Making Flyway Conservation a Reality

To be effective, bird conservation for migratory species should address issues throughout a species' flyway that impact the species survival. In Canada, this should be an imperative to conserving our birds, as about 90% migrate south each year, only to return the following spring.

One initiative to put this flyway concept to the conservation test links the Great Salt Lake in Utah, the most important inland stopover for many species of shorebird, waterbird and waterfowl in continental North America, and an area of global significance for many breeding bird species, with Chaplin Lake in Saskatchewan, and the Marismas nacionales along the Pacific coast of Mexico. These areas share many of the same species, including American Avocet, Wilson's Phalarope, American White Pelican and Franklin's Gull among other species.

The Canadian anchor in this north-south chain, is centred on Chaplin Lake Important Bird Area, but includes a series of alkaline lakes in southern Saskatchewan, including Old Wives, Reed, and Quill Lakes. All sites are recognized as Important Bird Areas and Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) sites.

Last week, I attended meetings in Salt Lake City Utah, on behalf of Nature Canada and the Canadian partners in the Linking Communities Initiative at Chaplin Lake and Nature Saskatchewan. National Audubon and ProNatura, the BirdLife International Partners from the USA and Mexico respectively, as well as staff from BirdLife and from Rio Tinto - Kennecot, the mining company that supports some elements of this project, were also there.

Our focus was looking ahead to where this partnership might go. One of the most inspiring moments happened during a conversation with Wayne Martinson, Important Bird Area Coordinator for National Audubon for the State of Utah. He mentioned how the whole idea of linking communities came to be and who is the visionary behind it. I was so inspired by his story that I asked him to repeat it on video. Here it is:

August Photo of the Month

We have taken the unusual step of favoring flora over fauna this month. Brightly coloured and beautifully photographed, there’s no mistake this picture’s a sure winner!

Thanks for sending this great photo, Varina!

Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium montanum) is found extensively throughout North America. Its distinctly pointed blue petals surround a bright yellow centre that sits atop a long, slender stem. Each stem produces between one and five flowers whose striking colours make up for their small size.

You can find this flower growing in large clumps along river banks, and in well-watered grasslands and forests. Although its name implies it is a grass, it’s actually a member of the Iris family.

Do you think Blue-eyed grass would make a nice addition to your garden? Check out these gardening tips from the Edmonton Naturalization Group.

Do you love this photo? Put it on your desktop!

See more Photos of the Month! Sign up for our eNewsletter!

Nature Canada Responds to Release of Government Recovery Strategy for Threatened Boreal Woodland Caribou

Nature Canada issued the following statement in response to the release today of the federal government’s proposed strategy to recover Canada’s threatened boreal woodland caribou.

“Nature Canada is pleased that the federal government has finally released its draft national recovery strategy for the threatened boreal woodland caribou. The majestic woodland caribou, nicknamed ‘grey ghosts’ for their shy, elusive nature, play a significant role within the forest ecosystem and are very important to many aboriginal communities.  Yet industrial activities in the caribou’s habitat have caused some herds to be critically endangered, and the rest are under increasing pressure.

“This recovery strategy is an important step towards developing a concerted effort to prevent further declines in populations and rebuild the populations that have been decimated by human activities. It is unfortunate that this recovery strategy was not published before the statutory deadline in 2007, or before a new deadline was imposed by court order. It is important to recognize that this recovery strategy is just a step towards protecting and recovering caribou. Much more remains to be done to actually reduce the harm that is being done to caribou every day.

“At first glance the strategy appears to include the key ingredients for success which Nature Canada has advocated for years, including an identification of the species’ critical habitat. We commend the many people who put in a lot of hard work to get this strategy to where it is today: scientists, public servants, and engaged stakeholders from industry and environmental organizations. Nature Canada will be reviewing the proposed strategy in detail over the next 60 days and working with government and other stakeholders to ensure Canada adopts a strong and effective strategy to ensure a return to vibrant woodland caribou populations across the country.”

