Oxygen Grows On Trees

Backyard Birds Open a Window on Science, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

2012-01-28T09:23:00.000-05:00

Backyard Birds Open a Window on Science, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

What We Do Citizen Science, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

2012-01-28T08:51:00.000-05:00

What We Do Citizen Science, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Bird, bird, bird ... bird count’s the word - Timmins Daily Press - Ontario, CA

2011-12-20T21:44:00.000-05:00

Front Page Timmins Daily Press

Bird, bird, bird ... bird count’s the word - Timmins Daily Press - Ontario, CA

Successful Christmas Bird Count

2011-12-18T16:27:00.004-05:00

Timmins Naturalists

2011 Christmas Bird Count

Total Individuals : 522

Total Species : 21

Total Participants : 13

Total Party Hours : 21.5

Total Party Kilometres : 293.5

Great Observation : Pair of Bald Eagles!

The video is a little bumpy, I forgot my monopod, but used the youtube stabilizer app. I think fixed it a little, still you can clearly see it is an eagle. The pair flew down river a couple of times while we walked on the trail along the river.

Data 2000 - 2011 as a *.pdf here

Timmins Naturalists page here

back to oxygen grows on trees blog here

2011-12-04T18:01:00.001-05:00

Timmins Christmas Bird Count

This year it will be Saturday December 17th, 2011

More Info here

What Grows on Cedar?

2011-12-01T21:30:00.001-05:00

What is this grow on the side of an Eastern White Cedar?

Looks like a explosion of square cells.

Help me out.

Tell me what it is!

Spruce Loves Birch

2011-12-01T21:13:00.001-05:00

This is a great picture of a Spruce Tree hugging a White birch.

These two land locked lovers will stand for many more years.

Edmund Fitzgerald

2011-11-12T23:52:00.001-05:00

Thanks http://janesjewels.blogspot.com

This Day In History

Greetings!

A new feature at Jane's Jewels will be the occasional 'This Day In History'. Today's story takes place on Lake Superior, that huge, treacherous, yet oh so beautiful Great Lake. I lived in Thunder Bay for six years during my late teens/early twenties, and what I remember most about my time there was the wind, which never seemed to stop blowing.

The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that made headlines after sinking in a Lake Superior storm on November 10, 1975, with the loss of the entire crew. When launched on June 8, 1958, she was the largest boat on the Great Lakes, and remains the largest boat to have sunk there. Nicknamed the "Mighty Fitz", "Fitz", or "Big Fitz", the ship suffered a series of mishaps during her launch: it took three attempts to break the champagne bottle used to christen her and she collided with a pier when she entered the water. (Wiki)

Gordon Lightfoot immortalized this tragedy in his haunting 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald'. This song quite often comes to mind when I hear or see the word November; in fact that's how I ended up profiling this story.

Wood Heat Answers

2011-10-22T22:06:00.001-04:00

Is Wood Heat Going Backwards as a Technology?

History will teach us everything!

The Wood Pile is a great webpage resource.

Go take a look now

Wood Burning, Renewable Energy Source!

2011-10-17T21:57:00.001-04:00

Warms the cool damp basement

Wood Warms Twice

at least

Pick up the wood, carry it to the truck - makes me warm

Carry the wood from the truck to the cut and split pile - makes me warm

Cut and split the wood and carry to the wood shed - makes me warm

Carry the wood from the wood shed to the basement - makes me warm

Finally, having a fire makes me and the whole family warm

Wood is a renewable resource, so is a great substitute for natural gas and electricity.

I burn white birch and dry jackpine.

Great BTU (heat) from both.

I am lucky to work in the forest around Timmins, Ontario for Millson Forestry Service.

The best deal on Cut and Split dry white birch wood is Millson's

You can visit the webstore and webpage to see what is available.

What is great is you can buy a box full, pickup load or dump truck full.

