The Owl that keeps hooting

September 14, 2011, started out like any other day, the Conservation Areas were wrapping up the summer season and we were getting ready to ready another fall season, when staff at ChristieLake CA received a call from a local resident regarding a Great Horned Owl sitting on a hiking path in the middle of the woods. Bruce Harschnitz the Superintendent of Christie Lake, gave me a call in hopes that something could be done to help this owl. After arriving at Christie Lake CA, it was clear the owl was in distress and appeared lethargic. 

Great Horned Owl

After some discussion and debate we decided the best thing to do was to contact the Owl Foundation (Located in Vineland Station, ON), to see if they could accommodate a seemingly ailing owl. The owl foundation is a registered charitable organization that focuses on helping and rehabilitating injured, diseased or starving Canadian owl species.

With the help of a few other colleagues we were able to capture the owl and placed it in a well ventilated box, and prepare to take the owl on a road trip to the foundation so it could receive the care it needed. I got to be the lucky person who had the privilege of holding onto the box while we drove. 

Great Horned Owl

The car ride was quite the journey, as we drove down the highway, the car was completely silent, accept for the periodic “hoot” from the box. I talked to the owl in hopes we would both stay calm,  but when he managed to poke his head out of the box to see what was going on, I was startled! Imagining him coming out of the box and flying around the car! It turned out he just wanted to figure out what was going on, and tucked himself back into the box, and  let out anther “hoot”,  which I assumed meant he would not do that again.  

After arriving at the foundation, the employees met me in the drive way, then proceed inside the facility.  I held onto the owl while the employee conducted a quick assessment. I said my good-byes to the owl and thanked him for making my "normal" workday that little bit more exciting. Upon leaving I left my contact information, and was informed I would receive a call from the foundation with an update as soon as they had one.

On Tuesday September 11, 2012 while at my desk, during another "normal" work day,  I received a phone call from the Owl Foundation. (by this time I thought  sadly the owl did not make a recovery). I was overjoyed to hear the owl had gained a full recovery and was ready to be released back into nature. 

Staff at the foundation, informed me that the owl had suffered major trauma to his beak, which kept him from feeding, eventually leading him to be emaciated. The staff cared for the owl, providing much needed fluids and food, with every passing day the owl became stronger flying and hunting mice within its enclosure.

The Owl Foundation decided the time had come to release the owl back to the wild, at the same spot it was orginally found. The release party was held on Friday September 14, 2012 at Christie Lake CA, with an invitation to everyone involved in the recovery process.  At the release party, Jane, (from the Owl Foundation) selected an open area with nearby trees, so the owl may take cover quickly. The box opened and the owl poked his head out quickly, then off he flew to a tree close by. It was an experience that will forever stay with me, and close to my heart. Whenever I am at Christie Lake CA, in the futrue I will look for the Great Horned owl that received a second chance to soar through the trees. 

Lisa Jennings 

Aquatic Ecologist

Hamilton Conservation Authority

HCA would like to thank everyone involved, especially the local resident who first noticed the frail owl and the Owl Foundation that no doubt saved this owls life. Without the dedication of this organization, owls injured, diseased would not have a second chance. The tireless effort and compassion from the staff at the foundation is astounding, we are very fortunate to have a organization like in the area.

Please visit the Owl Foundation website for more information about the organization and how you can help www.theowlfoundation.ca

How the Ice Cream Got its Cone

Cool, creamy, crunchy – there’s nothing like an ice cream cone to bring back memories of summer fun.  While ice cream itself has a long history, stemming back to early civilizations, serving it in cones is a relatively recent phenomenon.  Just how and when the ice cream cone was invented, however, has been the subject of an ongoing debate. 

Sources dating to the 1770s recommended serving “iced puddings” or “ice cream puddings” with small almond wafers.  These were considered “stomach settlers,” and were served at the conclusion of a meal to calm one’s digestion.  Eventually, these became little treats in their own right.  When rolled into “funnels” or cornucopias, they could be filled with creams and iced puddings.  The 1770 publication The Complete Housekeeper & Cook (Newcastle: 1770), recommended filling cornets with ice cream “as a garnish.”

