Trip leaders
On this page:
Graham Beard
Lynne Brookes
Neil Dawe
Bob Ellis
Sandra Gray
Maria Hamann
Hans Laue
Bill Merilees
Guy Monty
Margot Moser
Roger Simms
Roger Taylor
Graham Beard
Graham D. Beard, professional biologist, has been collecting fossils for more than thirty years. Founder and curator of the Vancouver Island Paleontological Museum in Qualicum Beach, Graham co-penned “West Coast Fossils: Guide to the Ancient Life of Vancouver Island” as well as numerous scientific papers. He remains active as a research associate with Vancouver Island University and many society boards.
Sponsor: Diane Kellas REMAX First Realty
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Lynne Brookes
After obtaining several degrees related to environmental education with agricultural development, Dr. Brookes worked in a number of Latin American countries. She provided workshops, teacher training programs, and managed various international training programs. Lynne is past president of an Iowa Audubon Society chapter, involved in wildlife rehabilitation, and co-founder of the Iowa Wildlife Center. She is an active member of the North Island Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, and is a Director of the Arrowsmith Naturalists.
Sponsor: Betsy Davies & Fran Errington, Coast Realty Group
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Neil Dawe
Neil Dawe, a Registered Professional Biologist, worked for 31 years with the Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada. He is co-founder of the Brant Wildlife Festival, and a founding Director of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve Foundation and the Qualicum Institute. He is also author or co-author of over 80 books and articles on wildlife, ecology, and conservation including “The Birds of British Columbia”. Neil is a recipient of Environment Canada's National Citation of Excellence Award for outstanding achievement in advancing the goals of conservation and protection of wildlife and habitats.
Sponsor: Kevin Clayton, Coast Realty Group.
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Bob Ellis
Bob Ellis. Growing up in the Australian bush gave Bob a great appreciation of our natural environment. After coming to Canada in 1965 he spent his working life in the marine industry, plying the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Retirement gave him the time to give back a little to our beautiful area. As a consequence he has spent the last 4 years as a volunteer with the Nile Creek Enhancement Society.
Sponsor: Paradise Sea Shell Motel
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Sandra Gray
Sandra Gray, an Arrowsmith Naturalists member for 20 years, is currently the club liaison to BC Nature. From 1993 to the present, Sandra has been a coordinator for numerous Brant Wildlife Festival events, including Big Day Birding, wildlife viewing, nature tours and art exhibits. Since 1996, she has been a Wildlife Tree Stewardship area coordinator and monitor, and an avid Christmas Bird Counter. Since 1997 she is also the Parksville-Qualicum Beach CBC organizer and compiler.
Sponsor: Tom Whitfield, REMAX First Realty
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Maria Hamann
Maria Hamann’s professional career began in economics and international trade but her passion has always been nature. Maria came from a Colombian family of farmers interested in nature and she inherited this love. She has traveled across Canada, from Saint John's Nfld to Tofino BC and worked with BC Nature for almost a decade. Maria joined Nature Vancouver in 2000, retired to Parksville, and is now a member of Arrowsmith Naturalists.
Sponsor: Brenda Nicolls, Coast Realty Group
TopHans Laue
Hans Laue, retired physicist likes to watch birds and play tennis. He uses his observation skills as a Caretaker of the local Important Bird Area (IBA). The IBA Program is an international conservation initiative coordinated by BirdLife International. Caretakers act as watchdogs to ensure changes within the IBA, or threats to their ecological integrity, are properly documented. The interactive bird list found on the Nanoose Naturalists’ website which links to the CornellLab of Ornithology owes its creation to Hans.
Sponsor: Gloria Dafoe, Royal LePAGE
TopBill Merilees
Bill Merilees has been in the naturalist movement since 1953. He has lead many naturalists’ tours to exotic destinations and is the local authority on Nanaimo’s Buttertubs Marsh. Bill has written several books and collaborated on others including “The New Gardening for Wildlife”, “Humpback Whales of Georgia Strait”, and “ Trees, Shrubs and Flowers to Know in B.C. and Washington” with Chess Lyons. In addition, he is an honourary life member of the West Kootenay Naturalists, the Vancouver Natural History Society and the Nanaimo Field Naturalists’ Club.
Sponsor: Goldney Weber Team, REMAX Anchor Realty
TopGuy Monty
Since 1996, Guy has worked as a wildlife technician specializing in birds. Active in some of the most remote and wild areas remaining in BC, much of his work is now centred on impact assessments. Guy has been part of the Parksville-Qualicum Brant Conservation Project and is a long time supporter of the Nature Trust of BC and its conservation initiatives. He is an outstanding birder with a very detailed knowledge of local birds and their ecology
Sponsor: Carole Fulton, Coast Realty Group
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Margot Moser
A Director of the Nanoose Naturalists with a passion for the native species growing on our Nanoose peninsula. Rescued from the developer’s shovel, the local prickly pear cactus propagates happily in her garden. Margot’s activities include work parties focused on mitigating the encroachment of invasive species towards the local Garry Oak meadow.
Sponsor: Karen Kenyon, Coast Realty Group
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Roger Simms
Roger Simms has for many years involved himself as a Citizen Scientist with various Bird Studies Canada projects including: Nocturnal Owling, Breeding Bird Atlas, Ballie Birdathon and Project Feederwatch. Since 1980 Roger has participated in Christmas Bird Counts in both Ontario and British Columbia. He is currently President of the Friends of French Creek Conservation Society and past president of three naturalists clubs, two in Ontario, and more recently the Arrowsmith Naturalists Club in Parksville.
Sponsor: Tom Whitfield, REMAX First Realty
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Roger Taylor
Roger Taylor, retired physicist, has been an active birder and environmentalist for more than 40 years. He has led many bird outings in eastern and western Canada. He has also organized and led birding tours in Canada and Australia. For several years Dr. Taylor has been an active and participating member of the Nanoose Naturalists.
Sponsor: Louise Roy, Coastal Realty Group.
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