parkscanada.gc.ca/sli Français de l’autre côté St. L awrence iSLandS nationaL Park of canada

MALLORyTOWN The Pitch Pine Post SPRING 2011 LANDING , O NTARIO Boardwalk crew wins CEO award The general works crew at St. Lawrence Islands National Park has built a reputation for ingenu - ity. Last summer, nine members COME CELEBRATE! of the park staff were honoured In 2011, Parks Canada is with a Parks Canada Agency CEO Award of Excellence. This award celebrating its 100th birthday celebrates their design and con - and its establishment in 1911 struction of a unique boardwalk as the world’s first national spanning Mud Creek on the Jones parks service. Creek trail system. Visitors can now move between the upper and lower sections of the trail by in thiS iSSue crossing an impressive 650-foot cedar platform that takes them through a serene wetland scene. Walking on the low-lying board - walk, a visitor has the perspective of being at one with the creek and marsh. The bridge at the centre of the boardwalk, with its expansive Paddling...... 7 360-degree aerial views, com - pletes this experience. The achievement originated in what seemed at first like an insurmountable challenge, both technical and financial. The Hikers on the floating boardwalk. Photo: Parks Canada boardwalk was to span a wide own. What they came up with was that large sections of the board - stretch of creek and wetland a floating boardwalk that cost a walk were assembled on land, and while allowing clearance for small emerald ash Borer...... 9 fraction of the original estimate. some of the trickiest work watercraft due to the creek’s sta - When all was said and done, the involved floating the 60-foot sec - akwesasne’s Voice...... 6 tus as a navigable waterway. The boardwalk cost approximately tions of boardwalk up the shallow initial design that included fixed facilities & activities...... 12 $80,000 to build. creek. platforms on piers came with a “Making a floating archway Dan Gaylord, who helped facility update...... 11 price tag of $600,000. bridge that was balanced was a assemble the structure, agrees That budget was simply out of hours of operation...... 12 big challenge,” says Kent that the most difficult aspect of the question, so the works crew Dowsley, asset support technician Looking Back...... 2 started making plans of their See BOARDWALK on page 2 for the park. Dowsley explains Map...... 12 Prescribed fire...... 4 New life on Photo contest...... 10 Georgina Species at risk...... 5 Xplorers Program...... 3 surprises park St. Lawrence islands national Park researchers In the post-fire environment Photos: Parks Canada 2 County Rd. 5, R.R.#3 on the west end of Georgina New life springs back just one year after the prescribed fire on Georgina. Mallorytown, ON Island Josh Van Wieren, park “Seeds can remain dormant pitch pine, red oak, and deerberry K0E 1R0 ecologist, has found an impres - for 40 to 50 years in the seed have co-evolved with the presence (613) 923-5261 sive amount of new life. Over 50 bed,” says Van Wieren. “After the of natural forest fires. Certain percent of the plant species he’s fire opened up the canopy, these characteristics like protected buds www.pc.gc.ca/sli found after the prescribed fire in fire- and disturbance-dependent See GEORGINA on page 4 Email: [email protected] 2009 are species that haven’t species took advantage of the been found on Georgina Island right conditions.” Printed in Canada © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, repre - for decades, like pilewort and Many plant species including sented by the Chief Executive Officer bristly sarsasparilla. So how did of Parks Canada, 2011. they get there? 2 - S Pring 2011 the Pitch Pine PoSt the Superintendent Says... award-winning By Jeff Leggo, St. Lawrence Islands National Park Superintendent construction Continued from page 1 Hello and welcome to St. Lawrence Islands the work was getting the pieces National Park for the 2011 season. Building on there without damaging the sur - the successes of 2010, we are looking forward to rounding wetland. He says fitting another year of enjoyable activities. This is a very the sections together using a special year for the park as it is the 100th anniver - hand-operated winch was no sary of the establishment of Parks Canada, the problem, “They’re really just world’s first system of national parks. For 100 building blocks,” but he adds that years, Parks Canada has been protecting the when you build something in the country’s natural and cultural heritage for you to shop and then assemble it later on Photo: Parks Canada enjoy and experience. Share your memories of the park by filling out site, it’s always a relief to see the Dan Gaylord puts the finishing one of the birthday cards that will be circulating in the park. This pieces come together properly. touches on a smaller floating board - year there will be opportunities for celebration throughout the sum - Gaylord was one of two team walk on the Jones Creek Trail. mer. representatives on hand to “We had an excellent team,” While visiting the park you can be a part of these celebrations on receive the CEO Award in a cere - says Gaylord. “Everyone involved July 1 for Canada Day, when we will bring the party out to the mony at the Chateau Laurier in in building it was also involved in islands, or June 25 for Aboriginal Day. The centre page of this issue Ottawa last June. He was joined designing it.” has the summer season’s events schedule and you are welcome to by his co-worker Kevin Harris. He also notes that he and his have a look and plan to attend. In addition to the season’s special The awards are given out co-workers have put to use what events, the trail system at Jones Creek provides a wonderful oppor - annually to a select number of tunity to explore the park at your own pace and enjoy a day in the Parks Canada employees in they learned on the boardwalk outdoors. recognition of outstanding contri - project on a smaller scale. A new Park staff, including managers, will be available to provide infor - butions in the workplace. The St. boardwalk that will be completed mation and answer any questions you may have during your visit. Lawrence Islands crew was recog - this spring along a beaver pond We are always interested in your comments and input. I hope you nized in the category of improving on another section of the Jones have a safe and enjoyable experience and return home refreshed operations and services. Creek trails incorporates similar after your time in St. Lawrence Islands National Park. In presenting the award, design elements. Parks Canada CEO Alan This is the fifth time St. Latourelle said that the award Lawrence Islands National Park Regional cooperation in recognized their “extraordinary employees have been recognized contribution to services and oper - with a CEO award. Past recipients ations improvements, shown in include: Jeff Leggo in 2002 for the Mud Creek Floating Board - new management plan partnering and engagement, Mike walk / Bridge, which was manu - St. Lawrence Islands National ilar organizations and developing factured in a remarkably swift Ronan in 2003 for rescuing Park has a new management plan a stronger link with the Mohawks and proficient manner.” boaters on the river, Chris Belle - that takes a look outward, beyond of Akwesasne to learn about that Harris and Gaylord share the hon - more in 2007 for Species at Risk the bounds of the park, to build a community’s traditional knowl - our with Kent Dowsley, Tom Lusk, outreach and communications, sustainable model of operations edge and stories of the area. Mike Ronan, Lindsay Shannon, Peter and Harry Szeto in 2009 for the for the future. For the park, looking outward Sine, Tim Jowett and Scott Buell. Island Stewards program. The 2010 Management Plan also means attracting new visitors provides direction to managers in and getting a better picture of areas of visitor experience, her - their needs and interests. With its Looking Back... itage protection and public out - location along the Hwy. 401 corri - reach. The park consists of frag - dor, the park is ideally situated to mented land holdings spread tap into visitation from urban Young anglers at the Landing across a wide geographic area and centres such as Ottawa, Toronto on a blustery day last february there were a few hardy souls ice fish - located on both the mainland and and Montreal. On a national scale, ing at Mallorytown Landing during the front of Yonge winter festival. on islands. Spread out as it is Parks Canada is investing in among them were some of the under-10 set. clockwise from top left, ava across the landscape, the park research with regard to current and angus Sinclair tried their luck that day, continuing a long-standing needs to work closely with resi - and potential visitors, and this tradition of fishing on the point. in the early 80’s, another set of siblings, dents and stakeholders in the drive to better understand Cana - travis and ryan Birtch, set up their fishing lines at the landing. region, and this plan puts an dian audiences is reflected in the emphasis on external partnering. park’s management plan. Photos: Parks Canada “When we work with like- “Understanding audiences is minded agencies on common the very first step in reaching out issues the number of possible to Canadians who haven’t tradi - solutions goes up and the costs go tionally visited national parks,” down,” says park superintendent says product development officer Jeff Leggo. Kim Robinson. “The agency’s Key strategies include working investment in audience research with municipalities, stakeholders has really paid off. We now have a and regional residents to foster wealth of information that will memorable visitor experiences, help us to tailor our programming protection and stewardship on a to attract new visitors and to broader landscape level. The make the experience more appeal - actions that stem from this ing to people who’ve been coming approach involve cooperation to the park for years.” with other organizations on With audiences new and old in mind, the plan also outlines the species at risk recovery strategies, management approach that contributing to land-use planning guides the economically and envi - processes, working with local resi - ronmentally sustainable develop - dents to foster environmental ment and maintenance of park stewardship, and joining with facilities and services. local operators to package, pro - To learn more, read the St. mote and participate in tourism Lawrence Islands National Park activities on a regional scale. This Management Plan 2010 online at collaborative approach also takes http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn- the form of data sharing with sim - np/on/lawren/plan.aspx Photos: Sheila Birtch St. L awrence iSLandS nationaL Park SPring 2011 - 3

