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Nature Views - a forum for environmental discussion - published by Nature Saskatchewan Issue 173 Spring 2013 Table of Contents PFRA Tree Nursery at Indian Head Terminated 2 From Your President Lorne Scott, Conservation Chair, Nature Saskatchewan 3 From Your Editors People reacted with disbelief and 2013 Nature Regina Conservation Grant disappointment when the Federal Government announced in the 4 PlantWatch spring of 2012 that funding for the IBA long established PFRA Tree Nursery Loggerhead Shrike Impalements (Agroforestry Development Centre) at Indian Head will be discontinued 5 Rare Plants and Ranchers after 2013. Project FeederWatch The Tree Nursery has been in 6 Sask Nocturnal Owl Survey operation for 111 years and during LMBO this time over 650 million trees have Baillie Birdathon been provided for landowners across WOW Nature Festival western Canada. Virtually every rural farmyard from Winnipeg to 7 LMBO Flight Plan Partner Campaign Calgary and Edmonton is graced Margaret Skeel Graduate Student with trees from the PFRA Tree Scholarship The Indian Head production site has been called the Forestry Farm, Nursery. Inner Nature Tree Nursery, Shelterbelt Centre and Agroforestry Development Centre over its 112 year history. Photo by Bruce Neill. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry 8 2012 Fall Meet Resolutions Ritz claims the Tree Nursery has 2013 Spring Meet achieved its objective and we don’t need any more trees. In 2012 over 7,000 producers received over three Volunteers million trees, and over 700 miles of field shelterbelts were planted. Demand for trees in 2013 already far exceeds supply. 9 Share Your Skills Wild about Saskatoon The cost of producing the trees is roughly one dollar per tree. Unfortunately, there was no consultation and New RSM Website no alternatives considered prior to the closure announcement. Interesting Books The following fact sheer provides additional information and details how you can help save the Agroforestry 10 Public Forum on Saskatchewan’s Development Centre. Federal Community Pastures Adopt an NCC Property FACT SHEET · The Agroforestry Development 11 Step into the World of Native Prairie Centre was established over A teacher, a student, a rare bird 111 years ago in 1901. · The Centre, located at Indian 12 Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists’ Head, SK, has always been Workshop federally owned and operated. SK PCAP Focus Groups It has gone by many names Falcon Facts over its long history including Forestry Farm, Tree Nursery, 13 Agricultural Plastics Recycling PFRA Shelterbelt Centre and Program Agroforestry Development Wild Orphans Centre. It is presently within the Agriculture & Agri-Food 14 Protecting Species at Risk Canada (AAFC) department. Blowing in the Wind · The Centre is a world renowned Agroforestry Research and 15 Donors Development facility and it Example of shelterbelts / windbreaks that have been established Funders grows the seedlings which to protect fields, farmsteads, roads and waterways across the New Members are distributed through the Prairies. Photo by Bruce Neill. well-known Prairie Shelterbelt 16 Upcoming Events Program. U of S CCDE Tours · Since 1901, over 610 million tree and shrub seedlings have been shipped to rural landowners across the prairies. At recommended shelterbelt spacing, that’s enough trees to circle the earth 27 times! · About 50% of the trees were planted in Saskatchewan and the other 50% divided among Manitoba, Alberta and the Peace River region of northern BC. · Virtually every farm between Manitoba and the Peace River area of BC has received trees from Indian Head. cont’d on page 3 Nature Saskatchewan Publication Mail Agreement # 40063014 Room 206 Postage Paid in Regina 1860 Lorne Street Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses To: Regina, SK S4P 2L7 Administration Centre Printing Services 111-2001 Cornwall St Regina, SK S4P 3X9 [email protected] Humanity in Harmony with Nature Page 2 Spring 2013 Nature Views From Your President NATURE VIEWS I’m in the midst of a wonderful escape to the highlands of Scotland thanks to Nature Views provides a forum for discussion, a means for the dissemination of writer and naturalist John Lister-Kaye. Learning about this writer and his outdoor information about environmental issues to the people of Saskatchewan and promotes the aims and objectives of Nature Saskatchewan. Nature Saskatchewan is also known centre, Aigas, has been a great gift from a friend and colleague. This writer’s as the Saskatchewan Natural History Society. power to share the sensations of his experiences in places he loves are truly a marvel – and a great escape on a cold winter’s night. Nature Views is published four times a year by Nature Saskatchewan. Receiving the newsletter is a benefit from membership in Nature Saskatchewan. Views expressed in Nature Views are not necessarily those of Nature Saskatchewan. As I drifted off to sleep last night, savouring descriptions of watching a badger in the night, I thought of others whose writing has had a similar power to bring the Submissions and comments are invited. Send materials to this Nature Views wonders of the natural world to life through words. How wonderful to have that editor: Rob Warnock, 3603 White Bay. Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 7C9. Phone: (306) gift. I’d love to be able to give readers the sights and feel of snowshoeing on Pike 586-2492. Materials can be sent by email to: [email protected] Lake last week in search of birds for Saskatoon’s last Christmas bird count of Layout: Angela Dohms the season – the sounds of our steps on the snow, the flashes of purple and Proof reading: Angela Dohms and Rob Warnock yellow on the Pine Grosbeaks, the flash of fish tails in the small patches of open Final proof approval: Rob Warnock water along the shore and the crack of the ice when my companion broke through Submission deadlines: – thankfully just up to his knees! How might I ask you to care about the questions Spring issue: January 15 Summer issue: April 1 that we encountered? Are those flashing fish tails telling us that oxygen in the Fall issue: July 15 Winter issue: October 15 lake is getting low? Why are we not seeing any robins in the area this year? What does that tell us? Advertising Rates: Full page (14.5" X 10") .................... $400.00 1/2 p. (7" X 10") .............................. $200.00 I am in awe and so very grateful for those writers who have honed their craft and 1/4 p. (7" X 5") .................................$115.00 chosen to share their experience of a place, what they are thinking about, what 1/8 p. (3.5 X 5") ...............................$ 65.00 they are learning, and why we should care. They work away, never sure there 1/16 p. (3.5" X 2.25") ....................... $ 40.00 Classified ads ................................. 50 cents/word will be an audience for what they are doing, but always in hope that somehow Non-governmental organizations will receive a 10 percent discount on their ads in they will be heard, and perhaps even heeded in some way. How different a world Nature Views. These rates DO NOT include GST or PST. might we live in if Rachel Carson had never written “Silent Spring”? How much poorer a world might it have been without Farley Mowat, Aldo Leopold or Grey The editors reserve the right to edit articles for clarity and space limitations. Materials preferably submitted in RTF format or as a text file with images submitted Owl? separately in .jpg or .tif format. More detailed submission guidelines are available on the Nature Saskatchewan website (www.naturesask.ca). All material printed in Nature A number of remarkable talents continue this tradition of fine nature writing today, Views may only be reprinted with permission from the author. and Saskatchewan is blessed to have many in our midst. Trevor Herriot’s passion This issue of Nature Views has been printed by the Weyburn Review, Weyburn. for grasslands and birds has been very influential. Candace Savage has done a Circulation: 2200 ISSN: 1207-5450 remarkable job of both teaching and provoking thought. Allan Casey is a master at sharing stories about our natural world. Arlene and Robin Karpan have provided OFFICE AND PROGRAM CONTACTS the information and tools needed to actually get out and find many of our province’s General Manager Gary Seib Species at Risk Manager Melissa Ranalli special places – and helped us to better know some of those we may never Conservation & Education Manager Deanna Trowsdale-Mutafov actually see ourselves. Office Coordinator Kaytlyn Burrows Habitat Stewardship Coordinator (Rare Plant Rescue) Laurie Johnson There is no more worthy work than to help people reconnect with nature, be it Habitat Stewardship Coordinator (Oper. Burrowing Owl) Lacey Weekes Habitat Stewardship Coordinator (Shrubs for Shrikes) Rebecca Magnus through writing, images, or better yet, first-hand experience. And whether we Habitat Stewardship Coordinator (Plovers on Shore) Rebecca Magnus are any good with words or not, each of us can play a role. Saskatchewan PlantWatch Coordinator Deanna Trowsdale-Mutafov NatureQuest Coordinator John Murray Nature Saskatchewan’s board is currently working on some ideas to help revitalize Inner Nature Jeanne Corrigal Last Mountain Bird Observatory Alan Smith both our own membership and that of some local societies. As you will see in Turkey Vulture Tracking/Birds of Saskatchewan Book C. Stuart Houston this newsletter, one of our ideas is to help connect groups seeking to know more about the natural world with people like you and me who are willing to make a BOARD OF DIRECTORS little time to share what we know and what we treasure. Many of these groups Honourary President J. Frank Roy Past President Lorne Scott work with children, and that is an opportunity I highly recommend. I’m always OFFICERS amazed at what a child will notice. You will see the world in new ways, I guarantee.