Acid Rivers to Oceans

It’s your quintessential good-news/bad-news story. The good news? Emission-control legislation enacted in Canada and the U.S. over the last three decades has resulted in significant acid rain declines in this country. The bad? Despite those efforts, much of Atlantic Canada still gets more acid precipitation than local ecosystems can bear, according to Environment Canada. And a recent study published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences claims the impact of acid rain is greatly amplified in shallower coastal waters.

Ocean acidification results from the mixing of seawater and chemical compounds, such as carbon dioxide, sulphur and nitrogen, which lowers the water’s pH level. Those same chemicals, released by burning fossil fuels, cause acid rain. In the ocean, those compounds are preventing some marine organisms, such as sea urchins, corals and certain planktons, from making hard outer shells. And as an essential food or habitat source for many other species, the loss of these marine organisms could affect entire ocean ecosystems.

“That effect is most pronounced near the coasts, which are already some of the most heavily affected and vulnerable parts of the ocean due to pollution, over-fishing and climate change,” notes Scott Doney, the study’s lead author and a senior scientist in the Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry at the Woods Hole Oceanography Institution.

This is, no doubt, hardly surprising news to Atlantic Canadians. Thanks to prevailing winds that carry pollution from industrial centres in the eastern U.S., southern Ontario and Quebec, the country’s easternmost provinces have long been concerned with acid precipitation—and its affects on local aquatic life.

Case in point: Atlantic salmon. Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantics have been listed as endangered by the Committee on Endangered Species in Canada (COSEWIC) since 2001, and late in 2009, all Canadian populations of Atlantic salmon were listed by COSEWIC as a “high priority candidate.” The culprit? You guessed it. Acid rain is considered the main cause of Canada’s once-mighty salmon population’s demise.

The good-news/bad-news story doesn’t end there, though. Under the national Acid Rain Strategy for Post-2000, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec have committed to additional sulphur dioxide reductions of 30 to 50 per cent. That’s the good news. The bad? According to the conclusions of the 2004 Canadian Acid Deposition Science Assessment Document, further sulphur dioxide reductions in both Canada and the U.S. are necessary to protect Eastern Canadian ecosystems from acid rain. For Atlantic salmon and other aquatic species, however, time may be running out. It’s up to us to help!

Shark Survival

A beast of a fish, the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second largest fish in the world, growing up to 15 metres in length. But due to low birth rates, slow growth, late maturity, small population and ship strikes, the basking shark is at risk.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has listed the shark’s Atlantic Coast population as being of Special Concern and the Pacific population as Endangered.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Endangered Species Program is giving $15,300 to Dr. Andrew Westgate of the Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station in New Brunswick, who is also an Assistant Researcher at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Department of Biology and Marine Biology. His team will tag basking sharks off the Bay of Fundy to see just how at risk these fish are to ship strikes and where their crucial habitat is in the area. Attaching tags will also help determine the population’s wintering grounds, which will help researchers address potential threats that extend beyond their summering grounds. 

Life as They Know It
These fish are slow going – right from square one. Basking sharks stick it out in gestation for between 2.6 and 3.5 years. That’s the longest-known gestation period for any animal. And the adults are in no hurry to jump in the sack again. They take their time between litters, usually between two and four years. The young will take their sweet time growing as well. Males take between 12 to 16 years to reach maturity, whereas females take 16 to 20 years, and they live approximately 50 years.

Hook, Line and Sinker
Bycatch is an enormous threat to many larger fish. Each year between 1986 and 2006, 164 tonnes of basking sharks were caught up in nets meant for other fish species. According to DFO, most bycatch was taken in trawl fisheries for silver hake, redfish and groundfish, although longline and gillnet fisheries are also known to catch basking sharks.

Shark at 12 O’Clock
While researchers are unclear as to the movement patterns of basking sharks, ship strikes are a real threat to their survival. Many basking sharks have been found near surface waters during the summer, a prime spot to be hit by ships. Moreover, since the basking shark is slow moving at the surface, it’s harder for this species to steer clear of ships and avoid getting hit.

How Westgate’s Research Fits In
It’s no secret that shark populations the world over are declining. But this puzzle can only be completed one piece at a time. And that means researching individual shark species and populations. Taking place from July 2010 to June 2011, Westgate’s work with basking sharks from the Bay of Fundy region is the first research of its kind in the area.

