The Wetlands Observer
99 Lang's Landing, Site 8, Box 1, Monetville, ON, P0M 2K0
E-mail: mashkinonje@hotmail.com www.nipissing.com/mashkinonje
The Wetlands Observer
99 Lang's Landing, Site 8, Box 1, Monetville, ON, P0M
2K0
E-mail: mashkinonje@hotmail.com
www.nipissing.com/mashkinonje
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Volume 3, Issue 1 January 2003 Home of the Snow Bunting, Gray Jay, and numerous other fascinating species.
The goal of the park, “To protect the natural and cultural heritage of the park while offering low-intensity recreation and ecotourism-based opportunities to complement existing local and regional tourism”, was strongly endorsed by the comments. Suggestions to improve the plan included: increase local cultural heritage, provide greater protection to heron rookeries and some adjustments to trail and access locations. Several comments were received related to hunting, trapping and wildlife viewing. These comments will be used to prepare the Final Plan due for release early in the new year. Chuck Miller, Friends Fun Friends of Mashkinonje have had a lot of fun since our last newsletter. In August we had our picnic. October, we had a boat ride around the park and hike from the Secret Passage to the Sawmill Site. Then in January, we conducted our first Christmas Bird Count in conjunction with Bird Studies Canada.
Some of the more adventurous folks continued to look for the Sawmill Site. Dr. Peter Beckett discovered some interesting plants, mosses and lichens. Then, in front of us was a flock of Rusty Blackbirds foraging on the ground, scarcely affected by our presence. We were intently watching the Rusty Blackbirds, when Captain Rick returned, having found the Sawmill Site. On we went to explore the remains of yesteryear. We were so engrossed with our adventure that we forgot all about the time. Much later, Gary and I had hot drinks and snacks at our house before everyone left for home. We all learned, had fun, and all the participants were happy to become Friends of Mashkinonje.
Our Christmas Bird Count was a spur of the moment event. I was taking part in the North Bay Christmas Bird Count conducted by the Nipissing Naturalists Club when Cal Osborne and Dick Tafel encouraged me to do the same in my area. The Nipissing Naturalists Club are known throughout the world for the last four years for having the most participants in the CBC approximately 800! It didn’t take much thought before Dick had me in contact with Bird Studies Canada and Cal had our area precisely drafted out. Seventeen feeder-watchers were enthusiastic about taking part and sharing their bird sightings. Fourteen field observers and three guides traveled the icy roads and tramped through the bush. We counted 29 species and 1268 individual birds. Details can be found on the website: www.nipissing.com/mashkinonje (see Christmas Bird Count). Gary and I had dinner for the field observers and, if the roar in the house was any indication, everyone had a great time. Liz Lang had a great idea to have a Summer Bird Watching Day. There will be more birds and more of our Friends of Mashkinonje will be in the north to enjoy the event. We have not worked out the details yet, but mid-June might be a good time. Let us know what you think and we will keep you informed. We expect to start work in Mashkinonje Provincial Park this summer. We cannot complete this task without your help. Our thanks go to our 2002 sponsors:
Did You Know?? “Snow Bunting” comes from an Old English word "buntyle" which describes their plump shape, and “snow” - you can figure that one out! Gray Jay, also known as Canada Jay or Whiskey Jack, probably got it’s name for being a little foolish and sometimes silly, hence “jay”. Whiskey Jack comes from Algonquin meaning roguish or stealing. Here Goes Astronomy Dates you might want to be watching the Night Sky:
Welcome New Friends Dan Busch and Cendrine Gemberling, Richard Blaszczyk and Brenda Holbein, Russell and Brenda Van Exan, Nicole Wilson, Bill and Claire Merrick, Paul and Jocelyne Lemieux, Cal Osborne and Sandra Arseneau, Greg and Pat Boxwell, Ray and Bev Kingdon, Sue Pilling and Stephen Romaniuk, Lori and Janis Reed, Roy Summers, Dick and Elsa Tafel, and Dr. Kevin O'Grady.
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We
were fortunate to have a nice sunny day for our picnic. Harley Lang had to
postpone his Beaver plane flights due to the wind, but everyone enjoyed
Capt.Rick Lemieux's luxurious pontoon boat rides around the park. Dr.Chris
Blomme from Laurentian University as well as some of our Friends lent us
mounted birds for our display and bird identification contest. The birds
on display were the Great Gray Owl, Gray Jay (Canada Jay or Whiskey Jack),
Scarlet Tananger, Northern Flicker, Ruddy Ducks, Black Duck, Green-winged
Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Redhead Duck and Wood Duck. Winners of the contest
were Ashley Imhoff, Elsie Bertrand (not available for the photo) and
Michel Dalaire. Chuck Labelle entertained and acted as MC to the enjoyment
of everyone. Thanks to all of the volunteers that made the picnic a
success. You may want to put August 17th on your calendar for next years'
event. Further information will follow in our July newsletter.
In
early October, the FOM hosted the Nipissing Naturalists Club and Dr. K
O’Grady on a trip into the park. Daniele and Rick Lemieux took us on their
pontoon boat. We boarded at Saenchiur flechey on the West Bay of Lake
Nipissing and traveled under Hwy 64 to the West Arm and around the park to
the Secret Passage. The weather was rainy at the beginning of the trip.
Harley Lang, our local historian, was relating the interesting history of
the area and joking with us. Before we knew it, the rain had stopped. When
we reached the Secret Passage, Captain Rick pulled out the gang plank and
we carefully disembarked. There were no casualties! We climbed over the
rock ridge to a hidden wonderland. The calm beaver pond was surrounded by
stately pines, with pretty mosses growing down to the edge of the water.
Gray Jays, Hairy Woodpeckers, White-throated Sparrows and Blue Jays flew
around as if we were not there.