularly change their priorities or, especially these days, cancel funding programs entirely. Individuals and small businesses are more consistent. Simplicity: Institutional funding is often bound up with complex bureaucracy that takes inordinate amounts of volunteer time and energy. Also, it usually has strict limitations on what can and can’t receive funding, which sometimes means our most pressing needs don’t get support. On the other hand, donations from the community can be more freely directed to areas of need.. Exponential power: When we apply for grants, we need to show community support and to provide matching funds. Your donations supply both of these. Without your gifts, we’d have a hard time getting further funds.

Encouragement: The annual fundraising drive brings in gifts ranging from ten dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. Each of these donations, big and small, tells us that we have your support, that there is a groundswell of people in our community who value what we do and trust us to do it well. Do not underestimate how essential this is for DCA’s hard-working volunteers!

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the 2010 fundraising drive. If you did not get a letter and are considering a donation, please contact us by phone at 335-2535 or email at mcdc@telus.net.

In return for the trust you place in us, we pledge to work with enthusiasm, inspiration and the utmost professionalism to fulfill our mandate -- to preserve, protect and enhance the quality of the natural and human environment of Denman Island.

Bald Eagle Stewardship on Denman

Denman is a refuge for Bald Eagles!!

While coastal trees all over the Comox Valley are continuously being cut to accommodate human activities, Denman’s coastline still accommodates nesting eagles. Consequently, eagles are really taking advantage of those big old trees. Of the 29 known nests on Denman this year, 19 showed signs of eagle activity in the spring. By early August, at least 18 juvenile eagles had fledged from at least 14 of these nests.

Eagle watching on Denman was a very popular activity this year. Throughout the spring, photographers from all over Vancouver Island made repeated trips to snap close-up eagle images at the Chrome Island-lookout nest in Boyle Point Park. Behaviours, diet and other activities of these tolerant parents were recorded on film. Other photographers commented that they took literally thousands of eagle photos at their own favourite Denman sites.

Eagle observations also produced significant data. Denman’s nest tree stewards kept a lookout for eagle activity at nests in the spring. Then, in mid-summer, they checked eagle productivity or the number of young that fledged from each nest. Many remarkable behaviours were witnessed, from adults forcefully encouraging young to fly, to invading eagles attacking another nest and its offspring. In addition, Kevin Behrens captained an eagle-monitoring marine-cruise. This cruise also produced great data, including a new nest with eaglets, as well as, activity at a nest thought to be abandoned. Rough weather limited the cruise to the SW shoreline, but overall, 27 adults and 6 juveniles were observed.

Stewards and interested islanders are invited to gather for Eagle Night, November 26th, 7:30 at the Arts Centre. Eagle Night is a chance to view the year’s monitoring results, chat with Hornby Island’s eagle author, Doug Carrick, view photos and share interesting eagle observations.

Landkeepers Program

The Denman Conservancy Landkeepers Program is about to begin. Modelled on the highly successful Streamkeepers Program that protects salmon bearing streams, the Landskeepers Program trains islanders to look after lands under Conservancy ownership or management, such as the Lindsay-Dickson forest. Landkeepers will be extensively trained, and will be assigned an area of the island that they will care for, manage, and protect.

The program will begin as soon as the program coordinator is hired. Training consists of a guided hands-on project to complete base-line studies of the flora and fauna in the Railway Grade Marsh and the Settlement Lands. A wide range of skills such as plant and animal identification, invasive plant control, GPS usage etc. will be taught by experts, with class room discussion and study followed by field work. The training class will work as a team to prepare a management plan for the Railway Grade Marsh. Upon graduation of the class, the real fun begins when the skills learned are applied to other areas on the island.

An additional benefit to the island will occur when the Ministry of the Environment asks Islanders to help decide how the new park on the North Lands will be managed. The skills learned in the Landkeepers Program are the same skills that the Island will need to determine how the new park will evolve.

Come and be a part of this exciting new program. In order to determine the size of the program, we need to know how many people are interested. All ages welcome. Call J Thornton at 335-9089, or John Dillon at 335-0602 to register your interest.

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Contributors to this Newsletter: Laura Busheikin, David Freeman, Jenny Balke, J Thornton, Keith Walker

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