An Italian confectioner working in London in the early 19^th century described baking almond wafers into “little horns” and filling them with a variety of sweet fillings, including “creams.”

In the mid-19^th century London, the production and sale of food in public, particularly ice cream, provided a steady income for many Italian families of the time.  Selling their cool treats from a cart, vendors would often serve the ice cream in a small glass, referred to as a “penny lick.”  These dishes were typically made of a thick glass with a heavy base and shallow depression on top, in which the ice cream was placed.  The customer, paying one penny, would lick the contents clean and return it to the vendor for reuse.  This presented two main challenges – the vendor couldn’t serve the ice cream fast enough, and sanitary conditions were difficult to maintain.  Penny licks were banned by 1899, due to concerns about the spread of disease, as these cups could not normally be washed between uses.

Food historians most often credit the first true ice cream cone, that is, one made specifically for ice cream, to the Italian immigrants living in Manchester in the mid-19^th century.   Seeking to speed their sales and replace the troublesome penny licks, which were often stolen or broken, they began to produce large quantities of rolled, waffle-style biscuits for serving ice cream.  It is estimated that by the turn of the 19^th century, there were nearly a thousand ice cream vendors, or “Hokey Pokey Men” in London’s Little Italy. 

The traditions and techniques associated with public ice cream vending were brought to North America through immigration, including the use of the cone.  It wasn’t until the 1904 St. Louis World’s fair, however, that ice cream cones became enormously popular, widespread and readily available.  The fair was home to more than fifty ice cream stands and a large number of waffle shops.  There are several competing versions of the story about who it was who actually rolled the nearby waffles into cones and served ice cream from them at the fair.  What is widely acknowledged, however, is that cones became so popular that, at the conclusion of the fair, companies throughout North America scrambled to produce equipment to efficiently manufacture them.  

These are the beginnings of a sweet tradition that thrives to this day.  Come to Westfield Heritage Village for the Ice Cream Festival on August 5^th and 6^th to learn more about this and other delicious traditions.

Lisa Hunter

Programme Co-ordinator

Westfield Heritage Village

Not your Average Worm Hunters

Growing up I was in awe of nature; be it watching the sunset over the lake, or watching a snake eat a frog backwards, the trees that whispered me asleep on family camping trips, or a chickadee that would eat out of a hat on top of my grandfather’s head.

I started my working career with HCA at Christie LakeConservation Area, as a lead hand. In early 2010 I transferred to ConfederationPark, to take on my new role as Assistant Superintendent. Leaving the nature filled Christie Lake Conservation Area, I was worried I would lose my connection to the beauty of Mother Nature, however to my surprise being down on Lake Ontario came with a new discovery of nature for me, that I never gave much consideration before. 

They sit perched high; may it be in a tree, on a sign, or soaring above looking for their next meal. Here on the western shoreline of Lake Ontario, we see migratory birds that visit us briefly and fill our skies and keep us on the lookout with large telescopes, and binoculars. The avid birders, who patiently wait to catch a glimpse of a rarely seen species, are plentiful here at Confederation Park.  This is where my new fascination with nature began and continues to keep me looking up at the skies for the Birds of Prey.

At Confederation Park you can spot an immature Bald Eagle perched more than 60 feet up in a tree, scanning the under layer for a tasty treat. (One that is nearly nonexistent to the naked eye).  The judgment and calculated, swift swoop that a feast has been found, leaves me in awe of the magnificence of this species. If you’re lucky enough you will see the prize tightly held by the eagle’s talons as it travels home to the dinner table.

There are many different species of birds of prey at Confederation Park which creates some stiff competition for a dinner table prize; the Red Shouldered Hawk, Red Tailed Hawk, and Sharp Shinned Hawk are plentiful, that sometimes you forget how special it is to be able to view them on a daily basis. 

As I marvel at their beauty as they move effortlessly through the breeze with such elegance, it is when  they spread their wings to hone in on a new target you remember you’re in the presence of a skilled hunter, battling with the eagle for a delicious morsel running or slithering down below.

