The lost wild horses

In January 1994, over 1,000 wild horses were removed from Canadian Forces Base Suffield on the unsupported charge that they were damaging biodiversity in the National Wildlife Area. These were the last wild horses in the Canadian prairies.

Now there are none.

In her book Caught in the Spin: The Wild Horses of CFB Suffield, Dawn Dickinson tells the story of the public consultation process (actually closed to the public) that unfolded over the year and a half prior to their removal from the base. While the preface notes that some things have changed, Caught in the Spin tells a story every engaged citizen needs to hear, in particular, anyone interested in transparency, public participation and science-based decision-making.

It also offers fascinating insights on grasslands and a welcome touch of humor (perhaps the only way to approach the story).

It is a very sad and disturbing story. For the horses, for democratic governance and for biodiversity conservation. I too often wanted it to go away somehow. But I still couldn’t stop reading it.

Caught in the Spin is available from the Federation of Alberta Naturalists.
These photos of the “wild bunch” that once roamed Suffield are by Dennis Baresco.

Margaret Atwood Book Tour Supports Birds in Canada

Margaret Atwood's novel Oryx and Crake introduced readers to a future world where genetic modification is the norm and environmental degradation runs rampant. Her new novel, The Year of the Flood, revisits this world and tells the story of the God's Gardeners - a religion devoted to the melding of science, religion and nature.

Atwood has penned a semi-dramatic theatrical performance based on The Year of the Flood. She will act as the narrator in each city and, using local actors and choirs to reduce the carbon footprint of the tour, present a one-hour performance that breaks away from a traditional book tour.

The performances in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver will be fundraisers for Nature Canada. Come out to the event in any of these cities and visit us at our table! Here are the venues:

Tuesday, Sept. 22 – Ottawa – 7:00pm at Saint Brigid’s Centre for the Arts and Humanities, presented by Ottawa Writers Festival & Chapters/Indigo – Tickets: http://www.writersfestival.org/ or 613-562-1243

Thursday, Sept. 24 – Toronto – 7:30pm at Saint James Cathedral, 65 Church Street presented by International Festival of Authors and Ben Mcnally Books – Tickets: http://www.readings.org/ or 416-973-4000

Tuesday, Sept. 29 – Calgary – 7:00pm at Knox United Church, 506 4 Street sw presented by Wordfest: Banff- Calgary International Writers Festival -- Tickets: http://www.wordfest.com/ or 403-237-9068

Thursday, Oct. 1 – Vancouver – 7:30pm at St. Andrew’s-Wesley Church, 1022 Nelson Street presented by Vancouver Intersnational Writers Festival & Chapters/Indigo – Tickets: http://www.vancouvertix.com/ or 604-629-8849

View Year of the Flood performance venues in a larger map

Donations made to Nature Canada at Margaret Atwood's The Year of the Flood performances will directly support conservation work at Important Bird Areas throughout Canada.

We are the Canadian co-partner, with Bird Studies Canada, of BirdLife International, a global alliance of conservation organizations working together for the world's birds and people. As BirdLife in Canada, we deliver the Important Bird Areas Program, which aims to identify, conserve and monitor a network of sites that provides essential habitat for bird populations. Margaret Atwood is the Joint Honorary President of BirdLife's Rare Bird Club with her husband, Graeme Gibson.

Urban Chickens Are No Legend

Local food is enjoying a surge in popularity. Stemming in part from the consciousness of the 100-mile diet, everyone from grocery stores to restaurant kitchens seems to want to sell us food grown and raised in our immediate areas.

Our latest quick poll asked whether urban residents should be able to raise chickens to produce eggs on their property. While 75% of respondents believed that this practice is a great local food source, 25% of the responses were against urban chickens.

Many of the concerns were about noise - "I have neighbours (in the city) who are allowed to keep roosters and chickens; they are a loud, noisy bunch" - and regulation - "People should have to have a licence and there should be education programs. They can be a problem if people don't know how to care for them, their feed and their droppings properly."

