The next meeting of the PHFN will start at 7 pm on Tuesday, January 13, 2004, at the Bible Chapel, 283 Mississauga Ave. Speaker will be Alan Wilson showing slides on Monarch Butterflies. Visitors and guests are always welcome. This is our regular monthly meeting and all members are urged to attend. Please join us for coffee and chat downstairs after the meeting, and don’t forget to “Lug a mug”.

The PHFN meets on the second Tuesday of every month from September to May.......except in December when we hold our Christmas Potluck.

February 10, 2004 General Meeting - Erwin Meissner - Founding of Club and Sheriff Creek

The contents of the newsletter are provided by the members, etc. and any misinformation or permission to print any of the articles is not the responsibility of the newsletter editor.

As I write to you on a cold and icy December evening, it is warming to look back on two recent successful PHFN events. The first was our annual Christmas Pot-luck which was festive, fun and featured an outstanding array of dishes. Santa didn't disappoint, and put in a lively appearance, only to find Mrs. Claus already there! Santa's magic produced candy canes for everyone present and bird seed for Clarence and the Prez to send on to the Sanctuary. So many people worked with so much good will toward the success of the Pot-luck, whether it was planning, decorating, bringing delicious food, providing music, taking photos, being MC or Santa; each person's contribution was much appreciated and was a vital part of everyone's enjoyment. And did you find yourself saying "Cheese" for the camera? Our photographer, Dan, is looking at those negatives now, and has interesting plans for the January meeting!

Our other successful event was our participation in the 104th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Thanks again to Terry Carr for coordinating this and for making sure that all involved knew what were expected of them. We were pleased to have first time participants for outdoor observing and feeder watching. As well, it was an honour to have our PHFN founder, Irwin Meissner, and wife Annie joined with us this year. According to final results, the Common Raven and Common Redpoll topped our numbers. Those ravens are feisty: they are the only bird which has been counted right across Canada in the Christmas Bird Count.

Many of you are aware that over the past year there have been changes in Sherriff Creek Sanctuary on all 3 trails, notably on the Yellow and Red trails. As Stewards of the Sanctuary, everything which occurs there is important to us. Our Stewardship role is documented in a 1997 signed agreement with Rio Algom, the owner of that area, and remains effective today and into the future.

My Funk & Wagnall's defines Steward as "one who is entrusted with the management of property not his own". Now that tourism is an economic initiative for Elliot Lake, it is necessary to realize that the Sanctuary is part of the plan which the Shared Use Trails Committee has for trails around Elliot Lake. Thus, the Sanctuary is seen by that committee to require upgrading and improvement in some places in order to accommodate its changing status. Your Board takes PHFN's Stewardship role very seriously, and sees that role as especially necessary in order to promote sound environmental and ecological practises as well as to maintain the integrity of the Sanctuary's original purpose. Unfortunately, some of the work done, especially on the Red Trail, took place before PHFN could have effective input. Please rest assured that this will not

But now that the Sanctuary may possibly attract a larger public, it is important for its Stewards to set a good example. Do all of us who go there carry a plastic bag to pick up any litter? Do all of us with dogs have them on a leash? Better still, do those of us with dogs go elsewhere? When we see people digging up plants, removing rocks, interfering with waterways, or children throwing stones at birds and frogs, are we prepared to step up and let them know that we, as proud managers of that beautiful area, will not permit those actions?

One of the people who loved the Sanctuary was Doreen Hill. The original butterfly garden was her idea. As an active member of the PHFN, her death is a great loss, not only to our organization, but also to Friends of Algoma East and the Horticulture Society. We have had some preliminary discussions with both groups regarding a fitting memorial, possibly a joint venture. Please think of her as you walk through the Sanctuary. Her spirit is there.

In May, you could discover the delights of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve. Spend 4 days near Wiarton learning surveying and monitoring techniques as you prepare forest research plots for the Biosphere Reserve Forest Monitoring Project.

What about 5 days in June recording birdcalls using CVX microphones? With help from expert birders, you'd be contributing to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, and you'd be camping in Lake St. Peter Provincial Park near Bancroft.

How about time in an old growth stand of 100 foot Maple, White Ash, Red Oak, White Pine and Hemlock? In Grant's Woods near Orillia, the forest has remained untouched for nearly a century. From July 24 - 26, you could help complete a trail system by building bridges, and also assist in controlling invasive species on the woodland floor.

Reducing visitor impact is the focus of a 7 day August volunteer session in Temagami, working with Project C.A.N.O.E. Travelling by path or canoe, you'll install "treasure boxes" (outdoor toilets) at campsites, with lots of time to explore.

September could see you in Quetico Provincial Park which is part of the near north's Legacy Forest. You'll inventory plants and mammals and improve trail access. Travel in a voyageur canoe to research sites or hike.

Getting interested? This is only a sample of the projects which need volunteer help next year. For more information, contact:

FRANK JEAN-MARIE is now in charge of Trail Maintenance for the remainder of his term on the Board. Any work to be done, or conditions to be addressed will be approved/coordinated by him.

KATHERINE CROXSON has changed Board status from Advisor (non-voting) to Director (voting). This move ensures that we have a full complement of Directors.

ELIZABETH MATHESON and FRANK JEAN-MARIE are our representatives on the Shared-Use Trails Committee.

Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Store in an airtight container for up to four weeks. Receipt makes six servings.

Note: This trail mix can be made with out dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, pineapple) and nuts depending on your personal preference.

This is the end of the third season and the out coming results are very good and encouraging.

