Photo of the Month: American Robin

This cheerful fellow was snapped by Caje Rodrigues in her Ottawa backyard. The photo perfectly captures a familiar summer moment of a bird refreshing itself in a birdbath on a hot afternoon. The beads of water on the American Robin's breast and the gleam in its eye speak to the delight of such backyard encounters. Thanks for sharing it with us, Caje!

Caje's second photo shows the Robin's nictitating membrane as it splashes in the water. Nictitating membranes are transparent or translucent third eyelids common in birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. They move horizontally across the eye to protect it from water or other foreign objects, and to spread moisture across the eye.

Woodland Caribou in Peril, Ontario Warned

Woodland caribou are among the first species to be actively protected under Ontario's new Endangered Species Act.

But in a report released today by the Wildlands League, the group reveals that critical habitats for six caribou populations have already been disturbed by logging and wildfires to the point where they likely will no longer sustain the extremely sensitive species.

From the Toronto Star:

The Ontario government should halt all logging and road building in endangered woodland
caribou habitat, as six out of nine known populations below the 51st parallel are at risk of collapsing, environmentalists warn...

..."We've always suspected trouble. We didn't realize it was this bad," says Anna Baggio, director of conservation with the Wildlands League, the Ontario branch of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society...

Woodland caribou are among the first species to be actively protected under Ontario's new Endangered Species Act. But the government is still developing its conservation plan and has not yet introduced habitat legislation for it that would lay out specifically where development could and could not occur. In the meantime, the province continues to issue logging permits.


The caribou are considered an indicator species, reflecting the health of the boreal forest. They thrive only in untouched forest, roaming vast distances in solitude and feeding on lichen. They are extremely sensitive to development, as roads invariably bring predators, such as wolves. Once roaming as far south as Algonquin Park, their numbers have been cut in half over the past century.

On a national level, COSEWIC lists Woodland Caribou as threatened overall and specifically, four populations at risk: Atlantic-Gaspésie, Boreal, Southern Mountain (BC, AB) and Northern Mountain (YK, NT, BC).

We engaged the government in negotiations to develop a scientific review for the identification of critical habitat for the boreal population of woodland caribou. In April 2009, a robust, science-based review was released that recommended critical habitat for the caribou. The science in this report should provide government, industry and conservationists with the tools needed to ensure the persistence of boreal woodland caribou populations in Canada.

Happy Planet Index 2.0 - Where's the happiest, greenest country?

Maybe I should pack my bags for Costa Rica.

Why? This small Latin American country is the "happiest and greenest country" on earth, according to the Happy Planet Index 2.0, published earlier this month by the New Economics Foundation.

The Index is an innovative global ranking system that combines environmental impact with well-being, and shows it is possible to live long, happy lives with much smaller ecological footprints.

The Index reveals a surprising picture of the relative wealth and progress of nations:

• Latin America tops the Index. Nine of the top ten nations on the Index are in Latin America.
• Island nations perform well. Five of the ten small island nations included in the HPI are in the top 20 per cent of the HPI rankings.
• Middle-income countries, like those in Latin America and South East Asia tend to be the closest to achieving sustainable well-being.
• Rich, developed nations fare poorly. The highest placed Western nation is the Netherlands - managing only 43rd out of 143. Canada -- despite having the highest average life expectancy -- ranks 89.

Costa Ricans report the highest life satisfaction in the world, have the second-highest average life expectancy of the New World (second only to Canada) and have an admirable ecological footprint -- an incredible 99 percent of their energy is being generated from sustainable sources. Perhaps that's why some people choose to relocate there.

As the New York Times explains, what the Index actually measures is how efficiently a country consumes ecological resources to support a given level of happiness.

It is calculated based on “average years of happy life,” as measured by life satisfaction and life expectancy. That number is then divided by the populace’s “ecological footprint,” as measured by “the amount of land required to provide for all their resource requirements plus the amount of vegetated land required to sequester (absorb) all their CO2 emissions and the CO2 emissions embodied in the products they consume.”

Not everyone is swayed by the Foundation's methodology. But it does provide hope that a balance is possible between living happily and living sustainably.

Identifying Marine Important Bird Areas will help Declining Seabird Populations

One of the key strategies that BirdLife International partners throughout the world use to protect birds is to identify and protect important bird areas, or IBAs.

Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada, who represent BirdLife in this country, have identified 597 IBAs in Canada. Worldwide, more than 10,000 IBAs have been identified. However, while seabirds are declining faster than any other group of bird species, very few of the IBAs identified and protected are marine areas.