The Government’s proposed boreal woodland caribou recovery strategy is available online at http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/dspDocument_e.cfm?documentID=2253

Plight of the Piping Plover

Last week Canadians learned that in parts of Atlantic Canada the endangered Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus melodus) is not recovering as well as expected. Numbers from the 2011 International Piping Plover Census in the region revealed that numbers declined 7% since 2010, leading to an overall decline of 14% since the early 1990s. This puts the Atlantic melodus population below the 2011 recovery target of 510 individuals, or 255 pairs. A total of 427 individuals was recorded throughout the region in 2011.



The Piping Plover is actually represented by two subspecies in Canada: the melodus subspecies on the Atlantic coast, and the circumcinctus subspecies in the mid-western interior of the continent. On the Atlantic coast the melodus population faces a number of threats including loss and degradation of nesting habitat, human disturbance (direct and indirect), harassment by domestic pets and recreational vehicles on beaches, increased predation, severe weather and abnormal tides, among others. Visit the Species At Risk Act Public Registry to learn more.



Several years ago I managed a recovery and stewardship program for Piping Plovers in southwest Nova Scotia. That program has evolved and continues today (picture above) as part of a province-wide effort coordinated by Sue Abbott at Bird Studies Canada (our Canadian co-partner in BirdLife International).



Earlier this summer my family vacationed in southwest Nova Scotia and had an opportunity to visit some of the Piping Plover nesting beaches found in the area (picture to left). It was a wonderful opportunity for me to see the real benefits of about 20 years of effort to recover the species and educate people about its plight. That effort was put in by many individuals and organizations, including many dedicated volunteers across the region. But as last week's report indicates, the increase in Piping Plover numbers in southwest Nova Scotia was not mirrored in other parts of the region.



Revisiting some of southwest Nova Scotia's plover nesting beaches reminded me of the many complex threats faced by species at risk. It underscored for me the importance of effectively stewarding and/or protecting the remaining habitats - especially the critical habitats - of these species and finding ways to restore those habitats throughout the species' historic range, whenever possible. Imperiled species such as the Piping Plover especially need to be free of human disturbance and other threats that 'piggy-back' on us - like pets roaming on beaches, coastal development, litter, etc. - so they have a fighting chance to deal with the many threats they naturally face, like predation and severe storms. And that leads me to a piece of great news in this otherwise unsettling story.



On August 6th the Nova Scotia Nature Trust announced the acquisition and protection of 33 acres of coastal lands at Crow Neck Beach, a beach in southwest Nova Scotia that supports more pairs of Piping Plovers than any other beach in the province. Crow Neck Beach (picture to right) is also part of the nationally significant South Shore (Roseway to Baccaro) Important Bird Area, which is also a key stopover site for thousands of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. This is excellent news for Piping Plovers and other feathered friends!



All photos by A. MacDonald

Note: My Piping Plover photo was taken at a safe distance using optical + digital zoom.

Connect with Nature: 5 Easy End of Summer Activities

Throw your arms up - it is summer by wheatfieldbrown via Flickr

Summer may be starting to wind down, but before we all head back to school and work, take a few minutes to connect with nature. Here are our top choices for some end of summer outdoor activities:

1. Get in one last camping trip. Pack up and head out for a day or a weekend surrounded by nature. Remember your camping checklist to make the trip a success!

2. Explore your city by bike. Get two wheels on the road and tour your town on a family bike outing. Ride familiar routes or discover a new favourite trail.

3. Throw a nature tea party. Pack up some healthy snacks, juice or tea and your best picnic blanket to have an afternoon treat in the outdoors. Enjoy the decorations and soundtrack provided by Mother Nature.

4. Stay up late stargazing. Evenings are still fairly warm, but the sun sets just a bit earlier these days, providing ample time to explore the night skies. Lie in the grass and watch the stars dance through the dark.

5. Go on a nature scavenger hunt. There is so much to explore right in your own backyard! Put a new spin on your familiar surroundings by turning each nature experience into a challenge that can be checked off your list.

Don't forget our sun smart tips to safely enjoy the end of summer!

What are you doing to celebrate nature as summer winds down? Let us know in the comments.

