By David Clements/Special to 91原创 Advance Times
The motto of the 91原创 Field Naturalists (LFN) is 鈥渢o know nature and keep it worth knowing.鈥�
As I read the book launched by the LFN in December, On the Trail: 50 Years of Engaging with Nature, I reflected a lot on the meaning of the motto.
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The motto is about what it means to be a naturalist, and not just a 91原创 Field Naturalist.
To be 鈥渙n the trail鈥� means you are setting out to explore some part of nature, and you鈥檙e bringing your deep sense of curiosity.
Even if you happen to know much about what you will see on the trail, you鈥檙e not done 鈥渒nowing nature鈥� because every day on the trail is different.
At LFN meetings, members are encouraged to share recent 鈥渟ightings鈥� 鈥� usually an unusual bird species sighted in the area, or perhaps a whimsical thing like racoons at a bird feeder.
Chapter 2 of the book on 鈥淧eople Power鈥� delves into the legendary record of key individuals who have sought to know nature and keep it worth knowing in 91原创.
The chapter covers many significant LFN members and starts with founding members, who I will briefly give tribute to here (but you really must read the book!).
As Phil Henderson writes 鈥淕lenn Ryder was one of the world鈥檚 great naturalists.鈥�
How could this reclusive individual, who spent most of his days roaming the woods for 70 plus years (until his passing in 2013) have attained such stature?
Ryder really knew nature, and through long hours of careful observation, making extensive illustrated notes, was able to catalogue many species in our area, including rarities like the Pacific water shrew.
The book includes a sketch Ryder made of a family of Pacific water shrews caravanning, whereby the young shrews form a caravan behind their mother 鈥渢ail in mouth鈥� style.
Two other LFN founders, Al and Jude Grass, passionately advocated for the formation of Campbell Valley Regional Park, and in so doing brought together other nature lovers to form the LFN.
I鈥檝e had the good fortune of spending many hours with Al and Jude, and indeed their love of nature is contagious.
I鈥檒l leave you with an Al Grass quote from the book: 鈥淕etting a good list of birds is one thing. But we also want to know how the birds live; that鈥檚 what I enjoy. Each one of our walks we hope someone goes away with knowledge they didn鈥檛 originally have.鈥�
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鈥� David Clements PhD, is a professor of biology and environmental studies at Trinity Western University
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