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February 2015

Jarmo's Big Year for the Big Picture

Support Carolinian Canada's Director of Ecosystem Recovery as he challenges himself to observe 270 birds in one year!

Become a Member Today!

Hello Friends! Since late 2013 I've hemmed and hawed about doing a Big Year of birding in celebration of Carolinian Canada's 30th anniversary. I am finally taking the plunge and making the pledge! What's held me back is that for the "30:30" campaign it would be nice to try the extreme challenge of observing 300 species of birds within the Carolinian life zone of Ontario within one 12-month period. With no small amount of birder's luck and the willingness to be "on-call" whenever a rare bird is reported this might be doable, but would involve burning A LOT of carbon and sacrificing a bit too much family and work time.

So, I'm setting a more modest goal of trying to observe 270 (3 X 3 X 30) species in municipalities that overlap with the original Carolinian Canada boundaries (which means including Perth County, where I live, and Ontario south of a line from Durham Region to Huron County). Even this won't be a cinch. Anyway, the most important thing is that it's to support Carolinian Canada. Please consider matching my personal pledge of $1 per species towards this campaign, and/or becoming a member of our organisation.

Thanks to the support of Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and a host of other partners for supporting our programs to "Green the Future of Canada’s Deep South".

Jarmo Jalava, Director of Ecosystem Recovery

Go Wild – Grow Wild 2015
Join Us on April 18th, 2015 for our first annual Go Wild - Grow Wild event!

Find Out More
Dubbed the "Get Out and Enjoy It" Expo, this event will be held at the Agriplex Arena, Western Fair District in London and is designed to inspire your family's outdoor adventures in this region of Carolinian Canada!
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Go Wild – Grow Wild 2015
Exhibitor Booth Registration Open Now

Find Out More
Interested in having a booth, being a sponsor, hosting a special exhibit? It’s not too late. Booths are booking quickly. You don’t want to miss the early bird benefits, so book before February 15th for your chance to be highlighted in our social media campaign! You will find all the registration details and forms you need on our website.
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A Carolinian Canada Workshop
EcoTrails and Powerful Interpretive Content

For more information, please contact Bronwen Buck woodland@carolinian.org 519-341-3199 Mon, Wed, Friday
Transform facts into stories and engage your audience. Harness your inner interpretive writer as you join Carolinian Canada and the Dorchester Mill Pond Stewards in a set of two interactive sign-development workshops and a tour of the Mill Pond EcoTrail. Spring date/location TBA. Funding provided by TD friends of the Environment Foundation.
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Save. Steward. Seed
Click here to join, or renew your membership with the Coalition.
Your support helps save species, steward ecosystems and seed habitats in the Carolinian Life Zone. Together we are a strong community.
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30/30 Celebration

The 30/30 Challenge Continues!

We have had a great six months of the 30/30 Challenge! We have had fifteen exciting and engaging events that have provided community members through the Carolinian Life Zone with the opportunity to participate in educational and inspirational events. Carolinian Canada has participated in tours, hikes, field events, festivals and fairs and we have had a great time meeting our members, partners and supporters.

With the spring approaching, we are looking forward to working with our partners and participating in many new and exciting events. We encourage you to celebrate the natural beauty of the Carolinian Life Zone by participating in this initiative. These events will offer an opportunity to explore new locations and participate in some of the wonderful events hosted by Carolinian Canada Coalition Members through the year. Be sure to visit as many as you can and keep track with your 30/30 passport.

If you would like to submit an event as part of the 30/30 Challenge please visit the 30/30 Events webpage and fill out the event submission form. Participation in this event is an excellent way to promote your event to our network and increase event participation and coverage!

Join Us For These Great 30/30 Events

Winter walk: Lusty Family Tract
– February 8th 2015 1:00 p.m. Learn More

Rethinking Reptiles with Scott Gillingwater, a Winter Speaking Event
– February 24th 2015 7:00 p.m. Learn More

Carolinian Canada Annual General Meeting – April 17th 2015
watch caroliniancanada.ca for details

Go Wild Grow Wild Expo
– April 18th 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Learn More