Woodheat.org

Heating with Wood

The Engineering ToolBox

Wood Energy Content and comparison

Ontario Wood Lot

In Favour of Wood Heat - The Facts +++

Hiking Day in Timmins

2011-10-17T21:07:00.000-04:00

Second Annual Hiking Day

Warm and sunny, just like we planned.

Long hike and short hike.

Did not want the hot chocolate at the end of the hike the cold juice box was more to my liking.

We walked a gentle 4 km, discussing the Hersey Lake area, trees and mushrooms.

Timmins Naturalists
Wintergreen Fund for Conservation

Block of wood

2011-10-01T23:32:00.002-04:00

ya just got to luv it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bNu4xLIzso

Monty Python

2011-10-01T23:29:00.002-04:00

I just love this!!

I also like to press wild flowers, womens clothing not so much

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZa26_esLBE

Wolf Spider

2011-10-01T20:29:00.001-04:00

Wolf Spider is my Guess??

My little Sony camera is not that hightech, but it sure can get some good pictures. It is little enough that I do carry it with me everywhere.

This spider is a big one!

August 31, 2011

TD Tree Days

2011-10-01T20:20:00.001-04:00

Gillies Lake Tree Plant with TD

Friends and family of TD Bank tree planted at Gillies Lake. The environment fund provided the monies to make it all happen.

The group planted and mulched over 100 tree seedlings. These areas will provide great habitat in another 5 years.

September 10, 2011

Trees were purchased from Millson Forestry Service here in Timmins.

Help us Catch a CAT | Win A Caterpillar CT660

2011-10-01T19:41:00.000-04:00

Help us Catch a CAT | Win A Caterpillar CT660

Wintergreen Fund for Conservation Book Project

2011-06-06T21:29:00.002-04:00

Wintergreen

Walking Trails

Conservation Areas

The Wintergreen Fund for Conservation and the Timmins Naturalists are once again producing a perpetual date book.

This book is full of natural history information, Timmins temperature extremes and best of all it has City of Timmins historic information for each day. Great book for the 100 year celebration here in Timmins.

What can I do with a perpetual book, why is it so special?

Write all the events you want to remember, you can use it every year!
Leave it at your front door, visitors sign the day are visiting, use it for many years to see the popular days.
Many use it as a garden book, what date did you plant what every year.
Natural observations - turns out robins appear in Timmins within a couple of days of April 11th every year.
Birth and death dates - a book you can pass on to the kids.

Money raised is for conservation efforts in Timmins.

Please pick your day carefully and let us know as soon as possible.

See the Commercial on Youtube

Go directly to the Project summary page, go now

oxygen grows on trees

Ecole Secondaire Theriault Class come to Learn

2011-05-31T16:56:00.001-04:00

Future Environmentalist

Learn the IMPORTANCE of our Forest Resources

The grade 12 class from Ecole Secondaire Theriault came for a tour at the greenhouse complex to learn what we do at Millson Forestry Service.

Map of school location and street view of the entrance

École Secondaire Theriault

oxygengrowsontrees

2011 Arbour Day in Timmins Announced

2011-05-31T16:54:00.001-04:00

ARBOUR DAY CELEBRATION

SATURDAY, JUNE 4

Wintergreen Fund Will Be Handing Out Trees This Saturday at Three Locations Across The City The Wintergreen Fund for Conservation with the support of Millson Forestry is pleased to announce that they will be hosting the Annual Arbour Day celebration at three locations across the City; the White Waterfront Conservation Area in South Porcupine, the Mattagami Park in Mountjoy and at the Gillies Lake Conservation Area. The event will be this Saturday, June 4 from 10 AM to 1 PM.

In addition to the handing out of white spruce seedlings, everyone will be eligible to win one of three bat boxes or one of the new Birds of Timmins posters. As in past years, those picking up trees will be asked for a small voluntary donation. The monies raised will go towards the many Wintergreen community conservation projects including trails, conservation education and student bursaries. It should be noted that Muddy Mark will be on hand at the Mountjoy location to answer any questions you may have concerning trees, birds or what you can do to help the environment.

