 c o n s e r v a t i o n u p d a t e s f o r m e m b e r g r o u p s |
| Ontario Nature Network News - February 17, 2005 |
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To view a copy of this newsletter online visit www.ontarionature.org/home/nnnews.html. Ontario Nature grants permission for use of the information below in member group newsletters. Please credit either Ontario Nature or the member group. Feature! OWLS ON THE PROWL ONTARIO NATURE NEWS
CENTRAL ONTARIO NEWS
EASTERN ONTARIO NEWS SOUTHERN ONTARIO NEWS
NORTHERN NEWS |
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Feature! OWLS ON THE PROWL This fall large numbers of great gray owls moved into northwestern Ontario for the second time in five years. Several people told me they had seen as many as six owls on a trip to Thunder Bay, and deer hunters saw many along Flanders Road. The great gray owl is the largest owl in length and appearance. A rather small body is covered by a large mass of feathers. Great horned owls and snowy owls are much heavier birds but do not appear as large. It is an ‘opportunistic nomad’- wandering in search of areas with high populations of the mice, voles and shrews on which it feeds. Once it finds such an area, it will usually stay as long as food supply lasts. Often the small mammal population goes from very high to very low quite suddenly. The reasons for this are not clearly understood, but when it happens the owl is forced to move on. This fall, small mammal numbers were very high and by early October the first great grays were being seen. Sightings increased all fall and some were even seen right in Atikokan. The great gray is a northern owl and is superbly adapted to the very worst winter weather. The thick coat of feathers insulates it from the lowest temperatures and wind. It is active during the day as well as night and has excellent vision (all owls can see well during the day, contrary to popular belief). The large facial disk directs the smallest sounds into the large feather-covered ear openings on either side of the head, and the owl can hear the movements of mice under many centimeters of snow. It has very long legs that terminate in four toes with long sharp talons. The great gray is a plunge hunter. It sits quietly on an elevated perch slowly looking, but mostly listening for the sound of a moving mouse. When it hears one, it drops off its perch and using its weight and momentum dives into the snow with its long legs extended fully, and usually catches lunch. The bird returns to its perch and gulps the prey down whole. A few hours later its casts up a pellet that consists of undigested fur and bones. Great grays like to hunt in open areas along forest edges, in cutovers and along the edges of marshes and bogs. Highway right of ways are also attractive, but while food may be readily available, many owls are killed in traffic when they swoop across the road. Great grays nest in the early spring, using an old hawk, raven or crow nest as found, with no upgrades. Sometimes the hollow top of a large broken off snag is used. Their roundish, white eggs vary in number. If plenty of food is available six or more may be laid; if food is scarce fewer eggs are produced, and if food is very scarce the birds may not breed at all. Since most owls are nocturnal, they can be rather common but seldom seen. The great gray, with its diurnal habits, lack of fear for humans and its presence this fall in large numbers provided a great opportunity to see a very special and impressive bird. In addition to the great gray, nine other species of owl have been seen in the Atikokan area: Eastern screech owl, great horned owl, snowy owl, Northern hawk owl, barred owl, long-eared owl, short-eared owl, Boreal owl and Northern saw-whet owl. |
ONTARIO NATURE NEWS |
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Ontario Nature Re-affirms Support for Golden Horseshoe Greenbelt On January 31, Ontario Nature’s acting conservation and science director Linda Pim made a presentation to an all-party legislative committee at Queen’s Park that is considering the Greenbelt Act (Bill 135). We strongly support the Greenbelt. But we pressed for amendments to the Act that would make the proposed Golden Horseshoe Greenbelt boundaries permanent - at present, Bill 135 is worded only such that the total area of the Greenbelt would not be reduced, meaning that its boundaries could shift northwards over time and allow more sprawl close to Toronto. We also promoted a larger Greenbelt than the government is proposing, to avoid “leapfrog development” over protected areas like the Oak Ridges Moraine to places starting to experience urban development pressure, such as south Simcoe County, which we want included in the Greenbelt. We continued to emphasize the need for adoption of our Southern Ontario Greenway Strategy so that Greenbelt-like planning to protect natural core areas linked by natural corridors is put in place across the south. The Greenbelt Act is expected to be passed in late February. It is legislation that enables a Greenbelt Plan to be approved. The draft Greenbelt Plan has been the subject of broad public consultation since its release late last October. It is expected that the final Greenbelt Plan will be passed by March. For updates, please visit us at ontarionature.org, the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance at www.greenbelt.ca, and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing at www.mah.gov.on.ca. |