After seeing a “few” birds, 14 bears, 7 moose, 1 wolf, 3 otters and other “wild things”, I have to admit this was more than just an eventful season for us. Working on several (10 km.) squares (27) and completing nine squares with 25 point counts, I was finally getting “played” out by the end of the season for this year.

The point counts are a great way to get in touch with your designated area(s) and nature in general. As Margaret Morse Rice so eloquently put it once “….the more aware of our environment we grow, the greater the happiness we gain. How greatly we need wilderness.” That is so true!

Once you get past the cascades of frog calls, the ever-present drone of bloodthirsty hordes of mosquitoes and black flies, it is quite surprising what one gets to hear and see what is presented to you. All one has to do is take the time to look and listen, by patient and appreciate for just being there. Annie I thoroughly enjoy it and wouldn’t have it any other way. We are looking forward towards the next season already.

It is about a family of chimney swifts and they are truly birds of the skies. They have a habit of continual flight during the hours of daylight throughout the summer. They exemplify speed and tireless energy. They glide and circle on set wings, then with flickering wing beats they are off in a burst of speed like an arrow, chattering their bright little notes overhead.

They arrive rather late in spring to our region (by mid May) and start to gather around their chosen chimney or other deep crevices. By June the game of courtship begins in earnest, soon to be followed with nesting activities. They often build inside deep chimneys (hence the name) a little half-saucer-shaped nest held together solely by their glutinous saliva. The swift will lay most commonly four to five eggs and the incubation period lasts up to 19 days. After about four weeks of hard labour, the young are ready to fledge.

One early summer morning at the beginning of August, Annie, my wife, and I were halted at the first traffic light coming into Espanola. It was quite warm and we had out car windows down. A multitude of excited twittering in the sky above us, caught our attention. There were two adult swifts sailing in graceful circles high above. Following close behind were four frantically chattering and wing flapping new fledged young eager to keep up with them. One could almost hear them call out: “Where are we going??? Are we there yet???”

Well a blow from a car horn behind us told us very rudely that the light had turned to green. So, we had to move on, leaving the first exciting little family outing behind us.

This was another FY (fledge young) recorded for the 17MM42 Espanola square, one out of 68 recorded species for this square so far.

On November 17, 2003 the weather was cloudy but mild (approx. 7C). Seven people showed up for a walk on the Red Trail in Sherriff Creek Sanctuary in search of the remains of spring and summer flowers and the stalks and seed heads of these flowers. Some of the seed heads looked like a whorl of “fluffy down”. This was identified as purple clematis (clematis verticillaris) which belongs to the buttercup family. Along the causeway we observed nodding lady’s tresses (sprianthes cernua); we had to backtrack on the trail as we missed them; I thought I remembered where they were! Also, along the causeway there were quite a few seed heads that we were unable to identify. I am impatient for the next flowering season to come so we can see what the flower looks like, which should help in identifying the plant. It was nice to see the red berries on the winter holly on some shrubs alongside the water on the highway side of the Sanctuary. There were good specimens of pearly everlasting, sweet gale, tansy, golden rod, evening primrose, virgin’s bower vines ( the latter we do not observe in the summer when the leaves are on the plant) - reminds me of grape vines.

Along the path to the Bulletin Board we saw cattails, bulrushes, sarsaparilla, a nice plant of brown-eyed Susan (almost looked like “someone” had planted it there) and common St. John’s wort. Over the two bridges are good specimens of Mullein.

In the Butterfly Garden we saw brown-eyed Susans, cone flower, sweet clover seed heads. Bless the deceased Doreen Hill for this garden.

Further along the trail we saw large patches of fireweed seed heads. Further along the Red Trail we detoured into the old beaver meadow where we found sensitive fern and Joe-Pye weed.

This was not a very good fall for having this outing as we have had an extremely wet fall. Nevertheless we did see and observe nature including a hairy woodpecker, some orange/brown coloured jelly mushrooms on rotting logs - Sabine we needed your expert identification. Good outing!!

Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus used to take 150 of his students on Saturday expeditions into the countryside. If any one discovered a rare specimen, he announced it with a trumpet blast.

The first mammals originated 195 million years ago. The first flowers didn’t originate until much later: 65 million years ago.

Spruce and fir trees prepare for the weight of the winter snowfall by contracting the space between their forking branches when air pressure drops.

200 years ago, explorer Alexander von Humboldt was already writing about how cutting down the forests has catastrophic effects on the ecosystem.

WHO SAW IT	WHAT IT WAS	WHERE WAS IT
Audrey Parker-Lowe	18 Evening grosbeaks, bluejays, goldfinches, chickadees, rusty blackbird	Her feeders
Bob Doesburg	Mature bald eagle Bear 6 Tundra swans in flight	Blind River Highway 17 Echo Bay at George Lake
Scott Helman	2 Bluejays, grey jay Snowshoe hare	Panel Mine Road Milliken mine site
Dan Humeniuk	2 Horned larks	Taylor Road
Katherine Croxson	2 flocks of snow buntings Pair of bluejays	New subdivision Outside her patio door
Alan Day	Snow buntings Downy woodpecker Young fox - good condition	Panel Mine Rd. and Gas Line Rd On his bird feeder Timber Road
Jocelyne Breive	Nuthatch - first time seen Snow buntings Raccoon up tree	Her backyard, in cherry tree Behind Roman Ave. School Campground on Panel Mine Rd.
Diana Day	Raccoon, all day in tree	Neighbour's backyard