NATURE
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Plenty of owls tallied at Boxing Day bird count Lifestyle - Whilst many people were sleeping off Christmas excesses, 48 hardy individuals were out searching for birds on Boxing Day. This year’s Pakenham-Arnprior Christmas Bird Count was a special one: Charles Macnamara conducted the very first Arnprior Christmas Bird Count in 1913. This centennial year we were fortunate in having nearperfect conditions for bird counting. The wind remained light all day and the temperatures reached a comfortable -9 °C. By 6:30 a.m. Ryan Zimmerling and I were in Gillies Grove where Eastern ScreechOwls once resided. I say “once” because in the 1980s they were regularly recorded on counts but after Barred Owls moved into the Grove, the little owls vanished. In following years, attempts to elicit responses from Screech-Owls on counts went unrewarded. But this year Ryan Zimmerling and I heard a Screech-Owl respond with its unmistakable waver-
Michael Runtz Nature’s Way ing whinny to my imitations! In Pakenham, shortly after midnight the indefatigable Ray Holland had one fly over his head. The two ScreechOwls set a new record as only a single had been tallied on all previous counts. Other owls were observed in record numbers. A record count of Snowy Owls was anticipated due to the unprecedented influx of that northern species into eastern North America, but the 15 that were tallied was a surprise (seven was the previous record). Eight Barred Owls was
also a new record. The only other record tally was that for Dark-eyed Juncos: no fewer than 348 “tuxedo birds” were counted, most at birdfeeders. Two Belted Kingfishers wintering on Waba Creek cooperated nicely on count day, tying the record set in 1971. In Pakenham, only two of the three Red-bellied Woodpeckers visiting feeders showed up on Boxing Day, equalling the record set last year. The Best Bird Award went to a Varied Thrush that has been frequenting a feeder near Almonte. This stunning orange-breasted, blue-backed western bird was surprisingly not a first for this count; in 1990 one wintered at a feeder oddly not that far from the one currently being visited. While high numbers were recorded for some species, low counts of others were taken. Apart from American Goldfinches, very few finches were seen. There were no crossbills, redpolls, or Evening Grosbeaks. Large seed crops in the North prevented these wanderers from coming
to our region. However, large local fruit crops were responsible for 42 American Robins being tallied. House Sparrows continue their decline. In 1985 we counted 2,011 House Sparrows. This year, only 127 were found. This is my 47th local count (consecutive!) and it was the first on which I did not see a single House Sparrow. The total of 48 species was the lowest in 15 years. Deep snow and earlier periods of severe cold are undoubtedly responsible for an absence of Horned Larks and other count ‘regulars’. A full summary of this year’s Christmas Bird Count will appear on the Macnamara Field Naturalists’ Club website (mfnc.ca). From the time of writing, there are only another 364 days until my 48th Pakenham-Arnprior Christmas Bird Count. I am already getting excited! The Nature Number is 613387-2503; email is mruntz@ start.ca.
MICHAEL RUNTZ
Barred Owls were recorded in record numbers on this year’s Christmas Bird Count.
Most deer hunters comply OPP, OFSC warn snowmobilers with provincial regulations to stay off early winter ice
News – In the November deer hunts in eastern and southern Ontario, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) laid 243 charges and issued 435 warnings under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. MNR enforcement officers, who checked 6,500 hunters, placed special emphasis on regulations pertaining to safe hunting practices, including wearing hunter orange. They found some hunters wearing an inadequate amount of orange or none at all. VIOLATIONS
Charges and warnings were issued for the following violations: • hunting without carrying a licence; • hunting without having a licence; • hunting at night; • possessing a firearm at night; • having loaded firearms in a vehicle; • failing to properly attach a seal to
deer; • failing to provide the required information on a seal; • trespassing for the purpose of hunting; • interfering with lawful hunting; • failing to wear hunter orange while hunting. Charges and warnings were also issued under the Liquor Licence Act and the Off Road Vehicle Act. Officers are investigating a further 108 matters that will likely result in additional charges. For further information on hunting regulations, consult the 2013-14 Hunting Regulations Summary, available at Ontario.ca/hunting. To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) tollfree any time or contact a ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
News - Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is urging people to stay clear of its hydroelectric stations and dams and use extra caution on lakes and rivers. “Our message is simple: Stay Clear! Stay Safe,” said OPG senior vice-president Mike Martelli. “This is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, but people should stay away from our hydroelectric dams and stations. These areas are never safe for recreational activities.” Despite recent cold weather, it’s not unusual for some areas of the province to experience above freezing temperatures and rain over the holiday period. This will mean increased water flows on Ontario waterways. The water near dams is always flowing, which means ice near them does not form as solidly as it does on still water.
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Dams no place for winter play
News – The OPP and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) are reminding snowmobilers that no ice can be considered 100 per cent safe to ride on with a snowmobile. This is especially true this winter when ice is forming earlier than usual in many areas and may look safe, but is not yet thick or strong enough to hold snowmobiles.
OPP and OFSC recommend that snowmobilers stick to available, land-based, OFSC prescribed trails whenever possible. OFSC clubs provide numerous trails that avoid water crossings altogether and also provide many bridges and culverts to pass over known water crossings safely.
THAW, RAIN
If you do make the personal choice to take the risk of travelling on ice by snowmobile, wait until a marked stake line is in place and cross only when you can follow it directly from shore to shore, without stopping on the ice.
This ice warning also applies during any prolonged period of thaw or rain, and late in the season after ice begins to deteriorate from milder temperatures. To avoid unnecessary risks, the
THE TOWNSHIP OF LANARK HIGHLANDS
STAKE LINE
While ice crossing is never a sure thing, snowmobilers can also reduce their risk by: • checking ice thickness and quality before riding onto any frozen water; • understanding that ice conditions may vary from day to day, from hour to hour and from place to place; • never travelling on ice alone, at night or while impaired; • avoiding slushy ice, untracked ice, or ice near moving water or dock bubblers; • watching out for obstacles like rocks, stumps, docks, ice roads and fishing huts; • wearing a buoyant snowmobile suit and carrying ice picks.
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
613-259-2398 or 1-800-239-4695
COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE Council Tuesday January 28th, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. Committee Tuesday January 7th, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday January 21st, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. Please note the January 7th meeting is being scheduled one hour earlier to address finalizing the 2014 budget.
www.lanarkhighlands.ca
DID YOU KNOW? The Re-Use Centre at the McDonald’s Corners waste site is open to all township residents. We have more clothing than we know what to do with - for people of all sizes - and it’s free! Come and check it out Thurs 2-5, Sat 9-1, Sun 12-5.
KEEP IT GREEN – RECYCLING WORKS! Arnprior Chronicle-Guide EMC - Thursday, January 2, 2014 11