<![CDATA[Squamish River Watershed Society (SRWS) - Rhonda\'s Wondering]]>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:19:23 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Backyard Adventures...]]>Fri, 27 Mar 2020 22:10:12 GMThttps://www.squamishwatershed.com/rhondas-wondering/backyard-adventuresSome of you may know I grew up in Winnipeg. Not a big city, but a city nevertheless.
In this middle of this city, I discovered my love of plants and animals and all things, "nature" by exploring vacant lots and my very own postage stamp sized backyard.

It might as well have been an old growth forest because, as a child, and as a child without today's tech, my backyard was my world, a wilderness full of daily discoveries and wonder.  Ants and maple seeds, sticks and dirt were all I needed to make an afternoon into an adventure.

So, anyway, here comes IMAX with a new"ish" film called, "Backyard Wilderness", and from what I can tell, it looks awesome!  Of course we can't go to IMAX to see the actual film right now, but they have created an activity guide for families and it has some wonderful projects/activities to do in... you know it... your own backyard or neighbourhood!

These activities help kids engage with nature through investigation and observation and are hands-on, and best of all you can learn and play together.  One of the activities is an insect investigation (who doesn't love bugs?!) and a nature walk, which includes using some digital technology as well (iNaturalist).  Have fun and let us know how it goes.
http://backyardwildernessfilm.com/education


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]]><![CDATA[Woodland Creature/Fairy Homes]]>Thu, 26 Mar 2020 00:02:51 GMThttps://www.squamishwatershed.com/rhondas-wondering/woodland-creaturefairy-homesHere's a wonderful idea for all ages.

Woodland Creature/ Fairy Homes!

They can be as simply or as elaborate as you want. And you can find all the supplies in your home or neighbourhood.

How to Build a Fairy/Creature Home

Materials:
Fairy/Creature home structure (e.g. milk carton, mason jar, cereal box, ceramic pots)
Found decorations (any natural materials that are found on the ground. Like sticks, moss, leaves, stones)
glue, scissors, paint and markers

Steps:
Show your child some photos of fairy homes and discuss building a fairy home for the woodland creatures that live in your neighbourhood.
Bring out the materials you have available and allow your child to create their own fairy home.
Ask questions like: “Where will the doors and windows be?” or “What kind of activities does your creature like to do inside its home?” "What does your fairy/creature need?"

Once the home is complete, find a nice spot in the garden or neighbourhood where it can bring joy, not only to fairies, but those passing by.

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]]><![CDATA[Staying Connected - More Important Than Ever!]]>Wed, 25 Mar 2020 22:56:37 GMThttps://www.squamishwatershed.com/rhondas-wondering/staying-connected-more-important-than-everHello friends. We truly hope you are well in body, mind and spirit. These are very strange waters to navigate and no one is expecting anyone to do anything more than be happy and stay healthy.

But, wow! Are we ever lucky. This glorious weather and the beautiful natural world which surrounds us is such a gift.

I am so grateful for the rivers and forests, bird song and salmon berry flowers. The scent of cottonwoods and the sight of the first bees of the season finding refuge in crocuses. And of course, for all of you.

I was going to work on creating some really cool and interesting projects and adventures you could do with your families in the comfort of your own yards or neighbourhoods, but it appears others have beat me to the punch. (I've been keeping busy baking homemade buns and kitchen dancing with my niece and nephew to Harry Belafonte's version of the "Banana Boat Song"

So, anyway...
Throughout this time of "keeping safe" I will continue to share resources for your pleasure (homemade and borrowed) to keep you connected to what is really important:
Your Loved Ones, and the Earth.

Enjoy. Be excellent to each other. And get outside.

​“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”
​Khalil Gibran

Follow link below for some backyard adventures and learning.
​
https://www.scienceworld.ca/resource/backyard-biodiversity/…
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]]><![CDATA[Bat Condo in Squamish Estuary has a view to "Fly" for...]]>Wed, 08 Aug 2018 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.squamishwatershed.com/rhondas-wondering/bat-condo-in-squamish-estuary-has-a-view-to-fly-for
The good folks of Squamish and beyond got a little batty, Sat. July 21st 2018, at the SRWS Bat Condo Grand Opening and Celebration in the stunning Squamish Estuary.

DAY & NIGHT OF THE BATS

It's up!  Finally up and awaiting its new winged tenants to move in. 
On Sat. July 21st at 11:00am, volunteers from the Men's Shed (the amazing folks who built the condo) cut the ribbon in front of a fascinated crowd and officially opened the condo to the bats of Squamish. 
It will take around 2-3 years to see any bat action at this new roost, but we believe it will be successful. The location is prime for bats, and really, who could resist that view?  The condo will be mainly used by female bats as a nursery roost.  Maybe we should have called it a "Bat Nursery Opening" instead.

