IMPORTANT DATES: 2000 - 2001

The PHFN meets on every second Tuesday of the month from September to May.......except in December.

Tuesday, February 13, 2001 General Meeting

Tuesday, March 13, 2001 General Meeting

Tuesday, April 10, 2001 General Meeting

Tuesday, May 8, 2001 Annual General Meeting - election for Board of Directors

Newsletters: The club will issue 4 in 2000 - 2001 (September, November, February, and May)

My initial comment for our first Newsletter of the 21st century is to say "welcome" to all the new members who have joined our club and "thank you" to all those former members who have rejoined. It is my great pleasure to share your interest in nature and your enthusiasm for the beautiful environment around us here in Elliot Lake.

There is plenty of evidence of just how committed our members are. On December 19, 2000, we had 48 individuals become directly involved in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. The results of this, our 5th annual CBC, can be read in this issue. Another good example of your commitment was illustrated when our members turned out in large numbers to the Public Information Centre (PIC) held on December 20, 2000 to provide details on the City's Waterfront Development Project. My thanks to the many of you who have responded in writing to the City of Elliot Lake with your thoughts, concerns and suggestions related to this project. We will trust that our input will be viewed as a positive and useful by the officials responsible for this particular economic initiative.

The visitation to the Sherriff Creek Wildlife Sanctuary continues to rise...both people and over-wintering birds. The bird feeding stations are kept full, thanks to Clarence Paris. For those of you who have donated to our Bird Food supply....thank you...on behalf of the club, Clarence and the well-fed birds.

At our February General Meeting I intend to make a very important announcement about the changes that will occur on our Board of Directors, after the elections at our May 2001 Annual General Meeting .

Our constitution states that elections for our Directors must be held every two years and....this is the year! We need more of you to consider helping out your club by volunteering as a board member. There are quite a number on our current board (who have served their full two year terms...and some well beyond) who wish to step down in May and be replaced by "fresh" and interested members.

Should you be approached by the nominating committee, please consider how necessary it is that we have a committed and efficient executive. It is so important that it could make the difference between carrying on as a viable and vibrant community organization or not.

My best wishes to all our members for a healthy and happy completion of the winter months. Add to your enjoyment of the out-of-doors by joining us on our outings and I will look forward to seeing you at our General Meetings. - Terry

Ontario's second Breeding Bird Atlas 2001-2005

Ontario's second Breeding Bird Atlas project will get underway in the spring of 2001 and will run through 2005. Like the first atlas (1981- 1985), the project's goal will be to produce detailed maps of the distribution of all the bird species breeding in the province. Volunteer birders, known as atlassers, take on one or more 10-km squares and look for breeding evidence of every species breeding in the square. This time, we are also going to be collecting information on the abundance of each species in each square.

Atlassing is fun and challenging, and the results are valuable. The first project was a great success, with over 1300 birders logging over 100,000 hours of field work, and amassing more than 400,000 records. The Atlas of The Breeding Birds of Ontario is the standard reference book on bird distribution in the province, and the atlas' computer data base has been used for numerous conservation and research projects.

Atlas update

We will once again be organizing the popular atlassing trips to the north. If you are interested in atlassing in northern Ontario, the application form is now available! You can obtain one through the atlas web page, or by contacting the atlas office. Please note that the deadline for applying is six months prior to your proposed departure, so if you'd like to go this summer, submit your application soon!

Regional Coordinators are in place for most regions in Southern Ontario, and are quickly assigning squares! Be sure to contact your RC soon to get the square you'd like before it's gone!

To find out who your Regional Coordinator (RC) is, to get some preliminary background on the project or to register to participate, please visit the atlas web page at http://www.birdsontario.org .

Also, watch for the winter issue of Seasons which features an article on the Atlas project.