Those wanting more information can contact the Wintergreen Fund
or the Conservation Authority at 360-2660.

Timmins Times article

Last Year Arbour Day

Trees have never been free

oxygengrowsontrees

.

Free Tree Seedlings, NOT, in Timmins

2011-05-20T21:38:00.000-04:00

Free Tree Seedlings (not free)
June 04, 2011
Porcupine
Timmins
Mountjoy

Tree Seedlings have never been free.

I have been involved in Arbour Day here in Timmins for more than 30 years. For almost 10 years with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), others and finally Wintergreen Fund for Conservation for the last number of years.

The OMNR handed out trees for so many years that budding tree planters expected to get free trees every year. Many still expect that today. The fact is the trees were never free. You did not pay for them when you picked them up, you paid for them before you picked them. The tree seedlings all came from Provincially funded tree seedling nurseries. Your tax dollars paid for every tree.

Now all the tree seedlings come from private tree nurseries, the OMNR has no production tree nurseries anymore.

Here in Timmins, the Wintergreen Fund for Conservation buy the tree seedlings from Millson Forestry Service and ask for a donation on Arbour Day to cover the cost and raise money. You must remember this is a money raiser for Conservation efforts here in Timmins!

First Flower on the Floor of the Forest

2011-05-17T21:39:00.000-04:00

First Bloom in the Boreal

Finally, a colour other than white snow and green trees, now the subtle pink and purple of a flower. The first flower I have seen this season in the forest.

I took a picture, as you can see, but it is not great. The camera I use, Sony DSC-W350, is not the greatest camera I have ever used, but it is the smallest camera that can come with me everywhere. It is in my pocket in the rain, the snow, the 40 below.

The camera will fit in a plastic peanut butter jar. When we go kayaking the camera is in the jar, sealed and water proof. Need to take a picture? Let me just throw it at you. Soft landing in the water, you retrieve the camera and get a wonderful picture of me with the loon in the foreground.

Nice compact camera, but one day I would like to be able to afford a digital camera similar to the SLR I used to have.

This little flower, I am not sure what it is. My guess is Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana), but if you have another suggest I am interested.

See more information at

eNature

Ontario Wildflowers

I'm looking Good!!

oxygen grows on trees Oxygen G.O.T.

Spring Beaver

2011-05-13T22:49:00.000-04:00

Spring in the step of a beaver

I like to stop and check out the black dot on the road before I let the dog out for a chase. With the binoculars I can tell the dot is not a rabbit, rather it is a beaver. Dog must stay put. Beaver can be very mean.

I drive up to the beaver and it will not move off the road. I take some pictures and a little video. The beaver did not like when i got to close. Run away run away.

Mr. Beaver on Youtube

Bicycle built entirely of wood

2011-05-13T22:17:00.000-04:00

Wood

is the most versatile material to work with.

They call it SplinterBike

oxygengrowsontrees

Timmins Checklist of the Birds

2011-05-11T21:31:00.000-04:00

IT'S A POSTER

IT'S A CHECKLIST

IT'S ART

IT'S CITIZEN SCIENCE

http://www.timminspress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3117363

Oxygen Grows On Trees

Nature Deficit Disorder - have you been touched?

2011-05-05T21:29:00.002-04:00

Are you Suffering?

Have you hugged a tree this week?

While driving into the forest the other day a story on CBC radio suggested we suffer from nature deficit disorder. We are are doing well as a species being taken out of the forests. They cited a study that proved young people did better if they were exposed to pine trees. I was driving past a Jack pine plantation with the window open at the time. Lucky me.

We are losing touch with nature, but more important we are losing contact. The smells and fell of the forest is important to human growth. The smell from the pines triggers something in our brains that just makes us more in-touch with our surroundings.