On rare occasions we get lucky enough to view an AmericanKestrel, which keeps my anticipations high and scanning for new Birds of Prey every day never knowing what the lake is going to bring in on its wind currents.

Hope to see you soon at Confederation Park staring up in the skies for not your average worm hunter!!

Cari Hobbs
Assistant Superintendent
Confederation Park

Black Is The In Colour for This Spring - Part 2

There was another unusual black bird along the Niagara River this winter in Fort Erie, the Fish Crow. In January there were two of these new black birds. The Fish Crow has not been seen in the Niagara area before. They are usually found only within a few kilometers of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico shore from New York City south to Florida. There are no tidal flats in Southern Ontario. There is ice on our shores in the winter. Not really the habitat for Fish Crows. 

© Larry Meade

So to carry on with this mystery of the Fish Crow, there was a Fish Crow in Bronte on March 16 and on March 30^th. Fish Crows have also been seen hanging out at the University of Guelph. What is going on? Where is the ocean? These are the first Fish Crows for the Hamilton area. Does this mean I do not need to go to Florida again?  Recently Fish Crows have been expanding their range in the U.S.A. Some populations of Fish Crows are showing up in areas not connected to their normal range. These new populations are sort of leapfrogging as they move away from the ocean. The closest of these new ranges is found in Ithaca, N.Y. There, the Fish Crows started to show up in the 1980’s and now they seem to be a permanent group. Is Ontario the next leap?

Now you and I are going to have a little problem telling a Fish Crow from an American Crow which is a little larger. Well, it is all in the song. If you don’t hear the call of the Fish Crow it is really really hard to tell the two birds apart by sight but by ear that is a different story. What does a Fish Crow sound like. Just think of when you heard a crow calling at a seaside salt marsh in Georgia. Click here to hear the sound.

Last fall and winter, Ravens were also seen almost weekly flying through the Grimsby and Upper Stoney Creek area.  Ravens are larger than American Crows and have a very different call, a croak rather than a caw. In 2011 a pair of Ravens successfully nested in Flamborough.  The first pair of Ravens, a bird found normally much further north, was not seen in the Hamilton area until 2001.

Something is happening with black in our bird world. We have new species making a presence in Southern Ontario. Will they start to make their home in Hamilton? (The Raven has...)

So is it climate change? Maybe. Is it is habitat change? Maybe.  Every  species of bird seems to have a few adventurous members that are always exploring where the species has not gone before and some may find a new area suitable for their life. 

The changes in these birds do one thing for sure and that is wonderful for those of us who enjoy nature. They are providing us with new wonderments every day. No year is the same.

So look very carefully at the next big black bird you see. It could be your brand new neighbour.

Bruce Mackenzie 

Manager Customer Service and Operations

Hamilton Conservation Authority

Black Is The In Colour for This Spring - Part 1

Our warm March has certainly kick-started the spring bird migration through the Niagara Peninsula and the city of Hamilton. Something exciting is happening with the colour black in birds in 2012.

Birdwatchers are seeing some new species and in new ways in the Hamilton area. This spring for the first time ever on March 22, two Black Vultures were seen migrating together at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area. And better still, a renowned nature photographer, Mr. Tom Thomas, was there to record the event of the two birds at Beamer flying overhead. Now to add to those excitement just days earlier another Black Vulture was seen migrating towards Hamilton on March 16. 

Between the years 1961 - 2000 only 15 Black Vultures have been seen in the Hamilton area as noted in Bob Curry’s book, Birds of Hamilton. In the past decade a Black Vulture has been seen only every couple of years in the Hamilton area. To have three of these magnificent birds in less than a week is just phenomenal to the birding world. 

© Nick Chill

In Hamilton we are used to seeing Turkey Vultures flying through our skies from March until November. Over 10,000 vultures, migrate in the spring alone. It was not that long ago when Turkey Vultures were rare. They started to nest in the Kelso area on the Niagara Escarpment in the 1940’s. In 1975 only 53 were recorded in the spring migration at Beamer. In 2011 there were over 6700 recorded by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch at Beamer. To the end of March of this year there have been 3400 Turkey vultures seen already. This is an increase of 72% over the 1980 vultures seen to the end of March in 2011. WOW!

