February 12, 2025 Brian Robin

Nature Club News for March 2025

by John Dickson

Each year, the Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) club features several presentations with a great variety of topics,  on the same evening. Described as a potpourri of OSFN members’ photos, displays, art, collections and compositions focusing on the natural world this year’s Members’ Night promises all of the above plus great fun too and it is set for 7pm Thursday March 13 at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. 

Featured presenters will be:   Nan Brown – More than ‘just trees’ at the Inglis Falls Arboretum :“The talk will be a 10 minute exposé of what nature lovers may expect to find at the arboretum including trees, along with many shrubs, woody vines, small mammals, insects, reptiles, birds and more!” 

Robert Burcher  When I nudged OSFN’s Robert Burcher about his sailing on the prairies two years ago he replied with – Big Skies on the South Saskatchewan River, saying  “Yes, I will do a 10 minute show of sailing on the mighty South Saskatchewan. I just looked through all my photos and was nostalgic. It will be good to refresh my memory of the trip. This will be a fun show! Did you ever hear the song about Pirates on the South Saskatchewan? ” https://youtu.be/8G_L9tXEwmc?si=3rGqrCR5s_cX7VKS

David Morris – Reflections on Sustainable Agriculture -” There is general agreement that sustainable agriculture entails farming in a way that will meet the world’s present and future needs while minimizing damage to the environment. David Morris, a retired agriculturalist, will offer some insights into why agreeing what this means in practice is much more complicated than it might seem.”

Bill & Cecilie Moses have entitled their session – Preserve Nature: They Aren’t Making any More, with some helpful insights into some of the options and opportunities with land trusts, nature reserves, conservation agreements, etc. 

Marilyn Scriver – Common Loons – From a lakeside cabin in the Gatineau Hills, Marilyn will share her photos of Common Loon Families, from her time with the Canadian Loon Survey, Birds Canada.

In addition, OSFN also announces that its 10th annual Keynote Speaker Event to Celebrate Earth Day, will feature Dr. Anne Bell, the much revered former Director of Conservation and Education at Ontario Nature for 17 years, once again sponsored by Caframo. Entitled ‘Rapture and Resistance – the Heart of Nature Advocacy’ this event will take place at the Harmony Centre at 2pm Sunday April 27.  Tickets for this special event, $10. each, will be available at OSFN meetings March 13, and April 10, as well as at these ticket outlets:  Owen Sound and North Grey  Union Public Library, the Ginger Press, Sheila  Gunby’s Paper Cut Designs at the the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market and at Suntrail Source for Adventure in Hepworth. 

With the doors opening by 6:30pm, March 13, there will be opportunities to browse OSFN’s many publications and merchandise, followed by the evening programme at 7pm in person at the Bayshore and also on zoom at this link 
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Rz6Gqsy5QP-3XsFc3Tcbhg

The Owen Sound Artists’ Co-op is hosting several exhibitions in which Nature plays a prominent role, including works by Sue Allison. From ‘March Miniatures’ one distinctive sampling by Maureen Elliott features her ‘Wildlife Profiles’ … photography on metal, including Moose, Pine Marten, Black Bear and more. 

I know that I will be visiting the Co-op several times to witness these and other exhibits too.

Although I haven’t yet seen pussy willows this year, I have heard one Robin, and noticed brighter yellows on the American Goldfinch males and willow trees, plus the bright red leaf buds sported by some Maple trees – so I do believe that Springtime is on its way.And to reinforce that sentiment, Peter Middleton has recently had a migrating pair of Carolina Wrens visiting and shared this prognostication “

Yesterday morning when I stepped out into the glorious sunshine, it was to the energetic singing of a Cardinal and a Carolina Wren, both in full voice.  It was soul-stirring and a promise that Spring is definitely on its way.”

Owen Sound Young Naturalists Report by Amanda Eriksen

The February meeting was held at the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority building where we learned about butterflies, moths and host plants. I used the monarch as an example, but I had a slideshow showing 12 other moth and butterfly species common to our backyards that also only lay eggs and eat one plant family. I had some pictures and videos of monarch caterpillars and one of the members shared his experience raising and tagging monarchs. He brought a slide of a butterfly wing, so we hooked up the microscope to check that out. Amy Darrell from both OSFN and the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC), gave us three pillowcases full of milkweed pods for us to smash up to free the seeds from the fluff.

Once thoroughly smashed you shake the seeds to the bottom and cut the corner off the bag. The seeds can then be poured out. 

The kids were a great help in the smashing up part of the process. Each youngster was encouraged to take some seeds home to plant some milkweed for the monarchs. The rest of the seeds will be given back to Amy to be handed out by the EBC at various events they take part in. 
We also got busy crafting butterflies and cloud air fresheners. I brought in some wooden butterflies, cardboard, feathers from my chickens, fluff from the milkweeds and various crafting supplies and let the
kids at it. We then added a few drops of essential oils to the art to turn them into air freshers. There was some great art created. We had a great turn out of twelve kids. Our March meeting is to be held a bit earlier so that we can check on the maple syrup production at Robert Gray’s property.

To close, a Nature quote from Horizon by Barry Lopez, in mountainside habitat within sight of the Pacific Ocean –

“These scenes, inland and oceanward…encourage two thoughts that have organized my perceptions in nature for decades. First, diversity is not a mere characteristic of life… Diversity is a condition necessary for life. Diversity creates the biological tensioning that makes life in general vigorous and sustainable. It’s diversity that ensures perpetuity. The loss of diversity, on the other hand, threatens all life with extinction.”  

Nature Club News for January 2025

by John Dickson

For the first speaker presentation of 2025, the Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) invite you to ‘zoom’ down Mexico way, virtually, with tour guide Erik Van Den Kieboom, to explore Oaxaca: From Mountains to Coast.   

“In early January 2024, I embarked on a memorable birding road trip, along with four other birders, through the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. Oaxaca is a very special place from both a natural and a cultural perspective. In this presentation, we will explore a multitude of habitats and the bird species unique to each, from Deserts to Mountain Forests to Coastlines and Thorn Forests.”  

A native of the Owen Sound area, and a keen naturalist since his very early years, Erik recently completed his bachelor’s degree programme in Environmental Science, at the University of Guelph. This presentation will be available only online, via Zoom. Here are the details for time and registration to participate. 7pm Thurs. January 9, 2025 Online Only, Via Zoom

To Register for this Zoom meeting, please go to https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEkfu-opjgjE9QEhT5eBMreS3bpuHhIx8UD#/registration 

Once you fill out the form, Zoom will send you a personalized link you can use to join the meeting/webinar. If you need help, please send an email, in advance, to web@osfn.ca with Oaxaca on the subject line.  For Membership and Young Naturalist Club information, please visit  www.osfn.ca and  Facebook.                        

Here are summaries and highlights from various local Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs):

Owen Sound – Erik Van Den Kieboom – Compiler.

The 2024-2025 Christmas Bird Count marked the 54th year of the Owen Sound count. On December 14th, 35 participants tallied 7856 individuals of 55 species. The number of individuals was considerably lower compared to last year, as was the total number of species. This might be due to the colder weather and greater snow cover this year compared to last year. The number of participants this year was also lower, perhaps also due to the cold snowy weather.

Some unusual species from this year’s count included the count’s first Ovenbird, a count week Winter Wren, and a couple Snowy Owls, which are not recorded every year. Record high counts were set this year for Redhead, Sandhill Crane, and Red-bellied Woodpecker. Sandhill Cranes have been steadily increasing in the area in early winter, with 741 recorded on count day this year. Bald Eagles were also seen in good numbers this year, which is encouraging given last year’s low count. A few species were seen in lower numbers than usual this year, including Common Merganser, Ruffed Grouse, and House Sparrow. 

Several species were also seen in higher numbers than usual this year, including Red-breasted Merganser, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and American Tree Sparrow.

