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
- March 21, 2026
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Saturday Birding
March 21, 2026 8:00 am - 11:00 am
Victoria RegionMeets every Saturday morning, usually at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine. 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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- March 24, 2026
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Tuesday Birding
March 24, 2026 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Corner of Bowker Ave. and Bowker Place, VictoriaWe meet every Tuesday between 8-9 am one block south of the foot of Bowker Avenue on the waterfront. After 9 am, the group will then go to various locations around Greater Victoria, finishing at noon.
Novice and experienced Nature Victoria members are welcome!
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- March 25, 2026
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BIRDERS’ NIGHT (ZOOM ONLY)
March 25, 2026 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Beak Deformities in Wild Birds: unraveling the mystery of avian keratin disorder
Avian Keratin Disorder (AKD) is an outbreak of debilitating beak deformities affecting wild birds. First documented among Black-capped Chickadees in Alaska in the early 1990s, it now appears to affect a variety of species across a broad geographic area. Danielle Gerik, Biologist with the USGS Alaska Science Center, will share results of efforts to track AKD around the world. She will provide updates on a virus that’s strongly associated with the occurrence of AKD in Black-capped Chickadees in Alaska. If you’ve seen a bird with a strangely overgrown beak or just want to learn more about this mysterious disease, this is a great opportunity to learn more! She will also provide information on how to share photos and sightings of birds with beak deformities so that more can be learned about AKD.
Please pre-register for the presentation. Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Flj4uJOcSg6P-7dAMbUDnA
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