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
- July 25, 2026
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Birding Thetis Lake
July 25, 2026 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Victoria RegionFIELD TRIP
Level 2.5 Paths can be narrow with uneven terrain/Obstacles in paths or steeper grades, requiring agility
Birding Thetis LakeMeet at 8:00 a.m. at the top right edge of the main parking area near the south end of Thetis Lake (https://ebird.org/hotspot/L349385 ). This will be a mostly leisurely walk along shorelines of the picturesque lakes. This forested area is productive for nesting songbirds. We can expect to encounter many juvenile forest birds, possibly including chickadees, juncos, robins, sparrows, nuthatches, creepers, warblers, and more. Taking a clockwise route, we will first go along Upper Thetis Lake, where Belted Kingfishers and Great Blue Herons may be seen fishing. We will then return along Lower Thetis Lake.
DIRECTIONS: To reach the park, take the Colwood exit off the Trans-Canada Highway and follow the Old Island Highway for a short distance. Turn right at the traffic light at Six Mile Road just before the bridge. Continue on this road when it goes under the highway and you will come to the Thetis Lake Park parking lot. Parking is $2.00 for two hours or $4.00 for the day; information about fee options can be found at https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks recreation-culture/parks-trails/crd-regional-parks/park-usage rules/parking-fees.
For more information, please email birdingfieldtrips@gmail.com.
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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- July 28, 2026
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Tuesday Birding
July 28, 2026 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, VictoriaNovice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome!
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- July 29, 2026
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Swan Lake Bird Walks
July 29, 2026 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, 3873 Swan Lake Rd, Victoria, BC, CanadaEvery Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. Bring your binoculars and walking shoes and meet in the parking lot for this informal and informative walk around the lake area. Walks are generally led by Nature Victoria members. Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is at 3873 Swan Lake Road, off Ralph Street. For more information, please contact pauladp@me.com.
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