Tobermory – Tuesday December 17 – Shared by Tanya Markvart

Despite the weather, we collectively counted 43 species (avg. = 40) and 1342 individuals (avg. = 1607). The inclement weather likely explains low individual numbers. Other patterns and outliers that emerged include:

• Low winter finch diversity and abundance with only one Pine Siskin, four Evening Grosbeaks and one Purple Finch;
• 2^nd highest year for European Starlings with 102 individuals;
• Record-breaking year for Belted Kingfisher with three observed; last observed in 1988 (one individual) and 1986 (two individuals);
• Mourning Dove was absent, which has not happened since 1983. If anyone has an observation of Mourning Dove for the count week (December 14-16 & 18-20), please let me know;
• Low count for Herring Gull, with 87 seen (avg. 248). This trend seems to be consistent with the Wiarton and Nayaashiinigmiing CBC. An increase in avian influenza in North America may explain this low count;  
• Tied the highest Horned Grebe count with 12 individuals; last experienced in 2007;
• Low count for Bufflehead with three observed (avg. 22);
• 1^st count of a “Diurnal raptor sp.”, either a Gyrfalcon or Northern Goshawk was spotted as a “flyover” but was not seen well enough to distinguish the species. However, Northern Goshawk is the most likely of the two;
• 1^st Snow Goose record for the CBC, recorded as count week. They were seen a few days before the CBC; and
• 3^rd year for Trumpeter/Tundra Swan (2 observed); the species could not be specified.

KINCARDINE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT – James Turland – Compiler

For a long time, people have been captivated by birds. Their vibrant colors and melodious songs have earned them a special place in our folklore and mythology. Spurred on by ancient tradition the 43rd annual Kincardine Christmas Bird Count (KCBC) took place on December 19th, 2024. 

Participants enjoyed favourable weather, and the 56 species they identified is average. However, the overall number of birds recorded was notably low. Several factors contributed to this, including the heavy early snowfall. Many birds can handle the cold temperatures, but once the ground is covered with snow and water bodies freeze over, it becomes nearly impossible to find food. This forces birds to migrate south earlier in search of better foraging conditions. But this was an atypical season, the recent trend is for birds to stay here longer. 

After 4 decades of KCBC’s, one would think that every possible species would have been identified. Yet, new species continue to be spotted; a fact that can partly be attributed to climate change. As global temperatures rise, birds are shifting their ranges, on average wintering 2 km farther north every year. For example, during the first decade of the count, Canada Geese were a rare find, today however, hundreds of geese winter here.

A new addition to the count this year was the Surf Scoter, a sea duck that migrates from the Arctic to the East Coast, some frequenting the Great Lakes. The male Surf Scoter is particularly striking, with a bright, colorful beak.  With the addition of the scoter the KCBC has recorded 133 species in its 43 year history.

Hello Meaford CBCer’s,

Here is a summary of our Meaford Christmas Bird Count, along with the attached draft Tally Sheet. Final results, along with time & travel data will be posted on the Birds Canada Christmas Bird Count website in the next week or so.

The 54th annual Meaford Count on Saturday December 28^th featured unseasonably warm temperatures, 5°-10°, and limited snow cover. Light misty drizzle persisted throughout parts of the day.  Georgian Bay and running waters were mainly ice-free, ponds were frozen over, but with melt-pools of water sitting on top, and a few narrow openings..  

The combined efforts of our 5 teams resulted in the 7th highest total – 54 species – in the 54 years of the Count.  This total continues the trend of the past 10 years of finding over 50, and increasingly, over 55 species in the Meaford circle. Prior to that, the long-term average was 46 species. The top 5 species totals have been: 61 in 2021, 60 in 1975, 59 in 2020, 58 in 2012, and 57 in 2023.

No new species were added to theall-timecumulative total for this count. However, Trumpeter Swan and Snow Goose made their second Count appearance, in encore from last year, 2 Harlequin Ducks were welcome 3rd time Count birds, after 2011 and 2012,  and a Pine Warbler continued at my peanut feeder for the Count, making it’s second Count record (2019 previously).   The all-time cumulative total remains at 129 species.

Four new Highs were recorded – the 2 SNGO topped last year’s 1, 4 TRSW topped last year’s 2, 37 COME topped 2012’s 35, and 21 GCKI topped 2016’s 20.

Total individuals were on the low side at 2938 birds, undoubtedly a reflection of the weather. 

Overall it was a decent count.   Thanks very much to everyone, and happy, birdy, New Year to all! Lynne Richardson – Compiler.

The Saugeen Shores Christmas Bird Count was held on Jan 2, 2025. We faced weather challenges all day, in the form of lake effect snow squalls and high winds (gusting to 60kph or more). Due to this we had a lower turnout of counters and less species than normal, though considering the weather I think we did quite well. 

The 50 species recorded was below the all time average of 54 (and well shy of last years 65), but we recorded far more individual birds than average (14,057, average 8,051). This was mostly due to Snow Buntings, with 7,243 recorded across the count circle. 

A Surf Scoter seen in Southampton was a first for the count, and 3 all time high counts were set (Iceland Gull – 3, Lapland Longspur – 5, Horned Grebe – 11). 

An all time low was recorded for Black-capped Chickadee (166), and a lot of other forest birds were seen in much lower numbers than usual. This was likely almost entirely due to the high winds, which make observing these small birds a challenge. 

Other interesting species seen on count day included 1 Golden Eagle, 2 Northern Harriers, 9 Long-tailed Ducks and a single Snowy Owl.

 Big thanks to the 25 participants who braved the weather to help with the count! 

Kiah Jasper – Compiler 

The OSFN Young Naturalists had clever birding quizzes, and tips for feeder arrangements, and observing to keep learning over the holidays. Their next outing, 2-4pm Sunday January 26 will feature tracking and developing those keen observation skills. To learn more, please email Amanda at youngnaturalistsos@gmail.com

Along with many others in our community, I was saddened to learn of the recent passings of three well known naturalists, all of whom left amazing legacies, through their skill sets, dedication, volunteering, initiative and leadership.

 Some memorable snapshots for me include: 

Jim Hastie – I will always remember skiing out to the edge of the Bognor Marsh to where Jim Hastie and his team of volunteers were doing their annual checking and cleaning of the wood duck/merganser nesting boxes there. Just one of so many contributions he made. 

Bill Klein – an amazing naturalist (and dentist) I first met at the Huron Fringe Birding Festival in 2001, who also contributed to OSFN wildflower publications, had a double knee replacement in his early 90s, went downhill skiing that winter, and shared with me his joyous tale of his then recent visit to New York City for a week of opera and broadway shows.

Ron Reid – Originally from Chesley, I only knew Ron slightly, having met him at an NCC event in Lion’s Head, and spoke to him on the phone about three years ago. Widely respected as an elder statesman of Natural Heritage Protection in Ontario, he was very proud of having co-founded the Couchiching Conservancy, a local Land Trust that preserves wild areas for future generations. An avid canoeist with his wife Janet, Ron travelled dozens of northern rivers. Together they co-authored Canoeing Ontario Rivers.  

A journey to Madagascar

The Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) invite you to visit the Bayshore Community Centre at 7pm on Thursday October 10, and to ‘Come Celebrate World Lemur Day’ with a presentation by explorer, author, and conservationist Dr. Keriann McGoogan and explorer, anthropologist, and conservationist Dr. Travis Steffens. They will take us on a journey to Madagascar to learn about the amazing wildlife and landscapes, the challenges of field research, and how they are working to create sustainable forest communities through their charity Planet Madagascar. Madagascar is truly a place like no other and is the only place lemurs are found naturally — sadly these primates are the most endangered animals in the world. 