park environments, and a study of adventure the landscape and park visitors 100 years ago. in store for When they arrive at the park, children will receive an Xplorers Xplorer kids activity workbook to help guide Calling all kids with a sense of their visit. Once they have com - adventure! This summer you can pleted a number of these experi - become an official Parks Canada ences, they will receive a certifi - Xplorer as St. Lawrence Islands cate and souvenir as tokens of National Park joins 40 Parks their success. The program will be Canada sites in offering a new, included in regular entry fees. nation-wide children’s program. The Xplorers program offers a In July, as part of its 100th lot of choice, with a range of activ - anniversary celebrations, Parks ities including exploring exhibits, An eastern screech-owl and a great horned owl Photos: Royal Ontario Museum Canada is launching this national walking trails, taking part in will be on display at the visitor centre this summer. program of exploration and activ - unique challenges and interacting ities specifically designed for chil - with staff, and children are free to Forest creatures inhabit dren aged 6 to 11 and their fami - choose those activities that most lies. appeal to them. Activities have The focus of the Xplorers pro - been designed so that even during visitor centre at gram is on having fun while dis - a short visit to the park, children covering Canada’s natural and can earn their Xplorers certificate Mallorytown Landing cultural heritage. It will encour - and receive a souvenir of their age discovery through entertain - experience. A stroll through the park vis - The northern owl exhibit will ing and recreational activities in Souvenirs will be unique to itor centre this summer will feel be right at home with a backdrop parks, historic sites and marine each site in order to encourage more like a walk through a of boreal forest scenes from the conservation areas. Across the participants to collect them all. By northern forest, with exhibits Montreal Biosphere’s photo col - country and throughout 2011, summer 2012, the Xplorers pro - from the Royal Ontario Museum lection. This exhibit provides Canada’s treasured historic and gram will be offered throughout (ROM) and Montreal’s Bios - new and unusual perspectives the Parks Canada network. natural places will be host sites to phere Environment Museum on the Canadian boreal forest Product development officer special programs like Xplorers to transforming the space with and takes visitors on a photo - commemorate the 100th anniver - Kim Robinson says the program will appeal to both children who scenes of the boreal landscape graphic journey high above the sary of the Dominion Parks and examples of some of that forest to learn about its features Branch. This was the world’s first are very familiar with the park region’s most interesting inhabi - and riches. Accompanying text national parks service, which and those who are visiting for the came into being on May 19, 1911 first time. tants. panels reveal the story behind and is now known as Parks Cana - “The activities prompt kids to The visitor centre will be the production of the exhibit. da. look at the park through many dif - home to a ROM travelling exhib - Next door to the travelling Xplorers activities will vary ferent ‘lenses’ and see it in new it on northern owls that features exhibit space, the activity area from place to place according to ways,” says Robinson. “It also eleven skilfully mounted owl features live animal displays and the unique qualities of the park, encourages a lot of personal specimens shown in settings interactive exhibits. Having seen site or marine conservation area. reflection, awareness of what suggestive of their natural habi - the owls, visitors can see how they measure up to the wing Specific activities at St. Lawrence their own senses are taking in, tats. Each display focuses on fas - and awareness of what’s happen - spans of other local birds of prey Islands National Park will include cinating and less well-known ing in that particular moment.” in a new display.Visitors will a hunt for symbols of the Mohawk aspects of owl behaviour and Thanksgiving Address on stones “I think kids are much better also want to pay a visit to Willow at doing this than adults already, biology. In the exhibit space, vis - the black rat snake, a favourite at the visitor centre, a stopwatch itors can have the rare experi - race to record plant and animal stepping away from other distrac - from last year. Park interpreters ence of coming face-to-face with species in the park, an introduc - tions and getting immersed in the are on hand to answer your tion to the secrets of snake han - scene at hand,” says Robinson. birds such as the tiny northern questions and show you what’s dling, a sensory exploration of “This program just helps them saw-whet owl. new this year in the centre. along with that.” Visitors warm up to winter events Winter is a magical time in the just imagine how it might have Slate. “By the time I got to the rod, park, from the hush of a forest played out.” the fish was on it, but the line broke. blanketed in snow to the stark Hike participants were making At least there are some pike out beauty of ice formations on the tracks of their own, some of them there.” river. During the Front of yonge trying out snowshoes for the first Still, Slate loves the sport and Winter Festival in February, local time. Monica Johnson of Prescott, isn’t easily deterred. residents got a chance to savour Ontario attended with a friend, and “I’ve been fishing since before I some of these winter pleasures in she said they enjoyed it so much knew how to swim,” he said. snowshoe hikes and a fishing derby that they’ve decided to take up The fishing derby and hikes at at Mallorytown Landing. snowshoeing as a winter hobby. Mallorytown Landing were part of a Park interpreter Marianne “We’ve already gone shopping larger community effort to bring Kelly led the hikes on Feb. 19. For for snowshoes,” she said when con - some fun to the coldest days of win - her, a winter hike is a special tacted a few days after the hike. “We ter. It was the second year of the opportunity to track animal life in went to look at them the next day.” Front of yonge Winter Festival, and the forest. Johnson said the hikes were a festival organizer Amy Neuman “Amidst the calm of the woods, perfect activity for the Family Day says it has grown, with more than 15 the drama of winter survival plays weekend, and she welcomed the local organizations involved in out in the tracks that animals leave opportunity to learn a bit about the mounting the event and approxi - behind. you don’t get this insight park while taking in some fresh air mately 500 participants this year. into the lives of animals at any on the trails. The park’s snowshoe hikes, other time of year,” says Kelly. “On Out on the river at the fishing which have been offered for the last one of our hikes there was this per - derby, the day was cold and blus - few winters, have grown in popular - fect set of red squirrel tracks fol - tery, but Morris Slate was on the ice ity and fill up quickly. If you’re lowed by a set of marten tracks, at 8 a.m. sharp and didn’t give up thinking of trying out snowshoeing which is one of the red squirrel’s his post until noon. Even losing his with us next winter, reserve your primary predators. you could see line to a large pike didn’t stop him. spot early so that you won’t be dis - them disappear into the woods and “The drag wasn’t working,” said appointed. Photo: Andersen Ross/Blend Images/Getty Images 4 - S Pring 2011 the Pitch Pine PoSt Georgina vegetation springs to life Continued from page 1 Van Wieren has been moni - and thick bark improve their abil - toring every tree, shrub, and herb ity to survive a forest fire and along two transects at the site of bounce back after the fact. How - the fire for the last three years and ever, the suppression of natural reports a healthy new generation forest fires in the Thousand of pitch pine. Islands area has resulted in “I’ve seen about 15 new pitch declines in these fire adapted pine seedlings taking root,” Van plant species. Wieren notes, “but there could be Fire benefits other plant more than twice that.” species as well. White pine, and Van Wieren says that we can Photo: Parks Canada also keep our eyes open for a A freshly cut white pine was among the trees culled at Mallorytown to reduce white oak are shade intolerant; competition for new pitch pine seedlings at the site of the future prescribed they need a lot of sunlight to flourishing bird community at the fire. grow. When fires kill adult trees, site. Trees killed by the fire will be the forest canopy opens and taken over by burrowing insects, Mallorytown Landing open-air allows new trees to grow. The which will then draw insectivo - dead tree may remain standing rous bird species like woodpeck - lab for forest regeneration and provide food for insects and ers to the island. the woodpeckers that feed on “This is an important pitch With two successful pre - similar result to a fire on small them. Standing dead trees also pine stand for Canada,” says Van scribed fires in the last two years, sites, by removing the duff layer provide crucial nest sites for Wieren. “If we continue to get St. Lawrence Islands National and allowing seedlings to root in osprey and bald eagles. A fallen more regeneration over the next Park will be testing an alternative mineral soil. ” tree becomes food and homes for few years we could have the first method of pitch pine regenera - Seeds will be allowed to fall insects, worms, fungi, salaman - mixed aged stand we’ve had in the tion at Mallorytown Landing in naturally from adult trees and ders, and new seedlings that grow park for decades and eventually, a 2011. The result will be a code of root themselves on the west side in the rich soil it leaves behind. fully regenerated stand.” good practice that can be used by of the trail, the site of the pre - both the park and Thousand scribed fire. On the east side of tion, additional safety precau - area remains clear of visitors. Islands area residents who wish the trail, seedlings that have been tions are being taken to protect A boundary will be cleared of to be pitch pine stewards on their carefully raised by local pitch pine the public. The trained fire team combustible material and soaked own property. advocate Doug Bickerton will be at St. Lawrence Islands National with water to prevent spread out - Prescribed fires have been planted in the scarified soil. Park will be working in coopera - side the prescribed area. In addi - used to clear the layer of leaf litter Hikers of the Six Nations Trail tion with the Front of yonge vol - tion, a fire crew will be assigned to extinguish any sparks or spot fires from the forest floor, reduce com - will also notice that some trees unteer fire department, the that jump the boundary. petition from other plants and have been cut down and some Ontario Provincial Police and fire Like all prescribed fires at St. allow fire adapted seedlings to have been “girdled” or had a ring experts from Pukaskwa National root. However, there is more than of bark stripped from their Lawrence Islands National Park, a Park to ensure that the fire goes one way to skin the proverbial trunks. This is to reduce shade very specific prescription of wind as planned and is extinguished cat. that would inhibit seedling