Westgate and his team will use tags to track how long basking sharks stick around in the Bay of Fundy, where they go in the winter and what routes they take to get there. They’ll also find out basking sharks’ favourite spots to chow down and figure out what times basking sharks swim to or near the water’s surface – where they’re most at risk of being hit by ships. All of this information will help researchers determine which areas are critical for the basking shark and help decide how to go about protecting the shark.

A Pollinator’s Paradise

Photo: Alan Duncan and Hartley Rosen

Pollinators will soon be buzzing in Vancouver parks and greenways again thanks to the efforts of a youth organization dedicated to increasing the number of mason bees in their neighbourhood. The recent recipient of a $5,500 Canadian Wildlife Federation project grant, the Environmental Youth Alliance is aiming to bring blue orchard mason bees back to Vancouver parks as part of a larger effort to reverse the decline of native bee populations across North America.

The mason bee is a non-aggressive native bee with a natural knack for pollinating fruit-bearing plants. It thrives in wooden terrain, where it feeds on pollen and nectar. Since 30 per cent of the food we eat is dependent on pollinators, the focus on native bees was an obvious choice for the group, which has aptly named its project Park Pollinators’ Paradise. The group hopes to generate respect for this keystone species, so essential and deeply connected to the region’s ecosystems, economy and culture.

Click to enlarge

Creating habitat through volunteer-stewarded shelters and foraging sites, the group is setting up 53 bee “high-rises” in 50 neighbourhood parks and greenways, including larger nests in Stanley Park, Everett Crowley Park and Jericho Park. Thanks to these spaces, 4,320 female mason bees will now have a spot to nest, and the project estimates that some 65,000 mason bees will call Vancouver parks home in just one generation. The high-rises were built by woodworking students from Vantech Secondary and the superlodges by students at Britannia Secondary, both of Vancouver.

The Environmental Youth Alliance also plans to fill Vancouver parks with blooms. By sponsoring and planting apple trees, native plants and wildflowers, the group is ensuring a constant source of nectar and pollen throughout the mason bees’ lifecycle, keeping them buzzing from bloom to bloom from March to July.

The Environmental Youth Alliance focuses on creating youth-centred sustainability programs in Vancouver and 15 countries worldwide. With this project they aim to educate community members on the importance of bees and other pollinators. To find out more about the project, go to masonbeevancouver.com.

Learn more about pollinators »  

Pollinators... From Flowers to Food to Our Future

In this educational unit, you will find classroom resources and activities to help your students understand the science and value of pollination, recognize the threats facing pollinators, and act in responsible...

Read More

All in the Family
The good news. Rudolph’s got family right here in Canada. The bad news. They’re not siblings. Researchers mapped the genetic diversity of the Rangifer tarandus over a 21,000 year history and found that although they belong to the same species, caribou and reindeer are only closely related cousins.

The Rift
So here’s what happened. The last ice age forced caribou herds to seek refuge in southern regions that were between glaciers. As a result, they became isolated from other caribou herds and they were forced to interbreed. Some were stuck in Eurasia, while others were stuck in North America; hence the genetic differences between caribou and reindeer. 

The Twist
We all have this image in our heads of what Santa’s reindeer look like. Majestic. Strong. Large……except….we might be grievously mistaken. Before 1823, Santa didn’t have reindeer. He was still a rather jolly Saint, but he didn’t visit children on Christmas Eve to give toy trains and dolls. It was not until Clement C. Moore published his poem, “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” anonymously in the Sentinel that we heard about eight tiny reindeer pulling Santa’s miniature sleigh. Tiny? That doesn’t sound very characteristic of the reindeer we have engrained in our memories. It’s possible, therefore, that Moore imagined Santa’s reindeer as the R.t. platyrhynchus subspecies that live in the Svalbard islands off of Norway. These reindeer are the only reindeer that really could be described as tiny – they weigh about half as much (males weigh in at approximately 65 to 90 kilograms) and are a foot shorter than the average reindeer. What do you think?

A Pond Predicament

In some parts of Canada, wildlife is not dominant in the landscape, especially in large cities which offer many properties surrounded by concrete and busy streets with few rippling rivers and tranquil lakes to be found nearby. But we are no longer restricted to what our property limits and cityscapes offer us in terms of habitat for wildlife. You can have instant habitat at your front door almost as easily as you can get pizza delivery!

