Your My Parks Pass can do more than take you to over 200 amazing destinations across Canada – it can also let you win great prizes!
Grade 8 / Secondary 2 students can share their ultimate My Parks Pass experiences for a chance to win an iPod Touch or iTunes Cards. Hundreds of students have already shown us how much they love their My Parks Pass by sending us photos flashing their pass.
Need some inspiration for your photo? Check out our showcase of some of the entries so far!
If you’ve already entered your photo of you with your pass, stay tuned: we’ll be giving you more ways to enter all summer long. You can enter as many times as you like, so keep sharing more of your My Parks Pass adventures for more chances to win!
The Contest is open to all Grade 8 and Secondaire II students who are residing in these provinces and territories in Canada at the time of contest entry and the Grand Prize draws: Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut. Contest entries will be accepted online from April 15, 2011 at 12:00:01 AM (ET) to September 9, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM (PT) (the “Contest Period”). Read the full Rules & Regulations.
It's the time of year when we want to start fresh, shake off the chill of the past winter, and brighten up our surroundings. It's time for spring cleaning!
It's easy to clean your home using items you already have in your kitchen cupboard. These five solutions should tackle most of the cleaning jobs around the house, leaving both you and nature happier this season. 1. All-purpose cleaner. A 1:1 mix of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle will tackle most household cleaning chores. If you don't like the smell of vinegar, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil (choose tea tree oil if you're looking for a natural disinfectant). Also use vinegar to clean stainless steel appliances, chrome fixtures, and to remove rust.
2. Add some elbow grease. For those spots that need an extra scrub, sprinkle a bit of baking soda over the surface and before washing with a damp cloth. Apply a bit of pressure and watch a natural shine come through. This pantry staple acts as a scouring powder, fungicide and can also be used as a polish.
3. Scrubbing the tub. Remove mildew from the bathroom with a paste of borax or some grapefruit seed extract (available from health stores). You can also spray the shower curtain with vinegar – see the all-purpose cleaner above – to remove any residue. Calcium stains can be removed with a vitamin C solution: just pop a vitamin tablet into water and soak the affected area overnight; in the morning, the stain should wipe away.
4. Wood that shines. Traditional wood polishing sprays leave a cloud of chemicals in the air rather than treating your furniture. Mix up your own polish with 1 cup of olive oil and a squirt of lemon. Rub on to your treasured pieces with a soft cloth to restore their glow.
5. Skip the disposables. Dedicate some reusable cloths to cleaning instead, and run them through the washing machine (cold water, line dry!) when they get a bit grubby. If you're looking for added cleaning power, microfiber cloths have a natural charge that attracts dust and can be used dry or damp. Even better, make your own cloths from old towels and keep even more waste out of the landfill.
Jasper is the largest and most northerly national park in Canada's Rocky Mountains, and is part of a spectacular World Heritage Site. In this special corner of the country, you can experience Athabasca Glacier up close, resign yourself to a relaxing soak in the Miette Hotsprings, ride the rapids on a white water rafting adventure or connect with nature along 1,000-plus kilometres of trails.
Walk on the largest ice field in the Canadian Rockies
Take a tour on the icy slopes of the glacier in an Ice Explorer. You'll be fascinated with all there is to know about ancient ice - some of it that was formed about 400 years ago!
Laze away your day at the Miette Hot Springs
Who doesn't want to lounge in the hottest mineral springs in the Rockies? In addition to two hot pools, a cool poolside shower and a cafe and gift shop, you can hike the interpretive trail to see where the hot springs come from. Keep your eyes open - this is an excellent place to see big horn sheep, black bear and deer.
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime white water rafting
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? If so, then hang on. This white water rafting trip on the Athabasca River will take you through many small sets of rapids and also some calm stretches (for those less daring). Get ready 'cause it's about a 2 1/2 hour trip.
Find out more about each of these great activities through the Jasper National Park My Parks Pass location page.
Plus, Jasper is the destination for the grand prize trip in our Canada's Ultimate Family Adventure contest. If you, or your Grade 8 / Secondary 2 son or daughter, have your pass just flip it over and enter your V.I.P. Code for a chance to win. But you'd better hurry - the contest closes on May 31!
The new official opposition today unveiled its shadow cabinet, the team of members of parliament who will each focus on a specific area of responsibility in their role of keeping the federal government accountable. We recently highlighted the 8 key ministers that play the most important roles in nature conservation. Similarly new shadow cabinet includes 8 critics with key portfolios that matter most for nature. They are:
Megan Leslie, Environment
Linda Duncan, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Fin Donnelly, Fisheries and Oceans
Romeo Saganash, Natural Resources
Jack Harris, National Defence
Hélène Laverdière, International Co-operation
Peggy Nash, Finance
Alexandre Boulerice, Treasury Board
Nature Canada looks forward to working with these critics and all MPs in the House to promote effective federal government action to protect wildlife, preserve natural areas, prevent environmental disasters, and lead Canadian conservation.
Framed against a bright blue sky, this stunning photo reminds us of the elegant beauty of our migratory birds.
With its long black legs contrasting sharply with an all-white plumage, the Great Egret is a stunning large heron that inhabits parts of Ontario, the southern praries, south-western Quebec, the United States and wetlands throughout Central and South America. It can be identified from other herons by its long, straight yellow beak, and by the way its neck forms an s-shaped curve during flight.
