Nature Club News For December 2021

by John Dickson

The Owen Sound Field Naturalists’ (OSFN) Audrey Armstrong, whose great passion is monarch butterflies, will present Monarchs: Concerns & Conservation, in hybrid form (live, in person plus via Zoom) at the Bayshore Community Centre.This illustrated talk, at 7PM Thursday, December 9, with photography by Willy Waterton, will include: an update on the status of the population; conservation strategies and recent scientific research concerning monarch butterflies; plus, descriptions of the monarch’s lifecycle here in Bruce Grey, in California and at overwintering sites in Mexico. Learn how you can help with conservation efforts and habitat creation in your own back yard! This event is open to the public, and those attending at the Bayshore are reminded to be fully vaxxed with proof, plus screening and wear masks.  Audrey says “I am bringing seeds of Swamp Milkweed, (asclepias incarnata) to give away at the in person meeting.” In addition, Audrey will have OSFN’s popular books available  as suitable gifts, even for yourself, and for the naturalists you know. 

The club also plans, once more, to provide the programme virtually on Zoom. Those who have not received a zoom link via email, (non-members), but are interested in participating in the Zoom version may request a zoom link in advance via email to web@osfn.ca, with Monarch in the subject line.  For more details about OSFN’s events, publications, Young Naturalist Club, plus club membership and support opportunities, please visit www.osfn.ca

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Bob Gray tells me that the Georgian Bluffs Climate Action Team (GBCAT) is inviting people to consider joining Four Books to Heal the World, a virtual book club session whose main purpose is, through discussion, to gently guide the readers towards hope, as opposed to despair, regarding climate change. For this opening session they have selected 4 books for the messages they carry, and solutions for issues we are facing today. “Come and spend some of your winter, reading and thinking together. Register individually to join a group of 6 to 8 others (or register with friends). Time is from 7 to 8:30 PM on Zoom.”   

The books and their dates are: Dec.14th – Braiding Sweetgrass: Robin Wall Kimmerer;  Jan.11th – Sand Talk: Tyson Yunkaporta;  Feb. 8th – To Speak for the Trees: Diana Beresford-Kroeger;  Mar. 8th – Finding the Mother Tree: Suzanne Simard. For those who have limited time to read, links to summaries/study guides and videos will be provided so that everyone can join in the conversations. Registration is free. Click here to register in advance to join the Book Club. For registration information and to learn more about the work and events of the team contact: a2gbcat@bmts.com and/or visit their Facebook page.

Coincidentally, I have just started reading Braiding Sweetgrass, having enjoyed the author’s earlier work, Gathering Moss.

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The NeighbourWoods North Team has had a tremendously busy and successful year in spite of the pandemic. Many trees were planted and mulched by volunteers throughout 2021. The Welcoming Gardens projects were advanced even more, with lansdcaping, and fall planting too. Lloyd Lewis has shared these 2021 accomplishments on various aspectsof their work:
The Forest of Hope and Healing: Maintenance of the 4000 tree forest through wrapping, mulching and watering; planting of an additional 200 tree saplings and 10 large trees; Creation of a 200 metre mulched trail through the forest. 
The Healing Pathway: Creation of meadow garden south of the helipad with a variety of native pollinators; Planting a further 15 trees along the pathway.
The Welcoming Garden (WG): The completion of the WG with final plantings and the donation of two giant boulders courtesy of Hutton Landscaping. Also, the addition of permanent signage acknowledging the sponsors and the purpose of the garden. A celebration of the garden took place in July. 
Saving a Woodlot: Hearing the news of the hospital plans to destroy a mature woodlot in the South East corner and build a new staff parking lot, we lobbied to redirect the decision. Fortunately, they re-evaluated and the woodlot was saved. 
Replanting Trees: The new staff parking lot location meant we had to move, by hand, 30 small trees and we hired a company to dig and replant 25 trees of about 8-10 ft in height. 
Tree City of the World: 8 Ontario Cities are given the status of “Tree City of the World.”  We presented the idea  to the City Council and they approved the idea to apply for this status in 2022. 
Landscaping the Grey County Administration Building: Work has begun to engage the County in the idea of landscaping the County office building into a more natural, sustainable and welcoming environment. The Future: Complete the work on the hospital meadow garden; Install artwork in the welcoming garden; Excavate the Healing Pathway around the helipad in a gravel wheelchair accessible route; Design the pathway south of the new hospital staff parking lot; Continue our work with the County property. To learn about and/or support these important endeavours please visit www.neighbourwoodsnorth.com

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In the October newsletter of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO), an article about distinguishing Trumpeter Swans from Tundra Swans was especially interesting to me, as I had seen Tundra Swans in greater detail this year than usual, at Lake Eugenia. However, even more intriguing to me was that this clear and comprehensive essay was authored by our own Kiah Jasper, Just five years ago a message in my inbox went like this “Greetings, My name is Kiah Jasper. I am a 14 year old wildlife photographer from the Bruce. I have enjoyed birding since I was young and am particularly interested in raptors. So far I have seen and photographed eagles and a number of hawks. For over a year now I have been looking for owls… I have looked through a lot of wooded trails for whitewash and pellets but have found nothing. Is there any advice you would have for finding owls? Any suggestions are appreciated!  Thanks, Kiah” 

Luckily, we were able to connect Kiah to knowledgeable and helpful mentors who took him under their wings. With his innate talents and work ethic, since that time Kiah’s name has become very well known in birding circles. He soon started a blog, where his writing skills, his superb photos plus highlights from his many sightings were on display. He has played leading roles for the Bruce Birding Club, OSFN, the Breeding Bird Atlas, Christmas Bird Counts, and as I discovered, he is now on the Board of Directors of OFO.  Congratulations to Kiah, on this new position and also for, on November 14, recording the first ever sighting in Grey County, of a Black-legged Kittiwake during the OSFN’s Birding Around the Bay, also led this year by Kiah.

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The Friends of Hibou have produced their latest newsletter, which can be found at www.friendsofhibou.com  Here is an excerpt:  What New Things Are in the Works? The Friends of Hibou feel we have done well through the Pandemic. When we could be dragged down by Covid and Climate Change, we have the Hibou Conservation Area to help fill our souls and replenish our spirit. Getting outdoors and walking in nature has been nourishing. Many comment on how fortunate we are to live in this region and have such great areas to visit. We have been challenged by weather and restrictions when offering scheduled hikes, so we are going to try something different. Many of you venture out on foot, snowshoes or skis on your own, and that is great. Others prefer to have a leader. If you have a group of 4 or5 people and want a led hike, let us know and one of us will find a mutually agreeable date and time to lead the hike for you. Contact us at friendsofhibou@rogers.com.

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Congratulations to the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) with local highlights in recent months including the Grand Openings of  Trout Hollow Nature Reserve near Meaford (John Muir’s Canadian outpost) and the Orlowski Nature Reserve on the Rankin River. Led by Bob Barnett “In December, EBC begins to celebrate its 25th anniversary! 2021 has been the most invigorating time in my 34 year conservation experience. By the end of this year we hope to complete 17 projects, protecting 3,573 acres (14.5 sq.km. of land). By comparison, it took EBC from 1997 to 2004 to conserve our first 3,500 acres!” To learn more visit https://escarpment.ca/

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Marsha Courtney shared this report about the Young Naturalists who were learning about Nature and History too, November 28th, “on an exciting hike through the Silent Valley Nature Reserve. We saw the Wilsons’ well that is still intact after 150 years, we explored for the fossils that Ron Savage lists in his Silent Valley book and we saw the Cessna remains from its crash there in 1970. There has also been a vigilant beaver wreaking havoc, damming the pond and it has overflowed the boardwalk that is used to get in.” Registration is open for the Young Naturalists Club! Do you know a child who loves the outdoors and exploring nature? The Young Naturalists Club is looking for members and is geared towards children aged 7 to 12 years old, however, younger and older children are welcome! The club typically meets once a month from September to June. Registration is $20/person or $40/family. Upcoming schedule: January 23 – Woodford snowshoe and animal tracking; February 27 – Snowshoe hike at Greystone Trails; March 27 – Hike at Trout Hollow; April 24 – Spring birding and hike at Keppel Croft Gardens in Big Bay; May 29 – Huron Fringe Birding Festival at MacGregor Point Provincial Park; June 26 – Flora and fauna at Petrel Point Nature Reserve and Oliphant Fen. For more information about the Young Naturalists or to register, contact Jody Johnson at 519-370-2000, jljohnson@hotmail.com or visit www.osfn.ca

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The Annual Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) will be happening throughout our region from Dec 14, 2021 to Jan 5, 2022

Keen birders are invited to participate in CBC’s across Grey-Bruce. Counts are held on different dates throughout the CBC period in Owen Sound, Meaford, Saugeen Shores, Kincardine, Hanover, Wiarton, Pike Bay, Cape Chin & Bruce National Park. Visit this link and zoom in to find a CBC near you.

www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc/index.jsp?argetpg=mapviewer&lang=EN

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Librarian, author and historian Andrew Armitage, who passed away November 18, was also a keen naturalist. In the fall of 1988, Armitage hosted and chaired at the Library, a meeting from which emerged the Owen Sound Field Naturalists, with his wife Lorraine Brown as the first President. The club held its inaugural Indoor Meeting in January of 1989, featuring guest presenter Doug Larson, a U of Guelph professor whose research had revealed the great age of many of the Cedar trees on the sides of the Niagara Escarpment. He returned as a guest speaker in the 20th season, and again in the 30th, to Celebrate Earth Week. Here Larson tells us of his remembrances of Andrew Armitage and Lorraine Brown (1949 -2012).  