More and more Canadians are adapting store bought versions of nature into their spaces — a popular choice being outdoor ponds filled with all kinds of species. Not only can these ponds be beautiful, but there is such an abundance of flora and fauna that creating habitat in the concrete jungle is easy enough to attain.

However, for every instant solution there’s the potential of instant problems. Herein, the problems arise from homeowners that purchase pond species, some that can threaten existing habitat if misused or improperly cared for. And since healthy habitats and space for species are critical to CWF, it is important to spread the word about potentially harmful invasive pond species causing major threats to the native habitat of North America.

Since backyard ponds have become quite popular with modern landscaping, there has been an increase in the availability of materials and retail supply stores. Each retailer offers an array of beautiful fish and plants — many of which are exotic, and some of them invasive. The problem with invasive species is that they compete with native Canadian species for food and space. On top of that, many invasive species have no natural predators; therefore, our native plants and fish are losing space and food to the unnatural and destructive invasive species resulting in large economic costs that federal, provincial and municipal agencies are putting into restoration initiatives.

There are a couple ways that pond species can be threatening to Canadian habitat. The first being when pond owners no longer have a use for their pond, or grow tired of caring for it and think that by relocating their exotic plants and fish into local rivers and streams that they are doing that ecosystem a favour. In fact, it would be much more resourceful to contact the supplier and offer the fish or plants back And perhaps even advertise these resources to other pond owners. The second main hazard to habitat occurs when ponds are not taken care of since species can spread with growth causing the so called ‘invaders’ to get out of control.

What can you do to keep a healthy pond? Never collect your fish and plants from the wild, and go to reputable nurseries that offer native plants for advice. If you are thinking of getting rid of your pond habitat, never release them into natural waterways and make sure you carefully dispose of invasive species that could be a threat to habitat and waterways. Or, try contacting a retailer to see if they would be interested in repurchasing or taking the species off your hands.

For some more information check out WildAboutGardening.org to learn more about buying native. Also, for some examples of popular problematic plants and fish, visit invadingspecies.com to learn more

A Taste of Things to Come

It’s a New Year and with it, we’re thinking ahead of all there is to come in 2016. Guess what? We’re not alone. Let’s dive in and discover animals that think of the future.

Chickadees
When you rely on 10kcal a day to get by, you go above and beyond to make sure your next meal isn’t far away – at least you do if you’re a Black-capped Chickadee. During the late summer and fall, Chickadees begin to stow away food for later, only to relocate their cache in another location. In a single day, Chickadees might hide away hundreds of morsels. What’s remarkable, is they can remember precisely where they’ve planted their food for up to 28 days after hiding them away – and a single Chickadee can have thousands of reserve locations. Not only are they able to remember where they’ve stored their various seeds and food items, but they can also recall which caches they’ve emptied. As the temperature dips, they hunt for caches storing fattening food like sunflower seeds, peanuts and suet.

Rats

Do rats strategize ways to access food in the future? That’s what researcher Hugo J Spiers sought to find out in a 2015 study University College. It turns out, they do. Spiers and his team of researchers placed rats on a straight track with a t-junction ahead. On one branch, they stored food and on the other nothing. Much, I’m sure, to the rats’ chagrin, both branches were blocked by a clear barrier – stopping the rats from accessing the food. Researchers gave the rats some time to try to figure it out how to access the food, and then removed them to spend an hour in a sleep chamber. And then the magic began. While the rats rested, their brain activity linked to navigation fired up – essentially these rats were dreaming up how they could find a pathway to the food they were unable to reach in their waking hours. “What’s surprising here is that we see the hippocampus planning for the future, actually rehearsing totally novel journeys that the animals need to take in order to reach the food,” says Spiers. Worried the rats never got their munchies? Don’t fret! While the rats rested, researchers removed the barrier, and subsequently brought the rats back to the track and allowed them to reach the food.

Scrub Jays

Researchers have known for years that Scrub Jays have a remarkable ability to remember where they’ve stored food. In fact, scrub jays can hide several thousand morsels of food every year and remember where each and every cache is located.  Pretty incredible, right? Dr. Nicola Clayton, a comparative psychologist at the University of Cambridge, wanted to find out just how remarkable their memories are. Did they just remember the locations they’d hid their food or did they recall the actual circumstances surrounding hiding the food? Knowing that Scrub Jays prefer larvae to peanuts (but only while the larvae are still fresh), Clayton conducted a study using these food sources, giving the birds both options to hide away. When the birds returned from caching the treats, she allowed one group of jays to return to the caches after four hours and another group to return to the caches after five days. She found that the amount of time the birds were parted from their food sources, impacted which food sources they’d scout out when they got the chance. The birds that only had to wait four hours to return to their caches – chose to dig up larvae (seeing that they’d still be fresh), while the birds that waited for five days – went straight for the peanut caches instead.