White-headed Woodpecker needs BC Ponderosa Pines Protected

The White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus) is a small woodpecker that relies on coniferous forests throughout its range. In Canada, they are found exclusively in old growth Ponderosa Pine stands in southern British Columbia. White-headed Woodpeckers use these trees for nesting and feed on their cones.

The White-headed Woodpecker is listed as ‘Endangered’ under the Species at Risk Act. This law obligates the Environment Minister to prepare a Recovery Strategy for species listed as Endangered or Threatened and identify critical habitat, to the extent possible based on available information.

There is relatively little knowledge about this species in Canada. The population of White-headed Woodpecker is thought to be no larger than 100 individuals and was recently estimated at only 10 individuals. There have been very few observations in the past ten years.

One thing that is known, however, is that habitat loss is a major threat to the survival and recovery of this species in Canada. The draft Recovery Strategy sets out the studies needed to understand and protect the species and its habitat and also describes measures to address the effects of past habitat loss. Pending these studies no critical habitat is identified, but plans to do so in an action plan are proposed for 2016.

Nature Canada, in collaboration with the David Suzuki Foundation, recently commented on the government’s draft Recovery Strategy. We have encouraged the government to be more precautionary in their approach by:

1. Protecting remaining ponderosa pine stands while the research is completed and critical habitat is formally identified;

2. Addressing ongoing habitat loss and degradation so that the remaining critical habitat doesn’t disappear before it can be identified and protected under the law; and

3. Adjusting the proposed timelines so that the identification of critical habitat and the completion of an action plan occur no later than a year after the final recovery strategy is published, which should happen soon, once the government has reviewed the comments received during this public consultation on the draft strategy.

Learn more about the White-headed Woodpecker and read our comments.

Top Bird Photos from Our Flickr Pool

Photo: jem8red via Flickr

It's only been a few months since we started the Nature Canada Flickr Group, but in that time, hundreds of fantastic nature photos have been added to our pool! From those photos, we have selected some of the best bird photography and created an online gallery that’s worth a visit.

Can you identify the bird species in these photos? Have you come into close encounters with them in nature? Add your comments and observations to each photo and share your knowledge! To join the conversation, you must have a Flickr account.

If you have photos of nature that you would like to share, add them to the Nature Canada Flickr Group and it could be selected as the Photo of the Month. Make sure to tag it with “POM”!

Fun Fall Activities in Canada’s National Parks and Historic Sites

With fall just around the corner, there are plenty of ways to continue exploring the nearly 200 national parks and historic sites across the country. Not sure where to start? We have compiled a list of 5 easy, family-friendly activities that will help you make the most of your fall visit.  Plus, if your son or daughter received their My Parks Pass in the spring, they can flash it for an instant family or group discount!

1.    Camp in Luxury - Fall is the perfect time to rediscover the joys of camping with an all-inclusive camping experience offered at Georgian Bay Islands National Park. Running throughout September and into October, this unique experience has all the camping essentials set up and waiting for you upon your arrival. Learn more and reserve your spot here.

2.    Hike the Highlands - If you are on the east coast of Canada, why not join the Hike the Highlands Festival at Cape Breton Highlands National Park? This annual September festival features 24 hikes, and workshops on everything from nature photography to Nordic poling.

3.    Green A Beach - Roll up your sleeves and do some green good by volunteering with a clean-up team at Pacific Rim National Park. These teams cover the park’s pristine beaches and trails, pulling invasive plants and gathering debris during the month of September.

4.    Enjoy a Candlelit Tour – Take a glimpse into the lives of two great Canadians – Sir Wilfred Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King – with a candlelit tour of Laurier House National Historic Site.

5.    Celebrate Yoho National Park’s 125th Birthday – Join the festivities on October 10 set to mark an important milestone for this iconic park in Field, B.C., where Parks Canada’s award-winning theatre troupe Mountain WIT will be entertaining guests with music and character performances.

National park field staff are usually on-site through September, so take advantage of the cooler weather to go on a guided hike or experience an interpretive program. Many national parks also offer self-guided activities such as bird watching, wildlife viewing and photo opportunities in all seasons.