“Hey John, 

Nice to hear from you but sad to hear of Andrew’s passing.  As I get older ,,, I realize that most things that I like are rooted in the past.  The deep dark past.  Friends, colleagues, pieces of scientific literature, music – all the stuff that is important to me – is in the past.  When I was invited by Andrew and Lorraine to give that first talk, all of our work on the escarpment was just starting.  And it was thrilling to have such weird work so immediately embraced by people.   I can still hear their voices arguing that what we were doing was going to change the way people looked at the escarpment and that we should be proud of that.  I took it as a gross exaggeration offered by very sweet people.  But they were smart, they were kind, and they were right! I was 39 when all that happened and now I’m almost 73.  Yikes!  But at least once a month I have people contact me about the ancient forest and its significance.  So Andrew and Lorraine both knew something deep within themselves that a younger version of me could not see.  Which brings me to Tom Thomson and the conversations that Andrew, Lorraine and I had about him while I was staying at their house in 1989.

They argued that all good art, and they supposed all good science, is not at all looking back – but is looking forward and imagining a world that could exist. 

So I guess their message to me from 1989 to now is – do not look to the past for excitement and hope.  Look forward and build on the past.” 

Nature Club News For November 2021

by John Dickson

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The Owen Sound Field Naturalists’ (OSFN) featured guest Jenna McGuire, will be at the Bayshore Community Centre, now at full capacity, at 7PM Thursday November 11. Through her live, in person presentation Exploring the Geology of the North Shore, Manitoulin Island and Lake Superior, she will be sharing what she has learned exploring the geology to the north of Grey-Bruce and how it ties into local geological and cultural stories.“I’m really looking forward to it. I have spent most of the pandemic engrossed in studying the origins and mineral nature of the glacial erratics of the area.”

Jenna will also bring a variety of local and northern specimens with her for viewing. This event is open to the public, and those attending at the Bayshore are reminded to be fully vaxxed with proof, plus screening and wear masks.  Visit www.osfn.ca  The club also plans, once more, to provide the program virtually to those who are unable to attend in person. Anyone who has not received a zoom link via email, (non-members), but is interested in participating in the Zoom version is invited to  email web@osfn.ca, with McGuire in the subject line. 

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Stephane Menu, Station Scientist at the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory (BPBO), included this eloquent and exciting paragraph in his recent blog:

“The morning of October 29 dawned overcast and windy, conditions that did not change over the course of the day. The strong East wind blew relentlessly all day whipping Georgian Bay in a frothy fury. As in the previous days, a few flocks of White-winged Crossbills appeared at first light, however it quickly became clear that October 29 was going to be different. Soon we were witnessing in amazement a near constant stream of low, fast-flying flocks of chattering White-winged Crossbills, all heading East against the strong wind, barely clearing the tree tops, occasionally stopping for a very short time. The River of Crossbills was at its highest flow between 8:30 and 10:00am when a befuddled but delighted team counted over 1500 of them as flocks after flocks flew over Cabot Head. The total for the day was 2500 White-winged Crossbills, an estimate of course, but one we felt was a conservative one. All the flocks were flying against the wind and none were seen going the other way. I have never seen anything like it in 16 years at Cabot Head. To think that a few days ago we were impressed with a total of 130 White-winged Crossbills! The following day, October 30, we counted about 400 White-winged Crossbills, a very respectable number but one that felt anticlimactic after the previous amazing show. On the last day of the fall migration monitoring, October 31, one small group of 20 White-winged Crossbills was seen. We wonder where all these birds came from and where they were headed.”

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Perhaps some of those Crossbills made it to Collingwood where about 50 of them were observed on October 30, by an OSFN birding group led by David Turner. Earlier highlights in the Clarksburg area included a Greater Yellowlegs, the only one I have seen this year.

Other recent sightings have included Snakes, sunning themselves on roadways, paths, shorelines, in wooded areas and even on a deck. Bob Knapp observed a Water Snake near Cabot Head on October 28, and an Eastern Garter Snake on November 7 near Barrow Bay, while on a family outing there. On that same warm day, Jim Coles saw two Eastern Garter Snakes in the Arran Lake area. 

Fred Jazvac of the Bruce Birding club shared this report about an outing of fifteen birders, led by Lynne Richardson that included more Nature highlights than birds alone.

“Thank you, Lynne for a great day of birding.  Your annual trip is our best waterfowl trip of the year.  We saw 21 species of birds who make a living from the surrounding waters of the Thornbury to Collingwood area covered today.  We ended with a visit to a beach on Georgian Bay where the feature was the only exposed Ordovician rock in the world.  A period of about 450 million years ago which featured the arrival of plants and organisms on this planet.  The dark flat rock of the beach showed many exposed signs of these ancient fossils.  What a finish to a great birding day!” 

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For several years OSFN has also been sponsoring local high school students to attend Ontario Nature’s Youth Summit.  Once again, due to Covid-19 this year, the event was held virtually with students from around the province in attendance. Here is a report just received from one of them: 

My name is Anna Zandvliet and I live in Georgian Bluffs. When I heard about the Youth Summit, I was so excited to learn more about the environment and the First Nations people of Ontario.

A huge thanks for sponsoring me to attend this year’s Youth Summit for Mother Earth. There were so many amazing workshops, it was hard to choose. On Saturday, I attended talks on traditional medicine and bees while on Sunday, I participated in the how to speak Anishinaabemowin workshop and saw a presentation about the Bringing on Biodiversity campaign by Ontario Nature Youth Council. The language workshop was my favorite though all of them were great. It’s amazing how much you can learn about a culture from a few simple phrases in the language.
Also on Sunday, there was a great keynote speech by Dr. Dan Longboat. He really instilled the need for the whole world population to come together to solve the complex, culminating climate crisis as well the importance of using different knowledge systems. Dr. Longboat also presented a very condensed version of the Haudenosaunee creation story. Though it was a shortened version, there was still so much wisdom and appreciation to be gained from listening.

There was so much knowledge and wisdom in one ‘space’. It is an experience that really opened my eyes and I will always remember. I am thinking of pursuing a undergraduate in the environmental field and this has given me an important insight in the work being done, future steps and has deepened my knowledge and interest in the environment and reconciliation. It’s so inspiring to see the possibilities of change at a local level.

I recently got the recording for the traditional beading workshop and am excited to watch it and create an orange shirt day pin for next year’s day of truth and reconciliation.

Thank you so much, Chi-miigwech,
Anna Zandvliet

Nature Club News October 2021

by John Dickson

The Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) presents renowned Canadian explorer and best-selling author Adam Shoalts LIVE for pre registered OSFN members only, at the Bayshore Community Centre, for its monthly Indoor Meeting at 7pm Thursday October 14. OSFN is also hoping to present this event simultaneously on ZOOM, to its membership. Others who would like to attend the Zoom event may request a zoom link by emailing web@osfn.ca with Adam in the subject line. An engaging and popular speaker, Shoalts returns to tell us about his latest adventure and launch his brand new book, The Whisper on the Night Wind: The True History of a Wilderness Legend.                                   

It’s the fascinating story of a century-old wilderness legend from the Labrador wild and Shoalts’s attempt to unravel it, which involves lots of natural history content.

Shoalts has a Ph.D. from McMaster University in History, is a National Champion of the Trans-Canada Trail, and the Westaway Explorer-in-Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. A regular guest on television and radio, his books include Alone Against the North, A History of Canada in 10 Maps, and Beyond the Trees, all of them national bestsellers.

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More upcoming OSFN events include field trips with a variety of themes – This weekend in the Thornbury area – Waterfowl and other Birds with David Turner; Geology and Fossils with Bob Gray; the following weekend a tour of an Old Growth Forest with Bob Knapp; and on the last Sunday of the month – the Young Naturalists programme. These are open to the public, and to learn more about these, as well as OSFN membership, please visit www.osfn.ca

Jody Johnson, Coordinator of the Young Naturalists Club, shared this report, about a very successful start to their season:

The Young Naturalists Club kicked off their first meeting of the year with the help of Elaine Van Den Kieboom. The group cleaned out the bird boxes at the Grey Sauble Conservation administration building and it was noted that most of the boxes had been inhabited by house wrens and tree swallows. The group then set off to explore along the Sydenham River to watch the spawning salmon and discovered a dead snapping turtle – allowing us to get an up-close look at the prehistoric looking creature. The next Young Nats hike is scheduled for Sunday, October 24th at 2pm at the Grey Stone Trails. If you are interested in joining, email Jody Johnson at jljohnson@hotmail.com

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Birders from far and wide flocked to the Leith area in September to get a look at a Northern Wheatear that had been found by Miriam Oudejans and Warren Steckle, in their yard there.

