City Library Biodiversity Observation Project's Journal

Friday, May 21st, 2021
Inter-River park II
North Vancouver
15 Celsius
Afternoon

I had a pleasant afternoon in the Inter-River Park. The first time I visited was last year during the pandemic and I was looking for something accessible in which I could go and disconnect for a little while.

There are a lot of parks in North Vancouver – if you're local, you probably know them all – however, to someone that has not been here yet, there is one path that goes both ways (uphill and downhill), and it is wide enough to fit a car. The path also runs beside Lynn Creek – which is a bit low on water since there has not been much rain in the past week. People run, ride bikes, talk with friends, and walk their dogs in this park -the complete “park experience”, like almost any other park around here.

I recently signed-up for the Teen Wildlife Ambassador Volunteer Program from the library, and now I am here to look for different plant species. Yesterday, I peeked at the iNaturalist app photos that people were uploading from this area; now I have an idea of which plants are already identified around here. I look for tiny details – the buttercups, the dandelions and the little purple flowers that grow at the side – I take some pictures and upload them. Bingo.

Overall, the Inter River Park experience is a positive one; I like to see the dogs enjoy the sun and the water as they go back and forth between their owners and their toys, and I like the tranquil yet dynamic energy this park has to offer.

By
~ Mariana García Soto
Teen Wildlife Ambassador

Saturday, May 22nd, 2021
Mahon Park
Noon
16 C
North Vancouver

I took my book and bike and rode all the way to Mahon Park. It was a beautiful morning, not quite sunny, but still bright and crisp. I found a dry spot by one of the many park benches and began reading – I began reading “Under the White Sky” by Elizabet Kolbert – author of “the Sixth Extinction” as well.

Quick tip, if you like to spot tiny plants or insects that you would otherwise miss on a walk, try staying still in one place for several minutes – you will begin noticing the increasing amount of activity around you – ants, squirrels, birds, beetles – don’t forget to take pictures of them! That way you can document them on iNaturalist when you get home.

By
~ Mariana García Soto
Teen Wildlife Ambassador

Monday, June 7th, 2021
Groundhog Day
North Vancouver
16 Celsius
Around 4 pm

Usually, after school, I like to sit by my desk and begin doing my homework. Today was no exception.

As I looked through the big glass window across my bedroom, I noticed something moving in the lawn. It wasn’t a squirrel – too big – and it wasn’t a beaver either. The brown, medium-sized creature looked back at me – it did not seem so happy either - and decided to mind its own business and return to pick-out the wildflowers on the grass. I tried to get a picture of it from my window, but it looked too blurred to be identifiable. I went outside. I looked for my mysterious visitor – gone.

One hour later, there were many people gathered around my neighbor’s car. There was a groundhog in their car’s hood.

By
~ Mariana García Soto
Teen Wildlife Ambassador