CONTENTS

NEWS FROM MEMBER GROUPS

• Winter Wandering at Dundas Valley
• Hike Ontario Volunteer Information Session
• Environmental Talks at Snofest
• Long Point Bird Migration
• Ski Cawthra-Mulock
• Concert to Support Migration Project
• Nature in the City – Six Part Series
• Saw-whet Owl Banding at Wye Marsh
• Carden Nature Festival

NEWS FROM NATURE NETWORK

• Spring Regional Meetings
• Nature Almanac
• Advocate for Nature
• Christmas Bird Count Reports are Flying In!
• IMBY (In My Back Yard) – Animal Tracking

NEWS FROM ONTARIO NATURE

• Help us Celebrate Ontario's New Breeding Bird Atlas!
• Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario
• Ontario Nature's 3rd Annual Youth Writing Contest

NEWS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

• 27th Guelph Organic Conference, Expo and Sampling Fair

UPCOMING NATURE NETWORK NEWS DEADLINES

• Next Issue Of Nature Network News

NEWS FROM MEMBER GROUPS

January 19th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Sanctuary Park, Dundas (at the parking lot on Sanctuary Drive off Pleasant Ave.)
Hamilton Naturalists’ Club
(519) 647-2371

A surprising number of wildflowers can be identified at this time of year. We will also examine any bit of nature that strikes our fancy.

Meet Dean & Fleur Ange at Sanctuary Park at 1:30 pm.

The Hamilton Naturalists' Club is a 500 member non-profit organization dedicated to the study, appreciation and conservation of wild plants and animals.

Visitors are always welcome to attend meetings and nature outings. For more information visit www.hamiltonnature.org.

February 2nd, 2008 at 10:00 am
Hike Ontario Office, 2165 Dundas St. West, Suite 400, Mississauga
(one block west of Dundas and Hurontario)
RSVP: info@hikeontario.com
905-277-4453

Do you care about the future of Ontario’s hiking & walking trails? Hike Ontario, founded in 1974, is a non-profit organization representing 28 long distance trail associations and hiking clubs with memberships totaling over 13,000 people across Ontario.

Join the Hike Ontario Volunteer Information Session to learn about current volunteer opportunities that include: Provincial Youth Advisory Council, Risk Management Committee, Communications/Marketing Committee, Government Relations Committee, Researcher, Fundraising Committee, Hike Leader, Certification Committee, Long Distance Awards Committee, Provincial Volunteer Coordinator, Office Support, Photo Archivist and Website Support.

February 2nd, 2008
Marmora Town Hall, Marmora
george.danes2@sympatico.ca

On Saturday, February 2nd, as part of Marmora Snofest Weekend, a number of presentations with speakers related to some current environmental topics will take place at the historical Marmora Town Hall. With three presentations scheduled for both the morning and afternoon the public will have a chance to hear about Source Water Protection, the contaminated Deloro Mine Site/proposed cleanup, recycling updates and others.

February 12th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
River Drive Community Centre, 20 Oak Ave., Holland Landing
York Simcoe Naturalists ysnclub@yahoo.ca

All are welcomed to attend our general meetings, held on the second Tuesday of the month in Holland Landing from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm Refreshments will be provided and please remember to “lug-a-mug” for your coffee or tea!

February 12th join speaker Dr. Phil Taylor. A research chair for the Atlantic Cooperative Wildlife Ecology Research Network at Acadia University, Dr. Taylor is presently on loan to Bird Studies Canada in Port Rowan, Ontario where he is involved in research into bird migration in the Long Point area using radar technology. This promises to be an interesting evening.

For more information please contact Sylvia Bowman at ysnclub@yahoo.ca or visit www.ysnaturalists.ca

February 16th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Cawthra-Mulock Reserve (parking lot west side of Bathurst Street north of Green Lane) York Simcoe Naturalists ysnclub@yahoo.ca

Pack your cross-country skis, poles and boots into the car. Dress in your warm clothes and head over to the Cawthra-Mulock Reserve on the morning of Saturday, February 16th for a ski through our Ontario Winter Wonderland. Of course, in this age of climate change we must state that the ski part will be “weather permitting”! Should a warm, wet spell occur be prepared for a hike in your most effective “mudders”. We will meet at the parking area on the west side of Bathurst Street immediately north of Green Lane at the Cawthra-Mulock Reserve for an excursion of about two hours through Ontario’s winter beauty.

For more information please contact Sylvia Bowman at ysnclub@yahoo.ca or visit www.ysnaturalists.ca

Friends of the Osprey are closing in on a most ambitious project. They hope to track the migration of a pair of mature Osprey from their area to their wintering grounds. This will be done by satellite telemetry. The cost is daunting $20,000. They have been quietly working on this project for three years but are now seeing that it will happen. They have received funding from Shell Canada and MNR.

