Box 142, Westport, Ontario K0G 1X0
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Box 142, Westport, Ontario K0G 1X0 |
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A Message from your Interim President For most of you, welcome back to Wolfe and Green Lakes. And for those who live at the lake, you are so fortunate. It's great to be with you again for another season! Spring has come early this year and hopefully we can look forward to a warmer and dryer summer than last year. There are some concerns regarding the lake levels, which may be lower this year due to less snow fall this past winter. At this writing there are no other indications of any new major changes which may be of serious concern to our membership on either Wolfe or Green Lakes. The objectives of our lake association are to liaise with our local and higher-level governments, other cottage and environmental associations, our own lake cottage and full-time residents and other lake users to maintain and preserve the natural beauty of Wolfe and Green Lakes and their shorelines for both current and future generations by: Providing information on the environmental aspects of sustainable lake use;
We also have an infestation of Zebra Mussels, no doubt introduced by boaters who have not cleaned their hulls or bait pails after use in polluted waters. We also must be on the alert and challenge those who take little regard for fishing quotas or seasons. This concern is particularly applicable for Bass fishing when so called "sportsmen" catch and release Bass ahead of season, which endangers Bass stocks when their unprotected nests are raided by other fish. On the positive side, the quality of our lake water remains relatively high. Some issues on our current agenda include:
This will be my last year as President of The Wolfe and Green Lake Associations. For the past 55 years Wolfe and Green Lakes and the surrounding area have been a most treasured summer place for me and my family to live and explore. It has been my privilege to serve you, but it is time for change and new blood to take over. I thank you for the opportunity to serve you for the past few years. Glen Ewen Fisheries Management Council 18 (Wolfe and Green Lakes are in FMZ 18) Are you concerned about fishing in Wolfe and Green Lakes; GOVERNMENT help is on the way! The establishment of Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) Advisory Councils for each FMZ in Ontario is an important step forward in implementing the new Ecological Framework for Recreational Fisheries Management. Public involvement in fisheries management will be enhanced through the FMZ Advisory Councils. Along with the existing stewardship initiatives, the FMZ Advisory Councils will be a key vehicle for achieving enhanced public involvement with fisheries management in each of the FMZs. The new Ontario Ecological Framework for Fisheries Management will see the phasing in of 18 new Councils over the next few years. What are they? An FMZ is composed of 15-20 members who represent a diverse group of stakeholders from the recreational angling, tourism, bait fishing, academia, cottage association, first nations and conservation communities. What is their key role? The FMZs provide advice to lead FMZ managers responsible for the Council, usually regional district offices of the Ministry of Natural Resources. They provide MNR with a variety of social and economic perspectives on management actions and input into fisheries management planning at a zone scale. The Councils work with MNR staff to prioritize issues, identify challenges and develop tools to achieve fisheries management goals (e.g., regulations, stewardship activities, education, etc.). Three "pilot" councils were established in 2007 : FMZ 6 (Thunder Bay), FMZ 10 (Sault Saint -Marie), and FMZ 17 (Peterborough). The FMZ 18 Council was established in 2008 by Minister Linda Jaffery. The council is supported by the MNR regional offices in Kemptville and Bancroft. FMZ 18 is a large fisheries management area which stretches from west of Tweed, north to Arnprior and east to the Quebec -Ontario boundary. The Mississippi, Rideau and South Nation Rivers are the main watersheds in the Zone. Key recreational areas include the Land O'Lakes and the Rideau Lakes. The lakes and rivers in the region provide excellent sport fishing for a variety of species including walleye, bass, pike, trout, and a variety of panfish. The council has considered a variety of fisheries issues since its inception, the principal one being a request by Minister Jaffery to provide recommendations on panfish limits for the region. The Council submitted recommendations to Ministry staff and the Minister and in November 2009 the limits were set and will form part of the 2010 fisheries regulations. The FMZ 18 Council continues to be active in addressing fisheries management issues in zone 18. During the winter months the Council focused much of its discussion on the overall fishery in the region. Ministry staff did a stellar job in providing the Council with environmental and fisheries data for the region. This included water quality