Remember: if you have a My Parks Pass, use it all year long for great discounts on entrance fees to all of Parks Canada’s locations. My Parks Pass will also be launching its fall contest promotion in September, so stay tuned for more ways to win cool prizes! Know the past. Enjoy the present. Protect the future. 

Nature Canada's 2010-2011 Annual Report is Now Online

After much anticipation, our annual report for 2010-2011 is now available online, making it that much easier for us to share our conservation successes with you!

What will you find inside the report?

By clicking through the pages of the report, you will find a message from our Executive Director and Chair of the Board of Directors, financial statements, our list of supporters and award winners, and our conservation successes from the past year.

Quick links to each section, the full PDF of the report, and a video message from Ian Davidson, our Executive Director, can be found by visiting our Annual Report webpage.

 We would like to extend our gratitude to all our 2010-2011 supporters - every one of conservation successes is thanks to you!

Major victory in Northwestern Ontario for nature and First Nations rights

Yesterday, the Ontario Superior Court made a very significant ruling that appears to be a major victory for nature and for First Nations communities in Northern Ontario. The essential point of the decision is Justice Mary-Anne Sanderson's declaration that the Ontario Government cannot take away the rights of the Grassy Narrows First Nation, as described in Treaty Three, by authorizing development including logging and mining. Grassy Narrows First Nation was among the first to suffer significantly from the effects of mercury poisoning when the English and Wabigoon River systems were polluted by a notorious Dryden pulp mill in the 1970s.

In a press release by the Anishinaabe First Nation about the court decision yesterday, there was a call on the federal and provincial governments to "honour the spirit and intent of this decision by moving to eliminate clearcut logging in Grassy Narrows Traditional Territory and to develop a meaningful new approach to the management to this territory in partnership with Grassy Narrows."

For Nature Canada, this decision is very encouraging, and we hope that it begins a new era and approach in the north that puts the rights of First Nations, and the protection of their culture and the environment ahead of industrial development.

Cairn Energy Oil Spill Response Plans Now Public

Responding to pressure from environmental groups around the world, Greenland has finally released Cairn Energy's oil spill response plans for public review.

Last month, Nature Canada joined 53 other international organizations – including Greenpeace, the David Suzuki Foundation, and Council of Canadians – in sending a letter to Greenland’s Prime Minister, Kuupik Kleist, expressing serious concern over the lack of transparency regarding Cairn’s operations in this unique and fragile region.

Bizarrely, the Greenland government argued it had been necessary to keep Cairn's contingency plans confidential until now because of the "unlawful actions aimed at the safety measures at oil exploration". Greenpeace has launched a number of protests at Arctic drilling operations over the past year.

Cairn's drilling operations -- which so far haven't yielded commercial amounts of oil and gas -- are a real gamble for the pristine wilderness of the Arctic. Walrus, seal, bowhead whale and polar bear habitats could be disrupted and entire remote communities wiped out if a toxic spill eliminates their means of subsistence living.

A spill in this region could be devastating to arctic seabird colonies feeding on the ice floes at Important Bird Areas along Nunavut’s northern coast, Baffin Island or as far south as Labrador. Ivory Gulls, Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Thick-billed Murres and many other seabird or water bird species would be at risk.

Cairn's oil spill response plans are being made public even as Shell has admitted that more than 200 tonnes of oil have entered the North Sea after a leak in a flow line leading to the Gannet Alpha oil platform 180 km off Aberdeen, Scotland.
 
In a wearily familiar refrain, the company had at first vastly underreported the scale of the leak, and as for plans to stop the flow? Apparently, the leak is in an "awkward" place, and there are hundreds of tonnes of additional oil in the pipeline, yet to pollute a world-famous colony of bottlenose dolphins in nearby waters.
 
Canada should heed these events and think long and hard before allowing any new offshore drilling, especially in the Arctic, and enact a plan to end our reliance on dirty, polluting fossil fuels in favour of responsible development of clean, renewable energy.

