Nature Club News for November 2024

by John Dickson

On Thursday, November 14, the Owen Sound Field Naturalists’ (OSFN) featured guest speaker will be Zane Davies, a pre-eminent Trail Designer and Developer throughout Ontario.

Based in the Lion’s Head area, Davies has been involved with many projects on Nature Reserves, developing or upgrading the trail systems and accessibility for such agencies as Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC), Ontario Nature (ON), the County of Bruce, as well as with NeighbourWoods North of OSFN, in Owen Sound, and the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy’s (EBC) Trout Hollow in the Meaford area.

He has also contributed to Trans Canada Trail projects plus training, in Eastern and Northern Ontario. Entitled, ‘It’s just a F-F-Fabulous Trail’ Davies says ‘ A lot of my work is focused on creating meaningful trails for users and it always comes back to figuring out who the trail is for.’ He also believes the purpose of outdoor adventure is to create memorable experiences; – the key facilitator of which is a trail.

Learn why Zane Davies is much sought after as a trail developer as he shares his passion for the ‘love of trails and their associated features.’

In addition, the November 14 evening will feature the availability of timely gifts, with the launch of the newly revised edition of OSFN’s Ferns Bruce & Grey, featuring photography by WIlly Waterton. You will have an opportunity to purchase copies of Ferns Bruce & Grey at the Launch price of $25.00. ( $30.00 thereafter) during a social time and sales of OSFN’s popular new Fern Buff and OSFN Logo Shirts, plus draw tickets for a Young Naturalists fundraiser too, from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. A special presentation to the family of Nels and Jean Maher will then take place, followed by the evening’s featured speaker, Zane Davies.

This jam-packed evening will take place at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. OSFN meetings are open to the public, and everyone is welcome, with attendance by donation.

It will also be available on Zoom. To receive a zoom link, please send an email, in advance to web@osfn.ca with trails on the subject line.

Stephane Menu, Station Scientist at the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory (BPBO) has wrapped up the fall banding and migration monitoring period at the Cabot Head Research Station. Here is an excerpt from their latest blog:

On October 28, under an overcast sky and a strong East wind blowing, the casual scanning of Georgian Bay became exciting all of sudden. With only a few nets open and barely any birds being captured, very quickly it appeared that a substantial movement of waterfowl was happening: several flocks of Long-tailed Ducks of various sizes were flying fast and low over the water. As soon as one flock was counted (as best as one can, with birds mixing and mingling and disappearing between waves), another was appearing behind. Our estimate was 1145 Long-tailed Ducks… but the true number could well have been 1400, 1500?

It was another wonderful season at Cabot Head, with a successful monitoring thanks notably to dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who gave their time and energy without counting. I hope that you all enjoyed the blog. See you next spring!

Stephane Menu, Station Scientist at the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory

I have always enjoyed the season of Autumn, and this year is no exception. It has been a pleasure lately to see the return of some of our winter birds, and to notice, with surprise, several birds’ nests that have been there all summer, along with a few Wasps’ nests too, cleverly hidden, but which have only now become evident. Along with the changing colours of the leaves we see from Maples, Birches, Beeches, Poplars, and Sumacs, I notice the bright reds of rose-hips and highbush cranberries, plus the purple/blue of wild grapes and especially the golden needles of the many Tamarack trees ablaze in the special, low-angled light of November.

Owen Sound Young Naturalists Report by Amanda Eriksen

The October meeting was held at Harrison Park with John Bittorf, who does the benthic sampling for the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority. We watched a demonstration of how John samples rivers and he explained why he does it and what he is looking for. With help from some handy identification sheets the kids were able to identify the nvertebrates we found. We had the use of four microscopes with screens
that were lent from the GSCA which the kids (and parents) loved. Our meeting was cut short as it began to rain hard, and it was cold. We had 16 ids out with several new families joining the club. Our November meeting is planned to be a hike at the Kinghurst old growth forest to do a “winter is coming” scavenger hunt and learn about strategies animals use to prepare for winter survival. To learn more, please email Amanda Eriksen at youngnaturalistsos@gmail.com

Members of the local Nature and Birding community were saddened recently to learn of the passing of David Fidler, a well-known naturalist and ornithologist who was also a founding member, and later a President of OSFN. David and his wife Barbara (also an OSFN Treasurer) were also long-time OSFN stewards of the Davis Property/ NCC Preserve on the Bruce Peninsula.

David shared his lifelong passion for birding by leading hikes, teaching and sharing his knowledge of birds and all of the outdoors.

He also represented the OSFN on the committees for the Grey County Official Plan, Ontario Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest and Grey County/Grey Sauble Forest Management Plans.

For many years he served as the Compiler of the Owen Sound Christmas Bird Count, and was Chair of the Grey-Bruce Bird Records Committee.

Lynne Richardson shared this tribute: “David was a highly skilled birder, who readily shared his knowledge on numerous excursions, field trips and courses. He also piloted many projects in benefit of bird conservation. As OSFN President he got things done.”

Many will also remember that for several years Dave sold bird seed and bird feeders that he made, at the Owen Sound Market. Dave named his enterprise: “Birds are Us” which was also the name of the Nature column he was writing in 2001 which introduced me to the Huron Fringe Birding Festival. I also remember all of the birding tips he gave me during OSFN hikes at Fidler’s Green, and his timely advice about the fall hawk migration at Holiday Beach, just west of Point Pelee.

It was indeed my privilege, in 2015, to present David Fidler with OSFN’s highest award, an Honourary Life Membership. Our sincere condolences to Barbara Fidler, their family and friends. A come and go memorial visitation to celebrate David’s life will be held at Brian E. Wood Funeral Home, 250 14th St. W., Owen Sound, on Saturday, November 16, from 1-3 p.m.

As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to Owen Sound Field Naturalists or Ontario Field Ornithologists would be appreciated. Online condolences can be sent to David’s family by visiting his memorial at www.woodfuneralhome.ca.