Getting to know our owls

Two months ago, out team met some new additions to the FortWhyte fold.

In late September, our new Prairie Partners exhibit opened.   After many months of renovation, our old waterfowl room had been converted into a facility for black-tailed prairie dogs and burrowing owls.  The prairie dogs have settled in to their winter pattern - mostly staying below ground during our short, cold days, but the owls have shown us a different approach to life.

I've not blogged about the owls so far - yet every day, I go home with new owl stories for friends and family.  It is fascinating to watch the social interactions of the eight owls, and observe new facets of their individual behaviour.

These little birds, almost extirpated from their native range in Manitoba, continue to fascinate me day after day. This morning, they reacted vocally to my beaver-fur winter hat - I think they thought it might actually have been a critter on my head.  Yesterday, at the end of the day, I woke up a little female from a nap...again, I'm no owl mind-reader, but her narrowed eyes and drooping lids said "Go away and let me sleep!" loud and clear!

Last month, I was away at a conference in Edmonton for a week.  This was during the run-up to TIMBERR!!!!, so I had registration details to manage from two provinces away.  With a hundred questions and details on my mind, my first question when I called in was consistantly "What're the owls doing today?  Anything new?"

Check out the Prairie Partners exhibit - but be cautious.  I'm finding burrowing owls can be habit-forming!

-Barret

PS:  I promise to share more owl stories on the blog in the near future - the owls certainly do provide stories!

Outdoor Skills For Everyone - Another Perspective

It's a gusty, snowy morning here at FortWhyte Alive.

The conditions are very similar to those last Wednesday evening, when we ran an Outdoor Skills For Everyone session on essential gear, outdoor trip planning, and general, all-season outdoor safety.

With an eager group who braved wintery roads, I demonstrated a basic all-weather survival kit, discussed minimizing risks in outdoor activity, and then put some of our theory into practice - the group moved outside of the Interpretive Centre, and we built a quick "unplanned-overnight" shelter in the snow.

One of my guests was Jacquie Crone, a writer for Unexpected Manitoba, a Manitoba tourism and travel blog.  Check out her latest post for a participant's perspective on the session! Jacquie was also kind enough to let me use the photo attached to this post.

FortWhyte Alive is offering more Outdoor Skills For Everyone on Thursday evenings in January, February, and March.  A big thanks to those who've come out for the sessions already - and a big "come on down!" invite to everyone out there who'd like to build their skills for playing or working outside!

Bundle up and have fun, everyone!

-Barret

 

TIMBERRRRRRR!!!!

SATURDAY, NOV. 27th - Sawdust flew, snowdrifts shattered, and 9 participants got their chop on as the first ever TIMBERRR! Lumberjack Challenge at FortWhyte Alive went into the books.

The nine hardy racers ran a 2 mile course, laden with logs.  Along the way, they identified trees, worked the saw, chopped kindling, living the adventurous life an early-20th century lumberjack - if only for 45 minutes.

Weather conditions were perfect for the event.  The course volunteers (Thank-you Axeman Jack and Sawmill Gord!) were as excited as the racers.

TIMBERRR!!! was the first in a series of similar events happening at FortWhyte Alive before next summer.  the next event - the Second Annual Spears and 'Shoes Atlatl/Snowshoe Biathlon, set for 1pm on February 19th, 2011.

Thank-you to all the participants and spectators who came out on Saturday - and keep looking here for more details on Spears and 'Shoes 2011!

-Barret

Awesome Program!

Yesterday evening, I had my first outdoor program since the snow fell on FortWhyte Alive.  A combination of vacation and a conference had kept me off the trail since the beginning of November...I was starting to get antsy!

The program: an outdoor skills session with staff and interns at FortWhyte Farms.  For readers who don't know, FortWhyte Farm interns are youth at risk, from inner-city Winnipeg, who come and learn agriculture, business, and life skills while working on the farm.

I ran through a basic outdoor equipment kit, and after an explanation of how fires work, and campfire safety, we went outside.  The group was able to get a beautifully small but warm fire going with only one match.  I was incredibly proud...the youth built a skill, I was able to work alongside my Farm colleagues to deliver a good evening, and seeing it come together left me glowing almost as much as the little campfire!

Notes from Norway House

Hi!

It was a packed few days, but my last week's trip to Norway House, MB, was a success!

Welcome to the North!  Norway House Community Airport

Over last Thursday and Friday, I was able to share a bit of the FortWhyte experience with 50+ students, 60 Educational Assistants, and 25 teachers.

I learned as much as I taught - from traditional Cree plant use to local nicknames, I had to work hard to take in all the information flying around!

Balsam Poplar or Aspen?  Answering an EA's inquiry using some twigs.  On the right:, Balsam Poplar; left, aspen.

Thursday morning, I worked with students and teachers to do an ecological inventory of the boreal forest near their school.  In the afternoon, I went out to the same forest with the EA's, and gave them a taste of what the students had done.  The next day was spent with teachers, working on using the newly-inventoried plots as teaching tools, and looking at the local wetlands, jackpine ridges, and spruce hollows not just as landscape, but as teaching resources.

A student field tests a soil sample.

