Exploring Nature’s Bounty at the Frink

EXPLORING NATURE’S BOUNTY AT THE FRINK

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 (Napanee Beaver)

Friday, March 30, 2007 (Picton Gazette)

There were two Virginia rails calling enthusiastically from the cattail marsh at the H.R. Frink Centre at this time last year, following a period of warm weather. An incredible early date for a species that normally does not arrive much before mid-April. However, the unexpected can always be expected at this 400 acre site, some nine kilometres north of Belleville. Located two kilometres east of Highway 37, the property is bisected by Thrasher Road, and unless you are looking for the Frink Centre, it is easy to pass right by without knowing it is there, neatly tucked in amongst the white cedars and pines. On the property’s north side, canoeists on the Moira River similarly paddle by, unaware of this natural gem that has been functioning as an education centre since 1972.

The provincially significant cattail marsh where a 500 metre boardwalk allows visitors to rub shoulders with Blanding’s turtles, nesting red-winged blackbirds, and view a plethora of aquatic insects, is only a sample of what this 400-acre property, owned by Quinte Conservation, has to offer. Play a tape recording briefly of a few select marsh inhabitants, and a Virginia rail may very well emerge from its wetland haunts to check out the perceived intruder. Joining it often will be its similar cousin, the sora. Without this boardwalk, observations of these secretive marsh dwellers who have limited interest in making our acquaintance, would be impossible.

As we enter the Link Trail, connecting the Marsh Boardwalk to a few of the property’s interior trails, the scene changes. Leaving a mixed flock of singing blackbirds behind, suddenly the forest floor is alive with the rustling of seed eating migrants. Spring plumaged song sparrows in their bold stripes, appear only momentarily, eager to resume their scratching in the decaying leaf litter, now and again weak attempts at a song. Remnants of wintering juncos are there too, and kinglets with their lispy notes filter through the white cedars.

The trail we are on is but one of many that thread through a mosaic of habitats here. There are drumlins, succession fields, beaver ponds, streams and white cedar swamps. One of my favourites is the Hi-Lo Trail, appropriately named as it takes the hiker from an impressive and major drumlin down into a boggy silver maple swamp, then up again to a network of trails that branch off into different directions, ultimately returning to the main parking lot. But you won’t get your feet wet here, as a long, wooden boardwalk has been thoughtfully constructed, allowing hikers to view the inhabitants of the silver maple swamp in comfort. A few more vines, a bit of Spanish moss, an alligator or two, and a bit of imagination, and the hiker is mentally transported for a few moments to a southern swamp, somewhere in Louisiana.

A portion of the H.R. Frink Centre borders the Moira River, and one of the trails introduces hikers to river ecology and a view of one of the quieter stretches of the river, awash in colourful aquatic vegetation, accented by a backdrop of small wooded islands. It is here where we will spend some time this summer on one of Quinte Conservation’s interpretive canoe paddles, exploring the rich aquatic life along the shoreline and the islands, as well as hiking one of the conservation area’s interior trails.

With names like the Horsetail Trail, Pine Trail, Beaver Trail and Cedar Trail, we begin to get a feel for the Frink Centre’s wide diversity of habitat. In a perfect blend of natural and human history, the Settler’s Trail takes the hiker through succession fields and mixed forest where reminders of bygone days tell a story of early efforts to eke out a living here. There are rail and stone fences, painstakingly sculpted by the hands of settlers. We find wagon wheels, and even a stone arch used for syrup making.

And the wildlife here is spectacular in all seasons, especially winter. This is one of few dependable areas where evidence of snowshoe hares may be found, huge footprints nearing the size of a child’s outstretched hand, mingle with tracks of weasel, white-footed mice, red foxes, otters, and more recently, fishers. The trails are even open in winter, for the constant parade of school classes enjoying an unparalleled introduction to the wintertime natural world, make them that way.

It has been a pleasure over the years to be involved in some of the programs at the Frink Centre, and to lead hikes at this remarkable natural paradise during seasonal Activity Days, and other special events. I will be there again, on April 1^st, for their Maple Fest celebrations. During Quinte Conservation’s 12-year history of Monday evening hikes in the spring throughout the Quinte area, the Frink Centre hikes have consistently drawn out some of the highest numbers of people in the evening hike series.

We hope you will plan on joining us this year, as we continue to amaze hikers with the bounty of natural offerings that may be found at the H.R. Frink Centre. It is an absolutely incredible area and Quinte Conservation is proud to showcase it at these special events that are scheduled throughout the year.

The H.R. Frink Outdoor Education Centre is located on the Plainfield Conservation Area. Owned by Quinte Conservation, the Centre is run by the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board in partnership with the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board. The Centre was named after Bert Frink who was a prominent educator in Hastings County, and also Chairman of the Moira River Conservation Authority (now Quinte Conservation).

This week’s column was prepared on behalf of Quinte Conservation.