Not only were they able to think ahead about what quality of food they’ll chow down on, these amazing birds are also able to think ahead of their competition. Through generations of experience, a Scrub Jay knows that if another jay watches it hide a nut, there’s a good chance it’ll keep a mental note of where the nut was stashed, swoop in and then steal it. To avoid this, the first Scrub Jay will return to the location and move the nut to a secret location when the thief isn’t around. Smart birds!

Wonderful Whales

North Atlantic blue and right whales are disappearing from our waters: the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) has been listed as endangered on an international level, while the right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) has been named the most endangered large cetacean in the North Atlantic.

But our knowledge is limited. Most blue whale sightings in the North Atlantic have come from the St. Lawrence region, while right whale identification has generally been compiled within 80 kilometres of the eastern seaboard. So what happens when the whales venture out to sea? What happens in the Grand Banks or eastern Scotian Shelf? That’s what Richard Sears of the Mingan Island Cetacean Study, Inc. is determined to find out. The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Endangered Species Program is giving $87,000 to Mingan Island Cetacean Study, Inc. to research the distribution, dispersal and numbers of blue and right whales in the North Atlantic.

The Blues 
The heavyweight of the whale group, the blue whale can grow up to 33.6 metres in length and live up to 80 years. Approximately 372 blue whales have had their photos snapped over the course of 21 years of research in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence. Of these, 40 per cent return to the St. Lawrence every year; however, the remaining 60 per cent are hard to account for. Researchers are concerned about the low numbers of blue whales in Canadian waters; some years see as few as 20 blue whales in the St. Lawrence. The question is why.

The population took an enormous hit between 1898 and 1951, when commercial whalers took 1,500 of 11,000 blue whales in the North Atlantic. While blue whales were given worldwide protection in 1966, researchers believe the low number of calves being born every year and the weak population numbers indicate that blue whales haven’t recovered from whaling. In addition, blue whales are now up against ship strikes, disturbance from eager whale watchers, becoming caught up in fishing gear, ocean pollution and climate change.

The Right Stuff
While these gargantuan creatures may seem invincible measuring 16 metres in length and weighing 80 tonnes, researchers estimate that the right whale could go extinct in approximately two centuries. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada reports that there are 322 identified right whales in the North Atlantic. When summer hits, right whales nurse, chow down and live it up in the Bay of Fundy, Roseway Basin and on the Scotian Shelf. While there’s been a great decline in the number of offspring produced every year since 1990, numbers from recent years have researchers scratching their heads:  2009 saw 20 more calves born than in 2006. Nevertheless, the birth rate of North Atlantic right whales is significantly lower than their Southern comrades. Researchers have a laundry list of culprits including injury and mortality from ship collisions, entanglement in fishing gear, a decline in the availability of food, changes in the way they use habitat, disease, marine toxins, genetics and climate change.

How Sears’ Research Fits in
Considering that most right and blue whale research has been conducted close to home, Sears and his team set out to sea from St. John’s, Newfoundland to survey the whales in the offshore shelf-edge waters of the Grand Banks and Laurentian Channel between July 21 and August 11, 2010.

Researchers have long speculated that blue and right whales regularly visit the Grand Banks en route to the St. Lawrence, however, no one has ever tested the theory until now. The verdict? It seems we can tentatively rule out the Grand Banks as another summer habitat for blue and right whales. Sears and his team did not come across any right whales and found only four blue whales in the area.

They did however find a number of other cetaceans in the Grand Banks including fin whales, minkes, humpbacks, Northern bottlenose whales, as well as porpoises and dolphins. The researchers also photo identified an entire pod of killer whales.

Helping Hand

Can we get a cheer, or what? CWF’s Endangered Species Fund is back in action. And we’re pretty excited to announce that we have eight exciting conservation projects on the go across Canada! Keep reading to learn about the species we’re working to conserve.

