All posts by Brian Robin

Announcements

Sydenham Bruce Trail Club Group Hikes

Just a reminder from OSFN Programming (announced at the January 9, OSFN meeting) that OSFN members (and the general public, too) are welcome and invited to join upcoming Group Hikes, which are being led by Sydenham Bruce Trail Club members who are also OSFN members. There are still several hikes left in January. The entire winter hike schedule and guidelines can be found at this link – https://www.sydenhambrucetrail.ca/hiking/group-hikes

Many thanks to the Sydenham Bruce Trail Club, for making these outdoor events available to everyone!

Here is a list of some hikes led by BT/OSFN members –

Sunday January 19
Beaver Springs south access
Meet: 1:15 pm at HD
This trail takes us over a small stream, around a farmer’s field and into a wooded area, crossing an old beaver dam before rejoining the trail. Walk or snowshoe.
Parking is on Irish Block Rd, 0.4 km north of Hwy 26 at km 65.0.
Map Reference: Map 31
T: Moderate P: Leisurely
Hike Leader: Danuta Valleau
Contact Info: call 519-534-1788

Thursday January 23
Bognor Marsh
Meet: 10:00 am at the parking area at km 29.7 at County Road 18 and 4th
Concession South.
We will explore the Bognor Marsh area on foot or on snowshoes, depending upon the conditions. Total time about 2.5 hours.
Map Reference: Map 30
T: Moderate P: Medium
Hike Leader: Bob Knapp
Contact Info: Please RSVP to 519-371-1255 or email rmknapp@yahoo.com

Wednesday January 29
Snowshoe Hike or Ski at McGregor Park
Meet: 10:00 am at McGregor Provincial Park Visitor Centre Parking Lot (parking fee in effect)
Meet up with the Happy Campers staying in Yurts 46 and 48 for a 2 hour snowshoe hike or cross-country ski. Hikers are invited to bring their own lunch and join the Happy Campers in their yurts following the hike. Bring icers as the park roads can be icy.
T: Moderate P: Medium
Hike Leader: Danuta Valleau
Contact Info: call 519-378-5630

Here are guidelines and terminology for the hike schedule –
WHERE TO MEET:
GXT is the Galaxy Theatre parking lot. Meet in the parking lot at the tall Galaxy Centre sign next to the traffic lights. The address is 1020 10th St. W, Owen Sound
MPL is the municipal parking lot by the river on the west side of 1st Ave. E
between 7th St. E. and 8th St. E.
GSCA is the Grey – Sauble Conservation Authority head office at 237897 Inglis Falls Road. Meet in the parking lot behind the office.
HD is the northeast corner of the parking lot at Home Depot on Highway 26 on the east side of Owen Sound.
If you wish to meet at the hike location please contact the leader ahead of
time to confirm the location.
HIKE RATING SYSTEM:
TERRAIN (T):
Easy: Mostly flat and good footing.
Moderate: Some hills and/or poor
footing.
Strenuous: Hilly with steep climbs and
some poor footing.
PACE (P):
Leisurely: 3 km/h or less
Medium: 3 to 4 km/h
Brisk: 4 to 5 km/h
Fast: more than 5 km/h
Map references are from the Bruce Trail Reference edition 29.
CAUTION Make sure that the described hike is within your fitness level. If you have questions or concerns about the hike please contact the hike leader beforehand.
PETS Please do not bring pets on the hike unless specified otherwise.
WHEN SNOWSHOEING:
Dress in layers to prevent overheating and bring water and snacks. Hiking poles are helpful for negotiating slopes and slippery sections. On bright days, wear sunglasses and sunscreen.

Nature Club News

Nature Club News January 2020

Nature Club News January 2020

by John Dickson

OSFN Indoor Meetings At Bayshore

After an over 30-year relationship with the Owen Sound Public Library, the Owen Sound Field Naturalists are moving to new premises for our Indoor Meetings. It is exciting, and yet sad, to know we have outgrown their facility. We have greatly appreciated their hosting our meetings.

The OSFN Board have looked at several alternate meeting locations. This spring we will be using the Harry Lumley (Bayshore) Community Centre (1900 3rd Ave E, Owen Sound, ON N4K 2M6)

Brent Carrying W80 out of woods.

The Owen Sound Field Naturalists will host their next Indoor Meeting, featuring Dr. Brent Patterson presenting Wolves and Coyotes in Ontario: Population Status and Recent Research in the Bay Room of the Bayshore Community Centre on Thursday January 9, 2020.


The evening gets underway at 7PM, but arriving early allows more networking opportunities with others in the audience. Admission is free, although donations are welcome. Students of the natural sciences are especially welcome to attend.


Dr. Brent Patterson will update and discuss the status and ecology of wolves and coyotes across the province since he was last here on October 11, 2012 and provide an overview of ongoing and recent research on wolves and coyotes in Ontario.

Topics will include life history, abundance, feeding habits, livestock depredation, and will also include advice on how to avoid conflict with coyotes.

Dr. Brent Patterson is a Research Scientist with wolves and deer, and an Adjunct Professor in Trent University’s Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Wildlife Research & Monitoring Section, Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry, Trent University.

Brief Bio: Brent Patterson joined the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as a research scientist in 2001 and has been an adjunct professor at Trent University since that time as well. His research focuses on the population dynamics of wolves, coyotes and their prey in temperate and boreal regions. He has published extensively on wolves, coyotes, caribou and moose in Ontario and beyond. Prior to joining the MNRF Brent worked as a biologist for the Government of Nunavut in the central Canadian Arctic where his research focused on caribou, muskox and wolverine. Whether it be for work or for pleasure he enjoys spending as much time as possible in the back country of Algonquin Park.

Also of note, tickets ($5 each), are now on sale for the Celebrate Earth Week event to be held on the Chi Cheemaun at 2PM Saturday April 18, featuring renowned ecologist and performer Jarmo Jalava. Entitled Relationships with Nature, as told through Slides, stories and Songs, tickets are available at Thursday’s meeting, and at Ginger Press, Owen Sound Farmers’ Market plus the OSTC office in Springmount.

In December when our scheduled speaker was not available, Dan Ostler once again brought an exceptional and timely presentation to the club. Entitled Connecting the dots in Geology, it also included the volcanic activities that were then happening in New Zealand. Thank you, Dan for filling in so admirably!

Dan speaking with Bob Knapp (right) before the event.

Announcements

OSFN Indoor Meetings At Bayshore

After an over 30-year relationship with the Owen Sound Public Library, the Owen Sound Field Naturalists are moving to new premises for our Indoor Meetings. It is exciting, and yet sad, to know we have outgrown their facility.  We have greatly appreciated their hosting our meetings.

The OSFN Board have looked at several alternate meeting locations.  This spring we will be using the Harry Lumley (Bayshore) Community Centre (1900 3rd Ave E, Owen Sound, ON N4K 2M6).  The Board welcomes your comments. 

The Bayshore, and most other facilities the Board considered, cost over twice as much to rent for the evening as does the library, however, there are also benefits.  Some of the benefits include: we will have room for members and visitors and not have to worry about capacity; a kitchen is available for serving coffee; we are not required to put out the chairs or put them away; our clean up is minimal and there is plenty of parking.  There are also some conveniences that we are losing such as no longer having storage for our display, coffee items and name tags.  

See you at the Bayshore!