PETEXA_005_0329.qxp:PETE30-JUL-2009B4.qxp 3/28/12 5:10 PM Page B4 CMYK THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012 THE EXAMINER A5 localnews www.peterboroughexaminer.com Editor JIM HENDRY [email protected] 745-4641 ext. 242 LIVING Next word on nature’s changes Drew Monkman’s updated and expanded diary of the Kawarthas . and beyond and Killbear Provincial Park with its ver the past 10 years, the spectacular Georgian Bay lakeshore OKawarthas – and Ontario as a scenery. whole – has seen a number of changes The Haliburton area, too, has much to when it comes to the natural world. offer. For example, Silent Lake Provin- Among the most noticeable have been Drew Monkman YEAR cial Park is home to many diverse habi- the ups and downs in species popula- ’S tats like sphagnum bogs and beaver tions. These include everything from meadows. The valleys here support 25 the decline of grassland birds and bats NATURE species of ferns and rare amphibians to an increase in fishers and wild like the four-toed salamander. Algo- turkeys. We have also witnessed the nquin Provincial Park, too, is an iconic decline of trees such as butternut, destination with its huge network of increased threats to ash from invasive lakes for canoeing and camping, self- insects like emerald ash borers and Changing Seasons in Central and Eastern Ontario guiding interpretive trails, moose-view- more weather extremes and intense ing opportunities and boreal birds like storms, probably as a result of climate gray jays. change. If you are heading eastward, Prince Edward County is not to be missed. Like Point Pelee, Prince Edward Point Drew Monkman N National Wildlife Area is a famous bird- OUR Changing Seasons in Central and Eastern Ontario ing destination that concentrates large ATURE numbers of migrants every spring and CHANGING fall, including songbirds, waterfowl, SEASONS hawks and owls. The Kingston area has its share of areas to discover, too, including Amherst Islands, an area There has also been some move- famous for its raptors and owls in ments in the dates at which certain ’ winter. Just north of Kingston is Fron- events occur such as fall freeze-up, ice- S tenac Provincial Park with its extensive out in the spring and the first lilac blos- Y tracts of mature hardwood forest and soms of May. On a personal level, I have the nearby Opinicon Rd. area where become aware of many different, easy- EAR birders flock every spring to see rare to-observe events in our flora, fauna warblers like the cerulean and golden- weather and night sky that I had some- winged. St. Lawrence Islands National how managed to miss for much of my Park is home to eastern tree species like life. For all of these reasons, I felt it was red spruce and gray birch, southern time to write a new version of my 2002 species such as chinquapin oak as well book, Nature’s Year in the Kawarthas. as the threatened black rat snake. The latter three areas are all located in the BEYOND THE KAWARTHAS Frontenac Arch, a ridge of ancient gran- When I first wrote Nature’s Year, I was ite rock that extends southeast from probably a little restrictive with the title Algonquin Park, across the St. Lawrence I chose. Most of the book’s content actu- River east of Kingston and into New ally applies equally well to central and York state. It includes the Thousand eastern Ontario as whole. I therefore Islands. Linking the Canadian Shield in decided to change the name of the new central Ontario to the Adirondack book to Nature’s Year: Changing Seasons Mountains of New York, it has always in Central and Eastern Ontario. I use Drew Monkman served as a vital migration route for these words to describe the region plants and animals between these two extending from the Bruce Peninsula and areas. It also has the greatest diversity of Georgian Bay in the west to Ottawa and of a tropical sea, the escarpment was living things in eastern Canada. Cornwall in the east. Much of this huge and robins. Several new background formed when sediments were com- swath of the province is also known as articles in the weather section reflect pressed into limestone (dolostone) and OTTAWA BIRDING “cottage country,”a term that refers to tage community? My hope the larger region covered by the book shale. The rock was then carved by the Continuing eastward, the Ottawa-Car- areas such as Parry Sound, Muskoka, is that Nature’s Year will and explain phenomena such as lake- action of glaciers and the elements into leton region is well known as a birding the Haliburton Highlands, Land o’ provide readers with an intimate record effect snow. New articles on species at dramatic landforms such as spectacular destination, especially the many