 In the fall migration of an estimated 100,000 Turkey Vultures leave Ontario on their southward migration each year. Not bad for a bird that was almost nonexistent here 70 years ago.

Tom Thomas

Now to most of us a vulture is a vulture. The difference is that Turkey Vultures have red heads, are a little larger than Black Vultures and the back half of their wing is light gray along the entire length. They seldom flap their wings. They just seem to float through the air. 

© Gerrit Vyn

The Black Vulture has a black head and light gray wingtips. It flaps its wings more often and with its short tail the flight is very reminiscent of a bat in flight. And have legs and feet that are almost white.

In the Eastern United States there are thousands and thousands of Black Vultures from Southern Pennsylvania south to Florida and Central America but they are not as migratory as the Turkey Vulture. 

Birders had high hopes for these sightings of Black Vultures this spring for there were five Black Vultures wintering along the Niagara River around Lewiston N.Y. last winter. This has not happened before either. We have no way of telling whether or not the three migrating  birds seen at Beamer were part of the wintering five. Remember the mild winter. It was the likely reason that that these Blacks survived the winter along the Niagara River area.

This is not the first time some new bird species have shown up in Southern Ontario and stayed. The Cardinal did not appear in Hamilton area until 1923. Now it is in every neighbourhood and across all of

© Jim Paris

Southern Ontario. The now common Red-bellied Woodpecker did not show up in the Hamilton area in any number until the mid 1960’s. The same kind of story goes for the Mockingbird and the Carolina Wren as well.

Remember the Turkey Vulture was not a bird our parents saw. It has recently set up camp and is now in the thousands in migration.

So is it climate change? Maybe. Is it is habitat change? Maybe.  Every  species of bird seems to have a few adventurous members that are always exploring where the species has not gone before and some may find a new area suitable for their life. 

The changes in these birds do one thing for sure and that is wonderful for those of us who enjoy nature. They are providing us with new wonderments every day. No year is the same.

So look very carefully at the next big black bird you see. It could be your brand new neighbour.

Bruce Mackenzie

Manager Customer Service and Operations

Hamilton Conservation Authority

A hidden gem...Confederation Park

Confederation Park…most people when they hear that think of Hutch’s, Wild Waterworks, Adventure Village or one of the other establishments located along the beach strip. To others this area is actually a diverse narrow strip of land sandwiched between the QEW and Lake Ontario. Many people don’t know that it is owned by the City of Hamilton. In 1980 the Hamilton Conservation Authority began managing the park for the city. 

The park is rich in history, natural beauty & wildlife and it is located along the shores of Lake Ontario.  Because of the parks location it is easy to access and is an ideal place to visit for an hour or for the day.  There are many activities to do in the park which are only limited by your imagination. 

One of the main features, is the Breezeway trail which runs the entire length of the park from Grays Road and continues through to Spencer Smith Park in Burlington for a total of 12 kilometers. In 2011 a new link was added joining the Red Hill Valley trail to the Breezeway making it possible to come from the Hamilton mountain all the way to Lake Ontario. 

There are many areas through the park to explore and discover, from the many ponds, wooded areas to the shores of Lake Ontario. You never know what you will see, if you are lucky you may spot a deer, coyote, bald eagle or one of the many other raptors and animals which make this park their home.

People come daily to go walking, jogging, biking, roller blading, picnicking, beach combing, boating, kayaking, surfing, fishing, bird watching, sun bathing, swimming, playing and the list goes on and on. Visit the park when there is a strong east wind and watch the giant waves crash onto the beach, you would think you were at the ocean all you need is the smell of salt air to complete the picture. This park is a place to come and enjoy at any time of season. 

Before the park was established in 1967 this strip of land was a thriving beach community with many cottages and farms along the shore line. You can still see remnants of these today. Baranga’s on the Beach Restaurant  restaurant is the old public school which closed in the early 60’s. Imagine going to school right on the lake what a great place to go for recess! For those interested in more of the history of the beach strip http://hamiltonbeachcommunity.com/wp/ 

Confederation Park a jewel on the shores of Lake Ontario waiting to be discovered, so come for a visit and see all the beauty.