information, species distribution, fishing effort, lake ecology, impacts of invasive species and a number of other environmental parameters. The Ministry staff has also developed a process to develop a Fisheries Management Plan which the Council will follow in developing the FMP for Zone 18. A key aspect of the plan will be the identification of management challenges associated with the recreational fisheries and ways and means to address these issues. The plan will guide the overall management of the fisheries resources of FMZ 18 and will be in effect for 10 years with an internal review after five years. The plan will be designed to be flexible and adaptable to a wide range of future conditions. No time limit has been set for the completion of the plan but Council is now moving toward achieving that goal by first giving consideration to key species in the region. In January, the Council was canvassed by staff as to which species the Council would like to address moving forward. The Council identified walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike as the key species of interest. To this end, the Council held an all-day workshop at the end of March in Perth to identify potential challenges to walleye management in zone 18. Staff identified 5 challenges which were felt to be contributing to the current depleted state of the FMZ 18 populations. These included: harvest, habitat, recruitment, competition and socio-economic challenges. Each was considered in workshop breakout groups, which in turn led to the identification of a number of issues and challenges. Ministry staff has since consolidated the workshop discussions and a second workshop is planned for May 1st to further the development of an overall walleye management goal for Zone 18 as well as objectives and actions to meet the challenges and achieve the goal. Similar effort will be given in turn to smallmouth bass and northern pike in the coming months. Much credit for the success of the Council so far can be attributed to the support given by the staff of the MNR as well as the enthusiasm of Council members in working together to achieve a common goal of a rich and diverse fishery in Zone 18. For further information about the FMZ 18 Council, contact: Mr. Bryan Allemang, Council Secretary and Fisheries Management Biologist, Kemptville District, at Bryan.Allemang@ontario.ca or at (613) 258-8418, fax (613) 258-3920. Duncan Hardy, President of Big Gull Lake (West) Association and FMZ 18 Advisory Council Member River Otter After encountering river otters twice last summer on the cottage roads around Wolfe Lake, I read up on them and thought it was a good topic for this year's newsletter.  The river otter is a large member of the weasel family. Adults weigh between 5.4 - 13.6 kg (12 - 30 lbs) and measure 89 - 130 cm (35 - 51.2 inches) in length. Females are slightly smaller than males. Their round, tapered tail accounts for almost one-third of their total length. The river otter's cylindrical shaped body is long with short legs, and the clawed toes are webbed with furred soles. Their heads are broad and flat, with short rounded ears and small eyes. Both the ears and nostrils have a valve-like membrane and can be closed underwater. River otters have a short muzzle and a prominent nose. They are brown in colour, with a darker colouration on the upper parts, and a pale gray below. The fur is comprised of glossy guard hairs which cover a short, dense and oily undercoat.Although their range is large and covers much of North America, water pollution and formerly unregulated trapping have caused a decline in population. Being at the top of the food chain, they are very susceptible to concentrated chemicals in their diet. The river otter resides in and around lakes, beaver ponds, rivers, streams and tributaries. They do not dig their own dens, but will modify the unused burrows of other mammals. Dens are usually near the water and have inconspicuous underwater entrances. River otters will also utilize abandoned beaver lodges and hollow logs, and might set up residence under tangles of roots or within rocky ledges. Their home range is 4.8 - 16.1 km (3 - 10 mi) at any given season, but over the course of their lifetime, the range may encompass 32 - 50 km (19.9 - 31.1 mi) or more of shoreline. River otters are active throughout the year. They will leave the den at twilight or dark and continue foraging and activity through the evening and often into the following day. They are superb swimmers. Much of their time is spent in the water, where they are aided by webbed feet and strong thrusts of their powerful hind legs and tail (which also serves as a rudder). The river otter can swim at 9.7 km/hour (6 mph) and dive to depths of 13.7m (45 feet). They can stay submerged for several minutes at a time. Surprisingly, the river otter is also swift on land and can easily climb over rocks and logs. River otters engage in rambunctious play, such as repeated handling, shoving or tossing of prey, stones or other objects, as well as tobogganing down mud or snow slides on their stomachs. They play wrestle with one