Miriam shares her story here: “On September 15, a very rare bird, one whose normal migration route takes it from Greenland to Africa by way of the Atlantic, touched down in our backyard near Leith, east of Owen Sound. Around 6:00 pm, I happened to look out the window and spotted something near the small pond about ten meters away. At first glance, the small bird looked different enough that I grabbed my binoculars. It was facing me on the ground with a slightly orange wash on the front, somewhat like a bluebird but with a more upright posture. Within seconds, I knew I was looking at something I’d never seen before. It was a Northern Wheatear. My husband quickly took a few shots for the record with his camera in case the bird suddenly flew off. I contacted a couple of birders that night, filed an eBird report and by morning, the news was out.

Over the next five days, between 60 to 70 people visited our yard, coming from as far as Cornwall and Sarnia. For most, it was a “lifer” – a term birders use for when they see a bird for the first time. The visitors ranged from well-known experts to neighbours who were curious about all the activity. The Wheatear was exhausted when it first appeared; it didn’t move a lot the first evening and following morning. By that afternoon, it became more active and subsequently spent most of its time the next few days feasting on grasshoppers and other insects on the lawn and adjacent horse paddocks at the Jack Pine Equestrian Center. Peter Middleton commented that the grazed pasture was very much suited to the Wheatear and Palm Warblers.  

Northern Wheatears are a migratory species that breed in the far reaches of the Arctic, from northeastern Greenland to Alaska as well as Eurasia. They are one of the few songbird species that breed in North America but winter in the Old World. They are quite rare in southern Ontario, with most sightings being that of vagrant birds – far off course. Birds of the large, bright, Greenland race, leucorhoa, make one of the longest transoceanic crossings of any songbird on earth. Sightings from ships suggest that some Wheatears cross the North Atlantic directly from Canada and Greenland to southwest Europe. Birds breeding in eastern Canada are thought to fly from Baffin Island and Newfoundland via Greenland, Ireland, and Portugal to the Azores, crossing 3,500 km of the North Atlantic before flying onwards to Africa. The bird we had in our yard was an immature on its first migration.

Naturally, no one knew when it would leave but the last day or so, it fed less and spent more time perched on the fence lines. The last confirmed sighting was September 19. Truly a memorable few days!” 

 Kiah Jasper tells us of his Northern Wheatear observations too: “I arrived and stepped out of the car, and under 20 seconds later it popped up on a fence post. I found a spot to watch it, a nice shady patch of grass hidden under a tree, and settled in for the next 45 minutes. Definitely one of the more cooperative rarities I have seen, it spent the entire time hunting insects along the fenceline beside me, sometimes coming as close as 15 feet away. Its foraging style reminded me a lot of a bluebird, sitting waiting for insects, then diving after one before returning to the fence again. A small flock of Palm Warblers kept it company, which was cool to watch as they were hunting in a similar manner. Just a magical experience, not much else to say about it!”

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Congratulations to Mike Campbell and the  Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association, plus all of their community supporters and partners, for their very successful Bruce Peninsula Gravel Gran Fondo, a fundraising cycling event held this year on October 3rd, after missing 2020 due to Covid-19. Campbell reports that the funds that are “raised go towards environmental projects on the Bruce.  This year’s  ride raised $40,000, John, and I am attaching a link to some photographs of the event.”  https://www.edmatphoto.com/Clients/Bruce-Gravel-Gran-Fondo-2021. 

I encourage you to visit their website and look at the impressive array of projects, programmes and accomplishments of the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association, all worthy of your support, at www.bpba.ca

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While I was enjoying a Fall Colours Hike led by Lilla Fodor for OSFN, I overheard some conversation about Snapping Turtle hatchlings, and was curious to learn more. So, thank you to Bo Penny for sharing her story here –
“Hi John, yes they’re about 1 1/2” diameter and they hatched from the nest on our property. Brian always puts a protective cage over the nest when we see mother turtle walking around looking for a spot to dig. We’ve been successful for the past few years. Cage is affixed to the ground so that racoons can’t move it and it has a small opening so that babies can come out. We start watching the nest daily usually mid August – it’s exciting so when we see them finally coming out we help them along by carrying them to the creek on our property.  The creek is a tributary to Beaver River just off Grey Road 7 and Side road 7A outside of Kimberley.

“It’s wonderful when you can save the little creatures and help them reach their destination. There are many dangers on their first “hike” to the creek and I’m always worried about stepping on one in a deep grass, so that’s why we monitor the nest and help them along when they hatch. This year we got 6 that hatched and we helped them to the creek. Here are few pictures; by the time I went to get my phone to take a picture a few had already gone in the water. Last year we saved 30 but this time only 6 and they were much later than other years for some reason. I guess it was a weird year overall in a way.” 

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Bob Gray also shared with me the next planned  key event of the Georgian Bluffs Climate Action Team (GBCAT), a citizen-led group of volunteers who are residents of the Township of Georgian Bluffs and whose mandate is to offer information and educational opportunities to the public on current issues that relate to climate change and its impacts “Because it affects us all. Please consider registering” for: Treading Water: How flooding affects property values and you! What can you do about this?”  https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/37716/  October 20, 2021, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm.                 
Dr. Blair Feltmate, Head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo  will present practical solutions to limit community and residential flooding and financial losses. 

Dr. John T Anderson will present a local perspective “Wetter Weather in Bruce and Grey Counties” For additional Information contact:  a2gbcat@bmts.com

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With all of the Nature highlights I have enjoyed recently, two really stand out for me:

First of all, I reached out and was delighted to discover that not only is Paul Aird alive and well, (now at age 91, he and his wife, Linda Pim, were here a week ago for a Nature holiday on the Saugeen  Bruce Peninsula) but he has just this Spring published his collected nature poems (and more, including songs) in an elegant book entitled Butterfly  Beautifly Beautiful: Nature Poems, with many pages that are graced with samples of Thoreau MacDonald’s Nature Art.   

Inspired by some 60 years of observing and experiencing the natural world as a conservationist, forest scientist and professor, Aird takes us along on his nature travels throughout Canada and shares his impressions through poetry, at times with humour and whimsy, at others with deep concern about humans’ impact on the environment, and always displaying an abiding respect for Nature. 

I first met Paul Aird, and Linda, at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in 2008, at the opening of an exhibition featuring the exquisite pen and ink drawings of Thoreau MacDonald, many of which adorn the pages of my copy of his first book Loon Laughter Ecological Fables. I met him again in 2017 when he presented many of those stories himself to an OSFN audience in the auditorium of the Public Library here. 

Linda Pim kindly shared with me that they were able to self-publish as Inglewood Nature Press — here is their website, which is entirely devoted to the book, Butterfly Beautifly Beautiful: Nature Poems:https://inglewoodnaturepress.ca/: “People can read a few of the poems on the website and may listen to Paul recite a few poems as well.  Reading and listening are here: The Poetry Portal – Inglewood Nature Press”

“There has been wonderful feedback on the poetry book (which is so exciting for Paul) and we are about to go into a second printing.  We have placed a small ad in the Winter 2021 issue of ON Nature (comes out early December).From a naturalist’s perspective, Paul’s other publication of interest since we were at OSFN was his reflections on his 40 years of searching for, and finding, the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler in Ontario and Quebec.  His article was published in Ontario Birds in 2018, which I’m sure you know is the journal of the Ontario Field Ornithologists.  Here’s the link (starts on page 92):” http://www.ofo.ca/library/serve/ob-36-2/index.html?page=37 This Kirtland Warbler article also demonstrates Aird’s resourcefulness and his ability to put Nature first. I certainly recommend it to any ornithologists helping with bird surveys these days.

So, I was able to discover that the new poetry book is really quite wonderful and is available at the Kimberley General Store. Last week I swooped by and practically cleared out their supply of Paul Aird’s Butterfly Beautifly Beautiful: Nature Poems, so my shopping is off to a good start. 

The second highlight for me was to meet Jason W. Johnston, MSc, Interpretive Program Coordinator, Cape Croker Park, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, Neyaashiinigmiing. On October 4th he led an Indigenous Interpretive Hike – At Home on the Land, for OSFN and shared his knowledge, training and heritage with us, including stories and lessons from his Grandfather, Basil, one of those people I feel so very fortunate to have known, even a little. For me, it was a genuinely special time at a magical location. To learn more about Jason and the important work he and his team have planned, please visit www.jasonwjohnston.com

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Back to Adam Shoalts, thanks to a special request by Marilyn Radbourne, his film, Alone Across the Arctic has been confirmed to play Oct. 22 & 23 at the Port Elgin Cinemas, and Advance tickets will be available on the distribution company website: http://ca.demand.film. So with a nod to Shoalts, a closing quote by explorer and filmmaker, James Cameron, from his foreword to The Explorer Gene, by Tom Cheshire, about three generations of Piccards – Auguste, Jacques and Bertrand who: “travelling first a journey of the mind … and then with exceptional will, made it happen in the real world – pitting their strength, their resolve, and indeed their very mortal existence, against the great unknown, and prevailing.”