You need to plant a tree close to you, one every year. Why not plant a bonsai, then you can have a tree in your living space year-round. It is not hard. You can order a tree from Millson Forestry Service store in Timmins.

Nature Deficit Disorder links

Nature Canada - blog entry from 2008 describing the disorder
Best Health - What is nature deficit disorder?
PhD in Parenting - Cures for Nature Deficit Disorder? Help for our Planet?
Canadian Living - Quiz: Is your family suffering from nature deficit disorder?
Human Well Being and the Natural World - Just some facts
Canadian Institute of Forestry - Summer Outdoor Camps: The best remedy for nature deficit disorder
Child and Nature Alliance - Get outside!!
Evergreen.ca - they need contact with nature
Psychology Today - Exploring the natural world's psychological effects on human beings.
Education.com - The Critical Role of Environmental Education for your Child’s Future
An Interview with Robert Bateman - increasingly popular term among educators

Frogs are Green - definitely what the doctor ordered.

National Environment Week - Take the Nature-Deficit Disorder Survey Here

Trees we see plenty. It is green grass we do not get to see or smell for many months. So every year we grow our own grass in the house. A different container every year. When the kids were smaller we grow a big tray of grass to hide easter eggs in. It is wonderful to smell the grass after a trim with scissors. Looks like my grass is due for a trim this weekend.

Oxygen Grows On Trees

You are a Scientist - Citizen Science

2011-05-05T19:10:00.004-04:00

You are a citizen
and must be a scientist

Get involved, the trees, birds, bees, and dirt will love you for it!
Many Timmins people have been involved in making observations of our Natural Environment. It has been very helpful to have the many eyes helping make observations. Check out the Timmins Naturalist page : Observations Naturally. We keep track of sightings of unusual species and events. Hope you will participate!

There are many different types of surveys and data collection efforts you can participate in. Some take a little skill and some require more effort. The Christmas Bird Count is one data collection program that has been around for more then 100years. The effort required is minimal and is always a fun event. The Timmins Naturalists usually count the Saturday before Christmas. Join us this year.

I have provided links to many favorite programs, take a look and get involved.

Bird Studies Canada

NatureWatch Canada

Toronto Zoo

Frog Watch Ontario

Ontario Turtle Tally

Birds Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

Ontario Nest Record Scheme

OTHERS

Nature.ca

All About Birds

macgickcanoe.blog

Oxygen Grows On Trees

Timmins Checklist of the Birds Poster - Hot off the Press!

2011-05-03T20:52:00.002-04:00

Great locally taken photographs.

Checklist of the Bird down the side.

Fund raiser for

Wintergreen Fund for Conservation.

The poster was ready for the Sportsman Show. Many commented on how nice the poster looks. I think it turned out great! Many thanks to Lynn and Mark Clement for providing us with all the pictures.

You can see more of Lynn and Marks work on their websites.

You can find the poster at the MRCA office at Gillies Lake. They are only $5.00. You will need one for the cottage, one for the office and one for home, this is a fund-raiser. The poster was also supported by Xstrata Copper, with thanks to Larry and Syvia Labelle.

You can see the Timmins Naturalist Checklist of the birds here.

You can add your observations of local species to Observations Naturally.

Winter Green Fund for Conservation supports local trails and the

Mattagami Region Conservation Authority efforts.

I will get some here at the house so you can drop by and get yours. Small delivery charge may be added if you do not come with a smile. Always love to here about observations of birds and trees.

Oxygen Grows On Trees

Trout Unlimited Canada

2011-04-28T20:24:00.001-04:00

Muddy Mark learns about Trout Unlimited

While in North Bay a lad came asking about tree seedlings for a Trout Unlimited project.

He was hoping for a few hundred free seedlings, maybe a few thousand free seedlings. Free tree seedlings, pretty sure the government use to do that, but stopped that 20 years ago.

At Millson Forestry Service tree seedlings is our business. With planning ahead Millson can provide as many seedlings as you want, what ever size you want, but it will cost you.