The Great Egret nests in colonies with other herons and Egrets – its nest can be found in trees or shrubs and is built of sticks covered in green vegetation. Wetlands – such as marshes, rivers and tidal flats – provide the ideal habitat for nesting and feeding. The Great Egret is also the symbol of the National Audubon Society, one of the oldest environmental organizations in North America.
Cool fact: The longest living Great Egret was lived to be 23-years-old.
Last night, Prince Edward County Council voted to endorse local naturalist objections to a proposed wind power project inside an Important Bird Area. In a 13-3 vote, the Council voiced agreement with local residents who oppose plans to build and operate nine wind turbines within Ostrander Point Crown Land Block, a critical refuelling spot for birds migrating from South and Central America on their way to and from Canada's Boreal Forest.
This is the message Prince Edward County Field Naturalists members Myrna Wood and Cheryl Anderson brought to council last night.
The best wind power is offshore on Lake Ontario, said Wood, but there is a moratorium on offshore turbines. She added there are a lot of other appropriate areas in the County and other parts of the province that would not disturb significant wildlife and would have just as much wind power. “We support the Green Energy Act and wind energy but it has to be put in the right place,” said Wood. “Ostrander Point is the wrong place.”
“Prince Edward County is the penultimate refuelling refuge for birds migrating from South and Central America on their way to and from the boreal forest,” Anderson said. “In the spring they can be seen on Doppler radar massing on the south shore of Lake Ontario waiting for an appropriate time to cross over to the closest land – which is Prince Edward County. When they arrive they are tired and hungry.”
Anderson explained the data of the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory confirms millions of birds use this flyway. “If the plans of the Ontario government and Gilead Power are allowed to go forward, millions of birds will have to confront another obstacle when they arrive at their refuge. Nine wind turbines on the Ostrander Crown Land block and a further 20 proposed turbines in the PEC South Shore Important Bird Area, part of the WPD proposal, will have to be negotiated by the already exhausted and famished birds. There is no doubt that the mortality will be significant.”
Gilead Associates, the company that is applying for a Renewable Energy Approval to build and operate the wind turbines within the Ostrander Point Crown Land Block, has applied to the Province of Ontario for a permit to “kill, harm and harass Blanding’s Turtle and Whip-poor-will as well as damage and destroy the habitat of Whip-poor-will for the purpose of the development and operation of Ostrander Point Wind Energy Park.”Gilead permits to lease Ostrander Point and destroy SAR habitat. Nature Canada has been working with local naturalists to protect this Important Bird Area and halt plans for the wind project.
As rapid climate change continues to alter Canada’s Arctic in dramatic ways, there has been an unprecedented domestic and international interest in what the future holds for this fascinating – and important – region.
As the ice disappears, new opportunities for natural resource extraction, shipping, tourism, and infrastructure arise, and with them could come substantial new investment and employment to the North.
However, the effects of environmental change, such as shifting and melting permafrost, melting glaciers, shrinking ocean ice and a shortened season for ice roads could have significant social and economic consequences for Canada’s arctic peoples, and the entire nation.
If you’re in the Ottawa area tomorrow afternoon, I encourage you to join me at the Museum of Nature for a panel discussion hosted by the Canadian Committee of the IUCN. The event will bring together specialists and members of the interested public to have an interactive conversation on a range of topics:
• Sustainable wildlife use – David Lee, Wildlife Biologist, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
• Aboriginal traditional knowledge – James Eetoolook, Vice‐President, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., and Chair, Inuit Wildlife and Environment Advisory Council;
• Protected areas – Rob Prosper, Executive Director, Northern Canada, Parks Canada;
• Marine transportation – Ross MacDonald, Manager, Special Projects and Arctic Shipping, Marine Safety, Transport Canada.
The event will be chaired by Tom Laughlin, Deputy Head of the IUCN’s Global Marine and Polar Program. Following the presentations, the speakers and the audience will have an open discussion about how sustainable developments in the North can provide maximum benefits for indigenous communities, and for Canada as a whole, while ensuring development in the North occurs in a sustainable manner.
The IUCN (the International Union for the Conservation of Nature) is one of the world’s largest global environmental networks. The Canadian Committee is a unique group on the national conservation scene – it brings representatives from government, non-profit organizations, academia and Aboriginal groups around one table to talk about conservation issues of global and national concern, such as climate change, biodiversity, and indigenous peoples’ rights and interests.
I was excited to join the Canadian Committee this year, and to engage Nature Canada with fellow Committee members, including Parks Canada, Environment Canada, Nature Conservancy, and Aboriginal groups, to promote conservation awareness and action on biodiversity in Canada.
I encourage you to join me tomorrow. If you can’t make it, post a comment here with any message you’d like me to take to those in attendance – what should the future hold for Canada’s Arctic?
Event details:
A Panel Discussion Hosted by the Canadian Committee for IUCN Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa May 26, 2011, 1:30 ‐ 5 p.m.
I'd like to recap a fantastic week for protected areas in Canada last week. You'll recall that Parks Canada Agency marked its 100th anniversary last Thursday, the same day it received a prestigious “Gift to the Earth” award from WWF International. Way to go Parks Canada!
One hundred years ago to the day, May 19th 1911, the Dominion Parks Branch (now the Parks Canada Agency) was created following the establishment of Banff National Park in 1885. This was the first national parks service in the world (Yellowstone National Park in the US was the first actual national park of its kind created in 1872) and has in many ways set the standard for how governments approach conservation in the national interest the world over.
