Volume 7, Issue 5, January, 2008
Penokean Hills Field Naturalists Inc.
P.O. Box 74, Elliot Lake, ON P5A 2J6
http://www.penokeanhills.ottawaweb.com
Phone:  Dorothy Kutt (705) 848-5834



Mission Statement:   The Penokean Hills Field Naturalists exists as an organization to educate and promote interest, knowledge, conservation and preservation of the natural history, habitat and environment of our region for its members and the community at large.

Please join us at the Moose Family Centre for our meeting on January 8, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Our speakers for January 8 are Chris Blythe and Martin Cooper who are associated with the local activities of Pele Mountain Resources Inc.  Their joint topic will be “Site characteristic studies for a new uranium mine (the beginnings of the environmental assessment process).



Chris Blythe, of Blythe & Associates works throughout Ontario in both public and private sectors. He is an accredited wetland evaluator, as well as a Natural Science Specialist, Fisheries Assessment Specialist and Fisheries Compliance During Contracts Specialist.  

Martin Cooper, of Pele Mountain Resources Inc., is Director, Lands & Traditional Use. As well, he is Senior Archaeologist and a partner at Archaeological Services Inc., Canada’s largest archaeological consulting firm.

After their presentations, both men look forward to answering questions.


President’s Message:
As we say good-bye to 2007 and welcome 2008, I would like to wish all our members a very happy and healthy New Year. 2007 was a very good year for the Penokean Hills Field Naturalists and I would like to take this opportunity to say many, many thank yous.

Our Christmas Party was an outstanding success. Sorry we were not able to accommodate people who wanted last minute tickets but we were given a cut off timeline which we had to honour. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard and thank you to the Men of Song who made the evening memorable. I would like to offer my personal thanks to everyone who contributed to the gift for Joan and me; because of you, we collected $92 which will feed our birds at the Sanctuary this winter. The birds thank you as well. 

On behalf of all the members of the Penokean Hills Field Naturalists, I want to thank Joyce MacKenzie and her daughter, Nikki Van Den Brock, for their participation in the Baillie Birdathon and for designating the Penokean Hills Field Naturalists to share in the proceeds. Bird Studies Canada has sent the PHFN a cheque for $348.50 from the $1,3904.00 raised by Joyce and Nikki. Thank you very much.

Most importantly, thank you to you, our members. Throughout the year, you have made the Penokean Hills Field Naturalists a wonderful success. 

For 2008 we have a lot of great speakers and outings planned. Please join us, we look forward to seeing you. 



Upcoming Outings:
Tuesday, January 1st, 2008, Sherriff Creek Sanctuary New Years Day Stroll - Leader: Ray Cormier 848-7979. Meet at the Sherriff Creek Sanctuary parking lot at 1 p.m. Duration: 1-2 hours.

All outings without dates will be scheduled as Weather/Conditions permit. Signed up members will be contacted by phone.

February, Snowshoe Mississagi Provincial Park - Leader: David Young 848-9590. Meet at Brunswick Walk parking lot at 9 a.m. to carpool to the park. Duration: 5-6 hrs.

February, Photography in our Winter Season - Leader: Dan Humeniuk 848-0940 Meet at Brunswick Walk parking lot at 1 p.m. to carpool to chosen location. Duration: 2-3 hrs.

February, Sherriff Creek Sanctuary Snowshoe/Walk. Exploring Nature - Leader: Ray Cormier 848-7979 Meet at the Sherriff Creek Sanctuary parking lot at 1 p.m. Duration: 2hrs

February, Blind River Boom Camp X Country Ski Outing - (will call those signed up with date)
Leader:  Naomi Maggs 848-5656 Meet at Brunswick Walk parking lot at 9 a.m. to carpool to Blind River Cross Country Ski Club. The trails are 3, 5, & 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. Duration: 6-7 hrs.

February, Sherriff Lake Snowshoe & X Country Ski Outing (will call those signed up with date)
Leader:  Naomi Maggs 848-5656 Meet at Brunswick Walk parking lot at 1 p.m. to carpool to trail. Duration: 3-4 hrs.

Please note:  The Penokean Hills Field Naturalists Club, its officers or agents will not be held responsible for any accident or liability whatsoever incurred as a result of participation in any meeting, activity, or field trip organized by them.  Come to outings dressed appropriately for the day (check the weather forecast). Trip leaders have the right to refuse people who are not properly equipped. Participants must make leaders aware of any serious medical condition that may arise during an outing. Bring water, a snack, or lunch depending on duration of outing. Also, your binos, camera, and field guides.  For general outing information, call Hans Kamps at 461-7737. For scheduled outing information, please call the leader of the outing. Sign up sheets will be available at the PHFN general meeting, and any member interested in participating in any activities should obtain more specific information by calling the trip leader(s).



SHERRIFF CREEK SANCTUARY SPEAKS……
I want to wish my stewards, the Penokean Hills Field Naturalists, a very happy New Year. I depend on you for appreciation and protection, and am always happy when you visit. I feel extremely proud when you bring your visitors to walk my trails, and would like to extend my New Year wishes to include all who enjoy nature within my borders.

Here’s some New Year’s trivia:

Right now, Mourning Cloak butterflies are hibernating in rock, log, or tree crevices. Because they’re one of the few butterfly species that do hibernate, they’re usually the first you’ll see in spring.

Gray Jays store food for the winter by covering with a gluey saliva their hoarded seeds, insects, berries, etc., which they then paste to trunks and branches of various pine trees. The expression “bird brain” doesn’t apply to them, as they can remember where thousands of these stored morsels are located.

Moose drop their antlers about now. Vegetarian animals like mice, porcupines and hares benefit as they gnaw at the discarded antlers to get calcium and salt.

When winter storms are approaching, spruce and fir trees bring their branches closer together in order to deal with impending heavy loads of snow.

Icy January does not hinder the ol’ mating urge: beavers are breeding beneath the ice, and great horned owls start their mating calls.



108th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count - Penokean Hills Field Naturalists 12th Annual, 9th Official CBC - To view the results please see Activities on this Web site.