RAINY RIVER Valley Field Naturalists
`Meeting Minutes
Monday, April 8, 2019
Present: Henry Miller, Terry Kawulia, Ahlan Johanson, Gaby Emond, John Pohanka, Henry Van Ael, Ilka Milne, Bob Saunders
Regrets: Mike Hammond, Pat Basaraba
Call to Order: Meeting called to order by co-Chair Terry Kawulia at 1908 hrs.
Minutes: Bob made a motion to accept the minutes of Meeting # 119 (October 29,, 2018), as written, seconded by Henry Miller.
Carried…
Agenda: Terry mentioned that Henry Miller had wanted to talk about a possible Loosestrife Removal Project. It was added to the agenda as a discussion point only. Gaby made a motion to accept the agenda as amended, seconded by Terry.
Carried…
Treasurer’s Report:
3) Treasurer’s Financial Report (Henry Van Ael)
Henry reported very little activity has occurred in the last while with respect to our financials. We did receive several cents interest and paid one bill of $83.00 to Ontario Nature (annual membership renewal) and that was it for transactions as far as he could recall. (Henry had forgotten his report at home).
Ilka made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as discussed, Ahlan seconded.
Carried…
Henry emailed the membership later that evening to report our current bank balance being $2561.17.
Business:
1). Communication
Our annual membership renewal for Ontario Nature did come in and was paid. The Thunder Bay Field Naturalist sent their quarterly magazine that Terry brought to share with others
MNR Open Houses
Henry Miller did attend the Open House and felt it was already a done deal. They did listen to the comments, but it was felt that things had been decided, and this was just a step to say they had consulted with the Public and also the Field Naturalists. Yes, they do need to cut the wood, but it is unclear which is the best cutting method to use in terms of forest management to sustain and protect our wildlife, birds, and ecosystems.
Bill 66 (New Environmental laws)
Terry brought it to the members’ attention that a new law is being considered by the Provincial Government Entitled “Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act”. It has great implications for nature and our environment among others. Bill 66 would allow municipalities across Ontario to create ‘open for business by-laws’ that would supersede critical legal requirements currently in place to protect our wildlife, forests, waterways etc. Contrary to our current legal requirements, by-laws could be passed without any public consultation and behind closed doors. Terry encouraged us all to familiarize ourselves with it.
The Heart of the Continent
National Geographic Society has developed partnerships with local stakeholders working together on cross border projects that promote the health of our lakes, forests, and communities on the Ontario/Minnesota border. They have designated the Heart of the Continent as part of a growing international network of regional geo tourism destinations, of which we are now part of. Terry filled out the necessary forms to provide information about our bogwalk and submitted them. (Thanks Terry). They have an interactive website and mobile apps too that allow visitors to see the multiple attractions throughout our public lands and it now has a direct link to our Cranberry Peat Bog. They did solicit for donations, but after a short discussion, it was felt that we were more in need of our current small amount of funds.
2). Christmas Bird Count
Ilka reported that our Club did again take part in the Annual Christmas Bird Count this year on December 22, 2018. We had 8 people total in the field, Henry Miller and Mike Hammond, Ilka and Henry Van Ael, Gaby and her daughter Heidi, and 2 from the Stewardship Council- Joe Reynolds and Andy Chepil. Our results were posted online this past weekend due to a small mixup, but we still made the Data Input deadline (Thanks Ilka). The 4 crews managed to cover 541 km by vehicle and logged 2 km by foot with temperatures sitting at a low of -10’C and a high of -6’C. A total of 29 different species were documented with a total of 1856 birds counted. It was a pretty good year for us as we saw a hawk which we haven’t seen during the Christmas count for a long time, and the White winged Crossbills were also a good find. The large number of Bald Eagles (100) were found mostly at the dump while a large flock of mallards were found on the river to help make up their total count of 252 this year.
Ilka mentioned that she usually does not include the birdfeeder results submitted by volunteer observers if we had a crew in their vicinity doing the count as well in order to minimize the chance of the same birds being counted twice.
Ilka handed out laminated ‘Christmas Bird Count’ signs in preparation for next year.