Keriann and Travis will also have copies of Keriann’s book, Chasing Lemurs and some products from Madagascar for you to purchase if you want to help support lemur conservation in Madagascar, and its special wildlife, including Lemurs.Admission is free, and donations from non-members are welcome. Doors open by 6:30pm, and OSFN publications, along with the new Fern Buff (a great gift idea!) will be available too. This presentation will also be available on Zoom. To receive a zoom link, please send an email, in advance, to web@osfn.ca with lemurs on the subject line.For more information about OSFN, membership, field trips, Young Naturalists  and more, please visit www.osfn.ca

 Beth Anne Currie of the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory invites you to take in their upcoming Fall Dinner and Fundraiser, with special guest speaker  

Dr. Dan Mennill:

It’s Time!!! Banquet for the Birds… Who Gives a Tweet?! 

Saturday, October 26,  5 to 10:30 p.m. at the Best Western, Inn on the Bay,Owen Sound.

BPBO is looking forward to seeing and connecting with you all. All funds raised go to supporting the work at the Cabot Head Research Station. Tickets for the evening are $100 ($40 tax receipt) And we thank you! 5:00 to 6:00 – Meet and Greet. Enjoy music and pre-dinner drinks. Visit the ongoing fundraising activities. 

OSFN Board member Marsha Courtney tells us of the Young Naturalists event on September 22 “I Took two of my Grandchildren to the Young Naturalists event on Sunday. We opened, removed and examined the seasonal nests from 10 birdhouses that are placed along the walking trails at Grey Sauble Conservation. Then we were off to see the Salmon heading up stream, which means they had made it up the fish ladder at the Mill Dam. Next, a visit to the arboretum was a chance to learn of the native trees there too.”

Yes, there is room for more youngsters, 7-12, to participate in these monthly learning/adventure gatherings. To learn more please contact Amanda at youngnaturalistsos@gmail.com

James Turland shared this report on the Bruce Birding Club’s (BBC) October 2 tour – 

“Doug Pedwell led this outing, starting at Sauble Beach Community Centre. Here a groomed trail and boardwalk offers a look at Carson Lake. 

Carson Lake is becoming a bog by slowly filling with plant debris. Bogs take hundreds of years to develop.  Once the lake is full of debris, sphagnum moss, as well as other plants, grow out from the lake’s edge. The vegetation eventually covers the lake’s entire surface. Bogs have a unique plant community and the Winterberry was in its full glory today. Winterberry is a native holly with showy red berries that birds will eat. White-crowned and White-throated sparrows were both seen at this stop. Next we visited the mouth of the Sauble River where there were several Bald Eagles perched in the treetops and we puzzled over distant swans. Then we drove the Huron Lake shoreline from south to north Oliphant. Shorebirds were hard to find and only Greater Yellowlegs were seen. A red fox at Lonely Island causeway grabbed our attention as it trotted up the road and hunted in the marsh grasses. We had lunch at Berford Lake and then visited Isaac Lake. At Isaac we had close up views of the resident Trumpeter Swans. We finished the day at the Wiarton Lagoons with a couple of Coots and a selection of ducks. Thanks so much to Doug for leading today and Marilyn Ohler for keeping the eBird list. Following is a complete list of the birds seen.

For a complete breakdown to where the birds were seen check out Marilyn’s ebird Trip Report. https://ebird.org/tripreport-invite/279527/editor/zEnI8y2utiQAcWcXcxr2_H5LEAU   Thanks to all the members who came out to enjoy the camaraderie on this day.”    To learn more about the BBC please contact James at jaturland@gmail.com

To close, a quote from Keriann McGoogan in response to learning that I was recently reading a comprehensive biography of naturalist and author Gerald Durrell who, through his writing, generated sufficient income to create his own zoo, with a clear mission of saving species from extinction. This four word mission statement still remains today. He opened Jersey Zoo in 1959 and in 1963 established a charitable trust to oversee the zoo and carry out the conservation work worldwide.

  “Glad you are enjoying your biography about Durrell — his legacy plays a role in the national park where we work, as there is a conservation project run by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust on the ploughshare tortoises. Planet Madagascar partners with this organization on several other conservation projects too.” 

Nature Club News for September 2024

by John Dickson

On Thursday September 12, at 7pm, the Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) will kick off its 2024-2025 season of monthly speakers, in addition to the complementary  hikes and field trips schedule which has already begun. First up is  The Wonderful World of Bees, with Janine McGowan, M.Sc.

 An Environmental Scientist and Beekeeper with roots in the Meaford area, McGowan will introduce us to many Bees of the World, plus the Bee biodiversity in Canada, and to Honey Bees in particular. During her 6 years working and studying at the “Bee Lab” (U of Guelph’s Honey Bee Research Centre), Janine revived their Apiculture Club, acted as President for 4 years, and she has also participated in many apiculture-related research projects.Janine continues to expand her knowledge of native pollinators, focusing on regenerative agriculture and gardening. “Less grass and more habitat, please! Bring on the bee-friendly cover crops!” This presentation will take place at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, with doors opening by 6:30pm, to allow some social time and a chance to peruse the renowned OSFN publications, membership purchase and/or renewal, etc. OSFN plans for the meeting to also be available on Zoom. If you would like to receive a zoom link please email web@osfn.ca with Bees in the subject line. The event is open to the public, and admission is free or by donation. For more information please visit www.osfn.ca

Monarch Butterfly migration also gets some attention at this time of year as Audrey Armstrong explains:  “We were gifted with great weather- sunny and hot- just the way butterflies like it, but our OSFN Monarch Tagging event Sunday, August 25th proved to have lower numbers of monarchs in migration this year.  We tagged only 4 as opposed to 100 two years ago on a similar date.  Regardless, the 14 participants had fun with Brian Robin, trying to net and capture monarchs even though very few were moving through. Patti Byers and Audrey Armstrong provided background information to the participants and there is increasing understanding about the importance of creating habitat for these amazing insects. Brian gifted each participant with a free Swamp Milkweed plant from Grange Hollow. We know these will attract monarchs when planted on your property.  The news on Journey North Website indicates there might be a late summer peak, so keep looking for those super-generation monarchs travelling south.”

What a treat it was to see so many drifting butter yellow Clouded Sulphur Butterflies as we cycled the backroads near Chesley recently! I am also enjoying the many blooming Asters I have seen lately – white and yellow and very delicate.  However, my eye is really drawn now to the striking purple and yellow flowers  of the New England Asters. 

  There is always room! The Young Naturalists’ Club is starting up again this fall. Bring the kids and grandkids out and help inspire a love for nature in the next generation! The Young Naturalists’ Club is geared toward children aged 7 to 12 years old. The children must be accompanied by an adult during each meeting.We typically meet once a month from 2 to 4 pm, but for some events the times may vary. The programme operates from September to June but with no meeting in December.We go for guided hikes, snowshoe, create art inspired by nature, see how others in the area are protecting our nature and visit a variety of ecosystems in our area. We learn so much from the experts we recruit to guide us. I have as much fun as the kids do! You don’t have to be amember of the Naturalist club to join so let your friends and family know. Our first meeting is being held at the Grey Sauble Conservation Area Sunday September 22nd at 2pm (meet at the pavilion). We will clean out the bird boxes and see what nests are there. We will play some nature inspired games. Hopefully there will be a few salmon in the river to check out as well.You can get more information by emailing Amanda Eriksen at youngnaturalistsos@gmail.com or by coming to the first meeting!    

Each week the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory (at BPBO.ca) shares its report in a blog, as excerpted here. “From time to time, during migration, something truly extraordinary happens. .. But nothing prepared us … for getting… an exceptional deluge of Bay-breasted Warblers… Of course, we know in theory that the boreal forest holds billions of birds during its proliferate summer and that most of them fly south. But, it is not often that one can get an inkling of the staggering numbers of birds aloft over our heads at migration time… on that fateful day of August 30, 2024, we banded 185 birds of 18 species, including 119 Bay-breasted Warblers (119!), 13 Tennessee Warblers, and 8 Blackburnian Warblers.  I do believe it will take a long time to see another day like that 30 August 2024, if ever. However, in migration, “always expect the unexpected”!

