The Wolf Howl

I want to wish all our members a very happy and healthy New Year, we’re looking forward to a great year.
Your Board has planned some exciting presentations and outings for 2007. Thank you for your continued enthusiastic participation which will guarantee us another great year.

Thank you to everyone who made our Christmas Lunch the success that it was. And special thank yous to Maxine Forsyth and Dorothy Kutt for coming early to set up and decorate the tables; to Clarence Paris for coming early to collect the tickets; to everyone who provided the delicious desserts; and especially to Santa Claus for dropping by and bringing his Christmas cheer.

We would also like to thank Bernie McCabe and to welcome her to the Board as our new Secretary.

Red Breasted Nuthatch Carving
We thank Jim and Joanie Lindamood for donating a carving of a Red Breasted Nuthatch which will be offered at our January meeting. The carving was on display at our Christmas luncheon and everyone was impressed by its beauty and crafting. One member will be fortunate to own this beautiful carving. If you are unable to attend the meeting, but would still like an opportunity to take this carving home, please call Dorothy Kutt at 848-5834.

Save your pop cans
SAD is collecting pop cans to assist with spaying and neutering of cats and dogs. Please save your pop cans and drop them off at SAD at 33 Perini Road, Elliot Lake.

Upcoming Outings (Please check the web site for up to date information on our outings.) Please bring binoculars, camera, and field guides if possible. Remember to dress for the weather and to wear appropriate footwear. Bring a snack and hot drink as necessary.

Every Saturday, walk through Sherriff Creek
Meet at the Sherriff Creek parking lot at 10:00 a.m. for the walk. Duration of walk: 2 hours.

Friday, January 12, Sherriff Creek Snowshoe/Walk
Leader: Naomi Maggs and Dave Young. Meet at the Sherriff Creek parking lot 10 a.m. Duration 2-3hrs.

Tuesday, January 16, Snowshoe and Woodpecker Outing
Leader: Nancy-Jo Wannan and Terry Carr. Meet at Brunswick Walk at 10:00 a.m. to carpool to an area where we will walk to view woodpeckers. Duration: 2-3 hrs.


Friday, January 26, Boom Camp X Country Ski Outing
Leader: Naomi Maggs. Meet at Brunswick Walk at 9 a.m. to carpool to Blind River Cross Country Ski Club. The trails are 3, 5 and 10 km in length and have interconnecting loops of easy and intermediate skill levels. The length of this outing will be determined by individuals or by car-pool groups.

Wednesday, January 31, Iron Bridge Deer Observation Outing
Leader: Hans Kamps. Meet at Brunswick walk parking lot at 1 p.m. to carpool to Iron Bridge. We will visit some areas where whitetail deer find food and shelter. Supper afterwards is optional.

SHERRIFF CREEK SANCTUARY SPEAKS……
As I’ve waited for snow, I have contemplated some of its benefits:

·        How good an insulator it is; the temperature can be up to 20 degrees warmer under its blanket! ·        Falling snow purifies the air by capturing dust and other contaminants. It also captures nitrogen which fertilizes the soil when the snow melts. ·        Melting snow penetrates underground more effectively than rain and helps maintain the water table.

Temperatures which allow water and snow to form are rare in the universe. All these things make each snowflake special – and welcome!

Outdoor Participants: (16)
Cormier, Ray (Group Leader, Area I =N. to Panel Mine Rd.)
Naomi Maggs, Shirley Young, Marlene McCroome

Joan & Gerard MacGillivray (Group Leaders, Area II = Sherriff Creek Sanctuary & Area)
Jim Lindamood, Joanie Lindamood, Chuck Zietsma

Terry Carr (compiler) (Group Leader, Area III = S. to Depot Lake)
Lloyd McCabe, Maxine Forsyth, Andrea Halligan

Joyce MacKenzie (Group Leader, Area IV = Urban Elliot Lake Area)
Marthe Doesburg, Linda Shore

Feeder Watchers:
61 Individuals on 43 properties

Weather & Environmental Conditions:
Sky conditions: AM: Cloudy PM: Mostly Cloudy
Temperature: +1 C to +3 C
Wind: Moderate from SE shifting to W
Snow Cover: Trace
Precipitation: Rain in AM total approx. 10 mm
Still Water… 90% open
Moving Water (rivers & streams)…100 % open
Note: a number of mild days and frequent rains preceding the count day contributed to open water and lack of snow cover.

Natural Food Available: Much more food available than normal due to excellent seed year and almost total absence of snow.


2006 Christmas Bird Count, Species List
29 +2 count week = 31 Species
2,175 total individual birds reported
        2005         2006
American Crow        10        18
American Goldfinch        107        586
American Tree Sparrow        2        13
Bald Eagle         1         1
Black-capped Chickadee         331        209
Blue Jay         56         72
Bohemian Waxwing         15         0
Boreal Chickadee         0         0
Broad-winged Hawk         1         0
Common Grackle         0         0
Common Raven        639        516
Common Redpoll         32         14
Hoary Redpoll         0         0
        2005         2006
Dark-eyed Junco         3         3
Downy Wood pecker          21         25
Rock Dove        147        119
Ruffed Grouse         0         1
Snow Bunting         6         30
Red-breasted Nuthatch         4         17
White-breasted Nuthatch          17         20
White-crowned Sparrow         1         0
Fox Sparrow         1         0
European Starling        155        151
Evening Grosbeak         31         1
Gray Jay         4         5
Great Gray Owl         0         0
Hairy Woodpecker         27         21
Herring Gull         70         308
Ring-billed Gull         0         10
Glaucous Gull        0         1
Mourning Dove          22         19
Pileated Woodpecker          1         3
Pine Grosbeak         74         0
Pine Siskin         1         4
Purple Finch         2         4
Red-tailed Hawk         0         1

Bufflehead Duck        0        1 Rusty Blackbird         0         2

Reported during Count Week: 1 Amer. Robin