Nature PEI

Eagle Banding – Sunday June 17, 2018 With Gerald MacDougall

Sunday morning 10:00 am. Meet at Orwell.

We will travel about 5 minutes from there in cars then a little hike. Wear appropriate footwear and insect repellant.

 

Driving Directions to Orwell

Orwell Corner Historic Village is located just off the Trans Canada Highway, Route #1 midway between Charlottetown (28 kms-20 minutes) and the Northumberland Ferries Terminal at Wood Islands (32 kms – 25 minutes).
From Charlottetown

Take the Hillsborough Bridge and follow the Trans-Canada Hwy East.
Head southeast on the Trans-Canada Hwy toward Bunbury Rd and continue for 25 km.
Turn left onto MacPhail Park Rd and take the first right into the parking lot.

From Montague – 18 kms or 20 minutes

Take Route 210 across to Kinross and down to the Trans Canada. Turn right and then take your first right and follow the signs.

From Cavendish National Park – Approximately 70 kms or 45 minutes

GPS coordinates are latitude 46.256626, longitude 62.834892GPS N46 9.48 W-062 50.106

For more information contact Gerald MacDougall at eagle.dynasty@gmail.com

Join with us and UPEI researcher, Paula Tummon Flynn at Nature PEI’s monthly meeting to learn more about the highly invasive green crab and the impact it is having on our Island ecosystems. This little crab packs a big punch, and has been named “one of the ten most unwanted species in the world” by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.  Paula will teach you how to identify these crabs, explore their life history, and discuss why they are such successful invaders across the world. Green crabs are known to have dramatic effects on both the coastal flora and fauna in the regions they invade and Paula will delve into some of these impacts and how they are being studied on PEI.  Paula notes that “These crabs cause so many problems for both the ecosystem and the shellfish industries that many removal strategies have been proposed.”  Paula will review some of the recent proposals to control their population numbers.  However, there has been limited success in eradicating a population once it is established.

Paula Tummon Flynn is a PhD student working in UPEI’s Coastal Ecology Lab on interactions between the invasive green crab and native species on PEI.  Her focus is currently on the impact of green crabs in the lagoon of Basin Head Marine Protected Area.

 

All are welcome to join us  in Charlottetown to meet Paula and learn more about this most unwelcome visitor to our shores.

What to Bring: repellent, water, a snack, proper foot Summerwear, sunscreen, binoculars
Goes ahead, Rain or Shine, unless otherwise noted.
Flower Fly Insect Pinning Workshop, Thursday May 17 6:00- 9:00 Learn how to prepare flower fly specimens to museum standards.
Leader: John Klymko, Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Center
Meet: Beaconsfield the Carriage House, Corner of West and Kent, Charlottetown.
Summerside Boardwalk Birder’s Stroll. Saturday, May 19th 8:30 – 9:30 am. Search out the diversity of spring migrants and resident birds.
Leader: Donna Martin (more information 902- 436-4063)
How to get there: Meet in the parking area near the western end of MacKenzie Drive.
Spring Wildflower Ramble, Valleyfield Demonstration Woodlot, Valleyfield, Sunday May 27, 2:00-4:00 pm
Leaders: Rosemary Curley and Connie Gaudet (more information 902- 569-1209)
How to get there: Meet at the corner the Valleyfield Road (Rte 326) and the Dalmaney Road (Rte 354) at 2 pm
Eagle Banding! The date is dependent on eaglet growth and weather, but possibly in the
vicinity of Saturday June 9th
Leader: Gerald MacDougall eagle.dynasty@gmail.com
Advise Gerald of your interest and supply your coordinates to him. How to get there: Gerald will confirm date and time.
Wildflower Walk, Fullerton’s Conservation Park, Stratford, Thurs. August 2, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm.
Leaders: Rosemary Curley and Doug Murray (more information 902- 569-1209)
How to get there: Turn into Reeve’s Estates off the TCH, then turn right on McIntosh Dr.
Keep straight until you reach a parking lot at the Fullerton’s trail entrance.

Tuesday May 1 – 2018 – Prehistoric PEI. Will Beckett, Island Filmmaker and photographer, with be our guest speaker on prehistoric history of PEI. Will is currently developing a documentary on the prehistory of the Island with the first two episodes now available on You Tube. This Nature PEI meeting starts at 7:30 pm at Beaconsfield, the Carriage House, corner of West and Kent Street, Charlottetown. Suitable for young naturalists so please consider inviting any younger people who might appreciate joining you for this educational evening. When Will presented a similar talk at UPEI the youngsters in the crowd had many questions and enjoyed learning more.

All are welcome to join Nature PEI, Tuesday May 1, 7:30 pm at Beaconsfield, the Carriage House in Charlottetown (West/Kent St.) for Will Beckett’s presentation.

No admission is charged and refreshments are served.  This event would be a suitable topic for young naturalists so please consider inviting younger family members or friends who have an interest in science, nature or photography.

Prehistoric PEI Episode 1

Prehistoric PEI Episode 2

Usher in Spring with an evening of spectacular nature photography by PEI naturalist and photographer Lucas MacCormack.   During his presentation Lucas will take us through the many different natural habitats on PEI, sharing his favourite photos of everything from small mammals to large mammals, birds of prey to songbirds, and flowers to insects. Lucas will provide a few words about each image, as well as how he went about taking the photo.

At 15 years of age, Lucas is well known for his unique and inspiring images of nature as well as his knowledge of the subjects he photographs. His interest in nature started a few years ago with birding and he soon became fascinated with all aspects of this complex natural world. Lucas notes that “Once I got my hands on some decent camera gear I began thinking more about photography rather than just taking quick snapshots of whatever I saw.”  His photographic interests now range from birds and wildlife, to macro work with plants, insects and other small creatures, and he enjoys doing landscapes and portraits as well.

All are welcome to join Nature PEI, Tuesday April 3, 7:30 pm at Beaconsfield, the Carriage House in Charlottetown (West/Kent St.) for a photographic walk on the wild side with an extraordinary young photographer and naturalist.

No admission is charged and refreshments are served.  This event would be a suitable topic for young naturalists so please consider inviting younger family members or friends who have an interest in science, nature or photography.

MEDIA RELEASE

26 March, 2018. Illustrations Secured for Upcoming Mammals Book.

A mammal book without illustrations is like a striped skunk without its musk glands — its message will not be as effective as it could be. Nature PEI is pleased to secure a set of 62 illustrations for the upcoming book “Mammals of Prince Edward Island and Marine Mammals of the Southern Gulf,” to be published in 2019 by Island Studies Press at UPEI.

The illustrations depict range maps for each species, and colour illustrations of mammals and their tracks and skulls. Twenty-four of the sets of illustrations will portray the marine mammals species that occur — or once occurred – within the waters of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Few would suspect that list would be so long, which is one reason for capturing their history and details in this upcoming book.

The illustrations were produced for the Canadian Museum of Nature, and initially enhanced Donna Naughton’s 2012 book, “The Natural History of Canadian Mammals.” The artwork was secured with financial contributions from diverse sources including Purity Dairy, the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation, the PEI Wildlife Conservation Fund, and Nature PEI.

A team of five authors are producing the mammal accounts and incorporating significant new and remarkable information from recent studies employing modern study techniques. They also aim to take a closer look at local mammal information, including historical information.  Rosemary Curley of Nature PEI notes “It has not been done before and there appears to be a lot of interest in our product.”

Media Contacts: Island Studies Press ispstaff@upei.ca; 902-566- 0386

Rosemary Curley, President, Nature PEI rcurleypei@eastlink.ca 902-569-1209