Global Bird Count Day will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2019. All are welcome to partake. Bob Saunders is definitely going and would be thrilled if somebody would like to join him. Please contact him via email @bobsaunders01@gmail.com if you’d like to go. No experience required.
The annual Dorion Canyon Birding Festival will be held May 25-26 this year. All are welcome to attend.
3). Junior Rangers Work Schedule For the Bog Walk
Gaby reported that Diana McGhee needed us to come up with a detail specific workplan for the Junior Rangers if we wanted their help on the bogwalk this summer. She reminded the membership that no power tools could be used by the rangers. After some discussion, it was decided that the sign that was moved, fixed, and releveled by Mike and Marty last fall was currently fine, as was the viewing platform, Perhaps they could cut the grasses and bushes back a distance of 1’ from the bogwalk and the grass growing up between the planks as well one day every 2 weeks. The afternoons could be spent identifying birds, plants, and trees found in the bog so that we can start a database of sorts with the information to be posted on our website (unsure if we even have one @ present).
In the Stewardship Council Meeting held in Emo, April 9, 2019, Diana stated that the Rangers were ‘not free manual labour, that’s not the purpose of this group’. She stated that the most they would come to help out would be twice during the course of the summer as they need to experience different things. She did say they had the tools to cut the grasses back and would be willing to do so, but the work day needed to be supervised by one of our members, and an educational component needed to be provided on those days as well (“it doesn’t have to be long, even half an hour would be ok”), and a written request with the proper paperwork would need to be received by her office. Diana has the correct forms available and we need to get in touch with her as soon as possible if we wish to do so.
Bog Walk
The future of the bog walk was discussed. Construction of the first section was undertaken in 2004. Yes, some of it is starting to show wear and tear with a few boards having been replaced already. Bob reported that there is a section that needs to be lifted and resecured. Terry stated he has a few stringers left and Mike has about 8 planks or so left to be used for that. The pile of gravel donated by Mr. Harold McQuaker last fall has been partially dispersed over the low spots which might need to have more added once the frost goes out. Rick Cooper has offered his services to Ahlan to help spread the rest in the parking area with his tractor at the end of May should there be any remaining. Gaby asked if we were doing anything on the boardwalk this year and what our plans were. Although the membership has a desire to build a total of 1000’ to the existing boardwalk (300’ were added last year), there are no current plans for expansion underway. We do not have sufficient funds but Terry will look to see if there are any grants we could qualify for in this regard.
4). District Horticultural Meeting
The District Horticultural Society is having their annual meeting here on June 1 and has contacted Terry expressing an interest in visiting the bog as an excursion during the meeting. Ilka volunteered to act as a tour guide for the group. Terry will get back to her with a time.
5). Crossroute Forest Future
The first Open House has already been held which Henry Miller did attend. There will be another Open House in the near future where anyone can ask questions or make comments. Henry Miller said that at any time one could go to the MNR and do so as well. This 10 year management plan for the Crossroute Forest covers the time period from the years 2020″2030, took 3 years to make, and cost over 1 million dollars thus far. It apparently has been reported in the Atikokan Paper that the Sapawe Forest and Crossroute Forest areas will be amalgamated sometime in the future.
6). Response to Stewardship Council
The possibility of amalgamation with the Stewardship Council was again discussed. There was some confusion at the Christmas Get Together held at the mounds attended by Terry, Henry Miller, Pat Basaraba, Bob, and Ahlan. We had been informed that although they were having their meeting, we had been invited to get to know them, socialize and perhaps do some skiing or snowshoeing which sadly never materialized. The food was outstanding, the company great, and it was stated that we have similar goals and mission statements, however Gaby did point out that they are quite a proactive group and they do have expectations of all members, ie. “each member is expected to take on the role of project leader for a minimum of 1 project each fiscal year”, and they are expected to actively participate in the council meetings of which they have 10 per year. It was decided at this time to remain at ‘arm’s length’ so to speak, to keep in touch, invite them to our meetings and perhaps have some of us go to theirs. We look forward to working with them on a project should one come up that would pertain to both groups. Gaby currently attends our meetings and theirs out of interest (yet undecided about membership) and will let them know what we discussed today, and will pass on the invitation to join our upcoming events and meetings. Gaby also pointed out that they have been promoting our board walk, our work bees, and the Christmas bird count on their website and facebook pages already.