This is perfect timing for such a project as more cases of the bat killing, White Nose Syndrome, have been discovered in Washington State and is expected to find it's way to BC within a year or two.   

Providing a "nursery roost" in ideal bat habitat will provide not only what our bats need to survive, but will also create an accessible bat population that we can monitor for signs of the deadly syndrome.  ​Please open file below for more info. on White Nose Syndrome:
wnsbcbats.pdf
File Size: 1024 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
After the exciting official opening ceremony, some participants joined the SRWS Executive Director, Edith Tobe, on an informative tour of the Chelem Trail, visited bat information booths, played Estuary Bingo, and of course had "Holy Bat Cake, Batman!"  

The "night" half of our bat celebration found us at the Squamish Adventure Centre for an intimate and very informative "bat talk" with BC Community Bat Program's, Danielle Dagenais.  Did you know we had over 10 different species of bats on the South Coast?
After the presentation we had the option of heading off to the Squamish Easter Seal's Camp to learn how to monitor bats for the Bat Program. Bats have been observed on several other nights at this location coming from one of the building's roof tops, so we had a good idea where to look for the bats. 

It's quite challenging and exciting trying to count these tiny little bats as they seem to magically appear from nowhere and dart off into the night, sometimes 10 or more at a time.  We counted over 100 bats that night, as well as a night hawk, blue heron and bald eagles.  It was totally awesome, Bat People!

​For more information on bats and/or to volunteer for bat monitoring in Squamish contact Danielle Dagenais at: 604-754-3220 or visit the BC Community Bat Program's website at: www.bcbats.ca/

Thank you to the Men's Shed, TD Friends of the Environment, Squamish Savings, Mark Wilmot and the Hunters for help with this special event and this essential project. 

​Until next time...

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]]><![CDATA[Bat Quiz 101]]>Thu, 27 Jul 2017 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.squamishwatershed.com/rhondas-wondering/bat-answers-other-cool-stuffHow Much Do You Really Know About BC Bats?
Try this Quiz Yourself or Give it to a "Batty" Friend.  
Good Luck. 
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Bat True or False

1. Bats are blood thirsty villains.
2. Bats are Blind. 
3. The world’s smallest bat weighs less than a penny.

4. Bats like to fly into your hair. 
5. All BC bats eat insects.
6. Bats feed their babies milk 
7. Bats fly with their hands.
8. Bats are more closely related to you than mice.
10. A little brown bat can eat 120 mosquitoes in an hour. 
11. Some bats can live for over 30 years.
12. Baby bats are called batlings

Answers:

1. Bats are blood thirsty villains. 
False: “Vampire bats weigh only two ounces, and while these Central and South American natives have been known to bite people, they primarily feed on cattle like a mosquito. "They lick about a spoon's worth of blood, and have an anticlotting enzyme in their saliva that helps keep the blood flowing. That enzyme is being used to develop anti-blood-clotting medication called ... wait for it ... draculin.”

2. Bats are Blind.  
False: Bats can see as well or better than humans – the bigger bats can see up to 3X better.

3. The world’s smallest bat weighs less than a penny.

True: The Kitti’s hog-nosed bat or “Bumblebee Bat” is the smallest bat and maybe smallest mammal in the world.

4. Bats like to fly into your hair. 
False: They are usually trying to catch mosquitoes that are flying around your head.  They are helping you, not trying to hurt you or your new hairstyle.

5. All BC bats eat insects. 
True: Fruit bats and Vampire bats are not found in BC.

6. Bats feed their babies milk.  
True: Bats are mammals.

7. Bats fly with their hands. 
True: See photo of bat skeleton above.

8. Bats are more closely related to you than mice. 
True:
 Bats are not rodents.

9. A little brown bat can eat 120 mosquitoes in an hour. 
True:  Yay, for Bats!

10. Some bats can live for over 30 years. 
True: A study published recently in Science Magazine provides fascinating insight into why the much-maligned bat lives such a long and disease-free life.
The genes of two species of bats were examined by a group of scientists called the “Bat Pack.” The researchers discovered the bats are missing a gene segment that triggers an overwhelming immune response to infection – a response that can be life threatening.
Researchers also learned the bats have an extra large number of DNA repair genes that also play a role in preventing disease.
In addition to avoiding viral infections, bats also don’t suffer from age-related diseases or cancer. Compared to a similar-sized animal like a rat that lives only two or three years, bats live between 20 and 40 years. Researchers theorize this has to do with the ability of bats to fly. 

For More information: 
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/339/6118/456?_ga=2.54986603.118422787.1501167544-527703398.1501167544

11. Baby bats are called batlings.  
False:  They are called pups.

Hope you did well. 
See you later: Same bat time, same bat place...

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