A special fundraising St Patrick’s Day concert is planned at the Armouries in Lindsay, a venue that will accommodate 500 people. The entertainers will be the Tartan Terrors, a Celtic band out of Burlington Ontario.

Please support this project. For more information please contact Simon Connell at simon.connell@sympatico.ca

Nature in the City is a six-part series of illustrated talks about London’s wild creatures and habitats. Each presentation introduces a different, but fascinating, aspect of the city’s wildlife. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the wild plants, animals and birds that live in our urban neighbourhoods.

Sponsored by the London Public Library and the McIlwraith Field Naturalists of London, this free program is suitable for the general public, including families with children ten and up. Talks are held in the Wolf Performance Hall at the London Public Library, 251 Dundas Street on Tuesday evenings, 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm, from January 15th to February 19th.

January 15th - Chimney Swifts: Mysterious Little Birds in Big Trouble, Winifred Wake
January 22th - Urban Insects: An Array of Colourful and Vibrant Lifestyles, Stan Caveney
January 29th - Frogs and Their Kin: Jump, Swim, Walk or Crawl – Amphibians Do It All, S. Gillingwater
February 5th - Native Wildflowers of Summer: Splashes of Colour in a World of Green, Jane Bowles
February 12th - Mammals: London’s Furry, Four-footed Citizens, Jack Millar
February 19th - Komoka Park: A Natural Gem on London’s Western Flank, Sandy Dobbyn

For more information visit the McIlwraith Field Naturalists website at www.mcilwraith.ca

On the evenings of September 29th and 30th, Garth Baker, a licensed bird bander, was invited to Wye Marsh to band Saw-whet Owls. Using appropriate netting we were able to band and release 10 Saw-whet Owls.

Netting was set up close to the two open fields directly south of the Wye Marsh Centre parking lot. Those in attendance were able to join Garth each time he checked his nets. Only two or three people went at a time so that any captured birds would not be startled. Observers were able to understand the processes and reasons behind bird banding.

Bird banding is one of the most useful tools in the study of wild birds. Wild birds are captured and marked with a numbered metal band placed on the leg. The bander records information about the bird, as well as where and when it was banded. The size and design of bird bands vary according to the species being studied. The band must be large enough that it does not constrict the bird’s leg, yet small enough that it will not slip off or hinder the bird’s activities. The band is applied by carefully squeezing it closed around the lower part of the leg with a pair of pliers. The band is inscribed with a message such as "Call 1-800-327-BAND" or "Write Bird Band Laurel, MD 20708 USA," plus a unique eight- or nine-digit number. If you find a bird band it is important to gather all the information you can about the bird and return the band, with the information, to the Canadian Bird Banding Office, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3. If the banded bird is alive, do not remove the band; record all the information that you can and release the bird. On receipt of your recovery report, the Bird Banding Office will send you a Certificate of Appreciation, telling you where the bird was banded, by whom and what kind of bird it was. The bander will be told where and when you found the band. In Canada, about 10 % of bands applied to game birds and less than 1 % of those applied to non-game species are recovered.

Data from recovered bands provide information on the distribution and movement of species, their relative numbers, annual production, life span and causes of death. Such information increases our knowledge and understanding of birds and their habits and helps us to manage and conserve them. The bander must identify the bird by species as well as by age and sex before applying the band. About 645 species of birds breed north of Mexico on this continent and most are easily recognized with some practice. Identification of a bird’s age and sex is usually more difficult, however. Various criteria are used depending on the species and time of year.

Wye Marsh was happy to be a part of these two evenings and we thank Garth for enlightening us and our guests on the specifics and importance of bird banding in North America. We would be happy to have Garth return to the Wye Marsh any time as we believe this is an important monitoring project that can help others understand the importance of conservation.

With information from: Hinterlands who’s who. Bird Banding in Canada. Retrieved on December 20, 2007 from http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=223

REGISTER NOW!!!

Registration is now open on the Festival website www.CardenGuide.com/Festival. June 6th, 7th and 8th may seem a long way off but the best time to register is NOW!!!

Last year the Festival offered 30 different events and drew 200 participants. Several events, such as Alvar Flowers, sold out within 2 weeks of opening registration. This year the Festival is offering 60 different events, including an all-day-Saturday youth nature program lead by the Wye Marsh and is expected to draw 500 participants. The 150% increase is partially because Ontario Nature’s Annual General Meeting is integrated into the Festival program. Each event has a maximum limit to help ensure a quality experience. When they sell out they are no longer available.