Nature Canada representatives attended a ceremony last Thursday to commemorate this important historic milestone, at which Parks Canada proudly highlighted its progress on protecting representative examples of Canada’s 39 natural regions on land and 29 marine natural regions on water. You can read more about that progress, as well as forthcoming parks and marine conservation areas here. You can read more about specific conservation achievements here.
But Parks Canada and conservation organizations weren't just celebrating a 100th birthday and a major award last Thursday: the Agency also announced the remarkable expansion of Grasslands National Park through the addition of 110 square kilometers of native mixed prairie grassland on the park's existing West Block!
Grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems in North America and the world and, as Canada's only national park in the Prairie Grasslands natural region, Grasslands National Park is home to several nationally-listed species at risk. Nature Canada and other organizations are working to safeguard Canada's remaining grasslands in the Prairies region and British Columbia's dry southern interior. (In fact, you can help us better protect a National Wildlife Area in Canada's Prairie region by taking action here.)
You can celebrate Parks Canada's Centennial and its ongoing work to conserve Canada's epic wild spaces all year long with monthly themes focused on Canada's natural and cultural heritage.
Nature Canada celebrates all of Parks Canada's conservation achievements and seconds WWF International’s choice for the Gift to the Earth award. Alongside other organizations, we have worked hard to support and advocate for the establishment of national parks across Canada to protect our wildlife and their habitats. And we’re poised for more exciting announcements by Parks Canada about further progress toward completing Canada’s national park/ marine conservation areas system. With parks and marine conservation areas currently in progress, Parks Canada is set to expand the national park/marine conservation area system by an additional 28% beyond its existing size – to over 410,000 square kilometers.
One of the sites Nature Canada and other groups are working hard to establish is the proposed South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Reserve in British Columbia’s southern dry interior. That region is Canada’s “pocket desert” and is a truly unique ecological region that we need to protect before it’s too late. CBC recently did a piece on the issues surrounding that park proposal on The National television broadcast, which you can watch here.
Here's to another great year for national parks, national marine conservation areas and other protected areas in Canada! And don't forget to remind your newly elected Members of Parliament how you would like them to protect these and other 'naturally breathtaking' spaces.
Photos: Daybreak at La Mauricie National Park of Canada, Québec (A. MacDonald) Paddler's bliss in Kejimkujik National Park & National Historic Site, Nova Scotia (A. MacDonald)
Today marks the 100th birthday of the establishment of Parks Canada, the world’s first national park service. Our country is known for many things, but perhaps it’s our natural treasures – the lakes, forests, and mountains national parks were created to protect – that people the world over admire.
Parks Canada has planned a series of events throughout this Centennial year to celebrate our parks and historic sites, and to encourage people to fall in love with nature by visiting these special places. Some of us here at Nature Canada took part in one event just last week, to kick off the My Parks Pass program – a joint initiative between Nature Canada, Parks Canada and the Historica-Dominion Institute to distribute free family passes to Grade 8/Secondary 2 students across the country. This project is an important part of our work to help connect people to nature at an early age. (How many of us, as adults, can trace our love for nature to a childhood experience – or many – that instilled in us a lifelong affection for the natural world?)
This Centennial comes at a time when “a great tide of Canadians are embracing camping in growing numbers, many for the first time,” according to the Toronto Star:
According to an Angus Reid survey commissioned by Canadian Tire and Coleman Canada, at least 46 per cent of Canadians now take camping trips as part of their summer vacations. And even though it’s still early in the season, “camping reservations at Parks Canada [campgrounds] are up 14 per cent over the same period last year and 24 per cent compared to the five-year average,” says the federal agency’s Natalie Fay.
This is good news. Yes, it's true, the perennial challenge is balancing efforts to increase visitorship with the national parks system’s primary goal, the protection of biodiversity. Parks exist for people to enjoy the outdoors, and they exist to preserve wildlife. Nevertheless, encouraging visitors to experience our national parks is a great way to reconnect people with nature; in doing so, Canadians will be more apt to support nature conservation generally. Other than My Parks Pass, some of Parks Canada’s upcoming events are:
• A centennial celebration in Toronto on May 21, featuring a Parks Canada-themed Blue Jays game, evening camp-out in Rogers Centre, street fair and free outdoor concert.
• On Canada Day (July 1) and Parks Day (July 16), Parks Canada will offer visitors the chance to enter its places across the country for free.
• Also on Parks Day, a free concert series will gather Canadian artists in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
• Operation Unplugged, a joint broadcast and web venture that will provide opportunities for eight urban youth to trade their "techno-dependent" lifestyles for a summer "unplugged" in Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas where they will compete in challenges under the guidance of a host and Parks Canada staff
• New HD documentaries, including The National Parks Project on Discovery Canada, season two of A Park for All Seasons on Oasis HD and the pilot of a new series on national historic sites on Treasure HD, offering Canadians behind the scenes visits like never before.
• Unveiling of a coin with the Royal Canadian Mint and the launch of a commemorative postage stamp with Canada Post.
• Special “learn to camp” programs across the country and brand new accommodations offerings in national parks.
Over the years, we've been close partners with the people at the Parks Canada Agency, engaging in the complex process of establishing new national parks, or fostering public understanding and appreciation of Canada's natural heritage. Here's to 100 years of celebrating and protecting nature -- and to another century of nature conservation.
What will you be doing this weekend? Opening up the cottage? Visiting a national park? How about staying closer to home and getting out into the garden?
The May long weekend traditionally marks the start of gardening season in most parts of Canada. The danger of frost has passed and the soil has had a chance to dry out from the winter melt and spring rain. Where to start with 3 days of gardening bliss ahead?