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Protecting Aquatic Habitats? Get Your Grant Application In! It’s time for groups advocating the protection of wetlands, shoreline habitats, rivers and lakes in the Great Lakes to file grant applications with the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund (GLAHNF). Ontario Nature has been involved in this bi-national network and fund since its founding in the mid-1990s. You can apply under either the Project Grants Program or the Technical Assistance Grants Program or both, in each case for a maximum of $3,500 US (for a total grant to any single group of $5,500 US). There is also the Special Opportunity Grants Program (up to $500 US) for emergency needs that don’t fit the usual grant deadlines. To find out more about the types of activities funded and not funded, as well as the priorities for funding, please visit www.glhabitat.org. In addition, each Ontario Nature member organization will receive a copy of the grant application and funding criteria by regular mail in mid-February. The grant application deadline is March 31, 2005 for the spring funding cycle, for work starting July 1, 2005. You can send your application in by email or by courier (regular mail from Ontario to the GLAHNF office in Michigan is not advised!). |
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Know a Conservation Hero? Get Your Nomination Form In Community involvement defines the character and approach of Ontario Nature. With its member groups and individual members, Ontario Nature has made a significant impact on conservation issues in communities across Ontario and continues to build a natural legacy for future generations. Ontario Nature's conservation awards are an opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations who have made a significant contribution to conservation. In some instances, it is in recognition of years of hard work, in other cases it is for a specific act that helped improve our natural heritage. Now is the time to nominate a conservation hero you know for one of ten prominent awards. Visit ontarionature.org for award descriptions. Nominations must be received by March 14, 2005 on an official nomination form. Please call Ontario Nature or visit our website at ontarionature.org to download your nomination form today. |
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Are you ready to celebrate? Doors Open to Nature 2006 Ontario Nature is planning many events to celebrate its 75th Anniversary in 2006. Among these will be a fantastic conference Greenways and Waterways hosted by the Kitchener -Waterloo Field Naturalists in June 2006. In addition, Ontario Nature invites your group to participate in a unique community celebration called Doors Open to Nature. Doors Open to Nature will feature 75 community events that highlight the diversity, strength and commitment of Ontario Nature’s member groups. All member groups are encouraged to participate. We are asking you to open the doors to nature to your communities and dedicate an event, such as a birding outing, guest speaker or hike, in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Ontario Nature. We appreciate that many groups are already well into planning events for 2006 so we are not asking you to create a new event. Simply dedicate a regularly scheduled event, guest speaker or annual outing to this project and be one of 75 hosts for Doors Open to Nature. Ontario Nature will help you to promote your event through the local media, website, e-newsletter and special publications. This is a great opportunity for your group to raise its profile locally and provincially, attract new members and help celebrate our anniversary as a federation! Let’s get ready to celebrate. Please contact Deanna Coop at deannac@ontarionature.org or 1-800-440-2366, (416) 444-8419 ext. 224 to get your event form today. So we can plan, all events for Doors Open to Nature must be submitted by May 1, 2005. |
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Take the ‘lead’ with Volunteer for Nature What better way to gear up for spring than by getting involved with Volunteer for Nature. For 2005, there is an exciting array of conservation events throughout Ontario. Temagami, Pelee Island and Quetico Provincial Park are but three of more that 20 beautiful destinations VfN will be visiting this season. If simply participating is not enough, you may want to consider becoming a volunteer leader. Build your volunteer experience portfolio, gain technical conservation skills, develop your leadership and project management skills, and participate in all VfN trips, free of charge. Our Leadership Training workshop is set for March 19-20 and will be held at the home of Ontario Nature. For more information please contact Marc Allan at marca@ontarionature.org or visit us online at www.ontarionature.org/action. |