speed and direction, pressure, and Resource conservation staff growth. Girdled trees will eventu - outside the bounds of the desig - humidity must be met before a fire will conduct different ecological ally die but since they will remain nated location. Fire departments is lit in order to minimize lingering treatments in a pitch pine stand standing, they will provide crucial in the towns of Brockville, smoke and unsafe fire conditions. on the Six Nations Trail north of habitat for insects, birds, small Gananoque, and Alexandria Bay, To learn more, attend the park’s Old River Road. The plot on the mammals, and perhaps even nest and in the townships of Elizabeth - Prescribed Fire Open House this east side of the trail will be “scar - sites for osprey or eagles. town-Kitley and Leeds and the June. ified” and the adjacent plot on the Both plots will be monitored Thousand Islands will be alerted west side of the trail will have a for seedling success. When the and may also participate in ensur - St. Lawrence islands small prescribed fire. data is in, the result will be a new ing public safety during the fire. national Park “For such a scientific name, generation of pitch pine as well as The trails will be closed on the Prescribed fire scarification is a fairly simple a set of best practices for both the date of the fire until it is fully process. It's essentially raking the park and local landowners who open house extinguished. Personnel will be forest floor,” says Katie want to give pitch pine a helping stationed at all trail heads and the thursday, June 23, 7 p.m. Ellsworth, public safety special - hand without the use of fire. trails will be swept to ensure the rockport recreation centre ist. “Scarification may achieve a Because of the mainland loca - Osprey get bird’s-eye view of prescribed fire When St. Lawrence Islands and hovered over the island dur - away some of the shrub layer, giv - National Park’s fire crew conduct - ing the fire, probably disturbed by ing new seedlings a fighting ed a prescribed fire on Gordon the smoke and activity.” chance. Another fire within the Island in the spring of 2010, they While the pair experienced next two years will allow seedlings had a couple of unexpected stress, fire specialists ensured to rise above the shrub layer and observers. Two nesting osprey their safety by clearing any near - thrive. kept a close eye on the fire from by fire fuel and soaking a ring “Tartarian honeysuckle, an their nest that lay cradled in one around the tree. The birds invasive alien plant found on the of the standing dead oak trees on watched cautiously, going so far island, was resistant to the fire,” the island. as to protest the disturbance, but reports park ecologist Josh Van Mary Beth Lynch, resource returned loyally to their home conservation technician, observed when the fire was out. Wieren, “but overall the fire was from a boat stationed off the Despite the protestations of successful, achieving desired island, “The osprey left the nest the osprey, the fire was good news intensities in the prescribed area.” for other residents of the island. Red oaks, like pitch pine, are The dead red oaks of Gordon fire adapted species. They have Island have been victims of short thick bark and deep roots, rich in horned oakworm, ice storms, and starch and dormant buds that sur - drought in the last 13 years. Addi - vive and rebound after experienc - tionally, the abundance of shrubs ing the surface heat of fires. like raspberry and blackberry has With some good planning and shaded out any new seedlings. a bit of luck, the osprey - often A low intensity fire that cov - faithful to the same nest site year Photo: Parks Canada ered some 80 per cent or seven after year - will bear witness to the The watchful osprey. hectares of the island cleared recovery of red oak on the island. Photo: Parks Canada St. L awrence iSLandS nationaL Park SPring 2011 - 5 Deerberry puts down roots with pitch pine The post-fire environment on stand why they’re not reproduc - Georgina Island has not only ben - ing. For example, the pollination efitted pitch pine seedlings, it’s process is not well understood giving the threatened plant deer - with this plant,” says VanWieren. berry a boost too. The transplanted deerberry Like some other plants in the will also provide an opportunity to heath family, a more common one investigate the role of fire in habi - being blueberry, the deerberry tat creation and maintenance. plant (Vaccinium stamineum) Deerberry has also been planted on thrives when competing plants Camelot Island where there may be are cleared out of the way. Park a prescribed fire in the future, giv - resource conservation staff have ing researchers an opportunity to Photo: Mike Seabert capitalized on the conditions cre - test out the plants’ survival and Erin Thompson, a researcher for the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve Net - ated by prescribed fires and plant - regeneration after a fire. work, poses with a stinkpot turtle, one of the rare wetland species found in 2010. ed deerberry on Georgina follow - ing the fire in 2009. “They’ve done well,” says SAR sleuths survey wetlands ecosystem scientist Josh Van Wieren. “The majority of the In the 1980s, the Ontario Thompson. “Since being quiet reservoir in the boat and identi - plants have survived and now Ministry of Natural Resources and stealthy was part of finding fied. They are then returned safe - have a head start on any compet - (OMNR) started to evaluate wet - some of the species at risk we got ly to their habitat. The presence ing blueberries.” lands across the province for sig - to see other wetland species of rare American eels at two of As a partner in a national nificance and presence of rare going about their daily business the sites was a hopeful sign, as deerberry recovery strategy, the species. In 2010, two hardwork - to a greater degree than you they’ve been in decline since the park is working to protect the few ing species at risk surveyors took would by boat or even canoe. We construction of the St. Lawrence stands of the plant left in Ontario. up the torch anew. Erin Thomp - literally got to see these wetlands Seaway. In the whole of the province there son and Mike Seabert met with from a whole new perspective.” They also recorded incidents are three populations found in the great success and due to the They had their eyes peeled of other species at risk like snap - Thousand Islands and one in the presence of some of Ontario’s for rare and at risk species like ping turtles, map turtles, black Niagara region. Deerberry has rare species, 18 wetlands were pugnose shiners, grass pickerels, terns, least bitterns, and rare been designated threatened by designated provincially signifi - bridle shiners, Blanding’s turtles, plants. both the Committee on the Status cant by the OMNR. and stinkpot turtles. “These wetlands warrant a of Endangered Wildlife in Canada Thompson and Seabert “Stinkpots like to bask out of lot of consideration for protec - (COSEWIC) and by the Commit - strapped on their hip waders, sight so we would often find tion and stewardship but it’s a tee on the Status of Species at hopped in their canoe and sur - them at the water surface sand - good news story,” says park ecol - Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). veyed wetlands and shorelines in wiched between the lily pads and ogist Josh Van Wieren. “We The new plantings in the park the Thousand Islands Area and the weeds,” noted Thompson. know that we have all these wet - will help to increase that popula - inland lakes. They were working Fish were surveyed using a lands that are full of rare species tion. for the Frontenac Arch Bios - method called “electrofishing” that are disappearing from other Dale Kristensen is the manag - phere Reserve Network wherein a boat equipped with parts of the province. Our natu - er of the Queen’s University Phy - (FABRN) on the Species at Risk anodes sends a mild shock into ral heritage system still has totron, a greenhouse facility that and Evaluated Wetlands Project. the surrounding water. Stunned enough integrity to support supports plant research. Kris - “It was an incredible experi - fish float to the water’s surface those species because we are less tensen propagated the deerberry ence for two new graduates,” said and are netted, transferred to a developed.” plants using seed collected by park staff from Grenadier Island. Humans among rare visitors to isolated island He had been testing different On a map of Lake Ontario, The crew of three recorded methods of propagation since rain and heavy winds that persisted Main Duck Island is a tiny speck in birds at specific locations that will throughout our stay, each day on 2000 and had discovered that the waters between Prince Edward be revisited by field researchers in sowing freshly collected seed the island was full of discovery and Point, Ontario and Stony Point, successive seasons, to get a better beauty.” worked best. Germination was New york. Remote and windswept, idea of “what is breeding there as only half the battle however. Kris - Main Duck is one of the park’s opposed to just popping in,” says Photo: Parks Canada tensen had to contend with algae most challenging sites for monitor - Van Wieren. and other agents causing sur - ing wildlife, but as a group of They set up microphones to vivorship problems in the plants researchers learned last year, it’s track birdcalls and plotted out areas while finding ways to amend soils well worth the trip. to monitor plant life in meadows to provide the proper mix of Last summer was the first sea - throughout the island. Researchers nutrients and a suitable level of son park ecologists started gather - identified the plant species in the acidity. A crop of successful ing data on the island’s plants and meadow plots and estimated the seedlings produced in the second animals -- setting up a system of relative quantities of each. These year of trials was planted on Hill surveying that will be repeated plots will be revisited and moni - Island and promptly eaten by with consistency in years to come tored in future trips to the island. deer. Many of the plants in Kris - and provide data that will allow the In the island’s forest communities, tensen’s early tests failed to park to track trends over the long the crew mapped out and assessed thrive, but with each successive term. three Ecological Land Classification planting he learned more about Park ecologist Josh Van (ELC) plots. While the researchers the plant’s requirements. In Wieren was eager to get out to the saw plenty of wildlife, there wasn’t 2009, he was able to provide more island. He notes that there have another human in sight. than 300 deerberry seedlings for been some wildlife surveys con - “We were dropped off and we transplantation on Georgina ducted by other organizations on didn’t see another person for three Island. Main Duck in the past and those days,” says Van Wieren. Ongoing research related to have produced some “rare and When their work was done, the the deerberry recovery strategy unusual finds – Northern bob - remoteness of the island and