Steller Sea Lion

Unfortunately, the coasts of Victoria, B.C. which steller sea lions call home is also home to fishing industries. CWF has supported Dr. Martin Haulena and Wendy Szaniszlo of the Vancouver Aquarium’s Sea Lion Entanglement Study since 2013 in order to provide data on the type and frequency of entanglements in fishing and marine gear or debris. Now we’re moving onto the second phase of our research. We are collaborating with a team of biologists from Alaska to identify individual sea lions in order to verify their gender and age. We’ll also be able to move forward on exciting technological advancements for reducing the risk of entanglements in sea lions. We’ll be disentangling at least six sea lions and sending the debris that they were caught up in over to the WSPA and PEG. These organizations will then start to develop manufacturing solutions to reduce entanglement threats for sea lions and other marine mammals. Read more about the success we’ve already had for the stellar sea lion!

Striped Bass

Did you know there were once five known spawning stocks of striped bass in Canada? Now there are only three, resulting in its current listing as Endangered in the St. Lawrence River and Bay of Fundy and as of Special Concern in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Even though research efforts have been focused on the three known spawning locations, research has yet to be conducted along the eastern shore of Nova Scotia where striped bass have also been known to spawn. With CWF’s help, the Department of Biology at Acadia University will further investigate a previously undocumented aggregation of striped bass in the Mira River in Cape Breton. The goal is to identify their biological characteristics, as well as to tag and monitor other possible spawning sites, overwintering locations, seasonal movements and fidelity to the Mira River. Data collected will be used to provide crucial conservation management decisions to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada in order to maintain necessary population levels. (Photo: DFO)

Polar Bear

With CWF’s help in 2012, Dr. Thiemann, Dr. Obbard and Brandon Laforest of York University were able to able to collect valuable tissue and biological samples from 35 polar bears to determine whether or not the polar bears were adapting their eating patterns as sea ice levels continues to diminish. Not only this, but we are also able to successfully tag 10 GPS collars on adult female bears which will collect their movements, habitat use and population dynamics. Our plan for 2014? We’re now analyzing the data collected to continue examining the polar bears’ diets in the southern portion of Hudson Bay and James Bay. Data collected will predict future shifts in diet and body condition and help with the polar bear recovery plan.

Wood Turtle

Although the wood turtle has been spotted along the Pollet River, Little River and Halls Creek in New Brunswick, there isn’t currently a lot of information on this reptile along the Petitcodia watershed in Moncton. Because little is known, CWF and Petitcodiac Watershed Wood Turtle Stewardship are working together to collect some much needed data on the wood turtle. Once assessed, a detail annual report of the turtle will be shared with the provincial and federal species at risk biologists and working groups to help put together a plan for further action.

St. Lawrence Beluga

The St. Lawrence beluga’s recovery is being threatened with high rates of cancer and reduced reproductive performance. CWF and Dr. Timothy Frasier of Saint Mary’s University have teamed up to analyze the p53 gene – the most important gene involved in cancer, which also has a strong influence on reproductive success. To do this we are going to need to identify the role that genetic factors play in cancer rates and reproductive performance. After which, we will identify if genetic factors are indeed a threat to the population’s recovery. This information is necessary for identifying what recovery rates are possible for this population in order to implement an effective plan to save this subspecies.

Blanding’s Turtle & Eastern Ribbonsnake

Two of Nova Scotia’s wetland reptile species are at risk: blanding’s turtle and Eastern ribbonsnake. With CWF’s help, Jeffie McNeail of Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI) is going to fill in the knowledge gaps of both species in order to implement effective recovery strategies. In order to successfully accomplish this, we must identify the Blanding’s turtle’s seasonal habitat and seek out new sighting reports of ribbonsnakes since this reptile is often isolated and hard to find. By doing so, we will be able to conduct surveys of these reptiles as we find them and collect some much needed data.

Western Tiger Salamander

As a top predator in the fishless wetlands, the Western tiger salamander plays an important role that directly influences the biodiversity and productivity of these ecosystems. CWF has teamed up with the University of Alberta’s Kyle Welsh and Cindy Paszkowski to investigate the salamander’s habitat use in the Aspen Parkland. They will collect data at potential breeding sites to look into the soil composition of the area as well as any disturbance to the soil gradient. This will help predict the western tiger salamander’s presence at new potential wetlands. (Photo: Carla Isabel Ribeiro)

 Stay tuned for more information on these exciting project!

