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Explore: Ancient fossils; Wild ARC open house; Brant Wildlife Festival

Travel back to the age of the dinosaur, and beyond, as the Victoria Palaeontology Society holds its 22nd Fossil Fair, Saturday and Sunday at the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary.
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Tom Cockburn, chairman of the Victoria Palaeontology Society, and his nine-year-old grandson, Cayden Cockburn, look at a dinosaur's femur and fossils, some of the items that will be on display at this weekend's Fossil Fair.

Travel back to the age of the dinosaur, and beyond, as the Victoria Palaeontology Society holds its 22nd Fossil Fair, Saturday and Sunday at the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary.

Budding paleontologists can view a rich and diverse variety of ancient fossils of animals and plants, from the Cambrian period, 550 million years ago, to the end of the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago.

The fossils include dinosaur bones, ammonites, trilobites, corals, mollusks, insects, giant palm leaves and microscopic fossils.

On Sunday, visitors will be treated to a special display of exceptionally well-preserved 80-million-year-old ammonites and clams from Hornby Island by one of the members of the society.

The Fossil Fair is an educational experience for all age groups and visitors are invited to bring in fossils for identification. There will be display cases and storyboards used for presentations to school groups, youth camps and other organizations that will be of interest to school teachers and other educators.

Activities for children include a fossil scavenger hunt with prizes, fossil colouring, rubbings, stampings and looking at specimens through microscopes.

The society co-operates with professional paleontologists undertaking research.

Find out about some of the scientific contributions made by members, including the discovery and naming of new species. All scientifically important fossils are donated to the Royal British Columbia Museum.

The society is a member of the British Columbia Paleontological Alliance.

Admission to the fair is by donation.

It runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday at the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Rd.

For more information, go to vicpalaeo.org.

Animal rehabilitation facility opens its doors

Book early to ensure you get an opportunity to go behind the scenes at a wildlife rehabilitation centre as the B.C. SPCA hosts its annual open house, Saturday and Sunday at its facility in Metchosin.

Only 1,000 guests can be accommodated during the two-day event, which offers animal lovers a chance to glimpse wildlife rehabilitation in action, and meet staff and volunteers as they work to save lives.

Volunteer crews will guide small tour groups through the 10-acre property, showing how the rehabilitation team cared for more than 130 different species last year.

“It takes a lot of knowledge and planning to be able to help such a diverse range of species,” said Meg Hatch, the centre’s assistant manager.

“We admit wild patients, ranging from delicate baby hummingbirds to feisty injured river otters to ocean-faring seabirds. Each species requires specialized housing, care and nutrition, and we’re able to provide that in one multi-faceted facility.”

Operating 365 days a year, Wild ARC has cared for more than 40,000 animals since opening in 1997.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize how much specialized treatment is required to care for our wild patients — it can be fascinating to learn,” Hatch said.

People are encouraged to dress for the weather with appropriate footwear for walking outside, as the show goes on, rain or shine.

To avoid potential stress, none of the animal patients are available to view, but a live educational raptor will be on-site. Leave pets at home.

While the tour is free, donations of cash or food or supplies to help the animals are gratefully appreciated. Reservations are required and the event fills up quickly, so be sure to register to reserve your preferred tour time.

The event runs from noon to 4 p.m.The Wild ARC facility is at 1020 Malloch Rd., Metchosin.

To book a tour, go to spca.bc.ca/tourwildarc.

 Nature lovers flock to see Brant geese 

The 2018 Brant Wildlife Festival, a spring celebration of nature on Vancouver Island, continues with fun activities for all ages Saturday and Sunday in Parksville, Qualicum Beach and surrounding areas.

The annual festival celebrates nature, particularly Brant geese, who stop by during their annual migration from their wintering grounds in Baja California to breeding grounds in the Arctic.

Visitors can take in wildlife- viewing opportunities as well as learning about the migration from guest speakers.

The arrival of the geese coincides with the Pacific herring spawn. The herring lay their eggs on seaweed. The eggs are an important source of protein for the birds as they put on fat to complete their journey to their northern breeding grounds.

During the herring spawn, flocks of up to 3,000 Brant geese can be found close to shore feeding on the eggs. The event attracts tens of thousands of other water birds as well as marine mammals, such as harbour seals and sea lions. Large numbers of bald eagles are also attracted to the spawn sites.

Brant spend their nights out on the Strait of Georgia. In the morning, as the tide drops, the birds fly in to shore to land on the first exposed sandbars.

You can join bird ID and birdwatching workshops on Saturday or take part in birding tours and a forest bathing walk on both Saturday and Sunday.

Large numbers of Brant geese have been reported this week. Have your nature questions answered by the Arrowsmith Naturalists 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Parksville Community Park, 193 Beachside Dr., Parksville. For a list of events, go to brantfestival.bc.ca/events.

Procession links churches

Two Saanich churches, the Lutheran Church of the Cross and St. Luke Cedar Hill Anglican Church, are hosting a community Palm Procession and Palm/Passion Sunday service to observe Holy Week on Sunday.

This year marks the fourth year of the event, in which the congregation take parts in a procession between the churches, crossing the corner of Cedar Hill Road and Cedar Hill Cross Road.

“We are again inviting the community to take part in this procession. Everyone is welcome,” said Barb Prescott, a warden at St. Luke’s.

The principal service of the day starts at the Lutheran Church of the Cross with the blessing of palms, coats and blankets. Items collected will be donated to Our Place Society.

Parishioners will then embark on a procession to St. Luke’s, where the service will continue.

Parishioners are asked to contribute by bringing new or gently-used blankets and coats to the service at Church of the Cross.

Light refreshments will be served at St. Luke’s afterward.

The service begins at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Cross, 3787 Cedar Hill Rd. For information, call 250-477-6741 or visit stlukesvictoria.ca.

Learn how to spot birds

If you want to learn the basics of birdwatching, join Beginner Birding Basics, a CRD Parks guided walk that takes place at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park on Saturday.

The outdoor program is geared toward participants eight years and older.

This is a great time of the year to learn about birding, as courtship and territory disputes fill the air with song.

A CRD Regional Parks naturalist will teach you what to look for and how to use binoculars and field guides.

You are encouraged to bring your own binoculars if you have them, but a spotting scope will be provided.

Parking is available. The park is served by B.C. Transit routes 54 and 55.

The program is free and runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Meet at the Nature Centre (off Metchosin Road) at Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park. Try to arrive 10 minutes before the start of the program. Leave pets at home.

For more information, go to crd.bc.ca/parks.

Pirates descend on Nanaimo

Get an eyepatch, put a parrot on your shoulder and assume your best swashbuckling attitude for Piratefest, Friday and Saturday at Country Club Centre in Nanaimo. This is the fourth year of the popular family-friendly event, the highlight of the month-long Festival Nanaimo.

On Friday, there are pirate-themed crafts, ship races with the Nanaimo Child Development Centre and face painting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday is Piratefest Day, in which young and old mates are encouraged to dress up in their best pirate gear.
Activities run from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. At noon, there will be a stage show, followed by a parade.

All the activities are free. Piratefest runs at the Country Club Centre, 3200 North Island Hwy. Go to festivalnanaimo.com.