Feature News

Toronto Schools TreeCaching
December, Toronto
ACER a.k.a Climate's Sake
Click Here to Learn More
Students at 210 schools across the Toronto area will be using ACER's TreeCaching tags to study biodiversity in their schoolyards. Students can scan the tagged trees to learn about each tree species, and can use ACER's Tree Biomass Calculator to find out how much carbon is being stored by each tree. ACER's TreeCaching trails are a great way for anyone to get out and learn more about the trees that surround us, and you can find a trail near you on ACER's website.
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Grand River Community Conservation Grants
by February 27, Grand River Region
Grand River Conservation Authority
Click Here to Learn More
Applications are being accepted for schoolyard and community environmental projects. Grants are offered by the Grand River Conservation Authority and the Grand River Conservation Foundation.
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Rethinking Reptiles
February 24, London
Thames Talbot Land Trust
Click Here to Learn More
Join TTLT and Scott Gillingwater, UTRCA's Species at Risk Biologist and turtle expert, for this talk at 7pm in Wold Performance Hall at the London Central Library
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Opportunities for Comment

Draft Government Response Statements on Barn Swallows
by March 19, Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources
Click Here to Learn More
Draft government response statements (GRS) have been posted for review on the Environmental Registry for two species: Barn Swallow. Recovery strategies containing scientific advice to government about what could be done to protect and recover these species were published on August 13, 2014. Comments on these draft GRS must be submitted by March 19, 2015.
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Big Picture Talks

Go Wild - Grow Wild 2015

Save the Date: April 18th 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Western Fair Agriplex, London Ontario

This region’s Adventure, Tourism, and Native Plant Gardening Show ...... it's fun for the whole family and the only one of its kind in SW Ontario!

  • Featuring over 100 booths, workshops, speakers and special exhibits.
  • TWO Workshop Stages, with over a dozen high quality speakers and workshop presentations
  • Come check out and buy the best new gear for your outdoor adventure sport. Find your next great paddleboard or climbing harness, or that awesome pair of binoculars.
  • Buy native plant stock from premier nurseries from across the region. Vendors you can trust, stock you can be sure is local. Find planting and design expertise for problem areas or unique situations.
  • Pick up the latest trail maps and hiking group schedules and meet up with like-minded adventurers.
  • Workshops
  • and so much more!

See you there!

Learn more about the expo

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Members Notice Board

Announcements

Grand River Tree Orders for Spring
October - March, Grand River Watershed
Grand River Conservation Authority
Click Here to Learn More
Planning on planting this spring? If you live in the Grand River region, you can order your trees from the GRCA online. You can plant yourself, or arrange for GRCA to do it for you.
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Watershed Champions Award
by April 17, 2015, Canada
Evergreen
Click Here to Learn More
Evergreen is offering eight awards of $2,500 and one grand prize award of $3,500 to publicly funded classes (Grades K–12) across Canada—just for learning about water! All you have to do is learn about water, take action to care for your watershed, and then tell Evergreen all about it.
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Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund
by February 2, Ontario
Government of Ontario
Click Here to Learn More
The OSRCF grant program supports a vision of getting and keeping Ontarians active in community sport, recreation and physical activity. Learn more by attending upcoming information sessions in London, St. Thomas, and via Teleconference. Grant contacts for more information and to attend a session can be found through the link.
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Finalization of habitat regulation for five species at risk
January, Ontario
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Find further information at ontario.ca
Habitat regulations for the Eastern Sand Darter, Hine’s Emerald, Hungerford’s Crawling Water Beetle, Pitcher’s Thistle, and Wavy-rayed Lampmussel came into force January 1st, 2015. These habitat regulation provisions were finalized after considering all comments received from the public in the spring of 2014.
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Visit the Marvellous Moraine
January, Online
Ontario Nature
Visit the Website
Ontario Nature has launched a new website that celebrates the “Marvellous Moraine.” The Oak Ridges Moraine, a 160-kilometre-long landform that stretches from Caledon and the Niagara Escarpment in the west to the Trent River in the east, is one of Ontario’s most precious ecological features. The Marvellous Moraine website is brought to you by the Oak Ridges Moraine Partnership for 2015. It is part of a larger initiative to remind Ontarians of the value of the moraine and to engage them in the upcoming public review of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Greenbelt Plan.
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Wells Abandonment and Testing Website
January, Online
Conservation Ontario
Click Here to Learn More
If you own a well, you are legally responsible to maintain it and have it tested regularly, or to close or abandon it properly. These actions protect you and your neighbours' drinking water sources. Information on wells abandonment and testing has been added to the Source Protection Education and Outreach Resource Catalogue available on Conservation Ontario's website.
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Latornell Presentations Available
December, Online
Latornell Conservation Symposium
Click Here to Learn More
Presentations from the 2014 concurrent sessions are now available online.
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Ontario Signs Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health Agreement
December, Ontario
Government of Ontario
Click Here to Read the Agreement
The Ministries of Environment and Climate Change, Natural Resources and Forestry, and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced recently that Ontario has signed the 8th Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health. The new agreement sets a framework for cooperation to continue between Ontario and Canada on coordinated efforts to protect the Great Lakes.
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Minister's 2014 Report on Drinking Water Available
December, Ontario
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
Click Here to Learn More
The Minister of the Environment and Climate Change has released his 2014 Annual Report on Drinking Water, highlighting ongoing efforts to understand the effects of climate change on Ontario's water resources.
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Help Save the Woodlot in Grimsby
January, Grimsby
Concerned Citizens
Click Here to Learn More
Help save the Grimsby Irish Grove Wood Lot. Like the Save the Woodlot facebook page to keep up to date with the campaign to save this space. If you live in the Grimsby area, and enjoy walking in the woods, be sure to join in and tell your friends.
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SER Ontario is looking for contributions from you!
by February 15, Ontario
Society for Ecological Restoration - Ontario Chapter
Send Submissions to sero.publications@gmail.com
The 7th Edition of the popular SERO Native Plant Resource Guide is currently in development. As part of this next guide, SERO is looking for article contributions from you, the ecological community! The guide will feature several new articles, along with the updated Growers List and Guidelines for Buyers of Native Nursery Stock. Articles in previous editions of the guide have focused on a range of topics, including the ethics of attracting wildlife to contaminated urban habitat, balancing ecological priorities, and a list of commonly sold invasive species along with alternative native plant choices. Please submit a short summary (200-400 words) of your proposed article to sero.publications@gmail.com by February 15, 2015.
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Events