On September 4 and 5, OSFN held its 4th annual Moth Night/Moth Morning event with Moth enthusiast Alan Macnaughton, at the Grey Sauble Conservation Arboretum and pavilion, with 15 to 29 participants on hand too, including former OSFN President Kate McLaren –

“Most people will delight in the flight of a butterfly, but moths, being creatures of the night, raise a slight suspicion – until Alan  shines his light on their beauty and diversity.

Strange, fascinating, fleeting, but such an integral part of ecosystems that a two hour drive away from here yields species unknown to our  leafy friends!”

To close, a Nature quote from Janine McGowan –  “There are two things about honey bees that I particularly revere: the first is the fact that honey bees are one of the only creatures that are givers of life, not takers. They collect nectar and pollen for sustenance and the act of doing so creates a life, as opposed to consuming one”

Nature Club News for July 2024

by John Dickson

Nature Column for July 2024

The Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the evening of June 13, comfortably inside at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, while on the outside, very high winds and driving rain arrived in the area, as could be seen through the windows of the Bay Room. Along with the usual business of the club, was the presentation of three club awards. Past President Pam Kinchen presented OSFN’s Community Conservation Award to Judy Duncan, in recognition of: Judy’s long time work on behalf of the club, including as a board member; of her support in the community for the Huron Fringe Birding Festival, the Bruce Birding Club, the Breeding Bird Atlas, as well as many area Christmas Bird Counts; in addition Judy has  done a Shrike Survey for Wildlife Preservation Canada since 2011, and since 1998 she has raised money through pledges for the Great Canadian Birdathon which then shares some of the funds raised, to a group designated by Judy – OSFN. Congratulations!

OSFN President Brendan Mulroy and John Dickson then presented OSFN’s Honourary Life Membership Award to Fred Jazvac: In recognition of his dedication, valued leadership and teamwork with the Owen Sound Field Naturalists, including 14 years of guiding and teaching with ‘Birding Around the Bay’, plus Indoor Presentations and a six-year term on the OSFN Board of Directors, including two years as President; He was the Coordinator of the Bruce Birding Club until 2023, bringing together the birding community for bi-weekly outings and weekend trips; Many years of volunteering with area Christmas Bird Counts;  Since 2002 he has been a committee member and subsequently a leader with the Huron Fringe Birding Festival! Congratulations!

Finally, President Mulroy presented an Honourary Life Membership Award to OSFN’s Brian Robin, in recognition of his volunteering, along with his skills and knowledge, whether guiding and teaching Young Naturalists, assisting with Butterfly and Moth workshops; offering superb presentations himself, both for OSFN, and for such other events as Beach Talks, and the Grey Bruce Woodlot Conference; looking after the OSFN’s website, including an extensive recent update;  facilitating the presentations by guest speakers, and operating the zoom sharing; Coordinating for many years, OSFN’s Members’ Night,  with multiple presenters and topics to match. Congratulations!

The evening then proceeded with Three Waters, featuring Scott and Acadia Parent, and their 480km paddling expedition in 2019, from Drummond Island, Michigan, to Penetanguishene, Ontario. In addition to retracing the 1828 migration route of their ancestors almost two hundred years ago, they also honoured that legacy by collecting water samples at various depths for microplastics research, and by gathering any trash they found along the way, trying to leave it cleaner than they found it. The film also depicted scenery and wildlife along the way, and was complemented by Scott’s and Acadia’s original musical compositions and performances. To learn more about and how to support their foundation, dedicated to caring for the remote islands of Lake Huron and helping wildlife who reside in those areas which are impacted by plastic pollution, please visit   https://3waters.ca/

MacGregor Point Provincial Park, with Park Naturalist Layna Lubimiv,  hosted its annual North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Butterfly Count event on Saturday July 13, from 9am to 3:30pm, “I am so grateful for everyone who signed up and everyone who attended the butterfly count this year. We had the help of over 30 staff and volunteers, which included returning and many new participants as well, who helped to survey inside the Park boundaries for butterflies! We were gifted a beautiful sunny day (as opposed to 2023’s rainy day) that truly made a difference on our overall count.  Keep Flying, Butterflies!”  In total the count produced 2170 butterflies and 55 total species of butterflies! With seven teams of spotters, the top half-dozen butterflies observed were – Clouded Sulphur  664, Cabbage White 459, Northern Crescent  183, Orange Sulphur  95, Red Admiral 72, Least Skipper also 72. 

Alan Macnaughton then hosted a Moth Night at MacG Park, on July 16, with close to 25 people attending. People enjoyed the display of moths that Alan brought with him and the moth turnout in the Park was quite diverse. Here is a comprehensive report in    Alan’s words –

“July is the month of peak diversity of moths. I recorded 164 species in the Park in June but 280species in July. I observed 3 species of moths in my July visit that are particularly notable because of their rarity worldwide. Listing the rarest first, they are: Clouded Veneer (Prionapteryx nebulifera, a member of the Crambidae family), Dune Oncocnemis, (Sympistis riparia, a member of the Noctuidae family), and Greater Idia (Idia majoralis, a member of the Erebidae family). They are also uncommon to rare for the province as a whole. All 3 species have a wingspan of perhaps an inch or an inch and a half, so they are not small, inconspicuous moths. None of these species are in iNaturalist’s computer vision, so this ID will not be suggested for observations.” 

And just a heads up to let you know that OSFN and  Alan Macnaughton will be staging a Moth Night in early September at GSCA. To learn more please visit www.osfn.ca

Owen Sound Young Naturalists Club report:
The June meeting was held at Hibou Conservation area and our hike leader was Robert Knapp. Bob was a wealth of knowledge. We learned how the park was created from naturalists buying up the land and
saw the remnants of the old cottages that once stood on the beach. We looked for fossils, crayfish, mussels, noticed blooming beach flowers and skipped stones by the water. Next, we walked the boardwalk noticing the diversity of plants, how the water level of the lake shaped the land and of course noticed birds and frogs. We did not see a turtle, but we looked hard! There were 6 kids out for our final hike of the season. Thanks to Marsha we celebrated a great year with some treats. 

Submitted by Amanda Eriksen

To learn more about the Owen Sound Field Naturalists and their indoor and outdoor programming, membership and donation options, please  visit  www.osfn.ca

Following that June windstorm I happened to notice two birds’ nests on the ground, beside a pine tree and a spruce tree. One appeared to be a Robin’s nest, quite heavy and strong, and the other was likely from a Chipping Sparrow, with an interior softness enhanced by strands of human hair. This past month much of the wildflower colours have been the white tones provided by the Queen Anne’s Lace, decorating so many fields and roadsides. However, I have also started to  notice the  beautiful yellow Goldenrod flowers that are now appearing here and there.  There are also many bird families to be seen, including clusters of Eastern Kingbirds and family groupings of Swallows perched on utility wires overhead.

To close, Nature quotes from Douglas Botting’s comprehensive biography, entitled Gerald Durrell. Many years ago I read two or three   of Gerald Durrell’s books, but this biography provides a very satisfying outline of Durrell the man and of his amazing activities, and accomplishments. Of the time when Durrell was a lad, during warm summer nights, while living with his family on the island of Corfu, he wrote

“Never had we seen so many fireflies congregated in one spot…Glittering streams of them flew out over the bay, swirling over the water, and then, right on cue, the porpoises appeared, swimming in line into the bay, rocking rhythmically through the water, their backs as if painted with phosphorous… With the fireflies above and the illuminated porpoises below it was a fantastic sight… and when they leapt high in the air the drops of emerald glowing water flicked from them, and you could not tell if it was phosphorescence or fireflies you were looking at.”  

Nature Club News for May 2024

by John Dickson

I asked the internet – “Is there a Turtle Month?” and learned that ‘Certainly! Turtle Month from Earth Day April 22 to World Turtle Day on May 23 is dedicated to raising awareness about the world’s turtles and tortoises.’