some has the potential to sort out some whites, Henslow’s sparrows, choppy water had them camping of these difficulties, and there are species that we would never find out for an extra night. other knowledge gaps regarding here on the mainland. It’s a very “When we realized we weren’t habitat requirements and genetic different ecosystem out there in the getting picked up, we started think - viability of deerberry that the lake.” ing about all the field work we could recovery strategy aims to fill. What the researchers found get done if we had an extra week,” “Deerberry is still a bit of a was a surprising variety of birds, says resource conservation techni - mystery. We don’t entirely under - reptiles, amphibians and plants. cian Mary Beth Lynch. “Despite the Photo: Nick Scobel 6 - S Pring 2011 the Pitch Pine PoSt Akwesasne’s Voice St. Lawrence islands national Park is working in close coop - eration with the Mohawks of akwesasne, a community of approximately 15,000 that straddles the boundary between canada and the united States at cornwall. the park recog - nizes the strong ties that the community of akwesasne has to the natural world and to the thousand islands as traditional haudenosaunee territory. the park works with the commu - nity to incorporate its voice in interpretive programming, but some of the best opportunities to learn about the culture are within the community itself. it is a testament to the rich and vibrant culture of akwesasne that the community is home to not one but two institutions dedicated to cultural traditions: the native north american travelling college and the akwe - A painting by John Thomas from the Photo: Akwesasne Cultural Center sasne cultural center. Akwesasne Cultural Center’s lacrosse exhibit. All welcome to experience Mohawk culture The Native North American turing authentic interpretations years ago, are on display in the heritage of Akwesasne. “We Are Travelling College has the man - of Haudenosaunee history. The museum. From Akwesasne” and date to provide cultural and tra - Travel Troupe travels year- While the museum is a home “Tewa'a:raton Iakwa'tswa:tha ~ ditional education on the round to schools, groups and for objects from the past, it also (lacrosse we play)” were funded Mohawk peoples and has been organizations throughout Cana - showcases contemporary Mohawk by the Institute of Museum and fulfilling this since its inception da and the United States provid - culture and the traditions that Library Services, and “We Are in 1969 by the late Dr. Ernest ing cultural education. Given are very much alive in the com - From Akwesasne” had additional Benedict. The Travelling College that the theme of cultural diver - munity. Visitors will have a funding from the New york State is based on Cornwall Island in sity is embraced throughout chance to appreciate the skill Council on the Arts. the Mohawk Community of North America the words of and creativity of Akwesasne The Akwesasne Cultural Cen - Akwesasne and includes a muse - Asareko:wa at the signing of the artists in the sweetgrass and ter is located at 321 State Route um, library, teaching splint baskets, bead - 37 in Hogansburg, New york. For facilities for classrooms work, and carvings on more information about the and workshops, a gift display and in the muse - museum, call 518-358-2461 or shop and a new um gift shop. The cul - visit the website at akwesas - amphitheatre for out - tural center encourages neculturalcenter.org. To learn door concerts and the continuation of more about the Native North events. these traditional arts American Travelling College call Each year the col - with a wide variety of 613-932-9452. lege hosts a Strawberry classes for community Festival in June that members. Currently, the Learn more about the includes musical enter - center is developing an tainment, storytelling, exhibit on lacrosse in people and stories of drumming and treats conjunction with youth Akwesasne by viewing for young and old. In from Akwesasne. The mid-August the college exhibit is titled : Voices of Akwesasne , a hosts its annual Friend - “Tewa'a:raton Iak - series of video vignettes ship Days where it wa'tswa:tha ~ (lacrosse proudly provides we play).” in the park visitor centre Photos: Akwesasne Cultural Center opportunities for cul - “Lacrosse is hugely Traditional arts and contemporary culture are featured at at Mallorytown Landing. tural artisans to display the Akwesasne Cultural Center. popular in Canada, the their products and to U.S. and in many coun - offer interested people the Treaty of Lancaster take on tries across the world, but many opportunity to try their hand at greater importance when he fans are unaware of the Native basket making, beading, tradi - stated “but you who are wise origins of the game,” says Sue tional clothing and other forms must know that different Ellen Herne, the museum’s pro - of traditional arts and crafts. Nations have different concep - gram coordinator. “This travel - Both events are alcohol and drug tions of things, and you will ing exhibit, co-curated by free and guests have the oppor - therefore not take it amiss if our Mohawk youth, is based on tunity to sample a variety of food ideas of this kind of education Mohawk tradition with the over - including traditional Mohawk happen not to be the same as all message: ‘Think about how cuisine along with participating yours.” Indeed the burden of you play the game – and how in games like horseshoe toss, tug knowledge is not to possess it, you live your life.’” of war and beach volleyball. but rather to pass it along for the Exhibit advisors have given The current Executive Direc - generations to come. That is the this message to the youth as tor, Russell Roundpoint empha - mandate of the Native North guidance, “It’s not about you; it’s sizes that “everyone is welcomed American Travelling College. about who you’re playing for.” at the college” and is mindful of The Akwesasne Cultural The museum has developed Dr. Benedict’s words that “we Center in Hogansburg, New travelling exhibits and educa - need to share what we have york houses a library and the tional kits that reach beyond the learned with one another; we Akwesasne Museum. The muse - community of Akwesasne. One need to help our children to um’s collection includes more of these exhibits, “We Are From grow up with new knowledge than 3,000 artifacts dating from Akwesasne,” was displayed at and old wisdom.” pre-European contact to the the St. Lawrence Islands Nation - Cultural teachings and histo - present. The guiding vision of al Park visitor centre in the sum - ry form integral parts of a per - the museum is that visitors will mer of 2008. youth from Akwe - son’s development and the Trav - see (Sa’tkáh:tho), enjoy sasne were also the co-curators elling College stands ready to (Ensen’weskwèn), and under - of this exhibit – working with provide cultural education either stand (Sa’nikonhraiénta) the consultants, designers, and at the centre or by delivery at Mohawk culture of Akwesasne. museum staff in the creation of other locations via the Travel Artifacts, including stone tools an exhibit that illuminates the Troupe who deliver sessions fea - that were made thousands of continuing culture and artistic Photo: 1000 Islands Kayaking the Pitch Pine PoSt SPring 2011 - 7 Chart your own course Spectacular paddling for novices and experts alike “Wherever there is a channel welcome on our kayaking tours,” for water, there is a road for the says Scott Ewart of 1000 Islands canoe,” said Henry David Thore - Kayaking. “Most of our clients au. The Thousand Islands furnish have never been in a kayak before a paddler with a dizzying array of and it is very satisfying to see so routes, nooks, and tucked away many people thrilled at the end of channels to explore. There is no the day that they have found a more intimate a boating experi - new activity to fall in love with! It ence than sitting low in a kayak, is normal to be nervous for the feeling the coolness of the water first time but our fully certified through the hull. Imagine silently instructors will help coach you paddling over the serene remains through everything you need to of a sunken ship from another know.” time, or watching the meandering The experienced paddlers at course of a turtle swimming just a Misty Isles Lodge on the 1000 few feet below the surface. These Islands Parkway also offer intro - are experiences reserved for the ductory lessons, guided tours, and self-propelled boater – the rental kayaks and canoes. canoeist or kayaker. “We were the first, in 1998, to Though it may seem out of offer sea kayak rentals and tours. Photo: Parks Canada reach for some, canoeing and Sea kayaks are stable, comfort - What’s around the next bend? Paddlers explore the meandering channels of kayaking in the Thousand Islands able and seaworthy. It was a the islands. and St. Lawrence Islands Nation - dream to introduce this dynamic suggests nine half-day and full- substitutes for marine maps and al Park is a simple matter of recreational activity by providing day routes that connect to one paddlers that embark without a desire. Outfitters in the area pro - an exciting, challenging and edu - another for the option of a longer guide should take the appropriate vide an array of services and cational experience in one of the trip. Planning maps for the routes navigation chart, topographic rentals for a variety of experience most beautiful waterways in the are provided on the website with map or National Oceanic and levels. world,” says Gayle Grant identified access points, trip The nationally certified McBride, owner of Misty Isles. Atmospheric Administration instructors at 1000 Islands “Our extensive beach instruction times and lengths, and potential (NOAA) chart. Kayaking in Gananoque offer a will make any novice paddler feel hazards. The website also points “Paddling the Thousand full array of guided tours and comfortable and able. We now out places of historic and natural Islands is very accessible to comprehensive kayak rental offer diverse full-day adventures interest including “quiet trails everyone,” says Ewart. “With packages for families, couples and to give the public a premier expe - and sandy beaches, secluded world class paddling right in your beginners. For the intrepid solo rience in the Thousand Islands.” bays, hidden channels, unique backyard, you can come and paddler, beginner lessons and For the more independent geological formations, historic relax, rejuvenate, go for a swim, certification courses are available paddler, there are many resources architecture, submerged wrecks, hike some trails, sleep under the to build the skills and confidence available to direct the planning of and abandoned homesteads.” stars, cast a fishing line and enjoy necessary to navigate the dynam - your Thousand Islands adven - Other paddling routes are avail - the vast beauty of the Thousand ic waters of the Thousand Islands. ture. The Thousand Islands Water able at www.explorethearch.ca. Islands. We provide the equip - “First-time paddlers are very Trail, found at paddle1000.com, However, these maps are not ment, nature provides the rest.”