A big thanks to Laurie-Ann, the biology teacher who set up the professional development day for her colleagues, and to Frontier School Division for inviting FortWhyte Alive to look north!

More pictures tomorrow!

-Barret

An Expedition to the Frontier

I am having trouble sitting still at my desk this morning.

It might be my wake-up coffee, or, more likely, it is my barely contained excitement and enthusiasm.  I fly to Norway House, MB (part of the Frontier School Division)  this afternoon, to deliver two days of custom interpretive programming!

-Anything.  Anywhere.  Anytime.:  Not actually Perimeter Air's slogan, but it could be.

Tomorrow, 70 students from the Helen Betty Osborne Inniniw Education Centre will be conducting a "Forest Inventory" - counting and classifying the life in the forest around their school.  This is the beginning of an outdoor "lab" space, where students can encounter their local landscape on many levels.  My plan is for it to be a load of fun, too!

I'm spending Friday with teachers from the school, dreaming and planning on how to best use this new resource.  The hope is students have more class time outdoors, engage more with their local landscape, and see a direct application for their science classes.

Two days of increasing outdoor education time.  Two days of helping students learn and grow as citizens of their local environment.  Two days of playing in the bush...with a purpose.

No wonder I can't sit still!

I'll let you know how it goes...until then, have a good one!

-Barret

Chicken Wrap-up

Hello, Blog Readers!

I must apologize for the chicken story - long story short, with enough duct-tape and willpower, we saved the chickens.  To protect the chickens, the weasel (who is innocent until proven a chicken-eater), etc.  I was not able to finish the story with the level of detail contained in the first two installments.

I hear that the weasel, and at least one of the chickens, have a book deal and have sold the film rights to their story...perhaps the full tale will be yet spun, but not by me.

-Barret

Feathered Follies Episode Two

Chickens are highly exciteable birds.  As I stepped into the midst of the escaped flock at FortWhyte Farms, I think I must have spooked them - the chickens scattered in front of me.

I walked over to the chicken tractors, the mobile pens designed to keep the chickens safe and contained, but with room to move, scratch the ground, and peck - in essence, the devices making "pastured poultry" a reality.  Two were completely bereft of chickens; bird-size holes had been made in the wire on the front of the tractors.  In addition to two empty small tractors, several laying hens were moving in and out of their tractor, about ten yards south of where the meat chickens were pastured.  The hole on the laying hens tractor was larger then in the other tractors.  This hole would be my first priority - the laying hen's tractor housed more chickens than the smaller tractors.

I walked over to the laying hen tractor.  I got down on one knee, and began twisting bits of chicken wire together, attempting to repair the breached tractor, or at least make the hole smaller than a chicken.

Eyes forward, intent on my task, I ignored the unhappy clucks around me.

I felt I was making progress.  It was not a perfect repair, but it was working.  Small successes fed my eagerness to get the job done.

I was so eager, I did not notice the large rooster, who had been guarding the hens, had disappeared from my field of vision.

In fact, I wouldn't notice him again until he jumped on the back of legs.  Clearly, he was not happy with my work, and chose to express this with his talons and beak.

Not being a chicken, I was able to express my thoughts and feelings using words.  Not necessarily printable, repeatable words, mind you - but, in all fairness, I did have an angry animal attacking my leg.

I jumped sideways.  The rooster jumped back.  We stared at each other.  He broke off the stare, and but watched me closely.

My loud shouts had scared most of the white meat chickens back inside their tractors - an unintended, temporary benefit, but appreciated, because the commotion had actually scared two laying hens so much they'd hopped the electric safety fence, and were running towards a nearby treeline.

The very same treeline where I'd last seen the weasel.

Weasel+Chickens+dense vegetation=trouble.

I jumped the fence and ran toward the trees, determined to be the variable that would make this equation turn out more positively for the escaped hens.

Do the tractors get repaired?  Is the weasel faster than Barret or the chickens?  Tune in tomorrow for the third installment of Feathered Follies!

Feathered Follies: Episode One

The best adventures for staff here at FortWhyte Alive always seem to happen right at the end of the work day.

I was due for an adventure.  My days had been ending far too normally of late - I was getting used to shutting down and heading home.

Yesterday, my number came up!

As I drove down Sam Fabro Way to lock our front gate, I passed FortWhyte Farms chicken pasture.  The pastured poultry live in large, moveable pens, called chicken tractors.  However, the poultry were not so much pastured as...everywhere...including outside the knee-high electric fence in place to keep out animals like weasels.

I pulled my vehicle over, and quickly took stock of the situation.

(One could even say I took "chicken stock" of the situation, if one was fond of puns..  Not being that person, I won't...but one could say it if one was so inclined.)


White meat birds mingled with golden laying hens.  A rooster was chasing hens, panicking them, and often as not causing the hens to take a short-hop flight, and land outside of their safety fence.

Stepping out of my vehicle and hopping the ditch, I realized that though I'm not a worker on the farm, this was my problem.  Everyone else was home for the day - judging by the food and water supply, the farm had set the chickens up to be self-sufficient for the long weekend.  I had to at least find some way of getting the chickens back inside their safety fence for the night.  After all, what if a mink, skunk or a...