Nature Club News September 2021

by John Dickson

The Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) kick off their new season with a special presentation, inspired by the naming, last year, of the new Tenth Street Bridge. It will take place via Zoom, at 7pm on Thursday, September 9, and is entitled  Gitche-Name-wikwedong – Great Sturgeon Bay, with speakers Sidney Nadjiwon, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Elder; Ryan Lauzon, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation Fisheries Assessment Biologist; and Alexander Duncan, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia.

Learn about the history of the Sturgeon in the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory, including their biology, their historic importance to the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and current status in Lake Huron/Georgian Bay. We will also learn about the Saugeen Ojibway Nation fisheries assessment program, and related fisheries research projects.  The meeting will be held virtually, in the form of a webinar on ZOOM, and is open to the public – If you would like to attend but have not received the link sent to OSFN Members, please contact web@osfn.ca with Gitche or Sturgeon in the subject, preferably prior to the event which starts at 7PM.

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The club also has field trips lined up throughout September, November and October, with such diverse themes as botany, geology, ornithology, old growth forests, and even history. These and membership information are all listed at osfn.ca plus a special mention for the Grand Opening of the Trout Hollow Nature Reserve, from 10am to 4pm, on Saturday September 18 near the Riverside Centre, just outside Meaford. This is a truly unique property of 160 acres along the Bighead River watershed, with historical, industrial and natural significance in the Meaford area.  Generously donated by the Knight family to the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) earlier this year, it will be stewarded by OSFN. 

This Grand Opening will feature opportunities for you to discover and learn, as several themed (birding with Beth Anne Currie, botany with Barbara Palmer and history with Robert Burcher) hiking tours are planned. Registration is required, mainly so that the organizers will have an idea of how many to expect. Please visit this link: 

Information:  https://escarpment.ca/ebc-news/trout-hollow-opening-september-18th-2021
and this one to register, primarily so EBC knows how many people to expect. 

Register: https://app.simplyk.io/en/ticketing/5096b999-2c1b-46e5-843a-8218b3134fa6

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Together with Grey Sauble Conservation, Friends of Hibou are again offering guided hikes/walks this fall. More may be offered later in the season depending on weather and Covid so watch their website friendsofhibou.com  and Face Book page.

 All hikes will begin at the parking lot by the Pump House at the Southern entrance to the trails. Covid Restrictions will be followed. Please have a mask handy and keep a safe distance from others. These are the hikes being offered: 

Sept 20  Monday 10:00am till 12:00   Adapted Forest bathing walk with Marie Knapp;

Sept 30  Thursday 9:30 till 12:00  A guided hike on the Interpretive Trail with Bob Knapp;

Oct 7 Thursday 9:30 till 12:00  A guided hike on the Interpretive trail with Barry Lewin. 

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Barbara Palmer led a botany hike for OSFN recently and shared this report:

On a sunny September morning, a group of plant enthusiasts met at Black Creek Provincial Park for a stroll to observe flowers and plants.

Goldenrods and asters were abundant and colourful. Hairy goldenrod lined the trail in a couple of spots. Asters included calico, smooth, panicled and purple-stemmed. The purple-stemmed asters were particularly showy, with tall, fuzzy stems and lots of purple flowers. Despite its name, this species doesn’t always have purple stems! 

Other flowering plants included turtlehead, cardinal flower, small flowered agalinus, and  boneset. Many other plants were observed that had previously bloomed, leaving us with seeds or just leaves to notice. Poison ivy kept us on the trail as it was everywhere!

A Massasauga rattlesnake found lounging beside the trail was a highlight. All in all, a good morning of botanizing.

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I have been enjoying the wide spectrum of colours in the blooming flowers of the Welcoming Garden in front of the Hospital building, as well as the trees, bees, birds, butterflies and mushrooms as I jog along a stretch of the Healing Path that meanders through the meadow there. 

Speaking of spectrums, bright  sunlight and a couple of brief showers on the morning of Labour Day produced some lovely rainbows – even double ones.

NeighbourWoods North is now planning the various steps and schedules for the fall. Lloyd Lewis sent me this update: “It will be a busy Fall with the start of the Meadow Garden and moving about 25 trees to accommodate an expanded visitor parking lot.”

To learn more about the good work of this group, please visit  neighbourwoodsnorth.com

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With the fall migration of birds now underway it is hard to ignore the changes in the weather as flocks of Monarch butterflies are also getting ready to fly to Mexico. While I was cycling with friends on a road north east of Kemble almost two weeks ago, I was surprised, and delighted, to see about 10 Monarchs fluttering right in front of me, and even more of them along the edge of the adjacent field.

 Coincidentally, earlier that morning, on this same stretch of road, also cycling we had met Willy Waterton and Audrey Armstrong, who had held a very successful…

“…Monarch Tagging Workshop August 21 at Isaac Lake. We had 43 participants over two time slots and two days.  With assistance from Brian Robin and Patti Byers, we tagged 69 super generation monarchs as Citizen Scientists for Monarch Watch.  There were 9 family members who came out for a preview day on August 20 when we were astonished at the numbers of nectaring monarchs in the meadow overlooking Isaac Lake. Estimated over 100 monarchs nectaring along with clouded sulphurs and cabbage whites on clover. We hosted members from OSFN, Saugeen Nature and a few out of town guests. Everyone who participated successfully netted at least one or more monarch. Even the youngest member, aged 4, netted one with a child’s net.

The morning of August 21 started early with a radio interview on CBC with Jason de Souza on Fresh Air.  There were lots of big smiles as members said “Adios mariposa” releasing their “tagged” monarchs for the 4,000 km flight to Michoachan, Mexico. Commenters included: 

Kate McLaren who wrote:  “Thank you Audrey and your team for the great workshop yesterday! When we stopped by the viewing platform on the way out from Isaac lake I found a beautiful chrysalis! Watched 10 Sandhills cruising the sky, a pair of swans, saw a fisher run across the road… ”  

…and Patricia Heath who wrote: “Thank you Audrey for a wonderful lesson and experience.  It was awesome indeed”

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Stephane Menu, from the bird observatory (bpbo.ca) at Cabot Head entitled his most recent weekly blog “Walking through a Cloud of Monarchs!” Here is an excerpt – 

“… afterwards, an intense thunderstorm moved through Cabot Head. The sky cleared later in the morning but the wind stayed too strong to open mist nets again. We spent the rest of the day watching mixed flocks of migrants moving through, as well as numerous Monarch butterflies arriving from Georgian Bay in seemingly endless streams. Bay-breasted Warbler was the most abundant species, with an estimated total of 50 birds, an unheard of number for Cabot Head in any given day in fall (or spring, for that matter). Ten other species of warblers were also detected that morning, albeit in much smaller numbers, with boreal forest specialists like Tennessee, Cape May and Blackburnian Warblers.. On August 29, another storm rolled in during the evening: please check the pictures on Instagram and Facebook.

During these stormy days, dozens and dozens of Monarchs roosted and stayed at Cabot Head in numbers I have rarely seen before. They favoured branches of trees lining the road to the station at the end of our regular net checks. We were walking through clouds of Monarchs, an orange fluttering of wings, seemingly fragile and insignificant, but actually ready for their incredible migration to the high forests of Oyamel firs in the central highlands of Mexico. When the contrary winds stopped, when the unsettled air blew away, when dawn came clear on a North wind, they left us, resuming their journey on a wing and a butterfly prayer. very different from the full view of resplendent plumages in the bare branches of spring.”

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The Bruce Birding Club started up its new schedule on the first day of September, with a tour led by Kiah Jasper, visiting birding hotspots southwards from the mouth of the Saugeen River. As Fred Jazvac shared,

“It was a nice summer day, one of the nicest in the last three weeks. The wind only felt brisk at Baie Du D’Or. It’s funny about life. On one hand we have expectations that don’t workout, but on the other hand we are offered a substitute that is very successful.  That is how it happened today.  The last little while the migrating warblers were coming through in large numbers.  Our expectation was to see them in all of their confusing, fall colours. They laughed. They took a day off and decided to thumb their noses at us… So we moped about that loss for a while, but ignoring their rejection of us, we had a rewarding day in a couple of ways. We ended up seeing 61 species of birds, not bad for a fall outing, with one of the birds being a species I have been looking for the last few years.  There it was, at the entrance of MacGregor at the tower trail, sitting on a dead limb in plain view – an Olive-sided Flycatcher. 

It didn’t end there. We had 9 species of shorebirds at Chalmer’s Pond. We have driven for hours to Mitchell’s West Perth Wetlands to get fewer shorebirds than that. It was a great birding day and great to see many of you again.

Thank you, Kiah for leading us today on a very successful outing to start the resurrection of the Bruce Birding Club.  Your leadership was exceptional!”