wind direction and speed. While paddler or other boater is missing paddling, make sure you are and presumed overboard. But first... aware of the nearest public land - • Be seen and heard - To Paddling safety tips ing spot. In emergency situations, prevent collisions, wear a bright the safest landing spot may be on coloured lifejacket and travel in Paddling is a rewarding and • Paddle with friends – private land but be courteous. condensed groups. Use naviga - unique way to experience St. Travelling in a group makes you Most private landowners will be tion lights when travelling in low Lawrence Islands National Park more visible to power boaters and happy to help. light situations like dawn, dusk, but with great enjoyment comes ensures that others are nearby to • Boat floatation – In large, and heavy fog. Both a waterproof great responsibility. A safe aid in the event of an incident. open bodies of water like the St. head lamp and a white light visi - waterway is everyone’s responsi - • watch for other vessels – Lawrence River, it is important ble from 360 degrees are recom - bility. Here are some tips modi - The Thousand Islands is often that your canoe or kayak is outfit - mended. Use an easily accessible fied from paddle1000.com to busy with power boating traffic. It ted with appropriate floatation - pealess whistle to alert others of make your trip as safe and is your responsibility to stay clear sealed hatches and bulkheads - in your presence or distress. Three enjoyable as possible. of powerboats and minimize the the event of a capsize. If your short blasts signal distress. • take courses – Proper amount of time you are in a boat - boat does not have adequate • Be safe - Reference the training is the best way to ing channel. Plan your route floatation, stay close to shore at Canadian Coast Guard’s Safe understand and prepare for the ahead of time to avoid the St. all times. Boating Guide to make sure risks associated with paddling in Lawrence International Seaway • Stay warm – Water can be you’ve taken all necessary precau - a large, dynamic body of water and minimize other channel cross - unseasonably cold in the spring, tions for a safe trip at www.ccg- like the St. Lawrence River. ings. When crossing a boating early summer, and fall. Ensure gcc.gc.ca. • required equipment – channel, stay together in a tight that you dress in warm layers and • have the necessary Transport Canada requires all group, paddle at the speed of the have an extra, waterproofed set of maps and charts - It’s easy to canoes and kayaks to carry the slowest paddler, keep moving until clothes. get turned around on the water. following equipment: Personal you are safe on the other side, and • Stay in touch – Let people It is recommended you take train - Floatation Device properly sized always choose the shortest possi - know where you are going and ing courses in navigation and for each individual and ble route. when you plan to be back. Cell carry an appropriate chart or approved by the Canadian Coast • Beware of strong cur - phones and radios can save lives. topographic map. Check with Guard; a signalling or sounding rents –Refer to a nautical map or Dial *16 for the Canadian Coast local outfitters for courses or on device; a paddle; a manual bail - check with local outfitters to help Guard Rescue Coordination Cen - www.paddlecanada.com. Charts ing device; a floating rope mini - identify and avoid areas where the tre. Give a vessel description, and maps can be purchased over mum of 15m or 50 feet in length; river narrows and currents become position, nature of problem, and the phone, on the internet, or at and navigation lights in condi - stronger and more dangerous. type of assistance required. Con - local marinas and outfitters. tions of limited visibility. Check • respect stormy weather tact Marine Search and Rescue Important updates on marine www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca for more – Check the weather before you (1-800-267-5111) in an emer - charts and publications are avail - details. depart and pay close attention t o gency situation when a fellow able at www.notmar.com. 8 - S Pring 2011 the Pitch Pine PoSt Volunteers the heart of a 25-year birding tradition It’s 25 years and counting, or century and that link with the past better yet, 25 years of counting for makes the island location especially the Grenadier Island Bird Census. appealing to her. Since 1987, a group of dedicat - Dan Cliffen, who has volun - ed volunteers and St. Lawrence teered for the count for 10 years, Islands National Park staff have also likes that end of the island. He been gathering data on birds on the finds the mix of hardwood and Photo: Lisa Werden island in this mid-May tradition. swampy areas makes for successful University of Guelph student Scott Stevenson drags a blanket to collect ticks. The park has played a key role in birding. What he likes best about the coordination and transporta - the Grenadier count is the element Researchers assess tick risk tion to the island, but the heart of of surprise. New research in the park has Grenadier.” the project is the volunteer birders, “Every year is quite different,” yielded some helpful results to Werden is quick to point out some of whom have been with the says Cliffen. “A lot of times you go guide park staff and visitors in that blacklegged ticks are found program since the beginning. out on a count expecting the same making informed decisions about throughout the region, and visitors Kathleen Burtch was working at cast of characters, but on tick safety. and residents should take precau - the park when the Grenadier count Grenadier, one year you might see University of Guelph graduate tions to avoid exposure when started. Now retired, Burtch still yellow-throated vireos, the next student Lisa Werden led a research enjoying the great outdoors in east - participates. She’ll be accompany - you’ll see black-throated blue war - team last summer that studied the ern Ontario. ing a group of North Leeds Birders blers.” blacklegged ticks found on small Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical on this year’s count. Cliffen attributes the unpre - mammals captured in the park. Her Officer for the Leeds, Grenville and To conduct the census, two dictable finds to the early spring team tested them to determine Lanark District Health Unit, notes groups of birders start at opposite timing of the count. Many birds are whether or not they carried the bac - that the area of concern may have ends of the island – the furthest still migrating at that time, and terium that causes Lyme disease. wider boundaries. eastern and western reaches – and there is often a different mix of “So far we have the lab results “Ms. Werden’s research high - meet in the middle. As they travel, species on the island than that from the ticks captured in 2009,” lights that the Thousand Islands they record the birds they see and which may be found on the main - says Werden. “I used those data to section of the St. Lawrence contin - hear along the way. This year the land. conduct a risk analysis of the 12 ues to be an area where we find annual ritual will include an ele - The long-running bird census sites we studied. Based on visitor infected ticks. New research is also ment of celebration. helps the park understand what numbers and the likelihood that pointing to the possibility of “We’re going to do a bit of rem - bird species use the island during someone will encounter an infected encountering them in other areas iniscing, have some lunch, and pull migration, provides access to the nymphal tick on that island, we of eastern Ontario such as the cen - out some of the old photos,” says island for expert volunteer birders, have found that four islands top the tral portion of the Rideau corri - Burtch. and adds information to the big pic - list in terms of risk: Camelot, dor,” says Stewart. “Everyone Her favourite spot for birding ture of what’s happening to bird Thwartway, Endymion, and should take precautions to avoid on the island is on Long Schooner populations in Canada. The event being bitten by an infected tick.” Point on East Grenadier. also provides an opportunity for Both adult and nymphal black - “It’s a great place to find war - new park staff to hone their identi - legged ticks can carry the pathogen blers in those woods, and I feel con - fication skills by accompanying WARninG that causes Lyme disease, the bac - nected to that area because that’s some very experienced birders. where my family first settled,” she “It was always a good chance to Blacklegged ticks are pres - terium Borrelia burgdorferi, and says. The Burtch family came to get new park naturalists out to get ent in this region. these can transmit it to humans when Grenadier Island in the early 19th some field experience and to get to ticks can transmit Lyme they bite. However, nymphs gener - ally pose the greatest risk of trans - know one of the park islands,” disease and human granu - mission to humans. Nymphs are remembers Ken Robinson, who locytic anaplasmosis most active from mid-May until the took part in the count for many (hga), two serious and end of June, when people are often years as a supervisor of park inter - potentially disabling infec - outside. Adults, on the other hand, preters. Robinson is still involved in tions. are more active in the spring and the count. fall. Nymphs are the size of a “”I’ve never missed it,” says check your body thorough - poppy seed -- much smaller than Robinson. “If it was running, I was ly for ticks after you have adults and therefore more difficult spent time outdoors. ticks to spot when people check their there.” Photo: Parks Canada The Grenadier Island Bird Cen - range in size from 1-5 mm. skin for ticks. Because a tick must Park interpreter Marianne Kelly sus takes place every year in May. if you have been bitten, feed for 24 to 48 hours before Bor - will help with the count this year. remove the tick immediate - relia is transmitted, a nymph that ly and see your doctor. for goes undetected and continues to among ticks caught in October, 11% increasing everywhere? Did weath - er play a role? We will be collecting more information, contact feed may be more likely to transmit of adults and 4% of nymphs tested positive. ticks again this year so that we can the park office at Mallory - the bacteria that causes Lyme dis - In addition to supporting begin to monitor long-term town Landing (613-923- ease than an adult tick that is detected and quickly removed. research, the park continues to trends." 