WEASEL!!!*

There it was!  Fifteen yards from where I'd crossed the ditch, a long-tailed weasel popped up!  It crawled to the edge of the safety fence, and stood on it's hing legs to get a better view of its prospective dinner.

I ran towards the weasel.  It dropped to all fours, and slithered back into the well-vegetated ditch.  The instant I turned my back, it poked its head out of cover, scanning for an errant chicken close enough to catch.  I yelled, it hid.  We played this game for a few minutes. More and more chickens hopped the fence into the danger zone.

I had a multi-tool.  I had a first-aid kit; I wasn't sure how it might help, but there it was, on my belt.  I had tried calling farm staff as soon as I saw what was going on, and received no answer, so my phone was not very much help.  I had my trusty FortWhyte Alive ball cap.

I had escaped chickens.  I had a hungry weasel watching the escaped chickens.

It's been said that heroes are not born, they're made.  I tend to think they're not made, they're called.

An agricultural adventure was calling.  Collect.  I accepted the charges, and waded into the clucking, feather-flying, dropping-slicked whirlwind.  Where was this going to end up?  The only thing I knew for sure:  I was not going to lose a chicken to the weasel.

Does Barret slip on chicken poop?  Does the hungry weasel have a chicken dinner?  Is the first aid kit actually useful?
 
Tune in tomorrow for the next episode of Feathered Follies.

* This weasel image is courtesy of the US National Park Service, and is in the public domain.  The author acknowledges that though this is a fine-lookin' weasel, it is not the actual weasel from the story.  This image was used without the weasel's permission.

Smoking Frame/Drying Rack Complete!

Did the tipi encampment project work out?  Were Chantale and Barret able to make the wood and ropes dance together?  Are they still out on the prairie, tied in knots?

Yes, Yes, and No.  The FortWhyte Alive tipi encampment is home to a new smoking frame/drying rack.  We completed work on the new frame in about an hour - and the strong winds gave it a good test, even before work was done!  Chantale had learned to use the knots I  taught her - which probably says more about her learning skills than my teaching skills, but hey, I'm not going to over-analyze.  I'm too proud of the resulting camp improvement to overthink the process.

We even started drying some crab-apples in the...sun?  (It was sunny and windy when the apples were tied on yesterday - but today's rain was not great for drying anything).  We're supposed to be back into sunshine tomorrow. 

Which is good, because a hearth and other improvements to the encampment are waiting.

The tipi encampment is looking good, and will be looking even better soon.

-Barret

PS:  Tomorrow's Outdoor Skills For Everyone is "Keeping Critters out of Camp - or, how to make every wildlife encounter a positive encounter."  Learn to tree your food pack, what to do when confronted by an angry goose, and many other hands-on, useful tips for maximizing your outdoor experiences.  6 PM, free with admission to FW @ the Interpretive Centre.  Call 989-8358 for details!

Tipi Encampment Enhancement

Super exciting morning here at FW!

My colleague Chantale and I are packing up to go and do some improvements around our tipi encampment.

Specifically, we're building a drying rack, meat smoker, and, if time and supplies allow, a hearth.  We cut some poles on Friday, have a bunch of cordage at the ready, and are going to lash up some furnishings for the encampment.

This is a test of my skills as an outdoor skills instructor, as well as a living history project.  On one level, as the guy here at FortWhyte who taught the knot-tying session of Outdoor Skills For Everyone last Wednesday, I had better be able to lash a basic structure together. On the next level, this is Chantale's first lashing project...ever.  I started teaching her late last week.

Will the student surpass the teacher?  Have the skills of ropework been successfully transmitted?  We shall see in the next hour or so.

-Barret

Snapshots of the last week

It's been a warm week here at FortWhyte Alive.  Good weather means more visitors - and more visitors means more adventures happen!

Last week, during a "Rent-a-Naturalist" program, I did an edible wilds walk.  The idea behind Rent-a-Naturalist: for $15, a group of up to six visitors can hire one of our interpretive staff to do the program (hike, talk, tour, paddle, etc.) the group has always dreamed of!  One gentleman in my group had a keen interest in wild edible plants - so we did a customized walkabout, nibbling as we went.  Though no wild fruit is ripe yet, we found no less than ten tasty wild edibles within twenty metres of the Interpretive Centre.

Loyal followers of the blog know that though I appreciate the aspirin content of willow-bark tea, I'm not a fan of the crushed-aspirin-in-brine flavour...my guest's suggestion:  mix the tea with tomato juice to hide the taste.  I've not yet tried the idea, but it seems like a good one!

This was all happening at the same time my colleagues Dana and Melanie were busy leading a fishing experience for Grandparents and Grandkids.  The fishing line might have only been five-pound-test line, but the memories the participants walked away with are strong enough to last forever...it was great fun to watch that group as we foraged through the forest.

- A fisher, not unlike FortWhyte's!

Just in case you think the action ends with the Education Team, our accountant saw our resident fisher later in the day as she biked home.  We normally see fisher tracks in the winter, but this summer, we've had reports from all over the property, about one a week.  You can go for a lifetime in the forests of Manitoba and rarely, if ever, see a fisher...understandably, we're thrilled to have people seeing them!

We had Bison Safaris on Sunday, I had the thrill of making botany come alive to a group of older adults yesterday, and summer camp is in full swing....whew!