Back to Trout Unlimited. I did not know anything about this. What is really exciting to me is the one creek they are working on : BRONTE CREEK WATERSHED PROGRAM

Close to my hometown. I spent plenty of time in the Bronte Creek watershed back when I am sure the creek had plenty of trout. Also in the Bronte Creek clean up is the Lowville Park part of the creek. Lowville! Lowville is the best hill for sliding for miles around!

There is a Bronte Creek blog check it out!

Oxygen Grows On Trees

Water Level Look for yourself. Realtime

2011-04-28T19:46:00.001-04:00

Like to watch weather
You can watch the water rise and fall.

No this is not about taking your girl to the lake side
to watch submarine races. But still always a good idea!

Environment Canada has a site that shows you the realtime water levels of water systems all across Canada. You can use the google map search to see what stations are near any location in Canada.

It is a very cool site for water watchers. Real-time Hydrometric Data

Ontario Power Generation has a site that will allow you to view the real-time data at the hydro electric dams. You need to check here when water is low to know if the water is high or not. You need to know the elevation that may effect you or your pleasure of the water system.

Pick a dam, see the water elevation. See the data

Oxygen Grows On Trees

Earth Day 2011 Timmins Ontario - Honda

2011-04-25T18:47:00.006-04:00

Timmins Honda for Earth Day

April 21, 2011

Being in our backyard is always plenty of fun.

Ryan, owner of Timmins Honda, took me for a spin in one the hybrid cars. He is so knowledgeable.

These cars are truly becoming leaders in the automobile industry.

Jason, from CTV, checks in with me and Forester Moe. One day that facial hair he sports will look as good as mine, he hopes. His kids will help him acquire the grey of maturity.

If you missed us you can always get a tree seedling from Millson Forestry Service of Timmins, Ontario.

Visit the webstore for tree seedlings of boreal species and more.

The best time to plant a tree

was 100 years ago,

the second best time is today!

Timmins Honda

2011 Earth Day summary on Youtube

2011 Earth Day Timmins Commercial on Youtube

Earth Day 2011 Sudbury - Rainbow Concrete

2011-04-20T21:02:00.003-04:00

Sudbury people LOVE trees.

Busy Muddy at Rainbow Concrete!

Just like last year the staff at Rainbow were fantastic to welcome us into the show room. The weather was not as nice as last year, so we were not able to set up outside.

Boris (far left) and his staff really are committed to the environment with many different projects on the go to make living in the urban jungle more earth friendly.

Free Tree Seedlings at Rainbow Concrete Sudbury Ontario!

A real interesting part of these traveling Earth Day events is the people you meet. I love to talk trees with everyone that comes by. In Sudbury a surprise for me. A co-worker, a friend from many years ago sent his daughter to come visit. She is more then 20 years old, so I am thinking I have not seen Dan for 15 + years. Emails over the years now and then, but really had lost touch. He saw the commercial, but work kept him away. Hope Dan will send me a picture of himself with the seedling planted.

Earth Day Canada

Ontario Fishing ON-Line

2011-04-19T08:20:00.000-04:00

For those of you who are fishing people the Province has a very neat new tool. It works with Google.maps and is very interactive.

Lakes that have fish or are stocked can easily be found and explored.

What a great use of Google.maps

I guess you could use the ``how to use`` information, but come on boys, we do not need that.

Check it out. Click on the picture.

Today - AWESOME !!

2011-04-14T20:24:00.005-04:00

Gemini Breakfast

this morning i got up at 5:30am to put my swim stuff together. on tuesday and thursday mornings i drive kid number one to the pool for work. if i am going to the pool i stay and swim a bit. then a nice long hot show, and the showers were very hot today. AWESOME.

i came home and figured i had plenty of time to make eggs, rather then just cereal. leftover potatoes in the pan first, then add the eggs. 2 eggs easy over.

both eggs had double yokes. AWESOME.

later at work i realize i had not completed the usual ritual with kid number one, to say have a good day. a hand shake thing, that is our thing. we forgot. i text her later "LB it, pulse, hy5". her text back was oh we forgot. kid number one thinking about dad. AWESOME.

these are my 3 thing today to add to my book of AWESOME.

for those of you that have not read the book or heard about it, more about awesome is here.

check out more of the blog now

.