If you don't have access to the web, contact: Nicole Kopysh, Assistant Coordinator, c/o Canadian Wildlife Service, 75 Farquhar St. Guelph, ON, N1H 3N4. Phone: (519) 826-2092

Email: Nicole.Kopysh@ec.gc.ca

Casual Cross Country Ski Capers

     Want to ski but do not want to ski alone?  Now there are two set times each week.  Wednesday mornings at 10 o'clock and Sunday afternoons at 1 o'clock n the Elliot Lake Golf & Country Club's grounds.   Created by a member of the Penokean Hills Field Naturalists,  this idea was formed to give mutually interested skiers a chance to enjoy their sport in the company of others.  Completely unstructured and flexible, there will be no guides or leaders and is not to be considered as official outings.   For more information call Doreen Hill at 848-4667

     Matthias de Lobel (1538-1616) was a botanist at the court of James I of England.  He classified plants into families according to the form of their leaves.   The Lobelia is named after him.

     The Great Grey Owl will plunge into deep snow when hunting for small rodents, even through a layer of crust.   If the prey is not immediately caught in its talons, it will often mantle around the prey with its wings, which leaves a tell-tale pattern in the snow.

Cup and Saucer Trail, Manitoulin Island

This 350 acre nature reserve is about 15 kilometres west of Little Current. One of the finest outcrops of Ontario's Niagara Escarpment boasts 80 metre high cliffs and the highest point on Manitoulin Island.

After a stroll through a mature, mixed forest you start a challenging ascent of the escarpment. Once you reach the top the trail levels and leads to several spectacular "lookout" points. Watch your step as there are no guard rails and I did not like the manner in which the softer layers of rock eroded away leaving the lookout points protruding like a diving board.

A wonderful series of trails that are well worth a visit.

By John Barker

BEYOND PORT-AUX-BASQUES,

NEWFOUNDLAND...........

This is the third installment in a series describing some of the highlights of our trip throughout Newfoundland last summer.

The Van Duin's splendid slide show in January included some wonderful scenes of Newfoundland's jewel, Gros Morne National Park. Following this event, we find ourselves at a loss for words, in particular regarding our wonderful day at Western Brook Fjord. Their images are unforgettable!

Moving north some 500 kilometres up the western coast from Channel - Port-Aux-Basques, we arrived in the thriving town of Port Aux Choix; thriving because of its shrimp processing plant, still in operation. There are some very large modern homes along the seashore here, owned we were told, by fishers. In the overall rural scheme of the Island, these large residences appeared distinctly out of character.

The main purpose of our visit here was because of its historic importance. Port Aux Choix is a national Historic Site, with a fantastic display of artifacts unearthed in 1967/68.

It is the site of the Maritime Archaic Cemeteries. Area Indians buried their dead on this rugged, windswept peninsula between 4400 and 3300 years ago!

Excavations uncovered four concentrations of burials, totalling 117 skeletons in 56 graves. One or more individuals were buried in a pit, accompanied by grave goods, with red ochre sprinkled throughout. A few small slabs or boulders were placed atop the graves.

Adults, as discovered, were usually interred in the flexed position with children extended on their backs. Bundles of bones were also found. Analysis of skeletal remains has shown that the Maritime Archaic Indians were healthy individuals, living relatively long lives.

We reflected at this historic location for a long time in an attempt to try and come to grips with the many centuries since these great people passed before us.........

Bob and Marthe Doesburg.

A Few Winter Photography Tips

Winter is my favorite season for nature photography. When everything in nature has turned white, a lot of excellent photo opportunities still exist out there. Whether your idea of a winter recreation is snowmobiling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or just taking a short walk, here are a few tips for taking better winter photos.

1. Keep your Camera and Batteries Warm . Most cameras today are automatic and do not function well in cold temperatures. Keep your camera under your coat, where it can benefit from your body heat until ready to take that picture. Also bring spare batteries if your camera or flash begins to freeze up.

2. Keep Yourself Warm . Wear warm boots, dress in layers, and bring something warm to drink on extended outside sessions. Get a pair of those thick gloves that have the fingertips that fold back so you can make use of your fingertips to make necessary adjustments on your camera.

3. Early Morning/Late Afternoon Rule . The best time of the day for most winter scenes is the early morning and late afternoon, when the sun is close to the horizon. At these times of the day, the sun casts warm shades to the white snow. A mystic feeling is given to an image with this type of lighting.