The North American urban chicken movement is growing. Cities including Victoria, Burnaby, Seattle and New York City allow hens to be kept in urban areas following municipal bylaws. Charlottetown and Vancouver are considering allowing urban residents to raise poultry. The bylaws take into account the type of animals (typically only hens, removing noisier roosters from consideration), the flock size, proper sanitation and animal health.

Our quick poll also asked what factors are most important to you when shopping for food. Local food was by far the greatest concern, with organic certification and cost/value close behind. Taste, freshness, and appearance are also highly considered when deciding what food to bring home.

One respondent writes: "Local is more important to me than organic, to be honest, but organic comes a close second. Taste comes naturally with local!" (I'd argue that freshness and appearance are also inherent in local goods.)

Considering the criteria our quick poll respondents select most often, eggs from chickens raised in the backyard seem to be an excellent source of protein. Backyard vegetable gardens, rooftop honey and community farms also allow us to produce food where we live.

Finding these opportunities helps combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with transporting food over long distances. Local food production also means that less land needs to be developed for large-scale, industrial agriculture, leaving more native habitat intact.

Urban chickens may not be in my immediate future, but a trip to the farmer's market definitely is. Whether you grow your own food or buy local, enjoy the bounty of the season knowing that it's better for you and the environment.

Photo by Jeff Youngstrom via Flickr.

Photo of the Month: Baby Pacific Chorus Frogs

When I saw this photo of baby Pacific Chorus Frogs (also known as Pacific Tree Frogs) sent in by Jean Wyenberg, the first thing I thought of was tiny green drops of rain dotting the garden. They're certainly as light as raindrops, with two able to sit on this flower with little visible effect.

Pacific Chorus frogs have tiny suction disks on the end of each toe, allowing them to grip surfaces such as trees, leaves and walls. They're found along the west coast of British Columbia, south to Baja California. This species makes the familiar "ribbit" song that is attributed to frogs in Hollywood movies.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful photo, Jean! See more photos of the month.

Sanctuary for Abandoned Owls

The Harry Potter films seem to have inspired people to buy snowy owls as pets. A sanctuary has opened in the UK for owls that have been abandoned by some who later learn they are unable to take care of them. A similar problem arose after the 101 Dalmatians film and sequels. Sadly, more awareness about what's involved in being a pet owner is needed. But perhaps also a better understanding of wild species might encourage people to let wildlife be wild. Learn more about the Snowy owl, the official bird of Quebec.

Woodland Caribou on the Brink

The situation is much worse for caribou in Ontario than what was thought, according to a study released this week by CPAWS Wildlands League. Seven out of nine caribou populations are so highly disrupted and fragmented by clearcuts, roads and fire that they are on the verge of collapse.

Using a map of local caribou ranges that Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) released as part of its draft Caribou Conservation Plan, the researchers overlaid disturbance data from logging, roads, fire and other sources to present a picture of the quality of caribou habitat.

The result? Most of the habitat ranges in Ontario do not support any further industrial development (see full report.)

The situation is equally dire for many other boreal caribou herds across the country. Half of the historic range of caribou has been lost, and only 17 of 60 caribou ranges are considered to be self-sustaining. To protect caribou, we need to ensure that large tracts of boreal habitat are safeguareded across the country.

Not only is this needed to conserve caribou, but it would also be much needed action for the countless other species that depend on the boreal forest along with caribou - including the millions of songbirds that breed in the boreal every summer.

Colder Summer Means Healthier Polar Bears

From the Globe and Mail, heartening news for one Canadian population of polar bears:

A cold summer in many areas of the country may have meant fewer barbecues and camping trips this year, but lower temperatures have been a boon for the beleaguered Hudson Bay polar bears.

Experts say the summer sea ice has lasted longer than it has in years, which has given more than 1,000 bears in the region extra time to hunt, feed and raise healthy cubs. (Full story).

The Arctic sea ice is shrinking by up to five per cent every ten years – sea ice that not only provides hunting ground for polar bears, but shelter and transportation for seals, walrus, arctic foxes, and the Inuit people. The underside provides a surface for algae that supports cod, char, beluga, and narwhal. The white sea ice also has a cooling effect on climate by reflecting light away from Earth’s surface. As it melts, global warming advances even more quickly.