With each new spill, and each inadequate clean-up response, it becomes clearer that even with preventive measures in place, accidents are certain to occur, so it is important to identify places of great ecological significance and permanently protect them. Establishing a comprehensive system of marine and coastal protected areas is essential before development begins, so that irreplaceable natural habitats aren't lost forever to disastrous industrial accidents. Important Bird Areas and existing Migratory Bird Sanctuaries are good starting points to better protect habitats for birds that, in many cases, Canada shares with the rest of the hemisphere.

An Arctic Experience to the "Place of Spirits" with Students on Ice

Students on Ice participants in Torngat National Park

What happens when you place 65 young people from all walks of life, 45 teachers, mentors, musicians and coaches on a floating classroom on the rugged coast of Labrador and Nunavut? You get a recipe for life shaping experiences. It was into this mixture that I was invited by Geoff Green, Executive Director of Students on Ice, to experience the Students on Ice (SOI) initiative – an international effort that aims to provide students from around the world with inspiring educational opportunities at the ends of the Earth and, in doing so, help them foster a new understanding and respect for the planet.

I intercepted the Students on Ice in the Torngat National Park on August 3rd, 10 days after they had set sail from Iceland. Our Twin Otter plane made a flyover of the bay, banked, then dipped and made its way onto a nearby runaway in hot pursuit of a lone Caribou which had taken refuge at the beginning of the tarmac. Within an hour of our landing, we joined the Students on Ice participants and made our way to the Torngat National Park base camp at Kangidluasuk – an orderly alignment of some 30 large canvass tents and a research trailer on a quiet beach overlooking the steely blue bay and glacier scarred landscape. The base camp was established by Parks Canada under the jurisdiction of the Nunatsiavut Government and its management is in the process of being transferred to the local Inuit representatives. At the base camp, we shared a wonderful dinner on the beach with the Inuit elders from the area who recounted stories of their time on this land. Many of the participants from Students on Ice were selected from Inuit communities across Canada’s north and it was beautiful to watch as, together with the Elders, they shared their rich culture with other youth from southern Canada, the US, Europe and Asia.

Over the next 3 days we nimbly made our way northward and as we did, we poked the ship into several breathtaking fiords that reach westward, penetrating deep into the Park. Nature Canada worked for several years with Parks Canada, and the people of Labrador to establish Torngat National Park in 2005. It’s one of Canada’s most remote National Parks occupying some 10,000 square km and extending nearly 1,000 km from Nain to the northern most tip of Labrador. The Park protects one of eastern North America’s greatest mountain ranges and its wildlife, including large populations of Polar Bears, Caribou, whales, seabirds and tundra Black Bears, and honors the Inuit whose settlements predate the first European Vikings and the Moravian Missionaries. Within the Park’s boundaries, two globally Important Bird Areas support large concentrations of Common Eider and several colonies of marine birds.

Each day was designed to expose young students to aspects of the north through different workshops including landscape painting, advocating on environmental issues, establishing an Arctic council, cataloguing plants, learning about the life history of birds, to name a few. These sessions were interspersed with excursions to picturesque glacial lakes, waterfalls and sacred Inuit burial grounds, as well as expeditions to climb mountains, search for Polar Bears and float alongside Minke Whales.

The Torngat Mountains and George River Caribou herds cross paths as they migrate to and from their calving grounds – we spotted several lone Caribou along the rocky shores. The inland bays and coastal waters were rich in bird species. We saw Common Loons, Black Guillemots, Glaucous Gulls, Peregrine Falcons, Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers, Northern Fulmars and Black-legged Kittiwakes. Northern redpolls were perhaps the most numerous passerine on most inland walks. And wildflowers, grasses and sedges abounded.

After departing Port Burwell, Killiniq Island on August 6th, we set sail across Ungava Bay and headed towards our final destination, Kuujjuak. In the afternoon, the students gathered one last time in the front hall of the ship to listen to leadership presentations and prepare for a final night of comedy, competitions, photography, singing and drama. It was clear when the curtain came down on the night, that the students had clearly been moved and Students on Ice had left an indelible mark on all those it had touched during the course of the fantastic voyage.