4. Make Effective Use of Colour . Try to place something colourful in your photo. Colourful objects stand out more against snow.(clear blue skies, red berry bushes, golden dried grasses, cattails).

5. Keep Your Image Simple . Watch out for things in your photos that will distract from your main subject. Keep your subject clear and uncluttered, don't overload the image with too much of the scene.

6. Prevent Camera Condensation . Let your camera warm up slowly after being in the cold to prevent damaging moisture from building up inside your camera and lens. The best way to prevent this problem, is to place your camera inside a plastic bag while still outside. Bring your camera inside and most of the moisture will settle on the sides of the plastic bag instead of your camera.

I hope that by using these few tips, you'll be able to take some great cold weather photographs. Just remember to dress warmly to prevent frostbite. Happy snapping!

Joe Brann

** A Hummingbird weighs less than a penny.

** Owls are one of the only birds that can see the colour blue - is that why there are so few blue flowers?

** One Ostrich egg can make the same size omelet as 2 dozen chicken eggs.

** In Canada and the U.S. there are over 600 species of birds - there are approximately 8850 species in the world!

** Feather colouring is the result of a combination of pigments and light refraction.

** Feathers grow only in special patches or tracts with intervening featherless spaces.

** As many a 2 - 5 billion birds fly south from temperate regions each winter.

** Birds walk on their toes with their heels in the air.

** Using energy at the rate of a Hummingbird, a human would have to eat 340 pounds of potatoes each day!

** Many species of song birds learn their song from a parent or neighbour.

** Bird groups have special names: a 'cast' of hawks, 'flights' of doves, and 'exaltation' of larks, a 'host' of sparrows, a 'gaggle' of geese.

** A Tundra swan has about 25,200 feathers - the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird has only about 940.

Mr. Jim Allan will be the Guest Speaker at our February general meeting. He received his pilot's license in 1964 and his territory in the Arctic ranges from the northern most tip of Alaska east to Cambridge Bay on Victoria Island.

The first plane he bought was a Piper PA 11 in 1970, and he now flies a 172M Cessna, purchased in 1982. His first trip to the Arctic region was in 1983, and his trips usually last up to five or seven weeks. Mr. Allan is retired from being an engineering technologist with Ontario Hydro, and now lives at Lauzon Lake. He flies mostly locally to places like Wawa, Rouyn-Noranda, and Timmins.

Mr. Allan will give a slide presentation along with his commentary, and will have available 3 of his picture albums. Normally his presentation can last up to three hours due to the content, so his address to the PHFN is sure to be very full of interesting information.

PLAN TO ATTEND - FEB. 13 ^th .

FEBRUARY / MARCH OUTINGS

Please come to outings dressed appropriately for the day (check out 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. A snack can refuel the body, which is important for the longer outings, particularly the hikes, so bring a lunch and a drink for those.

For further information on all outings call Dave Young at 848-9590 or veday@inorth.on.ca

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.

THURSDAY 15^th FEBRUARY

SNOWSHOE IN THE PARK

Meet your outing leader, Gord Bruce (461-3724) in the Brunswick Walk parking lot at 10 am. We will car-pool to Mississagi Park where Gord will lead us to the Semiwite Creek Trail. The trail is about 1 km long but we have to walk in from the park gate so that the total odyssey will be approximately 4 km in length. Bring a lunch and a drink and, of course your faithful bino's. We aim to be back in Elliot Lake by mid-afternoon.

SATURDAY, 17^th FEBRUARY

SANCTUARY STOMP

Come and join us in the Sherriff Creek Sanctuary parking lot at 10.00 am for our regular Saturday walk around the Sanctuary trails. Join other PHFN members to share their knowledge of the natural inhabitants. Bring field guides and binoculars. Snow shoes will probably be appropriate nowadays but not essential. We should be back at the gate by 12 noon.