The thicker Arctic ice this year is certainly a welcome development for Hudson Bay's polar bears, but unfortunately, experts say it's an anomoly. Other parts of the Arctic continue to experience higher than normal temperatures, and the long-term prospects for the North's most majestic icon remain tenuous, as they continue to shrink in size (though not every population is decreasing in number).

If you haven't yet signed the KYOTOplus petition demanding stronger action by Canada to address global warming, read the petition and sign it now. Our greatest stumbling block isn't technical, it's a lack of political will. Adding your voice to this issue can help redress that.

Mixed messages: Inconsistent enforcement of the Migratory Bird Convention Act

The purpose of our federal government’s Migratory Bird Convention Act (1994) (MBCA) is: “to implement the (Migratory Bird) Convention by protecting and conserving migratory birds — as populations and individ­ual birds — and their nests.” Nature Canada has been closely following several developments and events in the last few years with regard to this law. What is becoming apparent is that the way in which the law is enforced varies wildly and that this inconsistency sends very mixed messages to the Canadian public. This concerns us deeply. Some of these recent developments and events related to the MBCA include:

• Environment Canada is undertaking a process with stakeholder to amend regulations under the MBCA with regard to “incidental take.” These new regulations, when they are developed, are supposed to be designed to protect populations of birds, while allowing a variety of large-scale human activities that would result in the death of birds and the destruction of nests and eggs – (e.g. logging and mining). Likely the regulations would be enacted through a permitting system. This process is expected to wrap up by 2011 or 2012.


• In 2008 J.D. Irving Inc. is fined $10,000 and obliged to donate $50,000 to a bird conservation organization for a violation of the MBCA for a logging road that resulted in the destruction of several Great Blue Heron nests.


• JD Irving Inc. loses a constitutional challenge of the MBCA in 2008.


• Syncrude is charged with a violation of the MBCA in the death of 1600 ducks in one of their tailings ponds near Fort McMurray Alberta in 2008. This case is now in the courts.


• Harvest Energy Trust was charged under the MBCA because of a leaking abandoned oil well that resulted in the death of about 200 birds near Suffield, Alberta in September 2008.


• There are reports of a Quebec hydro utility conducting brushing operations along hydro corridors during the nesting season. There are similar reports of an Ontario hydro utility conducting brushing operations along hydro corridors during the nesting season.


• David Fraser, James Fraser and Jeremy Rowlands are fined a total of $16,000 for shooting ducks out of season from a vehicle in Saskatchewan in summer of 2009. They had posted their crime on Youtube.


• A reported $180 fine was levied on a developer in Guelph Ontario for clearing a 25 hectare forest during the breeding season and destroying a “bird’s egg.”
  

The Migratory Bird Convention Act is one of very few federal environmental pieces of legislation that protect wildlife. Other laws that offer the federal government tools to protect wildlife include the Canada Wildlife Act, the Species at Risk Act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Fisheries Act, and the National Parks Act.

The Migratory Bird Convention Act is unique because in protects an entire class of organisms – birds, with a few exceptions, from our actions that result specifically in killing birds or destroying their nests or eggs. The punishment tools under the MBCA can include fines and possible jail time.

If we consider the penalties levied in the above noted prosecutions, the inconsistency is cause for concern.

J.D. Irving was fined $60,000 for their installation of a logging road that took out several heron nests.

Rowlands and the Frasers were fined $16,000 for their poaching of ducks in Saskatchewan this summer.

A developer in Guelph is fined $180 for allegedly clear cutting over 26 hectares during the breeding season.


If the numbers don’t add up for you, neither did they for Guelph resident and Guelph Field Naturalist member Charles Cecile, who wrote Environment Canada, requesting an explanation. Here is a part of what he said to them:

“The fine imposed by your department of $180 on the Guelph landowner and his
contractor is grossly inadequate and will be completely ineffective in
deterring
any future such nest destruction. As a member of the Guelph
Field Naturalists, I urge you to review this case. Bird populations will
continue to be threatened unless action is taken to prevent destruction of their
habitats and nests. Your minuscule action to date, if the newspaper story
is accurate, makes a mockery of the Act and will become laughable in this
City.”

