eastern region (ontario)
VOLUME 32, NUMBER 2, 2011
Halton couple living lifelong dream with wetland on property
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After spending more than 30 years living in and around the ever-expanding city of Hamilton, Urmas Soomet and Barbara Kerr decided they wanted out of the city and began the search for their own little piece of paradise. They found it on a 40-acre rural property located just outside the town of Waterdown. Having always enjoyed spending time in the outdoors, these new rural landowners wanted to do something to give back to the environment, but were unsure about what to do, until an article in the local paper gave them an idea. After reading about another landowner embarking on stewardship activities on his nearby property, Soomet and Kerr made a few phone calls, which led to a referral from a friend to Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). The couple soon learned a portion of their property fell under boundaries that designated it provincially significant. This meant difficult applications would have to be completed and submitted. “We were amazed by the fantastic response and support we received from the staff at Ducks Unlimited Canada, as well as the Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Natural Resources,” says Soomet. “So many people are afraid to approach these types of organizations, but this is what they do, they are here to work with and support Ontario’s landowners, and in the end, with their help, we got the approvals we needed.” “We wanted to do it right,” adds Kerr. “We wanted to go through the proper steps and therefore we credit this project as a real joint effort.” Not being an active farm, the Soomet-Kerrs’ idle uplands would provide very good nesting habitat while an aging agricultural pond on a neighbouring property offered the permanent brood-rearing habitat that breeding waterfowl require. The only piece missing was the small, shallow, isolated wetland needed for pair habitat. With technical and funding assistance from DUC, Soomet and Kerr hired contractors to excavate the one-acre wildlife pond within an old hayfield that had remained seasonally wet, and turned this property into the “lifelong dream” they had been waiting for. “I thought when we put the pond in, we would see some ducks,” says Soomet. “But we have been amazed at the wildlife this has attracted.”
Ducks, blue heron, muskrat, beavers, deer, coyote, raccoons and more have regularly visited the Soomet-Kerr wetland project. “It is a community centre for wildlife,” says Kerr, “visible right here from the house.” Soomet and Kerr are grateful to DUC and the other organizations that assisted in making this project possible. They look forward to seeing their grandchildren grow up visiting the property, sharing in their grandparents’ love and respect for nature and as the couple adds “building for the future”! “This project really reflects DUC’s goal to build capacity for wetland restoration,” says Mike Williams, DUC conservation specialist, and temporarily serving as the local stewardship co-ordinator. “Research shows us that we are losing wetland habitat faster than we can save it. DUC can’t do it alone and we need more landowners like the Soomet-Kerrs to actively help restore wetland habitats.” S In 2010, Urmas Soomet and Barbara Kerr were presented the Hamilton-Halton Watershed Stewardship Award that recognizes people and organizations that have made significant contributions to conservation in the Halton watershed.
Frog box thinks outside the box
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Wetlands serve the life cycle requirements of over 600 species of plants and animals including 200 species at risk right here in Ontario. Dozens of these protected species are dependent on wetland habitat for at least part of their life cycle including the spotted turtle, least bittern, prothonotary warbler and six species of amphibians including the northern cricket frog, Fowler’s toad and four species of salamanders. Thanks to a recent commitment to donate 1 per cent of its gross income over the next five years to Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), FrogBox, a Vancouver-based company also operating out of Toronto, is giving Ontario’s species at risk a real boost. FrogBox offers an eco-friendly alternative to cardboard moving boxes and as part of its commitment to the environment it supports conservation efforts that preserve frog habitat. “What drew me to DUC is the conservation and restoration work they do in wetlands,” says Philip Harbut, general manager of FrogBox Inc. “We donate 1 per cent of revenue to projects that help restore and
protect frog habitat. DUC wetlands are these very same areas we are interested in so it’s a perfect fit. FrogBox is extremely excited to work with DUC to help save wetlands and bring awareness to the importance of conservation.” This generous donation will support the development of a formalized species at risk protocol in Ontario that will help guide wetland-related conservation activities. This protocol will be shared with conservation practitioners and government, and will highlight the importance of wetland restoration to species at risk and the importance of a protocol when undertaking new restoration projects and maintaining existing ones. S
All hands on deck for wood duck nest box crew
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When DUC participated in protecting the 762-acre Bickford Oak Woods in Lambton County near Courtright back in 2003, many organizations were involved, including the two local naturalist clubs, Lambton Wildlife Inc. and the Sydenham Field Naturalist club. As part of the project, the two groups installed a number of wood duck nest boxes, and their members have continued to maintain and submit usage records for those boxes to DUC every year since. At DUC such records from all across the province are used to determine how well the birds are doing and not only identify how well our program is functioning but also help us to direct the nest box program. The more records we get, the better the information we have. In January, 20 people, including an 11-month-old nestled in a backpack, trekked through five inches of new snow towards the beaver
pond more than 40 acres in size at the centre of the property. Eight boxes were inspected and revealed evidence that ducks had used most of them. As the nests were cleaned and freshened with new wood shavings, the egg membranes were counted as an indication of how many eggs had hatched. While one nest may have been predated and several others contained some unhatched eggs, the odds were very good for the 45 ducklings that fledged from the boxes, as the dense buttonbush found all throughout the wetland provides nearly ideal brood cover for wood ducks. This winter trip to the Bickford Oak Woods has become a popular outing for members of the two groups. The event provides an opportunity to appreciate wildlife while taking some positive actions for nature. S
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eastern region (ontario)
