Village Squire, 1977-10, Page 37summer bird population.
"What are those birds flying overhead?
...purple martins?...right and beyond?
gulls or terns...they're terns...right,where
do terns live?"
"In ternamy?"
Dickson had everyone alerted for the
first sign of migrating warblers and sure
enough several sightings touched off
excited efforts at exact identification. One
budding birder excitedly announced, "I
see one...it's a wobbler!"
Many of the group had been on previous
tours and it was amazing the level of
knowledge these youngsters had acquired
about Point Pelee wildlife and flora.
Dickson would feign astonishment if the
chorus of answers were not instantaneous-
ly correct. My personal score was little
more than a shame -faced one out of three.
Trees noted in passing were pawpaw,
tulip. sassafras and curly barked hackber-
ry, all seldom seen strangers to the boreal
forest dweller from the north. A leaf gall
was correctly identified and a large colorful
butterfly cocoon was carefully examined
but left undisturbed.
The early migrants were moving in and
the bird hike recorded four species of
migrating warblers in addition to the
regular park residents who nest here.
Pelee offers one of the largest
undisturbed fresh water marshes in
southern Canada. The marsh can be toured
by canoe, available on a rental basis right
in the park, or by a mile long (1.6
kilometre) boardwalk capped by a 40 -foot
(12 -metre) observation tower that offers a
panoramic view of the vast expanse of
aquatic vegetation stretching away to the
horizon.
We took to canoes to explore the marsh
but with varying degrees of success. While
a canoe is the ideal craft for observing
wildlife and flora, the manipulation of the
craft for young, first-time voyageurs
demanded the attention that would
normally be directed to the study of flora
and fauna. When more time was being
allocated to debate on paddling technique
than actual travel, the interpreters directed
all hands to return to port for lunch. What
had begun as a nature tour, evolved into a
valuable lesson in canoemanship so all was
not lost.
The Board Walk tour was led by Mary
Martin and the first order of business was.
with the aid of a metal pan, to observe and
identify the varigty of aquatic insects to be
found on a single plant.
Muskrats would be seen, Mary Martin
had said, but the thunder of youthful feet
on the wood planking and excited chat
were too much for the shy rodents. Their
cuttings and reed platforms were observed
along with several turtles basking in the
sun.
A variety of aquatic plants were
examined including the red berries of the
highly toxic Deadly Nightshade along with
a bladderwort that eats bugs.
Ducks. grebes and herons were added to
the birders' lists.
Hikers will enjoy the Woodland Nature
Trail, a circuit route through the
woodlands, that starts and doubles back to
the interpretive centre while another
lakeside route follows the shoreline from
West Beach for a two mile (three
kilometre) beachcombing trek right out to
the tip of the point.
Pelee was a graveyard for great lakes'
shipping and even today the ever shifting
sandbars are a source of concern for Parks
Canada officials who are trying to protect
the sands against the assaults of Lake Erie.
The present day lighthouse, built two years
ago on the end of the point, is now two
miles (3 kilometres) off shore and beyond
the present day tip.
The Point today terminates as a
picturesque and sloping beach extending
200 yards (180 metres) beyond the end of
the forest. The most southerly tree on
mainland Canada is a red mulberry, a
species restricted to the southern
deciduous forests along the north shore of
the great lakes.
To restrict vehicular traffic, and protect
the environment, trackless motor trains
run continuously between the parking lots
and the point during the summer months.
It should also be noted that there are no
private camping facilities within the park.
There are four privately operated
campgrounds (see Ontario/Canada Camp-
ing booklet) all within a few miles of the
park gate.
There is so much to see and do during a
visit to one of Canada's 28 national parks
that to acquaint and avail oneself of the
nature interpretive programs is like having
someone tell you an enjoyable and
fascinating story. ❑
i
1
STRA TFORD
Ceramic Centre
* DUNCAN
& AMERICAN BEAUTY Y
GLAZES & STAINS.
* GRUMBACHER BRUSHES
* CLEANING TOOLS
* SPONGES
* QUALITY GREENWARE
Classes available
For all your
ceramic needs
2- 5 York St.
STRATFORD
Phone 273-2642
Announcement
Ed Caron is pleased to announce
that he has purchased The Organ Loft
in Stratford.
He has been manager of The Organ
Loft for the past 3 years and is in his
fifth year as a Lowrey Organ
Consultant.
Ed will extend to his customers the
same personal, courteous service as
always, under the store's new name.
caron
EYBOARDS
A full line of Lowrey Organs, Pianos
and Story & Clark Pianos will continue
to be featured.
27 Ontario St., Stratford Ph. 273-0213
•
VILLAGE SQUIRE/OCTOBER 1977, 35.