Kitchener-Waterloo
Field Naturalists
conserving our natural heritage through education and involvement
Petition to Mayor Zehr and Council re. Hidden Valley –
Download and submit as per
the directions.
Future Monthly Meetings and Events
It’s Time for
the FESTIVE POTLUCK!!
MONDAY DECEMBER 8th,
2008. 6:00-8:30 pm
This
will be an informal social gathering and wonderful opportunity to join in some festive
fellowship. We will be having a sing along so bring your musical instruments
and singing voices.
We
will provide tea, coffee and punch and dinner rolls. The rest is up to you! We
rely on members and guests to contribute a dish.
A-J = Entrée
K-R = Salad
S-Z = Dessert
In
order to reduce waste, we ask that you bring your own plates, mugs and cutlery.
We
always appreciate any assistance with this event, so if you able to help out in
any way (setting up tables, decorations, clean-up etc) please sign the Small
But Vital Task List or contact Karol Grainger 519 884-6884 or email rgrainger@sympatico.ca
Programme – January 26th 2009
Dr. Lyle Friesen is a songbird biologist with the Canadian Wildlife
Service. For the past decade, he has been involved in a long-term research
project assessing the response of Wood Thrushes to residential development in
Waterloo Region. He recently acquired miniature video cameras to monitor
activities around nests day and night. Ever wondered what kinds of predators
visit nests in our regional forests, feasting on eggs and nestlings? The list
is surprising and underscores the fact that the breeding grounds can be as much
of a 'jungle' for Wood Thrushes as their wintering grounds. Learn, too, about
the different strategies cowbirds take in parasitizing nests, and how host
thrushes respond to their visits and to young cowbirds that may develop in the
nests.
WINTER
WEATHER NOTICE TO MEMBERS
In the situation where a winter storm may arise, please tune
to 105.3 Kool FM for meeting cancellation notices. Information will also be
available on the website.
Submitted by Karol
Grainger
Monthly meetings are held at Wing404
/Rotary Centre,
Membership Form. Print out form and remit by mail.
Special Announcement – New Web Page
of Interest
My Birding
Place - Record
your field trips and sightings for free! Because
My Birding Place is a community
you can view and compare sightings with other users. Browse Sightings or photographs
by Location or Species. Use the Member locator to Find other birders in your
area and track your sightings together.
Features include:
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Sightings
and Checklists |
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From Backyard Birding to Scientific
Study My Birding Place makes it easy to share and organize sightings, field
trips and checklists. |
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Galleries
and Photos |
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Showcase your birding and species
photos with our easy to use gallery maintenance tools or, use the advanced searching
tools to browse and comment on images throughout the community. |
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Articles,
Journals, and Wiki Field Guide |
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Together with other members
participate in the MBP Wiki Field Guide Project. Contribute to the knowledge base
of articles and journals or take part in birding related discussions in the
forums. |
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Friends,
Neighbors, and Groups |
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Share Field trips and sightings
details with your network of friends. Clubs and organizations can create a
group profile where members data is combined. Group profiles are a great way
to keep members informed of meetings and scheduled events. |
Baillie
Birdathon News -
Neil managed to collect
$965.00 in pledges so he topped it up to $1000.00. Then, as promised, Neil doubled that to make
a total of $2000.00. This is a new
record and Neil thanks the 53 persons/families for their support. As a result, Bird Studies Canada and the KWFN
will benefit greatly by these contributions.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
May 26th will be in my memory for a very long
time. The KWFN presented me with a
Conservation Award at the AGM. The
Conservation Award reads, “For his distinguished contribution toward the
conservation and preservation of natural environments.”
I shall always cherish this recognition and treasure the fond
associations I have had with the KWFN and its members.
Don't stop at Earth Hour - make
every hour Earth Hour!
Now the big
question is, "what's next?" You have taken the first step by turning
out your lights for Earth Hour. Now it's time to take it a step further - by joining
The Good Life.
Make every hour Earth Hour. Join WWF-Canada's
online community, The Good Life to learn how to live a life high in quality,
and low in ecological footprint.
Climate change is the single biggest
environmental threat facing our world today. The good news is that we can all
make a difference by choosing to live The Good Life
WWF-Canada's new interactive site, The Good
Life guides you to take action to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions created
through your daily activities. Making changes, such as washing in cold water,
switching to green power or taking public transit can make a big difference.
Sign up, take action and make a difference
today. Live The Good Life with WWF-Canada.
Very Special Announcement!!Threatened Species Discovered in 3 separate areas in the City of Kitchener
At a May 29th
E.E.A.C. Meeting, Region of
KWFN Outings Submitted by Dale Ingrey
So far this year we’ve had two outings cancelled due to rain, and now that winter is fast approaching this would be a good time to review the inclement weather policy regarding outings. In the event of inclement weather that would pose a risk to participants, the outing will be cancelled by the outing leader. Members who are planning to attend and are unsure as to whether the outing will proceed, should phone the leader beforehand. On the day of the outing the leader will be at the meeting place at the scheduled time even if the outing is cancelled (unless he/she cannot possibly do so because of a storm) just in case anyone shows up. Remember if in doubt, phone the leader ahead of time. Dale Ingrey
SEARCHING FOR GULLS AT NIAGARA
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Jim, Mike, and Ken Burrell
519-699-4695
Join Jim and sons Mike and Ken for this all day outing to the Niagara River in search of various species of gulls that congregate there during the winter. Rare species of gulls are sometimes present as well as various types of other waterfowl. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring lunch, binoculars, scopes, and field guides.
Meeting Time/Place 8:00 am
Homer Watson Blvd.