Free Tree for International Year of Forests

2011-04-13T20:47:00.004-04:00

Start your own Forest
With free tree seedling

2011 declared International Year of Forests by the UN.

You can start your forest by getting a free tree seedling in North Bay, Sudbury and Timmins.

Come see Muddy Mark and Forester Moe.

The best time to plant a tree is

100 years ago,

the next best time is today!

Free Tree Seedlings North Bay, Sudbury and Timmins

2011-04-13T20:37:00.000-04:00

Earth Day Tour Continues
Free Tree Seedlings in
North Bay, Sudbury and Timmins

One free seedling to everyone that shows up. If you want more we will have more at just $1.00 each.

Muddy Mark will have the Oxygen Grows On Trees t-shirts. read more
Tell Muddy that Peter sent you and you will get a deal. And yes Peter if I sell 10 shirts on the tour you will get one free!

The inlaws of Muddy came to visit again this year. How wonderful. This is the second year we have been involved in the handing out of free tree seedlings in Sault Ste Marie. Last year Earth Day read more.

CTV Regional commercial watch now
CTV Timmins commercial watch now

Success in the Sault

2011-04-13T20:17:00.000-04:00

EARTH DAY

IN SAULT ST. MARIE

AT THE COUNTRY WAY.

Former Mayor 1996-2000 - Steve Butland and current councilor

Muddy Mark and Maria, manager at the Country Way.

Forester Moe is QC for all the seedlings.

More free tree seedlings for everyone, and everyone get one free!

Next stop North Bay Toyota on April 18th, then Sudbury Rainbow Concrete on April 19th. Our last stop is in Timmins at Honda. Come join us and get your free tree seedling.

And they are seedlings!

about.com Forestry
SAPLING
A small tree, usually between 2 and 4 inches diameter at breast height
SEEDLING
(a) A tree, usually less than 2 inches diameter at breast height, that has grown from a seed rather than from a sprout.
(b)A nursery-grown tree that has not been transplanted in the nursery.

Wiki entry tell us

A seedling is a baby tree that has just started to grow. It is the first stage of the growth cycle. It can not make new life and it has a job to do. Its job is to grow up to a sapling to make a new forest. Deer sometimes like to eat new leaves and can can hurt a new seedling.

A sapling is a child tree. It is the second stage of development. It is one meter tall and stays a sapling until the stem reaches 7 cenitmeters in diameter.

This paper has some technical info.

trees = 10 cm or more DBH; saplings = basal diameter 1 cm or more and DBH <10 cm; seedlings = < 1 cm basal diameter. Seedlings were subdivided into 3 height classes: <10 cm, 10-30 cm, and >30 cm.

Free Tree Seedling Sault Ste. Marie

2011-04-10T19:26:00.000-04:00

Earth Day 2011

April 11th

Nature's Way

10 am - 5pm

Similar to last year we will again travel from Timmins to Sault Ste. Marie with a truck load of tree seedings. I have also added some interesting forest finds.

Come visit us. One free tree seedling for every one.

We will be in North Bay April 18, Sudbury April 19 and back in Timmins on April 21st.

See the commercial on Youtube

Ask Muddy Mark to get a picture with you, and it will end up here.

Muddy will also have Oxygen Grows On Trees t-shirts. (tell him you saw it here and he will sell you a shirt for $15.00)

.

2011-04-03T19:47:00.000-04:00

Muddy Mark
Educating the little saplings!

A school tour last week at the complex. It was too cold to take the kids for a walk in the mud, it was all too frozen. Too bad, I had my rubber boots on.