Winterized Insects, Celebration of Bats, and Medway Valley
Tuesday Evenings at 7pm, Feb 3, 10, 17, London
Nature London
Click Here to Learn More
The Nature in the City lecture series continues through February with three great talks. Winterized insects: lessons in coping with the cold, with speaker Brent Sinclair. Celebration of bats: the current news, with speaker Brock Fenton. Medway Valley Heritage Forest: a special Environmentally Significant Area, with Greg Thorn.
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SCAR 2015 - Early Bird Registration for the Adventure is Open!
by February 28 , Windsor-Essex
Essex Region Conservation Authority
Click Here to Learn More and Register
Registration for the 2015 South Coast Adventure Race is now open! Register early for a discount, but register soon because this event sells out fast! Last year's inaugural race was incredibly successful, selling out all spaces. Haven't heard of the SCAR? This adventure race includes cycling, trekking, orienteering and paddling. Solo or teams of two or three can register in all male, all female, co-ed, or youth categories.
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Youth: Apply now for Young Ornithologist's Workshop!
due April 30, Long Point
Long Point Bird Observatory
Click Here to Learn More
The Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists’ Workshop occurs annually each summer at Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO). The goal of the Doug Tarry Bird Study Award is to foster the interests and development of ornithology in Canadian teenagers. Recipients of the award attend a ten day workshop/natural history camp at LPBO, located along the north shore of Lake Erie, Ontario, in the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve.
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ReForest London 101 Volunteer Training and Tree Captains
February 7, 9, March 9, London
ReForest London
Click Here to Learn More
This training session familiarises you with ReForest London and their goals, and provides information on volunteer opportunities. We ask new volunteers to attend one of these sessions before volunteering or attending more specialized training. Getting involved with ReForest London is a great way to meet new people, make valuable contacts and connections, fine tune your craft, and gain new skills and knowledge. All while giving back to your community. When you get involved with ReForest London, you will be able to take pride in the knowledge that you are working with other dedicated and eco-focused individuals to keep the Forest in the Forest City! On February 9, Neighbourhood Tree Captain training will include an overview of Tree Captain duties, and RFL resources, as well as tips on engaging with neighbours and planning neighbourhood events.
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The Big Chill Outdoor Fun Day
February 16, Guelph Lake Nature Centre
Grand River Conservation Authority
Click Here to Learn More
Come out Family Day to Guelph Lake Nature Centre for horse-drawn sleigh rides, a campfire, dog sledding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, feeding the chickadees, ice fishing and skating. Food trucks will serve up something hot. Learn about the plans for the new nature centre complex. Admission is free and voluntary donations for the new nature centre are welcome. Also, don't miss the Trees and Bees workshop in Cayuga, Febuary 10.
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Purple Martins and Early Spring Migrations
March, Lambton County
Lambton Wildlife Incorporated
Click Here to Learn More
Witness an unusual migration pattern of early migrants such as Northern Flickers, Robins, Killdeers and others. The birds seem to be going the wrong way. Also, come out for a talk with Project organizers, Richard and Susan Carr, who will inform you about the life of Purple Martins and what is going on with their Walpole Island Purple Martin Project.
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Canada Blooms Bus Trip
March 17, Sarnia-Lambton
Tourism Sarnia-Lambton and the Sarnia Communities in Bloom Committee
Click Here to Learn More
Tourism Sarnia-Lambton is hosting a bus trip to the Canada Blooms Flower and Garden Festival in Toronto, ON. For $75 per person, you will receive return highway coach transportation and admission into the Canada Blooms AND National Home Show. A Festival Show Guide, as well as a tour escort will be provided. This event will take place on Tuesday, March 17, 2015. Tickets can be purchased (cash only) at the Tourism Sarnia-Lambton office on 1455 Venetian Boulevard, Point Edward, ON. Please call (519) 336-3232 for more information.
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2015 Forests Ontario Conference
February 20, Nottawasaga Inn, Alliston
Forests Ontario
Click Here to Learn More
The 2015 Forests Ontario Conference will be taking place on Friday, February 20th at the Nottawasaga Inn, Alliston. Upwards of 300 landowners, forestry professionals, educators and those interested in the health of our forests will be exploring the theme of "One Forest". Topics include Heritage Trees, species migration, climate change and managing your woodlot, and UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.
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In this Month's News