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To close, a human nature migration quote from Basil Johnston’s iconic book Crazy Dave : “In mid-summer the little band … resumed their trek northward … to the mouth of the Saugeen River. From there they struck inland to Owen Sound, then known as Great Sturgeon Bay, the principal town of the Saugeen-Nawaush Chippewas.”

Nature Club News August 2021

by John Dickson

On the morning of July 19, many hands made light work when the Friends of Hibou met to do trail clipping and cleaning litter along the length of shoreline. Marie Knapp shared this – report. It has been a challenge to find a time when pandemic restrictions allowed it.  This event was a little different from usual. We contacted our current list of volunteers and found the number we needed. Three pairs of volunteers worked on three different sections along the rough shore. Because the water level has dropped more litter was found. Several bags of garbage were left for staff to dispose of. Great work. No problem with distancing when working this way.

Meanwhile two groups of two and three worked on clipping the Interpretive Trail. Some areas were quite overgrown. Flooding in a few spots was unusual but understandable given the downpours we have had. The clipping went well and we gave the mosquito population an opportunity to feast.

It was great to see new volunteers join us. Everyone deserves an applause for the hard work and volunteering to enhance what we have at Hibou. We may have another event in the fall.  We welcome new volunteers. If interested, please contact friendsofhibou@rogers.com.

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On August 3, Andrea Gress, the Ontario Piping Plover Program Coordinator, on behalf of Birds Canada/Oiseaux Canada hosted a season wrap up event online, for the known nesting sites around Ontario. Most of the event was recorded, and can be viewed at the link below.  It includes the presentations of updates by:

Marina Opitz of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, where they had 5 chicks successfully fledged and able to fly away south by mid summer;

Caleb Johnstone, on behalf of Plover Lovers of Sauble Beach, reported that they had just one late nest with only three eggs. Although all three did hatch, by that time there were even more juvenile gulls on the beach and they are one of the major threats for predation. Within a day or two of hatching the first two chicks were predated, and when the third egg hatched, the chick was predated soon afterwards by a Merlin. The local team continued to develop strategies to make the enclosure area less accessible to the gulls with closely spaced bamboo poles, as an example that may be promising for future campaigns. In addition, several visitors became quite interested and supportive of the efforts to provide support to Piping Plovers at Sauble Beach, as they face significant challenges to even maintaining their populations;

Monica Fromberger- Darlington Provincial Park reported two nests of four eggs each, of which only one nest was successful, with those four chicks hatching, eating and growing, fledging, and eventually leaving to head south.  

Because of the pandemic, no teams of volunteers were working with the Piping Plover campaigns on the Ontario beaches this year. 

To view the presentation please visit this link  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O7d-Bc7E3ParSPBZLEnHNkraq4JzQsnE/view?usp=sharing

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NeighbourWoods North held their Fourth Annual Yard Sale Fundraiser on Saturday, July 17 and reported “Thanks to all our supporters we made over $2300 at the Annual Yard Sale. That’s a lot of trees! Thank you to both supporters and workers for making this event a success.”In addition, the Tuesday evening sessions of tree care will now be discontinued as they have been so successful, that the goals for the summer have already been reached. “Thanks to so many volunteers, new and old, we were able to complete a 

path through the Forest of Hope and Healing this summer while still mulching trees, cutting overgrowth around young trees, and watering when it wasn’t raining.  To be clear, this is not the larger Healing Path that will eventually circumnavigate the Owen Sound Hospital but rather a smaller path to encourage people to come see the young trees up close.”

I can say from personal experience that this section of the path is a delight, as I have been running sections of it since last year, and have often observed the changes in the trees’ growth and colours, as well as Monarch Butterflies, and the many bird species the path has brought me to, including Eastern Meadowlarks, American Goldfinches, Killdeer, and even a Wilson’s Snipe that startled me when it flew up beside me there last fall. 

The most recent announcement is that NeighbourWoods North and the GBHS Hospital in Owen Sound held an official opening earlier this week for the amazing and beautiful Welcoming Garden (which was begun in 2020), and a reception to thank those who have been instrumental and supportive of this special venture. 

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Bob Knapp of the Sydenham Bruce Trail club sent me this report: “On Friday August 13th a bioblitz was organized by the Bruce Trail Conservancy to look at flora and fauna.   The event was held at the recently purchased 75 acre Bruce Trail property called Colpoy’s Cavern close to Bruce’s Caves.The group was led by Mara McHaffie, an Ecologist with the Bruce Trail.    Taking part were five Trail Ambassadors, students hired for the summer.  Seven Land Stewards from the Sydenham Bruce Trail Club also participated.   We hiked all through the property, recording anything of interest.We found lots of wild ginger and many types of ferns along with a few salamanders.   The large ash trees still appeared healthy, but it is likely they will be affected by the ash borer.  What was notable was, there were no invasive species recorded.   This area has had very little human presence, except where the Bruce Trail is located, along with the caves.It was good to meet the young ambassadors who were very knowledgeable and environmentally conscious.   The Land Stewards each have another property they are responsible for.   They enjoyed looking at this unique property with knowledgeable young people.The data recorded will be used in making a plan for this property.We are indeed fortunate to have so many Bruce Trail volunteers in the area who are interested in the preservation of large natural areas.”
Bob 

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It is now mid August and the wildflowers are putting on a fabulous display all around Grey and Bruce, as I have observed while running, and biking here and there – blues, yellows, purples, pinks, whites, and various shades of these draw the eye to the roadsides and across the meadows.  Many young birds with their parents are more noticeable lately – I have been seeing and hearing young Chipping Sparrows, Baltimore Orioles, Northern Cardinals, American Redstarts, and this morning a young Gray Catbird.  Two weeks ago I noticed a flock of about one hundred Red-winged Blackbirds swirling around from the gravelly edge of a road to the nearby wetland just at the edge of the City. On Tuesday of this week I asked David Turner of Flesherton if the Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs have been migrating through here yet, and if so, where they might be found  – his reply: “Yes, both are starting to come south now, mostly females and juveniles. Along the lakeshore and some inland, and there will be more arriving over the next few weeks. Warblers are on the move south now too. I ran across a large mixed flock in Stayner today.”

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Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN)  held a Moth Night on Wednesday, August 4 with guest facilitator Alan Macnaughton. The event was held at the Arboretum area of Grey Sauble Conservation, with about ten human participants that evening and many dozens of moth species, due in great part to the variety of habitats on hand there. Several lamp devices were placed and later visited to observe which moths were attracted, and how many. The weather also cooperated, and even the mosquitos were not a problem. People maintained their distance, while still having a close look at some of the more striking specimens, including Tiger Moths, Little Lined Underwing, and many more.

Many thanks to Rebecca Ferguson of Grey Sauble Conservation for her help in making some of the arrangements to use the site, which proved to be most suitable for hosting the event.In addition to Wednesday evening’s activities, Macnaughton was able to set up several lamp devices overnight Wednesday and Thursday, and then examine the results in the mornings of August 5 and 6. I was able to visit with him briefly on the morning of August 6, and I too was amazed at the colours, shapes, and sizes that I witnessed. 

Macnaughton’s report went on to say – “On my 2-night visit to Owen Sound, I had 151 observations of 124 species of moths. I tried to take pictures of every moth I observed because I knew that there weren’t many records of moths in Grey County.

The most attractive species was the Great Tiger Moth, or Garden Tiger Moth (scientific name Arctia caja). I found this in the traps on August 6th. There were 3 specimens of this species. The wingspan is about 3 inches, so it is a big moth.  The link below is actually to 4 pictures — one is shown by default, and then you click on the thumbnails below the image to show each of the 3 others:https://inaturalist.ca/observations/90132504 It is not found in the Waterloo Region area, and this was the first time I had encountered the species. Wonderful. The most surprising observations were two underwing moths (genus Catocala) that were some distance from previous observations: The Judith Underwing is rare (36 observations in Ontario) and has been found previously near the north shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, so Owen Sound was not expected.”  

OSFN President Pam Kinchen was also on hand and related: “It was a good night for moths and the OSFN members!”

Alan‘s enthusiasm was catching as he showed all the various ways to attract the moths, show them off and take pictures. He has a vast knowledge that was well evident. The event was so successful, and Macnaughton was so pleased,  that similar events will likely be held again. Macnaughton said afterwards:  The moths one will see vary quite a bit over the season. Probably about every 3 weeks in the season a mostly different set of moths will be seen. 

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More outdoor programmes are planned by OSFN including a Flora Field Trip with David Morris, and a Monarch tagging workshop with Audrey Armstrong. For details on these and other activities please visit www.osfn.ca

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To close, a Nature quote from The Healer by former Owen Sound Sun Times reporter and columnist John Wright: “Only now, it was the coolness under the trees, scented air upon their faces, upon their interests, upon their curiosity of the flora and fauna so rich that they still amazed themselves that this was their home…Occasionally, a stream tickled rocks in the woods beside them. As desert dry men, they felt refreshed just by so delicious a sound.” To learn more about this book and the rest of the series, please visit www.wrighthistory.ca

Nature Club News July 2021

by John Dickson

The Owen Sound Young Naturalists were treated to some diverse programming by OEC Director Deb Diebel for their final outdoor event of the season. Here is her outline:  On June 27^th the Young Naturalists visited the Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre for a visit to Boat Lake and some critter dipping! The magical forces of youthful enthusiasm and mud puddles kept the youngsters cool on this hot day, and kept the showers at bay! 

