Help create a Songbird Meadow

An important initiative from Conservation Halton needs your support!
See the reasons why here ====>   Couple on Quest to Protect Bobolink

 

Help create a Songbird Meadow in Oakville through Shell's Fuelling Change initiative

The next round of the Shell Fuelling Change contest Shell Fuelling Change  is underway and the Conservation Halton Foundation is in the running to raise $50,000 for the Songbird Meadows project. The project's goal is to create new wetland and grassland areas at the Glenorchy Conservation Area in Oakville.

The project needs to finish in the top four in the category to receive $50,000 to create needed habitat for songbirds and wetland birds and creatures. Songbird Meadows is currently in third place, we hope you can provide your support to keep us in the top four.  Conservation Halton Foundation Songbird Meadow project 

Shell FuellingChange

It's easy to support the Conservation Halton Foundation Glenorchy Songbird Meadows project:

• Click on the Shell FuellingChange website to log into your existing account or to register for a new account.
• Click on "Redeem Votes" You get ten free votes, then save your receipts from buying Shell gas (any payment method o.k.) and each $dollar is a vote. 
• Vote for the Conservation Halton Foundation Glenorchy Songbird Meadow project. 

Please feel free to share this site to help support environmental projects benefiting Canada's land, air and water. 

About Glenorchy Conservation Area

Conservation Halton is restoring the natural habitat at Glenorchy Conservation Area, which is not currently open to the general public. Less than three per cent of pre-settlement grasslands remain in Ontario and wetland areas have been reduced by 60 per cent through urbanization and conversion to agriculture.

The Shell Fuelling Change funding will help to create grassland habitat to benefit songbird and grassland bird species such as the Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Kingbird and Spotted Sandpiper, and wetland habitat to provide foraging and nesting areas for ducks, and creatures like the Snapping Turtle and Western Chorus Frog. 

To achieve this, we will create almost 5 acres of wetland (an area the size of 4 1/2 football fields) and 33 acres of grassland habitats (covering an area the size of 30 football fields). The grasslands surrounding the wetland are key to providing habitat.
The wetland and grassland areas will be created by excavating select areas, creating a berm to contain surface waters, and planting plant material to create the habitats.


How Our Project Helps the Environment
The Songbird Meadows project will positively impact the environment by creating important new wetland and grassland habitat for songbirds and other wildlife.
The expected benefits are: the creation of 5 acres of wetlands and 33 acres of grassland areas. This will provide important habitat areas for songbirds, ducks, turtles and frogs.
We will measure the success of this project by the completion of this project by May 2013; by the establishment of the wetland and grassland areas; and by the use of these new habitat areas by songbirds and other wildlife.


About Conservation Halton Foundation
Biodiversity and Wildlife protection/management
Contact information
Legal Name: The Halton Region Conservation Foundation
Phone: 905-336-1158
Email:bhobbs AT hrca.on.ca
Website: www.conservationhaltonfoundation.ca
Address: 2596 Britannia Road West
Burlington, ON
CA, L7P 0G3

Thank you for helping us raise $50,000 for new habitat in Oakville!

Glenorchy CA Community Planting Day - 2nd Opportunity - Saturday May 18th, 9:30 am

As part of a series of community planting opportunities, Conservation Halton will be holding another community planting day at the new Glenorchy Conservation Area in North Oakville.


We're looking for community volunteers for Saturday May 28 to assist with more planting acorns and spreading native wildflower seeds to assist with forest ecosystem restoration. This community restoration opportunity has been made possible through the generous contribution from the Oakville Community Foundation.

If you're interested in volunteering, please send an RSVP to nfinney@hrca.on.ca or 905 336 1158 x305 by the end of Friday.

Details:

Time: 8:30 am to 12:00 pm

Location: Glenorchy Conservation Area

Parking: Palermo Park (http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=43.441676,-79.773299) at Bronte Road and Dundas St.


Further reminders and detailed instructions will be sent out to registered participants.

Many thanks,

Nigel Finney

Natural Heritage Ecologist, Conservation Projects
Conservation Halton
2596 Britannia Road West
Burlington, Ontario L7P OG3
Office: 905.336.1158 x305
E-mail: nfinney@hrca.on.ca

Glenorchy Community Planting Day - Wednesday May 18th, 9:30 am

Conservation Halton will be holding a community planting day at the new Glenorchy Conservation Area in North Oakville.

We're looking for community volunteers for Wednesday May 18th to assist with planting acorns and spreading native wildflower seeds to assist with forest ecosystem restoration. This community restoration opportunity has been made possible through the generous contribution from the Oakville Community Foundation.

If you're interested in volunteering, please send an RSVP to nfinney@hrca.on.ca or 905 336 1158 x305 by the end of Tuesday.
Details:

Time: 9:30 am to 12:00 pm

Location: Glenorchy Conservation Area

Parking: Palermo Park (http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=43.441676,-79.773299) at Bronte Road and Dundas St.

Further reminders and detailed instructions will be sent out to registered participants.