Fortunately, this is about to change. BirdLife's Global Seabird Programme has taken a major step towards the identification of Marine Important Bird Areas by developing guidelines to track seabirds and analyse the data to identify Marine IBAs.

Hopefully, this work will lead to the establishment of a global network of Marine Protected Areas that will help support other conservation efforts focused on declining seabird populations. Read more about this development and its link to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

(Photo by Lex Van Groningen / Wandering Albatross)

One Year Later, Bowhead Whale Sanctuary and Wildlife Area Not Yet Official

An anniversary party is being planned by Inuit groups near the site of the future Niginganiq (Isabella Bay) National Wildlife Area, in part to nudge the feds into finally making the protected area official one year after its creation was announced. From the CBC:

The party will mark one year since the federal government signed an ...agreement for the 336,200-hectare Niginganiq site.

Located in Isabella Bay, on the northeast coast of Baffin Island, the Niginganiq National Wildlife Area will protect the essential feeding and resting grounds for thousands of bowhead whales.

One year later, the sanctuary has yet to become a reality since the government still has to give it the official stamp of approval.

[Inuit land-claims group] Nunavut Tunngavik president Paul Kaludjak told CBC News that it has been a long wait — one that could get even longer if a federal election is called this fall, he said.

An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 whales inhabit the Niginganiq area during the late summer and fall feeding periods. The party is planned to take place in the hamlet of Clyde River, where residents have been trying to gain protection for the area since 1998.

Some of Canada's best wildlife habitat has been set aside in a network of 51 national wildlife areas and 92 migratory bird sanctuaries that span all provinces and territories. Yet these protected areas are left largely unmanaged, and enforcement of environmental laws is sporadic. Wildlife research is only conducted regularly in a handful of locations.

At the heart of this crisis is a lack of funding. Environment Canada, the federal manager of the NWA network, lacks even the basic level of funding to properly manage existing protected areas. Other major threats loom, including deforestation, oil and gas development, urbanization, invasive species, pollution, harmful public uses and climate change.

Nature Canada has called on the Government of Canada to announce a funded plan to grow and manage Canada’s network of National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, including updating its legal and policy framework (find out more).

Piping Plover Update from Sauble Beach

Kim Toews has sent in another update on how the Sauble Beach Piping Plovers are faring (read her earlier guest post on the discovery of these plovers and the volunteer Guardians who are helping protect their nests). Here's the latest:

July 17, 2009 - Ontario's Honorable Minister of Natural Resources, Ms. Donna Cansfield visited with the Sauble Beach Piping Plover Guardians (photo, right, Ms. Canfield holds framed photos taken by volunteers). Ms. Cansfield's trip helped highlight the work each volunteer has put into this recovery project. She was very complimentary to the group and expressed her appreciation for all the effort. We were pleased that the Minister took time to visit our site and her candor with responding to issues important to the success of this special species.

July 14 – 18, 2009

North nest - The male moved in front of the perimeter and peeped loudly. All four chicks flew out to meet him and continued to the shoreline. This was quite a sight! Late Friday morning, a merlin attacked and was re-routed by a guardian before it could take a chick. By Stewart Nutt's account we have had 9 merlin attacks as well as several merlin fly-overs. We have lost three chicks, but as guardians we do our best to focus on the fact that we have saved several chicks from demise. Our guardian's efforts are valuable and appreciated.

Central nest - Longer flights by chick noted again. The chick feeds along the water's edge and in the wrack. Frequent rest periods in the wrack are observed. Moves into perimeter as beach becomes busy with activities such as bocce and Frisbee. The chick and male were missing for a day. The male was not located on Friday. Later that day the chick flew to be with the two southern chicks. On Saturday, the chick was observed with another new female further south along the beach. This female's band combinations have been forwarded to MNR to see if we can track where she is from. In the afternoon, the new female and central chick joined the southern pair and remained with them for some time.

South nest - Twice this week the male was absent most of the day, but closer to the two chicks at night. Flights from both chicks have been seen. Thursday and Friday the male was missing all day. On Saturday it was good to see that the two southern chicks had some company and adult supervision from the central chick and new female. These chicks spent more time feeding, but still rested behind sticks and in sand depressions when the wind picked up. Both chicks remained with the central chick for the rest of the evening.

Thanks for the update and photo Kim!

Birdwatchers have a positive effect on the economy

A new report released last week by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows one of every five Americans watches birds, and in doing so, birdwatchers contributed $36 billion to the U. S. economy in 2006, the most recent year for which economic data are available.