another. A good portion of time is spent grooming. They communicate with an array of sounds -- such as chirping, humming, purring, whistling, clicking, growling and hissing -- as well as by chemical means. Scat is marked by a scent gland and deposited in conspicuous places within their territory. They will also spray scent on pieces of grass they have twisted together. These serve as clues to announce occupancy, individual identity and breeding status to other otters. The river otter's playful reputation is in sharp contrast to its keen abilities as a predator. Its carnivorous diet is comprised of fish, amphibians, reptiles and aquatic invertebrates. They will also prey upon birds and mammals, particularly young muskrats and beavers. Fish are a significant part of the river otter's diet, yet it is the slower-moving species like bullheads and suckers that are usually targeted, rather than game fish. They hunt fish by overtaking or outmaneuvering them underwater, after which they are taken to the shore or surface of the ice to eat. Adults are solitary until mating season, usually in March or April. The female raises her yearly litter of 2 or 3 pups alone. She will entice them into the water when they are about 45 days old, where she teaches them to swim. Some times they will ride on her back for brief periods of time as part of their training. She will also teach the pups to hunt by releasing prey nearby for them to attack. The offspring remain with her until she bears her next litter the following spring. River otters rarely live more than 10 years in the wild, though in captivity they can reach 20 years of age. Because of their aquatic habits, razor sharp teeth, strength, and a reputation for being very aggressive when attacked, they have few predators. Coyotes, foxes, bobcats, raptors and snapping turtles will occasionally prey on young otters and rarely adults. Humans are their biggest threat, due to habitat destruction and hunting. Both of my encounters with river otters involved a group of three individuals. At the first sighting, they were crossing the road in single file at a rollicking lope. I was, in turn, both amused and impressed: how quickly they could disappear into the forest! During the second encounter, three heads popped up out of an algae-covered pond to watch with what seemed like a good deal of counter curiosity! With only their heads visible above the surface and three pairs of bright, intelligent eyes staring back, they looked almost human. The appealing river otter is a real shoo-in for anthropomorphism, but beneath its amusing appearance and playful behavior lies a top notch predator. Margie Manthey Sources: Saunders, D. A. 1988. Adirondack Mammals. State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. 216pp. State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry; and the Adirondack Ecological Center. River Otter. Website: http://www.esf.edu/aec/adks/mammals/otter.htm. Birds Offer Serenity Our days can be so hectic. It seems there's never enough time to accomplish the daily goals we set for ourselves as hours rush by in a blur. We flop into bed at night wondering where the day went, and then start planning tomorrow's schedule. Recently, as I was getting our boys ready for school on a typical, rushed morning, my eye was drawn outside to the bird feeders. For just a moment or two, I watched the flurry of feathered activity: chickadees, nuthatches, cardinals, blue jays and other hardy winter visitors, all vying for seeds. During that brief indulgence, I was able to glean a bit of calming serenity. In continuation of last year's article, I am featuring birds that share the Wolfe and Green Lakes' cottage season with us. If you devote a little time and attention, you should be able to see or hear all of these species. So go ahead: treat yourself to a little serenity. Belted Kingfisher  This stocky, medium-sized (28-35 cm) bird is rather striking, both in shape and colouration. The head is large with a shaggy crest, and the bill is sizeable and thick. It has a bluish head and back, a white throat and collar, and is white underneath with a blue breast band. A rarity in the bird world, female kingfishers are actually more brightly coloured than males. Both sexes may have rufous feathers on their flanks, but only the female has a rufous band across the chest, below the blue band. The belted kingfisher can be found along lakes, rivers, streams and estuaries, where it burrows into the banks to construct its unlined nest. The tunnel slopes upward from the entrance, probably to keep out water, and can be 250 cm (8 ft) long! The belted kingfisher feeds on fish, amphibians, insects, crustaceans, small mammals and reptiles. It hunts by watching the water from a perch, or while hovering, then plunges headfirst into the water to capture its prey which it beats on a branch to kill. Fiercely territorial, the belted kingfisher announces its presence with a loud, rattling cry. Listen for its conspicuous chatter, and you might be fortunate enough to see one diving for its next meal. (You can also spot this bird on the 1986 series five-dollar note.)