Well, it just so happens that Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) is presenting a Turtle Talk entitled The Beautiful World of Turtles, with Jenna McGuire beginning at 7pm Thursday May 16, at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. Doors open by 6:30pm 

An Ecologist, a Scientific Illustrator and a favourite OSFN presenter and hike leader, Jenna McGuire invites us all to explore the life histories of our local turtles in-depth. We will travel through turtle evolution, biology and ecology through photos, illustrations, models and more. Most importantly we will review the many ways we can help support these incredible, ancient beings! 

Everyone is welcome and Admission is free or by donation. 

OSFN also plans to offer this as an online webinar, via Zoom. To request a Zoom Link, please send an email, in advance, to  web@osfn.ca  with Turtles in the subject line.

NeighbourWoods North (NWN) has some ongoing tree care work scheduled at the Hospital grounds in Owen Sound on the remaining two Saturday mornings in May, (the 18th and 25th) from 9:30 to 11am.  Plan to meet by the NWN shed past the emergency entrance and be sure to wear gloves and bring rakes, shovels, buckets, etc.

They also recently assisted the City in planting new trees at the Owen Sound Kiwanis Soccer Complex. 

I recall skiing the perimeter there on the skimpy snow this past winter, and noticing a crew near the central buildings, cutting and chipping the many White Ash trees that had been killed through the infestation of Emerald Ash Borers there.

Over the next few months I often encountered the same crew around the City, clearing other sites of the dead trees, especially where safety would be a concern if the trees were left standing much longer. Many thanks to those crews for doing this important work, and for the NWN volunteers for planting new trees there at the Soccer Complex! 

I have also been seeing quite a few Ash trees that have lost upper limbs, or completely fallen over along fence lines, etc.  You may visit NWN here  https://www.neighbourwoodsnorth.ca/  or on facebook.

For me, along with enjoying migrating birds and butterflies, pretty tree blossoms, wildflowers and the scent of lilacs, one of the loveliest sights of Springtime is of new, still translucent tree leaves of green (or red) illuminated by the bright, low-angled beams of sunrise or sunset. 

A bonus this year has been the amazing Northern Lights seen here on May 10. It reminded me that John Hlynialuk’s Aurora Alert presentation back in March suggested that we just might be in for quite a few special sightings.  

John says” The recent event is due to a massive sunspot complex on the Sun … Our atmosphere is still taking “hits” from solar flares which keep erupting and we have another CME impact due May 13 or so…

We are at the peak of the current 11-yr sunspot cycle and expect the activity to continue for many months yet, perhaps even a year or more.”

The Grey Sauble Conservation Foundation has an important fundraising campaign currently underway, with a silent auction until May 23, and an Earth Film Festival at the Roxy on May 16, featuring two special films: “The Water Walker”, which will captivate audiences with the inspiring journey of Autumn Peltier, International Indigenous Rights & Water Activist; “Becoming Tom Thomson” will transport viewers back in time, exploring the life and legacy of Canadian wilderness painter Tom Thomson, presented by Canadian Actor, Director, and Producer, Steve Belford.

Films start at 7:00 pm. The lobby will be open at 6:00 pm for a social time, displays, and exciting door prizes.

Before the evening film presentations there will be a Dinner Fundraiser hosted by chef Zach Keeshig, at the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market, from 5pm – 6:30pm. Indulge in a creatively cultivated 3-course menu featuring progressive Indigenous Cuisine with local, fresh, and seasonal ingredients. This culinary journey will be held at the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market 

Tickets for the film presentations are $30 each, or you can enjoy both the dinner and film presentations for $150.

Please note that tickets for the Dinner + Films package are only available at the box office. To get yours, please call 519-371-2833 or visit    www.roxytheatre.ca

I would like to draw your attention to the Guest Gallery at the Owen Sound Artists’ Co-op, and one of the three featured artists during this month of May, Frank deMatteis.

Several of his evocative works are on the west wall of the Guest Gallery,  just a few steps from the main entranceway. I first met Frank back in the 90s when he joined our noon running group one day, and we chatted as we headed out towards Harrison Park from the Y. 

I quickly discovered that he was an artist, and that bird paintings were an important component of his work. So, I said to him that I had always been a fan of J. Fenwick Lansdowne, and Frank immediately replied “Oh, he was  my idol!” 

Fast forward t to 2017,  when Frank accepted my invitation to lead a Nature sketching  and learning segment for the Young Naturalists Club (YNs), sharing his intimate knowledge. For instance, the students learned from Frank about the funneling effect of a Nightingales’ stiff bristles (not feathers) helping to guide flying insects to its open mouth, while this aerial insectivore wings its way around in the dark of night. 

About a year ago I was in the lobby at the Hospital in Owen Sound and an amazing piece of art caught my eye. Sure enough, it was by Frank de Matteis, and featured an  exquiste underwater view of a Common Loon. So, I encourage you to make your way to the Artists Co-op soon, before the  end of May, allowing time for return visits too, while these and many other works are on display there.

You can also learn more about Frank deMatteis from his website  at https://www.frankdematteisart.com/, as well as his profile there https://www.frankdematteisart.com/artist-profile and his well-deserved accolades here:  https://www.frankdematteisart.com/critical-acclaim    In addition you can find references to his painting at the Hospital and his workshop with the Young Naturalists at this link there – https://www.frankdematteisart.com/community

One of several paintings by Frank deMatteis at the Owen Sound Artists’ Co-op until the end of May

Nature Club News for March 2024

by John Dickson

It’s a March Nature Bonanza! Each year, the Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) set aside one meeting to invite club members to offer their own ten minute presentations, and this usually results in 5 or 6 of these, with a variety of topics – birds, plants, geology, insects, etc. This year, however, the response has been so outstanding that Members’ Night at 7pm Thursday March 14 at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre,  will feature 8 presenters, all with different topics to showcase!

These are: Audrey Armstrong with an update on the Monarch Butterflies population status; Robert Burcher with the ‘Royal Oaks’ of Meaford; Marsha Courtney offers ‘Shooting the Beautiful Shrooms’; Climate Change at Kemble Mountain with Bob Gray; Aurora Alert with John  Hlynialuk; David Morris presents ‘Roses by Many Other Names: A Look at Diversity within the Rose Family’; Barbara Palmer will introduce ‘Rock Stars’; and Willy Waterton will report from the Public Advisory Committee on both the Bruce and the Fathom Five National Parks. 

These monthly meetings are also great opportunities to check the OSFN Publications available about Orchids, other wildflowers and plants, Geology, etc. You can even share or learn about special Nature sightings observed recently in the area. The doors are open by 6:30pm, Everyone is Welcome and  Admission is free or by donation. The event is also expected to be shared virtually through zoom, so if you are interested in receiving a zoom link, please send an email, in advance, to web@osfn.ca  with ‘members’ on the subject line.For more information on the many activities and history of the club, as well as membership benefits, and support options, please visit www.osfn.ca

Bright and early the next morning, at 6am March 15, registration opens for the 26th Huron Fringe Birding Festival, (HFBF) to be held May 24 to 30 and May 30 – June 2, 2024. Here is the main link to access everything about the festival.https://huronfringebirdingfestival.ca/page/huron-fringe-birding-festival  The HFBF offers an astounding array of topics from birds and botany to geology, plus photography and wildlife art, with superb presenters and hike leaders from near and far. You will find the timing and descriptions of their events at this helpful link: https://huronfringebirdingfestival.ca/content/2024_Program.pdf 

On Saturday I visited briefly with  Wildlife Artist and Master Marine Biologist Sarah McComb Turbitt along with her special exhibition, hosted until March 30 by Grey Gallery at 883 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound. Envisioned to bring awareness to Canada’s species at risk by painting Canadian endangered species, she committed to a 31 day challenge in January to paint as many of these species as possible. This show includes all fifteen of the paintings she completed during the challenge and they will be exhibited throughout March at Grey Gallery, with 15% of sales to  be donated to Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC).  You may also get to meet her as one of several amazing artists featured this year at the  Huron Fringe Birding Festival.  

