Nature PEI

Our October meeting will feature a talk by Dr. Dave McRuer on the impacts of free-roaming cats on wildlife, environment, and even human health, with a focus on the benefits of indoor cat ownership for both wildlife and cat welfare.  Free-roaming cats are known to be one of the greatest causes of injury and death to our native wildlife, and are globally-listed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as a top invasive alien species.

Dave has witnessed firsthand the impact free-roaming cats have on native wildlife, and has participated in multiple studies and education campaigns to promote indoor cat ownership. He is currently a wildlife health specialist employed by Parks Canada and based at the Atlantic Veterinary College. In this role, Dave works on a broad range of wildlife health issues in national parks. Prior to joining Parks Canada, Dave worked as a wildlife biologist with the PEI Division of Forests, Fish and Wildlife and as the Director of Veterinary Services at the Wildlife Center of Virginia,

All are welcome at Beaconsfield’s Carriage House, Tuesday, October 1 at 7:30 pm, to meet Dave and learn more about this important issue.  The meeting starts at 7:30 with a raffle and refreshments. The feature presentation starts at 8 p.m.

There is a great article in the Buzz on the annual autumn event jointly hosted for the last 24 years by the Island Nature Trust and Nature PEI.  A team event for birds and nature, the Neil Bennett Autumn Birding Classic is a fundraiser and an important citizen science event. Teams with 2 to 7 members gather pledges and then on September 21 head out in the morning to find as many species of birds as possible in the 24-hour period.

As well there is a Facebook activity for the event but to ensure you are placed on a team or that your team is fully registered it is best to make contact with the Trust

Individuals and corporations are also welcome to sponsor a team or the general event. To register, make a pledge, or get info, contact Island Nature Trust at 902-892-7513, admin@islandnaturetrust.ca

2019 is a big year for Island Nature Trust and Nature PEI; it’s INT’s 40th anniversary and Nature PEI’s 50th. To celebrate, we are hosting a joint event at one of INT’s oldest protected areas, the DeRoche Pond Natural Area.

Date/time: Saturday, September 28 (note change of date), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Event participants are invited to come out to DeRoche Pond and stay for the day. Various activities will be happening throughout the day, including: canoe trips across the pond, a beach and parking lot cleanup, guided nature tours, and games for youngsters. There will be fun for the whole family!

Registration: Required. Phone: 902-892-7513 / E-mail: admin@islandnaturetrust.ca / Facebook: @islandnaturetrust

Cost: Admission by donation. In consideration of the staff time involved, a minimum $10 donation is suggested.

Meeting Place: Blooming Point Beach Parking Lot on MacDonald Road

Driving Instructions: From Charlottetown, travel east on St Peters Rd (Rte. 2) for approximately 16 km to the community of Tracadie Cross. Turn left onto Blooming Point Rd. (Rte. 218). Travel approximately 8 km, then turn left onto MacDonald Road. The Blooming Point Beach parking lot is about 1 km down MacDonald Rd., on the right. Drive time: about 28 minutes. GPS Coordinates: 46.418521, -62.947923

Don’t forget a water bottle and comfortable footwear!

Note: The rain date for this event is Sunday, September 29.

There is a very exciting weekend ahead!
Nature PEI will continue celebrations of its 50th Anniversary with a “Picnic Weekend” from Friday August 23 to Sunday August 25th, 2019 that will include a series of special events and walks. A schedule and details of events are attached.

In addition to the Nature PEI festivities there will be a special presentation on Insects on Friday August 23 at the Farm Center, that may be of interest to you.

50th Anniversary Picnic Weekend
in Association with PEI National Park

Celebrating 50 years of Citizen Science on PEI

August 23-25th, 2019

Friday August 23, 2019

• 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Reception, Ravenwood, Experimental Farm, Mt Edward Rd.
• 7: 00 pm – 7:45 pm Nature Walk on the Confederation Trail. Meet at Ravenwood.
• In addition to the Nature PEI festivities there will be a special public presentation on Insects on Friday August 23 at the Farm Center from 9:00am – 10:30am and will be a showing of insects in the garden 10:30am – 12:30 pm (hosted by The Acadian Entomological Society and the PEI Horticultural Association), that may be of interest to you.