Students on Ice has done more to help shape young minds about the Arctic than perhaps any other initiative of its kind. By embracing Inuit knowledge and integrating their experience and understanding into the program, Students on Ice is breaking down the barriers between northern and southern cultures and is bravely paving the way for a new found understanding and respect for northern cultures and the Arctic environment.

The lessons learned from Students on Ice have profoundly impacted my understanding and appreciation for engaging young people in nature and these lessons learned come at an important time as Nature Canada looks for effective ways to continue engaging Canadians in a meaningful way in nature.

For more photos from Ian's trip and photos of Canada's National Parks, check out our Flickr album dedicated to these beautiful, wild spaces.

Should Kids Bring Electronics to Summer Camp?

Photo: L-lines via Flickr

Do you have a cellphone? An iPod? Chances are you do – and so do your children.

We live in a world that’s increasingly connected online through social media, instant messaging and email. Young people in particular live online in a way that their parents could never have imagined just five years ago.

With the emergence of Facebook, Twitter and a plethora of social media channels, adults and children alike are spending more time online and less time interacting with people face to face.

When it comes to connecting with nature, there’s a certain nostalgic view some of us carry around about how “in the good old days” spending time in nature meant watching the stars come out at night, fishing at dusk, and gathering around a campfire to tell stories. Camping and spending time outdoors was a departure from the daily grind. But with wireless coverage expanding further into cottage country and the wild spaces we hold so dear, more people are choosing to stay connected – all the time.

For parents who packed their kids off to camp this summer they had to make a decision their parents never had to make. Would they let their kids bring their electronic devices? Or would they firmly draw the line, asking their children to painfully detach themselves from their phone and iPod?

We asked our supporters what they thought in our July Quick Poll.

In answer to the question "Do you think children should be allowed to bring cellphones, ipods and other electronics to summer camp?", the overwhelming response from nearly 500 people was that parents should say no. Here's the breakdown of the numbers:

91.5 said no, they shouldn’t.
8.5 said yes, they should.

Many people elaborated on their choice by leaving a comment. I’ve listed a few below that illustrated the general sentiment about kids bringing electronics to camp.

“It takes away from the whole experience of being in away at camp. Instead of hiding in headphones or texting they get to interact with friends who are there with them. I speak from experience as a camper and a counselor!”

“The privilege of going to summer camp is so that children can be exposed to the wonders of nature. The songs of birds, different wildlife and of course, of getting along with each other on a more intimate basis. Phones should be for emergencies only.”

“They are in front of 'screens' and electronics all day. Today's children aren't familiar with nature and have little opportunity to surround themselves in natural environments. Electronic "diddlers" are hypnotic, distracting and addictive.”

Do you agree with these statements? Want to share your opinion? Join the conversation by adding your comments below.

Connect with Nature: Geocaching

Geocaching is a large scale treasure hunt that allows you to connect with nature and have fun at the same time. Geocaches are small objects hidden in intriguing places that are located using GPS coordinates. It can be anything from a clear plastic container to a rock with a secret compartment. They usually contain a logbook that allows you to register your “find” and see how many people have come before you. Once you know where you are and where you're going, you can search for the cache. Here’s what you need to do to get started:

- Join the community: Start your adventure by visiting www.geocaching.com to read up on geocaching and find a list of local associations that can help you get started in your area;

- Choose your destination: There are over 1 million geocaches hidden around the world, including many in Canada’s natural spaces. Cape Breton Highlands, Bruce Peninsula and Banff are just a few of the national parks where you can find geocaches. Check with your favorite park to see if there are geocaches to be found there or use the online community to plan an outdoor adventure in a space you’ve never explored before;

- Prepare for your adventure: Once you’ve chosen your destination, you’ll need to do some research about what to expect on your journey. The online community should fill you in on the level of difficulty of each geocache and give you some background about its location. Before you head out, make sure you have all the gear you need to navigate the terrain and a GPS device or GPS enabled mobile phone to help you find your way. Some parks or community groups will let you borrow GPS devices for your adventure;

If you’re planning to geocache in a National Park, make sure to read Parks Canada’s guidelines for geocachers before heading out. Geocaching is a great way to explore nature, but it’s important to respect the natural environment and ensure these areas remain protected. You can find these guidelines here: www.pc.gc.ca/docs/pc/guide/geocache/geocache1.aspx

- Enjoy your journey: Pack up your gear, type the coordinates of your geocache into your GPS and you can be on your way. Don’t forget to stay on marked trails and follow proper wilderness etiquette. When you get home, share your experience with fellow geocachers and start planning your next adventure!