A reminder too, that tickets ($10. each) are still available for Robert Bowles’ Keynote Address for OSFN’s Celebrate Earth Day event aboard the Chi Cheemaun, 2pm Sunday April 21, including refreshments – seating is limited. Tickets can be purchased at Thursday evening’s OSFN meeting at the Bayshore Community Centre, plus from Sheila Gunby’s Paper Cut Designs at the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market, the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library and at Suntrail Source for Adventure in Hepworth.

From Young Naturalist Coordinator Amanda Eriksen: 
On February 25th the Owen Sound Young Naturalists   met at the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority building where Krista McKee brought a wonderful bounty of pine cones, acorns, wood disks and all the other necessary supplies to get crafty. Krista had some sample ideas made up for us, but the kids let their imaginations and creativity shine. There was some great art created. The adults had just as much fun. Our March meeting is to be held a bit earlier so that we can check on the maple syrup production at Robert Gray’s property. 

We may be joined by members of the Kemble Maple Tour Committee. This could be a good opportunity to introduce the young nats and welcome a few more members. Bob mentioned that he is trying to perfect his maple taffy, I don’t think the kids will mind sampling that! To learn about joining the Young Naturalists please visit https://owensoundfieldnaturalists.ca/category/young-naturalists/

The transition towards Springtime has been highlighted with recent sightings and sounds of the returning Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds,  Common Grackles, Killdeer, and even Eastern Meadowlarks. A few Sandhill Cranes are already back, and Tundra Swans have been seen in good numbers at Lake Eugenia too.

A bike ride on one of the milder days recently brought me to a nearby creek where the Rainbow Trout were really making a  splash with their spawning activities. When I walked along a woodland trail last week,  I checked for signs of emerging plants on the forest floor, but the only ones I saw were many green shoots of the pervasive invasive Wild Chervil. 

To close, Nature quotes from Ancient Mariner – The Amazing Adventures of Samuel Hearne, the Sailor Who Walked to the Arctic Ocean, by Ken McGoogan, who writes:  Hearne was not infallible. But he did determine that the pouch of the pelican’s beak could hold three quarts of liquid, and that Canada geese would often nest in abandoned muskrat houses. He provided one of the earliest accounts of the passenger pigeon, and was the first to recognize that there are two different species of curlew, the Hudonian and the Eskimo.

Also he understood bird migration at a time when leading English scientists were wondering whether swallows spent the winter underwater; And, from our late friend Victor Searles,  another esteemed Ancient Mariner, who two centuries after Samuel Hearne authored a ‘Cruising Manual’ for the Ontario Sailing Association, this excerpt: …as you graduate from day sailing,…the elements are disturbingly unsympathetic towards the condition of your craft or the duration of your voyage. Whoever is responsible for controlling the weather has a nasty habit of pouncing on the skipper who is only prepared for a short, tranquil trip and giving him a long, vigorous voyage.

Nature Club News for December 2023

by John Dickson

Where the Falcon Flies: Renowned professional explorer, adventurer and best-selling author Adam Shoalts returns to Owen Sound as the featured guest speaker of the Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) at 7pm Thursday December 14. This event includes a book launch and will be held “In Person Only”, (i.e. no zoom, and no recording) at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. A popular and entertaining speaker, Shoalts will tell us about his latest adventure and his new book Where the Falcon Flies, based on a 3,400 km solo canoe journey from Lake Erie to the Arctic. The expedition took over three months and saw Shoalts depart from Long Point and travel all the way to the Torngat Mountains and Ungava Bay. As a naturalist and historian, Adam will share the story and photos of his remarkable journey. Where the Falcon Flies, and many of Shoalts’ earlier books will be available too.

Held in the Bay Room of the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, and starting at 7pm, you are also encouraged to arrive as early as 6:30pm and perhaps browse the latest offerings (Orchids, Vascular Plant Checklist, etc.) of the OSFN Publications Committee for gifts and stocking stuffers.    Everyone is welcome, and admission is free, or by donation.  For more information please visit www.osfn.ca

So you like birds? Consider joining a Christmas Bird Count and participate in Citizen Science.

Once again ’tis the season for 

Christmas Bird Counts (CBC), from Dec 14, 2023 to Jan 5, 2024. 

Thank you to Norah Toth for sharing this local outline of CBC dates and the compilers to contact, to learn more and perhaps take part in this annual inventory.  The CBCs across Grey-Bruce are listed below.
Thursday, December 14, 2023 – Kincardine – James Turland –jaturland@gmail.com
Thursday, December 14, 2023 – Tobermory CBC – Tyler Miller – tyler.miller@pc.gc.ca
Saturday, December 16, 2023 – Owen Sound CBC – Erik Van Den Kieboom – erikkieboom@outlook.com
Saturday, December 16, 2022 – Hanover/Walkerton CBC – Gerard McNaughton –  gmcnaughton@wightman.ca
Sunday, December 17, 2023 – Wiarton CBC – Jarmo Jalava  – jvjalava@gmail.com
Thursday, December 28, 2023 – Meaford CBC – Lynne Richardson – lynnerichardson@rogers.com
Friday, December 29, 2023 – Pike Bay CBC – Andrew Keaveney – uofgtwitcher@gmail.com
Saturday, December 30, 2023 – Cape Chin CBC – Andrew Keaveney – uofgtwitcher@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 3, 2024 – Saugeen Shores CBC – Kiah Jasper – kiahjasper@gmail.com
Or visit this link to find a CBC near you. https://naturecounts.ca/apps/cbc/mapviewer.jsp

On November 26, the Young Naturalists visited the Kinghurst Nature Reserve, where Amanda Eriksen “led a ‘Winter is Coming’ scavenger hunt where we looked for signs of animals getting ready for winter, some of the things the creatures may be gathering to prepare, as well as places creatures may be living. The kids were terrific searchers and had great ideas about how creatures survive winter. We were lucky enough to be able to go to the old cottage which is full of information about the property and the plants and animals you can see. The kids all signed the logbook. The highlight was pumping the old well and actually getting water! We had 8 kids out with one new family joining the club. For the month of December, there is no ‘in person’ meeting, but I am working on a backyard birding challenge.”   The Young Naturalists, mainly aged 7 to 12, usually meet one Sunday afternoon each month with a variety of Nature learning activities and hopefully January’s outing will include snowshoeing with snowshoes available if needed. There are currently more spaces available, and to find out more, please email Coordinator Amanda Eriksen at   eriksen.amanda@gmail.com

Continuing with the Nature gift theme, popular local birder and photographer David Turner, is once again offering calendars of exquisite bird photography for 2024. They can be purchased at Local Colour in Flesherton, and he can be contacted at fleshertonartgallery@gmail.com or phone 519 924 3560.  

I have continued to enjoy nature by getting outside most days, either for a walk, a run, or a bike ride and now I have added skiing on four occasions so far this season. A highlight has certainly been a bike ride in the woods just the other day when I heard the soft whistling of about 60 Bohemian Waxwings as I watched them foraging on berries in a wooded wetland. When I eventually continued my ride, I soon heard that soft whistling again, and discovered a large flock of them in tall trees beside the Rankin River. I guess I will never know if they were, in fact, a different flock or the same one who were just ‘going my way’, but two encounters with them was certainly an amazing treat to enjoy along with a December bike ride in a sunny and mild 15 degrees Celsius!   The next morning I found a colourful apple adorning a small White Ash tree, placed there by a squirrel for a future snack, while Crows, Canada Geese and a male Cardinal were all foraging nearby too, coping with the challenges and rewards of the season.

To close, a Nature quote from Rick Mercer’s Final Report -“I’m one of those Canadians who like winter…  So when we had the first snowfall here in Toronto, I went for a walk.  And with the snowflakes gently falling against the streetlights I wandered around the city for about half an hour and enjoyed the sights and sounds of thirteen fender-benders in nine languages.  Yes, it was a winter wonderland…”   

Nature Club News for August 2023

by John Dickson

The Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) are preparing for their 35th season with a diverse array of speaker presentations and many field trips throughout the area. Much of the new season, including events in September, will be posted at www.osfn.ca over the next week or so. To ensure you receive up to date information from the club, it is recommended that you purchase or renew your membership online. 

