eastern region (ontario)
VOLUME 29, NUMBER 1, 2008
Wetland Tale springs to life at Kortright Centre
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A series of new interpretive signs bring wetland creatures to life at Kortright Centre for Conservation. The signs are designed by Ontario artist Robert VanNood who is well-known for his animated characters. The signs are loosely based on a booklet he created with Ducks Unlimited Canada several years ago called A Wetland Tale. A new twist is a spunky little tour guide in the form
of a field mouse that takes visitors through the stages of wetlands, visiting all the seasons and introducing daytime and nighttime wetland creatures. The signs were officially unveiled in October with the help of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and a local school group. î “
Actions really do speak louder than words! New viewing structures and platforms help visitors discover the wonder of wetlands up close at Kortright Centre.
Lakeport promotion a success
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The Lakeport promotion raised a whopping $42,500 for wetland conservation. Throughout September and October 2007, Lakeport donated 50 cents per every case sold in northern Ontario to Ducks Unlimited Canada. The money will be applied to some much needed project maintenance in northern Ontario including a drawdown at Hilliardton Marsh and nest box maintenance throughout the north.
Team DU needs you! Ducks Unlimited Canada’s new Active by Nature brand defines our core customers as people who are passionate about nature and wildlife, who are active in the outdoors, and who actively support conservation. This certainly defines our volunteers. Join the team that is actively making a difference to protect Ontario’s wetlands and the waterfowl and other wildlife that depend on them. Join Team DU! The Pickering, Perth, Peterborough and North Bay chapters celebrated their 25th anniversaries in 2007. The Toronto chapter celebrates its 30th this year!
Wetlands dedicated to past DU presidents John C. Eaton at the wetland that was dedicated to him in honour of his tenure as president in 1990-1991 and his longstanding commitment to Ducks Unlimited Canada. The wetland is a private landowner project in the Niagara area owned by John and Sadie Creedin. Calton Swamp near Aylmer, Ont., was dedicated to Dr. Duncan Sinclair in recognition of his tenure as president in19891990. Friends and family joined Sinclair and his wife Margaret at the dedication.
Responsibility for wetlands falls to local councils
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Kevin Rich leads DU Ontario’s input into municipal planning initiatives. The Province has put much of the responsibility for protecting wetlands and other natural features on the shoulders of municipal councils. These councils and their staff face tremendous pressure to accommodate new development, and some welcome it in the unsubstantiated belief that an increased tax base will provide financial stability. For a variety of reasons relating to population growth and changing demographics (such as retirees moving out of cities), we’re seeing more and more development pressure in rural areas and DUC is strongly concerned that waterfowl habitat will suffer for it. Rich and his colleagues will be making presentations in select municipalities throughout the province. The gist of their message is that municipalities should place much more emphasis on opportunities to conserve natural areas, water and other natural resources as a component of any growth management strategy and official plan review. Our natural infrastructure – which sustains all of our basic biological needs – should not be viewed as a constraint to growth, but instead should be considered as the underpinning and foundation of healthy, sustainable communities. More specifically, Rich calls on municipalities to take these steps: • Commit the necessary resources to ensure a consistent, up to-date base map of natural areas across the municipal planning area. • Commit resources to reviewing and revising land use policies for increased protection of wetlands, woodlands, other natural areas and water resources. • Commit to the understanding that all ecosystems and watersheds have limits and growth should not be acco modated unless the work has been done to determine whether the landscape can sustain it and remain healthy. “Human needs must be met in balance with the need to sustain our natural environment, and current protective measures are only scratching the surface,” says Rich. “Where the rubber hits the road is within the land use plans approved by local municipal councils and the decisions made when implementing those plans.” And his special advice to municipal decision-makers? “When you have a few minutes, take a nice walk around a wetland…you just might be surprised what you see there,” says Rich. (If you need help finding one, go to www.downatthepond.ca.)
eastern region (ontario)
Wetlands and farming find common ground in Melancthon Township project
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A 1950s municipal drain running the length of Paul Chantree’s The Chantree wetland is a partnership project with DUC, 100-acre parcel of land that had not been cleaned out in at least 30 Ontario Stewardship, Grand River Conservation Authority and years became the catalyst for an intriguing wetland project. The Melancthon Township. Its location just outside of the magnificent plugged drain left the land too wet to farm but fostered Chantree’s Luther Marsh makes it an attractive spot for breeding waterfowl interest in wetland habitat. Then an upstream landowner filed a and other wildlife. Deer tracks showed that local wildlife (including petition for the cleanout of the drain. Under normal circumstances, some escapee cows) had clearly been checking it out when the DUC this would have returned Ontario extension team Chantree’s property to toured the project in arid pasture but workearly October and the ing with DUC Ontario, basins were teeming he formulated a plan for with tadpoles and even a wetland restoration some minnows. project that would see In an interesting parwater from the municiadox, the Drainage Act pal drain pass through a actually protects this series of excavated basins wetland, which is now before heading on Chantree's property before (left) and after DUC wetland conservation project. part of the drain itself downstream. The idea and cannot be altered in provided an opportunity to work with the drainage superintendent future cleanouts. The project enjoyed the full support of to incorporate the excavation of basins within the drain. Melancthon Council and will serve as a demonstration site to The project set an interesting and mutually beneficial precedent showcase a viable wetland enhancement project within a municiin this intensely farmed area: the neighbouring row-cropper got the pal drain. Congratulations to Paul Chantree and conservation municipal drain cleaned, Chantree got his wetlands and downpartners on another wetland project that’s good for ducks, other stream landowners reap the benefit of agricultural run-off that is wildlife and people. now filtered through a series of small wetlands.