7). Plastics in our Environment
Terry informed us that 80% of all plastics, especially the ‘single use’ plastic is not recycled and ends up everywhere, in our landfills, our waterways etc.. China is no longer accepting our plastics which is worsening the problem. The European Union is taking steps already to eliminate plastics. Terry was wondering if we should be writing a letter to the government on behalf of the Rainy River Field Naturalists throwing our support behind a complete ban on single use plastics as well. After much discussion on the concept of a complete ban and its many implications, it was decided to defer this item to our next meeting with the understanding that all members would do some research on plastics and their use, -how they impact our environment, what other countries are doing with respect to plastic useage, possible alternatives to the use of plastic, etc.. At our next meeting, we then can make an informed decision regarding the contents of our letter to the government voicing our concerns.
8). New Projects and Outing Suggestions
Bog Walk
Nothing is planned for the Bog Boardwalk, although it is understood that at some point in time the interpretative signs will be returned for the season startup. (Mike and Gaby had taken them down in the fall to be stored at Mike’s for the winter).Although none were stolen last season J, some did break. Orange flags are still in place to mark their locations. The pile of gravel donated by Mr. Harold McQuaker last fall has been partially dispersed over the low spots which might need to have more added once the frost goes out. Rick Cooper has offered his services to Ahlan to help spread the rest in the parking area with his tractor at the end of May should there be any remaining.
The future of the bog walk was discussed. Construction of the first section was undertaken in 2004. Yes, some of it is starting to show wear and tear with a few boards having been replaced already. Bob reported that there is a section that needs to be lifted and resecured. Terry stated he has a few stringers left and Mike has about 8 planks or so left to be used for that. Gaby asked if we were doing anything on the boardwalk this year and what our plans were. Although the membership has a desire to build a total of 1000’ to the existing boardwalk (300’ were added last year), there are no current plans for expansion underway. We do not have sufficient funds but Terry will look to see if there are any grants we could qualify for in this regard.
Gaby asked if we were still going to accept more donations for interpretive signs for the boardwalk. We had discussed this at our last meeting as Pam Brandrick had wished to do so. Terry said he had checked into it, the template was still there at the business in Atikokan and they would make them for us, even one at a time. The cost had not gone up (somewhere around $85/sign). Gaby suggested we charge $100/sign like a donation, and was wondering about the procedure from here. Terry thought maybe we should open it up again to solicit other donations and then we also needed to determine what plants/birds we should then showcase. To be discussed and details determined at our next meeting.
PossibleOutings
The Night Owl counts are ongoing the month of April. Henry Miller will be going out April 9th with Joe Reynolds, and Ilka and Henry have planned to do so tentatively on the night of April 19th. Remember the Global Bird Count Day on May 4th. A possible ‘Moth Identification Day’ was suggested. Bob said Michael Dewbar is fairly knowledgeable about moths and he would approach him to see if he’s interested in leading such an outing. The members were very interested in having another ‘Dragonfly Search & Identification’ outing. Ilka suggested the best time for that would be in June sometime, and she would be interested in leading it.
It had been suggested earlier that perhaps the Junior Rangers could help with the removal of the large amounts of Purple Loosestrife in the district. But Henry M. said it was a huge undertaking and involved a lot more thought before we should pursue that avenue.
Tales From the Wild Side
Many birds have come back already with the swans, Canada geese, gulls, and robins already sighted. Henry M. stated that the Barrred Owls have been calling since mid March. Some members had the American Goldfinches at their feeders throughout the winter. It was reported that the Turtle River area has Boreal owls. Bob encouraged us all to go on the “E-Bird” website to document our sightings. He also stated that E-Bird does have a free App available to help with bird identification & inventory.
Next Meeting
It was determined by the members present, that Mondays were a good night for meetings. Next meeting is to be held Monday, May 6th @ 7 pm at the Alberton Municipal Hall.
Meeting adjourned @ 2115hrs.(estimated)