Of note, on September 9, Bruce County Forester Kevin Predon will be leading a Bruce County Hike at the Amabel Tract in Sauble Beach, on trails from Rankin Bridge Road through both County and Crown forests, adjacent to the “Hell Hole” Provincially Significant Wetland complex, the Sauble River, and into some spectacular hardwood and conifer forests. 

Then, at 7pm  September 14 at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, popular speaker, hike leader and author Beth Gilhespy will present Building Sydenham: the Making of “Walking through Time.” Beth will discuss how she approached her Beaver Valley and Sydenham geology books. These sections of the Bruce Trail have lots of great geology to discuss. Her Beaver Valley book will be available for purchase and signing.

In addition, OSFN hopes to once again sponsor two local high school students to attend the Ontario Nature Youth Summit at Lake Couchiching September 22-24. OSFN has sponsored many students in recent years, and has received excellent feedback from those who have attended the Youth Summits.

The weekend is designed and situated to  provide learning opportunities in an exciting and motivational setting with 90 fellow high school students, all with an interest in Nature studies. Potential candidates should email John Dickson at  jwdickso@gmail.com no later than August 30, indicating their interest and availability to attend, as the registration deadline is September 5.  For more information  please visit   https://ontarionature.org/events/youth-summit/

The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) is hosting a  Monarch Butterfly Festival at Alvar Bay and at Bruce Peninsula National Park’s Visitors Centre on August 25th and 26th.

Experience two days filled with nature hikes, monarch tagging and release activities, captivating butterfly documentaries, and thrilling evening bat walks. Explore the beauty of Alvar Bay, learn about the vital work of EBC, and get your hands on free milkweed seeds to support Monarch conservation. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn about and celebrate the wonders of nature and the extraordinary journeys of Monarch butterflies!

Monarch tagging and release activities that play a crucial role in monitoring their population and understanding their migratory patterns. By participating in tagging and release, you contribute to important research efforts and help protect these magnificent butterflies for future generations to enjoy.

In addition to the Monarch festivities, EBC will  also be celebrating International Bat Day on the 26th with evening evening bat walks (Friday and Saturday at 8pm). Discover the fascinating world of bats and their vital role in maintaining our ecosystem’s balance.

 For more detailed information please visit https://escarpment.ca

All activities for this Monarch Butterfly Festival are free.

James Turland of the Bruce Birding Club (BBC) has much of its fall season lineup organized, with  several different leaders helping out. 

The BBC is a group of avid bird watchers based in Southampton, Bruce County, Ontario Canada. The club also includes many members from Grey County, and meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month except during the summer. The outings are most often in Bruce County but several excursions each year take the group farther afield. 

If you would like more information or are interested in joining the club please visit the Bruce Birding Club Website at: https://sites.google.com/site/brucebirdingclub/home  and/or email James at   jaturland@gmail.com

Still with ornithology, Stéphane Menu, Station Scientist at the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory, along with his crew, have  now returned to Cabot Head for a new season of migration monitoring, from August 15 to October 31; 78 consecutive days. During this first week, most birds that were caught, banded and documented were Red-eyed vireos and 11 species of warblers. In addition, there were observations of a Bald Eagle pair with an eaglet on the nest, a young Peregrine Falcon, a young Cooper’s Hawk, a Great Horned Owl after a successful hunt and a Common Nighthawk.  For more information please visit www.bpbo.ca

At this time of year I especially enjoy seeing the blooming Goldenrod and other wildflowers all aglow, waving in the summer breezes, and the Staghorn Sumac fronds, comprised of tiny individual flowers that glisten in the morning sunshine. 

Another late summer treat I discovered back in 1992, while I was cycling along a road allowance  in Sydenham Township, is to be accompanied by a flock of American Goldfinches, as they fly along with me, escorting me through their territory.  A year ago,  a dozen or more Monarch Butterflies performed a similar dance, fluttering along close by me in the morning sunshine, northeast of Kemble. 

Then, just this past week, I was delighted to be led by a family of Eastern Kingbirds, guiding me as they flew along from fence post to wire to roadside bushes, during a couple of  sunrise bike rides, while I was still cycling within the City of Owen Sound. 

To close, a Nature quote from Verlyn Klinkenborg’s More Scenes from the Rural Life: “The grace of wildness changes somehow when it becomes familiar. When I say the grace of wildness, what I mean is its autonomy, its self-possession, the fact that it has nothing to do with us. The grace is in the separation, the distance, the sense of a self-sustaining way of life.” 

NATURE CLUB NEWS October 2019

by John Dickson

The Owen Sound Field Naturalists’ (OSFN) next featured speaker is Stéphane Menu, Station Scientist of the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory (BPBO). He will be giving an overview of Birds on the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula: Changes across the years since 2002, as seen at Cabot Head, where the BPBO is situated. The observatory also serves as a training ground for interns working there under Menu’s supervision, monitoring and documenting the bird species migrations each Spring and Autumn. Menu is scheduled to speak shortly after 7PM, Thursday October 10, in the auditorium of the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library. Another popular aspect of these monthly Indoor Meetings, as they are called, is “Sightings”, an opportunity for audience members to share recent interesting nature observations they have noted. Admission is free, although donations are welcome.

The BPBO also held an open house on September 28, showing visitors the operational steps involved in documenting the migratory bird observations, including the mist nets where birds are gently and briefly captured, and carefully removed for detailed identification of species, sex, age, and condition, before banding, all of which are noted, prior to release again to re-join their flocks. Often, those in attendance, especially children, are given the opportunity to hold a bird in their hands for that release, a memorable experience, for sure.

The Bruce Birding Club, (BBC), led by Judy Duncan on September 18, travelled to Tiny Marsh, near Elmvale, to check out the birdlife present in the diverse habitat there. An immediate observation by Kiah Jasper’s keen eyes and ears was of more than 30 American Pipits in the field across from the parking lot there. That they were nestled into the ridges in the field made them extra challenging to see, as their grey coloring blended into the earthy tones of the ground, until they would suddenly rise and swirl in the air before settling once more into the stubble to forage for insects in the low vegetation, and fuel up, for the next stage of their journey from the Arctic to the southern USA. The 54 other species seen at Tiny Marsh also included Marsh Wren, Palm Warbler, Northern Harrier, and Greater Yellowlegs.

The BBC’s October 2 tour of the areas from Southampton to Kincardine, led by Bob and Anne Marie Taylor, resulted in 70 species being observed, including 8 species of warblers, and 15 of waterfowl. The BBC outings are usually held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from September to June, with some extra special tours added throughout the year.

Also flocking to this area were the Field Botanists of Ontario (FBO). According to local FBO member Barbara Palmer, they “held their AGM at Grey Roots Museum and Archives on September 21. A light supper was followed by Jennifer Doubt’s presentation on the inner workings of the herbarium at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa.”
     
Doubt said of the weekend “It was all fantastic, and a real highlight for me – besides spending time among people with a shared passionate about plants and nature! – was exploring some of the sites that botanists have documented in the past. Owen Sound has a rich history of botanical exploration and some of those past findings are outlined in publications and vouchered in the herbarium where I work. After a while working with those accounts and specimens, you can get to feel a kinship with some of the botanists who’s specimens assist you in your current projects, even if they died long before you were born. It was fun and thought-provoking to be in the places they were, to see some of the same botanical and other features they saw, and to reflect on the changes (in landscape, society, plant communities) that have taken place between their visits and ours.” Palmer continues – “Jennifer’s specialty is bryophytes and her outing found her and fellow moss enthusiasts at the  Inglis Falls Conservation Area examining the many mosses and liverworts.”

Other outings offered on the weekend included trips  to Neyaashiinigmiing with Jarmo Jalava and Miptoon(Anthony Chegahno), Isaac Lake Macrophytes (an Aquatic Plant study) with Tyler Miller, and a Fish Hatchery Forest tour was led by Will Van Hemessen. This forest has been suggested as the site of a future OSFN botany hike, perhaps in Spring of 2020.