FortWhyte really has been alive these past few days.  Sometimes, I wonder if it sleeps!

-Barret

Go Fish - Jacks are Wild!

The fishing on Lake 3 (south of the Interpretive Centre) seems to be getting hotter faster than a July morning!

We've had AT LEAST six northern pike (aka, Jackfish, hence the snappy title of this post!) caught in the past 18 hours.

The fishing at FortWhyte can be hit and miss - this is true of fishing anywhere - but six jack in less than two days has not happened in a few years.

The best part: one angler caught three of the fish.  It works out to one fish for every thirty years of life experience for this fellow, who was nearly 90 years old!

Also of note today...wild mint is EVERYWHERE!  We had an afternoon tea in the Biodiversity Garden on Monday afternoon; I must have made at least six litres of wild mint tea.  I followed up my tea-making on Tuesday, when a fellow stopped by for a "Rent-a-Naturalist" wild edibles walk...

...but that's a story for tomorrow!

Outdoor Skills For Everyone

Hello!

We at FortWhyte Alive are pleased to announce a new program: Outdoor Skills For Everyone!

Every Wednesday evening, from now until August 25th, we are offering sessions on how to maximize your enjoyment of any outdoor activity, through sharpening the basics of living alongside nature.

These sessions are geared for anyone with an interest in outdoor activities: paddlers, campers, cyclists, cottagers, fishers...the list goes on!  My colleague Dana and I are running the program in alternating weeks.  The sessions are designed to meet people at whatever skill and experience level they are at, from just discovering outdoor skills to seasoned outdoorspeople.  They are hands-on, and full of fun things to try!  Each session is free with admission - you'll get to practice the skills being taught, and get a nifty newsletter with more information on that evening's topic.

The sessions run from 6-7:30pm on Wednesdays.  Just like the title says, these sessions are for everyone!  Bring yourself, your family, your friends and neighbours - the more the merrier.

Please see the list of topics below. The sessions are designed so you can come for as many, or few, as you would like - each week is self-contained.

See you Wednesday!

Outdoor Skills For Everyone 2010

July 14 Safe Drinking Water Anywhere - keep you and your friends and family healthy and hydrated!

July 21 An Ounce of Prevention - believe it or not, the same basic gear will help in any outdoor adventure.  Find out how to be prepared for anything, anywhere, anytime!

July 28 Beyond the Hot Dog: Cooking Outdoors - fancy salad, gourmet soup, stir-fry over rice pilaf, with banana-toffee pie for dessert...anywhere your adventures take you!  Find out how during this session.

August 4 How to Poop in the Woods: Responsible Waste Management - keep yourself and your favourite wilderness places as healthy as can be!  A vital, yet often overlooked, outdoor skill.

August 11 Don't Tie Lots - Learn Some Knots - with a few simple twists of a rope, you can build shelters, repair gear, maybe even save a life.  Knots can be tricky; our instructor will make them easy to understand.

August 18 Keeping Critters Out Of Camp - many people go into the wilderness to see wildlife; most people do not appreciate it when the wildlife comes to them, and eats their food.  Learn how to make every wildlife encounter a positive one for you and our furry, finned, and feathers friends!

August 25 Land Navigation - you are already a navigator, whether you know it or not.  Come out and tap in to your natural skills - always know where you are and where you're going!

-Barret

Welcome to the World, Baby Bison!

FRIDAY EVENING, FORTWHYTE ALIVE - about ten minutes after uploading my previous post, I was by the front desk here at FW.  One of the front desk staff had contacted Ken, our Site Manager, about our close encounter with the bison in labour.  Ken's advice:  get back out to the paddock, because the mom would have the baby soon!

We did, and though we did not see the actual birth, we got to see a brand-new baby bison licked clean by it's mom, stand on its wobbly legs, fall down when it tried to lift three legs off the ground at once, and finally, gain the footing and confidence to follow its mother (and her milk!) across the pasture to join the herd.

This baby is number seven of the year.  It's six "classmates" were playing with it (or, at least running and jumping with it) within about an hour of it's arrival.

I shouldn't need a big event like a bison birth to remind me that this thing we call Life on Earth is wonderful and exciting.

Just because I shouldn't need a reminder does not mean big, wonderful events shouldn't be appreciated!

I don't think those of us who saw the little animal stand, walk, or nurse for the first time will soon forget last Friday.  That an animal so tiny and fragile could...work...and have the potential to grow into a creature as awe-inspiring as a bison...awesome.

Welcome, little bison.Continue to remind us of the wonder of Life, and our responsibility to you and the rest of the thing we call Life of Earth.

-Barret

Birthing Bison!!!

It's been an exciting couple hours here at FortWhyte this afternoon!

The Bison Prairie is remarkably dry after our recent rains - dry enough to conduct a staff bison safari.  Between camp, staff events, and public bison safaris, we only have about one hundred visitors see the herd up close and personal.  Each tour, each viewing, is therefore special, unique, and exhilarating!

I had the honour of driving my colleagues into the paddock, and getting as close as was respectful, safe, and comfortable for the herd.  Two jackrabbits bounced improbably spring-like away from the truck as we neared the bison.  A red-tailed hawk swooped low overhead.  Geese and goslings ran around the paddock, first investigating, then retreating from the truck.  Life was buzzing around us.