Giant Tiger sponsors giant-sized restoration project
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At a celebration at Marlborough Forest last fall, Ottawa’s own Giant Tiger Stores Limited, an all-Canadian retail chain with over 178 store locations from coast to coast, made a three-year leadership pledge of $325,000 towards critical wetland restoration at the Marlborough Forest. “The Marlborough Forest wetland restoration is a great opportunity to protect wetlands in an area that is open for the public to visit and enjoy,” says Gordon Reid, chairman and CEO of Giant Tiger Stores Limited. “The Ducks Unlimited project we are supporting is the largest municipally owned forest in Ontario and is a major part
of the Rideau Trail from Kingston to Ottawa. As well, there are trails for horseback riding, hiking and nature appreciation. The wetland supports a great deal of wildlife besides waterfowl and provides wildlife with safe places to live.” In Marlborough Forest, wetlands vary in size from small beaver ponds to large hundred-acre riverine marshes. These wetlands cover more than 10,900 acres within the forest. In the 1980s Ducks Unlimited Canada partnered with the municipality and the Ministry of Natural Resources to restore over 1,038 acres of wetlands here but time took its toll and critical maintenance is needed to ensure that the wetlands continue to serve as habitat and recreational jewels for at least another quarter century. “Through our partnership with the City of Ottawa and with the generous financial support of Giant Tiger Stores Limited, these wetlands and uplands will remain productive habitat. It is reassuring to see a national company with strong roots in eastern Ontario supporting this local environmental initiative,” said Jamie Fortune, DUC director of regional operations for Eastern Canada. Left: Giant Tiger mascot gives thumbs up to the retailer's giant contribution to Ottawa's Marlborough Forest.
Come out and celebrate Ducks Unlimited Canada’s 70th anniversary. Join DUC volunteers at the DUC Ontario Convention at Nottawasaga Inn and Resort on May 2-4, 2008. For more information check out the On the Fly section of this issue of Conservator or go to www.ducks.ca/DUC, and look under “in your province” and Ontario. To register, contact Rhonda Simpson at 1-866-389-0418 or e-mail r_simpson@ducks.ca.
DU Ontario mourns the loss of a conservation partner DUC was profoundly saddened by the death of Rodney MacLaren in November. Mr. MacLaren was an innovative beef cattle operator and worked with Ducks Unlimited Canada to manage the pasturelands at DUC's Atocas Bay project east of Ottawa. Mr. MacLaren was a leader in advocating for wetland-friendly management practices and his enthusiasm and support for wetland conservation was an inspiration to DUC staff and volunteers. Mr. MacLaren will be deeply missed by the conservation and agricultural community and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.
South Carolina delegates tour Eden Grove wetland
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In late October, delegates from the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and DU Inc. toured the DU Eden Grove wetland project in beautiful Gananoque. Situated within the Frontenac Axis, which is not only a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve but also one of Ducks Unlimited Canada’s highest priority waterfowl habitat areas, this 45-acre wetland was restored in 2000 with funding from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Ontario receives up to $45,000 annually from South Carolina. This funding is then leveraged through DU Inc. and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act act to bring the total funding up to $215,000. To date, South Carolina has invested roughly $2.1 million in Canada's wetlands. There’s good reason for South Carolina’s interest in Ontario: many of our ducks end up there. Out of all the ducks recovered in South Carolina that were banded in Canada between 1986 and 2003, 61 per cent were recovered in Ontario. Sixty per cent of these are mallards, followed by wood ducks at 18 per cent. From left: Jamie Fortune, DUC regional director of operations; Bill Short, South Carolina state chairman, DU; Dean Harrigal, South Carolina Natural Resources; Joe Johnson, vice chairman, South Carolina Migratory Waterfowl Committee; Scott Muir, DUC waterfowl biologist; and Jay Phillips, district chair, South Carolina.
eastern Region (ontario)
The Flyway newsletter is published by Ducks Unlimited Canada Oak Hammock Marsh Conservation Centre P.O. Box 1160, Stonewall, Manitoba R0C 2Z0 tel (204)467-3000 fax (204)467-9028 toll-free 1(800)665-DUCK Please direct your inquiries to the following: Eastern Region Atlantic: Kelly MacDonald Quebec: Bernard Filion Ontario: Lynette Mader Western Region Marci Dube
Flyway production staff Director of Communications and Marketing: Madeleine Arbez Editor: Duncan Morrison Assistant: June Finnson Art Director: Tye Gregg Graphic Designers: Lindsay Pikta-Marie, Aquila Samson, Jeope Wolfe © Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2008 Printed in Canada on 100% recycled paper including 100% post-consumer fibres
Ontario Area Contacts Director of Regional Operations Eastern Canada, Jamie Fortune (613) 565-2525 Manager of Provincial Operations for Ontario Ron Maher (613) 389-0418 Conservation Programs
(705) 721-4444
Outreach Programs Lynette Mader
(705) 721-4444
Education Program Coordinator Stephanie Walker (705) 721-4444 Government Relations Julie Cayley
(705) 721-4444
Development
(705) 721-4444
Provincial Manager of Event & Volunteer Programs Steve Stinkowji (705) 544-8437 Event & Volunteer Customer Service (613) 389-0418 (866) 389-0418 publication agreement #40064849