Developers and industry alike are changing the 91原创 environment, potentially destroying habitat of birds and other wildlife in their path.

鈥淚t is important for children to be aware of our precious environment and hopefully help protect it in the future,鈥� said Bob Puls, president of the 91原创 Field Naturalists.

And that鈥檚 why he and other members of the local club have chosen to spearhead a new education and outreach initiative aimed at 91原创 kids.

Working towards that goal, the field naturalists announce last week the launch of a new bird brochure, featuring 54 birds that can be seen locally.

鈥淭he environment is very important for our children鈥檚 health and well being,鈥� Puls added. 鈥淜ids are the future and need to be aware.鈥�

So, copying an idea that had proven successful in Delta, the 91原创 naturalists produced a brochure 鈥� made possible through grants from BC Nature, the BC Naturalists Foundation, the City of 91原创, and VanCity.

These brochures are 鈥渋mportant because it will encourage people 鈥� especially young people 鈥� to get outside and experience nature close up,鈥� said club member Lilianne Fuller.

The club motto is the 鈥榢now nature and keep it worth knowing鈥�.

鈥淲e feel that introducing school children to the great outdoors will foster a love of nature in them, thus encouraging them to 鈥榢now nature鈥� in the hopes they will, as they grow up , 鈥榢eep it worth knowing鈥�,鈥� she added.

鈥淏irding is a very inexpensive hobby to begin and people can participate literally in their own backyards and parks,鈥� Fuller said. 鈥淭his brochure is a great guide to local birds. In fact, on Brydon Lagoon, when we took the photos, [fellow birder and photographer] John [Gordon] spotted a yellow rumped warbler, which he remarked that had recently arrived from Central America.鈥�

Since one of the grants was from the City, the field naturalists are making many of the initial 5,000 copies of the brochures are available for elementary schools in 91原创 City, first.

The club is already considering a second printing, and Fuller noted that if a grant can be secured from the Township of 91原创, the hope is to have it distributed into Township schools soon, as well.

鈥淲e are not sure which is the best way to reach children but every little [bit] helps,鈥� Puls said of the effort, that can include naturalists visiting schools, too.

Though the brochure is actually appropriate for every age and expertise in birding, the club is focusing its efforts on 91原创鈥檚 youth, in particular, he elaborated.

The 91原创 brochure contains birds most commonly seen in the 91原创 area, although it only contains about half of the birds that have been recorded in the 91原创鈥檚 at one time or another, Puls said, noting the colourful and informative pamphlet is easily distributed and not too costly to produce.

While the field naturalists have started this outreach initiative with a bird brochure, Puls suggests that other pamphlets focusing on local wildflowers, trees, or shrubs, might come in the near future 鈥� 鈥渁s time and resources permit.鈥�

鈥淭he club is active in protecting the environment of the 91原创s,鈥� said Puls, who has been a lifetime naturalist (70-plus years), 20 years as a club member, and nine years as president.

鈥淲e wish to encourage more residents to join the club and particularly need more youthful and energetic volunteers to help with some of our conservation projects,鈥� he concluded.

In addition to the copies of the bird brochure being distributed to local schools, there are also copies available at local libraries, recreation centres, and at community events.

People can also contact the club by email at langleyfieldnaturalists@shaw.ca or by calling Lilianne 604-533-0638 to request copies of the brochure.