Anna's Hummingbirds already at work Photo of Anna's Hummingbird was taken in Lions Bay by Danielle Wills. Many residents know to avoid tree work during the songbird nesting season (mid-March – late August), but did you know our official Village bird, the Anna’s Hummingbird, is already nesting? By now the Anna’s mamas have eggs the size of jelly beans or even miniscule nestlings. Their toonie-sized homes are carefully engineered in shrubs and trees from plant fibres, spider we

Springtime (and butterflies!) just around the corner Story by Val Morton and Hana Boye Photo courtesy of Hana Boye and Val Morton. News about declining biodiversity can feel overwhelming; the problems and challenges too big for any one person to tackle. To change that perspective, Douglas Tallamy, a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, promotes the idea of creating "Homegrown National Parks" by "renaturing" the backyard

Great Backyard Bird Count Returns tomorrow Your backyard, window, or office counts: this Friday, become a scientist by joining the Great Backyard Bird Count ! This year’s annual global count takes place from February 13 – 16. By participating, you support researchers who track bird populations, document declines, observe the impacts of climate change, identify disease outbreaks and more. Research results inform conservation strategies to support struggling bird populations. A

Spring shows her beautiful face six weeks early Top from left: periwinkle, hellibores, rose. Centre from left crocus, snowdrops, daffodil. Bottom row: cherry blossoms, creeping violet. Photos by kc dyer and Norma Rodgers. This uncharacteristically balmy winter appears to have left the door open wide enough for spring to creep through a full six weeks early. All these blooms were spotted yesterday, February 9, in upper Lions Bay. Have you got some early bloomers to share? Send

Changes to Waste Collection Now in Effect Lions Bay Council has adopted amendments to the Garbage and Recycling Collection Bylaw with three changes made. Residents who cannot comply with curbside pick-up time slots or drop off times at the Works Yard may now use approved bear-resistant, clip-lock style garbage/food waste carts purchased from the Village to put their waste out from 7 a.m. on collection day. However, the goal is that approved time slots will continue to be the

Átl'ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound, as seen from 'Sleepless Night' Viewpoint Photo taken by Herb Johnston, February 1, 2026 at 4 p.m. Hiker and photographer Herb Johnston shares this photo taken from the viewpoint at Sleepless Night trail above the Village, as a brilliant reminder that even these rainy days don't last forever. Have a gorgeous photo to share? Email us at   editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca   Like what you're reading? For as little as $5/month, you can support local independent

Sun setting through the fog on Átl'ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound. Photo by Trevor Hoffmann, January 19, 2026. Have a beautiful photo you'd like to share? Email us at   editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca   Like what you're reading? For as little as $5/month, you can support local independent journalism by subscribing to The Watershed HERE.

As Vancouver foghorns groan, Howe Sound sparkles A tree-framed view of the retreating January fog. Photo by kc dyer. Have a gorgeous January shot to share? Email us at   editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca   Like what you're reading? For as little as $5/month, you can support local independent journalism by subscribing to The Watershed HERE.

Atmospheric river brings wet start to 2026 Clockwise from top left: water drains below tennis court, free-running creek on Mountain Drive, water pours below blackberry bushes, and a look up Harvey Creek from beneath the highway. Photos by kc dyer. Living on the windward side of a mountain in a temperate rainforest means foggy, dampish winters are almost a given. However, the series of atmospheric rivers coupled with the mild Pacific air mass that is blowing through has meant

Wishing you all the best of 2026 First snow, Tunnel Bluffs trail, November 24. Photo by Chris Dunn. Have New Year's wishes to share? Leave your thoughts below, or email editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca Like what you're reading? For as little as $5/month, you can support local independent journalism by subscribing to The Watershed  HERE .

Village bird-watchers wanted Clockwise from top left: Anna's Hummingbird, Steller's Jay, Spotted Towhee, Black-capped Chickadee. All photos by Danielle Wills. "Every Bird Counts: Your Observations Matter" This is the just-announced conservation theme for World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) 2026 and it’s a great reason to take part in the Lower Howe Sound Christmas Bird Count on Sunday, January 4. In their official announcement , the global WMBD partners said, “Community science c

John Dudley breaks trails and brings sleepless nights Rudy Luethy's memorial bench, designed and built by Andrew Wray. Photo by Andrew Wray. This is the third and final installment (for now!) of long-time resident John Dudley's history of building trails in and around Lions Bay over the past three decades. If you have an interest in lending a hand with this eternally on-going project, he dearly hopes you will reach out. He shares his experiences in Part One HERE,   in  which

December 14 marks anniversary of Battani Creek Disaster Overhead view of Batanni Creek debris torrent aftermath. Watershed file photo. Today marks the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic debris torrent that cascaded through Lions Bay and across Highway 99, destroying one home and damaging several other properties, and taking the lives of David and Barbara Enns. Shortly after 10 a.m., reports came in of a massive mudslide that had torn down Battani Creek above Brunswick

Three years in the wild, thanks to local residents Bear cub in his crate right after capture in December, 2022. Photo courtesy Critter Care Wildlife Society. It's been three years since the orphaned bear cub who came to be known as Tsaw'in was given a new lease on life, thanks to the help of local residents. Near the end of 2022, a lone bear cub was spotted by local residents, with sightings reported on social media and also by text to Councillor Neville Abbott. After a few d

John Dudley remembers the ups and downs of trail building Photo by John Dudley. Long-time resident John Dudley has been building and maintaining the local trail system around the Village for decades, and he's looking for some help. In a recent outreach to local residents on social media, Dudley notes that "a number of our team have been with the group for over 25 years and are now approaching their best-before date." He says he's hoping to welcome some enthusiastic volunteers

Capturing the glory of the golden hour This gorgeous shot of autumn sun through the trees was taken November 13, 2025 by Christine Little. Have a beautiful photo to share? Email us at   editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca   Like what you're reading? For as little as $5/month, you can support local independent journalism by subscribing to The Watershed HERE.

Plus, a history of Lions Bay Trailblazing: Part One Official opening of the Totally Unnecessary Trail (now the Erin Moore Trail) June 1, 2001. Photo by John Dudley Sharp-eyed residents may have noticed a recent plea in the Lions Bay Village Update for new blood on the Trailblazer's Team. Founder John Dudley put out a call for "enthusiastic people who don't need replacement parts" and who are interested in seeing our local trails remain in good condition to reach out to the gr

Increased protections help ensure the health of the Sound Glass sponge reef photo courtesy Marine Life Sanctuaries Society. Council is poised to finalize a response to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) this week on a new initiative designed to increase protection for endangered species within Átl’ k a7tsem / Howe Sound. The Marine Conservations Target Initiatives Update (MCTIU), was developed and released this fall by DFO in order to receive First Nations and other stakeholde

Trail usage nearly doubled in August from 2024 Members of LBSAR ground team search for stranded hikers on November 5, 2025. Photo by Scott Mackenzie. While a few die-hard winter hikers continue to seek out back-country trails, the mid-November rains generally mean the bulk of the 2025 hiking season is over, and it's time for a look back. The process of keeping a good record of numbers of hikers in the watershed above Lions Bay was hampered this year when vandals damaged exist

It's not just unwelcome plants moving into town Image courtesy BCISC, Invasive species come in all shapes and sizes, and not all of them have roots. In addition to unwelcome plants that have moved into the region and taken over native habitats, a few invasive animal species have ecologists concerned. According to the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC), invasive animal species that already have a presence in this region include goldfish and red-eared slider turtles.