Bulletin board

Algonquin Park east side butterfly count

Saturday, June 1, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Leader: Colin Jones
Meet: Achray Campground, Algonquin Provincial Park

Starts with a pre-count meeting at 8:30 a.m. in the Achray Campground, during which time we will organize into groups before heading out to count butterflies for the day. We will be reconvening at 4 p.m. at the junction of the hydrocut and the Barron Canyon (a.k.a. Sand Lake, a.k.a. Lake Travers) Road for an informal "tail-gate" compilation. Blackflies are abundant so participants should come prepared. Even if you are not experienced with butterflies, you are welcome and will be placed in a group with an experienced leader. As in past years, several campsites in the Achray Campground will likely be available for both Friday and Saturday nights for those of you who would like to camp before and/or after the count (free of charge). Please contact Colin Jones if you are interested in participating. The event is weather dependent, so contacting Colin in advance is important.

Panel discussion on Natural Linkages, Why they Matter and How to Protect Them

Saturday, June 8, 2013
10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Hintonburg Community Centre
1064 Wellington Street West

Special Guests include:

• Prof. Emer. Gray Merriam, PhD, DSc, author of Connectivity: What is it and how do we recognize it

Representatives of:

• The Nature Conservancy of Canada
• The National Capital Commission
• The City of Ottawa
• The Greenspace Alliance

Presentation of recent studies and panel discussion will be followed by discussion with the audience.

Background

The Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital will present a panel discussion on the preservation of Natural Linkages. Simply put, Natural Linkages are the means by which the "wild areas" within our local geography are connected, and therefore maintain a critical mass of biodiversity in order to survive.

In many environments, particularly those heavily used by humans, the natural habitat is very fragmented. The objective of conserving or repairing connectivity is to ensure population survival. As the Ministry of Natural Resources states, natural linkages "provide connectivity, supporting a complete range of community and ecosystem processes, enabling plants and smaller animals to move between core areas and other larger areas of habitat over a period of generations."

The National Capital Commission just completed it's review of Natural Linkages and The Nature Conservancy of Canada is about to embark on a related study. The City of Ottawa is undertaking it's review of the Official Plan, and the final results could potentially have a significant impact on Natural Linkages, and by extension, Ottawa's treasured wild spaces.

Membership savings for members of the OFNC and the Canadian Museum of Nature

We are delighted to advise OFNC members that effective September 1, 2011, their membership in the Club earns them an additional month on their Museum of Nature membership. It gets even better. A Museum of Nature membership gives you a $4 discount (about 10%) on your OFNC membership starting in 2012. This is double dipping working for you. Not only does it reflect the long-standing close ties between the club and the museum, but it also recognizes that the club and the museum appeal to the same group of people in the Ottawa area.

The OFNC membership forms and renewal forms will now reflect this discount. Below you will find the formal invitation from the Museum of Nature. I hope many members of the OFNC will take advantage of this offer. There is so much to learn and enjoy in the newly renovated museum - don't let the kids have all the fun!

Ann MacKenzie, President, OFNC

OFNC T-shirts now available

Club T-shirts will be available for sale at the next monthly meeting. They feature original artwork by Education and Publicity Committee member Laura Penney. The shirts are 100% organic cotton and are available in sizes small to X-large $15 each.