Essex County Nature

Sturgeon Creek Restoration Community Event
2018-05-26 - 2018-05-27
Save the date – The community-planting event will take place on either Saturday May 26
2018 or Sunday May 27 2018 (TBD). The following weekend (June 2 and 3 2018) are also
marked for rain dates. See www.essexcountynature.com/events for updates.

Ojibway Nature Centre Spring Birding Trips
2018-05-23 08:00 - 13:00, 2018-05-16 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Detroit)
Ojibway Nature Centre Spring Birding Trips (Fee Program) –
Meet at the Visitor Centre, Point Pelee at 8:00 am

Essex County Nature Meeting
2018-05-09 19:30 - 21:30
7:30 pm at the Ojibway Nature Centre. All are welcome. Details to come.

Ojibway Nature Centre Spring Birding Trips
2018-05-05 08:30 - 13:00
Ojibway Nature Centre Spring Birding Trips (Fee Program) –
Meet at the Rondeau Provincial Park Visitor Centre at 8:30 am

24th Annual ECFNC Pelee Island Trip
2018-05-05 - 2018-05-06
Register early with Dave Kraus as it often sells out fast! See article in the March 2018 Egret newsletter for additional details.

Pelee’s Festival of Birds
2018-05-01 - 2018-05-21
Celebrate spring migration at Point Pelee National Park. Daily birding hikes, Lunch and
Learn sessions, Birder Breakfast and Lunch and so much more. Visit www.festivalofbirds.ca
for more details.

Ojibway Nature Centre Spring Birding Trips
2018-04-28 08:30 - 13:00, 2018-04-14 08:30 - 13:00
Ojibway Nature Centre Spring Birding Trips (Fee Program) –
Meet at the Visitor Centre, Point Pelee at 8:30 am

Earth Day Bake Sale
2018-04-22 10:00 - 15:00
10 am-3 pm at Malden Park – see article in March 2018 Egret newsletter for additional details.

Dark Sky Event
2018-04-21 19:00 - 23:30
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) sponsors Dark Sky Nights at Point Pelee
six times per year. Upcoming program nights include April 21 in association with Pelee’s
“What’s Croaking” program at 7:00 pm in the Visitor Centre followed by star gazing with the
RASC in the VC parking lot. Visit Pelee’s web page for future dates and more info.

Spring Bird Walk at Holiday Beach
2018-04-21 09:00 - 11:00
Join members of the Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) at Holiday Beach for a
spring birding walk to explore the Big Creek Important Bird Area followed by a
presentation on attracting hummingbirds, pot-luck lunch and HBMO spring meeting. Meet
at the Holiday Beach hawk tower at 9:00 am.

Reptile & Amphibian Survey, Tree Identification, Birding, and Nature Appreciation Walk
2018-04-15 14:00 - 16:00
Meet at Dave Kraus’ property at 1515 Mersea Road 7, Leamington. Lots of parking on the
grass laneway before the barn. Walk will be lead by Steve Marks and Dave Kraus and will
start at 2 pm.

Essex County Nature Meeting
2018-04-11 19:30 - 21:30
Breaking Birding Boundaries: My 2017 Ontario Big Year – Point Pelee area birder and
naturalist Jeremy Bensette had a very successful Big Year in 2017, travelling to the far
reaches of his home province of Ontario in pursuit of every bird species he could possibly
cross paths with. This presentation touches on many of the highlights, lowlights, statistics,
results, and antics of his Big Year. Join Jeremy at 7:30 pm at the Ojibway Nature Centre for
a summary of his year-long competitive and very social birding journey that turned out to
be so much more rewarding than he expected!

Ojibway Nature Centre Spring Birding Trips
2018-03-17 08:30 - 13:00
Ojibway Nature Centre Spring Birding Trips (Fee Program) –
Meet at the Tip parking lot, Point Pelee at 8:30 am

Essex County Nature Meeting
2018-03-14 19:30 - 21:30
Annual General Meeting

Elections, a review of the previous year’s budget and minutes, with a fun quiz throughout. Held at 7:30pm at the Ojibway Nature Centre.

