Celebrate Biodiversity Share stories and photographs of wildlife, birds, natural areas and more. Fri, 15 May 2026 01:28:07 +0000 Fri, 15 May 2026 01:28:07 +0000 UBC Botanical Garden Forums https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/celebrate-biodiversity.258/ Backyard hummingbird chicks development Tue, 12 May 2026 17:33:08 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/backyard-hummingbird-chicks-development.105497/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/backyard-hummingbird-chicks-development.105497/ invalid@example.com (Pieter) Pieter Speaking of front yard, the other day I notice a hummingbird sitting at the top of our Japanese maple in the front and I figured it must have a nest nearby. We have a macrame dream catcher hanging in our carport and we've seen hummers in there helping themselves to the fuzzy bits of wool. Sure enough, our neighbour to the north sent us a short movie clip of a hummer nest in one of her climbing roses in her backyard, soooo, off I went on Monday for some pictures....and there was the wool!...

Backyard hummingbird chicks development]]> 8 Urban birds fear women more than men, and scientists don't know why Fri, 01 May 2026 12:57:38 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/urban-birds-fear-women-more-than-men-and-scientists-dont-know-why.105512/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/urban-birds-fear-women-more-than-men-and-scientists-dont-know-why.105512/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Urban birds fear women more than men, and scientists don't know why]]> Chernobyl is too radioactive for humans – but wild animals are thriving like never before Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:42:17 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/chernobyl-is-too-radioactive-for-humans-%E2%80%93-but-wild-animals-are-thriving-like-never-before.105503/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/chernobyl-is-too-radioactive-for-humans-%E2%80%93-but-wild-animals-are-thriving-like-never-before.105503/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Chernobyl is too radioactive for humans – but wild animals are thriving like never before
]]> Remarkable rats. Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:48:16 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/remarkable-rats.99490/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/remarkable-rats.99490/ invalid@example.com (togata57) togata57 A poisonous rat that licks deadly toxins onto its own fur sounds like some kind of made-up nightmare species. But these creatures are real, and scientists now say they are also unexpectedly affectionate—at least with their own kind.

The African crested rat is the only mammal known to sequester lethal plant toxins.

The discovery thrilled mammologists. "Basically, it's the only known mammal to date, at least that we know of, that co-opts toxins from a plant to make itself venomous," says...

Remarkable rats.]]> 4 Michigan Cherry Farmers Find a Surprising Food Safety Ally: Falcons Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:08:22 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/michigan-cherry-farmers-find-a-surprising-food-safety-ally-falcons.105469/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/michigan-cherry-farmers-find-a-surprising-food-safety-ally-falcons.105469/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Michigan Cherry Farmers Find a Surprising Food Safety Ally: Falcons
]]> 1 Raccoons solve puzzles for the fun of it, new study finds Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:05:41 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/raccoons-solve-puzzles-for-the-fun-of-it-new-study-finds.105468/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/raccoons-solve-puzzles-for-the-fun-of-it-new-study-finds.105468/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Raccoons solve puzzles for the fun of it, new study finds
]]> Veronika the cow has a scratching broom, and she knows how to use it Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:19:51 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/veronika-the-cow-has-a-scratching-broom-and-she-knows-how-to-use-it.105438/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/veronika-the-cow-has-a-scratching-broom-and-she-knows-how-to-use-it.105438/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Veronika the cow has a scratching broom, and she knows how to use it​]]> A Mississauga man took the city to court over not mowing his lawn — and won Sun, 11 Jan 2026 07:51:12 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/a-mississauga-man-took-the-city-to-court-over-not-mowing-his-lawn-%E2%80%94-and-won.105427/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/a-mississauga-man-took-the-city-to-court-over-not-mowing-his-lawn-%E2%80%94-and-won.105427/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper A Mississauga man took the city to court over not mowing his lawn — and won​]]> 1 New species are being discovered faster than ever before, study suggests Wed, 24 Dec 2025 01:43:06 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/new-species-are-being-discovered-faster-than-ever-before-study-suggests.105413/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/new-species-are-being-discovered-faster-than-ever-before-study-suggests.105413/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper New species are being discovered faster than ever before, study suggests​]]> 1 Urban birds' beak shape rapidly changed during COVID-19 lockdowns Mon, 22 Dec 2025 07:00:03 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/urban-birds-beak-shape-rapidly-changed-during-covid-19-lockdowns.105412/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/urban-birds-beak-shape-rapidly-changed-during-covid-19-lockdowns.105412/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Urban birds' beak shape rapidly changed during COVID-19 lockdowns, suggesting human-driven transformations​
Urban birds' beak shape rapidly changed during COVID-19 lockdowns]]> Italian bears living near villages have evolved to be smaller and less aggressive, finds study Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:40:35 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/italian-bears-living-near-villages-have-evolved-to-be-smaller-and-less-aggressive-finds-study.105408/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/italian-bears-living-near-villages-have-evolved-to-be-smaller-and-less-aggressive-finds-study.105408/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Italian bears living near villages have evolved to be smaller and less aggressive, finds study​
]]> 1 City raccoons showing signs of domestication Sun, 07 Dec 2025 08:14:45 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/city-raccoons-showing-signs-of-domestication.105398/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/city-raccoons-showing-signs-of-domestication.105398/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper City raccoons showing signs of domestication​
]]> 5 These B.C. wolves figured out how to pull up crab traps to get food Thu, 20 Nov 2025 01:19:49 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/these-b-c-wolves-figured-out-how-to-pull-up-crab-traps-to-get-food.105390/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/these-b-c-wolves-figured-out-how-to-pull-up-crab-traps-to-get-food.105390/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper These B.C. wolves figured out how to pull up crab traps to get food​
]]> 1 Goats destroy invasive buckthorn one bite at a time Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:19:12 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/goats-destroy-invasive-buckthorn-one-bite-at-a-time.105384/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/goats-destroy-invasive-buckthorn-one-bite-at-a-time.105384/ invalid@example.com (wcutler) wcutler The article on the appeal of buckthorn for the goats is the second article in this issue, a little beyond half-way down the page at
What I learned from people who live car-free across Canada | CBC Climate Change News]]> 1 Theory emerges after famously ugly trees transform into perfect 'lollipops' on Aussie property Mon, 27 Oct 2025 03:30:26 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/theory-emerges-after-famously-ugly-trees-transform-into-perfect-lollipops-on-aussie-property.105364/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/theory-emerges-after-famously-ugly-trees-transform-into-perfect-lollipops-on-aussie-property.105364/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Theory emerges after famously ugly trees transform into perfect 'lollipops' on Aussie property​
Theory emerges after famously ugly trees transform into perfect 'lollipops' on Aussie property]]> 1 Out-of-place Butterfly Sat, 13 Sep 2025 07:08:07 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/out-of-place-butterfly.105310/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/out-of-place-butterfly.105310/ invalid@example.com (NorthPeace) NorthPeace 2 This bright orange shark has shocked and delighted scientists Sat, 06 Sep 2025 16:46:44 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/this-bright-orange-shark-has-shocked-and-delighted-scientists.105298/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/this-bright-orange-shark-has-shocked-and-delighted-scientists.105298/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper This bright orange shark has shocked and delighted scientists​]]> 1 Lost Lagoon Algae (Stanley Park) Mon, 01 Sep 2025 23:18:16 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/lost-lagoon-algae-stanley-park.105290/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/lost-lagoon-algae-stanley-park.105290/ invalid@example.com (wcutler) wcutler View attachment 260175
The algae growth turns out to be a yearly occurrence, now that the fountain is turned off and the lagoon receives no fresh water. The docent from the Stanley Park Ecology Society said the birds appreciate the algae, and it clears up on its own later in the year. There's an article about it at https://www.thewestendjournal.ca/blog/2025/9/1/stanley-park-notebook.
Lost Lagoon Algae (Stanley Park)]]> Many Bald-faced Hornets this Year Fri, 08 Aug 2025 01:44:17 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/many-bald-faced-hornets-this-year.105268/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/many-bald-faced-hornets-this-year.105268/ invalid@example.com (DavidB52) DavidB52
Previously, I almost never saw any.

