Mountsberg Helps with Shrike Recovery Project
November 21st 2011
Eastern Loggerhead Shrike at Mountsberg Conservation Area. Photo courtesy Conservation Halton.
Mike & I recently had special access to an important new initiative by Conservation Halton. We were allowed inside the newly built breeding facility for Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes, at Mountsberg Conservation Area, for Mike to take photographs. Except for the one above, these photos are all by (and copyright of) Mike Davis.
The Eastern Loggerhead Shrike is an endangered species of bird, and with only 21 wild pairs seen by last year, it is on the edge of extinction. As part of a large Shrike recovery program, this facility is sheltering paired Shrikes in order to breed and release hatchlings into the wild.
Amy Fennell entering Mountsberg's Shrike facility, which has indoor/outdoor pens.
This is the good news. The bad news for the public is that visitors won’t be able to get close to see these birds in the facility. The breeding program is so critical and so new, that nothing and no one should disturb or frighten the Shrikes from their important job of surviving and restoring their species.
So let us give you a behind-the-scenes look at the facility. First, some details: “Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes are a predatory, robin-sized songbird that prefers short grasslands or grazed pastures,” notes Conservation Halton. “They hunt small animals, such as rodents, insects, other small birds, and amphibians.” Shrikes have strong hooked beaks that can quickly kill prey, but they don’t have strong legs or talons to hold onto it while feeding. They developed a technique of impaling their dead prey on a thorn to hold it while they tear it apart, or store it for later. This unique behaviour has caused them to be known as the “butcher bird.” At Mountsberg, the Shrikes’ diet consists of dead mice, live crickets and two kinds of live worms.
Shrikes' dinner: from left, mealworms, superworms and dead mice.
Live crickets are another delicacy for Shrikes.
Live superworms destined for Shrike food.
Live mealworms are a Shrike favourite.
Inside the Mountsberg facility, one Shrike has become used to its feeders, especially Amy Fennell, and has been named Jack the Ripper. Jack moves about very quickly, and lighting was a problem, so Mike didn’t get a great shot. Here’s one of his that shows Jack’s hooked beak, if you can see it.
Jack inside his breeding pen. He has a sharp curve at the end of his beak.
Mike noticed something unusual at the inside top of Jack’s pen. When he asked Amy, she said she hadn’t seen them before, and they were pellets, or waste material that birds regurgitate. She was very interested to see them and said they were another good sign of Jack’s acceptance of his new surroundings.
Jack's pellets, inside at the top of the pen. Is he trying to keep his home clean by leaving them where staff can get them?
For more information on the Shrike recovery program, see Wildlife Preservation Canada and Conservation Halton Foundation (Click on “Shrike Recovery Project” on the left menu.). Canadian Wildlife Service is also involved, but their website is being reorganized and I couldn’t find a useful link.
Do you have anything to add about this project?
Important addition: here’s a great video of Amy giving a tour of the new facility. So interesting, it’s almost like being there!
Fall into Nature at Conservation Halton
October 11th 2011Here’s what’s happening at Conservation Halton this weekend:
Conservation Halton’s Fall into Nature offers activities at six different Halton Parks. The festival celebrates the spectacular landscapes and fall colours of the Niagara Escarpment.
Fall into Nature is on the weekend of October 15 and 16, at Mountsberg, Crawford Lake, Kelso, Rattlesnake Point, Hilton Falls and Mount Nemo Conservation Areas.
See what our parks have to offer:
Fall into Nature is a wonderful opportunity to see all of the parks in their fall splendour. A detailed schedule of events is available online at www.fallintonature.ca. Visitors will enjoy a variety of unique outdoor experiences including:
*Chairlift rides to the top of the escarpment with spectacular views
*Self-guided and interpreter led tours through our many trails and landscapes
*Tractor-drawn wagon rides through the parks
*Educational and interactive programs (visit an Iroquoian Village, learn about the science of nature)
*Live performances (music, First Nations dancers)
*Demonstrations (Bird of Prey shows, reptile shows, mountain biking)*Various other activities (children’s activities, BBQs, family campfires, and more)
On Saturday, October 15, Conservation Halton will hold its inaugural Forest Festival at Rattlesnake Point. Come out and celebrate the International Year of Forests and learn about the importance of trees and forests in our region. Enjoy interactive displays on the use of forest products, logging demonstrations and more fun activities.