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Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: Meet the Challenge in 2005 The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas project is entering the last of five field seasons! During this last season all members of the birding community are encouraged to focus on the atlas, make every record count and ensure the project reaches its coverage goals province-wide! Atlassing is fun and especially rewarding during the final year. Atlas Update There are still gaps in the province that need help in order to meet coverage goals by the end of the last field season. Various trips are planned for the summer to these areas to help out. Birders of all levels are welcome to join in for all, or just part, of the trips. For additional information, or to register, contact the Atlas office at 1-866-900-7100 or atlas@uoguelph.ca. Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park - June 17 - 26, 2005 Also, everyone is welcome to join in for the final year kick-off event - April 9th, 2005 at the Kortright Centre in Toronto. The day’s program features keynote speaker Dr. Peter Blancher discussing the application of atlas data in bird conservation planning in Ontario. Project highlights, publication developments, and an analysis of point counts will also be presented. Throughout the day there will also be time to check out displays, the volunteer appreciation wall, winners of the Atlas photo contest and much more! Hope to see you there! |
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Ontario Nature Spring Regional Meetings The upcoming spring regional meetings for Ontario Nature member groups are fast approaching. These meetings are a great opportunity to meet other groups in your area, share ideas, hear from a great speaker and learn more about Ontario Nature’s programs. Please make sure someone, or a few people, from your group attend the meeting in your region. Agendas will be sent out soon. March 12, Carolinian East This meeting will be hosted by the Norfolk Field Naturalists at Bird Studies Canada’s Old Cut banding station and will feature a special presentation (to be determined), as well as a walk around the area. We’ll also hear about Ontario Nature’s vision for a protected network of core and corridor natural areas, entitled the Southern Ontario Greenway. Please contact Jennifer Baker the Southern Regional Coordinator at jenniferb@ontarionature.org or (905) 527-9477 with questions or to register. March 19, Great Lakes West The Upper Credit Field Naturalists are hosting this meeting at the Island Lake Conservation Area near Orangeville. We will explore the property with park staff and work up an appetite for lunch which the Upper Credit Field Naturalists have graciously offered to provide. Graham Bryan from Environment Canada will speak on research Environment Canada has been conducting to determine the optimum size of natural areas for successful maintenance of various wildlife species. We’ll also hear about Ontario Nature’s vision for a protected network of core and corridor natural areas, entitled the Southern Ontario Greenway. Please contact Jennifer Baker the Southern Regional Coordinator at jenniferb@ontarionature.org or (905) 527-9477 with questions or to register. April 2, Carolinian West This meeting is being hosted by the McIlwraith Field Naturalists and we’ll be meeting at an outdoor ed centre in London. The McIlwraith Field Naturalists will be providing lunch for the group. We’ll hear about Ontario Nature’s vision for a protected network of core and corridor natural areas, entitled the Southern Ontario Greenway. Please contact Jennifer Baker the Southern Regional Coordinator at jenniferb@ontarionature.org or (905) 527-9477 with questions or to register. April 9, Huronia This meeting is being hosted by the Bancroft Field Naturalists on Saturday April 9 in Bancroft. Paul Summerskill, a long time volunteer at The Owl Foundation in Vineland, will be the guest speaker for the meeting. Paul will talk to us about “Thermal Predictions and Raptor Counts”. We’ll also hear about Ontario Nature’s vision for a protected network of core and corridor natural areas, entitled the Southern Ontario Greenway. Hope to see you there! Contact Andrea Smith, Central Regional Coordinator, at andreas@ontarionature.org or (705) 789-6858 to register. May 7, Ontario East This meeting is being hosted by the Rideau Valley Field Naturalists and we’ll be meeting at the Interpretive Centre at Foley Mountain Conservation Area, overlooking Upper Rideau Lake, Westport. Please bring a brown bag lunch. We’ll hear about Ontario Nature’s vision for a protected network of core and corridor natural areas, entitled the Southern Ontario Greenway. We will take a guided hike through the conservation area later in the day. Please contact Chris Grooms, Eastern Regional Coordinator at chrisg@ontarionature.org or (613) 386-5041 with any questions and to register. |
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CENTRAL ONTARIO NEWS |
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The Christmas Bird Count that Almost Wasn’t Neither snow, nor rain, nor ice, nor fog could stop the 20 intrepid birders as they cautiously surveyed the winter birds, for the January 2 Bradford West Gwillimbury Christmas Bird Count. When the early morning phone calls began, asking whether there would even be a count, because of the icy conditions, it seemed that the count would not be a go - but count they did. Although there were virtually no waterfowl this year, because of Lake Simcoe being frozen, there were 5 enormous and beautifully tame great grey owls, unexpected visitors from the far North that put on a great show, large numbers of wild turkeys, obviously successful with their re-introduction to our avifauna in the past few years; an unusually late fox sparrow and red-headed woodpecker, and both snowy and saw-whet owls. It was a great day in spite of the conditions, and thanks go out to our enthusiastic participants, many of them members of the York-Simcoe Naturalists’ Club, and our hosts, who treated us to great food and fellowship after the count. We also appreciate all of you who reported birds from your feeders. |
