February 2022
Show a little
extra love
Township update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
this year.
Recipe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Ice skating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Your tax dollars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Washago’s Trumpeter Swans by Ellen Cohen Every year, locals thrill at the sight of the return of the Trumpeter Swans at Washago Centennial Park. The swans come here because the water is open. It’s where they can spend the coldest months of the year safely raising their young, the cygnets, and have plenty of food to eat from the bottom of the lake. It’s quite likely visitors will have the opportunity to meet Susan and David Best at the dock in the park. They are there almost every day fulfilling their responsibilities as key members of the Ontario Swan Restoration Program. They assist with tagging and tracking, or helping with injured swans. Many visitors come year after year and, through education, perhaps speaking with Susan, have learned about appropriate behaviour around the swans. These visitors are kind and respectful, understanding that the adults are focused on the care of their family. They also understand that in spite of the size of these Trumpeters, the adults and the cygnets can be frightened easily. They will feel panic if threatened and this will upset the entire flock. New visitors, please be aware of the following: Feeding the swans: they are not hungry and don’t really need extra food. There is ample for them at the bottom of the lake. However, if you still feel compelled to add a little something to their diet, place only
untreated whole corn in the buckets that are on either side of the driveway near the dock. They should not be fed anything else. Please do not drop corn on the driveway or dock because it will likely be mixed in ice, snow and feces which can be very harmful to the swans. Whole corn can also be put (in small quantities) into the shallow water for the birds. Leave your dog at home or in the car at a significant distance from the dock, far enough away so their barking does not disturb the swans: not only will a barking dog disturb the swans, but a dog that goes in the water after the swans is the worst thing that could possibly happen. The swans will be in danger and so is the dog. A reminder: there are both provincial and federal laws protecting the Trumpeter Swans. Look but don’t touch: the swans in Washago can often be very close to you and your family if you’re in the driveway or on the dock. Although they are rarely aggressive, just keep your distance and allow them to live in peace. Aggressive human or canine behaviour will alarm the entire flock. Talk to them. Look at them. Take pictures. Do not approach a ‘sleeping’ swan: swans are the ‘polar bears of the bird family’. With upwards of 30,000 feathers, they are not in danger of freezing but on days of -20°C or colder they hunker down and go into a torpor which helps them conserve energy.
Trumpeter Swans fly over the Washago water tower. Photo by Susan Best. Do not coax them out of this torpor. Leave them alone please. To report concerns or obvious injuries, please contact Trumpeterswan@live.com.
Supply and Demand
Paul Cleary B.B.A.
The current supply of real estate inventory is low but demand is very high due to several factors.
705-327-6002
If you’re considering a move, I can help you make an informed decision. Call me today.
BROKER
paul@paulcleary.com