Vancity Walks Field Guide Projects Purpose The purpose of this field guide is to change the relationship between how humans interact with nature in an urban environment. In this case, that environment would be Hastings street, as it stretches through various different connecting urban environments. This field guide will give some examples of the various forms of nature found along Hastings, and perhaps challenge the way we think about the world around us. The species included within the field guide were chosen as examples of only some of the species one would find on a stroll down the streets of Burnaby.
Characteristics of the Urban Environment The characteristics of the urban environment, such as the one along Hastings, would include a significant amount of concrete, from apartment complexes to paved roads and sidewalks. As well as this, one would notice while strolling down the streets of Burnaby the unfortunate amount of garbage, varying from plastic bags, candy wrappers, water bottles and cigarettes. These characteristics are commonly found in both the industrial side of Burnaby, specifically East Hastings, as well as the suburban side, which would include North Burnaby.
Species Found Within the Environment We are not the only individuals inhabiting Hastings street, for there are many other species who make this urban environment their home. Within this field guide, one will find information on a select few of the many species co-inhabiting this area of the world. The species include: Thistle, Dandelion, Quackgrass, Cherry Tree, European Maple Tree, Crow and Squirrel.
Trees
Cherry Trees Cherry trees found in Vancouver are small, deciduous trees with a short trunk. They can grow to a height of 11 feet, and have simple leaves. Their defining characteristic would be their pink flowers
FUN FACT The lifespan of the Cherry Tree flower is roughly a week, making the beauty of the pink flower a novelty.
which bloom in the spring, and are often planted for ornamental purposes.
European Maple The European Maple is a large, deciduous broadleaved tree commonly found in coastal areas due to its resistance to wind and coastal conditions. The tree can grow to thirty-five meters in height, and has smooth, grey bark that breaks off in patches as it ages.
FUN FACT The European Maple is highly suited to urban areas due to its tolerance of air pollution. For this reason, you will often find many European maple trees planted along streets or in community parks.
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Animals
Eastern Grey Squirrel The Eastern Grey Squirrel is a found very commonly within urban environments in BC. It was originally imported from Eastern Canada, and is larger than many native squirrels to BC. Eastern
FUN FACT The Eastern Grey Squirrel is a scatter-hoarder, and hoard food in multiple locations for later recovery. In order to recover where they hid the food after long periods of time, they use their acute sense of smell!
Grey Squirrels range from grey or black, with large bushy tails. They eat a variety of foods, ranging from nuts, seeds, tree bugs, berries, leaves and twigs.
Raccoon The raccoon is a grey, medium sized mammal with the distinctive facial feature of black fur around its eyes, giving it the appearance of wearing a mask. Raccoons have short legs compared to their torso,
FUN FACT Raccoons are known to engage in gender-specific social behaviors. Female raccoons often meet in common areas for feeding as well as resting, while males form social groups in order to maintain their position against foreign males during mating season.
and are capable of standing on their hind legs in order to examine objects with their front paws. Raccoons are often referred to as vermin, due to their abundance within urban areas.
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Lady Bug Lady bugs appear as oval-shaped domes, and range in colour from pale yellow to red with varying degrees of spots. They have short little legs, as well as antennae.
FUN FACT Ladybugs are beloved by many, due to their nonhuman charismatic characteristics, as well as their usefulness in terms of raiding crops of plant-eating insects such as aphids.
Earthworm Earthworms are easily recognizable due to their segmented bodies that appear as little rings along their torso, which provide structural support as well as aid in the movement of the worm through soil and other terrain. Earthworms vary in size, usually ranging from seven to eight centimeters in length.
FUN FACT Earthworms are hermaphrodites, as they possess both male and female sex organs, and are thus capable of producing both egg and sperm.
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Crow Crows are relatively large birds, with all black feathers, legs and bill. They are easily distinguishable by their voices, as it they are very hoarse. Crows can produce a wide variety of sounds, as well as mimic noises made by other animals. They have short tails, that are rounded at the ends, and wings with feathers that resemble
FUN FACT
human fingertips.
Crows are omnivorous creatures, that will feed on a variety of foods, such as seeds, eggs, nuts and even human scraps. According to Morelle (2010), crows can manipulate tools in order to access food, indicating their adeptness at problem solving.
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Plants
Thistle Canada thistle are a plant with purple or white feathery flowers and have stalkless, spiny, darkgreen leaves, growing to 0.3-2 metres in height at maturity. The plant is a perennial broadleaved weed with creeping roots that can extend up to twenty feet deep into the ground (Lanini, 2016). Canada thistle thrives in areas where sun exposure is moderate, and ground water is plentiful, such as right here in BC!
Weed Status
FUN FACT Canada thistle is an excellent source of nectar for honey bees. As such, it could be grown in poor soil intentionally in efforts to sustain bee colonies and produce honey!
The species is widely considered a weed, including where it is native within the United Kingdom. In Canada, thistle is an invasive species, as thickets of the plant commonly crowd out forages grasses in pastures.
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Crow Dandelions are perennial plants that grow in temperate areas of Asia, Europe and North America. The plants have deeply-notched, toothy, spatula-like leaves that are shiny and hairless (Ehrlich, 2015). The flower of the dandelion is a bright yellow colour that open during periods of sunshine.
Weed Status
FUN FACT Dandelions have numerous medicinal uses, and are chalk full of vitamins A, B, C and D.
Dandelions are classified as weeds given their abundance in many residential as well as rural environments.
Crab Grass Crabgrass is an annual plant capable of producing 150,000 seeds per season. It has long, slender green leaves that sit atop its stems. Each branch is lined with pairs of very tiny spikelets.
Weed Status
FUN FACT Crabgrass was brought to North America as it is a highly nutritious grain for a variety of animals. Crabgrass seed can be used as a flour, couscous or as a grain, such as in porridge or fermented for use in beer making (Deane, n.d.).
Considered a nuisance by many homeowners. When researching crabgrass, most of the search results are entirely focused on how to rid crabgrass from lawns and fields.
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Conclusion The aim of the field guide is to generate an appreciation and thus respect for each and every species found along East Hastings. There is a problematic classification system that labels certain species as weeds as well as invasive or vermin. In contrast, some species are praised for their non-human charisma or outward beauty. Through the field guide approach, we are acknowledging that all species are complex and cannot be defined by their relation to humans alone. In order to acknowledge them as equals, we need to focus on our impact within their lives, rather than how different we may seem in comparison.
References T., Lanini. (2016). Canada Thistle (Weed Management). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from http://extension.psu.edu/pests/weeds/weed-id/canada-thistle Morelle, R. (2010). Clever New Caledonian crows can use three tools. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8631486.stm S., Ehrlich. (2015, June 22). Dandelion. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/dandelion G., Deane. (n.d.). Crabgrass Was King. Retrieved April 11, 2016, from http://www.eattheweeds.com/crabgrass-digitaria-sanguinalis-2/
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