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Field Naturalists'
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Information on upcoming trips lead by BFNC members to explore the natural wonders of Simcoe County and events sponsored by other organizations that may be of interest to BFNC members. Check the details and plan to join us. All trips, unless otherwise noted, leave from Little Lake Park (LLPL) at the end of Little Lake Drive in Barrie. [Directions]All times shown are departures times. Visitors are welcomed on all trips, but please no pets. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and have members show you how to use field guides or other resource materials. We were all novices at one point and we are all still learning.
Depart 8:15 am CROSS
COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOEING Earl Rowe Prov. Park is a convenient place for some winter recreation. Enjoy winter birds and some fresh air exercise with John. If there is not enough snow, winter boots are fine and we’ll simply walk. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU MUST SUPPLY YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT
Depart 8:15 am MINESING
RAPTORS Take a trip through the flats around Minesing, looking for Snowy Owls, Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Shrikes, and other raptors, as well as flocks of Snow Buntings.
Depart 8:30 am HORNED
LARKS AND TIFFIN PANCAKES Horned Larks are the first songbirds to return to Simcoe County in spring. We will search the Minesing Flats for them and late winter birds (perhaps a Snowy Owl and Snow Buntings) We will then go to Tiffin Conservation Area for pancakes and sausages for lunch. Remember to bring your own dishes & cutlery and there is a small charge to defray costs.
Depart 8:00 am SPRING
BIRDS IN THE MINESING
FLOODLANDS Second Meeting Place at Tim Horton’s in Angus at 8:30 am BRING RUBBER BOOTS The Minesing Wetlands are a great basin into which melted snow flows each spring. Forests are inundated, as are many of the farms located around the perimeter of the swamp. This is a magnet for thousands of migrating waterfowl. Northern Pintail, Tundra Swans, Sandhill Cranes are likely sights, and perhaps a few early songbirds too, such as Tree Swallows
Depart 8:00 pm AMERICAN
WOODCOCKS Displaying American Woodcocks at dawn and dusk are one of the earliest signs of spring in Simcoe County. Join Ian Cook to learn more about their calls and behaviour. Wear waterproof boots, and bring bug repellent and a flashlight.
Depart 9:00 am NORTH
SIMCOE RAILTRAIL CLEANUP Enjoy the spring weather and spend the morning cleaning up along the Railtrail, in keeping with Earth Day. A hot dog BBQ lunch will end off the morning’s chore.
Check our website to see if we have any additional events planned for Wildlife Week. http://www.breretonfieldnaturalists.org
Depart 6:00 pm THE
GABLES Second Meeting Place Gables parking lot at 6:20 pm. This 43 acre natural parcel within the City of Barrie has many attractive features—forested shoreline on Kempenfelt Bay, hardwood forests with numerous large trees, and naturalized spring flowers like yellow anemone. It is also a spot that attracts migrant birds.
Depart 8:45 am SPRING
EPHEMERALS: Woodland Wildflowers Second meeting place: Copeland Forest parking area off Ingram Rd, first parking lot east of Highway 93 at 9:30 am. Wildflowers with a ‘zest’ for life. In winter, snow blankets our woodlands and in the summer, very few plants bloom there, finding the shade from the canopy a challenge. But, for a brief period in spring, wildflowers abound. This event will end about noon
Depart 8:30 am ARDAGH
BLUFFS This natural area within City of Barrie limits is a great spot to view spring wildflowers and look for animals, including migrant birds. Spring is at its best in mid-May, and as Volker will show you, it is happening right in our backyards.
Depart 7:00 am SPRING
MIGRATION AT TINY MARSH Tiny Marsh might be the richest spot for birds in Simcoe County. It’s in Tiny Township, but its a giant wetland with a great diversity of nesting birds. Surrounding the marshes are various swamps and woods, and these too, host many birds, especially migrants like warblers, vireos, and flycatchers. Migration peaks in mid-May, and this is a great chance to see many species.
Depart 8:15 pm CHIMNEY
SWIFTS Second Meeting Place Parking Lot across from City Hall Chimney Swifts return to Barrie each spring from their winter range in the Andes, with the intention of nesting in suitable chimneys. Like many “aerial insectivores” Chimney Swifts have seriously declined in Canada, and our club has undertaken a monitoring role in town. Join Inga for an hour’s worth of evening surveying, as the birds select roosts for the night.
Depart 7:30 am SPRING
AT MATCHEDASH BAY Simcoe County has a diverse natural history partly because of its many landscapes. At Matchedash, north meets south, and a massive wetland also contributes to the diversity of things to see. Celebrate Spring at Matchedash Bay, looking for waterfowl and other wetland birds, and songbirds. Wear waterproof footwear.
Depart 8:30 am NORTH
SIMCOE RAIL TRAIL This is a good time to see nesting birds and late spring wild flowers along the trail.
Depart 7:30 am BIRDING
CARDEN PLAIN IBA Alvars are a rare kind of landscape, places where limestone flats are near the surface, creating conditions for a specialized flora and wonderful bird habitat. The Carden Alvar (about an hour’s drive from Barrie) is the premier grassland birding area in southern Ontario and a great place to view a rich diversity of birds, some of which are very difficult to find elsewhere. POISON IVY IS ABUNDANT ALONG THE ROADSIDE SO PLEASE WEAR APPROPRIATE FOOTWARE AND TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS The restaurant across from the Kirkfield Liftlocks should be open for lunch. This will be confirmed prior to the trip. There will be a special announcment about this trip at the April AGM.
Depart 8:30 am ORO
RAIL-TRAIL
Depart 8:30 am VESPRA
TRAIL This pleasant walk is primarily under the cool forest canopy, not out in the hot sun. Enjoy wild flowers, herbs and plants that are abundant at this time of the year as well as butterflies, dragonflies and moths.
Depart 7:00 pm E.S.Fox Observatory, near Oliphant (Owen Sound area) Join the Brereton Field Naturalists for an astronomical viewing and meteor watch with the Bluewater Astronomical Society. Return to Barrie about 12 midnight. A $7 fee will apply. Rain day will be Sunday August 12. |
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