Fountain Street
401 Carpool lot
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
LEARN THE BASICS – PART I
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Neil Taylor, 519-893-6469
The annual Christmas Bird Count for Kitchener will take place later on December 20. New participants are needed to complete this census and make it successful. If you would like to take part in the count but are unsure of what’s involved, then join Neil to learn the basics and gain self-confidence to volunteer for this year’s CBC. Dress warmly and bring your binoculars, field guide, notepad, and pen/pencil. To volunteer, see the notice elsewhere in this month’s Heron or see the Web Page for contact information. Neil confesses that he is also using this outing as a means of scouting out his area for rare birds in advance of the count itself. You may and really should register for the CBC in advance of this event. Sturdy hiking footwear is suggested. (3 hours)
Meeting Time/Place 9:00 am
Parking lot of
Doon Presbyterian Church (with permission)
at 35 Roos St., Kitchener
(off Old Mill Rd. in Doon)
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
LEARN THE BASICS – PART II
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Neil Taylor, 519-893-6469
This is a repeat of the December 13 outing, but in a new location in the area of Doon Pioneer Tower. See the earlier information.
Meeting Time/Place 1:00 pm
Parking lot of Pioneer Memorial Tower.
From Fairway Rd., take King St., E., past Riverbank Dr. and Highway
8. Turn right onto Deer Ridge Dr. and
follow to the end, ignoring Pioneer Tower Road.
Turn right onto Lookout Lane and proceed to the parking lot.
BIRDING IN HALDIMAND COUNTY
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Neil Taylor 519-893-6469
Haldimand County is home to several Carolinian species including Carolina Wren, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Tufted Titmouse. In winter, it attracts many raptors including Red-tailed in various colour phases. Neil has been birding this area for many years and expects to see both Long-eared and Short-eared Owls. With luck, there is a probability of seeing Northern Saw-whet Owls, Bald Eagles, Wild Turkeys, Gray Partridges and much more. Neil will be in touch with birders in the area in advance of the outing to try to determine the hot areas to see birds.
This is an all day outing so dress very warmly, bring binoculars, scope if you have one and lunch. A visit to the Raptor Reserve is planned to see Short-eared Owls about 5:00 pm unless they are found earlier. No registration necessary.
Meeting Time/Place 8:00 am
Car pool parking lot
Homer Watson Blvd.
Fountain St. at the 401
TUESDAY TRAVELLERS
January 13, 2009
Riverside Park in Cambridge
Marco DeBruin
519-658-5372
Join Marco for a refreshing walk in Riverside Park in Cambridge. Weather permitting, this could be a good opportunity to see up close and photograph some of our winter birds. The terrain is fairly level with a good portion of boardwalk. If time permits, we could take a short walk along the Speed River and check out some of our over-wintering waterfowl. Dress appropriately and don’t forget your binoculars.
Meeting Time/Place 9:30 am
at the entrance to Riverside Park (off King Street) in Cambridge, just
outside the gate, along the wall.
OWL PROWL (EVENING) AT LAUREL CREEK
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Al Woodhouse, 519-885-9301
This is the perfect time of the year to test our best owl imitations, or at least Al’s. A walk around the Laurel Creek Nature Centre property might yield one or more of our nocturnal avian friends—Eastern Screech or Great Horned Owl. Please ensure you dress for the weather and remember that flashlights are used for safety only, since we want our night vision to remain sharp.
MeetingTime/Place 6:00 pm
Laurel Creek Nature Centre
525 Beaver Creek Road
Waterloo
WELLESLEY WINTER BIRDING
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Jim Burrell, 519-699-4695
Join Jim (and probably Mike and Ken) for this annual drive around the countryside near Wellesley and Linwood, in search of raptors such as red-tailed and rough-legged hawks. Some other possibilities are Snowy Owls, Snow Buntings and Horned Larks on this half-day outing.
Meeting Time/Place 8:30 am
Beechwood Plaza, Erb St.
and Fischer-Hallman Rd., Waterloo (near TD-Canada Trust)
KOLB PARK FAMILY OUTING
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Janet Ozaruk, 519-893-0490
Kolb Park is a natural area close to town that you may not be familiar with. The Walter Bean Trail provides a nice walking path through here. The Grand River is on one side and a series of ponds on the other, providing a good chance of spotting waterfowl and mammals that favour the shoreline habitat. We’ll go for an easy ramble and look for scats, tracks, signs of browsing, abandoned nests , and overwintering birds, and try our hand at identifying winter weeds.
Meeting Time/Place 1:00 pm
Kolb Park parking lot at end of Centennial Crt. This is off Centennial Road, near Victoria
Street and Forwell Road.
See Conservation Link for current issues and letters and information submitted by the KWFN.
A New Web Site
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visitors since February 15, 1997
are
located at the bottom this page.
Cambridge Sightings
This forum is for sharing information regarding birding and wildlife
"spotting" in the
Please report
sightings of turtle road fatalities or knowledge of any areas where there seems
to be a lot of turtles crossing roads. Please contact Angie Schoen so she
may build a data base of these areas. She will use this information to
approach the different municipalities about placing turtle crossing
signs. Any help would be appreciated.
Turtle Haven
1-519-745-4334
uros@sympatico.ca
Angie is
also looking for any conservation group(s) that are working with the Karner
Blue Butterfly.
The KWFN Photo Salon features the efforts and talents of
local photographers. Photos should not be larger than 4 x 6(H) or 6 x
4(V). Images to be saved at 72ppi resolution and as a jpeg file with low
resolution. At this point, I will limit submissions to one photograph per
person which may be replaced upon request.
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