In addition to Alvar Flowers, another very popular event is the Roast Beef Community Dinner on Saturday evening at the Kirkfield Lion’s Club complete with a speaker, Barb Elliott, and awards for excellence. Based on last year’s turn out as many as 300 applications are expected but the hall, which is the largest in the area, has a capacity of only 150. Overflow accommodation has been arranged but they will miss the speaker and the awards and the roast beef. Register NOW and get into the Community Dinner.

The best way to participate in the Festival is to stay overnight. That way the 6:00 am start times for birding tours are easier to take. For those who wish to camp, Balsam Lake Provincial Park will be open and is only 20 minutes away. At $25 per night it offers great facilities but it can sell out on weekends. The earliest allowable registration date for Balsam Lake Provincial Park is January.

Check the Festival web site for details www.CardenGuide.com/Festival and DO IT NOW!!!

NEWS FROM THE NATURE NETWORK

Carolinian East – February 16th, 2008 hosted by the South Peel Naturalist's Club.
Carolinian West – March 29th, 2008 hosted by the West Elgin Nature Club.
Great Lakes West – April 5th, 2008 hosted by the Huron Fringe Field Naturalists.
Ontario North – April 12th, 2008 hosted by the Durham Field Naturalists.
Huronia – Date TBC, hosted by York Simcoe Field Naturalists.
North – May 2nd to 4th, 2008 hosted by the Nipissing Naturalists Club and the Friends of Mashkinonje.
Ontario East – May 3rd, 2008 hosted by Upper Ottawa Valley Nature Club.

Looking for something to do or trying to make something happen? Ontario Nature’s Nature Almanac will keep you posted on upcoming events and activities from our groups across Ontario.

One of Ontario Nature’s key goals is ‘Connecting People with Nature’ and with that in mind, we are launching a calendar called Nature Almanac for member groups’ activities on the Ontario Nature website. This is being offered to the 140+ clubs across the province as a way to promote their events. Being listed in Nature Almanac will allow Ontario Nature member groups the opportunity to promote their activities with other Nature Network clubs and a wider general audience.

We welcome events related to nature, environment, conservation, sustainability, green living and related topics such as climate change, renewable energy, youth and outdoors education. Events must be open to the general public and be free or of nominal cost.

Before events are listed on Ontario Nature’s website, organizers must provide event details and contact information. The earlier you can provide this information the sooner we can promote them on our website. For additional information contact your Regional Coordinator.

Help spread the word! You are welcome to include any or all of the Nature Dates listings in your e-mails, websites and newsletters.

Thank you to the individuals who have had added their names to our Advocate for Nature list. Please help to spread the word about the Advocate for Nature email list - you could post this in your newsletter, share it with your members at the next meeting, announce it at your next Board of Directors meeting or make a presentation at your Annual General Meeting. Every little bit helps!

In December 2007 we had 64 new subscribers to our Advocate for Nature email list. We now have 1721 Advocates for Nature.

To add your name online, copy and paste this link in your web browser or click here http://www.ontarionature.org/news/archive.php?type=action.

Recently, we asked you to share your Christmas Bird Count stories with us so that we could in turn share the exciting reports with the rest of the Nature Network, Ontario Nature and our partners. The response has been wonderful!

Stories continue to arrive and in the interest of space, the Christmas Bird Count information is posted on the Ontario Nature homepage at www.ontarionature.org. Please take a moment to visit this information on the website and read about what your fellow nature lovers and bird counters have discovered this year!

If you have any additional reports that you would like to share please send them to your Regional Coordinator. We will be updating the CBC section of our website again next month.

It can be breath-taking to catch a first-hand glimpse of wildlife in their habitat. It is a gift to experience such a moment. But as we know timing is everything.

People leave evidence of their travels … footprints, crumbs on the table, a bed left unmade. Animals do the same. If we are observant enough we can even learn to tell the story from the clues that are left behind. As you learn about animal ‘signs’ you will soon be able to tell who the visitor was. You may even be able to infer a bit about the purpose of their journey.

What is tracking? It refers to the study of animal tracks (marks left behind by moving animals), their prints and gait patterns, animal sign (could be scratch marks left by a bear on a tree) and scat identification (droppings). Even on the coldest of mid-winter days, with or without snow, if you look closely you will see signs of animal activity. This is your opportunity to get out on those snowshoes and cross-country skis.

For family outings, adding a tracking element to the journey is a great idea. For youngsters, the additional opportunity for discovery and the use of their imagination will keep them interested and occupied.

What do I need? You only need your eyes, ears and an ability to walk softly and slowly. Now a tracking guidebook, maybe a magnifying glass, a digital camera and a few ziplock bags will also come in handy. Really all you need is the willingness to look carefully.

