Wanted: People Wild About Wetlands

WANTED: PEOPLE WILD ABOUT WETLANDS

Wednesday, February 28, 2007 (Napanee Beaver)

Friday, March 02, 2007 (Picton Gazette)

With cold weather and snow still upon us, it seems difficult to believe that one day it will all disappear, and the wetlands once again will be filled with the songs of frogs and marsh birds. Animals, especially frogs, are great indicators of the health of our environment since they respond readily to environmental changes. For six years, I have had the pleasure of seeking volunteers to assist in monitoring local marshes as part of the Community Wildlife Monitoring Program.

Bird Studies Canada (BSC), in partnership with Environment Canada, the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan and Quinte Conservation, have partnered in this effort to evaluate the condition of our local wetlands. It was over 20 years ago when the Bay of Quinte Area of Concern (AOC) was identified by the International Joint Commission as degraded and in need of remediation. A mix of toxic contaminants, bacterial, and nutrient overloads had led to great imbalances in the aquatic ecosystem of the bay. Plant and animal diversity was being lost, and habitats, especially wetlands were disappearing or seriously degraded. The Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan’s Restoration Council carries out actions with local partners in its efforts to restore the Bay and its drainage area. Wildlife monitoring is part of the process as their overall populations tell us a lot about our progress.

As part of the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan, 32 wetlands have been identified as requiring monitoring efforts to assist in the evaluation of wildlife populations and their habitats within the AOC. Once again, we are looking for volunteers to take part in the program to monitor birds and frogs in marshes at or near Carrying Place, Blessington Creek, Sawguin Creek, Big Island, Sucker Creek, Lower Napanee River, Hay Bay, Carnachan Bay and Solmesville. As always, volunteers from outside these areas who wish to monitor their local marshes, are always welcome too.

The Marsh Monitoring Program, established in 1994, contains two components, monitoring birds and monitoring frogs. Participants who choose to participate in this program can do one, or both. Monitoring the marsh birds involves twice yearly visits to the marsh of your choice, for 10 minutes each visit, between May and July. If participants decide to monitor the amphibians too, that is done three times during the year for three minutes each between April and late June. Sounds pretty easy doesn’t it? Volunteers will receive training tapes and instructions on how to proceed with the monitoring. A training workshop is taking place at Quinte Conservation on Friday March 9th, commencing at 7:00 p.m.

Kathy Jones is the Aquatic Surveys Volunteer and Data Coordinator with Bird Studies Canada of Port Rowan. She says the program was designed to aid the conservation of marsh habitat by establishing baseline assessments of bird and amphibian populations and by monitoring population changes and habitat requirements of marsh birds and amphibians over the long term.

“The program provides everyone – from amateur naturalists to professional biologists with a unique and rewarding opportunity to help learn about and conserve wetlands. Volunteer based efforts like the MMP are a great conservation and research tool. For example, population trends developed from 10 years of data collected by MMP participants have shown significant declines in black terns, red-winged blackbirds, chorus frogs and American toads, as well as significant increases in great blue herons and spring peepers.”

What makes the frog monitoring aspect of the MMP so attractive is that we have only eight species in the immediate Quinte area, and their calls significantly differ from each other. This is where I come in. At the Marsh Monitoring workshop at Quinte Conservation on March 9^th, I will teach prospective volunteers how easy it is to separate the various species we have in this area, and will also go through a number of the birds and their calls that you are apt to encounter during your monitoring efforts. I will also walk you through the protocol and show you how easy it is to set up your survey stations. Those who volunteer will receive a package of material from Bird Studies Canada, including a monitoring CD/cassette tape, as well as an identification recording of those species common to wetlands. The workshop commences at 7:00 p.m., and while there is no cost to attend, it would be helpful if you could let me know if you are attending, so I can arrange for seating and refreshments. More information on the Marsh Monitoring Program can be obtained on the Internet at: http://www.bsc-eoc.org/mmpmain.html .

Sound intriguing? We welcome volunteers throughout the Prince Edward County, Trenton, Belleville, and Napanee areas. Just give me a call at 613-476-5072 or leave a message for me at 613-968-3434 (111). Napanee area residents can call me at 613-354-3312. You can also e-mail tsprague@kos.net. Please be prepared to leave a message as I am now working from my home office; however, I check my messages regularly and will return your calls. Quinte Conservation is located just west of Belleville, at 2061 Old Highway 2.

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