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By Gina Pannunzio, Stephanie Marshall and Ian Naisbitt 

“Trees indeed have hearts.” ~Henry David Thoreau

Essex County Nature and the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) created a tree planting project to help the WindsorEssex Community Foundation (WECF) celebrate their 40^th Anniversary. Our idea was to plant 40 native trees in a natural area or park in the Detroit River Watershed. Gina and I filled out the WECF application form for funding and we were successful → 40 Years – 40 Trees was a GO!

“A tree is our most intimate contact with nature.” ~George Nakashima

We contacted the City of Windsor through the Parks Department and requested their help in finding an appropriate site for planting. After meeting at Derwent Park in East Windsor, it was agreed the plan would work there. It would include a grove of trees at the north end of the future perimeter trail and trees would be planted alongside the trail as it followed the perimeter fence. We scheduled Saturday, 13 May, 2023 for the event.

“Walk in nature and feel the healing power of the trees.” ~A. William

There were 45 community volunteers that included: children, their parents and grandparents, the staff and Board members of ERCA and the WindsorEssex Community Foundation. They planted 40 very large native trees. How large were they you ask, the largest trees we have ever planted! What a surprise it was to see them all planted and they looked fantastic, you could see every one of them, even the ones on the other side of the park. Fortunately for us the City had the holes for the trees augured beforehand. Refilling the holes with soil and mulching the base of the trees had us on our hands and knees. Our Community Partnership included: City of Windsor, Essex County Nature, Essex Region Conservation Authority, Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, How To Volunteers, Rotary Club and the WindsorEssex Community Foundation. Some of the species of trees we planted were: Red Maple, Burr Oak, Downy Serviceberry, American Elm, and Honey Locust.

“Touching the Earth compares to having Harmony with Nature.” ~Lakota Proverb

Two Weather forecasts:

• Mainly cloudy. High 24 C. Humidex 25. UV index 9 or very high.
• Overcast. High 24 C. UV 3 out of 10. Slight 15% chance of a rain shower. Winds 10 to 15 km/h. Mr. Beaufort calls that a “light to gentle breeze.”

As it turned out, the weather was great for tree planting. A few sprinkles, nothing major and the temps did reach the low twenties, our brows were damp with sweat.  

“Those who plant trees love others besides themselves.” ~Thomas Fuller

The WECF 40^th Anniversary Commemorative Trees will benefit our community:

• First and foremost, these trees will help address two critical issues of today, climate change and biodiversity. The trees will help combat climate change by absorbing and storing the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They will also provide shelter and food for the biodiversity of the wildlife that live in the Detroit River Watershed. There are several Species at Risk in the Windsor-Essex Region that will use woodlands to survive and breed
• Urban trees will improve air quality by releasing oxygen back into the air. They will clean the air by filtering and trapping dust, pollen and other tiny particles in their leaves, branches and trunk bark.
• Trees retain stormwater runoff by breaking rainfall thus allowing the water to flow down their branches and trunks to be absorbed by the earth below. This prevents stormwater runoff from carrying pollutants to the Detroit River. Trees act like a sponge that filters this water naturally and uses it to recharge groundwater supplies.
• The 40^th Anniversary Grove will have a cooling effect on the land and air shaded by the future canopy provided by these trees

“All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Most meaningfully, trees naturally add spiritual value to a local community. The connection humans have with trees touches the soul. Essentially, trees make people feel good. City dwellers value the view of a tree outside their windows. Urban trees calm people during their commute to work. The WECF’s Commemorative Grove will help to improve the mental health of the people who visit this peaceful, natural setting and reflect on their life with the help of the trees.

“Listen to the voice of nature, for it holds treasures for you.” ~Huron Proverb

Our project will create a legacy in the Windsor-Essex Region. Mature trees will be spreading their seeds over time and eventually nature will select which species will survive on the site. Despite insect infestations, diseases or major storms, some of the trees in the grove will live for hundreds of years. Naturalisation will run its course and the 40 trees will disperse their seeds and the natural area will live on in perpetuity.

“Listen to her – our Earth, our Mother; listen to what she is saying.” ~Mohawk Proverb

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, we have planted 40 more trees to help heal Mother Earth.

“Nature is never a place to get to, it is around us always, it is our home.” ~Lakota Proverb

We acknowledge that the Detroit River Watershed is in the traditional and ancestral territory of The Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, which includes the Ojibwa, the Odawa and the Potawatomi Peoples. We recognise that Indigenous Peoples had an original connection with their ancestral land.  We are dedicated to learning about and helping First Nations to protect, preserve and restore their ancestral lands and waters. We value and respect the contributions and relationships of the Indigenous Peoples in their ancestral territory.

By Jennifer Nantais

Every year, Nature Canada partner organisations across the country celebrate World Migratory Bird Day on the second Saturday in May. As part of the Bird Friendly City Certification process, Windsor has committed to acknowledge and celebrate this day annually.

2023 marked Windsor’s first WMDB event organized by the Pelee Island Bird Observatory, which featured 5 days of fun-filled, educational activities including in-person and virtual presentations leading up to the big event – a family-friendly birding challenge to spot the most birds in the city during a 24-hr period. Prize winning categories included the biggest species list, most nocturnal birds and most aquatic species to align with this year’s theme of Water.

All events were free and designed to provide opportunities for new and experienced birders. Opening and closing ceremonies offered refreshments and the chance to connect with other bird lovers.

This first event was small and had to compete with the Global Big Day. Birders had an abundance of wonderful birding locations to choose from, but many chose to bird in the City and help showcase the diversity of birds in Windsor, and why we are a Bird Friendly City!

The WMBD event will evolve as residents decide how they want to celebrate, so speak up! Keep an eye out for next years event, and the opportunity to participate or help volunteer. We want to showcase the incredible bird species that can be found in our city and look forward to this event getting bigger and better every year!

By JoAnn Grondin

The Egrets team consisted of team captain Cathy Lapain and member JoAnn Grondin.  We were also joined by two of Cathy’s sisters:  Peg Mills and Kenlyn Bryant. I started counting around 7:00 am by spotting one of the Bald Eagles that nest on Fighting Island and the Mute Swans that hang around the Island.   We met in Essex at 7:30 am.  Once Kenlyn’s van was loaded with all our supplies, we headed out on the backroads towards Point Pelee, watching the fields and ditches for birds.  The traffic entering the Point was not too heavy so we were able to enter the Point but unable to get to the main parking lot or the tip. Staff directed us to turn into Black Willow Beach.  This parking lot was full so we backtracked to the Madbin Jina area, across from DeLaurier.  

We spent some time there.  We birded from the parking lot and sitting at a picnic table; we also had our packed lunches there.  To start with, the birds flew in sections and we were able to get several species of birds.  From there we went across the road to the DeLaurier parking lot.  The sun was extremely hot by this time.  From here we tried the Blue Heron/Boardwalk area, finding a nice small shaded site to set up our chairs.  Then we tried the Sanctuary site before we left the Park.  Peg and Kenlyn were able to go for short walks to check out most of the sites where we stopped.

After Point Pelee Park, mostly by vehicle, we headed around the onion fields, having to get out of the way of a school bus on a very narrow road.  We drove past the Hillman Marsh area and then on to Wheatley Harbour.  We made our last stop at Kopegaren, finding more warblers on the Boardwalk. 

After arriving back in Essex, I had a bite to eat at McDonalds and arrived at my home close to 7:30 pm; I was exhausted.  Cathy continued to drive around and managed to find 4 more birds after she had a bite to eat.  She arrived at her home at 8:30 pm.

We would like to thank all the individuals who were able to sponsor us, both on line and by cash.  It was a very long day.  No rare birds were seen, but the long day was worth it with a total of 72 bird species.  The Bluebird Committee will benefit from the money that Birds Canada will return to us. Online donations can be made until the end of December.