NEWS

NATURE CONSERVANCY OF CANADA STAKES A CLAIM please click here for an area map.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is a national land trust with 25,000 members. They have targeted the Carden Plain for protection due to its globally rare alvar communities. Starting with 200 acres donated by the MacDonald bothers twenty years ago, they have purchased the Cameron Ranch (2850 acres), then the adjacent Windmill Ranch (1500 acres), the Prairie Smoke Reserve (675 acres), the Little Blue Stem Alvar Reserve (710 acres) and most recentely McGee Creek Reserve ( 500 acres) was donated. All properties adjoin Cameron Ranch summing to over 6000 acres.. In 2005 Ric Symmes the regional director presented NCC’s grand ten-year plan for the Carden Plain. As shown on the map, NCC has defined a “project area” of 25,000 acres that includes all the quality alvar and borders Queen Elizabeth II Park (3,000 Sq. Km.) on the Canadian Shield. Their announced goal is, by 2015,to directly protect 12,000 acres, either alone or with partners such as Ontario Parks and Couchiching Conservancy, and indirectly protect the balance by deflecting aggregate development elsewhere. As of 2010 they are halfway there.

Property acquisitions continued in 2010. Wolf Run Alvar Reserve, over 300 acres, located north off Alvar Road within the ANSI (Area of Natural or Scientific Interest) was bought in October. Aside from offering excellent alvar, it is also strategically located near Queen Elizabeth II Park, the beginning of a link to the Cameron Ranch properties to the south. The price was about $200,000. Much of that came from government grants and carryover funds from Little Blue Stem fund raising but the Couchiching Conservancy still needed to raise about $80,000. They succeeded because Ron Reid and Janet Grand undertook a year long bird-a-thong fund raising project that contributed $37,500 in pledges and $47,000 in private matching funds.

In 2011 acquisition continues. First a 200 acre parcel located on the northeast corner of Wylie Road and McNamee Road and adjoining Wind Mill Ranch is scheduled to close October of 2011 at a cost of nearly $120,000. Once again government funding private matching funds will be a major contributors leaving Couchiching Conservancy with about $30.000 to raise. Next Nature Conservancy is near final discussions to acquire an 850 acre parcel adjoining Wolf Run Alvar Reserve Finally in 2011, Prospect Marsh Nature Reserve was donated by a private landowner to Couchiching Conservancy in memory of her parents Ralph and Min McCleary. (see picture )The Conservancy has excavated two brooding duck ponds with help from Ducks Unlimited that compliment the provincially significant wetland If you want to help, contact the Couchiching Conservancy at (705)326-1620 or e-mail conservancy.

INTEGRATED CARDEN CONSERVATION STRATEGY

In 2007 the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Couchiching Conservancy, the Carden Plain IBA and Wildlife Preservation Canada began an initiative to expand the 25,000 acre alvar focused project to include the IBA boundaries into an area of 50.000 acres focused on species at risk as well as alvar. The goal is to develop a program that protects species and alvar within the target area while at the same time creating benefits to local landowners. The initiative is named the Integrated Carden Conservation Strategy (ICCS). Initial public meetings revealed that landowners fear that the designation of their property as environmentally significant will reduce its economic value. They fear if a Loggerhead Shrike is spotted on their land they will lose control. Bird watchers present another landowner irritant sometimes slowing or blocking traffic and occasionally trespassing. Landowners question why bird watchers can’t be directed onto conservation lands and away from private property

Taking advantage of several new sources of funding (Species at Risk and Lake Simcoe Restoration) to address some of these issues. A “Birder’s Code of Conduct” was published in 2008 addressing many birder behavioural concerns. In addition some parking pull-off areas were built on Wylie Road and Prospect Road to facilitate traffic flow. A viewing blind was constructed at Box #10 on Wylie Road to focus attention toward conservation lands. A parking area and a 3.5 km nature trail was built on the Cameron Ranch to provide access while keeping birders and cattle separated.

