Susan Bourne, Quetico Park Naturalist
After breathing in an unseasonably hot May and a dreadfully cool and wet June, we are happy to be surrounded by glorious sunny days and light breezes to keep the bugs at bay. Summer is here! Last year’s odd summer limited the number of people coming to programs in the park, but this year promises to lure more visitors. Already, our program visitation statistics are up and I aim to keep this wonderful trend going.
In October of 2009, the Friends of Quetico Park, in collaboration with Quetico Provincial Park, applied for the Friends of the Environment Fund grant offered through TD-Canada Trust. In May, the grant application was accepted and we have completed the first step of implementing our plan. Children’s and adults’ binoculars, backpacks and bird field guides have been purchased and are available for visitors to sign out at the Heritage and Information Pavilion at the Dawson Trail Campground. The ‘Bird Bags’ are available for a refundable deposit of $10/individual or $25/for a family. The bags can be borrowed for up to one week.
Though the majority of the songbirds are no longer singing as their breeding season has come to a close, one can still hear some of the more persistent fellows! The Winter Wren, Red-eyed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Swainson’s Thrush and Veery are belting out their tunes at French Lake. Of course, hearing birds does make it easier to spot the shy flyers, but if you are patient, you may catch a glimpse and with binoculars, the colours of our birds are absolutely breath-taking. I was lucky enough this season to see a Northern Parula and Blackburnian Warbler. In my humble opinion, these two little birds are among the most beautiful in the area.
Another excellent use for binoculars is in the identification and observation of our fabulous police of the skies, the dragonflies and damselflies. Thanks to these voracious insects, we are less lumpy when we leave the woods than we would be in their absence. Imagine what our wilderness experience would be without these guardians. Not a pleasant pondering….
Come out to Dawson Trail Campgrounds and join us in learning about our natural and cultural history. We look forward to your visit and thank those who continue to support us. Children’s programming takes place every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 am at the Log Cabin Nature Centre. Friday night films are offered at 7:30 pm at the Teaching Place. To borrow Bird Bags, call 929-3141 ext. 228 Friday-Tuesday. See you here!
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