By Paul McLellan

Cascading water enhances a garden and attracts a larger variety of birds. The sound of a gurgling stream is an intoxicating draw to both people and wildlife. It enhances relaxation and helps filter out background noises that invade our lives.

Creating a re-circulating stream is easier than it might seem. Costs can be kept at a minimum by using local material such as sand and rocks. The addition of native vegetation provides wildlife with a natural food source in addition to the fresh water. Creativity is key to building something you will enjoy forever.

Tips for Success

Start small and slowly build on to your project. This way your mistakes are easy to correct. Plan things in manageable increments. Start with an artificial pond with a fountain created with a submersible pump. Once you have mastered this you can add another pond with a stream to connect it to the first pond. A return hose provides a continuous supply of moving water.

Select a site that is pleasing to you and your family, a place where you can enjoy your stream while relaxing on a screened in porch, verandah or gazebo. Keep in mind that you will need a nearby electrical outlet with ground fault interruption. Also, try to take advantage of water run off from rooftops, walkways, or other hard surfaces for a natural supply of water.

Make drawings of your ideas and discuss these with other family members. When you are satisfied with the plan, make a real size mock up out of cardboard and other waste materials. This will give you an accurate and realistic picture of your project before you spend any money. It will also help in estimating the required volume of materials such as rocks and sand.

Organize all your materials before starting. You can save money by being patient and shopping around. Opportunities exist to obtain free fill, stones and plants. Most other items such as pumps, sprayers, hoses etc. go on sale at the beginning and end of the gardening season.

Plan your project so it is easy to disconnect the power, remove the pump, and drain the system for winterizing and periodic cleaning.
Then finalize your plan with a local supplier of ponds and pumps.

Materials Required (Approximate)

• 2 pre-fabricated ponds - one 50 gallons, one 200 gallons - or sufficient pond liner.
• One re-circulating pump 100 to 200 gallons per hour.
• Return hose and connections.
• Rubberized liner for the stream-bed.
• Landscape fabric.
• Flat stones for cover.
• Assorted stones for stream-bed.
• Garden accessories such as planters, bench, and gargoyle.
• Perennials and shrubs.

Approximate steps to building a re-circulating stream

• Place the two ponds in position. You may choose to construct ponds using a liner or opt for pre-fabricated ponds. (If using pre-fabricated ponds, which are too steep-sided for wildlife, add logs or other material to allow wildlife, such as toads, to climb safely out of the pond.) In either case, ensure there is at lease 6" of sand underneath to prevent any debris or rocks from puncturing the ponds.
• Dig out or fill in where necessary to create a stream-bed between the two ponds. Make sure the stream-bed is 4" deep and 6" across at the bottom. A sloped bank works best. The length of the stream-bed depends on the amount of drop or grade you have between the two ponds (7). I recommend three feet of stream for every foot of drop but it is not absolutely essential.
• Install the electricity supply. SEEK QUALIFIED HELP
• Place the pump (4) in the lower pond (2) and hook up the return hose (5). Run the return hose to the upper pond (1) and bury it shallowly. Ensure that the hose will drain entirely when disconnected at the pump for winter.
• Install the stream liner (3). Overlap liner pieces to prevent leaks.
• Test the stream using a garden hose to ensure there is good flow and no leakage or overflow on the sides.
• Place the end of the return hose slightly out of the water to create a rushing water effect (6).
• Ensure both ponds are LEVEL and backfill around them with sand or other soft, organic material. Compact the material as much as possible to prevent later sag and droop. It is advisable to stop the project at this point and allow things to settle. Observe what happens when it rains. You may want to thoroughly soak the area to test for deficiencies. This is a good time to collect your plants and rocks.
• Once the ponds are level, the stream is running true, and all systems are working properly you can begin to install heavier rocks, benches, or other garden accessories.
• Use heavy landscape fabric under and around the ponds to prevent unwanted vegetation.
• Place flat rocks on the edges of the ponds and stream as required. Use them to hide hose entrance, exit, and all cords.
• Enhance the appearance of your stream-bed by adding some smaller stones.
• Plant some native vegetation that will provide birds and pollinators with food.
• Spend quiet time near the ponds reading or listening to the birds.