Join us for Go Wild – Grow Wild 2015

Exhibitors Register Today - Go Wild Grow Wild 2015

EcoTrails and Powerful Interpretive Content

30/30 Celebration
Here

Feature News
Here

Toronto Schools TreeCaching

Grand River Community Conservation Grants

Rethinking Reptiles

Opportunities for Comment
Here

Draft Government Response Statements on Barn Swallows

Big Picture Talks

Save the Date for Go Wild - Grow Wild 2015

Member Announcements
Here

Grand River Tree Orders for Spring

Watershed Champions Award

Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund

Finalization of habitat regulation for five species at risk

Visit the Marvellous Moraine

Wells Abandonment and Testing Website

Latornell Presentations Available

Ontario Signs Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health Agreement

Minister's 2014 Report on Drinking Water Available

Help Save the Woodlot in Grimsby

SER Ontario is looking for contributions from you!

Member Events
Here

Winterized Insects, Celebration of Bats, and Medway Valley

SCAR 2015 - Early Bird Registration for the Adventure is Open!

Youth: Apply now for Young Ornithologist's Workshop!

ReForest London 101 Volunteer Training and Tree Captains

The Big Chill Outdoor Fun Day

Purple Martins and Early Spring Migrations

Canada Blooms Bus Trip

2015 Forests Ontario Conference

Why is Carolinian Canada Coalition Unique? Click here to find out. The Carolinian Canada Coalition connects people who care about nature in southwestern Ontario. Together our members give strong voice to a green future and a healthy landscape. Visit this link to support our work.

Carolinian Canada Coalition News Network: Connecting Our Community

Reach people across southwestern Ontario. If your event or announcement promotes the protection and restoration of our natural heritage in Carolinian Canada, we'd love to hear about it.

Carolinian Canada Coalition Board of Directors

Read more about the Coalition and our board here

Don Pearson (Chair)
Ron Wu-Winter (Vice-Chair)
Gordon Nelson (Past-Chair)
Mark Helm (Secretary)
Chris Turner (Treasurer)
Dawn Bazely
Kristen Bernard
Caroline Biribauer
Tara Borwick
Brian Craig
Carla Grant
Audrey Heagy
Alistair MacKenzie
John Urquhart
Owen Williams
Jim Oliver