News from the Dark Sky Guy - Bayside Astronomy's Mike Warkentin
Spring 2024 was an incredible experience for those who look up at the skies. First off, on April 8, 2024, we experienced a total eclipse of the sun at about 3:15 pm in the afternoon. Typically, the weather conditions in early April in Southern Ontario are terrible, with either snow or rain for most of the areas on the path of totality. However, the skies did clear in Hamilton just in time for totality, and areas of southwestern Ontario near London and Sarnia had perfectly clear skies. Total eclipses occur when the moon completely covers the face of the sun, a cosmic coincidence of grand proportions because while the sun is 400 times larger than the moon, it is also 400 times farther away, so they both appear to be about the same size in the sky. Here is a picture of the eclipse at totality:
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Then in May, we had a spectacular view of the northern lights caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are streams of ionized particles that are ejected from active sunspot regions that hit the earth’s magnetic field and interact with the nitrogen and oxygen atoms causing them to emit coloured light. These northern lights, normally visible near the Arctic Circle, were visible as far south as Florida. This is a typical picture from the Saugeen Bruce.
We also did dark sky presentations for the 1st Nottawa Scouts in Big Bay, and gave a dark sky presentation to town council for Southern Bruce Peninsula.
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Finally, Bayside Astronomy is also all set to go for 2024. We have Dante Hunter back as Program Manager and have hired Grace Jaklitsch, a University of Guelph history major who has a family cottage on the Saugeen Bruce, to be our second Program Manager. Herschel, our 20” Dobsonian, will be available on the first night Fri, June 28th, in Lions Head, and as usual, we run programs every Friday and Saturday night at dusk at the Lion's Head Marina, Sunday at Singing Sands Park, Mondays at Miller Family Camp and Wednesdays at Summer House Park.
Come out and meet Dante and Grace and “Be Starstruck”!
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Biosphere Membership Field Trips
Two of our Membership Field Trips, Birding 101 and The Snake Trail Boardwalk, have now been run. Thank you to First Nation's guide Caley Doran, Rod and Pat Sein for volunteering their time and expertise to run these.
If you'd like to get out on one of our remaining field trips you'll have to become a member. If you are already a member, go to the members' reservation page and sign up for an exclusive tour! They are FREE for members.
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EcoAdventures Summer 2024
Are you looking for a caving adventure? How about a full moon hike along the Georgian Bay shore? Or maybe you want to check out a fun Forest Escape at Cyprus Lake?
Go to MYECOADVENTURES.CA to sign up for your adventure on the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula! Become a Biosphere Association member, and get 25% off all your EcoAdventures
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EcoAdventures Winter/Spring 2024 a Great Success!
Even with the lack of snow, our Snowshoe the Grotto adventures, which started on December 30th, 2023, and ran until the beginning of March, were still much enjoyed by those who ventured out. In March, EcoAdventures offered three well-attended Owl Prowl night hikes led by birders Pat and Rod Sein. Participants had the good fortune to hear a Northern Saw-whet owl on the adventure!
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Raffle Tickets On Sale Now!
Our latest fundraiser is your chance to win great prizes! Get your raffle tickets today from any Board Member, only $10 each. Draw will be held Oct 6 during the Gravel Gran Fondo in Lion's Head.
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October 6, 2024, Bruce Peninsula Gravel Gran Fondo 2024 Sold Out!
Volunteers and Sponsors Wanted!
The Gravel Gran Fondo has a loyal following and has already sold out with over 400 riders registered. With four routes to choose from, ranging from 34 to 56 to 80 and up to 115 km, the event attracts riders of all abilities and ages. We are currently looking for volunteers and sponsors for the event, our biggest fundraiser.
Please visit the website to sign up as a volunteer or sponsor or to be put on our rider waiting list: https://www.brucegravelfondo.com/
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Native Planting Along the Albemarle Brook
On Wednesday, June 12th, a group of Biosphere Association employees, Board members, and volunteers, with the help of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, planted native trees and shrubs within the riparian zone at two sites along the Albemarle Brook. The planting represents the final stage in our restoration and preservation of the critically important cold-water stream, which flows through the provincially significant Albemarle Wetland, joining the Rankin River system and ultimately joining the Sauble River and Lake Huron.
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Previously the Biosphere Association had installed three alternate watering systems and fencing bordering Albemarle Brook to minimize access by cattle.
When livestock utilize streams as a source of drinking water they can degrade the water quality of those streams and stream ecosystems.
Part of the restoration efforts of degraded stream ecosystems is the renewal of the riparian buffer zone, which is a strip of vegetation made up of tall grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees along the shores of a waterway.
The riparian zone aids in bank stabilization (erosion control) and flood attenuation, improves water quality and soil health, and both creates and enhances aquatic and upland terrestrial habitat.
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Environment Canada recommends a riparian buffer zone of 30 metres, however a minimum of 5 metres will create a suitable buffer from adjacent land activities.
It was an enjoyable day in the June sun, observing swimming muskrat, zipping dragonflies, and chirping red-winged blackbirds, as nine enthusiastic planters undertook planting of native trees and shrubs, including eastern white pine, spice bush, and New York ironweed. Despite the constant hum of deer flies, we savoured the opportunity to contribute to the rehabilitation of a critically important water system on the Bruce Peninsula. It was an opportunity to witness the success of the Biosphere Association’s efforts, and the natural proliferation
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Climate Action - Heat Pump Workshops Held This Spring
The Biosphere hosted two free Heat Pump Workshops this spring on February 24th in Lion's Head and June 8 in Tobermory.
Heat pumps are an environmentally friendly way to save energy costs while still providing effective heating and cooling for your home.
We had over 80 attendees at these events. Please visit our website to learn more.
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Environmental Network Meetings
The Environment Network (EN) brings together the multiple government agencies, land trusts and non-profit/charitable organisations responsible for the conservation of the Bruce Peninsula. After a 5 year hiatus this network was re-initiated by Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association (BPBA). An initial meeting in October 2023 sought to lay out the activities of each of the agencies, trusts and organizations and therefore identify common or overlapping interests as well as areas where specific activities beneficial to the conservation of the Bruce Peninsula are lacking. Fourteen agencies were represented at this meeting and a wide range of issues were discussed and action items agreed upon, especially with regard to increased collaboration and data sharing, community involvement, and initiatives relating to climate change. It was also agreed to hold biannual EN meetings, with the second of these taking place in April of this year.
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Again, multiple agencies and organizations were represented, and much of the discussions were centred on the specifics of the issues identified in October 2023 and also updated to the various ongoing activities and projects.
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Examples of these include wetland assessment, land acquisition, water monitoring, invasive species eradication and at-risk species protection, and the unique subjects of the Bruce Peninsula alvars and karst. The BPBA now looks forward to next EN meeting which has been tentatively set for October 2024.
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Fundraising Update - Easter Eggs and an Evening of Elegance Both SOLD OUT!
Our hand-crafted Easter eggs were another sellout this year and helped us raise over $3,000. This summer's Elegant Black and White Evening on Aug 24 is also a sellout. All fundraising efforts support our important environmental causes. Thank you to all our supporters!
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2024 Septic System Program (MECP funded) well underway
We completed two successful septic workshops in 2023 and we are now gearing up for our 2024 workshops. During these workshops, participants learn about the inner workings of a septic systems and how to properly care for their investment. Watch for notification on bpba.ca for the next workshop.
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Special thanks and recognition to Carol Harris - we used her remarkable photo of winter at the Grotto, which appeared in our last issue of the Biosphere News.
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