 Maintenance

• Ensure there are no water leaks from the ponds or the stream-bed. There will always be some loss due to aeration and evaporation, so you may want to use an automatic valve and hose to keep the lower pond topped up. Please consult a local pond retailer for the proper product and installation.
• Devise ways of keeping debris out of the pond, especially the lower one with the pump. You can either use a screen or regularly unplug and remove the pump to clean the bits of vegetation that get caught in the intake. Keep a small web net nearby to scoop out any floating debris.
• Refresh water regularly. I use the warmer water in the pond to water plants and trees by pail and refresh the pond via the garden hose.
• To winterize, unplug and remove the pump, ensure the hose is drained and bail out half of the water in the pond. This is a good time to give the sides and bottom a scrub to remove algae build-up.
• In the spring, use your pump to empty the ponds then refill with fresh water. Test for leakage.

Enjoy your ponds and re-circulating stream!

A Feast for Backyard Birds

Finding a good hobby is one of the great joys in life. Sharing it with others makes it that much more rewarding. A family bird feeder is an enjoyable way to ensure a common interest in daily life around the home.

Bird feeding is a centuries-old tradition. Today, bird feeding is a simple yet extremely rewarding and entertaining hobby for all family members. With proper information, realistic expectations and modest effort a variety of birds will be quick to visit. The benefits of attracting birds are numerous and include enhanced family communication, neighbourhood participation, and increased awareness of native birds and the environment.

Feeding birds is similar to owning and managing any pet, but with considerably less work. Good forethought and planning is critical to success. When you plan any feeder project try to include all family members so everyone has similar expectations. Some of the more important topics to discuss are type and placement of feeders, costs, chores and responsibilities.

Loss of habitat, which provides food, water, shelter, and space, is the primary problem facing our native species of birds. Therefore, your feeding program should act as a compliment to the planting and nurturing of a variety of native perennials, shrubs, and trees. These provide natural shelter and food and are emphasized throughout this website. Most birds will choose natural food first, so feeding at stations is more likely to occur during times of colder weather. Fall, therefore, is the optimum time to start your feeding program.

Success is best achieved by starting small and slowly expanding. Birds first need to find the food, so scattering bread or other fresh crumbs on the ground is a good way to start. Dried white bread is excellent for easy spotting by the birds. Add a scattering of shiny objects (buttons, pieces of tin foil) to get their attention. But, be sure to select an area where cats can't hide, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting birds. And, be sure to use small amounts of food to keep it fresh. Once you have identified the species visiting you, you can select your regular type of feeding program. Keep it simple, place feeders in a spot where they will be easy to view, and solve problems as they occur.

Although the simplest form of feeding is to scatter it on the ground, in the long run this invites pests. Keeping unwanted species of birds and animals away is your most serious challenge. It is not beneficial to attract non-native birds such as pigeons, house sparrows and the European starling. For ideas on which feeder to choose see Types of Feeders.

An effective squirrel baffle can help solve one of the biggest problems if you also keep in mind that squirrels can jump up to 8 feet from neighbouring trees. There are many commercial products available to keep squirrels from invading your feeders, but make sure the product is substantial, has a proven history, is simple to use and is suitable for your particular climate. I have had the most success with using wooden feeders mounted on a steel pole with a baffle under the feeder. I also like a small hanging feeder under a convex baffle. I do not encourage it, but some people do a bit of hand feeding of squirrels. Remember, they are wild animals and should be kept at a distance. The favourite food of most native birds is sunflower seed. It is readily available and easy to dispense. Other types of feed are millet, niger, and peanuts. See Table 1 to identify the most common birds and the foods they prefer. Try to avoid mixtures that have large amounts of grain products or corn. These types of mixtures have a tendency to attract undesirable species such as the house sparrow, European starling, and pigeon.

If you follow these guidelines and refer to the accompanying information, you should have good success in attracting and keeping birds. Don't get discouraged if birds don't come right away. Most people enjoy success by their second year after reviewing the location, environment, and feeders and making any necessary adjustments.

With so many people feeding birds, survival rates are improving for their young and more nest boxes are required each year. Discuss any problems you have with other bird lovers who are always happy to share their knowledge. This is an excellent way to foster communication and interaction with family, friends, and neighbours, or to encourage positive development in parks, school yards, seniors' homes, hospitals or at work.

Providing food and safe secure shelter for your favourite birds is an everlasting joy. The excitement of spring will be enhanced by the arrival of your feathered friends, back from a long, tiring, dangerous journey and ready to settle in, dance, court, and sing their hearts out while controlling pests in your environment.