All dressed up with no place to mess.

The kids had some great questions and many of them were about trees. Sometimes the cats and dogs get some of the kids attention.

Trees are important and I am sure that message was well received.

Yellow-headed Blackbird in Timmins

2011-04-03T18:41:00.000-04:00

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Visits feeder in South Porcupine

This is a sighting from a couple of years ago (May 6, 2008 at 4:15pm), but it is never too late to add an interesting observation. The bird flew in with a flock of blackbirds and was only here for maybe 5 minutes and never came back.

The Yellow-headed Blackbird is on the Timmins Checklist of the Birds, so it has been spotted here before.

This is the area it was sighted see the map

Great observation and picture.

I will add this to the Observations Naturally page of the Timmins Naturalists

Lynn's incredible photograph

2011-03-20T11:07:00.001-04:00

WOW

I WISH

Lynn got this picture this weekend. What a great shot!

I love the squirrel looking over the shoulder of the Great Horned Owl.

The snow falling from the Red Squirrels perch.

The Owl looking directing at the camera.

The Tamarack tree will soon start bud flush.

Check out Lynn's page to see more fantastic pictures..

More information about the Great Horned Owl at : Environment Canada eNature Cornell

I wish I could get pictures like Lynn does. I am glad she shares!

'Supermoon' Saturday March 19th, 2011

2011-03-19T14:25:00.001-04:00

Earth's closest celestial neighbour will appear to loom larger and brighter than usual on Saturday night, as astronomers anticipate a cosmic event called an "extreme supermoon".

Scientists say the natural phenomenon — in which the moon reaches its closest point to this planet — will cause abnormally high and low tides worldwide.

'Supermoon' to loom large on Saturday -

Technology; Science - CBC News

Tonight is forecast to be clear. The moon will be big tonight. I will see how my little camera is for taking moon pictures.

.

Earth Day 2011 Planning Started

2011-03-19T13:24:00.000-04:00

.
Muddy Mark and Forester Moe
Talking Earth Day 2011

It looks like again we will be doing our travelling road show for Earth Day. At Millson Forestry Service - Earth Day is everyday!

CTV came to the greenhouse to get some film to make the 2011 commercial spots. The greenhouse is an excellent spot to film with tree seedlings as a background. The green house has some seedlings, but it is mostly full of tiny sprouting tree seedlings.

We will be in Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Sudbury and Timmins giving away free tree seedlings. Last year we gave away thousands of tree seedlings that increased the oxygen in Northern Ontario. You can read more about last years events and see pictures in this blog.

You can see the Timmins Commercial go now or the Regional Commercial go now on youtube.

You can see last years PR and my other videos on my Youtube goforg channel

The 2 trees I have beside me came on the road with us last year. They will come with again. You can see behind me the greenhouse is just starting to turn green. Behind me are thousands of little tree seedlings just getting started.

Stay tuned for more information.

.

Osprey Nest North West of Timmins

2011-03-13T13:29:00.001-04:00

Big sticks and tree top is typical of an

Osprey Nest

I went to visit this nest this week. It is not being used just yet, but spring is not too far away, I hope. I will have to watch this nest over the next month to see if a bird appears.

This is an Osprey nest, looks different then the nest I saw a couple of weeks ago - the black bear nest.

Is Wood the Best Renewable Fuel for Heating?

2011-03-13T12:47:00.000-04:00

Popular Mechanics

Wood heating isn't what it used to be. It's now clean, efficient and, in the right stove, high-tech. And, as it's always been, it's a renewable resource. Here is what the future holds for wood heating.

Is Wood the Best Renewable Fuel for Heating?

Wood Good, Oil Bad

Big and Beautiful

2011-03-02T07:09:00.000-05:00

Soon the Buds will Burst

This big Trembling Aspen is a great oxygen producer!! Look at all the branches. In the summer this tree will be full of leaves, I hope it is wind firm.

