HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2017-05-24, Page 3Kinburn welcomes
American biologist
to help with declining
bird population
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
Several bird species are declining
worldwide and Huron County spe-
cifically, an American biologist rec-
ognizes this and recently educated
locals to assist in ways to improve
habitats for a higher percentage of
survival -most notably the Ruffed
Grouse.
The Ruffed Grouse is well known
for its thumping sound from beating
its wings; as it flaps, the sound
enhances faster and faster and can
be comparable to an engine attempt-
ing to start.
During a seminar at Kinburn Hall
May 17, the Ruffed Grouse Society of
Canada biologist Andy Weik shared
information with landowners to
enhance the bird population.
The most ideal way to do this is
by increasing the younger stage of
forest growth, which can be tricky
said 53 -year-old Weik as the
region's land mass is surrounded
by farm land.
"The Ruffed Grouse is not endan-
gered of going instinct, it's a popular
game bird," explained Weik last
Thursday. "In some areas, the
amount of forest on the landscape,
say on the county scales like Norfolk
or Huron County, because the agri-
culture is such a predominate land
use, the amount of forests are fairly
small and mature as well."
The reason why it's of such impor-
tance to have younger and smaller
trees or shrubs growing is that it ena-
bles the Ruffed Grouse to hide down
low from predators such as hawks
and foxes.
Weik referenced this comparable
to a population with no children, in
wildlife terms they call it the pro-
duction of the early successional
forests, "the young growth of the
forest."
Usually the simplest resolution is to
conduct a timber harvest, which
allows forests to generate a more sus-
tainable environment for wildlife. This
can be achieved by the removal of dis-
eased, burned or insect -contaminated
trees.
Weik said this opens up the wooded
areas subsequently welcoming sun-
light to the earth's floor.
A longer process, yet still somewhat
efficient, is planting on the property of
abandoned farmland.
"There are many species of song-
birds that use the same habitat as the
Ruffed Grouse that are actually declin-
ing more," stated Weik.
"So there is an emphasis to try to
help all these birds out."
The Ruffed Grouse Society of
Canada has recently teamed up
and formed a Huron -Perth
chapter.
The Huron -Perth Chapter will be
holding its inaugural fundraising
banquet dinner in St. Mary's on
June 10 at the Pyramid Rec Centre.
For more information, contact
Matthew Shetler at 519-525-0429 or
Rod Stevula at 226-989-2049.All
proceeds from the fundraising will
be used to enhance habitat at Hul-
lett Marsh and other wild areas in
Huron and Perth.
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Wednesday. May 24, 2017 • Huron Expositor 3
The Ruffed Grouse is decreasing in population, the Ruffed Grouse Society of Canada biologist Andy Weik
explained to locals how to improve habitats in the area at Kinburn Hall May 17.
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