A Blanding's Turtle was spotted on Thursday, May 31st at Wye Marsh by naturalist Heather Walton. The blanding's is a threatened species in the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population by The Species at Risk Act (SARA). Threatened is defined by SARA as “a wildlife species that is likely to become an endangered species if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction”.
Here are ten simple and concrete things that you can do to help protect species at risk according to SARA:
- Learn as much as you can about species at risk: explore this web site, join an environmental group, and visit parks, zoos, and botanical gardens that house species at risk.
- Did you know? There are 539 plant and animal species at risk in Canada (according to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada ), and more than 11,000 throughout the world.
- Offer your help to teams working to recover species at risk in your area. They sometimes need a helping hand for specific activities.
- Did you know? In Nova Scotia , elementary school students built artificial nests to assist the recovery of the Roseate Tern, an endangered seabird.
- Install bird feeders, especially in places where there are very few mature trees.
- Did you know? Certain bird species, such as the White-Headed Woodpecker, need dead trees to perch and nest in.
- Grow native plants in your garden, while making sure to buy them from producers that do not harvest them directly from the wild.
- Did you know? The Purple Loosestrife, a non-indigenous plant that is often planted in gardens, invades wetlands and destroys the habitat of plants and animals that live there.
- Question residential area plans that could destroy the habitats of species at risk.
- Did you know? Urban expansion has contributed to the loss of habitat for the American Ginseng and to the decline of the plant, an endangered species used in the past by Aboriginals to treat various diseases.
- Reduce your contribution to the greenhouse effect: walk, ride a bicycle, or take public transportation to work. Choose an economical car, or carpool.
- Did you know? Climatic changes are having an effect on polar bears. The pack ice is decreasing in thickness, which makes hunting more difficult for bears, thus reducing their survival rate.
- Do not use pesticides around the home.
- Did you know? In 1998, the use of the insecticide carbofuran was banned in Canada after it was proven that it had harmful effects on the Burrowing Owl, an endangered owl in Canada .
- When travelling, remember that it is sometimes illegal to bring back, without a permit, souvenirs made from plants and animals.
- Did you know? Some species are declining because they are the objects of excessive trade.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle. Consume less and buy from companies that are involved in protecting the environment.
- Did you know? The leatherback turtle sometimes ingests plastic bags adrift on the sea, confusing them with jellyfish, its prey of choice.
- Respect laws and regulations regarding species at risk.
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Did you know? Poaching is the primary cause of the decline of the northern abalone, a shellfish from British Columbia . Illegal harvesting of this mollusc prevents the species from reproducing sufficiently.
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Blowing in the Wind
Recently Wye Marsh completed a sustainable energy project that has taken over two years from being just an idea to the actual installation of two very different wind turbines. On top of a 104 foot tower is a 1.0 kW Bergey turbine and on top of the other tower of 30 feet is a 1.8 kW Skystream turbine. These turbines will be used for educational programs for both schools (grades 5 and 10) and the general public. In July and August once a week there will be a ‘wind walk' up to the field with an explanation of the project. Wye Marsh will hold a one day workshop on August 22 nd for people interested in learning more about sustainable energy.
These turbines demonstrate different technologies and have very different uses. One is an off grid application that could be used for cottages that cannot get hydro to them. The other turbine demonstrates a grid tie system where the power generated goes directly into hydro lines. An already existing set of solar panels has also been moved to the wind field to complement the sustainable energy programs. All the electricity generated will feed the Wye Marsh grid, providing approximately 10% of our power needs. A white board is beside the instrument shed where people can record data such as kW's produced, wind speed, noise level, number of birds/bats killed, and ground temperature.
This project took many long volunteer hours to complete. It always amazes me the support that Wye Marsh receives from the local area. Many thanks to those who helped. I think we may have set a record of erecting two turbines in under a month. Construction moved along on schedule thanks to the crew from Tay Township and a wonderful project manager, Ron Neville. Funding was received from Ministry of Energy, Conservation Branch and Midland PUC. Additional funding was received from SHELL Environmental fund to purchase mini Pico Wind Turbines and educational materials. The first 20 classes to take our new sustainable energy program will receive this wind turbine to build.
There are still a few glitches to iron out in the computer system to download the data from the turbines as well as cosmetics in the field. Signage is on order and the education programs are being fine tuned as staff get trained on the brand new technology.
Come out and see our new addition to the centre and learn about the pros and cons of wind and solar power.