The young naturalists were equipped with dip nets and buckets, small bottles, and rubber boots, and were able to get their feet wet while exploring the lake shore for invertebrates, fish, turtles, and snakes!  One minnow was captured and released, along with Whirligig Beetles, Dragonfly Nymphs (both the shed exoskeletons and living nymphs!), one Mayfly Nymph, and some Leopard Frogs!  Potions were mixed, buckets were refreshed, and the time flew by too quickly!

The walk to and from the lake also afforded us an opportunity to see Sandhill Cranes, learn to identify poison ivy, and to see many butterflies, caterpillars, and moths in the field! The Young Naturalists monthly programmes start up again in September, with details available near then at www.osfn.ca

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Matthew Cunliffe, Chief Park Naturalist of MacGregor Point Provincial Park,  shared this report with me: 

The butterfly count at MacGregor Point Provincial Park, held on July 3rd,  was a great success this year despite the challenges of COVID-19. We designed the count for family groups to remain together in designated areas and all data was submitted electronically. We had eight volunteers and six staff participate this year. The weather was cooler and cloudy in the morning but warmed up for the afternoon and brought out some great species.

We had a great mix of butterfly species including red and white admirals, monarchs, viceroys, checkerspots, crescents, fritillaries and a multitude of skippers. Members of the Brushfoot family were well represented!

In terms of trends, we had fewer butterfly counters in the field this year, so it’s difficult to compare this year’s data with past years. However, we did notice a major increase in Northern Checkerspot, with over 300 individuals counted in MacGregor Point alone.

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On July 4th, OSFN member David Turner led a group of keen birders to various habitats in the southern Beaver Valley. Club Vice-president Brendan Mulroy shared this report: ” As David predicted, we did find the Grasshopper sparrow, as well as numerous Savannah and Song sparrows.  A White-Throated sparrow serenaded us from a wooded area and finally came into view.  We saw several bobolinks.  There was a lovely view across a field of a Redtailed hawk sitting on a “hale of bay” as one excited member of the group put it.  We heard, but never saw, a Warbling vireo, and then all went quiet as we climbed out of the valley just north of Talisman.  There was a Merlin perched high on a dead tree, conducting the whole orchestra into silence.”

Another birder was impressed with the leadership of David Turner. “I enjoy how David knows his audience. He can speak to someone at any level of interest and make them feel comfortable and enthusiastic about birding. It’s a very casual informal atmosphere and a great place to connect with like-minded people. I really enjoy learning about how much more there really is to see in our immediate environment. Often times you glaze over the things that are right in front of you. So many birds in this beautiful area we live in that if we didn’t take the time to look we might never see.”

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In most years the Bruce Peninsula Orchid Festival would take place in early June at Tobermory. 

This year, however, in collaboration with Bruce Peninsula National Park, The Friends of Bruce District Parks Association will bring you Wild Discoveries: Orchids and Pollinators. The event will feature a wide range of topics, presented virtually, to unlimited numbers of participants, over Zoom, and, the real bonus, it will be FREE! The talks will start on July 15th and will continue over the following evenings. Many knowledgeable and interesting speakers are booked for this virtual festival. There will be two presentations each evening at 7 and 8 PM. I caught one evening’s presentations last year, and was very impressed with both the speakers and the material. 

July 15th: Brian Popelier (Orchids) Tyler Miller (Alvars)

July 16th: Audrey Armstrong (Creating Habitat for Birds, Bees and Butterflies); Megan Bonenfant (NCC- Vidal Bay) 

July 17th: Peter Raspberry (Orchids/Photography)   Parks Canada (Virtual Hike/iNaturalist)

To learn more about the presenters and their topics, and to find the zoom links for each evening’s offerings please visit www.orchidfest.ca

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NeighbourWoods North 

Tree Helpers Wanted Here is a message from Lloyd Lewis of NeighbourWoods North: We are seeking volunteers who want to assist us in maintaining the 3000+ trees we have planted at the Owen Sound Hospital. 

Every Tuesday evening, continuing again on July 13,  we will be meeting at the Hospital Forest, opposite the emergency entrance, at 7pm and working till 8:30. Throughout the summer we will be mulching, cutting the encroaching grass and watering the plants in order to maintain the thriving health of the trees and shrubs.

 Any assistance is more than welcome. Just show up with gloves and gardening tools if you have them or for more information, call Lloyd at 226 256 8804.  Appropriate Covid precautions will be taken. 

They also have plans for their Fourth Annual Yard Sale Fundraiser from 7:30 to Noon 

on Saturday, July 17, taking place at 1625 7th Avenue East, Owen Sound

All covid protocols will be followed at the Yard Sale.

With so many contributors, the annual yard sale always has some great finds whether you’re into sports, music, household decor, or more.   If you would like to contribute an item or two to the sale, please contact us to make arrangements.  Remember every single dime of the proceeds goes to planting more trees at the hospital!  

To learn more about  NeighbourWoods North please visit www.neighbourwoodsnorth.com

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Plover Lovers at Sauble Beach have recently announced some hatching of the three eggs which had been incubated for the past four weeks. 

It would appear that only one Piping Plover chick had survived these early days, and both parents were doing their best to keep it safe, while it ran around looking for food — and adventure. Innovative techniques, including closely spaced bamboo poles, were introduced in an attempt to lessen the risk of predation by gulls. However, I received a sad update Wednesday afternoon from Caleb Johnstone of Plover Lovers, of Sauble Beach. Here is an excerpt – 

“Unfortunately we have lost all three of our chicks this year. From the very beginning Nancy and Bo (the two parent birds) had quite the task ahead of them; late nests usually fledge fewer chicks given the larger number of people and predators, such as gulls, on the beach. The first two chicks hatched on Saturday, and were pretty quickly predated by juvenile gulls. The third egg hatched a couple days later and we were lucky to be able to see the little guy or girl running around and taking its first steps outside the exclosure. Unfortunately, at around 11:00am today a Merlin predated this remaining chick. Bo and Nancy are both still around and searching for their chick, it really is all quite sad.

We want to thank everyone for helping us this year!  Whether we talked to you on the beach or if you read and responded to our emails, your support is crucial to everything we do here. There were so many different people working hard this summer to help Nancy and Bo fledge these chicks and we are all sad to see it end this way.”

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On June 10, the Owen Sound Field Naturalists Club (OSFN) hosted, on Zoom, its Annual General Meeting along with its final monthly get together of the 2020-21 season. One highlight of the evening was President Pamela Kinchen’s presentation of the club’s Community Conservation Award to Robert and Marie Knapp, and this citation: In recognition of their many important and diverse contributions to  community and to conservation in Grey and Bruce Counties over the past five decades, including: the successful campaign to save,  for public use, what became Hibou Park, telling that story in a book and initiating the Friends of Hibou; their long-time active support of the Owen Sound Field Naturalists, offering talks, field trips, hospitality, and their support of such organizations as Ontario Nature, the Bruce Trail Conservancy and the Nature Conservancy Canada; their socially conscious activities on behalf of the Family Y, MS Society, Mental Health initiatives, and their writing; building trails for hiking and skiing, teaching kayaking to future explorers, and building bridges – literally and figuratively. They both offer a magnificent example of conservation, sharing, and caring, while always continuing to learn. 

Congratulations and thank you to the Knapps!

The club has several field trips this summer involving botany, butterflies, moths, and more. To learn more please visit www.osfn.ca

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To close, a Nature quote from Rachel Carson published at least 60 years ago in The Sea Around Us – “Now, in our own lifetime we are witnessing a startling alteration of climate… It is now established beyond question that a definite change in the arctic climate set in about 1900, that it became astonishingly marked about 1930, and that it is now spreading into sub-arctic and temperate regions. The frigid top of the world is very clearly warming up.”

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Nature Club News June 2021

by John Dickson

Kudos to the organizing committee of the 2021 Huron Fringe Birding “Festival Lite” Webinars, featuring these seven terrific presentations, and reaching good audiences each evening: Birding in Algonquin Park with Michael Runtz; Black Bears of the Bruce Peninsula with Dr. Martyn Obbard;  Fifteen Years of Ontario Piping Plovers with Andrea Gress; A Holistic Approach to Learning Bird Songs and Calls with Ian Shanahan; Birders Gone Wild: 24 hour Bruce Peninsula Birdathon with Ethan Meleg; Bird Banding at the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory with Stéphane Menu; The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: Focus on the Females, with Mark Peck. 

If you missed any or all of these, I highly  recommend visiting their website at www.huronfringebirdingfestival.ca for links to each webinar, all of which were recorded for later viewing.

