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!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
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
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
Monday, May 17, 2010
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
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
Friday, May 14, 2010
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
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
Thursday, March 25, 2010
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
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
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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!
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!
Monday, March 8, 2010
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.
(Photo by I. Carter)
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)
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