Paul Karbusicky

Confederation Park Superintendent

A Trail of Two Ravens - Part 2

Recently on a winter hike at the Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve, my wife and I were not alone. Flying nearby and then landing in far off trees two Ravens were spotted.  It was their wild call that first caught our attention. It is truly a sound of the north. Not the caw of a crow but the croak of the Raven.

Ravens are indeed uncommon in this area. It was only recently, that in the fall of 2001 Ravens started to be seen in the Kelso/Flamborough area. We now find that this pair or maybe pairs of Ravens stay in the area year round. The presence of this bird species speaks volumes about the habitat of the area and how it can support a myriad of life forms.  

Ravens are the largest black bird in the world. Their range takes them to almost every continent. They are considered to be the most intelligent of birds and are very much involved in native folklore. In West Coast cultures they are known as the “trickster”. Having this bird in Hamilton brightens our sky.

Ravens are best told from their close relative the crow by their much larger size, a robust throat and a diamond shaped tail on this black of black birds. The wings in flight are long and sickle like in shape. The tail of a crow has a square or flat end. Listen for the croak. 

In 2011 a pair of Ravens successfully nested in the north part of  Flamborough. Ravens are now being seen regularly in Flamborough all year and last fall and into this winter Ravens are now being seen on a somewhat regular basis flying across the lands across the top of the Stoney Creek Mountain and in the skies over Grimsby. It is very likely that another nesting will occur, time will tell us where in the Hamilton area. 

It is always interesting to see how lands and their inhabitants do not stand still as time moves along. Old fields become forests, tree species change over time as the forest is left on its own and the wildlife, whether it be a Monarch Caterpillar feeding on a milkweed or a Cooper’s Hawk patrolling the forests for smaller birds, always reflects the vegetation and habitats of the day. As the habitats change so do the animals living in them.

Now in midwinter the Raven stands out in the sky and it is one of about 25 bird species that might be found on a winter hike in the Fletcher Creek area. 

Bruce Mackenzie
Manager of Customer Service & Operations
Hamilton Conservation Authority

How to get there:

The Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve is located on the east side of Puslinch Concession Rd 7. Take Highway 6 North from Hamilton to the Gore Rd, about 3 km north of Freelton. Turn west on Gore Rd (Concession 11 W.) and follow it for about 5 km and turn north on Concession  Rd.7 and the entrance is on the right very shortly after you turn.  If the snow is right the cross country skiing here is wonderful. Create your own ski tracks on the trail through this pristine area.

Introducing the Fletcher Creek Preserve - Part 1

It’s where the headwaters of the Spencer Creek emerge that this trail begins. The Spencer Creek watershed starts in Puslinch Township at the southern fringe of Wellington County. Here, pure clean water comes to the surface in springs flowing up out of the ground year round.  This is the beginning of the stream’s journey to Cootes Paradise and Lake Ontario.

About the best place to witness the springs of the Galt Moraine and its cold-water creeks is in and around the Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve, Hamilton Conservation Authority’s (HCA), most northern conservation area.

In this preserve we find many fascinating sides of the area’s natural history and the effects of man’s activities. Leading from the area’s entrance on Concession Rd 7 in Puslinch is a trail running east for almost 2 km or so, into what was once an old hard rock quarry. Following this trail allows us to witness many facets of this landscape. Some of these lands have been changed tremendously by man and other parts really have not been touched by our forefathers.

Not only is the natural history of this area fascinating but so is the story of how this conservation area came into being. It was in the late 1970’s that two long-time members of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, Ms. Marion Shivas and Dr. Bert McClaren came to the realization that parts of this property required saving and should be put into public ownership for the sake of future generations. Together they spearheaded the Club, in partnership with HCA, to purchase a 30 acre or so piece of land on the north side of the railroad tracks that bisects this conservation area. Shortly thereafter the Club came up with the funds to purchase another adjoining 30 acres and this lead to the establishment of the Puslinch Wetlands Conservation Area.  These acquisitions were the catalyst for HCA to acquire another 300 adjoining acres on the south side of the railroad tracks. Hence today’s Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve came into being.