Types of Feeders

Silo or Tube Feeders
These are my favourite for starting. They are usually inexpensive and easy to use and move. They dispense seeds through holes in the sides (there is a special one for the smaller niger seed). If squirrels become a problem, ensure you outwit them by using a baffle. Squirrels are ingenious, devious, tenacious and a challenge to most bird feeders. The easiest way to stop them is by hanging a convex baffle directly over the silo or tube feeder. If pigeons, sparrows or starling take over, shorten or remove the pegs to discourage them. Native species, such as chickadees, woodpeckers and finches, are able to cling to smaller areas and will still be able to feed successfully.

Wooden, Metal or Plastic Seed Feeders
The most common seed feeder is usually a "box" type which dispenses seeds by gravity. Features to look for are: visibility of seed level, ease of mounting and removal (for cleaning), ability to hold a good quantity of seed, and flexibility in dispensing a variety of seed types. These feeders are usually mounted on their own pole and have a squirrel baffle underneath. Some feeders claim to stop squirrels and as such are fairly expensive. Ensure your vendor is reputable and has tested the feeder in the local environment. Place the feeder in a spot which allows you to enjoy it and also to easily clean and fill it during the winter.

Suet Feeders
There are many styles available. These feeders simply hold chunks of suet (fat) or a block of commercial suet/seed mixture. I recommend wood or coated wire to prevent birds' feet or tongues from sticking to the feeder in extreme weather. Hang suet feeders in a tree or on a post and if squirrels become a problem use a baffle.

Hummingbird and Oriole Feeders
There are numerous models available of these feeders which dispense artificial nectar. Smaller feeders are usually more practical. Make sure it is easy to take down and clean. This must be done every 2-4 days in hot weather to reduce the risk of illness due to fermentation of the mixture.


The recipe is simple:

4 cups water
1 cup white sugar
Boil for 4 minutes.
Cool before filling feeder.
Store excess in refrigerator.
Change often.

There could be a problem with attracting bees, wasps and ants, so make sure the model you purchase has a bee and ant guard. If the hummingbirds fight over access to the feeder, simply place another small feeder out of sight of the first one to reduce stress.

Ground Feeding

This is the simplest form of bird feeding. It involves scattering feed in a convenient spot. Try not to use an area near trees or bushes where cats can hide and grab unsuspecting birds as they feed. Use frequent applications of small batches of feed to prevent spoilage. This type of feeding is not recommended in the long run because it is impossible to control access by squirrels and other rodents and pests and food can become contaminated.

Common Birds and their Favourite Foods:
 

BIRD	SUNFLOWER	PEANUTS	MILLET	NIGERSEED	SUET OR SUET/SEED MIX	ARTIFICIAL NECTAR
chickadee	yes	yes			yes
woodpecker	yes	yes			yes
nuthacth	yes	yes			yes
blue jay	yes	yes			maybe
cardinal	yes	yes
finches	yes			yes
grosbeak	yes	yes
mourning dove	yes		yes
hummingbird						yes
oriole						yes

A Backyard Frog Guide for New Brunswick

Photo: Philip-Edouard Shay

Blossoming frog enthusiasts in New Brunswick will soon have a new tool to help them identify the province’s nine frog and toad species. Aided by a $2,700 grant from the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Nature NB is producing a poster and field guide to introduce beginners of all ages to their amphibious neighbours.

The full-colour, bilingual poster highlights each species through photographs and common and Latin names. An information panel on the poster provides general facts about frogs and their importance to native ecosystems. The accompanying field guide takes a more in-depth approach to frog identification by providing more descriptive information, pointing out key features and describing the calls and habitats of each species. Although geared towards youth aged six to 12, the kit is useful for anyone looking to learn about frogs.

The global decline of frog populations and the importance of frog conservation has been highlighted in 2008 through the public awareness campaign Year of the Frog. As an important indicator species, the presence of frogs speaks to the health of an eco-system — particularly as it relates to water quality. By introducing and educating New Brunswick youth on provincial frogs, Nature NB hopes that they will be able to foster a generation committed to their conservation.

As of the release of this newsletter, the production of the guide and poster was in the final stages. The full kit should be available in spring 2009 and is available free-of-charge to members of Nature NB’s Young Naturalists’ Club, students in the public school system and interested individuals.

To request your copy, contact Nature NB through www.naturenb.ca or by phone at 1-506-459-4209.

Wanting to help backyard frogs in your province? Visit WildAboutGardening.org for tonnes of tips on frogs!