Essex County Nature Meeting
2018-02-14 19:30 - 21:00
Gina Pannunzio, the Partnerships and Outreach Coordinator with Essex Region Conservation will share information on the coastal wetland habitat restoration project taking place in Leamington in partnership with Caldwell First Nation. Formerly an abandoned marina in Sturgeon Creek, the area will be restored to provide terrestrial and coastal wetland habitat. The Sturgeon Creek Wetland project helps to improve water quality and provide much needed wetland habitat as part of the Lake Erie watershed.

Essex County Nature Meeting
2018-01-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Ojibway Nature Centre
How Much Habitat is Enough?
Dan Lebedyk is Essex Region Conservation’s Biologist and will be speaking on ERCA’s efforts in identifying a
natural heritage system for the Essex region. His presentation will explain the application of “How Much
Habitat is Enough” guidelines to the local landscapes while making connections to the Biodiversity
Conservation Strategy (BSC) and the Essex Region Natural Heritage System Strategy (ERNHSS).
Held at 7:30pm at the Ojibway Nature Centre.

Essex County Nature Meeting
2017-12-13 19:30 - 21:30
Members Meeting
Come and share photos and stories related to your nature experiences and sightings. This
is a relaxed evening of club member participation and pre-holiday mirth. Please join us
for some light refreshments and social time. *If you would like to share photos, please
bring them on a USB drive

Our 33rd Annual Dinner
2017-11-04
Location: Fogolar Furlan Club – 1800 N. Service Rd., Windsor
Date: Saturday, November 4, 2017
Time: Doors 5:30PM & Dinner 7:00PM
Tickets: $40 – Must purchase by October 25.

BUY YOUR TICKETS: www.essexcountynature.com/tickets

GUEST SPEAKER

JODY ALLAIR
Southern Ontario’s Forest Birds at Risk
Like canaries in a coal mine, our at risk forest birds have important information to convey. Find out exactly who these remarkable birds are, what threats they face, and what we might do to help.
Jody Allair is an avid birder and naturalist who enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the natural world. Jody has been birding and banding since his teens, when he began volunteering at Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO). He has worked at the LPBO, the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology and has held bird watching courses and field trips. He has been a Biologist and Science Educator for Bird Studies Canada (BSC) since 2006. Jody conducts various educational activities in addition to his research and fieldwork. He has been seen on TV teaching Rick Mercer how to band Saw-whet Owls. He leads birding trips with Eagle-Eye Tours to Alberta, Mexico, and New Zealand.

TD Tree Days in Windsor
2017-10-22 09:00 - 12:00
Come out and help reforest a part of the Little River watershed! This event will take place
Sunday October 22 2017 between 9am and 12pm at the green space near Florence and
Wyandotte Street in east Windsor. Snacks and refreshments are available for volunteers
and students can earn community service hours. Boots and long pants recommended.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED due to limited spots:
https://www.tdtreedays.com/en-ca/events/753

Bush Park Tree Planting
2017-10-14 09:00 - 12:00
Celebrating Canada’s 150th Anniversary and the City of Windsor’s 125th Anniversary. The planting site is Bush Park in East Windsor. Bush Park is located adjacent to Forest Glade Public School on Esplanade Drive. Follow the link to see a map of the area: https://goo.gl/maps/YLhUadvkfsR2 Volunteers will meet in Bush Park on Esplanade Drive in the Forest Glade community. From Tecumseh Road East, drive travel south on Forest Glade Drive; turn right/ west onto Esplanade Drive and travel west until you see Forest Glade School.

Essex County Nature Meeting
2017-10-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Ojibway Nature Centre, 5200 Matchette Rd., Windsor, Ontario, N9C 4E8, Canada
Fossils of Arkona – with Paul Bourque
The middle Devonian fossils around Arkona Ontario are invertebrates from a shallow
marine environment and are known internationally for their excellent quality. Rock
hounds and retailers visit this area regularly. Paul will present the geologic and
environmental background along with an overview of the animal groups represented. He
will also bring his collection of fossils from the Arkona area for your inspection. Paul
has a degree in geology and physical geography and has continued his interest and study
on the topic. He has also conducted field trips to the Arkona area and delivered other
talks related to geology.

Essex County Nature Meeting
2017-09-13 19:30 - 21:30 | Ojibway Nature Centre
The Digital Age…
Birding and Herping… there’s an App for that!