Little did we realize we would see a new life enter the world!

As we approached the herd, one of our pregnant bison had her water break, and we could see she was having contractions.  We watched as her belly changed shape, and she got ready to bring a new calf into the world!

We sat in awe and watched as the magnificent animal jumped, kicked, and squatted her way towards having the baby.  We did decide to leave the new mother and calf alone for the final stages of birth (after all, the tour was about respect for the bison), but to see the preamble - and the exciting prospect of a new calf, gamboling about the pasture tomorrow - left everyone smiling.  We go home tonight with a new experience, one not to be soon forgotten.

"Our" calf will be our herd's eighth of the season.  By my estimation, we have another two or three on the way before calving is over.

It's supposed to be a beautiful, sunny weekend - perfect for looking for bison calves!

See you on the trail!

-Barret

Snow Goose and the Seven Eagles

I'll start with the Seven Eagles!

Right now, there are seven Bald eagles sitting on trees around our Lake Devonian, watching the hundreds of geese settled on the ice.  The seven birds reflect various stages of eagle maturity - some are brown-and-white adults, with at least one mottled-brown immature eagle.

The immature eagle flew about ten feet over my head just before I came into the office to write this post - it may be immature but it is BIG!!!!! (Note: Each exclamation point represents one foot, or 30.5 cm, of estimated wingspan.  Thank-you.)

The eagles are likely following the geese northward migration of the geese - sort of a gastronomic North American Tour for the eagles.  Not a bad life, really - see the countryside, eat some goose, get some sun in a tree...

Speaking of geese, we have not seen any at FortWhyte yet this year, but we've had reports from a few places around Winnipeg of snow geese associated with flocks of Canada geese - hence, the clever pun in today's post title!

Incidentally, when my supervisor returned to her desk after checking out the eagles, an email had come to her inbox...offering here a ticket pre-sale for none other than The Eagles (with special guests, the Dixie Chicks), live at Canad Inns Stadium.

Here at FortWhyte, I'm not expecting to hear a "Hotel California" encore - but admission to see these eagles (with special guests, The Canada Geese) is definitely cheaper!

-BM

Of owls and online registration....

The Monday morning sun streamed through the windows of the FortWhyte Alive Education office.  The light was warm, refreshing - it woke me up enough to allow my body to forget I was at work a whole hour earlier than the Monday before.  Daylight savings time is great...but for the first week, my brain has a tough time selling my system on the idea.

I was in to get our online camp registration system ready for its noon launch.  I knew we'd be busy, come noon, and I wanted to get as many pieces in place as possible prior to going live.  Not my favourite activity in the world, computer work...but, just like daylight savings time, I might not enjoy it, but it sure can be practical.

The one-after-the-other arrival of other Ed Team members broke the monotony of database maintenance.  Stories of the weekend happily punctuated my early-morning uploading.

Katrina had a cool story to share.  A saw whet owl had moved in to her parent's neck of the woods.

"Sounds just like a truck backing up...and it goes on, and on, and on!"

I've since learned this is true of saw whet owls.  Nomadic in nature, and not mating for life as do other owls, each spring new pair bonds are formed.  For saw whets, finding a mate involves incessant singing to attract a compatible saw whet- and the song never changes.

My office-mates left as quickly as they arrived, to prepare for various programs, leaving me to website work, alone.

Then the phone rang.

I was expecting to answer a camp query.  There's a lot of those to answer a few hours before registration begins - which was exactly the reason I was scheduled to stay in the office Monday morning.

The call had nothing to do with camp.

It was a woman, living near Bird's Hill Provincial Park.  She and her family had been hearing a new sound, around dawn and dusk.

"It sounds just like a busy phone signal," she said.

I'm not sure what part of my brain suggested this, but "A busy signal?  Or like a backing truck?" came out of my mouth, before I had fully processed the thought.

"Exactly!" she exclaimed.  What a coincidence - I have never before gone through a day when saw whet owls came up in conversation twice...let alone within the same hour!

I suggested the sound might be a saw whet owl.  I got her email address, and promised to find saw whet owl sound clips and email them to her, so she could compare the recordings with what her family was hearing

The busiest day of camp registration we've ever seen at FortWhyte Alive ensued.  Online owl calls had to wait until Tuesday morning.

I sent the clips first thing Tuesday.  Ten minutes later, I had a reply.

"...upon listening to the audio clips, it certainly must be the saw-whet owl..." - using the phone, email, and the internet, we'd ID'd the bird.  21st century style birding, this one - without ever being near the owl, or hearing it myself, I was able to assist in identification.

Camp registration continued to roll out with hardly a hitch - but the owl ID made my day in the office just a little sweeter!

-BM

Photo of the week:
Stuart O. submitted this shot of a pileated woodpecker, working on a trembling aspen here at FW.

Beautiful!  Stay tuned to the blog - with the sap starting to flow, woodpeckers won't be the only ones tapping trees!

Full of Frost and Fog (or, why this winter has been abundant in beautiful, white mornings)

Hello, readers!

The past month has been one of the foggiest I can remember here at FortWhyte.  A side effect of milder-than-average overnight temperatures and daytime sun, we have experienced many nights with ground-level fog.