sites Lakes, the Rideau Lakes, and, of course, of the lives of near-by flora and fauna. risk figure prominently as well. cliffs, caves, and deep valleys. The along the Ottawa River. These include our own Kawarthas. It also includes Most of the events included in the CHARTING THE BIRDS “Bruce” also has an incredibly rich flora Shirley’s Bay (e.g., abundant ducks and cities such as Owen Sound, Barrie, Oril- 2002 book are still there. However, and fauna including thousand year old shorebirds) and Brittania Conservation lia, Lindsay, Peterborough, Kingston, many have been up-dated or rewritten Another new feature in the book is a cedar trees. Some of the rarest flowers Area (e.g., Arctic tern). The area between Brockville, Ottawa and Cornwall. with new details. Where necessary, they detailed seasonal abundance chart for and ferns in Ontario can be found grow- Ottawa and Cornwall also attracts huge With approximately 50% new and have also been changed to reflect an 143 of the most common bird species. ing here, and orchids such as yellow numbers of snow geese during migra- up-dated content, this is in many ways increase or decrease in a species’ popu- The chart allows the reader to see at a lady’s slipper can almost be as common tion. Many naturalists enjoy visiting the an entirely new book. Like its predeces- lation. Changes described in bird popu- glance how common a given species is, as dandelions in some areas. The Bruce Alfred Bog, a superb peat bog ecosystem sor, however, the new Nature’s Year is lations, for example, come from the whether it breeds in the region and, in also offers some of the best birding with related flora and nesting birds (e.g., still fully applicable to Peterborough findings of the latest Ontario Breeding the case of migrants, when the bird opportunities in the province such as palm warbler). and the Kawarthas. It also follows the Bird Atlas, carried out from 2001 arrives in the spring and departs in the spectacular spring and fall waterbird Finally, I just want to say just how for- same organizational structure, namely a through 2005. Numerous new events fall. The expanded introduction to the migrations along its shores. One desti- tunate we are in Peterborough to have month-by-month almanac of key events have been added, too. Most of these book provides an overview of the cli- nation not to be missed is Bruce Penin- what is probably the largest number of occurring in the natural world. I have relate to species not included in the first mate and biogeography of central and sula National Park. The white dolomite experts on Ontario’s flora and fauna of always felt that this seasons-based book such as the Virginia opossum, elk, eastern Ontario, explains why we have cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment and the any city in the province. Most of these approach to natural history provides the wild turkeys, Bryozoa (the jelly-like seasons and describes some of the aquamarine waters of Georgian Bay people, of course, work at the Ministry best way to mentally organize and blobs in the water that cottagers often potential impacts of climate change. make for spectacular scenery. In the of Natural Resources, Parks Canada, retrieve the profusion of information see) and invasive plants like Phrag- There are also new night sky illustra- Dorcas Bay (Singing Sands) section of Trent University, the Natural Heritage that the natural world throws our way. mites. Other new events range from the tions, more than 70 photographs to the park, you will find fen wetlands that Information Centre, Fleming College Otherwise, much of the content of field typical smells of each month to what is complement the line drawings and two are home to many types of orchids and and the Ontario Federation of Anglers guides and other nature books can happening in rare habitat types such as new maps. insectivorous plants. and Hunters. Many gave generously of seem like an impenetrable mass of facts, Atlantic coastal plain plant communi- Peterborough’s central location in the FOCUS ON REGIONS their time to review the manuscript of names and figures. ties. province offers nature-lovers many the book and make useful suggestions. advantages. In addition to all that the Moving eastward to Muskoka and As with the first book, my purpose in COUGARS DEBUT A celebration of the publication of writing this new edition is also to help Kawarthas has to offer in terms of access Parry Sound, the naturalist will find a Nature’s Year will take place on Satur- people pay more attention to the “near- In addition to changes in the lists of to nature, we are only a few hours away great diversity of often rare plants as day, April 7, at 2 p.m.