Protection of our wildlife depends on a vigilant and concerned public. There will always be people hurting wildlife either incidentally, accidentally, in ignorance, or deliberately. At the same time there will never be adequate enforcement capacity with our governments. We can only hope that when those who violate the Act are caught, they be judged fairly and appropriately. At first glance, there seems to be no rhyme or reason that explains the blatant inconsistencies between penalties levied under the MBCA in the last two years, which sadly sends very mixed messages to the perpetrators and the public.

Nature Canada Signs On To KyotoPLUS

Have you signed the KYOTOplus petition on climate change yet?

Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing the world today. The effects of global warming touch on every aspect of our lives, from food production and health concerns to security and the economy.

The changing climate is wreaking havoc on the natural world as well, with dwindling habitat, water and food resources shifting migration patterns and species ranges. Canada is at the forefront of the climate battle, as we witness firsthand Arctic sea ice that shrinks more each summer and ecosystems that are destroyed by invasive species.

Yet Canada is the only country to renounce its Kyoto commitment of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. Today, our total GHG emissions are approximately 30% higher than the Kyoto target.

In December 2009, Kyoto countries will sign a new agreement. The United Nations conference in Copenhagen is Canada's chance to restore our reputation as a world leader on climate change.

But we need to let the government know that they need to act now. Demand that our politicians take action on climate change and sign the KyotoPLUS campaign. I've added my name to the petition and invite you to join thousands of people who are already telling our leaders to stop wasting time and start urgent action against global warming.

Nature Canada is one of more than 60 organizations taking part in the KyotoPLUS campaign.

Nature Photo Mystery Revealed: Indian Pipe

A co-worker of mine, Sue, came across this while walking through trails this weekend 12km from Bon Echo Provincial Park. Not sure what it was, she quickly snapped a photo and brought it into the office. So what is it?

Says staff naturalist Ted Cheskey:

The plant in Sue’s photo is called Indian Pipe. The white colour betrays the fact that this is a plant – but a strange one, in that it does not produce chlorophyll – the green pigment used in photosynthesis that normally is used to place an organism in the plant kingdom. In other words, this is an exceptional plant.

Not being able to photosynthesize, it gets its energy from other plants, by tapping into them with its rootlets. It is not alone in being an “exceptional” plant. Other plants that derive their nourishment from fungus or other plants include Pinesap, Beechdrops, One-flowered Cancerroot, and Squawroot.

Great Lakes on Film: Waterlife Doc Screening in Toronto

For those in the Toronto area next week, head down to the National Film Board of Canada's Mediatheque cinema and catch this year's Hot Docs 2009 Special Jury Prize winner, Waterlife.

Waterlife tells the story of the last huge supply of fresh water on Earth, the Great Lakes (we've blogged about this film before, and you can watch a trailer here).

The Film Board is screening the film August 25-27 (details) and the director, Kevin McMahon, will be there on the last evening.

Waterlife is narrated by Gord Downie, lead vocalist of The Tragically Hip, and features music by Sam Roberts, Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Ros, Robbie Robertson and Brian Eno.

It's an important film created at an important time. The Great Lakes Basin region is a unique economic, social and cultural community for millions of families, who rely on the Great Lakes Basin for a clean, healthy source of drinking water.

The two provinces (Ontario and Quebec) plus eight U.S. states that make up the Great lakes region are home to 103 million people. If it were taken as a country the Great Lakes regional non-farm economy, at $4.1 trillion GDP, would be ranked as the third largest in the world, after only the United States and Japan.

A movie like this can help remind us not to take such a precious resource for granted. Go see it if you can.

Exxon Mobil to pay $600,000 for deaths of 85 protected birds

In a plea bargain made this week, energy giant Exxon Mobil has agreed to pay $600,000 (US) in fines for the deaths of 85 protected migratory birds in the company's wastewater ponds in five states.

The company has also agreed to spend millions of dollars to cover its natural gas well reserve pits and wastewater storage facilities, to avoid killing more birds in the future.

From CNN:

Waterfowl, hawks and owls protected under an international treaty were killed after landing in uncovered pools, where they were coated with or ingested fatal doses of hydrocarbons, federal officials said.