We've always been lucky enough to experience a fairly large number of mornings when the world has been coated with white hoar frost.

 

Hoar frost at FortWhyte Farms

(photo by J. Mulaire)

We've been especially lucky because every morning we've had hoar frost, we seem to have light south winds, as well.  The relatively slow wind speed has not broken the crystals of frost off trees, buildings, and plants, allowing us more brilliant white-frost-against-blue-sky mornings.

(Photo by I. Carter)

Hoar frost occurs when the air temperature drops.  Cold air can hold less water than warm air - as the air cools, water no longer bound up as water vapour condenses.  In the summer, we call this dew, and we see it on grass, trees, tents, etc.  In the winter, the grass, trees, tents, etc. are at a temperature colder than freezing.  As the water condenses, it freezes into thin, long crystals, "frosting" the landscape like a cake.

 

(Photo by I. Carter)

We've had a number of days in the last few weeks where the air has warmed up, snow has melted, and started to evaporate.  At nightfall, the air is warm and full of water.  After sunset, the air cools, and fog forms.  On some nights, objects cool faster than the air, creating ideal conditions for hoar frost.

Hoar frost is one of the perks of living in a winter climate.  I think knowing the natural principles at work make the phenomenon just a little bit more breathtaking.

(Photo by I. Carter)

FortWhyte's Cross-Country Ski Trails - winter wonderful!

I like to think I have a good handle on what goes on around FortWhyte Alive.  These 640 acres are where I spend a good chunk of my waking hours, and I've done so for the better part of three years.

Though each day brings something new and exciting (640 acres of urban wilderness can do no other), I do not start each day expecting something wonderful and awe-inspiring.  Perhaps the setting we enjoy here has somewhat affected me=y sense of aesthetics...surrounded by beauty, one's standards for beautiful are raised.  A new bird sighting, a spring gift of morel mushrooms, or a baby bison - these are all special and unique, but not world-shaking experiences.

Last Thursday, my world shook. 

I went skiing for the first time on our new trails.

FortWhyte has developed a series of trails on the northeast part of the site for cross-country skiing.  The trails start near the sod house, and go north.

A quick, straight run past Mount Maple Leaf (one of our two hills) leads into a twisting passage navigating a willow swamp.  The willows grow up around the trail, sheltering skiiers from the wind.  With late-winter sunshine, and the embrace of the willows, this section of trail feels like a hug from Nature.

The hug ends with a straight-away run into the forest on the north part of the property.  Twice, I thought I saw great grey owls - twice, I laughed at myself as I correctly identified last summer's wasp nests!

A turn left, and I was on the "red loop" of the trail.  Brilliant white aspen trunks blend in with the white snow, creating a zebra-like streaked field of vision.  The aspen   A quick corner, and the view changes: the angle of the sun now illustrates every little track and trace left by animals in the snow around the trail.  I stop for a drink of water, and to speculate on the interactions between weasel and vole tracks.

A few minutes later, on the "green loop", I am skiing underneath old oak trees.  If the willow swamp was a hug from an affectionate Nature, these austere oak overhead feel like a firm handshake from the forest.  Welcoming, yes; respectable, of course - but also, like a good, firm handshake, a sign of strength, and fair dealings.  Look after nature, and it will look after you - and we'll shake on it!

On my return south towards the sod house (and the end of my lunchtime ski), I disturb a jackrabbit.  It takes off at high speed.  I am humbled - I had been exceptionally happy with how quickly I had been skiing - but the rabbit puts my time to shame.

Reminded by the rabbit I am not the fastest in the forest, I pick up my pace.  The straight-away allows for skate-skiing, and I switch to the faster technique.

I arrive back at the sod-house.  I pop my skis off, and head back to work.

I went for a ski looking for a work-out.

I found my sense of wonder and awe.

I still have time for a sandwich (it is my lunch break, after all) - but it is only my stomach that is hungry.  My mind and soul have been fed already.

There's skiing this weekend at FortWhyte Alive.  Intro workshops ($5) will help you explore the sport.  Families, there are children's lessons and adult lessons side-by-side...the perfect intro for everyone!  Want to try skiing, but do not have a pair of skis?  We've got rental skis.

Physical activity in an outdoor setting?  The ski trails are perfect for that.

Looking to re-discover the child-like sense of excitement around every corner?  I cannot promise you will, but I would be very surprised if you don't.

The Inaugural Spears and 'Shoes Biathlon - A huge success!

"Ready....five seconds...set....GO!!!!!!!"

I've been told Vancouver is hosting some sort of major sporting event right now...all I know for sure, is this past Sunday afternoon, I had the privilege of shaking hands with a world champion!

The Inaugural Spears and 'Shoes Biathlon - a multi-sport event featuring atlatl accuracy competition (spears) combined with a 2.4km snowshoe race ('shoes) - saw 14 hearty racers have a blast, test out some traditional technologies, and compete in a fun new race.

The winner of the event was Lane Coulter, of Virden, MB, who posted a score of 9 minutes, 21 seconds, to claim first place.  Scoring was simple:  each racer's snowshoe race time had 90 seconds shaved off for each successful atlatl hit on the range - four shots each, for a combined possible bonus of 6 minutes.