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A new birding club, with a familiar name, is being hatched by the Blue Mountains Public Library   (BMPL) via Zoom on-line. Here is an excerpt from their recent announcement:

 The Dorothy Crysler Bird Club begins Saturday June 19, 2021

 9:30am – 10:30am.  Join Curator Andrea Wilson as each month we learn about our wild avian friends, their habits and habitats. This will not only help you identify birds, but you will learn about migration, nesting, environmental needs, species at risk and more. This is a collaborative study group, where participants will share as we grow knowledge together.  

The club is named for Dorothy Crysler, a remarkable local artist, journalist, author and birder! This club takes her cue, as she was “the messenger not the expert”. This group is for anyone, new or established as a birder. Once you have registered a zoom invitation will be sent.  To learn more contact Andrea at  5195993681 or by Email: depot@thebluemountains.ca Website: https://thebluemountainslibrary.ca

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The Plover Lovers of Sauble Beach have announced that there is now, finally, a nesting pair of Piping Plovers on the beach, with one egg in the nest as of June 7.  An exclosure was installed to keep out larger predators, plus a wider area perimeter fence around that.  Careful monitoring is being provided by volunteers and staff, in order to enhance the likelihood of success, as these Piping Plovers face many challenges in sustaining their population.

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Tree Helpers Wanted Here is a message from Lloyd Lewis of NeighbourWoods North: We are seeking volunteers who want to assist us in maintaining the 3000+ trees we have planted at the Owen Sound Hospital. 

Every Tuesday evening, starting June 15 th , we will be meeting at the Hospital Forest, opposite the emergency entrance, at 7pm and working till 8:30. Throughout the summer we will be mulching, cutting the encroaching grass and watering the plants in order to maintain the thriving health of the trees and shrubs.

 Any assistance is more than welcome. Just show up with gloves and gardening tools if you have them or for more information, call Lloyd at 226 256 8804.  Appropriate Covid precautions will be taken. 

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Although the birding activities are getting lots of attention, other aspects of Nature are just as eye-catching these days. Butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, moths and bees are everywhere and new Spring wildflowers are emerging almost every week. 

Lately the orchids, and paintbrushes have been really putting on a show throughout the region.  Additionally, on recent outings I have been encountering lovely pink and scented wild roses along roadsides and pathways. 

In most years the Bruce Peninsula Orchid Festival would take place in early June at Tobermory. 

This year, however, in collaboration with Bruce Peninsula National Park, The Friends of Bruce District Parks Association will bring you Wild Discoveries: Orchids and Pollinators. The event will feature a wide range of topics, presented virtually, to unlimited numbers of participants, over Zoom, and, the real bonus, it will be FREE! The talks will start on July 15th and will continue over the following evenings. Many knowledgeable and interesting speakers are booked for this virtual festival. There will be two presentations each evening at 7 and 8 PM. 

July 15th: Brian Popelier (Orchids) Tyler Miller (Alvars)

July 16th: Audrey Armstrong (Creating Habitat for Birds, Bees and Butterflies)  Megan Bonenfant (NCC- Vidal Bay)

July 17th: Peter Raspberry (Orchids/Photography)   Parks Canada (Virtual Hike/iNaturalist)

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There have been many recent sightings of turtles, locally, as many are seeking suitable locations for laying their eggs. It has been encouraging to hear stories, and see for myself, motorists stopping carefully on secondary roads to wait or assist with their road crossings. In addition lots of snakes, frogs and toads have  been observed in recent weeks.

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The Owen Sound Field Naturalists monthly meeting will take place at 7PM this Thursday, June 10, online, via Zoom. It will include the Annual General Meeting  followed by featured guest speaker David Turner and “Birding different habitats in the Beaver Valley.”  Explore and discover where in the Valley, and why, so many birds call it home, or at least a nice place to visit. Enjoy David’s exquisite photographic images, and his contagious passion for Nature. 

If you do not receive a link to this event but would like to attend please contact web@owensoundfieldnaturalists.ca with “Beaver Valley” in the subject line.

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On a sadder note OSFN extends condolences to the Willmott family on the recent passing of 96 year old Don Willmott. He was a beloved long-time naturalist and former club President (2003-4) who, along with his wife Elizabeth, had been an OSFN club member since 1992.

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To close, a June Nature quote from Archibald Lampman (1861-1899), considered to have been Canada’s best writer of Nature verse- 

All day in garden alleys moist and dim,
The humid air is burdened with the rose;
In moss-deep woods the creamy orchid blows;
And now the vesper-sparrow’s pealing hymn
From every orchard close
At eve comes flooding rich and silvery;
The daisies in great meadows swing and shine;
And with the wind a sound as of the sea
Roars in the maples and the topmost pine.

Nature Club News May 2021

by John Dickson

Early in the last week of April, Kiah Jasper of the Bruce Birding Club looked at the weather projections and made his own bird migration forecast – Here is an excerpt –

26 Apr 2021 -Tomorrow looks like it will be awesome for migration in Bruce (and most of Ontario).  There are some very strong southwest winds coming all the way from the gulf coast and Texas. The wind will start to pick up later today and will continue until Tuesday night, when it starts dying down and shifting west.  As far as rain goes, it’s looking pretty good! Looking at it now I see a massive, rain-free channel for birds all the way from the Texas coast. This means a huge number of migrating songbirds will take advantage of these tailwinds to move north.  I feel like the Tobermory area could be good…”

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Sure enough, as Stephane Menu of the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory, (BPBO) near Tobermory, titled his second  report of the season – “Riding the tailwinds in droves!  On April 27, we focused our eyes and binoculars on the immense stream of birds flowing through Cabot Head like a feathered river in spring flood. A total of 53 species, the highest of the season so far, were detected including five species of warblers (the forest gems), with many species in incredible numbers. American Robins for example, were seen milling in flocks of up to 150 birds, with a morning estimate of over 700 birds. The most abundant bird though was the Yellow-rumped Warbler: we estimated over 900 birds moved through Cabot Head. Purple Finches put on a show too, adorning the bare branches of trees with their rich red, singing as if spring was here, and all in all being in record high numbers! Just like Pine Warblers, they broke the previous one-day record of 83 birds on April 24, 2016: 91 Purple Finches were counted on April 27 this spring, a remarkable number.Even after 16 seasons at Cabot Head, I am still in awe and delighted by these mornings of intense migration, when the Earth herself seems to pulse with birds.”

Menu’s third report of the season featured even more superlatives, with the setting of a new record for the most species of warblers (8) on one April day.

“What took us by surprise though, were the waves upon waves of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, which were everywhere in the cedars and the birches, chittering away and hungrily devouring midges. They also hit our nets like a gentle green tsunami of little fluffballs. Between April 29 and May 5, we banded an amazing total of 419 Ruby-crowned Kinglets! (With a season total, so far, of a cool round 500 birds).”

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Closer to Owen Sound and area, by May 3rd both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, plus Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were arriving, as well as Pine Siskins and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Some nesting Bald Eagles now have eaglets in their nests, Ospreys are active and in one case a Great Horned Owl pair took over a platform nest that is usually occupied by Ospreys. Shorebirds being observed include Greater Yellowlegs, American Bitterns and Spotted Sandpipers. In addition, more wildflowers are blooming and being noticed too, along with sightings of Turtles, snakes, frogs, toads, not to mention butterflies and bees, and just this morning – morels.

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Bob Gray of the Georgian Bluffs Climate Action Team (GBCAT) shared this with me: “On May 17 we are sponsoring a Zoom presentation on Lyme disease.  I have seen this doctor speak on this topic and she is excellent.  Anyone who enjoys the out of doors in the local area should be encouraged to attend. Come and learn about ticks: the different species, how to identify them, their life history and ways to prevent bites. Inform yourself about the contraction, symptoms, treatment etc. of this disease. Discover the impact of climate change on these disease carrying ticks which has increased their population density and broadened their habitat. Dr. Anne Uings is scheduled to give this presentation from 7 to 8:30pm, Monday May 17. Please register here: bit.ly/3dM7hzx      For more information, contact: a2gbcat@bmts.com

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Nature news from the newsletter of the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library – Order Seeds from the Seed Lending Library! There is still a good selection of seeds, all donated by our generous community. This year the Seed Lending Library is not available for browsing. Please contact Carolin at cbrooks@owensound.library.on.ca or 519-376-6623 ext. 214 for a current inventory. *Please include your name and library card number with your request. Consider saving and donating seeds this fall to keep the Seed Lending Library going next year. Information will be included with your seeds. 

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More and more Nature talks are being produced and premiered locally, and are available for viewing on an ongoing basis on various YouTube channels. Recommended examples include Spring Wildflowers of the Beaver Valley Area, by Stew Hilts, who I still remember leading a couple of Wildflower Walks on Old Baldy for OSFN a few years ago. Hilts produced his first Nature video earlier this year featuring Waterfalls of the Beaver Valley Area, and it has been very popular, with close to one thousand viewings already. Searching either of those titles will bear fruit too. 