The birds killed over a five-year period were identified by the U.S
Fish and Wildlife Service as ducks, grebes, ibis, passerines, shore birds, owls, martins and a hawk. None is listed as an endangered species.

The Justice Department said $400,000 of the fines will go to a wetlands conservation fund, and $200,000 in community service
payments will be directed to waterfowl rehabilitation and preservation organizations.

Exxon Mobil was fined for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the US's domestic enactment of an international migratory bird protection treaty signed with Canada and Mexico (and later Russia and Japan). In Canada, we adhere to the treaty with our own piece of legislation, the Migratory Bird Convention Act (MBCA).

It was enforcement of the MBCA, you might recall, that led the government to prosecute Syncrude for the death of 500 waterfowl in April 2008, and that gave Environment Canada the legal power to charge and fine J. D. Irving Inc. for destroying 10 to 20 Great Blue Heron nests that same year.

Despite these rather high profile cases, however, the Migratory Bird Convention Act is still inconsistently applied.

Blondie the Duck

Monica Zeniuk has been fortunate enough to document the life of a rare leucistic mallard that was born on the stormwater lake in their Edmonton, Alberta neighbourhood. They named her Blondie and have followed her development for the past 3 years.

Leucism is a condition characterized by a reduction in all types of pigment; partial leucism produces a "pied" or "piebald" effect. Unlike albinism, which only affects melatonin and typically results in red eyes, leucistic animals have normally coloured eyes

Monica was kind enough to share some of her photos and Blondie's story with us:


Blondie was born in 2006, the only one in her clutch of six to have this colouring. The photo shows her at 5 days old (far left).

Blondie returned in 2007 with a drake but did not stay in the area much; she visited once a week or so.



The next summer she returned on April 12 and stayed. She had 10 beautiful babies on June 6, all with "normal" colouring.


Blondie's moult was incredible. This picture shows her on July 9.


The family stayed the entire season and flew away on October 3.

After a Spring of anxious waiting, Blondie did not return to the lake this year, although we believe a few of her babies did.

Thanks for sharing this story, Monica! The bond you have forged with Blondie has obviously provided you with many precious moments. To see more about Blondie, you can view the book that Monica has created on Shutterfly.

Enjoy the Outdoors, Without Unwanted Wildlife

While your yard might provide you with food from the garden, the beauty of nature and the pleasure of the outdoors, it also provides habitat and food for a wide range of wildlife - some welcome, and some not so welcome. No matter how hard we try, there are some members of the natural world we just can't get along with.

When mosquitoes, aphids or grubs come into conflict with humans, many people automatically reach for toxic chemical solutions. Unfortunately, poisons, pesticides and herbicides are indiscriminate and can harm or kill desirable wildlife as well, not to mention the effects on you and your family.

Here are our top eco-friendly tips for keeping those unwanted visitors away:

Use Natural Insect Repellants
Essential oils derived from plants can be used as natural repellants against pesky insects. Look for lemongrass, cedar and eucalyptus to provide protection from a range of pests including mosquitoes, ants and fleas. Repellants using natural sources usually need to be reapplied more often than their toxic counterparts. Essential oils are safe to use on your skin, and many of them can also be applied to pets and pet bedding; however, it's best to read the label of your product for appropriate use.

Attract Beneficial Insects and Their Relatives
Not all insects are pests in the garden; many will prey on the bugs that damage your plants. The best way to invite beneficial insects and their relatives (e.g., spiders) to your garden is to include a variety of native plants including grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees. You can also purchase live specimens or eggs of many friendly species.

Wash Bad Bugs Away
Aphids can often be removed from ornamental plants simply with a blast of water from the hose. To control larger numbers of parasitic insects in the garden, Neem oil can be sprayed directly on the plant and infestation. Ordinary dish soap and water (30mL of non-detergent soap in 1L of water) also works; it should be applied and left on for up to 30 minutes before being rinsed off. This treatment can be repeated twice a week for a few weeks. For less severe pest problems, you can also pick off the offending insects by hand.