Lane, a young man who came to the race with his Cadet group, ran a solid snowshoe race, and was the most successful atlathlete (officially a word now!) of all the racers.  Lane was quite a bit younger than most racers, and had never seen an atlatl before the race.

Pre-race practice throw by J. Harms, currently ranked 3rd in the world with a personal best score of 12:09.

When asked about his performance, the world's first champion said, "I mess around with a bow and arrow a little bit, but this is new...I guess I'm good!"  the young Mr. Coulter will have a good chance to get even better, as his prize is a hand-made atlatl set!

Another racer came up to me after the race, smiling.  "I thought I was the only one who would be interested in this type of event - now, I see there are more like me!"  She added, "When's the next one?"

The next one is in the works!  No date, or details...yet...but the next, similarly-inspired race/challenge is in the first stages of planning.  It's still a long way off, but early indications are Spears and 'Shoes will happen again next winter, as well - 9:21 is the score to beat!

As with all FortWhyte Alive programs, a big thank-you goes to the volunteers who helped with this race.  Another HUGE thank-you goes to all participants, spectators, and well-wishers.  A few months ago, this race was an off-beat idea.  Now, it is in the history books as an awesome event - mixing fun, fitness, cultural education, and...FUN.

No big TV contracts.  No performance-enhancers.  No multi-million sponsorship deals.  Just good, old-fashioned (like paleolithic-fashioned!) fun.  This event, for me, reflected human spirit at its best!

The final racers coming toward the finish line

(A big thank-you to all who contributed photos to this post!)

FortWhyte Owlive?

Quick - what bird do you think of when you think of FortWhyte Alive?

If you would answer, "Canada Goose", you would be in good company.  We had our start when our founders released some geese back in the 1950's, back in the days when the bird's numbers were in serious decline.  One of the first logos for Fort Whyte Centre featured stylized geese.

This winter, a different type of bird is giving the geese some serious competition for becoming FortWhyte Alive's avian mascot.  These days, it seems one cannot turn around without encountering owls!

The Northern Hawk Owl, last seen around of the New Year, popped up again last Saturday in the extreme northeast corner of FortWhyte's property.  Though I've been advised the Northern Hawk Owl (or, NHO, if your into brevity) is not a capital-letter-worthy Rare Bird, it is unusual, and certainly beautiful.

The NHO isn't our only beautiful owl.

This Great Horned Owl (GHO) pic was snapped by Stuart O. about two weeks ago, near our Tree House.  In the winter of 2007-2008, we had a pair of GHO's choose this forest neighbourhood for a nest, and we got to see their family grow from egg to owlet to owl.

Just in case you're not feeling owl overload yet, I'd like to mention a Great Gray Owl (GGO?) and a Snowy Owl have also been seen at FortWhyte Alive since January 10, 2010.

Simple ecological principles tell us we'll never see as many owls as geese - owls need larger habitats, because they eat higher on the food pyramid.  However, I would suggest owls as a fitting icon for FortWhyte's urban forest - certainly this winter, at least.

Speaking of iconic - what has four legs, claws, teeth, and is coming to the touch museum?  It's going to create quite a stir...not a roar, cuz this animal cannot technically roar...but it's going to be BIG!!!

Tomorrow:  Weather Maps - which are best for your purposes?

'Til then, all the best.

-Barret

It's in my nature - to say thanks!

Hello, everyone!

An article profiling some of my work at FortWhyte Alive, and some of my side interests, ran in the Winnipeg Free Press this past Saturday.  A series of web videos accompany the article; if you've been on a tour of FortWhyte with me, you'll likely see something familiar in them, and if you've never been, I encourage you to watch them, and let me show you around!

The title is, "It's in His Nature", and the jist is my love of the outdoors and our Manitoba culture is reflected in my work and personal life.  Which, I hope, is true.  I try.

The article also got me thinking about the people who've helped ensure outdoor life, an appreciation for this province and its peoples, and the willingness to learn and share new ideas and facts are part of my nature.  So, I'd like to take a time-out from my usual blog fair of coyote tracks, owls, and wild-fungus-foraging to say some thank-yous.

First, a big thanks to Alison Mayes of the Free Press...for thinking up the story idea, and for doing a great job turning a series of random Barret-facts into a readable piece.

Another big thanks is due to Ruth and the folks in the photo department of the Free Press.  The videos are great...I never get to see myself on a program, so I appreciated the chance to say, "gee, that's what I look like at work!", and the opportunity you've given me to share what I do with friends and family far away.

The article also mentions some of the people who helped shape my nature into what it is today.  My parents and Grandparents played a big role in making me into the "Nature-nut" I am today - and taught me a lot of other good things along the way.  My extended family have always encouraged my outdoor pursuits - a big thanks to my family, those close, and farther away.

The only reason I get to have any sort of adventure in my everyday work is the great team I work with.  My colleagues on the Education Team here at FortWhyte - current and past - I've been so lucky to work with you...I mean it.  Ed Team forever!  Another big thanks is due to all the other staff at FortWhyte Alive... administration, development, site crews, my camp colleagues - we're a jigsaw puzzle, and aren't complete without all the pieces.  Also, without the dedicated efforts of a huge volunteer base, FortWhyte Alive would be very much alive at all.  Your time, talents, and teaching is something I value deeply.  Thank-you.

