The Rural Voice, 2003-07, Page 35that the mullet spawn had begun. Not
only were these observations useful
to me (what boy doesn't want to
catch a fish), but the awareness of my
natural surroundings that it fostered
continues to grow and entertain my
family and me.
Heck, the opportunities abound to
capture our own and our children's
interest. My young daughter and I
had a neat lesson last spring when a
mourning cloak butterfly landed on
her shoulder. It was mid-April and
the temperature had reached 30
degrees Celsius. When Emily and I
got home and looked up the butterfly
in one of our nature guides, we
learned that these over -wintering
butterflies are "often seen on the first
warm day of spring".
These outings have evolved into
the keeping of a nature journal —
covering everything from butterflies
and wildflowers to frogs and birds —
and in addition to our observations,
includes personal sketches and notes
about our outings that will
undoubtedly be a keepsake for us.0
Tip Box
Who's Keeping Track: Some
commonly monitored events:
Farm and Garden:
• Germination, leaf stages and budburst
• Flowering dates (First, 50% bloom, 90% -bloom)
• Emergence of insect and weed species
• Planting and harvesting times
• Frost dates (linked by some to moon phases)
• Soil temperatures
Fishing and Foraging:
• Migrations and Spawning dates
• Emergence of insects (and changing feeding habits of fish)
• First calls of frogs and toads (12 species to monitor in Ontario)
• Water temperatures, freeze -over and ice -off dates
• Fruiting dates (from mushrooms and morels to elderberries and
blackberries)
Photographers and Nature Enthusiasts (and
trip planning):
• Bird migrations, nesting activities, and first fledglings
• Growth stages and flowering times of plants and wildflowers
• Emergence of butterfly and insect species
• Breeding and denning activities of mammals
• Waves of colour of fall leaves
• Fruiting of mast crops like nuts and acorns
• Anything that interests you
Classroom or Family Science Project:
• Sign up with Environment Canada's Ecological Monitoring Assessment
Network (EMAN) at (http://eqb-dqe.cciw.ca). Volunteers of all ages welcome
to help gather observations, including:
• PlantWatch
• FrogWatch
• LichenWatch
• IceWatch
• Students, teachers and enthusiasts can get information and link up at the
Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE)
website (www.globe.gov).0
DAVID E. GREIN
LOGGING
Buyer of Standing
& Felled Hardwood Timber
& Bush Lots
• Competitive Pricing
• Quality Workmanship
• Over 20 Years Experience
R.R.#1 Neustadt (519) 799-5997
INDUSTRIAL &
FARM SUPPLIES
• Nuts & Bolts (all grades)
• Hydraulic hose & fittings
• Belts • Bearings
• Grade 70 Transport Chain
• Roller Chain
• Tools
Springmount Industrial Park
Owen Sound N4K 5N7
519-376-0283 FAX 519-376-7202
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SOMMERS
• Standby/Prime Power generator
systems 5 Kw to 2MW
• Commercial duty portable
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• Rental generators 8Kw to 1 MW
• Electric motor repair and rewinding
with replacements in stock to 2501 -IP
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• Reliable, high quality product
since 1936
• Call for dealers near you
SOMMERS MOTOR
GENERATOR
SALES LTD.
1.800.690-2396
101 Woodstock St., S.
Tavistock, ON NOB 2R0
JULY 2003 31