EcoWest News, February 17, 2026

Welcome to EcoWest News, a weekly round-up of news and resources that you can put to use in addressing environmental issues and protecting the wild in your community.

Biodiversity

Every spring, the Mary Houston Bluebird Trail brings families together to learn about conservation by observing and banding baby birds. Established in 1969, the 80 km trail of nest boxes is monitored to see how bluebird and tree swallow populations are doing. [CBC]

Kootenay Connect plans to establish a regional network of 12 key wildlife corridors to connect the riparian wetland ecosystems in the valley bottoms with the surrounding mountain ranges. [Canadian Geographic]

Turning Out the Lights

European cities are establishing red streetlights, which are less disruptive for some bats. The lights are also being placed far enough apart that light-shy species can cross between them without being exposed to predators. [EuroNews Green] Other communities are removing unnecessary lighting or turning it off in the middle of the night. [The Guardian]

Once Is Not Enough

Effective March 5, 2026, the City of Victoria is introducing the next stage of its Single-Use Items Reduction Bylaw. Diners at local cafes and restaurants will be served with reusable plates, cups and cutlery that can be washed, sanitized, and used again to keep waste out of the city’s landfill. [Victoria]

Concrete slabs, beams, columns and other elements from dismantled buildings can be safely reused in new construction. [Anthropocene]

Aluminum cans, at first glance, may appear more sustainable than plastic bottles. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. [Carbon Upfront!]

Transportation

Australian research indicates that the best way to increase uptake of EVs is by providing rebates for home and work chargers and through public education and exposure. [The Conversation]

Water, Water, Everywhere . . .

Widespread wetland drainage on Prairie farmland releases 2.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. That’s equal to more than 5% of Prairie agricultural emissions from the industry as a whole. [The Conversation]

Residents are concerned that a large cattle operation above Lac Pelletier, Saskatchewan, could affect the area’s drinking water. [CBC]

Sio Silica is partnering with the University of Manitoba on a groundwater monitoring network. It should assist Sio Silica in drilling fewer wells, but a scientist who isn’t affiliated with the project says, “It's good for global-scale problems, but not for more local problems.” [CBC]

Neighbours and area residents have raised concerns around water usage, drainage, noise pollution, and the impact on road infrastructure of a proposed data centre near Regina. [CBC]

The City of Vancouver’s Rain City Green Roof Best Practices Guide outlines best practices and green roof design scenarios that address managing rainwater, enhancing habitat and biodiversity, providing amenity and other social spaces, and supporting urban agriculture. [Vancouver]

Energy

A Manitoba First Nations business group is looking to create a 200-megawatt wind energy project in southwestern Manitoba. [CTV]

At Home

A new interactive tool lets you compare household energy use for different products and activities: from lighting and cooking, to heating and driving. [Hannah Ritchie]

Rammed earth buildings are good for the environment. They also produce “incredibly beautiful spaces to live in, to work in, and to be in.” [The Guardian]

Just For Fun

Three board games are both fun and informative: Carbon City Zero, Daybreak, and Catan New Energies. [The Earthbound Report]

Nature’s Wonders

Green darner dragonflies, one of North America’s most abundant dragonflies, migrate from Canada to Mexico in 3 generations. One generation flies north in spring, another heads south in fall, and a third overwinters in southern regions. [Cool Green Science]

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/apmckinlay/8646254760

EcoFriendly West informs and encourages initiatives that support Western Canada’s natural environment through its online publication and the Nature Companion website/app. Like us on Facebook, follow us on BlueSky, X, and Mastodon, or subscribe by email.