Nature Notes from FON

Last winter I decided to sign up for one of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists' Nature Volunteers expeditions. The Cabot Head Bird Banding Station (August 9-11, 2002) caught my eye. When the time came, I decided to head up a day early and camp at MacGregor Point Provincial Park the first night.

The next morning I got up bright and early and headed north. One stop included Black Creek Provincial Park on the Lake Huron side west of Ferndale (a "non-operating" park that has some nice trails, and a decent selection of birds to see). I noted a large patch of Cardinal Flower along the trail. My next stop was Dorcas Bay, the old FON nature preserve now part of the National Park. The birds were rather scarce, but I came across a pair of White-winged Crossbills that landed in some Jack Pine. A decent bird for here in the summer! By now it was lunchtime and I headed into Tobermory and spent the rest of the afternoon at the harbour.

I was due at Cabot Head about 7 p.m., so I headed south just before six. A large part of the drive is along the lake at the base of a bluff. Off the main road, a single lane dirt track (about 2 km) led to the destination. The station is set on a point of land at the entrance to Wingfield Basin, the only safe harbour between Tobermory and Lion's Head. The shipwreck of the wooden steamer Gargantua lies close to shore here, just out from the front porch of the cottage. The land is owned by Ontario Parks, as part of the Cabot Head Nature Reserve. I was greeted by one of the ONV leaders, and Ted Cheskey one of the bird banders. Others arrived, and after a bit of socializing, we set up our tents for the night. Since the sky was crystal clear, we decided to go for a walk to the nearby fen and do some stargazing. The view was breathtaking. Fortunately Rod, one of the other banders, was keen on astronomy, so we learned a lot. Several falling stars were noted in anticipation of the annual Perseid meteor shower due in a few days.

Next morning after breakfast, we set to work. I helped Ted trim the net lanes all morning, and the others set to work cleaning and scraping paint on the old cottage known as the "glasshouse". This cottage is expected to be restored by next year, mostly with volunteer labour. About mid-morning, a very friendly reporter from the Owen Sound newspaper came to interview us. Turns out he knew my name from the Ontbirds listserve.

After lunch, I was assigned to head up the construction of a firewood shelter. I put my expertise to work, with assistance from two other fellow volunteers.

About 4:30, we planned to go on a hike to the nearby middle bluff, the highest point on the escarpment. We headed out, but only got so far due to the wet trail. We did quite a bit of botany along the way, looking at Rattlesnake Plantain, Fringed Loosestrife, Rue anemone, Indian Pipe, and other orchids and ferns. Part of the group decided to head back to the station, while a few others including myself picked up on the old Bruce Trail to head out to the lakeshore. This part of the trail was abandoned in the late 1970's. Soon after we came across a Massassauga Rattler with its telltale rattle. This was in the middle of another fen, which contained a significant amount of Rubberweed (or Lakeside Daisy). All along the way we saw rocks that had been flipped, indicating the previous presence of a bear looking for edibles. The trail was soon lost due to overgrowth. I eventually found a marker, but while going towards it, I heard the rattle of yet another snake. It blocked our path, so we took a wide detour. We came across some Pine and Yellow-rumped warblers as we bush-wacked towards the boulder beach. We then headed back along the beach, but had to head inland due to a small cliff jutting out into the lake.

After Sunday morning breakfast, I watched some Northern Watersnakes peaking out of their holes next to the cottage. It was back to work. We put the finishing touches on the wood shelter before all of us got together to erect it into place. All participants stood under the shelter for a photograph. We all then went back to work on the glasshouse, staining, caulking, or what ever needed to be done. Birds overhead included Ravens, and a Broad-winged Hawk. Lots of butterflies were about, including White Admiral, Fritillaries, and Duskywings. After lunch we got our belongings packed, said our goodbyes and headed home.

This experience was one of the most worthwhile, and enjoyable things I have done. I met some wonderful like-minded people and learned much about the natural history of the area. I felt that I contributed to a worthwhile organization, namely the Cabot Head Research Station. I highly recommend taking part in one of the FON's Ontario Nature Volunteers Expeditions. See a list of events on their website at ontarionature.org.