5261) or your local health The bacterium Anaplasma, inform visitors about the presence Dragging is a method of collect - unit. which causes human granulocytic of ticks and the need to pay special ing ticks by pulling a blanket across anaplasmosis (HGA) and associat - attention to tick bites. a field or forest floor, simulating To stay safe: ed flu-like symptoms, has also been “The park communicates with the movement of a large animal detected in some ticks in the Thou - visitors via our park website, the passing over the ticks. The ticks • Stay on marked trails. sand Islands. Infection can occur Pitch Pine Post , signs on park hitch a ride on the blanket and are • When hiking, wear insect immediately upon being bitten by a islands and by working with the collected as specimens in the study. repellent containing DEET, tick carrying Anaplasma. It is Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Dis - There is more interesting long sleeves, pants and hiking another cause for caution when trict Health Unit,” says Sophie Bor - analysis in the works regarding the boots. Tuck pants into your dealing with tick exposure. HGA is coman, the park’s visitor experience factors affecting tick populations. socks. Avoid wearing sandals more effectively treated if diag - manager. Werden is currently looking at the or bare feet. nosed early in the course of illness. Tick research will continue in presence of small mammal popula - the park, with a focus on the factors tions, deer populations, geographic • When you return from a day Most cases of HGA can be cured that influence tick populations and features and vegetation as possible outdoors, check your body with a two- to four-week treatment their prevalence of infection. factors affecting tick populations. thoroughly for ticks. of antibiotics, as long as treatment begins early. Clinical manifesta - “We saw considerable changes Her results will be ready later this • Always keep your pets on a tions of HGA can range from mild in tick populations between 2009 year. leash and on the to life-threatening depending on and 2010 and will continue to mon - The tick study is a cooperative trails. the patient's age and general itor the tick populations by drag - effort involving St. Lawrence health. The ticks in Werden’s study ging fabric to collect ticks,” says Islands National Park, the Univer - are also being checked for HGA. Of Werden. "On some of the islands, sity of Guelph, the Public Health the ticks caught on Thwartway we saw many more ticks in 2010. Agency of Canada, the Ontario Island in 2009, none of those col - We will be looking at what might Ministry of Natural Resources and have caused that difference from the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Photo: Parks Canada lected in June or August tested pos - itive for Anaplasma. However, 2009 - are the tick populations Health Centre. St. L awrence iSLandS nationaL Park SPring 2011 - 9 Your help needed to slow spread of emerald ash borer While truckers, travellers, and tions extend outside park bound - hungry families are the mainstays aries as well. The CFIA regulates of the 401 service centre at Mallo - the movement of ash tree materi - rytown, an unexpected green als, all types of firewood, vehicles hitchhiker caused a bit of stir that have been used to transport when it dropped in, settled into an ash materials, and yard waste with - ash tree there, and made a family. in the boundaries of regulated This is where the Canadian Food areas. These legal boundaries have Inspection Agency (CFIA) discov - recently been extended from the ered the invasive insect, called the Ottawa/Gatineau region to include emerald ash borer, in one of their the United Counties of Leeds and research traps in 2010. Grenville. Respecting the regula - The emerald ash borer is a tions within these boundaries will small, slender, metallic green slow the spread of emerald ash insect that infests and kills ash borer and violation of these restric - Photo: David Cappaert trees. Native to Asia, the insect tions is subject to a fine. Regulated was first spotted in Detroit in Adult emerald ash borers are narrow, metallic blue-green beetles that meas - materials include ash trees (whole 2002 and has since become an ure 8.5-14.0 mm. or parts), ash nursery stock, ash invasive alien pest in Canada. logs, ash lumber, newly manufac - Though there have been no at several locations throughout bring their own firewood into the tured wood packaging made from discoveries of the pest in St. the park. Park staff will continue park. Firewood will be available to ash, ash wood or bark, and ash Lawrence Islands National Park, to work with and draw expertise be purchased from the park for wood chips or bark chips. the discovery at the 401 service from the CFIA and other partners the purpose of having a campfire The CFIA is also taking actions centre was not far from park to slow the spread of emerald ash on a designated camping site. The to monitor the landscape, particu - boundaries. In order to monitor borer in the park and surrounding park will purchase all of its fire - larly high-risk areas, for these the situation, resource conserva - region. wood from a CFIA-approved site pests. Infestations are detected and tion technicians assess 36 forest The CFIA and Parks Canada under the Emerald Ash Borer population levels are monitored plots in the park and the greater are working to keep the emerald Approved Facility Compliance through the use of traps, visual sur - park ecosystem. They are trained ash borer and its damaging Program (EABAFCP). This policy veys, and bark and branch sam - by the CFIA to detect stem defects impacts away from St. Lawrence was put in place to ensure that all pling. and crown dieback associated Islands National Park and the campfires within the park are Landowners are being asked to with emerald ash borer infesta - United Counties of Leeds and burning EABAFCP-certified wood monitor their own ash trees for tions. Grenville. As part of these efforts, and to ensure that the ecological signs and symptoms of emerald In addition, monitoring in a park-wide ban on unapproved integrity and beauty of St. ash borer and report them by 2011 will include the establish - firewood has been put in place for Lawrence Islands National Park is phone to the CFIA at 1-800-442- ment of permanent emerald ash the 2011 season. This means that protected. 2342 or electronically at borer monitoring plots and traps visitors will not be permitted to Firewood and other regula - www.inspection.gc.ca. Have you seen this green alien? Emerald ash borers infest ash trees by laying eggs under the bark. These eggs hatch into larvae that create networks of tunnels, called galleries, as they eat away the wood of the tree. These gal - leries eventually cut off the water and nutrients that flow up and down the trunk of the tree. The Photo: Jerry Dowdling larvae then pupate, hatch into Emerald ash borer larva next to a adults, and emerge from the tree network of S-shaped galleries. through “D” shaped holes. 3. Presence of adult beetles or lar - to identify the presence of vae. emerald ash borer, look for: 4. Feeding tunnels (galleries) under the bark of the tree that form an S-shaped pattern. Photo: City of Ottawa Photo: Troy Kimoto S-shaped galleries like this one are This three-sided trap attracts made as larvae feed under the bark emerald ash borers with a chem - of an infested ash tree. D-shaped ical and traps them in sticky holes are created as they exit the paste. tree. The beetle found in Mal - 7. Irregular notches in leaves from lorytown was caught on a feeding adults. trap developed by the Cana - 8. Callous tissue may form over dian Forest Service. The plas - the galleries and cause vertical tic trap, called a prism trap, cracks in the bark. Photo: CFIA has three sides covered with a Photo: Ches Caister Epicormic shoots – new shoots 9. Increased woodpecker activity sticky paste and is baited Thinning and dieback in the upper - growing from the trunk or branches as they feed off the infested tree. with a chemical that attracts most branches of an ash tree are – are another sign of an emerald ash adult beetles. symptoms of an emerald ash borer borer infestation. Emerald ash borer traps infestation. 5. Green shoots, called epicormic Report emerald ash borers will be set up to survey their 1. Dead or dying ash trees. shoots, may grow from to the CFiA presence in St. Lawrence 2. Thinning and dieback in the the trunk or branches as the tree Islands National Park and eastern Ontario. If you see uppermost part of the ash tree as attempts to circumvent the dam - 1-800-442-2342 one of these traps, PLEASE nutrient transportation is age and transport nutrients. www.inspection.gc.ca DO NOT TAMPER WITH IT. blocked. 6. “D” shaped holes in the bark. 10 - S Pring 2011 the Pitch Pine PoSt Coristine a judge for 2011 photo contest Hearty congratulation to the promises even tougher competi - winners of the 2010 photo contest! tion. That’s why we’ve invited vet - The race was close, the submis - eran photographer of the Thou - sions were beautiful and in the end sand Islands Ian Coristine to be our there were 3 category winners. guest celebrity judge. He may dole “It was a tough job,” said Mari - out a few photography tips, too. anne Kelly, acting interpretation “A renowned photographer coordinator after and inspirational serving as a judge “I'm really look - friend, Carl Hiebert in the 2010 photo ing forward to once offered to contest. “There were share with me ‘The unique and beauti - seeing my secret to photogra - ful details in each favourite place phy,’” recounts shot. It was very through the eyes Coristine. “Eager Photo: David Chase hard to pick." to hear all he had David Chase’s photo entitled “Start Your Engines” took the prize in the Junior Snapshots category of the 2010 Photo Contest. Paul Biezing of others who to say, I settled in took the prize for share my love for a long listen. be able to submit photographs via Park wardens ensure the Biodiversity for it. Go do it All I got were three category with his words: ‘Just show Flickr.com. In addition, a new great photo of a justice” up.’” style of photography is also being safety and fairness pileated woodpecker on Constance “I've come to know there is no proposed to competitors. Travis Halliday is part of a Island. David Chase was the better advice than Carl's, though in “The experiential photogra - team of new park wardens hired by youngest winner in the category of truth, a fabulous subject definitely phy style gives you the impression Parks Canada to work in eastern Junior Snapshots with his action helps and I know of no better one that you’re the person in the Ontario. He and his fellow wardens shot of a common