The Baker Creek Enhancement Society closed a busy final half of 2020 by releasing its vacation package.
Available at learn.bakercreek.org, the Nature-Themed Winter Activities Package covers topics such as winter birding and zero waste gift wrap.
Amanda Vibert works at the Society. She said that while the company has managed the pandemic, nothing can replace face-to-face connections.
“We like to get in touch with people in person and bring them out and with students, it’s been especially difficult to adapt to a digital world,” Vibert said. “It’s been a bit of a learning curve, but we’re doing pretty well. “
Earlier this year, the company hosted the biannual pink salmon count at Baker Creek.
“The pink salmon patrol went very well,” she said, noting that students, scouts, guides and members of the public participated in the investigation.
According to the company’s tally, 325 pink salmon were seen spawning in Baker Creek in 2021.
“There was a lot more salmon, four times more salmon by the count this year than in 2019,” Vibert said, noting that the count efforts were better publicized and larger thanks to a grant from the Pacific. Salmon Foundation.
“It definitely helped spread the word. “
She also thanked Bliss Coffee for serving as a public launch point for the counters.
Spawning salmon have created protective rock structures in the creek bed called nests. The public is urged to keep an eye out and not destroy the nests by walking on them.
Counting salmon is not the only fishing activity the company engages in. Aquariums with chinook salmon eggs are currently in classrooms around Quesnel. The salmon are hatched and cared for by students, then released into local rivers in the spring.
“The eggs are expected to hatch over the holidays, which is exciting,” Vibert said.
Finally, QR codes for winter bird watching have been implemented around West Fraser Timber Park.
“It’s to connect people to the area a little deeper, so they can start to get to know the birds that inhabit Quesnel,” Vibert said.
To learn more about the company’s activities, check out their Facebook page.
Do you have anything to add to this story, or something else we should point out? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com
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