Near the centre of the 300 southern acres was an abandoned quarry that likely saw its start near the turn of the century. The quarry work left a deep pond and during the 1970’s and 80’s the area was known as a popular swimming hole and a place where the visitor’s and inhabitant’s behaviours might have been best described as quite liberal and free.

In the last decade the old quarry has been significantly changed by HCA into a shallow wetland and the limestone cliff into gravel hillsides that are quickly being re-vegetated by nature.

Starting on the trail heading east from the entrance we ramble through open areas where old fields seem to be stalled in their successionary travel of plants through time. Grasses, sedges, field wildflowers (Goldenrods and Asters), seem to have a hold on the area. Hawthorns and cedars are slowly trying to gain a foothold into these old pastures. To the north are cedar swamps and through them runs one of the cold-water creeks leading to the Spencer. Traveling further down the trail we find ourselves emerged in the dark cedar forest and on to a bridge that crosses the creek. Below us, Speckled Trout may be seen traveling from pool to pool in this brook. These cold-water loving fish thrive in this creek and range right up and into the springs found on the north sides of the tracks.  A prettier fish cannot be found in Ontario and to have a thriving population of Speckled Trout in this cold water stream speaks volumes about the pristine quality of the stream and the undisturbed environs that it meanders through.

The springs emerge at the south toe of the Galt Moraine, which we see as the massive hills of gravel between here and Guelph. Rainwater percolates down through the gravel hills of the moraine and its downward flow is stopped when the water meets the bedrock that underlies the moraine in this area. The slightly sloping bedrock directs the groundwater sideways to where it emerges in cool verdant springs.  Some of these springs can be 10 meters across and a meter deep.

The water flowing in these crystal clear springs is close to 10 degrees Celsius all year round no matter how cold or hot is outside. The waters flow from deep in the ground where the soil is about 10 degrees year round. This is great for the Speckled Trout and the other cold water loving fish and aquatic invertebrates that depend on cool water all year. It is a thrill for all to witness the silent water emerging from the ground as it roils the detritus and bits of marl in the bottom of the spring, constantly changing but always the same.

Leaving the cedar swamp we venture into old fields which are becoming home to native White Pines and the fields are dotted with mature Sugar Maples that stand like sentinels. Now we start to see the evidence of man’s heavy hand. All of a sudden old concrete foundations appear out of nowhere. The footings were once part of the buildings that housed the machinery involved in the hard rock quarry operation of days past.  One’s imagination can only help us in our questions of what these buildings originally looked like. What did it sound like here before when the rock was being tossed and crushed into gravel? The dust must have been flying.

Behind these concrete structures the old quarry opens up in front of us. From a vantage point of over 10 meters up we can look below to see the vast area that was once occupied by the quarry. By today’s standards the quarry was small but at a time when horses and steam would have been the main drivers, this quarry was significant. The walls around the quarry, not long ago, were much steeper and there was a quite a deep body of water at the foot of the cliffs. Over the last decade HCA has worked in conjunction with McMasterUniversity and the University of Guelph to bring the area back into a more natural state. Paths around the old quarry have been developed and boardwalks take us over the water that flows from small springs. The springs keep parts of these shallow waters ice free all winter and a stream flows from the bed of the old quarry and it feeds vibrant wetlands. The flow of water here sometimes looks like a small stream and at times it fans out into a wider plain forming wet meadows.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the story of Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve, a Trail of Two Ravens.

Bruce Mackenzie
Manager of Customer Service & Operations
Hamilton Conservation Authority

How to get there:
The Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve is located on the east side of Puslinch Concession Rd 7. Take Highway 6 North from Hamilton to the Gore Rd, about 3 km north of Freelton. Turn west on Gore Rd (  Concession 11 W.) and follow it for about 5 km and turn north on Concession  Rd.7 and the entrance is on the right very shortly after you turn.