loon taking off. than our river. I'm really looking scene,” says Kelly. “It’s a creative Mike Ellsworth and Chris Earl His title, “Start your Engines” cap - forward to seeing my favourite began their work at the park last take on photography. It really tures the image perfectly. Finally, place through the eyes of others summer. Halliday took the time to puts you in the picture.” Wendy Healey took the Exploring who share my love for it. Go do it reflect on the summer of 2010 in a Jones Creek category prize with justice.” Look for the 2011 Photo Con - short interview with interpretation her photo of a group of hikers on In addition, 2011 will see new test categories, rules and entry coordinator Marianne Kelly. one of the lush new trails at Jones categories and new prizes like pho - forms on St. Lawrence Islands kelly : How did the first season Creek. tography gift certificates, books, National Park’s website of the new warden service go at St. Next year’s photo contest and accessories. Contestants may www.pc.gc.ca/sli. Lawrence Islands National Park? halliday: The first year at St. Lawrence Islands National Park was challenging and exciting. With the busy season fast approaching, the new park wardens had to learn the river and the locations of park islands and docks quickly. It was exciting to discover a new park and meet a lot of visitors day to day. kelly: What was the most common infraction? halliday: The most common infractions were park user permit violations, primarily paying of parking and docking fees. Photo: Ian Coristine kelly: Why are these fees “Dawn, Lake Fleet Islands” by veteran Thousand Islands photographer Ian Coristine is just one of the awe inspiring important? photographs in Canada’s National Parks: A Celebration. Published on Banff National Park’s 125th birthday, this halliday: As there are a lot of collection of photographs commemorates the Canadian landscape and Canada’s National Parks. paying customers visiting the park it is often discouraging for them to mean that we can’t appreciate its variety. Today, I’m at St. see or know that others are using Facebook on the job? beauty and significance.” Lawrence Islands National Park the space and facilities without While surfing Parks Canada’s taking video of a shipwreck and Parks Canada ventures paying. It is also important because youtube channel, viewers can wit - three weeks ago I was lying in the these fees go directly to the upkeep ness a harrowing mountain rescue snow on the shore of the St. into new media and maintenance of park docks in Banff National Park or frolick - In most workplaces surfing Lawrence River as a group of re- and facilities. Smaller fee intake ing black-footed ferrets – the first Facebook, youtube or Twitter is enactors were firing antique coupled with lower visitor numbers frowned upon. This is not the case to be seen in Canada in 70 years - rifles at me.” The shots were can ultimately result in less service for Paul Galipeau, one of Parks from the comfort of their own blanks, of course, and Galipeau and upkeep. Canada’s new Internet Content homes. used his camera to take a few kelly: How will regulations be and New Media Officers. So where can we find Parks shots himself. implemented this summer? Galipeau’s efforts are aimed at Canada on the internet? Viewers can see Galipeau’s halliday: It is important to connecting a new generation – Canadians can “like” Parks creativity this summer after he ensure that visitors are aware of young, urban, and new Canadians Canada on Facebook and follow completes a number of videos ALL the rules and regulations at St. - to Parks Canada’s unique natu - @ParksCanada on twitter.com that feature St. Lawrence Islands Lawrence Islands National Park, ral and cultural places. young and and learn about activities and National Park. One will docu - including the payment of fees upon “plugged in” citizens that live in events taking place at the park. “I ment the move of the historic arrival. Signage and park staff are Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, and like when we get funny on Twit - gunboat at Mallorytown Landing there to remind visitors that these Toronto may not have many ter,” Galipeau says, smiling. to its new home at Fort Welling - rules and regulations apply to opportunities to visit National “When Puksaskwa National Park ton National Historic Site in everyone. In instances where com - Parks or National Historic Sites. conducted a prescribed fire on Prescott. pliance is still not attained law However, an online presence February 14, they called their Of course, Canadians can enforcement options will be used. allows them to have meaningful tweet ‘Burning Love,’ which is always access visitor informa - As the new park wardens are now experiences with parks from their completely appropriate but also tion, activities and events, public familiar with park we will be better own desk or living room. really good for a laugh.” safety notices, contests, publica - able to focus on problem areas and “So much of nature we will When asked about his tions and more on St. Lawrence chronic issues. It is our goal to never witness with our own eyes,” favourite part of the job he Islands National Park’s website, ensure all visitors have an enjoy - says Galipeau, “but that doesn’t answers without hesitation, “The parkscanada.gc.ca/sli. able and memorable experience. St. L awrence iSLandS nationaL Park SPring 2011 - 11 Park continues generator use Park faciLitY uPdate phase-out consultation St. Lawrence Islands National offer on the islands. In addition, a Completed in 2010 Park continues to consult with visi - survey was mailed to all season üInstallation of a new dock, deck and ramp at Endymion Island. tors on how they would like to see pass holders in the spring of 2008 the designation of more generator- and efforts were made to reach üRepair of Georgina Island trails affected by the 2009 prescribed free islands to proceed. boaters who were not season pass burn. In 2010, in response to the con - holders through an on-the-dock üInstallation of new steel ramps and railings on the central dock on cerns of boaters who felt that they survey. Gordon Island and two new steel ramps on McDonald Island. hadn’t been properly notified of the While the park has delayed the change, the park delayed the phase-in due to some boaters’ con - üOngoing maintenance and repair of island trails. planned expansion of generator- cerns, there are also boaters who üRemoval of storm-damaged trees and repairs to stairs, ramps, and free sites that would include all support the implementation of the docks damaged by winter storms. islands with the exception of plan. üOngoing installation of new signs as part of the Parks Canada Fed - McDonald, Beau Rivage and Cen - “The park has been diligent in eral Identity Program. tral Grenadier. In this plan, genera - giving long-term notice of these tors would also be permitted at changes and has progressively üConstruction of a floating boardwalk on the Wolf Trail at Jones Mallorytown Landing. implemented the changes in a rea - Creek. Taking into consideration the sonable manner,” wrote long-time üCompletion of a full assessment of visitor facilities; began repair and feedback received from some visi - visitor Graham Mutch in a letter to replacement of assets in critical condition (picnic tables, campsites, tors that spring, park managers the park last summer. “As a result shelters, docks, etc.). took the decision to communicate of notification from the park about further with user groups on the best impending changes, we installed üInstallation of new animal-proof garbage and recycling containers. approach to phase in changes to the solar panels on our boat years ago, island service model. The park will as have numerous other boaters.” Your fees at work consult with visitors in 2012 During the 2011 operating sea - through its Visitor Information son, generator-use islands will Program survey as to how they remain as they were during the would like this process to unfold. 2010 operating season. As such, “The Visitor Information Pro - generator use will be permitted at Low power, high comfort gram is a very reliable method of Mallorytown Landing and on the We love the fact that some of the islands in St. Lawrence getting this information from following islands: Aubrey, Beau Islands National Park are designated as “no generator.” It boaters,” says visitor experience Rivage, Camelot, Central appeals to the way we want to boat. This article provides manager Sophie Borcoman. “The Grenadier, Grenadier West, Con - survey is based in sound social sci - stance, Georgina, Gordon, Hill, and a brief description of how we manage our cruising in a ence and will help us to phase in the McDonald. boat that has no generator. David Pearson and new island service model.” The park maintains a commit - “Buster” is a 1971 Alwest 370, Bonnie Lindsay This new round of consultation ment to provide a choice of services an aluminum power cruiser with Buster follows several years of public feed - to all user groups, including sea - twin gas engines and sleeping few things that still need 120-volt back and communication on the sonal boaters, day users, kayakers accommodation for four… or six … AC power, we installed a 1750-watt subject of generator use in the park. and canoeists. or two, depending on how friendly inverter and connected it to the Consultation included public meet - you are. When we purchased boat’s electrical system using the ings in the fall of 2007 to which all Did you know? Buster in 2002 she had a dead wires that used to connect to the season pass holders and the com - Visitors’ pack-out and recycling engine, a hard-to-start 6.5 kilowatt generator. This year, the boat is munity at large were invited generator, four weak house batter - efforts in 2010 reduced the getting a couple of 130-watt solar through newspaper ads and a ies and an array of power hungry panels. Based on our calculations, mailed newsletter outlining the garbage produced in the park to electric appliances, including an this should extend our ability to proposed changes to the service half of that produced in 2009. electric stove and water heater, an hang out away from shore power air conditioning unit, and an amaz - almost indefinitely. ingly inefficient 12-volt/120-volt Our modifications allow us to fridge. We needed to re-power and be good neighbors at a dock – no we decided to make her more ener - noisy generator – and were accom - gy efficient at the same time. This plished economically. Replacing included a conscious decision to the appliances was less than the remove the old generator and not cost of