Saturday August 24, 2019

• 1:30 pm All About Dragonflies, Southport Rm, Stratford Town Hall. Nature PEI welcomes Robert Harding of Parks Canada, an excellent teacher and a student of these superb hunters/fliers. After the presentation, weather permitting, we hope to capture (and release) some dragonflies at Pondside Park. All ages are welcome.
• 6:00 pm Mackerel Fishing, Charlottetown waterfront. Meet at the red 2019 sign by the Delta Hotel at 6. Pre-Register with leader Gerald MacDougall eagle.dynasty@gmail.com Gerald will provide a limited number of rods, or bring your own fishing rod. No license is required.

Sunday August 25, 2019

• 6:00 am Birding trip Charlottetown to East Point. Meet at Provincial Administration Building parking lot by 11 Kent Street Charlottetown for car-pooling and departure at 6:00 am. Travelling to East Pt. with stops along the way and returning via Greenwich, PEI National Park for the Nature PEI – Natural History Society 50th Anniversary Picnic at noon. Led by: Dan McAskill, Dwaine Oakley
• 10:00 am Greenwich Walk. Meet at Greenwich Interpretive Center PEI National Park. Walk through woods, wetland boardwalk and dunes to the beach with leader, Senator Diane Griffin.
• 12:00 Noon Greenwich Barbecue and Picnic at the Greenwich Interpretive Centre, PEI National Park. Bring your own picnic lunch or consume favorites from the barbecue and salad table.
• 1:30 pm Greenwich Walk. Meet at Greenwich Interpretive Center. Walk through woods, wetland boardwalk and dunes to the beach with leader, Robert Harding of Parks Canada.

Everyone is welcome to attend all these free events – please spread the word and bring a friend along.

Showy Lady’s Slipper, Confederation Trail Photo Credit by Rosemary Curley

Members of the Natural History Society (Nature PEI) refueling after a field trip, in the 1970’s. Photo Credit Margaret Mallet copyright Margaret Mallet Collection of Nature PEI

It is with great pleasure that Flora of PEI team consisting of representatives of Nature PEI, PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation and Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre announces  the release of the second section of the Online Illustrated Flora of PEI.   The new section features the Ferns, Clubmosses, Horsetails, Conifers and Lilies and builds upon the Orchids section released in 2018. It uses visual examples of the plant characteristics to walk an individual  through the identification on the various plants.  Checklists of each group and a technical text-only key are also available for those that prefer them.

This release was made  possible because of a Wildlife Conservation Fund award of $5,555, a grant of $2,500 from the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, donations of $300 from Nature PEI and $500 from the Island Nature Trust and in-kind contributions from ACCDC, Nature PEI, PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, Island Nature Trust, and PEI Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division.

Over the next few years, it is hoped that the complete Online Illustrated Flora of PEI will be finished.  A fund raising campaign is now underway to raise the necessary funds and in-kind support.  Anyone wishing to assist should contact Nature PEI at jdmcaskill@pei.sympatico.ca or cell 902-393-4385.  Charitable tax receipts will be issued for donations and these can be made on-line through Nature PEI or via mail.

Below are examples of the Online Illustrated Flora of PEI.

At Nature PEI’s June meeting join award-winning poet Ariel Gordon as she reads from her new book, Treed: Walking in . With intimacy and humour Ariel walks us through the streets of Winnipeg and into the urban forest that is, to her, the city’s heart. Along the way she shares with us the lives of these urban trees, from the grackles and cankerworms of the spring, to the flush of mushrooms on stumps in the summer and through to the red-stemmed dogwood of the winter. Ariel then travels to BC’s northern Rockies, to Banff National Park and a cattle farm in rural Manitoba, and helps us to consider what we expect of nature. Whether it is the effects of climate change on the urban forest or foraging in the city, Dutch elm disease in the trees or squirrels in the living room, Ariel delves into our relationships with the natural world with heart and style, and will inspire us to reflect on the value of our own Island forests and our relationship with them.  Ariel Gordon is the author of two collections of urban-nature poetry, both of which won the Lansdowne Prize for Poetry. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

All are welcome at Beaconsfield’s Carriage House, June 4 at 7:30 pm, for a walk on the wild side. There will also be an opportunity to purchase a signed copy of Ariel’s new book.