 Finally, in 2007 FBO initiated an award that recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of field botany in Ontario. That award is named the John Goldie Award for Field Botany. The award recognizes Goldie’s pioneering efforts in conducting surveys of vegetation in Ontario and New York State in the early 1800’s. The Goldie Award is presented each year at FBO’s AGM. The winner of the Goldie award this year at Grey Roots for 2019, was Paul Catling, recently-retired curator of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada’s National Collection of Vascular Plants, and prolific ongoing botany researcher.

Owen Sound’s Joan Crowe was presented with the Goldie Award by the FBO in 2015

David Morris led an OSFN field trip on September 5th, entitled Sarawak Saunter, near Indian Falls, where we were welcomed to the childhood homestead of Val Radbourne. The focus was on invasive botanical species that are found quite commonly now in our locale. In addition to the often negative effects of the invasive species, including – Japanese knotweed; goutweed; multiflora rose; knapweeds; Lamium; cleavers bedstraw; white bedstraw, English ivy; colt’s foot; and periwinkle –  the colours on display that day were positively magnificent. Especially beautiful were Goldenrod meadows, (some loaded with honey bees), against a backdrop of green trees, in yellow sunshine, under a blue sky. All around were blossoms of red, blue, purple, pink, orange, and white – and soon the footpath brought us to the multi-coloured walls of the Gorge at Indian Falls, with red clay below a green clay, beneath grey rocks, splashed by a clear waterfall.

On September 19, OSFN members and guests – as Eileen O’Connor shared -” had a lovely afternoon walk on “Anglesea”, the property of Don Rawls  located at the north end of an area known as the Klondike Hills, south-west of Chatsworth. Don and his dog led us on trails that he has made over the years up and down drumlins, through forested areas, past ponds and erratics, all of which provided a great variety of trees and shrubs, ferns and mushrooms as well as a few remaining wildflowers and birds.  Also on the property are the remains of a lime kiln which would have been constructed most likely by the first settlers around 1870. Afterwards, Don displayed his albums of the many photos of the flora and fauna he has noted over the years and we all came away with a very comprehensive  list of species and a guide to this beautiful terrain.Visitors are welcome by donation and pre-arranged guided tours are available.  Don said that May is an excellent time to visit but you are welcome to contact him or his son Mike any time.” 519-794-0561 or email rawfam46@gmail.com

As a speaker I found that Beth Gilhespy had an excellent way of making Geology easier to understand clearly, returning often to the “sandwich of layers”, as she had pointed out at the beginning of her presentation on the Geology of the Niagara Escarpment. She also explained that she was enthusiastic about fossils, primarily for the stories they told about what the climate, habitats and water levels were like when those creatures were alive and dwelling here.

As Eileen O’Connor, once more, relates – “As a follow-up to her very informative indoor meeting talk of September 12, Beth Gilhespy led an outdoor geology hike on September 28, an overcast day but mercifully rain-free.  We met at the western end of East Linton SR, where Beth, with all her years of experience with hikes, distributed excellent hand-outs about what we would be seeing and organized us into carpools to get to the entrance to the GSCA Glen Management Area on county road 17.  Any geological information here is shamelessly lifted  from Beth’s hand-out.  We soon descended to the floor of the Glen, which is an example of a ’re-entrant valley’ created by scouring from retreating glaciers 12-14,000 years ago.  We learned that lichens are more often found on erratics which are more acidic and of which there were quite a few than on dolostone where moss is more likely.  Incidentally, this area would be fantastic for a mushroom hike as there was an astonishing variety and abundance of species all along the trail, especially after mild, damp weather. But caution was needed as the rocks were slippery and the paths muddy.

A very special feature of the Glen floor are the water-filled sinkholes created by meltwater dissolving the Manitoulin Dolostone layer and then, it is surmised, draining at contact with the Queenston Shale below, the lowest geological layer in our area.   These sinkholes were discovered by Ron Savage, for whom this section of the trail is named, as he hikes here often. One sinkhole is at least 15 feet deep! During the hike Ron was particularly good at spotting fossils in a higher  geological layer known as Fossil Hill Dolostone, some of which he had earlier marked with tape for our benefit.
Towards the end we climbed uphill to the Amabel Formation, the  dolostone layer which we see so visibly  on the top of the escarpment. But then we climbed down into and walked along the base of narrow crevices  where the blocky dolostone chunks were very evident but where we were also treated to the sight of plentiful Hart’s Tongue fern and some Walking Fern although we had already seen many other ferns during the outing.
Unfortunately we ran out of time to cover the Frank Holley side trail located near our start point that day but also worth a visit if you don’t know it.  And, if you ever get the opportunity to go on a Beth Gilhespy hike, don’t hesitate!”

On Friday September 20, Grey Sauble Conservation hosted a celebration at Hibou, recognizing contributions of the many volunteers associated with the organization and the Foundation, including the Friends of Hibou. Bob and Marie Knapp also led tours of the Hibou Interpretive trails.

The Young Naturalists Club kicked off their 2019-20 season, September 29, meeting at Grey Sauble Conservation Headquaters, where they registered with new co-ordinator Jody Johnson Pettit. Then Krista McKee led the youngsters through some exciting games of predator and prey, where hiding and camouflage were emphasized as important survival skills. This was followed by a visit to watch the salmon who have come back to where they were hatched in the area several years ago. The afternoon wrapped up with a hike around the Arboretum, and the cleaning out of bluebird nesting boxes to prepare them for next spring’s returning residents. Next month, an afternoon nature hike is planned in the Pottawatomi area, led by Judy Robinson.

For more information about the Young Naturalists Club, NeighbourWoods North, and OSFN, visit www.osfn.ca

The Tom Thomson Art Gallery is also featuring Nature in a new exhibition – Footprints in Time: Painting Around Georgian Bay. Following in the footsteps of artists featured from the Gallery’s Collection, including Norval Morrisseau, Tom Thomson, Fred Varley, A.Y. Jackson, Daphne Odjig and John Hartman, you are invited on a tour around Georgian Bay. Beginning on Manitoulin Island, you will travel down the Bruce Peninsula to Owen Sound, head east toward Honey Harbour then north to Killarney. See the many ways in which this distinctive landscape has inspired successive generations of artists producing a rich cultural mosaic. 

And, speaking of Art, many people I know, (even my daughter is there canoeing and camping with friends) are spending a little time in the area of Algonquin Park these days, and until October 20, I would encourage you to take in a visit to the Algonquin Art Centre there, for  “A Tribute to Robert Bateman”, a special exhibit that looks at his deep connections to Algonquin and its role in his development as an artist and environmentalist.

On Saturday, September 14, renowned Canadian wildlife artist and naturalist Robert Bateman received The Algonquin Park Legacy Award at a special event at the Algonquin Art Centre in Algonquin Park. Bateman was presented the award by his long-time friend, the acclaimed wildlife artist and naturalist Michael Dumas — who was the recipient of the inaugural award last year. Established by the Algonquin Art Centre, the Algonquin Park Legacy Award recognizes artistic excellence, outstanding contributions to art in Algonquin Park, and life-long dedication to nature and wildlife. Bateman, who is now 89, also started out as a Junior Naturalist, through a programme at the Royal Ontario Museum, where he got an early start, learning about the many species around us. He was also sketching, as he says, like most youngsters, but he “just didn’t stop.”
The Algonquin Art Centre, located on the shores of Found Lake in Algonquin Park, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is voluntary, but a valid Ontario Parks permit is required to visit the centre.

And to close, a Nature quote from Bobby Bateman, as OSFN Life Member George Peck once knew him – “In 1947 at the age of 17, I landed a dream job at the Wildlife Research Camp, north of Lake of Two Rivers. I was a student ‘chore boy’ but I observed nature and drew and painted my surroundings for four glorious summers. The land is in my blood.”