Toronto Conservation Dinner a smashing success
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For 32 years, Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Toronto committee has continued its tradition of excellence. This year’s 33rd annual Toronto Conservation Dinner was record-breaking, bringing in nearly $200,000 that will go directly towards wetland conservation efforts in Ontario. The Toronto Conservation Dinner continues to draw people from across the province, as far away as Edmonton and all points in between. This year, over 250 guests made their way to the committee’s new home – On the Park Events & Conference Centre – where everyone in attendance praised the volunteers’ extraordinary efforts and exceptional service. With more than 70 silent auction items to choose from, the bidding proved to be competitive throughout the entire evening. The Brian Burke Dinner for Six was the most sought after item of the night, alongside the six exclusive waterfowl hunts up for grabs within the special “In Flight” auction that included hunts from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and right here in Ontario. The live auction also set new records. Contributing to its success were
the multitude of one-of-a-kind items including an original Brian Atyeo painting and an assortment of trips to destinations like Plummer’s Arctic Lodges, Queen Charlotte Lodge and Langara Fishing Lodge. With accolades continuing to pour in from across the county, special thanks go to Ed Seagram, George Wallace, Steve Kerr and Peter Sheedy for their tireless efforts that resulted in an outstanding, first-class event. While planning for the 2012 Toronto Conservation Dinner is already underway, George Wallace had this to say about this year’s event: “This year’s success can be attributed to our sponsors, partners and all like-minded guests that were in attendance. As we look to 2012, there is still a tremendous opportunity to better the overall experience and bottom line of DU. With your support, there’s a very real opportunity to make this the No. 1 dinner in North America. We hope that those interested will join us next year on Thursday, January 26.” S
A more cautious approach to offshore wind power
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DUC commends the Province of Ontario on taking a precautionary approach to offshore wind power developments. As announced in a February 2011 press release, the Ontario government has made a commitment to hold off on proposed offshore wind projects while further scientific research is conducted. DUC supports environmentally sustainable sources of energy that reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. However, we caution that all forms of power generation entail environmental trade-offs, and even these alternatives, including wind energy, can have drawbacks. We are concerned about the sustainability of these developments, ensuring they are implemented in a manner (and location) that does not negatively impact waterfowl populations and the wetland and upland habitats on which they depend.
“We are pleased to see the Ontario government take a precautionary approach to offshore wind developments,” says James Brennan, DUC’s manager of provincial operations-Ontario. “DUC encourages the Province take a similar approach in all areas of continentally significant waterfowl habitat, particularly along the lower Great Lakes.” Cumulative and indirect impacts are not currently addressed in the assessment of potential impacts associated with proposed developments. DUC believes that the uncertainty created by the lack of peer-reviewed sound science investigating both the indirect (disturbance, habitat fragmentation, etc.) and the cumulative impacts of wind developments on waterfowl and their habitat must be addressed. We have and will continue to send this message to the Province. S
Ducks and Pucks!
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Community fundraising is a new DUC program that aims to bring the greater public together in support of wetland conservation and increase the profile of DUC. Thanks to the folks on the Haliburton chapter committee, DUC Ontario’s first event under the new community fundraising initiative not only attracted a whole new demographic for DUC events, but was a tremendous success, selling out in its first year. In January, teams from all over the region were invited to come out to the first annual DUC 4-on-4 Hockey Challenge…and come they did! Known as one of Ontario’s premier summer tourist destinations, the town of Haliburton hosted 80 players from eight different hockey teams, along with their family and friends, in this exciting round robin style tournament. The youthful and energetic crowd fully enjoyed all that the two-day tournament had to offer, with the highlight, second only perhaps to the hockey itself, being the Saturday night event. With incredible local music, a silent auction that featured an abundance of sports memorabilia, raffles, awards and prizes, the inaugural event was a real winner. “Our first annual 4-on-4 hockey tournament was a huge success,” says Scott Neilson, event chair. “We had some great people, great prizes and great hockey this year and we look forward to making it even better next year with more teams and additional divisions. We may have started off small, but we look forward to turning this into an event that will one day be talked about all over Canada.” Special thanks go to event sponsor The Brick Brewery and the dedicated committee members and key volunteers whose tireless efforts were instrumental in the flawless execution of this event. Kudos also to the entire Haliburton committee, who took it upon themselves to go out into the community and solicit cash sponsors to underwrite the costs of the ice rental. In the end more than $5,000 was raised to go towards DUC conservation efforts in Ontario. S
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: Krista Elliott Quebec: Bernard Filion Ontario: Joanne Barbazza Western Region British Columbia: Wendy Thatcher Flyway production staff Communications and Marketing Director: Sandy Gousseau Editor: Duncan Morrison Assistant: Deb Menard Manager Creative Services: Lindsay Pikta-Marie Graphic Designers: Christa Edwards, Aquila Samson, Jeope Wolfe © Ducks Unlimited Canada, 2011 Printed in Canada on 100% recycled paper including 100% post-consumer fibres
The Bancroft Bandits won the first annual DUC 4-on-4 Hockey Challenge
Ontario Area Contacts Director of Regional Operations Eastern Canada, Mark Gloutney (613) 565-5294 Manager of Provincial Operations Jim Brennan (705) 721-4444 Conservation Programs Owen Steele
(705) 721-4444
Landowner Programs Lynette Mader
(705) 721-4444
Education Programs Stephanie Walker
(705) 721-4444
Policy and Government Relations Julie Cayley (705) 721-4444 Fundraising Development Aaron Everingham James D. Lee
(705) 738-9929 (647) 345-3223
Eastern Region Events & Volunteer Programs Steve Stinkowji (705) 544-8437 Event & Volunteer Customer Service (613) 389-0418 (866) 389-0418 Communications and Marketing Joanne Barbazza (705) 721-4444 publication agreement #40064849