A grazing seminar was sponsored and well attended. It offered suggestions to improve grazing productivity. Prompted by the seminar, a number of landowners have become partners in property improvement programs such as fencing, water supply and hawthorn thinning partly paid for by government programs accessed by the Couchiching Conservancy. A 200 acre wetland property was purchased on Prospect Road and will be donated along with a sign stating that naturalists are welcome.
The future plan is to work with quarries to develop a detailed landscape-based conservation plan for Carden as a supplement to the municipal Official Plan. ICCS will also create and ongoing Carden Forum to steer future projects such as ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) whereby landowners are paid to support species at risk. On going funding sources are as yet undefined.

QUARRY COMFLICTS

Resistance to the McCarthy Quarry proposal, which is backed and funded by Moyer Aggregates, from the Trent Talbot River Ratepayers Association (TTRRA), at a cost to them of $300,000, received another set back when the Environmental Review Tribunal rejected their appeal. TTRRA didn’t give up. They appealed their case to the Minister of the Environment who agreed with their petition and ordered the quarry application to be rejected. Since then the Minister has been replaced, hopefully for other reasons, following the 2007 provincial election, and Moyer has reapplied for a license. The City of Kawartha Lakes Council protested to the Ministry of the Environment that the current and potential cluster of quarries in the area could threaten the source water supply to municipal wells and that before any more licenses were approved a “Cumulative Ground Water Impact Analysis” (CIA) was required. The Minister wrote back agreeing and pledging to conduct the CIA and make the results available, Amazingly six months later Moyer was granted a water taking permit (PTTW) without a CIA but subject to public review on the EBR. In December 2009 the PTTW was officially granted in direct contradiction of the Minister;s promise. In the meantime the CIA has begun by the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Operators Association (OSSGA) under the supervision of MOE and TTRRA is appealing the PTTW to the Minister. The CIA is not expected to be completed until May 2012.

QUARRY COLLABORATION

In September of 2005, the Carden Plain IBA together with Couchiching Conservancy, the Carden Field Naturalists and the Victoria Land and Water Stewardship Council, hosted the Carden Plain Natural Heritage Conference. Among the ninety attendees were naturalist, local landowners and quarry representatives. A wide range of expert speakers expressed why the Carden Plain was special to them. The objective was to kick off a dialogue between the quarry industry, conservation interests and local landowners based on mutual respect and factual inputs. At the end of the conference the audience was asked to recommend future action. The overwhelming consensus was to form a multi stakeholder task force to seek a more harmonious future.

In October of 2005 the first task force meeting occurred with representatives of two major quarries, Lafarge and Dufferin (Tomlinson joined latter), plus the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (OSSGA), the Couchiching Conservancy, Carden Plain IBA, Nature Conservancy of Canada plus one cattle rancher (later two local landowners were added). On March 25, 2006 The Task force hosted Workshop #1 “A Dialogue on the Future of the Carden Plain”. Attendance was by invitation only in order to ensure a broad representation of views. Approximately 65 people attended. The purpose was to identify the key issues of concern to local landowners. Five key issues emerged; security of water supply, quarry operations especially blasting, the Official Planning process and zoning, land valuation resulting from zoning, quarry truck haul routes.

On July 9, 2006, the Taskforce hosted Workshop #2 “Quality and Quantity of Ground Water”. This time invitations were open to anyone interested. Approximately 50 attended. Expert speakers presented material on; Hydro geology on the Carden Plain, the Role of the Conservation Authority and the Role of Ministry of the Environment. An extensive panel discussion followed guided by questions from the floor.

On November 1, 2006, the Taskforce hosted a bus tour of three local quarries, Lafarge, Dufferin and Miller, to demonstrate the operations process including a blast. Invitations were open to all and about 50 attended. In each case the site manager led the tour and questions were encouraged.

