Overcoming Barriers

Living in Canada,we're connected to 3 oceans.,.making the journey from fresh water to salt, or vice versa. Great threats along the way affect safe passage for our migratory species as defined in a recent publication.

Turtles in Ontario: It's turtle nesting season, which means the turtles you see on the road, could be expectant mothers. Road mortality is a major reason why all 8 of Ontario's turtle species are at risk.

If you see a turtle on the road, help it get safely across in the direction it is heading

It's Turtle Nesting Season

Last summer, one day, I was driving along a Service Road between Lake Ontario and Burlington Bay.
On the road before me, a sizeable turtle was slowly crossing to reach waters, possibly to lay her eggs.
Being first car in line, I fully stopped...with cars lining up behind me as I protected the turtle's path, giving her safe passage to her destination. All we drivers, gazed in wonder as she slowly crossed... working her way through grasses and tree growth to reach more placid waters.

Amazingly, later that summer, while driving through Dundas, was another, crossing Main Street, who had stopped midway, due to cars; With my hazard lights flashing, and donning a pair of gloves, I lifted this turtle, depositing her in safe tall grasses which bordered a slow drifting stream.

Okanagan Sunflower: A herald of spring renews the hllsides of Southern Alberta and .B.C.
Igniting hillsides from April to June' yellow flowers enliven the city which affords terrific views of of the Okanagan area. Standing tall, its stems feature large curling dark green and silvery-haired leaves that are shaped like arrows. The leaves grow so full, as to give it an amost bush-like appearance .Its bright yellow-orange blooms bear passing resemblance to a small sunflower. Its short-lived seeds are distributed by wind and animals for reproduction.

In High School days, I had a Latin-History teacher, Miss (Lily) Travers who always introduced her lessons with a personal experience. Her efforts to grow hollyhocks with southern exposure from her home , yearly failed. One day, after 4 pm, a friend and I (discovering her address)
ventured to her nearby property to espy her success in finally coaxing her hollyhocks to bloom!
YES! There they were! In magnificent colours of reds, yellows, pink and white. How beautiful they were~ personally painted by Miss Travers, herself. Congratulating her success, next morning: broadly smiling, stated: “Where There's a Will ~ There's Always a Way!

Master Impressionists: “Why do mockingbirds mimic other birds' songs? To Boast? To Befuddle?

Some scientists think it's to attract and impress potential mates. Each night, as daylight transcends into darkness over the cactus-filled desert habitat in Baja, California, we are serenaded briefly by the lovely song of a northern mockingbird. One has made his nightly roost in the large candelabra cactus at front door. Aptly named mocking bird, is also aptly named mockingbird, is also the most accomplished mimic in the bird world ~n imitating dozens of common North American species, such as the Blue Jay.

Dad knew my sister and I could sing ~ so knowing this, he said to us standing nearby:
“If you sing to the birds, they may land on your shoulder or outstretched hand!” Throughout the garden activities, it kept us occupied..and Dad was very very happy!

Blinded by the Light: North Americans seldom see the stars, due to the massive illumination our towns and cities create. Not just a sad fact ~ it is bad for all living things. In the early hours of January 1994, Los Angeles was struck by a 6.7 magnitude earthquake. Many noticed an odd formation in the sky: they were seeing the Milky Way. American and European biologists determined, 22 years later, that North Americans cannot see the Milky Way. Daily darkness plays a central and profound role in nature's ways. Prey and predator both rely on the darkness for survival. Many predators are blinded by artificial light. Yet, consider the wetland toad, whose croaking is essential to mating Birds may be the greatest victims: for flighted creatures, that hunt or migrate by night, light pollution is dangerous.

With references from Canadian Wildlife, a black footed ferret in Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan:North America's only native ferret, it was introduced to the park between 2009 and 2012, None have been seen since 2014. They must be thriving in their vast forested home!

Assembled by Merle Baird-Kerr...July 13, 2020
Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca.