Chris Hart, Author at Essex County Nature

In Memory of Jim McAllister

By Chris Hart|2021-09-07T22:33:10-04:00September 6th, 2021|The Egret Article|

Jim McAllister (September 6, 1935 – August 31, 2021)

The Essex County Field Naturalists’ are greatly saddened by the recent passing of Jim McAllister. Jim was an admired and respected member of the Club, and our community.

Below is an excerpt from Jeremy Hatt’s “A Selected History of the ECFNC” from the March 2016 Egret issue:

Jim McAllister served as President for two years. He led ECFNC from an organizational meeting of nine people all the way to a group of about 200 members by the time he decided to pass the presidential torch. Jim shepherded the Club with steadfast determination through its infancy, through several important decisions that set its course, through a lengthy legal process, and through rapid growth following the first public meeting. Like many other naturalists, birding was one of the inspirations for Jim becoming more actively involved in pursuits like helping form ECFNC. A teacher at the time, he was curious to see what some of his colleagues were so excited about while talking about birding at Point Pelee. He decided to check it out for himself. “One of the first birds I saw was an orange variant of a Scarlet Tanager. It was beautiful. So I told my wife about it and my wife said, ‘well, let’s take a trip to Point Pelee and we can bird all day and have a picnic in the afternoon’. We saw a lot of rare birds. Then we started to take trips. It got me across Canada to the west coast, got me to Alaska, got me to Inuvik. Inuvik was a 10,000km round trip.” This passion for nature is reflected in Jim’s leadership of the Club. Yes, it was a Club for socializing, sharing knowledge, and bringing a community together, but he also knew it would become an organization that provoked attitudinal change around conservation and protect properties from development and the wildlife that uses them. This foresight is alluded to in his last President’s report published in Vol. 2, No. 4 of The Egret: “As naturalists we must continue to educate and speak out on those matters which concern us all, while recognizing that the environment will always be under attack and we must be ever vigilant and tenacious.” In the same President’s report, Jim started by writing, “At the end of December a new board and a new president will take over and this I think, will signify an evolution of the club from shaky toddler to self confident youth.” With Jim’s leadership, a dedicated Board of Directors, and participation from enthusiastic members, ECFNC spent little time on shaky legs. Rather, it began its life already bounding across the field.

In honour of Jim, and his impact on ECFNC, the Club will be planting a tree in his memory.

Please click here if you wish to read Jim’s obituary.

Cicada Saga

By Chris Hart|2021-09-07T10:01:47-04:00September 6th, 2021|The Egret Article|

We have decided to introduce a Historical Egret Article series, which will involve reprinting articles from past issues. Over the lifespan of The Egret, we have accumulated a plethora of quality written works, many of which may go unread by new (as well as existing) members. This series looks to highlight relevant articles from within the archives. All previous issues are available on the Club website.

Below is a reprint from September 1985 (Egret Volume 2, Issue 3), in which Susan Morrison describes the moulting of a cicada. If you spent anytime outside in Essex County this summer (or even just opened your windows), you can probably understand why this article was deemed relevant. Enjoy.

Spring Tree Planting across the Windsor Essex Region

By Chris Hart|2021-07-11T11:59:38-04:00June 8th, 2021|The Egret Article|

Submitted by Gina Pannunzio on behalf of the Essex Region Conservation Authority

Over the past few weeks, ERCA has been planting and distributing more than 125,000 trees across the watersheds of the Windsor Essex region. This work is extremely important locally as trees play a critical role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. They also play an important role in helping us to adapt to a changing climate by protecting us from flooding and severe storms, and by providing shade during increasingly hot weather. They will also continue to provide critical habitat for many plants and animals that will also find adapting to a changing climate challenging. There is no doubt that we need more trees and better-connected forests to address climate change and create a healthy region for future generations.

Essex County faces many ecological challenges, as it is part of one of the most populated corridors in Canada. As well, it is part of the unique ecoregion, the Carolinian Life Zone. This region comprises of only 1% of Canada’s total land mass, but is home to more flora and fauna species than any other area in Canada. Prior to European settlement, Essex County was dominated by natural areas, including Carolinian woodlands, wetlands and tall grass prairies.

Since then, much of the landscape has changed or is extremely degraded to accommodate a growing population. This degradation is a direct or indirect result of clearing and increasing drainage for timber, agriculture and urban development. The represents a loss of 95% original forest cover and 97% loss of wetlands. Essex County’s natural heritage loss has resulted in a decline in species populations native to the region; many recognized as species at risk.

While the Essex Region Conservation Authority has planted more than 6 million trees and achieved an 8.5%, natural areas coverage, more action is needed to reach our 12% target. This target was established by ERCA to reflect the United Nations goal of 12% natural areas for a sustainable balance between nature and development across a landscape.

For those interested in ERCA’s various tree planting programs, visit https://essexregionconservation.ca/stewardships-grants/tree-planting/. Mark your calendars, ERCA opens up tree planting orders for landowners in January/February and pick up is around Earth Day in April.