Attract Birds
Besides being cheerful wild neighbours, many common birds prey on pest insects. Attracting birds to your yard with hanging feeders, bird baths and nest boxes will increase its beauty while reducing the number of flying pests.

Find more natural pest control tips on our website.

Nature Canada in the Caribbean

We recently told you that, as a partner in BirdLife International, Nature Canada not only works to protect birds and their habitat in Canada, but also raises funds and shares skills with our partners in the Americas.

The islands of Cuba and Hispaniola in the Caribbean are important stopovers and wintering grounds for migratory birds that breed in Canada, including Bicknell's Thrush, Ovenbird, and Black-and-white Warbler, among others. We've joined forces with partners in the region to conserve bird habitat in these biodiversity hotspots.

Working with Grupo Jaragua in the Dominican Republic, Société Audubon Haïti in Haiti and Centro Nacional de Area Protegidas (CNAP) in Cuba, we promote sustainable livelihoods to reduce the impacts of communities in and around wildlife reserves and protected areas.

The Macaya, Turquino and La Bayamesa National Parks, the Delta del Cauto Wildlife Refuge and the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve are critically important for many endemic species of plants, birds and other animals in the Caribbean and for many migratory species.

The Haitian, Cuban and Dominican communities living in and around these reserves predominantly base their subsistence on unsustainable uses of natural resources in fragile environments that are thus being degraded. In turn, the degradation of these natural areas increasingly reduces the ability of these communities to sustain themselves. Deforestation and ensuing land degradation diminish the ecological services these natural areas provide to these communities and to others beyond.

People in 24 rural communities in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba are gaining the technical and material capacity to improve their lives, by adopting environmentally sustainable economic activities such as agro-forestry, eco-tourism, and organic poultry production. They’re also taking steps to mitigate the effects of climate change, by avoiding deforestation, pursuing fire and erosion control, and protecting local watersheds.

Read more about Nature Canada's work in the Caribbean on our website.

Listen for the Whip-poor-will

Few birds have as distinct a song as the Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus). Most frequently heard around the dusk or dawn hours, the bird's emphatic "whip-poor-will" notes ring from its perches on tree branches or rocky outcrops where it is well camouflaged.

The nocturnal Whip-poor-will is most active at dusk and at early dawn when it is out foraging for flying insects, its only source of food. Its preferred habitats include semi-open forest with exposed rock outcrops, grasslands, pastures, and habitats with exposed mineral soils. Whip-poor-wills avoid heavily forested areas, heavily farmed areas, and human settlements.

In April 2009, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) listed the Whip-poor-will as Threatened. The species has not yet gained official status on Canada's Species at Risk List.

What You Can Do

• Advocate for the reduction or elimination of pesticides and biocides in agriculture and forestry, and maintain a pesticide-free lawn to encourage a healthy population of insects on which Whip-poor-wills can feed.
  
• Scientists need your help to gain a better idea of this species' numbers in North America. Join a bird count or enter your data online if you hear their distinctive call.
  

Read more of the Whip-poor-will's story, including interesting species facts and additional actions you can take, in our endangered species profile.

Photo by Lloyd Spitalnik (http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com/)

Piping Plover Recovery Strategy 3 Years Late

A CBC online news article this week is shining the spotlight on what is becoming an all too familiar refrain for species at risk in Canada. Under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), legally mandated timelines to set forth recovery measures and identify and protect critical habitat for at-risk species are often not being met.

In this case, it's the endangered Piping Plover (melodus subspecies) in Eastern Canada that's losing out.

According to the article:

It could be another six months before a recovery plan for the piping plover in Eastern Canada, which was due in 2006, is finally finished.

The plover was one of the first animals listed under the federal Species at Risk Act, proclaimed in December 2002. A recovery strategy for the bird was supposed to be posted three years ago.

That still hasn't happened.

"The truth is it's an incredibly complex process to get through," said Andrew Boyne, who leads the Species at Risk recovery unit in Atlantic Canada.

Many areas are working to protect the bird, and in those areas plover numbers are rebuilding. But there is no overall strategy, and in places where little or no work is happening, numbers are actually decreasing.

The recovery strategy would identify what needs to be done, including the critical habitat the endangered shorebirds need to survive.

