Lab Bird Cams Virtual Bird Watching at its Best! Click here!
What does the lynx say? This incredible video offers a rare glimpse of a Canada Lynx in its natural habitat.
Click here!
At the cottage: Do not feed the birds or any wild animals. Dispose of garbage often – municipal dumpsters or landfill and eliminate odours from garbage containers (freeze fish & meat or use secure, bear resistant containers is disposal is delayed. Keep the BBQ grill and drip tray clean. Feed pets indoors – not on deck or porch. Do not leave food out on tables or counter tops – not even if packaged. Do not leave candles, lotions, insect repellents or other fragrant products outside or near open windows or doors. While walking/hiking Take a whistle, air horn, bear spray,...
Read More...RATTLER LESSON – by Jim Bowden I was bitten by a rattlesnake earlier this summer. My experience is worth telling. There are lessons to be learned, or at least reinforced. Even for a healthy adult, getting to a hospital post haste can be incredibly important – far more important than I had realized before this incident – and having a “plan” in place can save a life. Also, I for one was truly impressed by how terrific the service was at our local hospitals for what was a life-threatening circumstance. We need these facilities, and we should be grateful to have them and their trained...
Read More...GBA would like to extend its thanks to Minister Catherine McKenna for selecting the east coast of Georgian Bay as a Coastal Conservation Project, and for the $1.95 million Environment and Climate Change Canada grant that will support it. The 4 year project will cover 347,000 hectares of eastern Georgian Bay coast and inland areas and will combine traditional science with Indigenous knowledge to gather data, plan and implement actions to address threats to area species at risk. Congratulations are due to the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, Georgian Bay Land Trust, Magnetawan First Nation, and Shawanaga First Nation on their successful joint application for this project. Read more about the project here. For additional information follow Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve and Georgian Bay Lan
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has just announced 26,514 acres, or approximately 60 percent of Cockburn Island, just west of Manitoulin Island, have been protected. The island contains hardwood forest, wetlands and inland lakes that provide habitats and migratory stops for a wide variety of plants and animals. Read more about the acquisition and the island’s ecological significance here.
Temperatures were generally below average last week, with low temperatures reaching below freezing in some areas. There was also significant precipitation throughout much of the Great Lakes basin, with a large storm providing even more rainfall over Lake Ontario and some of Lake Erie on Wednesday and Thursday. So far this month, the Great Lakes basin has received 145% of its normal October precipitation. Over the next seven days expect significant rainfall over the majority of the Great Lakes basin. Over that same period, temperatures should remain slightly below normal throughout most of the basin with the exception of Lake Ontario. Lake Superior is 1 inch higher than a month ago, Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 1, 6, 8, and 8 inches respectively, below what they
From a month ago: Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron water levels are up 1 to 2 inches; and Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 1, 4, and 8 inches, respectively, below. The levels for all of the lakes on October 11th were lower than the lakes’ October record high monthly average levels by a range of 1 to 7 inches. In addition, the lakes are 7 to 18 inches higher than they were at this time last year. Both Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are predicted to fall 2 inches over the next 30 days, while Lakes St. Clair and Erie are projected to decline 4 to 5 inches. The level of Lake Ontario is projected to drop 7 inches over the next month. Outflow from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River is forecasted to be above average for October. Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow through th
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is asking motorists to look out for vulnerable turtles on our roadways. Road surfaces provide an attractive source of warmth for these cold-blooded reptiles, particularly in the spring and early summer. During this time, turtles are mating and nesting; in late summer and early fall, newly hatched turtles are travelling from their nests to nearby wetlands. The Nature Conservatory of Canada has an informative video and tips for safely moving turtles. Watch the video and read the tips here.
Lyme Disease is spreading in Ontario. Black legged ticks carrying the disease have been found from Prince Edward County in eastern Ontario to Pinery Provincial Park in the southwest. We just spent time camping in Pinery and there were lots of ticks! To date the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit have NOT posted any advisories about the presence of Lyme Disease in the eastern Georgian Bay area. However, both health units have general information about Lyme Disease on their websites, so it is a local concern. It is prudent for all of us to avoid contact with the ticks that may spread this pernicious and difficult to treat disease. The Ontario government has useful information about Lyme Disease and how to avoid ticks. You can access it by
Ever wonder what you are supposed to do if you find a bear in your backyard? first off, don't get too close never chase the bear keep your garbage locked away and out of their smell zone What can you do? make some noise, a loud fog horn will do and get to safety and call the authorities Watch this video from CTV News - http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?playlistId=1.1809657
BLACK BEARS (Ursus americanus) There are between 75,000 & 100,000 black bears living in Ontario. Black bears are an important component of the province's ecosystem as keystone species, predators of juvenile deer and moose, and competitors with other species. Black bears have one of the lowest rates of reproduction of any land mammal in North America. Female bears have a very late age of reproductive maturity, having their first litter when they are 5 to 7 years old. They bear only 2 to 3 cubs per litter and reproduce once every 2 years max. In 2009 (the latest published numbers); the Ministry of Natural Resources reported 6,200 black bears killed in the annual hunt in Ontario. As you return to your place around the Bay, pause to admire and understand the black bear giving them t
At the cottage: Do not feed the birds or any wild animals. Dispose of garbage often – municipal dumpsters or landfill and eliminate odours from garbage containers (freeze fish & meat or use secure, bear resistant containers is disposal is delayed. Keep the BBQ grill and drip tray clean. Feed pets indoors – not on deck or porch. Do not leave food out on tables or counter tops – not even if packaged. Do not leave candles, lotions, insect repellents or other fragrant products outside or near open windows or doors. While walking/hiking Take a whistle, air horn, bear spray, walking stick, cell phone. Make a noise while walking to let the bear know you’re there – bells, whistling, talking, singing. Be alert and aware of your surroun
RATTLER LESSON – by Jim Bowden I was bitten by a rattlesnake earlier this summer. My experience is worth telling. There are lessons to be learned, or at least reinforced. Even for a healthy adult, getting to a hospital post haste can be incredibly important – far more important than I had realized before this incident – and having a “plan” in place can save a life. Also, I for one was truly impressed by how terrific the service was at our local hospitals for what was a life-threatening circumstance. We need these facilities, and we should be grateful to have them and their trained staff. What Happened: I had been out for dinner at my brother’s and, ignoring the warnings of my long-deceased mother, walked back through the woods (it’s maybe a 400 yard walk) wearing