Developing animal tracking ‘skills’ and the ability to actually follow signs and locate an animal can take a long time, and include many hours of silent observation. The wonderful thing, however, is that the enjoyment and excitement starts on day one as you spot that first indication of an unknown (yet to be discovered) guest.

Information regarding the specifics of track size, gait, etc. can be widely found on the internet. There are also some very good tracking guides available.

So slow down next time you are outside. Rather than craning your binoculars to the skies and treetops, take a moment to look down and focus on the little things, the broken twigs, and the tiny depressions in the snow. These are today’s clues that could lead to tomorrow’s first hand discoveries.

For family outings, adding a tracking element to the journey is a great idea. For youngsters, the additional opportunity for discovery and the use of their imagination will keep them interested and occupied.

NEWS FROM ONTARIO NATURE

Please join us as we celebrate the publication of the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001 – 2005 and the monumental efforts of over 3,400 dedicated atlas volunteers. Events will be held in Ottawa and Toronto.

January 30th, 2008 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ottawa - Discovery Zone, Canadian Museum of Nature
Ottawa Admission: Free admission to the museum and the launch

February 10th, 2008 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Toronto - Eaton Theatre, Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto Admission: Free admission to the launch and open galleries

Pre-registration required for the ROM. Please RSVP by e-mailing your name to atlas@uoguelph.ca.

The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005 has now been published.
The atlas:

• Has over 900 full colour maps showing in detail the current distribution and abundance of all 286 species that breed in Ontario;
• Shows and explains how the status of each species has changed since historical times and particularly in the 20 years since the first atlas was completed;
• Summarizes which species have increased and decreased the most in the past 20 years;
• Shows which parts of the province are most important to each species;
• Provides the first detailed listings of which are the most common species in the province and what their populations are – the answers will surprise you!
• Reveals overall patterns of change among groups of birds, providing insight into patterns of environmental decline (and improvement!) in Ontario. For example:
• Grassland birds are declining rapidly, probably due to increasing intensity of agriculture in some areas and increasing reforestation in others;
• Aerial foragers (such as swallows) are dropping fast, but we don’t know why;
• Raptors (hawks and eagles) are increasing, probably still rebounding from the declines caused by DDT;
• The province’s largest birds are on the increase, probably because fewer are shot nowadays;
• Forest birds are expanding into southern Ontario from further north, as forest cover increases in many areas south of the Canadian Shield;
• The part of the province experiencing the largest declines in birds is between Toronto and Windsor (the Carolinian region);
• Climate change is probably contributing to the northern expansion of some species in southern Ontario, but other factors such as land-use change are masking the effects of our warming climate.
• The atlas is published by a partnership of 5 organizations: Bird Studies Canada, Environment Canada, Ontario Field Ornithologists, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Ontario Nature.
• Over 150,000 hours of field work and 1 million records were contributed by over 3,000 of the province’s birders during the second atlas (2001-2005). Coverage was comprehensive, ranging from the islands of Lake Erie to the shores of Hudson Bay, including unprecedented coverage of remote northern Ontario and the boreal forest. The first atlas was published in 1987. The second atlas repeats and expands on the first atlas project, allowing the comparison between the two datasets to show changes in distribution and abundance.

How is Climate Change Affecting You and Your Community?

Sponsored by Waste Management, this annual writing contest is open to Ontario grade 7 and 8 students. It can be an essay, a story, or a piece of creative writing, with a maximum count of 700 words, typed and double-spaced.

The top three entries will be published in ON Nature magazine, receive cool prizes and be honoured for their achievement at Ontario Nature's Annual General Meeting in Kirkfield on June 7th, 2008.

Send your original entries by March 3rd, 2008 to:

Youth Writing Contest
Ontario Nature
366 Adelaide Street West
Suite 201
Toronto, ON
M5V 1R9

Make sure you have a title page telling us your name, address, phone number, email address, your parent’s or guardian’s name, what grade you’re in, and the name of your school.

For complete contest rules or to learn more about Ontario Nature visit our website at http://www.ontarionature.org/events/challenge.html or you can download a copy of the 2007 Contest Flyer.

NEWS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

The theme for this year's workshops is "Building Sustainable Organic Business".

There is a nominal charge for the Saturday and Sunday workshops. The free Expo and Sampling Fair features farming and retail suppliers. Volunteers receive free admission for the events.

When: Jan 24th to Jan 27th, 2008
Where: Guelph
Phone: (519) 824-4120 ext. 56205

For more information visit the conference website at http://www.guelphorganicconf.ca.

UPCOMING NATURE NETWORK NEWS DEADLINES

The next issue of the Nature Network News will be sent on February 15th, 2007. Submissions will be accepted until February 1st, 2008. Please send articles to clarem@ontarionature.org.

Ontario Nature publishes the Ontario Nature Network News every month with contributions from its staff and member groups.