WILDLIFE VIEWING GUIDE NORTHERN LIGHTS NATURE TRAILS TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 2 ………. About The Guide! Page 3 ………. Wildlife Viewing Tips! !!! Etiquette! Page 4 ………. Photography Tips! Page 5 ………. Trail Map! Page 6 ………. Trail Legend! !!! Mountain Biking! Page 7 ………. Bear Safety! Page 8 .……… Mammals! Page 9 ……….. The Beaver! Page 10………. Birds! Page 11 ……… What To Look For (Birds)! Page 12 ……… Other Attractions! Page 13 ……… Winter! ! 1 About The Guide! Located at the entrance to the Northern Lights Community in Muskoka, ON, the Northern Lights Nature Trails are a hidden gem nestled in the splendour of the unspoiled woodlands of Echo Valley.! This guide will help you discover the beauty that awaits you along the trails in the nature park. There are sections covering both animals and birds, and where to find them. A detailed guide to the mountain bike trails, and information on Bear safety, wildlife viewing etiquette and tips for the photographer. The trails have been constructed to allow easy access by mountain bikes. All the stairs along the trails are built in such a way that bicycles may easily ascend and descend them and so a trail map has been provided along with a trail legend indicating the degree of difficulty for each loop. Hiking the main trunk line should take approximately 30-45 minutes but there are also a number of secondary trail loops which may be hiked should you desire a longer excursion. There is a viewing platform overlooking the protected land, which is ringed by the trunk line trail. This is an ideal spot for the birding community to catch a glimpse of the many birds which make their home here in Muskoka.! Whether you are looking for wildlife, planning a short hike or a fast paced mountain bike trail ride, it is our hope you will find everything you are looking for right here in the Northern Lights Nature Reserve. 2 Wildlife Viewing Tips: How To Look. ! The appreciation of wildlife while maintaining ecological integrity are two of the main goals of wildlife viewing. The best way to see wildlife and to truly appreciate it, is to view it in its natural habitat. It is best to take your time, be quiet and have patience. Make frequent stops and look for movement. Animals will go into hiding when they hear you coming and will often reappear when all is quiet. Wildlife tends to be more active at dawn and dusk so an early start or an after dinner walk are a good idea. The use of spotting scopes, binoculars or a telephoto lens allows you to view the animals up close without scaring them off or endangering yourself.! Etiquette.! Please keep your pets on a leash. This is a courtesy for fellow hikers and animals alike. Remember that you are also sharing the trails with mountain bikers and for their safety and the safety of your pet, please keep your pets under control. Never pick up what appears to be an “orphaned” bird or animal. The parents are most likely in hiding nearby, waiting for you to move on so they may return to retrieve their young ones. Never harass the wildlife. This is their world and you are merely a visitor. Show them the respect they deserve. Please do not feed the animals or birds. They require a natural food diet to remain healthy and there is an abundance of food available to them in the wild. Please avoid disturbing any nesting areas. Large dead trees, grassy areas and nests in trees are all possible nesting sites for birds so please take care when you hike and bike the trails. Stay on the marked trails to minimize your impact on the habitat.! Make every effort to leave the site exactly as you found it. Take only your photographs, memories and your trash with you.Please report any illegal trapping, hunting and polluting to authorities. "This is what you should do; love the Earth and sun and the animals.” - Walt Whitman 3 PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS! These tips are by no means meant to be used as a photography tutorial, but rather are meant to help the beginner photographer become more comfortable with the process and perhaps improve the quality of their photos.! Before heading out, become familiar with your camera. Read the manual and have a basic knowledge of the functions before you begin. Check the weather. Knowing what the weather forecast is for the day will allow you to select the appropriate clothing which will make for a more comfortable excursion. Bring a tripod. No one wants a blurry photo. Make sure your camera battery is charged and you have a memory card in the camera. Be patient. Wildlife is not always cooperative and it may be awhile before that perfect shot shows up. Take snacks just in case. Change up the perspective of your shots. Get down to eye level with some of your subjects. Use the “rule of thirds”. Imagine lines running through the frame both vertically and horizontally that divide the photo into nine sections. Positioning your point or points of interest on them makes them more pleasing to the human eye. The points where these lines meet make "sweet spots" for positioning your subject. The light at sunrise and sunset has a more golden hue and can add warmth to any shot. Bright midday sun can wash out the colours. Colour saturation comes alive on overcast days. Winter photography has some inherent challenges but can produce some of the most stunning photos. Here are a few tips: The white of the snow needs to be compensated for by over-exposing the shot by one or two stops; Placing a heat pack next to the camera can prolong the life of your battery; To avoid condensation on the camera (which could freeze when you return outside), place the camera in a plastic bag, squeeze the air out and seal it before bringing your camera indoors. Then wait for it to acclimatize before removing it. ! Practice, then practice some more. Like anything else you do, your photos will only improve over time and with repetition. Wildlife photography has no shortage of inspiration and opportunity to keep your interest. Relax, enjoy and be patient. Photography has much to offer to those willing to put the time in to improve their technique.! 4 TRAIL MAP 5 Mountain Biking In Northern Lights There are a total of over 3.5 km of classified as “hard” (5). The the trail map before you head out. trails in the Northern Lights remaining seven trails vary in their Take plenty of water, a cell phone Reserve, consisting of the main degree of difficulty from and a small trunk line and 14 smaller loops. two through four. The bicycle tool All of the the trails are multi use legend above indicates kit. Please and the stairs are constructed in the degree of difficulty try to such a way as to allow mountain and approximate length minimize bikes full access. ! in metres of each trail.! your impact on the The main trunk line trail begins in Not all the loops trails. the parking lot on Echo Valley branch off from the Road, loops into the nature reserve main trunk line. On the and ends just a little further down trail map on the the same road. A trail map and previous page, one can interpretive signage are located at see that there are trails the entrance to the trails. There are which begin and end on four loops which are classified as secondary loops. It “easy” (1) in their degree of would be a good idea to difficulty and four loops which are familiarize yourself with 6 ! ! BEAR SAFETY ! Black bears rarely attack people! ! While they can be dangerous, they are actually very timid animals. Since the early 1900s there have been fewer than 70 deaths in North American as a result of black bears.! ! What to do if you encounter a bear:! Knowing what to do if you encounter a bear is being Bear Wise. But some encounters may be more dangerous !than others, so it's important to recognize the signs, and know what you can do to protect yourself.! ! Know the language of black bears:! ! If you by chance encounter a black bear it may:! ! • Stand on its hind legs to get a better look at you! • Salivate excessively, exhale loudly, and make huffing, moaning, clacking and popping sounds with its mouth, teeth and jaws! • Lower its head with its ears drawn back while facing you! • Charge forward, and/or swat the ground with its paws. This is also known as a bluff charge! (Generally, the noisier the bear is, the less dangerous it is provided you don't approach the bear. These are all warning signals bears give to let you know you are too close. When bears are caught off guard, they are stressed, and usually just want to flee.)! ! What to do – Surprise and Close Encounters:! ! • Remain calm. Do not run. Stand still and talk to the bear in a calm voice! • Arm your pepper spray! • Do not try to get closer to the bear! • If the bear does not get closer to you, slowly back away, talking to the bear in a quiet, monotone voice. Do not scream, turn your back on the bear, run, kneel down or make direct eye contact! • Watch the bear and wait for it to leave! • If the bear does not leave or approaches you, yell and wave your arms to make yourself look bigger. Throw objects, blow a whistle or an air horn.