However, this year they are everywhere. I am seeing more of them than the bright yellow and orange yellowjackets. They fly around everything: flowers, compost, water buckets, etc. but don't land on anything. I wonder what they are looking for?

It's fun watching them; they are beautiful. Luckily, I haven't been stung by one yet.

Though I still wonder why the noticeable...

Many Bald-faced Hornets this Year]]> 2 Pair of rare, multicoloured lobsters new summer stars of Dartmouth ocean centre Sat, 19 Jul 2025 06:58:05 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pair-of-rare-multicoloured-lobsters-new-summer-stars-of-dartmouth-ocean-centre.105245/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/pair-of-rare-multicoloured-lobsters-new-summer-stars-of-dartmouth-ocean-centre.105245/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Pair of rare, multicoloured lobsters new summer stars of Dartmouth ocean centre

]]> Orcas might be trying to learn 'who we are' when they share prey with humans, study suggests Fri, 04 Jul 2025 18:47:28 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/orcas-might-be-trying-to-learn-who-we-are-when-they-share-prey-with-humans-study-suggests.105228/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/orcas-might-be-trying-to-learn-who-we-are-when-they-share-prey-with-humans-study-suggests.105228/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Orcas might be trying to learn 'who we are' when they share prey with humans, study suggests​]]> 3 Western Painted Turtles Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:09:17 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/western-painted-turtles.105211/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/western-painted-turtles.105211/ invalid@example.com (Georgia Strait) Georgia Strait https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelow...e-for-western-painted-turtles-in-the-Okanagan

Hello @wcutler
I am not sure where to post garden nature items

we have a small forest pond nearby Okanagan region and yes, turtles sun themselves

very interesting

unfort sometimes they sun on the road (warm pavement)

link attached above]]> 1 New Study Shows That Birds Form Bonds That Look a Lot Like Friendship Mon, 26 May 2025 07:06:44 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/new-study-shows-that-birds-form-bonds-that-look-a-lot-like-friendship.105191/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/new-study-shows-that-birds-form-bonds-that-look-a-lot-like-friendship.105191/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper New Study Shows That Birds Form Bonds That Look a Lot Like Friendship​
]]> Backyard feeders changed the shape of hummingbird beaks, scientists say Sun, 25 May 2025 07:46:23 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/backyard-feeders-changed-the-shape-of-hummingbird-beaks-scientists-say.105188/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/backyard-feeders-changed-the-shape-of-hummingbird-beaks-scientists-say.105188/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper Backyard feeders changed the shape of hummingbird beaks, scientists say​
]]> This orange lobster might not look that rare — but it's 1 in 30 million Tue, 20 May 2025 00:37:25 +0000 https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/this-orange-lobster-might-not-look-that-rare-%E2%80%94-but-its-1-in-30-million.105186/ https://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/threads/this-orange-lobster-might-not-look-that-rare-%E2%80%94-but-its-1-in-30-million.105186/ invalid@example.com (Junglekeeper) Junglekeeper This orange lobster might not look that rare — but it's 1 in 30 million​]]>