Learn about birds in the Peace at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – As the weather warms and animal activity ramps up across the Peace region, two non-profit organizations in Fort St. John are hosting a collaborative event to acquaint residents with wildlife. 

Hosted by the Fort St. John North Peace Museum on May 14 at 7 p.m., the Charlie Lake Conservation Society’s one-hour presentation will cover the Peace Region’s seasonal and year-round avian residents.

“It’ll be a great way to be able to identify some of these birds and learn more about the natural history of our area,” Heather Sjoblom, the Fort St. John North Peace Museum curator.

Glynnis Maundrell, a Charlie Lake Conservation Society board member, hopes the event attracts bird lovers and newcomers alike.

“Just encouraging people to go out and go and look at birds, watch the birds that are coming, learn a little bit about them, and learn a little bit about the apps that are available to some people,” Maundrell said.

Maundrell explained that the presentation will cover all types of birds found in the Peace Region. 

Whether they be balcony and backyard frequenters or more elusive birds requiring patience and dedication, Maundrell hopes the presentation will encourage people to sit up and notice the wildlife surrounding them, even in urban areas. 

“We’ll talk about the really common ones for sure, because the ones that people are gonna automatically see, they’re in abundance and people will recognize what they sound like,” Maundrell said. 

The two non-profits have been working together successfully for the past two years and will hold more presentations in 2024, including one about bats on May 23rd. 

“We have the venue, and they have the knowledge, so it’s been a fantastic partnership, and we hope to continue to do more of these (presentations),” Sjoblom said. 

The Charlie Lake Conservation Society plans several more events throughout the summer and will announce its summer program in the coming weeks. 

Admission to the presentation on May 14 is free, but attendees’ donations to the museum and society are welcome.