|
|
|
|
|
Local bird lovers getting ready for Owl Prowl
Hundreds of local people have learned about amazing local nocturnal animals at the annual Owl Prowl.
“Owls are mysterious and sometimes misunderstood because they are active at night … but they adapt to this lifestyle in amazing ways,” said Melissa Prout, Conservation Educator with Ausable Bayfield Conservation. “The Owl Prowl is a way for people of all ages to find out more about these special local birds.”
This free annual event returns on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at Morrison Dam Conservation Area Workshop, two kilometres east of Exeter, just south of Highway 83, at 71108 Morrison Line. This year’s event will feature live owls visiting from Mountsberg Raptor Centre.
“People taking part at the Owl Prowl sometimes see or hear Eastern Screech Owls that live in or near Morrison Dam Conservation Area,” said Prout.
To find out more visit this link: Owl Prowl |
|
|
New virtual tour of Bannockburn Conservation Area
Thanks to everyone who attended the popular annual Bannockburn Fall Hike to enjoy nature and get active and support conservation education.
On this, the 70th anniversary of Ausable Bayfield Conservation, we have posted a new virtual tour of Bannockburn Conservation Area, located at 76249 Bannockburn Line, near Varna, roughly between Bayfield and Brucefield, Ontario.
This new video features a professionally-narrated audio tour that was recorded for the Walk a Mile Trail Information Project. Watch the video now at this link: Bannockburn Virtual Tour
Walk a Mile was a project of the Friends of the Bayfield River and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) and was part of the ABCA's 60th Anniversary '60 Projects for 60 years' campaign ten years ago. The project was made possible by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, Communities in Action Fund as well as the Municipality of Central Huron, Municipality of Bluewater, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, the Huron Stewardship Council, the Bayfield Ratepayers' Association and the Huron County Clean Water Project, among other partners.
We hope you enjoy the video. |
|
|
Litterless Lunch Prize Winners
Two local students are ready to reduce waste by packing litterless lunches after a presentation of two prize-winning food, reusable container packages from Ausable Bayfield Conservation.
To find out more visit this link for litterless lunch news item.
|
|
|
Local people released native turtles into Morrison Lake; raised $1,400 in needed funds for turtle hospital; 250 took part
More than 250 people took part in the event at Morrison Dam Conservation Area east of Exeter on September 1, 2016 and helped to release 130 baby Snapping Turtles into Morrison Reservoir (Morrison Lake).
Community members raised close to $1,400 in less than four hours for the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC). “The release event was so successful, we ran out of turtles,” said Jory Mullen, Lead Species at Risk Technician for the Huron Stewardship Council (HSC). “I’m overwhelmed at the turnout. It’s heartwarming to see the community so engaged in turtle conservation and rehabilitation.”
To find out more visit this link: Children helped to release Snapping Turtle hatchlings |
|
|
Reptiles at Risk ... On the Road Free Advanced Workshop
The Huron Stewardship Council is hosting a Reptiles at Risk on the Road free advanced workshop on Friday, November 18, 2016 at the Province of Ontario building in Clinton, at 100 Don Street (the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs - OMAFRA - Building).
You may pre-register for this event by emailing Jory at mullenjory(at)gmail.com. Snacks and light refreshments are provided.
The event poster invites you to "join us for an exciting, hands-on educational outreach program featuring live animals found right here in Ontario." Event organizers invited you to learn about all of Ontario's reptiles at risk (RAR), and species at risk (SAR), and how you can help to protect them.
Assistance for this project was provided by the Government of Ontario. Other support came from Huron Stewardship Council, Laurentian University, and Scales Nature Park, among others.
Visit the Huron Stewardship Council website to find out more or visit this link: Reptiles at Risk Workshop is November 18, 2016 in Clinton.
|
|
|
|
|
Notice of Special Meeting
NOTICE: The Chairman of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) Board of Directors, at the written request of one-third of the Directors, has called a special meeting of the Board of Directors. This special Board meeting is to take place on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 11 a.m. at South Huron Recreation Centre, 94 Victoria Street East, Exeter, Ontario.
The meeting business is that the ABCA Board of Directors consider this NOTICE OF MOTION (re: Draft Consultant Recommendation Report, prepared for public review and written comments, by consultants doing technical work for the 2015-2017 Update of the current Shoreline Management Plan 2000):
RESOLVED, THAT the ABCA Board of Directors declares that it does NOT intend to implement the ABCA Shoreline Development Guidelines of Section 7.8 in the report (pages 113-117) in its proposed form and does not endorse the underlying principle of “managed retreat” and the unilateral prohibition of any shoreline protection works.
For more information, and to subscribe to the Shoreline Management Plan SMP Update newsletter, visit this link: 2015-2017 Shoreline Management Plan SMP Update
For full notice, visit this link for the Shoreline Management Plan Update Newsletter: Issue Six
|
|
|
Flowering Cover Crop Photo Contest
Thanks to everyone who has entered the Flowering Cover Crop Photo Contest 2016.
The contest began September 30, 2016 and runs to October 31, 2016.
To enter the contest please post your photo, by replying directly to the first #FloweringCoverCrop post on the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) Twitter feed and/or Facebook page, using the hashtag #FloweringCoverCrop.
To find out more visit the cover crops web page.
|
|
|
Junior golfer on winning team at 11th South Huron Trail Fundraiser Golf Tournament
The South Huron Trail Fundraiser Golf Tournament invited junior golfers to take part for the first time in 2016. A junior golfer was a member of the winning team at the charity golf tourney held at Ironwood Golf Club near Exeter on Monday, August 29, 2016.
Karstin Stuckless, age 10, was a member of the winning team along with Al Beattie; Heather Beattie; and Gladys Rock. This year’s golf tournament supported the community project to create a new pedestrian bridge along the MacNaughton-Morrison Section of the South Huron Trail. Fifteen teams took part in the tournament – an increase from the previous year – and the charity event raised $4,300 in net proceeds for the pedestrian bridge project. (That is also an increase from last year’s total).
The community golf tournament has raised more than $48,000 over the past 11 years for the South Huron Trail.
To learn more read this link: Junior golfer on winning team |
|
|
Healthy Headwaters Wetlands Initiative invites local landowners to consider wetland projects on their property
Only about two per cent of Ausable and Bayfield river watersheds are wetlands. Staff members with the Healthy Headwaters Wetlands Initiative work with participating landowners to restore these habitats.
The Healthy Headwaters program offers technical advice and financial incentives for people who want to create, enhance, or restore wetlands on their property in Huron, Middlesex, and Lambton counties.
Healthy Headwaters is entering its tenth year in 2017. Since 2008, local landowners have completed more than 60 wetland projects through the program. “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the landowners who have protected natural areas and completed stewardship projects in the past,” said Angela Van Niekerk, Wetland Specialist with Ausable Bayfield Conservation. “Landowners have restored almost 240 acres of local wetlands through their efforts since this program began in 2008.”
In addition to the wetlands, local landowners have also planted more than 255,000 trees, shrubs and plants into wet areas and watercourse buffers. “We often find that landowners have an area of their property where water collects,” said Van Niekerk. “That could be an ideal place for a wetland.”
To find our more visit this link: Helping restore wetlands |
|
|
|
|
|
The public office at the Administration Centre of Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), at 71108 Morrison Line, east of Exeter, will be closed on Friday, November 11, 2016 for Remembrance Day. The office will re-open for regular business hours on Monday, November 14, 2016.
We honour those who have served and sacrificed on Canadians' behalf.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