In March 2007, another Workshop was held directed at Official Plan process. The intent was to provide attendees with a factual understanding of what Official Plans are intended to accomplish and how they are created. The timing anticipated that the City of Kawartha Lakes would publish their revised new Official Plan in the spring of 2007. This hasn’t occurred to date but the City did conduct a Haul Route workshop negating any need for the Taskforce to address that subject. Attendance at the Official Plan Workshop was down substantially from earlier events and it was decided to end the workshop program.

Discussions are proceeding with Miller Paving to construct an interpretive sign on their property on Kirkfield Road welcome visitors to the Carden Alvar. Both Dufferin and Miller quarries have contributed gavel and equipment to make the parking areas and laybys mentioned earlier. The OSSGA is trying to lead the industry into a friendlier, less intrusive, code of conduct.

ONTARIO LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION

The environmental theme is being challenged politically by a significant group of landowners, both local and away, who call themselves alternatively the Rural Revolution or the Ontario Landowners Association (OLA) They reject any government planned use of their private land (i.e. zoning) especially if it interferes with what they can do on it and who they can sell it to. They have posted signs throughout the City reading “THIS IS OUR LAND, GOVERNMENT BACK OFF!”. Seven local landowners, on the Carden Plain, went further in the summer of 2006 and posted signs prohibiting birders from looking for birds in their fields from the road. One local landowner even began stopping birders, walking on public roads, telling them to stop bird watching. He ceased this activity after being confronted by the police.
In the spring and early summer of 2007 tensions between OLA and birders appeared to have abated. Most of the anti-birder signs were not reposted and no confrontations with birders were reported. This calm was deceiving. In September the OLA hosted a rally on a member’s property on the east side of Wylie Road opposite box #10. They announced that they intended to clear all the hawthorn trees from 13,000 acres to prevent Loggerhead Shrikes from nesting. About 70 people attended the rally most of whom came from outside of Carden. There were numerous speeches and loud cheers before the rally broke for lunch. In all, about 100 hawthorn trees were cut down in a 100-acre site. While the threats proved empty, the rally did attract a good deal of local publicity and sparked the initiative to create an Integrated Carden Conservation Strategy mentioned above

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE RECOVERY STRATEGY

In August 2010 Environment Canada held a public meeting to unveil their Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Strategy. This process is mandated under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) passed by parliament in 2002. While much of the strategy was common sense Environment Canada also published a map of “Critical Habitat”. Environment Canada specified the designated “Critical Habitat” should be preserved in its current condition and specially be protected from aggregate extraction and residential development. “Critical Habitat” was determined by plotting all known Loggerhead Shrike nesting locations within the past ten years and adding the habitat surrounding these locations that exhibited similar topography. In total this resulted in about 50 patches covering 10,000 acres and effecting at least to some extent 80% of farm properties on the Carden Plain. The map provided the OLA with new ammunition. Ant-birding signs appeared on almost every fence. Loud protests were registered to the municipal Council. All of this reaction had no apparent influence on Environment Canada who proceeded to publish their strategy without any significant alterations.

To confuse matters further Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) appears to disagree with Environment Canada's strategy and prefers their definition of “Critical Habitat” which is a 400 meter donut surrounding any Loggerhead shrike nesting site over five years. This definition produces about 5000 protected acres instead of 10,000 on the Carden Plain. OMNR also refuses to publish any map to shown where this “critical Habitat” is but will advise landowners verbally on a case by case basis if their planned land use is allowed or not. Under Canada's constitution dating back to 1865 the provinces have jurisdiction over natural resources including wildlife on crown land and private land. Since OMNR won't accept or implement Environment Canada's strategy the entire controversy appears mote.