To those who taught me at Pinawa Secondary or U of W...thanks!

The Free Press article references my Scouting experience.  My Scout leaders - from Beavers on through those at the Manitoba office, and everyone in between...thank-you.  Some of my proudest moments have come through Scouts Canada - and my experience in the program has given me skills and abilities to create more proud moments.

To the people who I've worked with at summer camps, or worked with me when I was a camper (LV and Amisk - you rock!!!), through youth work, and to the RP detachment at Kildonan...wouldn't be doing what I do if I hadn't learned something from you along the way.

To my friends - you encourage me, you laugh with me, you humour me when Interpreter Barret decides to show up at inopportune times, you challenge me and support me...and I thank-you for it all.

Finally - blog readers, a great big thank-you.  Knowing people read the posts help me keep them coming!

I've left no one off the list by intent...if I missed someone, it's an oversight.

Stay tuned.  Tomorrow, I've got owl news, fun with weather maps, another teaser on our new museum resident, and much more!

-Barret

FortWhyte Niversity...what's missing?

"U" are!!!

In September 2009, FortWhyte Alive launched a new idea in volunteer and staff development.  We found experts from various fields, and brought them to FortWhyte to share thier knowledge.  The idea was to develop a better background understanding of the environmental and cultural issues we work with here, and for people's general interest.  The program was called FortWhyte University.

The program worked well.  It worked really, REALLY well.  We started another session in December - and realized, "hey, this is working REALLY well...if our staff and volunteers like this stuff, other people will too!"

I am pleased to be one of the first to announce that we have an upcoming series of FortWhyte University  programs open to everyone!

Saturday, January 23rd, we have two dynamic presenters back-to-back....

10-11:30am:  Dr. Gordon Goldsborough - "Lakes as Ecosystems":  Gord is an expert on Manitoba's "other lake"...we all know about Lake Winnipeg, but what about Lake Manitoba?  Come out and learn more about how the living community in this magnificent lake interact to form something grander than its parts.

Incidentally, Gord (who also teaches at that "other" university, the U of M) knows a lot about our lakes here at FortWhyte Alive.  One of the tasks I have the honour of performing is ongoing water quality assessment during the winter.  How does a camp director- turned interpreter learn to do water quality sampling and analysis?  Gordon Goldsborough teaches him, and in the process, becomes one of this interpreter's heroes.

Like lakes?  Like stories about people working in the wilds of Manitoba?  Want to see science in action,  exciting and accessible?  Three words..."Come See Gord!!!!!"


1:30-3:00 – Most people know that getting outside is good for them but not many people are fully aware of the many health benefits from stress reduction to enhanced spirituality.  Come learn the secrets from Laurie McPherson, of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority -  you’ll be inspired to get outside and get healthy, even in winter!

For more info on either of these presentations, call us at (204) 989-8355.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24TH

FortWhyte University continues the next day, with Roadside Ready at 1:30pm.  I'll be sharing tips and tricks for keeping yourself comfortable should you become stuck in your vehicle away from the comforts of home.  We'll be making car kits, full of essentials to keep you, friends, and family safe and happy if you find yourself in a spot.  I'm excited about the presentation - making it doubly interesting is the fact I'll have run the Ice Donkey adventure race that morning.  Come, learn to survive, and see if I survived the race!

(Please note:  I'm buying supplies for the car kits.  Thus, there is both a small fee, and the need to pre-register - either check our website, or email me for details!)

Be an Eco-Driver follows at 2:30pm.  For most of us, motor vehicles are a necessity. We've all heard that when it comes to carbon emissions, vehicles = bad. The picture is not entirely grim, though- this workshop will present ideas to help lighten the impact of driving a car.  Oh, and you'll learn to save money.  That's always a good thing.

See "U" all very soon!

-Barret

Biathlon Postponed - and a Touch Museum Teaser Trailer

Hello, all!

It is my regretful duty to announce the postponement of the Inaugural FortWhyte Alive Snowshoe Biathlon.  With the holidays having just passed, and the cold temperatures this week, interest has been tepid...so, we're going to try again on February 20th, at 1pm.

If the idea of a snowshoe race with some atlatl throwing interests you, let me know!

ALSO:

There's a new resident moving in to the Kiwanis Touch Museum in the next few weeks.  It's going to be a big, hairy deal...keep watching for info!!!!

CTV News at 6 and 11 - and another picture of the Northern Hawk Owl

Happy New Year!!!

CTV News Winnipeg just left FortWhyte Alive.  A crew was out to capture some of the fun and excitement that is the last day of the school holiday here at FortWhyte.  Maple Taffy, Sod House Pioneers, Toboganning, and a quick mention of the Hawk Owl might make the newscast at 6pm and 11pm tonight.  So, if you are near a TV during those times, check it out!

I also was the fortunate recipient of a beautiful picture of the Northern Hawk Owl taken by a visitor to FortWhyte Alive.  I've been given permission to share it - so, behold in all of its mid-winter splendor, the Northern Hawk Owl!

isn't it a beaut?

-Barret