First, decide what type of improvements you’d like to make to your garden this year: traditional, wildflower, vegetable or maybe a mix. If this is your first time gardening, remember to start small – there will always be room for changes in future years!
Next, there’s probably some tidying up to do in the yard. Make sure to clean up any debris that has ended up in the garden over the winter, as well as any dead plants that didn’t get removed last fall. You’ll probably want to aerate the soil as well, breaking it up with a hoe or other garden tool so that air and water can bring nutrients back into it.
After all that preparation, it’s finally time to plant things! Make sure you’ve chosen plants that are suited for your region and that you follow the directions for the amount of sunlight, water and nutrients each one needs.
No matter what kind of garden you choose, an easy way to make it greener is to install a rain barrel. And if you’re in a small space that doesn’t allow for a large garden, why not try your hand at container gardening instead?
It can be easy to spend a lot of time in the garden, but remember not to overdo it. Take a break to enjoy the early spring flowers, or walk around the block and admire other people’s gardens.
What plans do you have for your garden this year? Let us know in the comments below.
Want to support nature conservation and win an eco-adventure?
We've talked about Keith's Green Initiative in April posts, but for those who might have missed it, the initiative is a way for you to help nature and win great prizes. Alexander Keith's is helping Canadians go green by giving them the chance to win up to $1,000 each to donate to one of four deserving eco-charities.
How can you help?
SHARE the initiative on Facebook and Keith’s will donate $1 to Nature Canada, Waterkeepers Canada, Trees Ontario or NSLC Adopt-a-Stream.
PURCHASE specially-marked 24 IPA packs - and 15 -bottle mixer packs of Alexander Keith’s beer and receive a PIN that unlocks a donation amount between $0 and $1,000. Keith’s will donate this amount on your behalf to Nature Canada or one of three great causes. Enter your PIN on Keith’s Facebook page to reveal your donation and enter to win a Keith’s Eco-Adventure!
Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed his new cabinet today in what is the most extensive cabinet shuffle of the past few years. The most notable appointments in terms of their impact on nature conservation in Canada are:
Peter Kent continues as Minister of the Environment
John Duncan remains Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Keith Ashfield becomes Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Joe Oliver becomes Minister of Natural Resources
Peter MacKay remains Minister of Defence
Bev Oda continues as Minister of International Co-operation
Jim Flaherty remains Minister of Finance
Tony Clement moves to President of the Treasury Board
So why are all these Ministers particularly important for nature conservation in Canada? Here is a quick snapshot:
Environment: This Minister oversees Ministry of the Environment, the Parks Canada Agency,and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. Responsibilities include protecting wildlife like endangered species and migratory birds, preserving natural areas like national parks and national wildlife areas, and preventing environmental disasters like oil spills and climate change. This Minister will have the opportunity to lead Canadian conservation.
Indian and Norther Affairs Canada: This department exerts control over land-use decisions in Canada's northern territories (Nunavut, NWT, and Yukon). This includes everything from the establishment of parks and other protected areas to proposals for offshore drilling proposed in our precious arctic.
Fisheries and Oceans: The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for much of what Canada does to conserve our oceans, lakes, and rivers. This includes establishing marine protected areas and protected aquatic species at risk. This is the Minister who can stop the growing practice of dumping mining waste into lakes and rivers.
Natural Resources Canada: This department leads federal policy on energy, mining, and forestry. With this comes an important role in the federal government's responsibility to protect wildlife, preserve natural areas, and prevent environmental disasters.
Defence: The Department of National Defence is one of the federal government's most significant land managers. This Minister will have to make some important decisions about activities that affect wildlife and natural ecosystems, most notably a proposal to drill more than a thousand gas wells in the National Wildlife Area located within Canadian Forces Base Suffield.
International Co-operation: Oversees the Canadian International Development Agency which, among other things, supports international development projects including some that benefit nature in the developing world, including our "Canadian" birds while they overwinter elsewhere in the Americas.
Finance: We have often said that the federal government's budget is one of its most important policy documents affecting conservation. It determines whether or not all the other departments have the resources they need to fulfill their conservation obligations.
Treasury Board: This is the "central agency" that controls the spending and performance of the other departments. This Minister plays a central role in managing the size of the federal public service. It will be important for this Minister to recognize the need for an appropriate workforce for the public service to fulfill the federal government's responsibilities to protect wildlife, preserve natural areas, prevent environmental disasters, and lead Canadian conservation.
Nature Canada congratulates all members of the new cabinet on their appointments. We look forward to working with the key Ministers and their staff to advance nature conservation in Canada.
In her third guest blog post, Helene Van Doninck, wildlife veterinarian at the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Truro, Nova Scotia, deconstructs common myths about injured baby birds and shares her tips on what you can do if you come across a nestling or fledgling in distress.
Spring has finally arrived in Canada and with it comes the busiest season of all for wildlife rehabilitators. It’s baby bird season! We all start to stock up on supplies and prepare for an exponential growth in phone calls. The first priority is to help injured, sick or orphaned wildlife; however, we often spend a considerable amount of time talking to people to help us decide if an animal is really orphaned or in distress. Many times people just aren’t familiar with the natural history of that species and many situations that look like an animal in peril, really are just an animal exhibiting normal behaviour.
Myth #1: Baby birds found outside the nest have been orphaned
It’s not common knowledge that most baby birds (especially songbirds) spend a lot of time alone once they fledge from the nest. People often see a young bird alone and assume it is an orphan– this is usually not true. Songbirds will hatch from their egg in a nest and are called nestlings at this point. When they make that first leap out of the nest (and are now called fledglings), they often either fall or flutter to the ground and spend several days on the ground under the watchful eye of the parents.