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It’s Time for You to Meet Us! The Couchiching Conservancy is delighted to host Dig In – It’s Earth Day celebrations at their Grant’s Woods location on Division Road West, Orillia, Ontario. So mark your calendar - April 23rd from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. (Alternate rain date is April 24th) We are pre-selling Passports for a nominal cost - a family of 4 or more pays only $20; a single pass is $7.50. This entitles each participant to enjoy any and as many activities as they can squeeze into 4 hours. And, in addition to the fun, educational activities, entertainment and ‘refueling’ (food and refreshments are a separate cost), The Couchiching Conservancy will present each Passport holder an Eco-Gift as a memento of your afternoon with us. There will be lots of opportunities to participate in a variety of workshops; you can build (and take home) your birdhouse or salamander shelter, handle and learn about snakes and turtles; listen to informative sessions on organic gardening and invasive species, try your hand at watercolour painting, join in a beginner’s birding workshop and so much more. There will be lots of opportunity to purchase native tree and shrub seedlings, nursery grown wildflowers, bird feeding supplies and unique gift items with ‘nature’ in mind. It’s actually very easy to pre-pay our Passport - call the Conservancy at (705) 326-1620 with your Visa number along with the expiry date. You can purchase your Passport in person at The Bird House Nature Company in downtown Orillia (108 Mississaga Street East). Of course, you can pay upon entry; exact change would be most appreciated. So, come on, join us - it’s going to be a great way to celebrate Earth Day. Pets are welcome but they must be leashed at all times. Because our parking space is limited, we have arranged for frequent shuttle service to/from our location. Simply park your vehicle at ODAS Park, by the Roller Skating Place at 4442 Fairgrounds Road. Follow Hwy. #12 west from Orillia for 1.5 km past Walmart; turn right onto Fairgrounds Road and you will soon see the Roller Rink Skating Place. Please contact the Couchiching Conservancy by email at nature@couchconservancy.ca or log-on at www.couchconservancy.ca. |
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Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists Keep Busy Through the Winter On an overcast, but dry Saturday (December 18th), the Midland Penetanguishene Field Naturalists took part in the 105th annual Christmas Bird Count. 36 participants split into 12 groups to crisscross their respective areas. By all reports, it was another successful count as 57 different species were identified. The total individuals increased from 3,677 to 5,544 this year. We finished the day with a potluck supper and a fun-filled auction. Proceeds from the auction totaled over $300 which was donated to the Owl Foundation in Vineland, Ontario to support owl rehabilitation. What a terrific day for our Club! Our members were also treated to a wonderful speaker at the January 20th meeting. David Hawke, naturalist, nature photographer, writer and wildlife technician showed his slides and spoke to us about wildflowers, legends and lore. His presentation took us from spring through to early winter with intriguing stories about many familiar and not so familiar wildflowers. His sense of humour and knowledge kept us fascinated. We highly recommend David as a presenter. On a very cold Saturday, January 22nd a few brave souls took part in a winter hike and cookout at the property of our Presidents. Greg and Adrienne had a roaring fire outside to warm our hearts and our toes. We looked at tracks, fungi and nests, but only a few birds were spotted. In spite of the chilly temperatures, it was a great fun. Sharing stories and treats around the fire warmed everyone. February's meeting (February 17th) will feature Anna Baggio from the Wildlands League who will speak to us on Canada's boreal forests. |
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Irruption of the Great Gray Owl This winter, many people in Central and Southern Ontario have been fortunate enough to witness an irruption of great gray owls (Strix nebulosa), with close to 200 birds estimated in Simcoe County alone! December 22 marked the first sighting of a great gray owl on Wye Marsh property. Another individual was confirmed here January 10, marking the presence of 2 great gray owls within the Wye Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. An irruption occurs when a large group of birds expand their range in search of food, the food supply in their normal range having decreased due to natural fluctuations or other phenomena. The great gray diet typically consists of voles, mice, shrews, squirrels, hares and other small animals. When rodent populations decrease in Northern Ontario, this species responds by moving south to maintain its daily food intake. Although with so many owls moving into high-density urban areas of the south, starvation and other causes of mortality will take their toll on the population before the return to their normal range in late winter and early spring (see below: How to Identify Owls in Distress). The great gray owl is the largest of the North American owls; ranging in size from 61 - 84 cm with a wing span of 1.4 - 1.5 m. Its physical design, including impressive facial discs, asymmetrically placed ears, and exceptional eyesight, allow it to detect and locate the faint sounds of a rodent covered by a blanket of deep snow (up to 60 cm), and pinpoint the exact location of its prey, thus its next meal. This winter, Janice Enright of the Muskoka Centre for Wild Birds released an educational summary to the birding community on how to identify owls in distress. For more information, please contact the Muskoka Centre for Wild Birds at (705) 385-1488, or the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre at (705) 526-7809. |