Blake A. Mann

Good morning all.

Some things are worth getting up early for. I got to watch a fifteen minute standoff between a big Tom turkey and a Canada Goose. Talk about a show, the old gobbler spreading out that tail and fluffing himself up to an incredible size. The goose looked so small, but so curious of this handsome big fellow. I'd estimate they were 45' to 50' apart with the goose slowly closing in. About ten minutes into this game, along came the gooses' mate, the two of them just full of inquisitiveness at this godlike figure before them!! Very cautiously, they tiptoed a little closer and closer, the gobbler flaring his feathers in protest. The distance slowly closed, my pulse raced at the anticipation of what would be the outcome.

Not knowing much about wild turkeys, anything could happen. Was it worth waiting on my first morning coffee for? Time would tell. By now, they were about 30' apart, goose necks stretched to the limit, a bird that I had thought was large, now looked so tiny!! The distance continued to slowly close. The pair of geese turning their heads to each other in conversation. Again, ol' Tom flared out that beautiful tail of his in disapproval of their presence, then unexpectedly, turned chicken and ran off into the brush..... Ah..... now for that long awaited cup of coffee..... What a wonderful life it is in the country.

Theo....

Trumpeter Swans

Trumpeter Swan Treatment Centre

The Trumpeter swans of the Wye Marsh Valley will soon have a new place to rest and recuperate. With the help of generous donations from the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (through the Nature Network Grant Program) and other partners, the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre is constructing a year-round treatment centre that can house up to four swans simultaneously. With two outdoor and two indoor pens, the centre will allow Marsh staff to care for and monitor sick or injured swans

With the help of volunteers from the Midland community, completion of the centre is set for early fall. The centre will include a viewing room for the public that will incorporate educational signage about the Trumpeter Swan Reintroduction Program.

The Wye Marsh program currently monitors 104 swans throughout the year, which is approximately a third of the Ontario population. For more information about Trumpeter Swans or the reintroduction program, contact the Swan Department at the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, 705-526-7809 or wyemarsh@cryston.ca.

FYI
Care of our Parks

From the Globe and Mail
May 16, 2002

Hollow laws endangering parks, report says:

Canada's vast network of provincial and national parks is endangered by laws that fail miserably to ensure the parks' future, according to a new study by experts in environmental legislation. The report, which graded federal, provincial and territorial governments on their park-protection laws, gave Ontario the lowest score in the country and Alberta the second-lowest. Only Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the national parks system received passing grades.

"It is deeply disturbing to discover that the laws intended to protect these priceless treasures (parks) for present and future generations of Canadians are, for the most part, grossly inadequate for such an important task," says the report by environmental lawyers David Boyd and Liz Wheaton of the University of Victoria's POLIS Project on Ecological Governance. "Ontario stands out in this report as an example of how not to take care of our parks," says Evan Ferrari of the Wildlands League. "Currently there is logging in over 75% of Algonquin Park, uncontrolled development and expansion of private residences in Rondeau Provincial Park, and 23 parks face the potential threat of mine staking."

The report also took aim at continuing oil and gas exploration in protected areas in Alberta, mining and logging in Manitoba and Saskatchewan provincial parks, and a drastic cut in park staff nationwide. Ontario's park management budget has been chopped 62% in the past 15 years, although parkland has doubled and visits have gone up 60 percent. Parks Canada has reduced staffing and budget levels 40 percent since the 1980's, the report says.

Ontario Natural Resources Minister Jerry Oulette said his province is satisfied with its approach. "I've worked in the (logging) industry and I can see things from both sides," Mr. Oulette said. "So in general terms we are sticking with the status quo."

The report gave the following scores out of 100: Parks Canada 70, Nova Scotia 70, Newfoundland 50, Manitoba 40, British Columbia 40, Quebec 30, Saskatchewan 30, New Brunswick 25, PEI 25, Yukon 25, Alberta 20, Ontario