BLUE BIRD BOX RESULTS

From Herb Furniss, IBA Steering Committee.
2010 offered perfect weather for Blue Birds, warm and wet, producing lots of insects. Nest ing got off to a good start but about mid season many of the adult birds had disappeared. Eventually we determined these disappearances were the work of a family of Merlins that took up residence on Wylie Road and feasted off Blue Birds all summer. In the end 180 fledged compared to a similar number in 2009.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE RESULTS For 2010 Prepared by Jessica Steiner, Species Recovery Biologist, Wildlife Preservation Canada

Monitoring
After the encouraging increasing trend seen over the last several years, it was disappointing that the number of wild pairs observed in 2010 had dropped by approximately a third since last season. Twenty-two pairs were confirmed in the province: 16 in Carden, 5 in Napanee (including one composed of a spring release captive female) and 1 in Pembroke. There were no pairs confirmed in Fenelon Falls (Carden), Smiths Falls or Grey-Bruce this season. Interestingly, there was a large proportion of single birds observed in the province this year; 4-6 in Napanee, 9-12 in Carden, 1 in Pembroke and several (most unconfirmed) in Grey-Bruce, leading to some interesting observations of cooperative breeding. The harsh winter experienced by many south-eastern U.S. states where ELOSH are suspected to winter is a potential factor in the decline seen – a reminder of the susceptibility of this small population to stochastic events.

Despite the decline in breeding pairs, productivity was similar to last year. In 2009, there were 31 pairs - 22 of these (71%) fledging at least 81 young (average 3.7/pair). This year, 16 pairs (73%) fledged a total of at least 64 young (average 4/pair).

Returning captive birds
This year saw the return to breeding grounds of 7 birds previously released from the Ontario field breeding program:

Nest Checks
Nest checks continued in 2010 and were performed by Amy Chabot in Carden. There did not seem to be any direct association between nest checks and nest failures this year, but data will need to be compiled with that from previous years and properly analyzed. Clutch size and hatching/fledging success information has yet to be compiled.

Banding
Again this year an effort was made to trap all wild adults in order to determine individual identification, band newcomers, and bring all birds up to a 4-colour combo. All wild trapping and banding was conducted by Amy Chabot, in consultation with local field staff. All wild adults banded this year received WH/SI on the right as part of their 4-colour combination. Trapping success was good this season; however, there were a couple of birds that could not be trapped even after multiple attempts. Generally, there seemed to be a low proportion of wild SY birds in the population this year.

After careful consideration by the Recovery Team and advisors, it was decided to attempt nestling banding in Carden this year on a precautionary basis. All nestling banding was conducted by Amy Chabot, with Jessica Steiner as an observer, and Erica Lagios also present on one occasion. Nineteen young were banded from 4 broods (range 2-7/nest), all from different pairs. Generally, nestling banding went very well, with all but one young banded confirmed as successfully fledging.

Grassland Bird Survey & Point Counts
This was the 2nd year for the Grassland Bird Survey (GBS) in Ontario. Again, the intent of the GBS was to locate the majority of ELOSH in the core areas (providing survey coverage outside of Carden and Napanee and enhancing coverage within those 2 cores) and identify the suite of avian species typically associated with suitable shrike habitat. The survey method was modified from 2009 in an effort to increase detectability of shrike.

There was a significant increase in volunteer participation in 2010, with 85 participants (up from 51 in 2009), although coverage, measured by the number of OBBA squares and habitat patches surveyed, remained the same or declined slightly in all core areas. This was due to protocol changes that decreased the area a volunteer could cover.

There were 7 observations of shrikes reported to the coordinator or submitted with data forms. Despite follow-up visits by both the GBS coordinator and WPC field staff only one observation was confirmed in Pembroke.

Field staff conducted GBS surveys from the roadsides of patches containing known breeding pairs of shrikes. Staff also conducted on-site point counts on these same patches in an attempt to evaluate detectability of the 2 methods.

Data collected by volunteers and field staff was used to examine species composition on identified shrike habitat in the core areas.