Ruffed Grouse  This thick-bodied, chicken-like bird (40-50 cm) has mottled feathers of gray, rusty brown and white which offer superb camouflage. It has a ruffed neck (hence its name), a crested head, and its tail is longish with a dark band and white spots. Both genders look very much alike, but males have a higher crest, larger neck ruff and longer tail feathers. Ruffed grouse are non-migratory, and prefer aspen-rich, mixed woodlands with small clearings. They are omnivorous and feed on leaves, berries, seeds, ferns, acorns, insects, salamanders and even small snakes. Mating season peaks in late April, and to attract a mate, males "drum" with their wings to create deep, thumping sounds which increase in tempo; they usually choose a fallen log for this impressive display. Nests are on the ground and are typically bowl-like depressions in the leaves, usually at the base of a tree, stump or boulder. Male grouse have no parenting role. Between their cryptic colouration and slow, deliberate walk, the ruffed grouse can be virtually invisible in the forest, but you can spot them along the cottage roads. Although population densities across the continent have declined sharply in recent decades due to habitat loss, the ruffed grouse is still widespread in Canada.Barn Swallow  The barn swallow is the most abundant and widely distributed swallow species in the world. It is small and slender (15-19 cm), with iridescent blue upper parts and rufous under parts, and is easily identified by its long, forked tail. This swallow prefers habitats near water that offer open areas for foraging and structures for nesting. Once a cave nester, it now opts to nest almost exclusively on man-made structures like outbuildings or boathouses. Thus, the barn swallow has actually spread with human expansion. It requires mud to construct its nest, which is affixed to a vertical wall under an overhang, or built on a ledge. Competing males will sometimes kill nestlings in order to mate. An aerial acrobat, it swiftly catches insects on the wing, often flying very low and erratically over the water or ground. It vocalizes with a twittering series of squeaks, often punctuated by a rattling sound. Interestingly, female barn swallows prefer mates with longer, more symmetrical tails, and those with a deeper red colour on the chest.Whip-poor-will  This medium-sized (22-26 cm) member of the nightjar family has a large head and tiny bill. It is very well camouflaged in feathers of brown, black and gray. The male's outer three tail feathers have broad white tips, while the female's have buff tips. It breeds in open, deciduous or mixed forests with little or no underbrush. No nests are constructed, and eggs are laid on the ground atop leaf litter. The bird will remain on the nest unless almost stepped on. It forages at dawn, dusk and during moonlit periods of the night, feeding on winged insects, primarily moths and beetles. I find it amazing that the whip-poor-will will lay its clutch of 2 eggs in phase with the lunar cycle - timed so that the eggs will hatch about 10 days before a full moon. When the moon is near full, the adults can forage for insects all night, and better provide the youngsters with food. Due to its cryptic colouration and nocturnal habits, the whip-poor-will is rarely seen. However, its emphatic, repetitive call of "whip-poor-will!" at dusk and dawn make it an easy bird to identify by ear. Like the loon, the whip-poor-will's song is iconic of that quintessential summer evening at the cottage. Sadly, they are in sharp decline and are threatened in Canada. Causes are unclear, but habitat destruction is strongly suspected.Indigo Bunting  The handsome indigo bunting is a small songbird (12-13 cm) with a short, thick bill. A real eye catcher during breeding season, the male is a dark, brilliant blue (think sapphires). The crown is deeper blue, with black in front of the eyes, tail and wing tips. Females are harder to identify, as they are a dull brown with rather indistinct markings. They favor the brushy edges of cultivated land and roadsides, old fields and open, deciduous forests for breeding. Their nests are placed in a shrub or plant close to the ground. Forage includes small insects and spiders, which it gleans off of branches, as well as seeds, buds and berries. The indigo bunting's song is a pleasant series of melodic sequences, sung by the male from an elevated site: "sweet-sweet chew-chew sweet-sweet". Interestingly, these musical sequences seem to be unique to different bird "neighbourhoods" and will vary from area to area. Males on a neighbouring territory have the same or similar songs, but those a few hundred meters away will have different sequences. These birds migrate at night and have an amazing ability to use the stars for guidance. An orientation to the night sky is learned when they are young. Experienced, adult indigo buntings can find their way back to their breeding sites when held captive over the winter and released far from their usual wintering spots.Margie Manthey Sources and Photography Credits: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "All About Birds." Online http://www.allaboutbirds.org Wikipedia. Online http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MainPage Indigo bunting photograph courtesy of Christopher Taylor. Online http://www.kiwifoto.com. Blog:http://www.kiwifoto.com/blog. Ruffed grouse photograph courtesy of Richard Mooney. Blog: Westcoastbirding.wordpress.com. Whip-poor-will photograph courtesy of Lloyd Spitalnik. Lloyd Spitalnik's Wildlife Galleries. Online www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com.  |