The parents likely have up to five or six fledglings that have left the nest over a period of a few days. Both parents are working at top speed to find food from dawn till dusk. They not only have to feed these young birds (one bug at a time!), but they need to keep track of where the babies are (they are often guided in by the calls of their babies) before racing off to find the next morsel of food. They also protect them from predators, try to lead them to areas where there is cover, and eventually teach them to forage and fly on their own.
These behaviours are often learned by observing the parent, though flight is instinctual for most birds. Young birds are at a high risk of predation. Other wild birds and mammals can prey on them, and in most parts of the world, the domestic cat is also the cause of millions of songbird deaths. We regularly ask people to keep cats as indoor pets, or at the very least limit their outdoor time during baby season.
There are some types of birds that will spend most of their time with the parents, again due to their natural history. Birds like ducks, geese, and pheasants keep their young with them and many people have observed these species with the hatchlings following in a tight cluster. These species don’t manually feed their young; instead the young observe the foraging and pecking behaviour of the parents and learn to feed themselves in this manner. For this reason, anytime a down-covered young of any of these species is found alone it requires intervention, especially if it is calling loudly with no response from a parent. Myth #2: Baby birds handled by humans are rejected by their parents
A common myth we hear is that if a young bird is touched and has human scent on it, the parents will reject it. This is untrue as birds have an extremely poor sense of smell (though we don’t recommend handling wild birds unless it is absolutely necessary). We have successfully returned young birds back to their parents up to 4 days after they were taken. However, keep in mind that parents may abandon a nest that is repeatedly disturbed so try to avoid this, especially when the young are very new. At this age they require high volumes of food and warmth and the parents need to be very vigilant to ward off predators. Excessive disturbance by curious humans may disturb normal activities, resulting in the loss of the nest.
Video: Young Osprey at the CWRC waits to be fed
What can you do if you find a baby bird?
First, you need to determine if it is a baby bird. If it has no feathers or very few feathers, that makes it more obvious. Fledglings however are usually mostly feathered but have some obvious differences in comparison to adults:
1- Fledglings have wispy or fluffy down feathers poking through the regular feathers, which are most commonly seen on the head.
Red-eyed Vireo Fledgling. Down feathers on head and short/absent tail feathers
2 - They have shorter tail feathers and often have gape flanges which look like large yellow/beige/orange “lips” protruding from the sides of the beak.
European Starling Fledgling. Yellow gape flanges on mouth and VERY obvious down on the head
3- They may also have only feather shafts, which look like a drinking straw with a feather growing from it, where one would expect to see flight or tail feathers.
Sparrow Fledgling. Pin feathers/feather shafts on wings and around eyes, down feathers on the head, and the remnants of yellow gape flanges on the beak, and short/absent tail feathers
Naked nestlings found on the ground from a destroyed nest always need help. The best option is to re-nest the birds if possible. If that can’t happen, an artificial nest can be constructed from a hanging plant basket or other basket, making sure there are drainage holes in the bottom. The best placement for this basket is as near as possible to the original nest and hopefully shielded somewhat from direct sunlight and rain. You can then back away and watch from a distance with binoculars.
Once the nestlings are hungry and call, the parents will usually feed them in an artificial nest. They may be suspicious at first, but instinct often overrides that and the parents should accept this situation. If not, please contact a wildlife rehabilitator or your wildlife officials for more advice as these birds may need to be taken into care. We ALWAYS try to reunite the parents and young as the parents are much better at raising the offspring than any human.
Fledglings by definition have left the nest. Sometimes well-meaning people who have been monitoring a nest will put them back, only to have them jump out again. This is normal! If you are unsure if a fledgling has parents tending to it, the best option is to watch from a distance with binoculars. The parents will stay away if you stand too close. If all is well you will likely see a parent bird land next to the fledgling, poke a piece of food into its mouth and take off again to find more food.
If you are unsure about this, another thing you can do is check for feces. Young birds will poop frequently when they are being fed regularly. If the parent is tending to them they usually produce poop after every feeding, often every 20 minutes to one hour. You can even place a shallow lid under the bird to look for this. If the parent bird is not showing up and the fledgling is calling repeatedly for hours with no response, this may be an orphan and you should call a rehabilitator.
There are several other situations that warrant rescue of a bird, including obvious blood or injury, being handled by a dog or cat and knowing for certain that the bird is an orphan. Keep in mind however, that most young birds on the ground are normal fledglings with parents. If you find one in a perilous situation, you can try to coax it to an area with cover or put it on a low branch, realizing that it may jump down again immediately.
People often ask us what they can do to help baby birds. Reasons for songbird population declines are complex, but from our perspective we have three key pieces of advice:
1- Preserve habitat: leave brush piles for cover and preserve large trees and snags for cavity nesters 2- Do not use pesticides– birds need insects to feed their young 3- Keep your cats indoors.
These steps will lead to more young surviving the fledgling stage which will lead to more breeding adults for the future.