Most of the delay is because of consultation, Boyne said. About 1,000 private landowners in Atlantic Canada and Quebec may have critical habitat on their property and have to be notified, he said. Boyne said letters are about to go out.

Two years ago, when CBC News contacted Environment Canada on the same issue, letters were also about to be mailed. So why the delay?

Boyne said his team has faced a big challenge in tracking down who the landowners are for around 200 beaches where the birds are thought to breed.

Here's what Environment Canada published on its Species At Risk Public Registry way back in February 2007, to justify the delay in posting the finalized recovery strategy:

The proposed recovery strategy for the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus melodus), melodus subspecies, was due for posting on the SARA Public Registry by June 5, 2006 for a 60-day public comment period (SARA s.42 & 43).

Environment Canada is leading the recovery planning process for this species. A draft of the recovery strategy is in final stages of preparation. After it is completed, the Minister of the Environment will post it on the SARA Registry. Environment Canada will continue to work in cooperation with all interested parties to ensure a draft is completed and posted on the SARA Public Registry in a timely manner.

It's disappointing that Environment Canada has been singing the same refrain on Piping Plovers for more than two years (consultation letters are about to be sent out, the recovery strategy is in the final stages of preparation...). For the sake of the plovers at unprotected sites, and those in areas where populations are declining, let's hope that this time Environment Canada really means it when they say the recovery strategy is almost done.

To Ration or Not To Ration? Home Water Tips from Our Community

Our June Quick Poll asked whether municipalities should ration homeowner water use during the summer. Over 70% of respondents believed that municipal rationing should take place, as we need to conserve our water resources; an additional 20% of survey participants believed that municipal water should be rationed during times of drought.

If you were to list the everyday tasks that require water, you might be surprised at the length. Water also goes into the food we eat and the products we use at home.

Fresh water is becoming a greater concern as more and more of our sources are found to contain chemicals and other contaminants, even after treatment at waste water facilities. These toxins spread in the environment and are re-introduced into our own systems.

Reducing our water use lessens the burden on municipal water facilities, enabling them to perform better and ensuring clean water for the future. Respondents to our survey shared these tips for using less water at home:

• Fix leaks in a timely fashion; until the leak is fixed, collect the drips in a pail and use the water for the plants in your garden that need it.



• Time your water use: take shorter showers and turn off taps when they aren't actively in use (e.g., when brushing your teeth). Install faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads so that when the water is on, less is going down the drain.



• Set up rain barrels to collect water for your garden; water by hand in the early morning or evening to avoid evaporation.



• Consider planting drought-resistant plants (these are often species native to the area anyways) and mulch around garden beds to reduce the amount of water needed.



• Keep a pitcher of water cold in the fridge so that you don't have to run the tap for a refreshing drink.

Still not convinced? This response reminds us that going green can have additional benefits:

"We started collecting rain water for our garden and grass watering needs. It is great! Our lawn has never looked better, we save on our water use and shrink our water bill. It's a win-win situation!"

If we've missed your favourite water conservation tip, why not share it in the comments below?

Green Your Boating

Summer and boating go hand-in-hand for many Canadians. Before you head out on the water, review our checklist to ensure you're protecting our lakes and rivers while you enjoy them.

• Opt for the latest four-stroke or modern two-stroke-injection motor.
  
• Keep up with regular engine maintenance.
  
• Inspect, fuel line, clamps and filters monthly.
  
• Drive at a “no-wake” speed near shore.
  
• Fuel up away from water if your tanks are detachable.
  
• Choose non-toxic cleaners.
  
• Clean your boat well (on shore) when leaving the water.
  
• Use the least toxic hull paint possible.
  
• Reduce grey water release – if you have a cabin on your boat, add a holding tank.
  
• Never discharge black water.
  
• Use bilge pillows or absorbent pads to soak up oil, fuel, or antifreeze, or install a bilge filter.
  
• Take your garbage home.
  
• Remove any plants or animals that may be clinging to the hull, trailer or motor, or that are hiding in the bilge.

Source: On the Living Edge; Your Handbook for Waterfront Living, by Sarah Kipp and Clive Callaway, 2003.