Exploring the George Langman Sanctuary
Saturday 16 September 2023
The George Langman Sanctuary is a 28-hectare ecological gem owned and maintained by the Orillia Fish and Game Conservation Club. It is located @ 2457 Bass Lake Rd E, Orillia, just west of Bass Lake Provincial Park. A well-maintained nature trail winds its way through the Cedar-Tamarack forest that surrounds the marsh. Waterfowl, songbirds, mammals, plants, ferns and fungi make this hike a must for nature lovers and camera buffs. Hike should finish by 11 a.m..
Location: Meet at Little Lake Park Parking Lot, 102 Little Lake Drive, Barrie @ 8 a.m..
Contact David Cowl 705 627 2798.
SEPTEMBER JOINT MEETING OF AREA NATURE CLUBS
Note that the date is Sepetember 22, 2023 due to other committments at the church on our regular 3rd Friday date.
Peter Burke from teh Kirtland Warber Habitat Restoration Group will present the results of their efforts to date.
BIRDING SIMCOE SHORES
| Saturday 07 October 2023, 09:00am - 12:30pm |
||
|
We’ll look for migrants in the parks and waterfowl on the lake. Lake Simcoe has had some surprising birds over the years. Who knows what will turn up? Trip will end about 12.30 p.m. Easy walking, bring snack s and water. Dress for the weather. Accessible washrooms available. |
||
| Location Meet at the City of Barrie Dock Road Municipal Parking lot at 204 Dock Road, south-east corner of Dock Road and Plunkett | ||
| Contact Jim Coey 705 543 1866 |
Upcoming Meetings Fall 2023/Winter 2024
We are happy to report we have meeting dates set for the upcoming fall 2023/winter 2024 season so put these dates on your calendars. Jean Wilson has put together an interesting slate of speakers for our fall 2023 season. More details can be found by clicking on the Meetings link in the top menu.
September 22 Joint Meeting of Natuire Clubs. Peter Burke of the KIWA Habitat Restoration Project will update us on the 2023 studies
NOTE THE DATE IS SEPTEMBER 22 DUE TO OTHER ACTIVITIES AT THE CHURCH
October 20 Paloma Plant, Program Coordinator for FLAP Canada, will discuss their work and how we can make buildings more bird friendly
November 24 Lisa Myslicki from Metrolinx will talk to us about swallow nesting structures.
NOTE THE DATE IS NOVEMBER 24 DUE TO OTHER ACTIVITIES AT THE CHURCH
December 16 Barrie CBC and Potluck
January 19 Aileen Barclay will talk to us about the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust and the work they do to protect and steward ecologically significant properties on and near the Oak Ridges Moraine
Febraury 16 Pollinate Barrie will talk to us about the importance of pollinator gardening and what we can do to help our native pollinators.
March 15. A member of a local astronomy group will give us an introduction into the wonderful world of the nigth skies.
April 19 Annual General Meeting and Potluck Dinner
Upcoming Field Trips Fall 2023
Saturday , September 16/ 2022 EXPLORING THE GEORGE LANGMAN SANCTUARY
Saturday, October. 7/ 2023 BIRDING SIMCOE SHORES
Saturday November 25/ 2023 NATURE BARRIE WATERFRONT BIRDING TOUR
Saturday, December 16 / 2023 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNNT and POTLUCK SUPPER
Click on Field Trips in top menu for more information
Blue Heron Winter 2023
The lastest issue of the Blue Heron is here. . Click on the picture below to download it.
Ontario's Third Breeding Bird Atlas
Calling all Simcoe County and area Birders!
Ontario’s third Breeding Bird Atlas is set to kick off in the spring of 2021, and we’re looking for birders to make this the most successful effort yet.
The atlas is a five year project intended to document the presence and distribution of all the birds that breed in the province, and to provide data on their relative abundance. Previous atlases were undertaken from 1981 to 85, and 2001 to 2005. Ontario is one of the first jurisdictions anywhere to begin its third atlas, providing valuable information on population and distribution trends over time.
Data is collected by citizen scientists (volunteers like you and me) in the field. The entire province is divided into 10km x 10km squares. The goal is to achieve a MINIMUM of 20 hours of birding effort in every square, recording the birds observed during the breeding season, and documenting evidence of breeding (nest-building, courtship display, feeding young, etc). In addition, volunteers are asked to complete 25 point counts where all the birds seen and heard at specified points in the square are recorded.
I’m the Regional Coordinator for the Simcoe County atlas region. To assure coverage, I am assigning a birder to each square in the region. This person will ensure that the minimum effort is met in that square. It doesn’t mean others can’t submit records for the square, and it doesn’t mean that the person assigned a square can’t do atlassing elsewhere. 20 hours spread over 5 years is not a huge effort. It could be completed with one visit every year, although the more time spent in the square the better. Personally I find it’s a great way to give you incentive to get out there, sharpen your birding skills, and discover lovely new birdy spots in your square.
Ideally I’d like the birders I recruit to “adopt” a square to be experienced. By that I mean be familiar with most of the birds likely to breed in the region, and be proficient with at least the more common bird songs likely to be encountered. If you are a more novice birder, or unsure of your skills, there will still be lots of opportunity to participate and to sharpen your skills.
More information including detailed protocols and data collection software is available at the atlas’ website at https://www.birdscanada.org/birdmon/onatlas/main.jsp
Most importantly, register at https://www.birdscanada.org/birdmon/onatlas/register.jsp
If you think this is for you, contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. If you have a square you would particularly like to adopt or a general region of interest let me know; I will try to accommodate. Remember though, if your favourite birding spot is in a square assigned to someone else, you are still more than welcome to provide data. This really is a fun project for those of you who, like me, love to get out in nature and have an interest in birds. Good birding! Ian Cook
Lyme Disease in Ontario
Brochure author John Scott and his wife Catherine (Kit), have been researching Lyme and ticks since 1990. For more information on Lyme Disease in Ontario, click this link.
Bird Friendly Barrie
This category will contain articles related to Barrie's Bird Friendly City desigination.