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Alvar Workshop and Guided Field Trip Carden Field Naturalists will be holding an Alvar Workshop and Tour on Saturday, May 28th, 2005 from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Carden Recreation Centre, Lake Dalrymple. In the morning, Dr. Paul Catling, Research Scientist and Curator, Biodiversity, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, will address the participants on the topic “The Significance of Alvar Landscapes in Biodiversity Protection”. After lunch, buses will transport the group on a guided field trip to nearby Carden Plain Alvar habitats such as Cameron Ranch and Windmill Ranch. Prairie smoke (three-flowered avens) will be but one of many unusual flora species in bloom. Grassland birds such as Eastern meadowlarks, vesper sparrows, brown thrashers, upland sandpipers and bobolinks should be active on their breeding territories. The Carden Plain is the nesting ground for several of the remaining pairs of the endangered eastern subspecies of loggerhead shrike. The cost for this event is $30 per person. The fee includes welcoming coffee and light refreshment, lecture by Dr. Catling, lunch, guided tour of the Alvar, bus transportation, and support to Nature Conservancy of Canada for acquisition. This event will run rain or shine. Advanced registration is required, and is limited to the first 80 paid applicants. Deadline for registration is May 16th, 2005. Confirm by sending a cheque or money order, payable to Carden Field Naturalists, to: Paul Laver, Treasurer For more information about the event, contact Bob Bowles (705) 325-3149 rbowles@rogers.com. |
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EASTERN ONTARIO NEWS |
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Alfred Bog Success After a long campaign of the Alfred Bog Committee, formed in 1985 by Frank Pope and Charles Sauriol of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club, the Bog is now protected from peat extraction, logging and drainage. On October 26, 2004 the Prescott-Russell County Council passed the Alfred Bog Protection By-Law. All appeals of the county official plan pertaining to the Bog are withdrawn and the years-long mediation of the Ontario Municipal Board terminated. The Bog now has an official boundary and wetland designation. Many organizations and people contributed to the success of the effort to save the bog over its 20-year history. Involved were all levels of government (federal provincial and municipal), Nature Conservancy Canada, South Nation Conservation, the Vankleek Hill Nature Society, Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club, Alfred College, Ontario Nature, private industry and many individuals. Congratulations all. |
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Manfred Koechlin Steps Down; Special Luncheon Honours His Achievements In October 2004 at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors, Manfred Koechlin resigned citing his age, health concerns, and a desire to spend more time with his family, more time on the water, and more time on the ski slopes. His resignation was accepted with deep regret; his energy and commitment were unwavering for so many years. Manfred was on the scene and active from the very beginning, and invested hundreds and hundreds of hours working to restore and protect The Bay of Quinte and its watershed. He was the Chair of Quinte Watershed Cleanup twice. He was a QWC representative on the Bay of Quinte RAP Restoration Council. He has been a member of Great Lakes United for years. He was instrumental in the development and success of QWC’s Pesticide Reduction Committee. For these and his many other involvements and contributions, a special luncheon was held to honour him in December 2004. Members of Quinte Watershed Cleanup, The Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan, the RAP Restoration Council and the local media attended a special luncheon held at Quinte Conservation to salute Manfred’s many years of community service. Jim Kelleher (Lower Trent Conservation), Terry Murphy (Quinte Conservation), and Stewart Murray (QWC Chair) made a presentation to Manfred (a memorial plaque) on behalf of QWC and the Restoration Council. Brian Ward, Eastern Regional Director for Environment Canada presented Manfred with a specially-designed Certificate Of Appreciation from Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. QWC Chair Stewart Murray said that Manfred will be greatly missed, and that his efforts have made the Bay of Quinte area a better place to live. On a lighter note, Jim Kelleher presented Manfred with a RAP t-shirt and baseball cap and one of the last surviving Big Cleanup Auto Trash Bags. It was noted that all items would be very useful for this summer’s sailing season. In his acceptance speech, Manfred said that more than anything else, his many years of working to restore and protect water quality in the Bay of Quinte, its’ watershed and the Great Lakes basin, had been an incredible education for him. Considering the size and importance of the issues, being an integral part of the process had been “a humbling experience”, and he encouraged everyone to keep working diligently until all the problems are under control. |