Watch more videos of baby birds under the care of the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
Durant l’atelier à Port Rowan, Marilyn Labrecque, coordonnatrice du programme Zones importantes pour la conservation des oiseaux (ZICO) à Nature Québec, ainsi que moi-même, avons trouvé quelques minutes pour discuter dehors - malgré le froid - des bénéfices du partage d’expériences entre les partenaires canadiens. Cet événement annuel vise à réunir les représentants des organismes responsables de la mise en œuvre du programme ZICO dans leurs provinces respectives afin de favoriser le partage de connaissances et de planifier les actions pour l’année à venir. L’atelier a eu lieu entre le 18 et le 21 avril au siège social d’Études d’Oiseaux Canada, qui, avec Nature Canada, est responsable de la coordination du programme au niveau national
Last weekend I went birding. Not for long as the weather in Gatineau was wet and cool. However, life outside goes on. Last weekend was also a celebration of migratory birds across the Americas - International Migratory Bird Day. I head out for a short walk in Gatineau Park to experience the birds and talk about how I feel as a birder. Join me on my walk, learn about "pishing," and see what happens.
International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) celebrates the 350 species that migrate between countries in the Americas. Canada likely holds the record for the country with the most migratory birds. It is estimated that every fall, 90% of our birds leave the country, the great majority heading south. Terns and shorebirds tend to go the farthest. The Hudsonian Godwit, for example, flies from its subarctic and arctic breeding grounds to Tierra del Fuego in Chile. Many songbirds also fly long distances to South America. Purple Martins end up in Sao Paulo State in Brazil. Bobolink's non-breeding destination is the pampas of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uraguay and Brazil. Blackpoll Warblers and Common Nighthawks make it to Brazil, and Venezuala. Veery, Swainson's Thrush and Gray-cheeked Thrush also go to South America, as do several Flycatchers, Scarlet Tanager, and the iconic Canada Warbler. American Redstarts and Chestnut-sided Warblers spend their "winters" in Central America with many other Warbler species, Vireos, Yellow-bellied and Least Flycatchers, Orioles, and Whip-poor-will.
Many species other than songbirds and shorebirds also have impressive migrations, including Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Swainson's Hawk, Blue-winged Teal and Green Heron. Over one billion Canadian-born birds over-winter in the continental United States, including some of our commonest species such as most blackbird and sparrows including the White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, and most waterfowl.
Take a moment to think about this. For some long-lived species, this migration would take them to the moon over the course of their lifetimes. In addition to the amazing ecological services that they provide to all of the countries of their passages, these birds wow people with their beauty and their song. Birds inspire me for all of these reasons. They bring me happiness, and make me feel connected to nature.
So fellow Canadians, get out and enjoy these most inspiring members of creation in the next week or so, and always remember to respect their lives and the rest of nature in your daily decisions.
Last week, Nature Canada joined Ontario Nature to celebrate the purchase of an important piece of forested land on the coast of Ontario's Bruce Peninsula. Ian Davidson, Nature Canada's executive director, and Mara Kerry, Nature Canada's director of conservation, traveled to Wiarton, Ontario for the celebration.
Thanks to the generosity of Hugo Germeraad, a nature advocate, naturalist and long-time member of Nature Canada, a stunning stretch of Bruce Peninsula is now protected forever. This was made possible when Hugo Germeraad bequeathed a gift in his Will for the acquisition of a nature reserve.
Located some 40 kilometres north of Owen Sound, amidst one of the largest unprotected expanses of woodland on the Niagara Escarpment, this biodiversity hotspot includes Georgian Bay shoreline, wetlands, woodlands, uplands, escarpment and cliff face. A 4-kilometer section of the Bruce Trail crosses along the top of the property’s terraced bluffs, and the views are breathtaking. Nature Canada has allocated the funds to our sister organization Ontario Nature to purchase a 233-hectare parcel – the largest of three spectacular adjoining properties that together constitute the Malcolm Bluff Shores Nature Reserve.
“This very generous bequest from Hugo Germeraad will help permanently secure habitat of exceptional importance for Canadian biodiversity, including part of a major flyway for migratory songbirds and raptors heading to and from their northern breeding grounds,” says Nature Canada Executive Director Ian Davidson. “Species at risk who live on this land, including the Eastern Ribbon Snake and the Peregrine Falcon, will be protected. We are deeply grateful to the family for their thoughtful gift to nature.”
Hugo Germeraad is remembered by his family as a man “completely in harmony with nature.” Local wild birds would eat right out of his hand. He provided nesting places for migratory song birds, birds of prey – and he was an avid birdwatcher, involved with many local naturalist clubs and a member of Nature Canada since the 1970s.
Gilead Associates, the company that is applying for a Renewable Energy Approval to build and operate nine wind turbines within the Ostrander Point Crown Land Block, has applied to the Province of Ontario for a permit to “kill, harm and harass Blanding’s Turtle and Whip-poor-will as well as damage and destroy the habitat of Whip-poor-will for the purpose of the development and operation of Ostrander Point Wind Energy Park.” See the breaking CBC TV story that includes an interview of local naturalist Myrna Wood.
This is an unusual step in Canada for a wind energy project, but one that appears to be an admission that the project will be impacting threatened species at the site where the turbines are to be built. The ESA permit which allows for the destruction of habitat and harm to the species, must also demonstrate the following:
(i) the Minister is of the opinion that an overall benefit to the species will be achieved within a reasonable time through requirements imposed by conditions of the permit, and, (ii) the Minister is of the opinion that reasonable alternatives have been considered, including alternatives that would not adversely affect the species, and the best alternative has been adopted, and, (iii) the Minister is of the opinion that reasonable steps to minimize adverse effects on individual members of the species are required by conditions of the permit.
On the posting, the proponent’s response to these requirements is provided. I’ll only include and comment on the first sentence of the first requirement related to overall benefit.