Happy Planting,

Nigel Finney
Natural Heritage Ecologist, Conservation Projects
Conservation Halton
2596 Britannia Road West
Burlington, Ontario L7P OG3
Office: 905.336.1158 x305
E-mail: nfinney@hrca.on.ca

Garlic Mustard Invasion

(Above image from http://ontariowildflowers.com/mondaygarden/article.php?id=54)


While participating in the Earth Day clean-up of Glenorchy, volunteers were dismayed to find Garlic Mustard has invaded the area. These two pictures are just a small portion of the problem.





Garlic Mustard is considered a "Problem Weed" by the Ontario Government (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/hort/news/hortmatt/2005/10hrt05a4.htm)




Garlic Mustard was introduced by early pioneers and has now spiralled out of control. It is also known by the following names: "Alliaria petiolata, hedge garlic, sauce-alone, jack-by-the-hedge, poor man's mustard, jack-in-the-bush, garlic root, garlicwort, mustard root."

Here's the description from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs:

"First-year rosettes with kidney-shaped green leaves with scalloped edges grow close to the ground. The flower stalks grow 2 to 3-1/2 feet tall with clusters of small white flowers, with four petals in the shape of a cross. Seeds are produced in erect, slender, four-sided pods, called siliques, beginning in May. Siliques become tan and papery as they mature and contain shiny black seeds in a row. By late June, most of the leaves have faded away and garlic mustard plants can be recognized only by the dead stalks with pale brown seedpods that may remain and hold viable seed through the summer."

Why is this such a problem? Garlic Mustard competes with native species; "like spring beauty, wild ginger, bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches, hepatica, toothworts, and trilliums, stealing light, moisture, nutrients, soil and space. Wildlife and insects that depend on these early plants for food soon disappear."

Dealing with and disposing of Garlic Mustard is no easy task. When pulling it, the roots should be removed. With so many seeds, it's important to carefully dispose of the weeds in a black garbage bag. DO NOT put plants in the compost bin or leave them lying out as the seeds remain viable. The garbage bags should be left in the sun for up to six months to fully eliminate further germination of the seeds.

More information from http://ontariowildflowers.com/mondaygarden/article.php?id=54:


"Garlic mustard has infested 29 states and southern Ontario. It does it by soaking up the rays all winter while the competition is dormant under ground. It stays low (as pictured) through its first winter, taking advantage of the insulating snow, warmth of the earth, and winter sun. Then it shoots up 2’ to 3’, with clusters with white or pink cross-shaped flowers in May. By July, it’s gone, leaving only the upright, banana-shaped seed pods characteristic of the mustard family."

"Curiously, the experts aren’t sure how garlic mustard spreads. They know you can’t blame it on the birds or the wind. While the plant makes thousands of seeds that remain viable for years, they fall close to the parent. The white-tailed deer helps by clearing ground that garlic mustard then can take over. But how does it move from site to site? Best guess is animal traffic."

and here is further information from the Ontario Wildflowers site:

"Getting rid of it: There are similar-flowered native plants, so first check a crushed leaf for the garlicky smell. Then pull it up, making sure to get all of the root, or keep it cut to the ground so it can’t flower. Herbicides and fire are also used (this is a cure?). Whatever, keep it up for at least five years. Meanwhile don’t put the roots or seeds in the compost or garbage; place them in a black plastic bag in the sun for several months to sterilize. (Since this it what it takes to kill the stuff, you can see why garlic mustard is winning)."


Halton Conservation has been contacted in order to determine what (if any) plans they have to deal with the issue of Garlic Mustard in Glenorchy. Updates will be posted.








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Glenorchy Clean-Up

(Trillium)

A small group of very determined individuals spent the afternoon working hard in Glenorchy. We picked up countless broken bottles, old tin cans, plastic bottles, styrofoam, golf balls, plastic bags and many other pieces of waste.






Surprisingly enough, as we were walking with full garbage bags, a kayaker passed us and said "I hope you're not picking up junk."

"Why not?" we asked.

"Because there's too much of it. You'll need a dumptruck to get rid of it all."

This reaction to our clean up efforts was a bit surprising- what kind of mindset is it to decide that if it's going to be a big job, why bother? Especially coming from someone who is outside, presumably enjoying the area. Our response was "We have to start somewhere" and so we carried on. I'm proud of what we accomplished today!


(Spring Beauty)

Spending so much time in the valley allowed us to observe many species of native flowers and wildlife.


(We saw this butterfly sunning itself. Identified as a Compton Tortoiseshell Butterfly and considered Uncommon)


(Above: Coltsfoot photo credit: Brittney M)




(Above: Tentatively ID'd as Heal-all- please feel free to add a comment if you are able to confirm or clarify this. Photo credit: Brittney M)


(Above: Cut-leaved Toothwort)


(taking a break)


Aside from previously listed concerns (ATV tracks, human disregard for the area etc) there is a major threat to the area- an almost overwhelming infestation of garlic mustard in the area. We will address this issue in another post, but it is worth mentioning at this time.









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Glenorchy Clean-up: Saturday, April 24th

Some members of FOG will be participating in an Earth Day clean-up in the Glenorchy area on Saturday, April 24th, starting at 1 p.m.

It would be a good idea to wear gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat and (preferably waterproof) boots. We will be working in the area that is accessible from the end of Fourth Line (south of Lower Base Line). Please bring garbage bags.

Email FriendsofGlenorchy(at)gmail.com if you would like to participate.

Let's keep it clean for these residents of Glenorchy:












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