Nathan or Beaver Creek? A Bradner Barker contributor and reader wrote to me recently wondering, "Nathan Creek is actually called Beaver Creek, how it became Nathan is a mystery to all of us". I too have been confused about this very topic and have been curious to find answers. So with a bit of inquiring and research I was able to solve this mystery! The Glen Valley Watershed Society posted the history of the name origin on their website. Beaver Creek was known by the Bradner area's early settlers and Nathan Creek is still commonly referred to as Beaver Creek, particularly in the Bradner area of west Abbotsford BC. In 1914 a decision was made in Victoria, BC to change the name to Nathan Creek in commemoration of Henry Nathan who pre-empted land at the mouth of the creek in 1875. There doesn't appear to be any further record of Henry Nathan as a settler in the Bradner area. In 1939 the Geographic Names Board of Canada confirmed Nathan as the official name. Originally, Nathan Creek flowed several hundred metres East of the present dyke channel and joined the Fraser River through what is now known as Nathan Slough. The creek was diverted and dyked in 1911 - 1912, constructed by the Canadian Northern Railway, protecting much of the fertile natural prairie of Glen Valley from periodic flooding. While agriculture established in the lower parts of Nathan (Beaver) Creek the fine stands of timber in the uplands attracted loggers. For many years several sawmills flourished in the Bradner area. In the past, Nathan (Beaver) Creek has provided spawning areas for significant numbers of Coho, Pink, Chum and Steelhead Salmon, as well as Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout. While Chinook salmon are not known to spawn in the system, young Chinook fry from other creeks use the lower reaches to feed and rest as they venture to the ocean. Chum Salmon are no longer common in the system, and there is evidence that populations of Coho, Steelhead and Rainbow are declining.
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By Lisa Dreves Attached is the form for this year’s Glen Valley bird count results. Very interesting compared to averages from previous years. In the future consideration should be given to schedule conflicts with the big British Columbia Field Ornithologists’ Annual Conference and the bird count should be scheduled a week early instead of later so all the birds don’t disappear like they seemed to this year. Less birders turned out this year. Heat and scheduling of the bird count one week later than usual were thought to result in the low turnout. Count Results Showed the Following Compared to the Last Few Years Averages in Brackets:
Low Numbers:
High Numbers:
The big find this year goes to the team of Phil and Glenn – 1 Eastern Kingbird – the only other time we have seen one was in 2008! The highest numbers go to the team of Joan and Anne – nice job ladies! Thank-you so much for all of your help this year – the count would never be able to happen without so many talented birders! Lisa Dreves Langley Stewardship Coordinator Langley Environmental Partners Society 604-546-0336 By Lisa Dreves, Glen Valley Watersheds Society The Glen Valley Watersheds Society (GVWS) will be out with birders from all over the lower mainland on Saturday, June 6th, 2015 @ 6 am for the 12th Annual Glen Valley Spring Bird Count - in search for all the amazing birds that call Glen Valley home in the spring. If you are interested in giving birding a try or already have a “good ear” – as they say – contact the GVWS at stewardship@leps.bc.ca, newbys and experienced birders are all welcome! The dawn chorus starts up a bit before 4am this time of year but the GVWS has a much more reasonable start time of 6am. The bird count gets underway at Poplar Bar (end of Lefevre Road at River Rd) where everyone is arranged into groups and car pools are sorted out. Everyone is assigned a different area and they head off. Everyone meets back at Poplar Bar at 11:30am for a potluck lunch and to compare notes. The group is looking for volunteers to join the count and properties to count on. If you are interested in joining the count please contact their coordinator at stewardship@leps.bc.ca or call 604-546-0336. OR you can count in your own backyard or invite the birders on to your property to count for you. The bird count area boundary is the Fraser River on the north (but they do include Crescent Island), Armstrong Road and Telegraph Trail on the west, Starr Road (64 Ave in Langley) on the south and Bradner and Ross Road on the east. Over the past 11 years 126 different species of birds have been counted but on average they see about 73 different species each year. Please feel free to share, we always welcome new birders, recorders, drivers and more of the amazing experts that join us every year. The long range forecast is for mostly sunny with a high of 21oC so it should be an amazing day! If you haven’t already, please let me know you are coming so we have an idea of the number when we arrange carpools and for the potluck after (we usually have about 16 people out if you are making something for the potluck). Take care and enjoy the sunshine! Lisa Dreves Langley Stewardship Coordinator Langley Environmental Partners Society p: 604-546-0336 f: 604.534.6593 stewardship@leps.bc.ca www.gvws.ca |
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