Kory Renaud is a local birder who is also a tech enthusiast. He’ll be presenting on how to use technology to become a better birder, how to share sightings and how to participate in citizen science projects using eBird. Steve Marks is on several of the committees that help Ontario Nature’s Herp Atlas App run smoothly. He’ll be presenting on how it works, why it’s so awesome, and why it’s so important to get involved!! Bring your cell phone!

Hawk Festival at Holiday Beach Conservation Area
2017-09-09 - 2017-09-10
We will once again open our Blue Kestrel Café at the Hawk Fesitval. Volunteers are needed. Call JoAnn if you would like to help (519-734-0056). Watch for more news regarding this event.

www.erca.org
www.hbmo.ca

We're Goin' On A Bug Hunt
2017-08-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Brunet Park, LaSalle
Get to know those crawlies before you call them “creepy”. Meet with Angela Demarse, amateur entomologist, for a leisurely hike through Brunet Park. We’ll talk about the major categories of insects in an active learning setting that engages both children and adults alike. Bring along a bug net and jar (one with vent holes is best) if you’re interested in getting up-close and personal with Essex County’s beautiful, colourful and sometimes strange variety of native insects.
1-3pm at Brunet Park in LaSalle – https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Brunet+Park/@42.2405748,-83.0445283,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x211ab3e9cbc024ad?sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjSiuDxu7zVAhVL54MKHZf3BiUQ_BIIbTAK

Essex County Nature Meeting
2017-08-09 19:30 - 21:30 | Ojibway Nature Centre
Brian Burnette will be our guest speaker. Brian will be speaking about prescribed burns.

Essex County Nature Meeting
2017-05-10 19:30 - 21:30 | Ojibway Nature Centre
Karina Richters will speak on the Community Energy Plan

23rd Annual Pelee Island Trip
2017-05-06 - 2017-05-07
23rd Annual ECFNC Weekend Trip to Pelee Island with David Kraus
Leave at 10:00 am Saturday from Leamington Dock aboard the M.V. Jiimaan (be at the dock by 9:20 am). We will return to Leamington Dock by 5:45 pm Sunday.
We will likely see: migrating waterfowl & warblers, wildflowers such as trilliums & waterleaf, basking turtles and snakes, bullfrogs, historic sites, and hear a chorus or two of American Toads, to suggest a few of the many enjoyable experiences on Pelee Island in spring. We should also get a chance to visit the Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO bird banding station) and some of the recently acquired Nature Conservancy of Canada properties: Red Cedar Savannah ESA, Stone Road Alvar ANSI, Brown’s Point and Woods, and Brown’s Road Alvar. We will have plenty of time to walk, observe, and relax on the excursions to some of Pelee’s most beautiful natural habitats, including: Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve, Lighthouse Point Provincial Nature Reserve, the Stone Road Alvar Complex, Sheridan Point ESA, and many other stops along the way (including natural habitat restoration work completed on my property).
The total cost will be $ 195 this year. This cost will include: the two ferry trips, weekend bus transportation, four hot meals, overnight room accommodations, and all taxes and tips. The $ 195 cost will include all expenses for the weekend other than alcoholic drinks, souvenirs, and snacks or meals on the ferry.
To register for this trip: see David Kraus at the ECFNC meetings, call, or email/text:
Dave Kraus phone: 519 825 7491 (leave message)
email address: david.kraus@publicboard.ca
text: 519-257-8674

For The Birds - Free admission and Nature Hike @ 2pm
2017-05-06 | For The Birds, 1420 Gore Rd, Essex, Ontario, Canada
For The Birds, 1420 Gore Rd. Essex, all day free admission and nature hike @ 2pm guided by Paul Pratt
We are pleased to advise a very special outing at the “For The Birds” property owned by lifetime club member Forest Elmslie. Paul Pratt has praised the natural quality of the property the size of which is easily confirmed by viewing the satellite shot on Google Maps. Please refer to the webpage for more info including directions. http://www.for-the-birds.ca/Welcome.html Please note that dates on the webpage are from last year. The front gate will be opened at 6am for eager birders. The weather between now and then may be rainy so bring your rubber boots. Free lunchtime fare (from 11:30 until 2 or until the food is gone) will be provided by club members Ralph Benoit and Therese Nuong. It will consist of burgers, meatballs, baked potatoes, and maybe some special Vietnamese treats.
Please don’t pass up this unique opportunity provided by Mr. Elmslie.
Admittance is restricted to paid-up members of the club.