Photo by Ian Robertson via Flickr

Congratulations to the Winner of Canada's Ultimate Family Adventure!

Congratulations to Savannah from Holy Name School in Ontario whose name was selected from over 7,700 entries in our Grand Prize draw! Savannah and her family will be heading to Jasper National Park this summer for the ultimate family adventure.

Savannah and her family will travel in luxury aboard a VIA Rail train through the breathtaking scenery of Canada’s spectacular Rocky Mountains. Upon arriving at Jasper National Park, they will learn to camp and stay in a cottage tent for a good night’s sleep between four unique adventures including the Ice Explorer tour on the Athabasca Glacier, Miette Hot Springs, Palisades Stewardship Education Centre, and white water rafting. Savannah also wins a Parks Canada Discovery Pass so that her whole family can continue to discover the endless fun of Canada’s National Parks and National Historic Sites all year long.

We also drew winners for 4 secondary prizes. Each of the following students won a $1,000 VIA Rail voucher and a Parks Canada Discovery Pass for their families:

• Joline from Mount Carmel-Blytheswood School in Ontario


• Sydney from Maple Grove School in Nova Scotia


• Felix from Cambie Secondary School in British Columbia


• Salem from Warren Elementary School in Manitoba

Thanks to everyone who entered our Canada’s Ultimate Family Adventure contest! We hope you enjoy using your My Parks Pass this year.

And if you’d still like a chance to win prizes – just for you – make sure to share your My Parks Pass experiences through photos and stories in the My Ultimate Parks Pass Experience contest all summer long.

Court victory for caribou in Alberta!

Boreal Woodland Caribou are listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). A recovery strategy, including the identification of critical habitat, was due in 2004. The herds in Alberta are particularly endangered as their habitat continues to disappear and degrade due to tar sands development. Fortunately, a court last week ordered the Minister of Environment to protect Woodland Caribou. The court concluded the minister's decision to deny emergency protection under the SARA had no basis and set a Sept 1st, 2011 deadline for Minister Kent to release a draft recovery strategy for the species.

This court decision was the result of lawsuits brought by Ecojustice on behalf of the Alberta Wilderness Association and the Pembina Institute, and by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, the Beaver Lake Cree Nation and the Enoch Cree Nation. Read more about the case here and here.

This is one more in a series of court decisions ordering the government to implement the Species at Risk Act. Let's hope no more court cases are needed; we need urgent action to protect caribou and other species at risk.

July Photo of the Month

While it’s difficult to identify the frog species featured in the July Photo of the Month, there’s a good chance it is one of these frogs commonly found in Ontario: Green Frog, Northern Leopard Frog or Mink Frog.

With dark crossbands on its legs, the Green Frog can also be identified by the yellow eardrum twice the size of its eye. Unlike the Northern Leopard Frog’s guttural call, the Green Frog sounds like a loose banjo string. The Mink Frog, much like the Northern Leopard Frog, does not have crossbands on its legs. But it does leave a musky odour if handled.

Unfortunately, frog populations are declining worldwide. As an indicator species, frogs tell us what’s happening in the environment – their semi-permeable skin is highly sensitive to changes in water, air and soil quality. The first signs of environmental degradation are often reflected in the health of local frog populations.

Want to learn more about the frogs in your area? Why not join FrogWatch, a nationwide volunteer monitoring program that tracks changes in the geographic range, the beginning and ending of the calling season, and the population of frogs and toads in Canada – you will be helping scientists collect valuable information on frogs!

Do you love this photo? Put it on your desktop!

Share your nature photos by joining the Nature Canada Flickr Group. Add your photos to the pool for the chance to be featured as the Nature Canada Photo of the Month!