During Fall into Nature visitors will also be able to enjoy the regular activities and programs available at Conservation Halton parks. Be sure to check out the amazing Birds of Prey demonstrations at Mountsberg or travel back in time to the Iroquoian Village at Crawford Lake.
Conservation Halton parks have some of the best places in our area to enjoy the amazing fall colours, the vistas from Mount Nemo and Rattlesnake Point are particularly incredible.
Park visitors who purchase a one-day park entry during the festival will receive a Fall into Nature passport valid for one full day’s admission to all six parks. Show your passport on subsequent days and receive a discount on your entry.
Take a ride on the Fall Bus Tour and lunch is on us! You can sit back and enjoy the ride as we take you on a guided tour of Fall into Nature on October 15 and 16. The tour will take you to three distinctive parks, Kelso, Crawford Lake and Mountsberg where you will learn about the areas natural and cultural history, while enjoying a variety of special events.
Your full-day bus tour includes:
*Chairlift ride at Kelso to enjoy autumn views along the escarpment, with a guided walk to learn about the landscape from spectacular vantage points
*BBQ lunch
*Stop at Crawford Lake for a feature presentation with Iroquoian Dancers and an opportunity to tour the village
*Birds of Prey Demonstration and Wildlife Walkway at Mountsberg
The Fall Bus Tour is $30.00 per person (including taxes) and will be from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., departing from Kelso. Book online through the Fall into Nature website (www.fallintonature.ca) or call 905-854-2276.
The fall colours in Halton Region are accentuated with our region’s many country roads, rolling terrain, and of course the Niagara Escarpment. As you travel through Escarpment Country during Fall into Nature, there are many other great attractions in our area, such as shops, local artisans, and numerous farms with fresh produce.
You can find everything you need to know at www.fallintonature.ca or www.conservationhalton.ca. Residents and visitors alike are invited to join us in celebrating autumn at this fun filled festival, great for people of all ages!
Fall into Nature is made possible in part through the generous support of the Government of Ontario Celebrate Ontario Program. Conservation Halton launched its first Fall into Nature festival in 2009 and over 28,000 people attended, last year over 45,000 people attended.
Hamilton/Halton Watershed Funding for Planting
September 20th 2010News from the Hamilton-Halton Watershed Stewardship Program: Are you planning to plant native trees, shrubs or plants this coming spring? You may be eligible to access funding for your planting.
If your project site falls within Hamilton or Halton Conservation Authorities’ watersheds, AND your project site requires a minimum of 50 trees or shrubs or herbaceous plants, you may be eligible to access funding to assist in the cost of trees, and/or planting.
Interested landowners should contact the program as soon as possible because stock orders for this coming spring will be finalized this fall, and stock availability is limited. Landowners should contact Cherish Elwell, Watershed Stewardship Technician, Hamilton-Halton Watershed Stewardship Program, or call 905-525-2181, extension 181.
Halton’s Joint Chamber Event
August 13th 2010
Halton Peel Communications Association (HPCA) Display
Visitors flock to the HPCA booth
WINNER!!!!!! Thanks Oakville Chamber of Commerce
The four Chambers of Commerce in Halton Region held their annual joint networking event on Aug. 11 at the Regional offices in Oakville. Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville Chambers hosted a tradeshow with free finger food, wine, beer and other beverages. Some individual companies and groups had display tables of information, including Halton-Peel Communications Association, whose members talked to visitors and took business cards for a draw for a gift card for office supplies — a good promotional idea and way to build a contact list.
Mike and I cruised around meeting people and learning about new community efforts and business ventures. My name was then called as the winner of a door-prize gift basket given by the Oakville Chamber of Commerce! The Regional Chair of Halton, Gary Carr, shook my hand, then Sonny Jelinek of Oakville’s The Cork House presented me with the prize, a large, heavy basket of wine and chocolate, possibly the best combination in the world. Enclosed was a box of fine chocolates from Bernard Callebaut of Oakville, plus a 2009 Trius Cabernet Franc, and Peller Estates 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 Riesling, 2007 Cabernet Franc Icewine, and Ice Cuvee, which is a sparkling wine “enhanced with a dosage of icewine.”
Wow. We’ve already sampled the chocolates — excellent and delicious. The icewine and Ice Cuvee will keep for special occasions.
Thanks to those who contributed to the Oakville Chamber of Commerce gift basket. Tradeshows like these are great opportunities to discover some of the special organizations and offerings available nearby.
Are you taking advantage of promotional opportunities in your community?