Captive Population Management

Field Propagation and Release
Twenty-two pairs produced 127 young this season. This is an increase from last year (20 pairs produced 112 young), but still down from 2008 (22 pairs producing 152 young). Unfortunately, fledgling mortality was markedly increased from last season. As of September 22, thirty-four young produced this season have died (26% compared to 9.8% in 2009 and 25% in 2008), 5 of these after retention at wintering facilities. Fledgling deaths occurred almost exclusively at Ingersoll and Carden. Twenty-two young were retained for the captive population: 3 due to injury/illness, 11 considered P-VHP stock, and 8 forming the last release groups from Dyer’s Bay considered unreleasable due to threatening Merlin activity at the site. The remaining 76 young were released to the wild. While this is the lowest number we’ve released in the last 4 years, there was sufficient wintering space to retain additional young for the purposes of further experimental releases next season; these young normally would have been released.

Carden: Twelve breeding pairs were transferred to the site April 29 - two field breeding enclosure were left vacant for releases. Nine of these original pairs successfully fledged young. Six of these pairs second-clutched and the remaining 3 may have, but were affected by the imposed cut-off date and separated June 23-25. Three re-pairings occurred and none were successful. In total 58 young were produced at this site this season. However fledgling mortality was high at this site, and 20 young (34%) died between July 4 and August 24. The vast majority were found suddenly dead with no prior signs/symptoms. Final necropsy results are pending for most deaths. Two birds initially tested positive for WNV by PCR, however we have since learned that one of these is likely a false positive based on results from histology and immunohistochemistry. The Lindsay Health Unit was doing mosquito sampling at the site Sept 13. Eight birds were retained for the captive population, 2 of these later dying at wintering facilities. The remaining 30 young were released between July 17 and August 29. An additional 3 young fledged at the Toronto Zoo were released at the Carden site.

Banding
All birds receiving geolocators were fitted with SI on left leg and RD on the right, in order to ensure an allowable total weight load. All other birds received a unique 4-colour combination (3 colours + silver ID). Birds released from Carden were given combinations which included DG/SI on the left.

Colour-breast marking
In an effort to increase detectability by birders/the public along migration routes and on wintering grounds, as well as potentially gather some information on juvenile moult, the breasts of the majority of release birds were coloured this season. It was decided that birds released from Carden would be coloured green, and birds from DB would be blue.

Figure 1: Captive bird at Ingersoll coloured with light green Sharpie.

Geolocators
Returning 2009-tagged shrike and geolocator retrieval
Given the decline seen in the wild population, remarkably two 2009-release birds wearing geolocators returned to breeding grounds (4.1% of tagged birds). Both returned to the Carden core and were observed as single birds; both were successfully trapped and the geolocator retrieved. The first tagged bird was spotted at the Carden Field Site in late May where it was observed foraging in the field and taking food to captive birds in their enclosures. The bird moved to Cameron Ranch in mid-June. The 2nd bird was found on/neighbouring Cameron Ranch and confirmed as female upon trapping due to presence of a brood patch, suggesting a breeding attempt this season. Based on reported observations, this bird may have had a failed nesting attempt with another 2009-release bird earlier in the month at a site approximate 45 km away – this male also moved to Cameron Ranch but was seen in a different area, interestingly with the 1st geolocator bird.

In both cases, we were unable to download the data and tags had to be sent back to the manufacturer to attempt data retrieval. Data was retrieved from both tags, however data collection had been cut short at 52 days (1st bird) and 56 days (2nd bird), giving only approximately 4 - 5 weeks of post-release data. The onboard clocks on both tags had stopped prematurely. There is no apparent reason for the malfunction, as the tags appeared in good shape. Repeated shock from a beak may have caused the failure, but the devices are also known to have only an approximately 80% success rate in the field and it may have simply been a case of “bad luck”. On a positive note, in both cases the data that was recorded was quite clean, with clear sunrise/sunset transitions. Analysis of the sunrise and sunset times quite accurately gave positional information for the period the birds were in a release cage (and location was known). For the period following release until the geolocators stopped working, the average location of the birds remained the same, indicating that the birds did not leave the Carden area during that time (and likely did not move far from the release site). Geolocators are accurate to within the region of +/-160 km. No early migratory movements were captured. Given the time-frame, this is in-line with general results from previous telemetry work and post-release monitoring with release birds in Carden.

