Sharing a love of nature
Join us in celebrating, protecting, and learning about natural habitats in the Greater Victoria region.
Formed in 1944 as the
Victoria Natural History Society
What we do?
(Photo Credit: Gordon Hart)
Protecting
For 80 years, Nature Victoria has been a steadfast advocate for protecting the biodiversity of southern Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands. The three principal areas of protection we engage in are direct advocacy, support to other organizations that are advocating for issues we support, and the annual Christmas Bird Count.
(Photo Credit: Phil Lambert)
Learning
Nature Victoria is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world through various educational initiatives. These include a member newsletter featuring articles, project updates, and event announcements; monthly evening presentations covering topics like birds, marine life, and botany; and a variety of field trips exploring diverse natural environments. These programs aim to engage participants of all ages in hands-on learning experiences, promoting ecological awareness and a sense of community among nature enthusiasts.
(Photo Credit: Robert Harwood)
Celebrating + Sharing
Nature Victoria is deeply committed to fostering education, collaboration, and community engagement in the natural sciences. The organization offers scholarships and bursaries to support students pursuing studies in species and habitat conservation. Additionally, Nature Victoria actively participates in regional science fairs by providing financial support and volunteering as judges, aiming to inspire and encourage student projects focused on ecology and nature. The organization also collaborates with various environmental groups, offering funding and support to advance conservation efforts and ensure the sustainability of these initiatives.
We Need Your Help
There are many ways to get you can get
involved and make a difference!
Donate
Every dollar donated helps us to continue do great work.
Attend an Event
Explore nature and meet others in the community.
Videos
Volunteer Passion Projects
Invertebrate Alert
This blog provides an informal forum for terrestrial invertebrate watchers to post recent sightings of interesting observations in the southern Vancouver Island region. Visit https://invertsight.com/ to learn more.
Butterfly Count
Each month from April to September, one weekend will be designated for Butterfly Counts. If you are not able to complete your count on the weekend, you may do so during the following week. Please note: we are currently looking for a new count coordinator. Email: butterflies@naturevictoria.ca
Christmas Bird Count
Register to help collect data and monitor trends on bird species of Southern Vancouver Island.
The Victoria Naturalist Newsletter
Six times a year Nature Victoria produces a top-notch member newsletter chronicling species of note, future events, activities and field trips, conservation projects and nature resources in the community.
Non-members can view archived copies of The Victoria Naturalist here.
Become a member to receive current issues of the Victoria Naturalist.
Upcoming Events
- October 22, 2025
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Birders' Night (Zoom only)
October 22, 2025 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Great Gray Owl
Join us for a presentation on Great Gray Owl biology and ecology by Dr. James Duncan. Jim has been studying this "Phantom of the Northern Forest" for over four decades in Manitoba, Ontario, Minnesota and California. One of his most recent discoveries is how this owl overcomes an auditory illusion when hunting small mammals under thick snow.
Zoom participants, please register in advance by clicking this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85874275686?pwd=ttDcJIarT3bHfcvRpFHQKAJ7OsbVVy.1 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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- October 25, 2025
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Saturday Birding
October 25, 2025 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Victoria RegionMeets every Saturday morning, usually at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine. We ask that participants have both vaccines completed, to come on this walk. Check here on the Thursday/Friday before to find out the week’s time and location. Novice and experienced VNHS members all welcome. Non-members can participate up to three times, after which they are expected to join the Society.
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- October 27, 2025
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Marine Night (Zoom only)
October 27, 2025 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Marine Night (Zoom only)
Knock knock, who's there? Investigating rockfish vocalizations and their applications for acoustic monitoring
Did you know that fish can make sounds? In British Columbia there are 41 species of rockfish, but very little is known about their vocalizations. Dive into the world of underwater communication with this exploration of the diversity of fish sounds occurring in the waters surrounding Vancouver Island. If you've ever wondered what a Black rockfish sounds like or what a Copper rockfish says while it's being chased, then this talk is for you. Using photos, videos, and sound clips collected from Barkley Sound, BC this talk will explore the sounds and behaviours of local rockfish and how a better understanding of fish vocalizations could become a key tool for monitoring and protecting these species in the future. PhD candidate in the biology department at the University of Victoria, Darienne Lancaster's research is focused on developing new, non-destructive acoustic tools for monitoring rockfish. Darienne loves all things rockfish related and completed her master's degree in 2015 on recreational fisher compliance in Rockfish Conservation Areas.
Zoom participants, please register in advance by clicking this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82655782679?pwd=PR7MdDvQWCG9lRJwAdSPgF7vh6gmPN.1 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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