THURSDAY, 22^nd February

SKIING AND BIRDING IN BLIND RIVER

Meet Terry in the Brunswick Walk parking lot at 9.15 am to arrange car-pooling to the Blind River Cross Country Ski Club. The club has 11km of groomed trails offering skiing for people of all degrees of experience. Along with your skis and bird field guides, bring a lunch and a drink. The length of this outing will be decided by individuals at the time or by car-pool groups.

SATURDAY, 24^th FEBRUARY

TRAIL TRAVERSE

See notes for 17^th February.

TUESDAY, 27^th FEBRUARY

TREES IN WINTER

Meet in the parking lot at Spruce Beach at 2:00 pm to walk the trail to Spine Beach. Cars will be shuffled for the return to Spruce. Terry and Dave will talk about the varied flora to be seen on this lakeside trail. Some trees are already labeled and notices along the trail give a little of the geological history of the Elliot Lake area. Bring guide books, bino's etc. The trip should last about 1½ to 2 hrs.

SATURDAY, 3^rd MARCH

CONSERVATION COMMUTE

See notes for 17^th February.

THURSDAY, 8^th MARCH

WILDLIFE SKETCHING & OBSERVATION

Mara Mink (461-3917) is our leader / instructor for this chance to learn to sketch details of the birds and animals which come to the area around the studio she shares with her husband Chuck. For instance, observing details of wing and tail feathers, leads to better recognition abilities. Meet in the Brunswick Walk parking lot at 10:00 am in order to car pool to the studio on Dunlop Lake. Bring a lunch, bino's, field guides and a notebook.

SATURDAY, 10^th MARCH

CREEK CRAWL

See notes for 17^th February.

SIGHTINGS

Recorded at PHFN - Jan. 9, 2001 - General Meeting

Who Saw It?	What Was It?	Where Was It?	When?
Doreen Hill	up to 60 American Goldfinches	back-yard feeder	Dec/Jan
Joyce MacKenzie	Hawk Owl	Panel Mine Area	Nov
	at least 5 Common Grackles (very unusual as "winter resident")	Elliot Lake	Dec
Clarence Paris	Blue Fox (Melanistic Red Fox?)	Elliot Lake	Jan 8
Jim Johnston	Black Fox (Melanistic?) with white-tipped tail	Hwy 101 near Foleyet	Nov
David Young	Black and Brown Fox (mottled colouring) (Melanistic/cross?)	Crossing Pearson (why?...to get to the other side!)	Dec
	Porcupine tracks first then the animal found....Saturday Nature Hike Group found this together	Sheriff Creek Park	Jan 6
Mieke Jean-Marie	Fox and Coyote, and Pileated Woodpecker	Elliot Lake	Dec
Pim Delgou	2 Ruffed Grouse 2 Red Squirrels	Elliot Lake Nature Trail	Dec
Jocelyne Breive	10 Bluejays, 6 Gray Jays Chickadees, Red Squirrels	Panel Mine Road Feeders	Dec
Connie Johnston	Cougar	Road to Chapleau	in 1998
Scott Helman	Red-tailed Hawks	Hwy 401 - spotted in trees, heading towards Kingston	Dec 27/00 (10am/11am)
	Male and Female Cardinals	LoughBorough Lake - home feeder in North Kingston	Dec 28/00 (2pm)
	Nuthatch	LoughBorough Lake - home feeder in North Kingston	Dec 28/00 (2pm)
	5 to 8 Chickadees	LoughBorough Lake - home feeder in North Kingston	Dec 28/00 (2pm)
	Red-tailed Hawk	Hwy 400 N Past Wonderland	Dec 29/00 (9am)
Terry Carr Re: Reports to MNR	Please Note ....any "unusual" sightings, such as Porcupine, Cougar, etc. I will pass on through my Wildlife Observation Notebook to the Ministry of Natural Resouces	Please let me know by telephone or e-mail as soon as you make, what you think, is an unusual sighting.	My thanks to everyone who has contributed to "Sightings"

ps . My apologies to those of you I missed, who's name I didn't catch, or when I couldn't read my writing! Help me fix this list! - Mara

WHV1i3 - February 2001