Winter brings a chance to rediscover camping

Camping?  In the winter?  Are you nuts?  That’s what I hear when I talk about visiting my local Conservation Area or Provincial Park to camp this time of year.  To be honest, I would say it too before I tried it. 

It’s probably the best time to go camping.  You get the pick of the litter when it comes to campsites, and you don’t have to call a year in advance to book it!  

 It is so peaceful and beautiful this time of year.   The campsites aren’t packed and you really only see the serious campers out, not the partiers like you get in the summer months.  The people that you do come across are also some of the nicest campers you will meet.  They’re also there camping because they enjoy being outdoors and love the peaceful feeling of being in nature.  I’ve actually made some great friendships with families out at the parks.   

We’ve travelled with our new friends on camping trips throughout Southern Ontario.  We met at Valens LakeConservation Area and frequent there the most as it is the closest and a bias favourite of mine.  There actually aren’t that many camping spots open this time of year and Valens Lake is the closest in Southern Ontario.  In the winter, you still have most of the comforts of summer camping with laundry facilities, heated washrooms with flush toilets and hot showers.  Most of us have trailers now with heat and electricity, but you will see a true “Winter Warriors” camping out in a tent or hammock on these winter weekends. 

It is always relaxing for me to come out and enjoy a non-stressful weekend away (even if it only took me 30 minutes to get away) after dealing with a very busy week.  The quiet winter days and nights at the park just let the stress melt away…and hopefully that’s all that’s melting.

We love that we’ve got to see some snow this year.  We’ve had one good cross country ski day and we’re just itching to lace up our ice skates.  So, if you haven’t given winter camping a try yet – don’t knock it till you do.  Come prepared for the weather and you’ll have an excellent time.  We may even see you next year as one of the Valens Lake Winter Camping Program participants.

Joanna Sanche

Assistant Superintendent

Valens Lake Conservation Area

Hamilton Conservation Authority 

Let it Freeze!...Ice Fishing 2013

If there was ever an ice fisherman’s parody of a winter themed song – I’m sure it would go something like this…Let it Freeze, Let it Freeze, Let it Freeze.

Here in southern Ontario, we all know that 2012 was not a great year for those inflicted with the passion of angling through an 8 inch diameter holes cut in the ice.  I count myself among this peculiar but adventurous group of people.  We are outdoor enthusiasts who love the challenge and the lure that comes with the territory of ice fishing.

Yet here we sit once again, gear that has been checked and re-checked again, while above average temperatures, open waters abound, and a weather forecast that seems intent on keeping us on the shoreline…it is enough to keep you awake at night just hoping for Jack Frost to stick around for a while.

My home go-to lake Valens Lake Conservation Area failed to make safe ice in 2012 for the first time on record.  Are these all signs of things to come?  How far north will you have to travel to satisfy that primal urge to be one with nature and wet a line all at the same time?  Only time will tell and we will be there, waiting with baited breath – so to speak.

With dreams of panfish and northern pike swimming in our heads – 2013 just has to produce the hard water we crave and need so we can once again be on top.  The promise of freezing cold nights combined with an official start to the NHL season, are two of the kinds of ice that this Canadian is hoping for under his Christmas tree this year.

Gordon R. Costie

Superintendent

Valens Lake Conservation Area

Seeing Yellow at Your Bird Feeders

White Winged Crossbill - All About Birds

This fall/ early winter seems to be giving us some pretty good hints about what will be around the bird feeders this winter.

Already, birders are seeing winter finches making their appearance in southern Ontario and points south. The so-called winter finches do not show up every winter, because their nomadic travel patterns are determined by the seed crops available to them in northern forests. Not only the seeds of pines and spruce, but also the seeds of hardwood trees, are important winter foods to the winter finches in their normal northern range. Some years, the food supplies in the north are lacking, so many of the birds move south for the winter to find what they need.

Red Crossbill - All About Birds

Not all of the so-called northern finches are finches, but bird watchers sort of clump a number of them together. Generally, we are talking about White Winged Crossbills, Red Crossbills, Pine Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls and Evening Grosbeaks.

Winter finches share a couple of common behaviours. They generally are gregarious, hang out in groups and are nomadic and follow the food. In years when food is lacking in the north, many move south.

Pine Siskin - All About Birds

One of the most nomadic and unpredictable of the winter finches is the Evening Grosbeak. It is also one of our most beautiful birds. Its nesting range is generally from Algonquin Park and north, and, for the last two decades, very few Evening Grosbeaks have been seen in Southern Ontario.  This winter may be a chance for most people — especially Hamilton youths — to see their first ever EveningGrosbeak. The males sport bright yellows, whites and browns in their plumage. The females and juveniles are more subdued.

The Evening Grosbeak is always calling, which makes the lives of bird watchers much easier. We hear them flying over or chattering to one another when they are feeding. To learn their song, go to http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=39.

Pine Grosbeak - All About Birds

Where will you find them? One of their favourite foods after your feeder is the seeds of Manitoba Maples and ash trees. They also enjoy the trees that hold onto their fruits, like Highbush Cranberry , Mountain Ash and wild crab apples.

The Evening Grosbeak has been selected by the American Birding Association as the Bird of the Year for 2012.  And now it’s coming south to live up to its name.

Once people start to know this bird is around, the sales of bird feeders and sun flower seeds will surely increase. They are just delightful to watch and to listen to. The Grosbeaks have heavy beaks and are adept at eating seeds and breaking open the pits of Choke and Pin Cherries. Few other birds have the strength in their bills to open these pits.

Common Redpoll - All About Birds

Bob Curry, author of Birds of Hamilton, reports that in 1972 there was a major flight of Evening Grosbeaks through Southern Ontario, but, since then, the bird has become rare in Hamilton and surrounding areas. Between 2002 and 2005 only two of these fine birds were seen in the Hamilton Bird Study Area.  So far this fall, birders are starting to report sightings from across the northeastern United States and Southern Ontario. So we are well on our way to seeing a strong showing.

Evening Grosbeak - All About Birds

The Evening Grosbeak is the easiest of the winter finches to identify. This winter, keep a bird guide handy while watching your backyard feeder, because there is an excellent chance that other winter finches will be showing up along with the Grosbeaks. There are excellent feeding areas for the winter finches throughout Hamilton conservation areas. As we hear about them, we will try to let everyone know where to look. 

Don’t be surprised if they show up in your neighbourhood.

BRUCE MACKENZIE 

HCA Manager of Operations & Customer Service