2010 geolocators
43 birds were released with geolocators between July 19 and Aug 31 (19 from DB, 24 from Carden), representing 57% of all birds released this season. All birds had spent 7-14 days in a release cage where they were observed daily, and had passed a pre-release inspection 1-2 days prior to release.

Adult “spring releases” and telemetry
Carden: Five adult females and one adult male were released as single birds late May/early June from the Carden field site. These were all considered surplus/releasable birds from the McGill program, and it was hoped they would disperse and pair with any of the wild single birds observed in Carden. All birds were radiotracked post-release.

Generally all of these birds left the release site quickly and dispersed widely and rapidly (5-10 km/day). The one male that was released was observed interacting with a wild shrike on the site (the 1st geolocator bird), but then disappeared overnight. Due to the large movements, it was very difficult to locate birds after they left the release site. In most cases, once the signal was lost for a day, the bird was not relocated, even though the search area was greatly expanded to cover all known shrike habitat, hayfields and open areas in the area. Birds observed at dispersal sites appeared to prefer denser habitat. Of the six birds released, three were confirmed dead and a fourth was presumed dead. Of the 3 confirmed dead, two were found intact and submitted for necropsy. Emaciation is the most likely cause of death for one bird, whereas the second was too decomposed to determine cause of death. For the third death, only the tag was found, and avian predation is suspected. A flight covering the Carden area on July 6th did not pick up either signal of the 2 missing birds, indicating that they had left the area.

An additional surplus female was paired successfully in a breeding enclosure and was released with her 4 fledglings on July 19. She remained at the release site where she was observed daily with her young until August 4, at which time she dispersed to the front of the property. On August 9, she had left the property, but despite almost daily ground searches over an extensive area and an aerial telemetry flight on August 28, she was never relocated. Initial dispersal movements and timing are similar to that seen in release young during the 2007/08 telemetry work, therefore it is likely that this bird initiated migration.

Public Presentations and Site Tours

We had a display booth at the Carden Nature Festival (June 4-5), and Dufferin Carden Quarry Open House (Sept 3). Tours were held at the Carden Field Site as part of the Carden Nature Festival on June 4 & 6.

Habitat Stewardship Program

NATURE GUIDES TO THE CARDEN PLAIN

This fold out map and guide was first produced in 2005 and proved to be very popular It was repeated in 2007. Copies are still available from the Couchiching Conservancy office (705)326-1620 or picked-up at the City Service Center in Kirkfield. Copies can also be downloaded from two websites of interest www.theCardenProject.com and www.ofo.ca/CardenAlvar. A new edition is planned for 2010.

CARDEN NATURE FESTIVAL JUNE 3, 4 and 5, 2011

June 2007 saw the launch of the inaugural Carden Nature Festival as a celebration of the natural wonders of the Carden Plain, a smörgåsbord of biodiversity in southern Ontario, close to the GTA, and formed by a distinctive geological history. In 2010, the fourth year, 325 people attended, compared to 280 in 2009, 280 in 2008, and 200 in 2007. Attendees came from from all across the province with about half from the GTA and another third from Simcoe County. Market research has revealed the Festival contributed $60,000 to the local economy 2009 Comments from participants were extremely positive.

CARDEN NATURE FESTIVAL
FRIDAY JUNE 3, SATURDAY JUNE 4, SUNDAY JUNE 5, 2011
www.CardenGuide.com/Festival to browse and register
(or call 705-326-1620 for a free brochure)

COME ONE COME ALL
TO THE CARDEN NATURE FESTIVAL

EXPERIENCE A SMORGASBORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL DELIGHTS

CONVENIENT Less than 2 hours from Toronto and 30 minutes from Orillia

AFFORDABLE 1/10th the cost of an exotic eco-vacation weekend