“For
nearly three decades, the West Coast Whale Research Foundation
pioneered research of wild cetaceans in British Columbia. In
2003, we became the Pacific WildLife Foundation to reflect a
wider role. We still conduct original research of cetaceans, and
now include other marine animals and ecosystems. We have some
exciting prospects over the next few years to share with you on
this web site or you can contact us for details” - Dr. Rob
Butler, President
Watch the Amazing Black Oystercatcher
Video - Tidecatchers
Eelgrass Mapping Video
Eelgrass Transplant Video
Ruth Foster Interview Video
June 13, 2009 - One of PWLF's longest running projects is
documenting the Return of the Humpback to the coast of British
Columbia. Today we saw a lone humpback about 2 nautical miles
northwest of Mitlenatch Island in northern Strait of Georgia.
Humpbacks are regularly seen in Juan de Fuca Strait and Puget
Sound near the southern entrance of the Strait of Georgia, and to
the north in Queen Charlotte Strait but sightings in the Strait of
Georgia are less common. These sightings suggest the recovery of the
humpback whale to the Strait is continuing. A century ago, an
estimated 300 humpbacks used the Strait of Georgia each year.
Eelgrass Inventory Field
Report by Seachange Marine
Conservation Society for the Pacific WildLife Foundation
February 2009 - You can read Rob Butler's Op Ed piece in the
Vancouver Sun about the benefits of nature in our health and
childhood development by clicking
here and you can read his blog at the Vancouver Sun by clicking
here.
December 2008 - Parks Canada has provided PWLF and Bird Studies
Canada
with funds for a marine bird and mammal survey of the Gulf
Islands. This work
will develop the protocols for a proposed Marine Bird and Mammal
Atlas for British
Columbia that we will conduct with several partners.

September 2008 - Jane Russell, Amyn
Jessa and David Guzzo from TD
Bank presented a cheque to Rob Butler and Rod MacVicar towards
PWLF's
eelgrass restoration project as part of the opening celebration of
TD
Bank's new branch in Port Moody. Corporate support of our
activities
is greatly appreciated.
Lingcod
Ophiodon elongatus added
Bay Pipefish (Sygnathus
leptorhynchus) added
Black-footed
Albatross
Photos Added
Eelgrass added
Eelgrass project aims to
harness power of plants
July 2008- The fourth edition of
the Clayoquot Sound Humpback Whale Fluke Identification Catalog is
available now. The catalog documents all whales identified in the
region of Clayoquot Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island,
including the Clayoqout Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, between
1995 and 2007. Contact us for details.
July 2008 - Wendy Szaniszlo is a
new Associate of the PWLF.
Her graduate work researched sea
lion behavioural ecology and evaluated the sea lion viewing
guidelines in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. She will
investigate the seasonal abundance and distribution of sea lions
in Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds in collaboration with the Clayoquot
Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
June 2008- Thanks to two generous
donations, PWLF has purchased a 16.5 foot Titan rigid
hull inflatable boat and motor that will allow us to quickly
travel to coastal destinations in a variety of sea conditions.
June 2008 -The Great Bear
Rainforest of British Columbia is one of the largest intact
temperate rainforests in the world. The region is
characteristically dotted with hundreds of islands and
intersected by
channels, passages and fjords but not many roads, so much of
the
rainforest has not been well explored. PWLF has partnered with
Bird
Studies Canada to visit the Great Bear Rianforest over the
next 5
years to document the distribution and abundance of birds for
the
British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas. Thanks to generous
support, PWLF
spent 10 days in June documenting birds along the northern
shore of
Vancouver Island and the mainland. We plan to visit new areas
in 2009.
Contact us for details.
|