Proponent to acquire and manage a property outside the project area (that meets appropriate criteria as defined by the Ministry of Natural Resources) for the habitat preservation, rehabilitation and/or improvement of both Blanding’s turtle and Whip-poor-will.
Unfortunately, there are no reports or documents to inform us on what this actually means. This posting begs the question of how the public, can be expected to provide meaningful comment if there are no details about where the habitat is, or how protecting and managing it would benefit the species. For example, would the acquired property be an area already occupied with breeding Whip-poor-wills that is facing imminent destruction? If it is unoccupied habitat, is Gilead claiming that it can restore and manage the habitat to attract this rapidly declining species? Is this even possible?
It is a fact is that Whip-poor-will no longer occupies much of the available habitat within its range. Both loss of habitat and declines in its food supply (mainly flying insects) are identified as the main reasons behind the species demise.
This is where the ability of this permit to have an overall benefit for the species becomes dubious at best. If both the existing occupied site where the project is proposed, and the “new” site are occupied by Whip-poor-wills, and the intent is to protect one and damage the other so that it no longer supports the species, there is net harm. A possible and worse scenario is that if Ostrander Point becomes a functioning wind energy plant, it becomes an ecological trap for the species. This would occur if individuals were attracted to the area each year, but more prone to being killed.
My conclusion is that the ESA posting is flawed as a consultation process in that it does not allow for meaningful public engagement. We simply need more detail.
My hunch is that all it will contribute to the Whip-poor-will is more hardship. Wind energy projects should be about a good idea in a good place. Ostrander Point, in my view, is a terrible location for a wind project. Powers that be, please find an alternative location, that is not as risky to birds and other wildlife.
Photo by Ted Cheskey - Whip-poor-will habitat on the upper Bruce Peninsula
Tomorrow is International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) in North America. To help you make the most of the annual spring return of our feathered friends, we’ve come up with 12 tips to help beginner birders .
Don’t miss this great chance to learn more about the migratory bird species that are coming home to your area!
12 Bird Watching Tips for Beginners:
Tip #1 - Keep Your Eyes on the Bird
When you spot a bird, try to keep it in your line of sight for as long as possible. If you are using binoculars, practice bringing them up to your face while keeping your eyes on the bird. This can be harder than it sounds! Try practicing on other objects first if you’re having trouble.
Tip #2 – Know What to Look For
Once you have focused on a bird, look for:
facial markings
bill characteristics
leg length and colour
wing span
tail shape
flight patterns
overall size and shape
feeding habits
Tip #3 – Listen for Bird Calls
Listening for bird calls is one of the best ways to locate a bird. Keep your ears tuned to your surroundings and let your curiosity lead you to discover new bird sounds. Birding isn’t always just about seeing birds – it’s about enjoying them with all your senses! Visit Dendroica to listen to songs and see photos of birds in your area.
Tip #4 – Get to Know Your Local Birds and Their Habitat
There are many free resources on birds and birding – online and at your public library – which can enrich your birding experience. By learning more about bird species in your area, you can narrow the list of birds you might come across.
Tip #5 – Start in Your Yard
Watching birds in your yard is a fun, easy way to start birding. Luckily for us, many popular song birds visit backyard feeders and birdbaths. Having trees and bushes, as well as a bird feeder and bird bath, will make it more likely that birds will flock to your yard.
Tip #6 – Make Your Yard Bird-Friendly
You can take it one step further by consciously making your backyard bird-friendly. This doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Following simple “best practices”, such as planting native plants and providing a water source, can go a long way toward bringing birds to your yard. For more tips check out our 12 Ways to Make Your Backyard Bird-Friendly.
Tip #7 – Join a Bird Walk
Meet fellow birders by joining a bird walk or start your own with your birding buddies! Bird walks are a fun way for birders of all levels to get together and share their experience and knowledge. Don’t know where to look for local bird walks? A good place to start is by contacting your local bird watching organization or naturalist club. If you live in Canada, you can find a naturalist club through the Canadian Naturalist Network.
Tip #8 – Use a Field Guide
With its pictures and descriptions of birds, field guides can help you identify birds more easily. They come loaded with profiles for common birds in adult- and child-friendly formats.
Tip #9 – Know When to Look
Learning about the birds in your area will help you decide when to go birding. Some birds are only visible during certain times of the day. For example, songbirds are easier to see two to three hours after dawn, or just before sunset. Knowing when your local birds are feeding and active will make it more likely that you will spot them. As many birds migrate south during the winter, knowing what season or time of year they appear in your area is another factor to consider.
Tip #10 – Keep a Birding Diary
You might want to keep a bird checklist to record the birds you see every time you go birding, whether on vacation or just taking a walk through your local park. Contribute to bird conservation by sharing your bird checklist with eBird – as a citizen scientist, your data will help experts at the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology understand the distribution of birds in the western hemisphere and beyond.
Tip # 11 – Be a Responsible Birder
When you are out birding, it’s important to leave the area – and the birds and their young – undisturbed. Approach birds, their nests, eggs and habitat quietly and discreetly. Try not to disturb them when they are feeding. Birds can also go places where you may not be welcomed – please respect private property. But birds will often come to you, at home in your yard, or on a walk through nature. You don’t have to get in your car to go birding!
Tulips from the 2005 Canadian Tulip Festival. Photo by Robin Dawes (via Flickr).
While there's something to love in every season in Canada, late spring holds a special treat - the start of so many outdoor festivals across the country! The nicer weather means that we can celebrate everything from music to food to art to the environment, all outdoors in beautiful spaces.