The report - Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis - shows that total participation in birdwatching is strong at 48 million, -- that's 20 percent of the U. S. population since 1996.

Unfortunately, similar survey results that deal explicitly with the economic value of bird-related activities in Canada do not seem to exist. (If anyone knows of any, tell me!). Environment Canada published a report back in 2000 that described the economic impacts of various nature-related activities (no specific data just for birds):

• In 1996, Canadians spent $11.0 billion on a variety of nature-related activities (trips, purchase of supplies like camping gear and binoculars, entrance fees, purchase of birdfeeders, etc.).
  
• Participants in residential wildlife-related activities (such as backyard birdfeeding) spent $320.5 million, or an annual expenditure per participant of $35.
  

In the United States, birdwatching seems to be more popular in the northern half of the country. The five top states with the greatest birding participation rates include Montana (40 percent), Maine (39 percent), Vermont (38 percent), Minnesota (33 percent) and Iowa (33 percent).

The report identifies who birders are, where they live, how avid they are, and what kinds of birds they watch. In addition to demographic information, the report also provides an estimate of how much birders spend on their hobby and the economic impact of these expenditures.

A copy of the Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis can be downloaded here.(PDF)

Decision on Sage Grouse to be celebrated . . . with caution!

It has been about two weeks since the Federal Court ruled that Ottawa acted unreasonably by not identifying critical habitat in a recovery plan for the endangered Greater Sage Grouse.

The population of this large, sage-brush - grassland grouse with one of the most spectacular courtships in the bird world, has plummeted over 90% in the past two decades from 5000 to less than 500 individuals. These birds are confined to extreme south-eastern Alberta and south-central Saskatchewan. They have been extremely well-studied in Canada – all of their communal display areas (called leks) are well-known and have been monitored by naturalists for dozens of years.

Their habitat requirements and ranges have been carefully documented, studied and described by researchers, particularly Dr. Cameron Aldridge, who is the world expert on this species. Despite this detailed knowledge, the Canadian government refused to identify critical habitat for this species in its recovery strategy – an obligation under the federal Species as Risk Act.

Several groups including Ecojustice and two of our Canadian Nature Network affiliates, the Federation of Alberta Naturalists and Nature Saskatchewan, along with the Alberta Wilderness Association, Grasslands Naturalists, and Western Canada Wilderness Committee took the federal government to task in launching the legal action. While Nature Canada did not directly participate in this suit, we provided an affidavit to the court as we were instrumental in drawing attention to the flawed recovery strategy that was posted on the public registry.

Before we rejoice in this victory, let’s ensure that the habitat actually gets protected. Much of it is on community pasture, owned by either federal or provincial governments and threatened by potential gas wells, irrigation projects, and wind farms.

Ted Cheskey

A Tale of Two Gardens

Now that cosmetic pesticides are banned in Ontario and Quebec, with more jurisdictions poised to take action and reduce our exposure to these unnecessary, toxic chemicals, many gardeners are rediscovering the joys of truly "green" gardening. Pesticide-free lawns and gardens are blooming across the country this summer.

Five-year-old Calvin Melanson and his family from Ancaster are being showcased in the David Suzuki Digs My Garden national contest. They have planted flowers that attract natural predators for pests such as aphids, and use nematodes on their lawn to kill grubs. A highlight of their yard are vegetable gardens and raspberry canes that provide a bounty great enough to share with their neighbours. You can read more about the Melansons in the Ancaster News: http://www.ancasternews.com/news/article/180784

Unfortunately, not all neighbours appreciate the eco-friendly approach to yard care. Hank and Vera Jones of Ottawa have created a pollinator garden on their half-acre property; their yard features native grasses, fruit trees and wildflowers that have attracted birds and insects to the neighbourhood. In early July, a neighbour's complaint resulted in a visit from city bylaw officers with instructions to mow the yard, or it would be mowed for them and they would be billed for the work. A compromise is currently in place that will see most of the garden preserved, but the Jones' story is far from over. You can keep up to date with the Ottawa Citizen: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Constance+pollinator+garden+stay+with+conditions/1771047/story.html

Pesticide-free gardens and natural yards showcase the beauty and wonder of nature in settings we can all access, enjoy, and appreciate. We can all use a little more green in our lives, and the garden is the perfect place to start.

Photo by Barbara Schaefer.

Beyond our borders

Like many "Canadian birds" that go south, so do we. As a partner in BirdLife International, Nature Canada not only works to protect birds and their habitat in Canada; we also raise funds and share skills with our partners in the Americas.