Still in the Beaver Valley, Rogers TV has produced and released a Wandering Grey Bruce video interview of Birding with David Turner by another Naturalist, Krista McKee. Searching online for those key words and names works very well too. The Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) also have a growing catalogue of recorded Webinars, on such various themes as Geology, Botany, Being a Bird in North America, etc., and they can be found at www.osfn.ca

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Although group field trips are currently suspended, the Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) continues to provide monthly presentations online using the ZOOM platform. On May 13,  at 7pm Marg Gaviller shares her photos and research about The Horses of Sable Island, and the journey from there back to Newfoundland.

The Sable Island horses, originally domestic animals, are now the main occupants of the island. They roam freely in the natural environment, comfortably in the temperate summers, but battered by high winds and ferocious storms in the winter, and without human interference. These feral horses are, indeed, a joy to behold.

This is a ZOOM webinar, and is presented free to the public. If you are interested and would like to participate, please contact web@owensoundfieldnaturalists.ca with “Sable Island Webinar” as the subject title to receive a link to the webinar which will be open at 6:45pm. To learn more please visit www.osfn.ca 

To close, a May Nature quote from Winston Groom’s A Storm in Flanders  – “On May 2nd, [1915] at the height of the Second Battle of Ypres, a friend of Major John McRae’s, Lieutenant Alex Helmer, was killed…and after conducting the burial service himself, McRae went to sit on the step of a field ambulance, …took out a pad and pencil and within twenty minutes had penned one of the immortal poems of the war, In Flanders Fields. Those who were present recorded that the sky was full of larks: that the poppies for which Flanders is renowned were beginning to bloom in the fields and sprout between the crosses in the growing military cemeteries.” 

Nature Club News March 2021

by John Dickson

In recent days I have been able to fit in a little more skiing, through beautiful open forests, and alongside a fast flowing stream, to an idyllic waterfall. Conversely, I have also been out for a run in shorts and T-shirt, hearing and then seeing my first Red-winged Blackbird of 2021. I hope you too are enjoying the sunlight, warmer winds, and even the rain as the transition to Springtime is well underway.

The Friends of Hibou have now resumed offering guided hikes and there are still two available in March.  For their hikes, you must register in advance. Register at www.greysauble.on.ca/waiver/covid-19-guidelines-and-waiver-forguidedhikes-friend-of-hibou/ These two hikes will start from the Parking Lot by the Pump house at the most southerly entrance to the trails. Time: 1pm to 3pm. Reminder – social distancing will be in place, and masks should be quickly available in the case of closer contact than planned. They will keep numbers manageable at about ten in total per hike leader.  Tuesday March 16th. Bob Knapp will lead a snowshoe/hike on the Interpretive Trail. Depending on the group and the weather, he may offer an extension to another section. Tuesday March 30th Don Sankey will share photography skills on parts of the shoreline and the Interpretive Trail. You may bring your camera. Learn more about winter light, snow and more.  I had a lovely ski there just this past week, and I highly recommend their Spring Newsletter at www.friendsofhibou.com

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The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association has launched its Red-headed Woodpecker funding drive for a habitat enhancement stewardship program to help protect this endangered species on the Bruce Peninsula. Their Silent Auction is now open, with many attractive and valuable items to bid on, including a two hour star gazing session, 2 nights stay in Lion’s Head, a parks merchandise package, a Red-headed woodpecker painting, an EcoAdventures Forest Escape and EcoAdventures gift cards plus much more. The auction is open until March 15th. The highest bid receives the item. This organization does some amazing work for Nature and this is a chance to “Win something cool and help protect the Red-headed Woodpecker!” Visit their Facebook page at Red Headed Woodpecker Silent Auction to see all of the items, and to bid on your own favourites, for yourself, or perhaps as a gift for someone else.

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The Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) at 7PM Thursday March 11, on ZOOM host Members Night – a potpourri of several brief presentations by club members, with a variety of nature themes. These include OSFN’s popular publications, a Piping Plover video, a Name that Bloom quiz, plus one on local trails, with lots of Nature photos too. This is open to the public and you are welcome to attend. If you would like to attend this event, but did not receive the zoom link via email, please contact web@owensoundfieldnaturalists.ca with Members’ Night as the subject title, or visit www.osfn.ca

OSFN’s Jody Johnson Pettit shared this update on the Young Naturalists who were once again able to get together last month:”On Sunday, February 28th, the Young Naturalists club had the opportunity to snowshoe through the forest at the Outdoor Education Centre with Deb Diebel. The group followed porcupine tracks and found evidence of the porcupine at the bottom of several trees and broken limbs off of Hemlock trees. We discovered what could possibly be a porcupine den, and wild turkey tracks in the snow. The children and adults played an owl and mouse camouflage game and were able to walk along the frozen lake shoreline. The snow was wet and heavy, making for tough snowshoeing conditions.

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“The first YouTube presentation by Stew Hilts is a winner! As David Morris points out, it is “An excellent presentation by Stew Hilts courtesy of the Blue Mountain Public Library, Arts and Culture Committee. Good discussion of the geology of the falls, some history and lots of pictures of many waterfalls, big and small”

The Blue Mountains Public Library invites you to: “Join Stew Hilts, who presented three Lifelong Learning courses at the library, to hear about one of his favourite topics. Learn how the geology of the valley and adjacent areas influence the waterfalls. Open your eyes to a greater appreciation of our amazing group of waterfalls here in the Grey/Bruce area… and learn about three secret waterfalls to boot!”  Visit them at www.thebluemountainslibrary.ca and you will find this excellent video and their YouTube Channel under Books & More, then Virtual Branch. I am sure you will enjoy learning from Stew, just as I did.

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The Bruce Birding Club has now resumed its twice monthly club get togethers, but via zoom. Fred Jazvac explained that “The purpose is to chat, answer questions, report sightings, show your photos and have people speaking on various topics.” On March 3rd Kiah Jasper spoke about the Breeding Bird Atlas, particularly in Bruce County, and Fred explained about the difference in feet between a Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle. On March 17, among other items, Lynne Richardson will give details on the latest, new bird list for Grey and Bruce County of which she, James Turland and Dave Fidler were the people who worked on this task.   Lynne is also in charge of the Breeding Bird Atlas for Grey County.” To learn more about this club and its activities, please contact Fred at fredjazvac@gmail.com

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The team of Bob and Mary Beth Gray shared with me this wee taste of Maple Syrup producers’ activities, observations, concerns and motivations: “Hi John: You seem to have a pretty good sense of all things natural.  Am just in now from the sugar shack.  It was our first boil today and it was used to “set up” the sugar content in the evaporator.  We didn’t get any syrup off today, but we will on our next boil, likely tomorrow. We have had two sap runs here so far this season.  The first was on Sunday, Feb. 28, and second was today – Monday, Mar. 8.  We used the first run to flush our sap lines out, so did not collect any sap that day at all.  And now our evaporator has been set up with the second run.  With the next run, we should be pulling off syrup.The sugar content here in the sap today was 2.8 Brix (which means 2.8% sugar content).  We like to make our syrup at 67 Brix which is a little
on the thick side.  If you take the number 88 and divide it by the sap sugar content (2.8 today), that gives you 31.4 which is the exact ratio of sap to syrup at 67 Brix.  In other words, with this high sugar content in the sap (which we find is typical for the beginning of the season), it takes 31.4 parts of sap to make 1 part of syrup.  That is important to know, because it means that you can make a lighter grade syrup (less time on the fire to get to syrup, so it does not have a chance to darken as much.  The flavour of this “first run” syrup is quite delicate. The grade is Golden. Because you are evaporating less water vapour off to make syrup, you are making syrup faster and with less fuel wood.  These are all good things if you are a sugar maker.

Sap flow is all about the weather.  One needs a good hard frost at night
(at least minus 3 C in the woods) and plus temperatures (not greater
than plus 10 C).  And it does not like to run in an east wind (too
cold).  There also needs to be adequate moisture in the ground such as
from a melting snow pack or rain to feed the tree roots with water.  So
with all these factors required for sap to flow, there often are not all
that many sap runs in a season when one can make maple syrup.
During syrup season, every morning is like Christmas morning.  I get a
kick out of heading out to the bush first thing in the morning to see
how much sap has collected during the night, or to see when sap has
started to run again for the day.  And it is a great opportunity to see
and hear spring migrants as they arrive daily.  This morning we had our
first red-winged blackbird, and our first gulls flying by this afternoon.  WHAT A GREAT TIME OF THE YEAR! Bob.” 

Then this message Tuesday – “Hi John,Bob has just returned from our bush where he says the sap run for today has already started ( 9:47 am).Enjoy the sunshine,Mary Beth” Definitely a cause for celebration!

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To close, two Nature quotes, both apropos to these final weeks of Wintertime – From Pierre Berton’s The Arctic Grail – After the death of Charles Hall, the remnants of his expedition, on March 30, 1873 were on “a flat frozen slab drifting alone among hundreds of icebergs – slow-moving mountains of crystal ploughing through the glassy sea.” From Steve Podborski’s Skier’s Source Book: “The aesthetic experience of skiing, of absorbing the splendors of the great outdoors and communing with Mother Nature in her winter wonderland, makes the spirit soar. When you take advantage of winter and turn the snow into a source of pleasure, it makes you think that the migrating birds and hibernating groundhogs have it all wrong.”