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SOUTHERN ONTARIO NEWS |
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Local Environmentalist Honoured Art Teasell, past chairman of the Sarnia Urban Wildlife Committee (SUWC), has been honoured by the City of Sarnia for his many years of dedication to environmental stewardship. Sarnia City Council has named a local wildlife area, the Art Teasell Wildlife Refuge. The site is 25 acres of rich, diverse habitat along the shoreline of Lake Huron. It contains two ponds that were excavated originally for gravel and that have naturally filled in. These ponds provide year round habitat for many animals. During migration, birds following the Huron Shore Flyway, stop for awhile on the quiet waters. There is also a tree nursery used by the City over the years, providing mature tree cover for wildlife. Art has spent over 20 years enhancing the local landscape for everyone. He is the founder of the SUWC, a committee of Council that identifies significant natural areas within the City’s boundaries. SUWC works with staff, other naturalist groups and funding organizations to protect and improve the environment. His particular passion is trees and has planted hundreds of trees, particularly species unique to the Carolinian ecozone. Congratulations to Art for his belief that things happen when we roll up our sleeves and dig in! |
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The Naturalized Habitat Network of Essex County & Windsor We are excited to announce the coming of our an event that will be of particular interest to our Ontario Nature affiliates across southwestern Ontario; the second annual Naturalized Landscaping Conference. Although originally launched as a local event last year, we were presently surprised by the level of response from Kent and Lambton counties and beyond. This one day event will showcase presentations on naturalization and restoration techniques, along with other insightful aspects of sustainable living. Our confirmed list of speakers includes:
This event will take place on Saturday, April 2, in Windsor. We are currently taking registrations. The cost is $47 per person, which includes lunch & refreshments. Please indicate your choice of chicken or vegetarian lasagna. Advanced registration is required by March 29. To book your registration, call us at (519) 259-2407. To learn more, visit our web site at www.naturalizedhabitat.org. |
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Stewarding the Harold Mitchell Nature Reserve The Niagara Falls Nature Club are the stewards of Ontario Nature’s Harold Mitchell Nature Reserve, located close to the shores of Lake Erie, west of Port Colbourne. In 2004, club members made a number of site visits to the property, enabling them to add a number of plants to the overall property inventory which is part of the property’s management plan. The latest visit was in December when the club installed new signs indicating the property is a nature reserve owned by Ontario Nature, as well as listing the permitted uses for the visitors to the property. The property features several interesting plant species that would be of interest to naturalists, including water arum, cinnamon fern, red trillium, and Indian cucumber root. Anyone with an interest in the lower plants such as mosses, lichens and fungi will find many examples here. Ontario Nature members and member groups are welcome to visit the site but should always wear waterproof footwear and carry insect repellant. There are no formal trails on the property, and although a rough trail has been marked with orange coloured glow tape, it is not cleared, so the club recommends carrying a hiking stick. To reach the property, take Lakeshore Road from Port Colborne to Wainfleet Township. Sideroad #30 is on the right (north), immediately after the Long Beach Conservation Area. The property is just north of the Long Beach Conservation Area on the east side of the road. The Harold Mitchell Nature Reserve Sign should be visible. For more information about the Harold Mitchell Nature Reserve, or any of Ontario Nature’s properties visit the Nature Reserves section of Ontario Nature’s website - ontarionature.org. |
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NORTHERN NEWS |
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Need 13 Reasons to Go to North Bay? Do you need a good reason to visit North Bay this spring? Here are 13 reasons why you should consider attending the 2005 Ontario Nature Annual Conference & Nature Canada Annual General Meeting. It will be hosted by the Nipissing Naturalists in the beautiful Lake Nipissing setting of North Bay from June 3 to 5, 2005. Full conference details are available at www.nipissing-naturalist.com/ON/conference.htm. See you in North Bay! 13 Reasons Why You Should Attend the 2005 Ontario Nature AGM & Conference in North Bay
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Next Issue of Nature Network News The next issue of the Nature Network News will be sent on April 15, 2005. Submissions will be accepted until April 1, 2005. Please send articles to deannac@ontarionature.org. Ontario Nature publishes the Ontario Nature Network News every other month with contributions from its staff and member groups. |