Recognizing the links between poverty and conservation, we aim to improve the livelihoods of people who live in areas that are important for birds and other biodivesity and to help them become better stewards of their environment.

This spring we launched two new projects, one in the Caribbean and one in Paraguay. Check out our newly updated website to learn more about our approach, our past work, our partners, and our current projects!

Guns Among the Cottongrass at Mer Bleue Bog

On a nature walk to Ottawa's Mer Bleue bog on Sunday, my daughter and I had a rather unexpected sighting. Along with the painted turtles, cottongrass and Yellowthroat, we saw... armed secret service agents sporting sidearms and Timbits boxes.

It turns out that we were not the only ones interested in taking in the bog's morning beauty. Following in our footsteps were Japan's royal couple, the Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, who toured the Ottawa region Saturday and Sunday on the first official stop of their visit to Canada. (see story.)

The Emperor apparently has a deep interest in natural history, and visited nearby Gatineau Park and Ottawa's Experimental Farm the day before.

As my 2-year old and I strolled along the bog boardwalk, we began to see very well dressed men and women, clearly out of their element but enjoying themselves -- members of the Emperor's entourage. When we returned to our car, we wandered amongst the dozen or so tall, stoic, armed guards, who munched on Tim's finest while they awaited the royal couple's arrival.

We missed seeing them first-hand, but here's a picture of the couple on the boardwalk.




(Photo: Newscom)

Photo of the Month: Milkweed Pod

The latest Photo of the Month is blowin' in the wind!
This milkweed pod was photographed at Hendrie Valley, Burlington, Ontario by Jean Crankshaw. Thanks for sharing this finely textured photo of an autumn milkweed pod spreading its seeds with us, Jean!

This is the perfect time of year to see milkweed in bloom. If you're lucky, you may even see a monarch butterfly among the flowers. The monarch butterfly is often known as the "milkweed butterfly" because milkweed is the only plant monarch larvae can eat. Find out more about milkweed, and how you can grow it in your own yard to help monarchs, in our butterfly garden guide.

Send us your nature pics and one of them may be selected as the Photo of the Month. Check out past images in our archives -- they're all quite beautiful!

Green Tips for Maintaining Waterfront Property

Cottage season is well underway, and for many that means spending time by the water. If you have waterfront property, there are simple, sustainable and cost-effective ways to protect your investment and the environment. During the summer months, follow these helpful maintenance tips.

Drought

• If your well is at risk of failure during dry spells, minimize water use and supplement with other sources such as rainwater collection.


• Install a drip irrigation or soaker hose system; it allows water to seep slowly into the ground, reducing evaporation and preventing runoff.
  
  
• Use a thick layer of mulch, like straw or shredded leaves, to reduce watering.

Summer Recreation

• Mark where the water is safe for swimming, and be mindful of swift currents and undertows. Keep a reach pole and personal flotation devices handy for rescues.
  
  
• Keep fires small, avoid burning beach driftwood that may be protecting your shoreline from erosion, and don’t burn treated or painted wood.


• To avoid swimmer’s itch, apply waterproof suntan lotion and towel off vigorously immediately after swimming.

Low Water

• If you draw from a water body, check to make sure that the intake pipe extends well past the low water mark or below the lowest stream flow level.
  


• Move a floating dock out as water levels drop, to avoid being suddenly stuck high and dry!

Algal Blooms

• Nutrients from fertilizer runoff or septic leaching can make still waters more susceptible to algal growth. In hot, calm weather, blue-green algae can “bloom” in huge numbers and may be toxic to animals or people.
  
  
• Avoid water contaminated with blue-green algae. Do not drink it (boiling won’t remove the toxins), shower or do laundry with it, or swim in it. Keep you pets away from the water and do not eat fish caught in these waters.


• Stay away from the water until it’s been tested and declared safe to drink or swim in.
  

This information originally appeared in On the Living Edge: Your Handbook for Waterfront Living, by Sarah Kipp and Clive Calloway, as part of the Living by Water project.

Check out useful tips you can follow at other times during the year in this online seasonal guide.

Happy Canada Day!

Have a safe, fun Canada Day, everyone. I hope you have a chance to get outdoors and enjoy some of the natural wonders we are so fortunate to have as Canadians. Before you lace up the hiking boots, grab the camping gear, or pack the picnic basket, send out a Canada Day eCard to friends and family to wish them well -- we have several beautiful nature images to choose from.