Hornby Island stands apart from other Salish Sea islands because over one third of the island is protected as Provincial or Regional Parkland. Within the Mt. Geoffrey Regional Park, two parcels of land are additionally protected with conservation covenants held by TLC and the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD). The CVRD has recently completed a management plan for the park, and TLC was tasked with conducting a species inventory and invasive species strategy for the covenanted portions of the Park.

Torrey and Karen met with Yana Pethick, the Park’s steward, Daniel May from the CVRD, and members from Conservancy Hornby Island – one of whom has lived in the area for over 50 years.  Walking the land with people who know it well is second only to knowing the land yourself and TLC is very grateful to those who donated their time and expertise. Sharing knowledge like this helps shape the successful management of an area, because only those who have experienced the land fully can tell you what you need to pay attention to. As they say, only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.

Thankfully, most of the area is well forested and free of invasive species.  Over the course of two days we encountered an enormous amount of biodiversity. The more notable observations include: small-flowered forget-me-not, several mushroom species (including the lovely edible oyster mushroom!), cyanide millipedes that smell like almond if you disturb them, a birds nest, coralroot orchid complete with a geometridae larvae, maiden-hair ferns (Torrey’s favourite!), frog pelt lichen, lungwort, and the always enjoyable rough-skinned newt.

Some quick facts on the rough-skinned newt: they are listed as “Special Concern” by COSEWIC, as well as being blue-listed by the Conservation Data Centre. Like many other amphibious species newts are impacted by the degradation of water systems across the province. Their mating season occurs from Dec to July but is concentrated in March and April; the skin of both sexes becomes smooth at the beginning of the mating season while the males’ tails flatten and develop well-defined digits to aid in grasping females while mating. Breeding in water, the males wrestle to impress females and can form groups of wrestling newts involving up to 20 individuals!  However, it’s reported that the female only mates with one male, attaching her mass of eggs to aquatic plants in shallow ponds, lakes or slow-moving streams. The larvae emerge from the eggs after 20-26 days, and live in the water until metamorphosis, where the larvae turn into juvenile newts. This metamorphosis stage can last 4-5 months! The juvenile newts then leave the water and live on solid ground until sexual maturity at 4-5 years of age. Incredibly, newts can live as long as 18 years in the wild.

During the species inventory, we stumbled upon a small waterfall! We were treated to the sight of a cliff, absolutely dripping in moss and ferns, raining a soft pitter patter down the steep hillside, creating a cathedral atmosphere within a verdant heaven. It’s moments like these that remind us what we’re doing all of this conservation work for.

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Post photo credit Torrey Archer