Whether you're going to a specific nature-focused event (such as the 2011 Nature Trust of BC Wild Festival for Youth) or something a bit more general, like the Canadian Tulip Festival starting in Ottawa this weekend, these are great opportunities to get outside throughout the spring and summer and just enjoy being in nature. The music sounds richer, the food tastes sweeter and the colours look brighter when they're experienced with nature.
Canadians elected Stephen Harper to his first majority government on May 2. As Prime Minister Harper sets his agenda for the future, help ensure that the environment is not forgotten! Send a letter urging the Prime Minister to make the following actions a top priority of his Government:
Protecting and recovering endangered species and other threatened wildlife
Preserving natural areas for current and future generations of Canadians
Protecting Canadians by ensuring environmental disasters like the Gulf of Mexico oil spill do not happen on our shores
Leading Canadian conservation by coordinating action across Canada to conserve and protect what we hold dear
By sending a letter to the Prime Minister, you’re sending a signal that a healthy environment is important to you, and that it should be important for him too.
If you have not gone to see the 3-D Comedy Animation Rio, Produced by Blue Sky Studies and Directed by Brazilian Carlos Saldanha (previously directed Ice Age), you may wish to get to a theatre soon to enjoy this colourful and enjoyable film.
The basic story is about Blu, the last male Spix’s Macaw, which is captured as a baby in Rio de Janeiro by bird smugglers, and ends up through chance in the hands of Linda, a young bookish girl, in a small town in snow-bound Minnesota. Fifteen years later, Linda, now the owner of the Blue Macaw Bookstore is visited by Tulio, a Brazilian ornithologist, who informs Linda that Blu is the last male of his species, and that the last female is in an aviary in Rio. He asks Linda to bring Blu to the aviary to mate with the female, Jewel, in hope of bringing the species back. Eventually Linda is convinced to go, and the three of them return to Rio.
From that point on it's pretty much non-stop action, with a groups of bad-guy bird smugglers led by Nigel (a Cockatoo), and an interesting array of other characters determined to steal the Macaws for illicit purposes. The movie is filled with chase scenes, strange twists and the beautiful animated images of Rio during Carnaval – including great scenes in the favelas where some of the bad guys live.
My wife, who is Brazilian, and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. If not for her, I would not have understood some of the subtle jokes. Just enough Portuguese was interspersed to given the animation more “credibility”, if animations can have credibility. The soundtrack, which featured a mixture of original music and some traditional Brazilian samba and bossa nova, was lively and enjoyable.
The film does present a very serious issue – the illegal trade in wildlife and at the heart of the story has some truth. For many species of bird, particularly members of the parrot family, there is a strong illegal market involved in the capture and international trading of many species. This is especially true for the species portrayed in Rio – Spix’s Macaw.
Spix’s Macaw is likely extinct in the wild – it's only been known to have inhabited the Bahia region of Brazil, to the north of Rio. Illegal capture and trade is the main reason for the demise of this spectacularly beautiful species. As many as 100 individual are believed to still be in captivity. Perhaps a glimmer of hope exists that the species will not be lost forever, if captive breeding can be successful. But the issue of illegal trade in wildlife still exists despite global efforts to stop it. In the movie, Tulio, the Brazilian ornithologist, does not mention that having a critically endangered species in one’s possession is a violation of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). This omission is not surprising – Rio is an animated film aimed at both children and adults. But it's important to note that Canada and Brazil are signatories to CITES. While the capture and trade of wildlife is a serious threat to some species, loss of habitat due to human-related activities is by far the biggest problem facing endangered species.
In this video clip, Stuart MacKenzie, the ornithologist who is in charge of the Old Cut Station of Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO), extracts a Northern Flicker from a mist net, and places it into a carrying bag while several members of the IBA Canada Committee, including Nature Canada’s Director of Conservation, Mara Kerry observe the procedure in fascination. As an experienced bird bander myself, I anticipate the Flicker to begin its loud scream-like call. Most bird banders are accustomed to this when handling Flickers, though this particular Flicker is rather subdued and quite.
After two days of indoor presentations and discussions during the National Important Bird Areas meeting in April, members of the IBA Canada Committee spent their last morning together in the field, at the LPBO, a branch of Bird Studies Canada. LPBO is the longest continuously operating bird observatory in North America. It recently celebrated its 50th year of data gathering, which includes the capture and banding of over 800,000 birds.
When we arrived at the station, it was already 8:30 am, and the station was buzzing with an impressive compliment of staff and volunteers. Within the banding lab, many cloth bags were pulsating in odd ways due to the birds within. The bander-in-charge took one of the bags off its hook, carefully opened it, slid his hand inside, and moments later retracted his hand with a bird in his firm but gentle grip.
The cloth bags are an important tool for banding stations everywhere. Typically, birds are stored in cloth bags, which provide a relatively dark, breathable and safe environment for temporary storage. They are placed in these bags after they've been extracted from the mist nets outside. Mist nest are typically about 10 to 12 metres long and about three metre high, and are comprised of fine mesh arranged on four or five horizontal panels. The extracted birds are transported in cloth bags to the banding lab, where they safely wait until processing (identification, measurement, ageing and determination of sex, and banding), before release back into the wild.
We've done our best to help you vote for nature, now it's up to you. If you were not one of the record 2,056,001 Canadians to vote at the advance polls in April, then today is your day.
We have given you some things to think about at our Vote for Nature page, but today is the day to turn that thinking into action. Get out and vote!