replacing the old generator, replace it. the boat is now lighter, which saves Nothing consumes power quite fuel, and our boating season is as relentlessly as air conditioning, longer than most, thanks to a so that was the first thing to go. propane cabin heater. With the great swimming in the St. Photo: Parks Canada Even without such modifica - Lawrence to cool us off, removing tions, but with a little planning and Artist’s rendering of the south side of the Fort Wellington visitor centre. the air conditioner did not seem conservation, most modern boats like a big sacrifice. Whereas doing Gunboat finds a new home at Fort Wellington can survive a few days away from without a refrigerator would have, shore power without needing to run The Brown’s Bay vessel will be heading downriver this year, but this so we replaced the fridge with a a generator. If you see us on the voyage won’t be anything like its travels on the St. Lawrence. more modern AC/DC model that For this trip, the 19th-century boat will be heading overland with a river, feel free to come see what we consumes a fraction of the power of crew of specialists – conservators, underwater archaeologists, and expert have done. movers – who will prepare and monitor the boat in the move between its other fridges. We didn’t need an current display space at Mallorytown Landing and its new home at Fort oven (a barbecue is a good alterna - Windstorm damages docks tive) so the electric range was Wellington National Historic Site in Prescott. Park maintenance crews are The vessel will be lifted by a large crane and hauled on a flatbed trail - replaced by a propane cook top. working hard to repair damage er. Stabilizing such a large artefact for transport will include an assessment Our hot water tank broke and we caused by high winds on April of the existing supports to ensure that they are strong enough to withstand have yet to replace it. We are cur - 28. The windstorm knocked the move and keep the hull structures intact. The movers will build up rently heating water in a pot on the down trees on hiking trails from the wooden beams on which the gunboat rests and form a large ship - stove to wash dishes. Lastly, we and shifted docks and board - ping crate around it. replaced the incandescent lights walks throughout the park. “Once the vessel is relocated to its temporary housing at the new site it with either compact fluorescents or Some of the damage will be will be sealed and monitored to ensure that it is maintained in a stable and repaired in the course of doing protected environment while the new building is constructed around it,” LED’s. In order to store electricity to dock improvements and says conservator Flora Davidson. replacements already slated The gunboat will be the focal point around which stories from the War run the appliances mentioned above, plus a DVD player and our for this year. Project schedules of 1812 are presented in the fort’s new visitor centre. Exhibit planner Carla have been shifted to ensure Morse sees this as an opportunity to improve the telling of both the gun - computers, we installed two banks safe access to the park. “In a boat’s and the fort’s stories. of six-volt golf cart batteries. We few cases, boaters may notice “The move of the gunboat wreck from St. Lawrence Islands National charge the batteries from shore some slight differences, but Park to the fort later this year provides a wonderful opportunity to connect power during the week, which pro - the docks will all be there,” the fort with the river in a way that has not been done before.” vides enough power to run every - says maintenance supervisor The official opening of Fort Wellington’s new visitor centre is sched - thing for three days even if we’re Kent Dowsley. uled for May 2012. not being overly careful. For the 12 - S Pring 2011 the Pitch Pine PoSt

Facilities Hours of Operation Mallorytown Landing Mallorytown Landing Events & Programs • Visitor centre with live ani - May 21 to June 5 mals, hands-on exhibits, For more information or to pre-register for events, call 613-923-5261 or • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. week - Aboriginal stories, chil - email [email protected]. All events take place at the Mallorytown Landing vis - ends and holidays. dren’s activities itor centre (1121- 1000 Islands Parkway) unless otherwise noted. Parking June 11 to September 5 • Outdoor exhibits and art - fees ($6.80 per vehicle) apply at Mallorytown Landing and Jones Creek from work • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednes - May 21 to September 5. Additional costs are noted if applicable. Seasonal day to Monday. permits are available. • Playground • Interpretive programs Fees are payable from May May 21 – Visitor Centre opens for 2011 - July 1 – Canada Day Celebrations – • 2-km trail with easy and 21 to September 5 for all Meet “Willow,” our resident grey rat Canada Day is extra special this year at moderate hiking loops services, and until October snake, and other animals native to St. Lawrence Islands National Park. • Boat launch 10 for vehicle with trailer Ontario. Check out themystical, This year Canada marks the 100th parking and launching. • Picnic area silent world of owls with our new anniversary of Parks Canada, the • Scenic river views Jones Creek trails travelling exhibit “Northern Owls” world’s first national parks service. • Geocaches Open year-round. Parking from the Royal Ontario Museum. Today this agecy protects 167 national historic sites, 42 national parks and 4 fees apply May 21 to Sep - Bring a picnic and explore new out - Jones Creek trails national marine conservation areas. tember 5. door exhibits on Mohawk culture • 12-km trail network of easy and the stories of local residents who Celebrate with us at the visitor centre to difficult trail loops Landon Bay Centre make a difference in our ecosystem. as we launch the Xplorer program for • Wildlife viewing (Operated by the Barbara kids with special presentations by sto - May 29 – Doors Open Ontario - Take • Lookout points Heck Foundation) ryteller Deborah Dunleavy at 12:15 and advantage of the cultural and natural Open year-round. Parking 1 :30 p.m.Vehicle parking fee does not • Scenic wetland boardwalk places in Ontario’s backyard during fee for Jones Creek and Mal - apply on Canada Day. • Geocaches Doors Open Ontario. Visit St. lorytown Landing covers Lawrence Islands National Park’s September 16-18 & 24-25 – Art in the Landon Bay Centre trail use at Landon Bay May visitor centre at Mallorytown Land - Park - View original art inspired by the (Operated by the Barbara 21 to September 5. Separate beautiful Thousand Islands at the fees apply for other services ing or take your friends and family Heck Foundation) on a hike at our trails at Jones Creek Thousand Islands Fine Arts Associa - • 7-km trail network and off-season use. For tion (TIFAA) art exhibit in the Mallo - more information visit or Landon Bay. Vehicle parking fee • Scenic lookout rytown Landing visitor centre. Help us www.landonbay.org. does not apply during Doors Open • Playground Ontario. celebrate the winners of the 2010 Art • Geocaches islands in the Park art contest and be inspired to pick up a brush yourself! • Picnic area Services and facilities are June 25 - Aboriginal Day - Celebrate • Campground maintained from Victoria National Aboriginal Day at St. October 1 – Hill island Hike – Participate Day to Thanksgiving (May 21 • Pool Lawrence Islands National Park’s in an off-trail guided hike through the to October 10). Fees are visitor centre. Discover more about national park’s nature preserve on Hill islands payable by self-registration. Canada’s Aboriginal cultures on the Island to learn more about the scientif - dazzling shores of the St. Lawrence • Docks & mooring buoys Park Administration Office ic research taking place in this protect - River in the Thousand Islands, a tra - • Composting toilets 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday ed area of the park. Meet in the 1000 ditional territory of the Hau - • Walking trails to Friday, year round. Islands SkyDeck parking lot on Hill denosaunee people. Bring family and • Campsites (12 islands) Island. Bridge toll will be charged to friends or meet some new ones in a access Hill Island. 1 – 3 p.m. • Picnic shelters (14 islands) family friendly afternoon of music, • Scenic river views & wildlife games and activities from 12 to 3 October 14 – Photo Contest Entry Dead - • Garbage & recycling pick-up p.m. line – Capture the beauty of St. (3 islands) To learn about Lawrence Islands National Park dur - • Beaches (2 islands) fees & for more July & August – Feeding Time – Learn ing your visits and enter your photos in more about what the animals in our our annual photo contest. Contest • Geocaches (Grenadier pariknscfaonardma.gca.ctai/soli n Island) ecosystem are eating and how they details and entry forms available at www.pc.gc.ca/sli. • Potable water (Central contact: find and consume their food as we Grenadier only) feed the visitor centre’s summer res - idents. Wednesdays and Saturdays January 19 and 21 – Winter Snowshoe 613-923-5261 at 2 p.m. Hikes – Join us for a snowshoe hike as we explore winter wonders along our July & August – Roving interpretation Jones Creek trails. Hikes will run from [email protected] – Is fire a friend or foe? What’s hap - 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 2:30 pening to the turtles in the river? p.m. Snowshoes will be provided and Watch for park interpreters on the beginners are welcome. Meet at the weekends as they rove through the Jones Creek parking lot on the Thou - campsites and docks of national park sand Islands Parkway north of Brown’s islands to share the stories of St. Bay. Cost: donations welcome. Pre- How to Get to St. Lawrence islands nP Lawrence Islands National Park. registration is recommend ed.

St. Lawrence Islands National Park’s mainland trails, visi - tor centre, and administration office are located on the 1000 Islands Parkway between Brockville and Gananoque, Ontario. The 1000 Islands Parkway is accessible from Highway 401 exits 647 to 685 and from the United States via the 1000 Islands International Bridge. Mallorytown Landing visitor centre, trails and boat launch: 1121-1000 Islands Parkway (401 exit 675). Jones creek trails: 1000 Islands Parkway, 6 km east of Mal - lorytown Landing (401 exit 675 or 685). Landon Bay centre: 302-1000 Islands Parkway (401 exit 647) administration office: 2 County Road 5 (401 exit 675). islands: More than 20 island properties in the St. Lawrence River between Kingston and Brockville. The park does not provide transportation to the islands.