This tree has grown in the open for many many years. If it had grown in a tight grove the branching would be small and just at the top of the tree. This giant has grown in the open and allowed to grow wild and branchy.

I just love to see nice trees on nice days, blue sky with a little cloud.

This is a map of where this tree is standing.

Black Bear Stick Nest

2011-02-26T14:07:00.000-05:00

It is a real thing!!

I got a picture this week of a classic Bear Stick Nest. I was first introduced to the black bear stick nest during a stick nest workshop. We were looking at many different types of stick nests and learning how to identify which bird had created the nest.

In the case of the bear stick nest - it is not a nest at all. Rather it is a place where a bear sat and eat the buds off the branches of a tree. The mess that is left behind once the bear has broken many branches in the tree, can be confused with a real stick nest.

This is the second bear stick mess I have got a picture of. Maybe one day I will get a picture of the bear in the tree while making the mess.

View in Google Maps

Bear Stick Mess (Nest)

Road to Winter Wonderland

2011-02-26T13:57:00.000-05:00

A Road Less Traveled

I have driven down each of these roads over the years. Each road was built to access forest stands to be harvested. I drove these roads when looking at the plantations to assess the health and survival.

Look at the plantations from the air in Google Maps shows how great the plantations are coming along. New forest growing with vigour. Great examples to look at for International YEAR of the FOREST.

See in Google Maps

Festival of the Trees #56

2011-02-06T12:25:00.000-05:00

Festival of the Trees

It is a blog carnival for all things trees, Festival of Trees

The 56th edition is hosted by treeblog.co.uk

Muddy Mark made a contribution. Take a look at the 56th edition now!

.

Foxy in Timmins Ontario

2011-02-06T11:25:00.000-05:00

Fox Finds Frozen Dinner

I finally found something to film with my new little video camera.

I drove up beside a little fox that was very busy on the side of the road. I watched for 10 minutes as he was occupied with a task in the snow bank.

To get a better angle I started the truck, drove down the road and came back. Now the fox was on the drivers side. It seemed like he did not notice the truck at all. It just went about the business of digging in the snow bank.

Roll'n wanted out bad!!!

The little fox finally found his treasure, a frozen dinner of half rabbit.

I did not realize the camera was set to medium quality until I was downloading. Darn. The next video I take will be better.

See the video on Youtube
You can see other video from me on my channel

This is where the video was taken map

.

111th Christmas Bird Count Results.

2011-01-25T21:11:00.000-05:00

Bald Eagle still in Timmins on December 18th!

New species added to the Timmins Christmas Bird Count list.

From December 14 through January 5 tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations. Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists go out on an annual mission - often before dawn. For over one hundred years, the desire to both make a difference and to experience the beauty of nature has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm house during the Holiday season. (from : Audubon website.)

This year a bald eagle was spotted flying along the Mattagami River just near pizza hut. The bald eagle becomes the 43rd species added to the Timmins Christmas Bird Count.

The 111th CBC is the 17th time the Timmins Naturalists have participated. The CBC is a great way to get out and enjoy the day while supporting citizen science.

Bird Studies Canada is the place to start to look at CBC data across the country.

Audubon has a very extensive amount of information on the Christmas Bird Count.

I will have the data available soon on the Timmins Naturalists site. The data is already available on the Bird Studies Canada site.

Here is a summary for this year.

01 Bald Eagle
91 Rock Pigeon
01 Great Grey Owl
04 Downy Woodpecker
05 Hairy Woodpecker
02 Pileated Woodpecker
01 Blue Jay
42 American Crow
19 Common Raven
63 Black-capped Chickadee
01 Red-breasted Nuthatch
02 Northern Shrike
02 European Starling
03 Pine Grosbeak
01 White-winged Crosbill
09 Common Redpoll
04 Evening Grosbeak

Individuals : 250
Species : 17

I can recognize a turtle, so I get recognized.

2011-01-25T19:29:00.001-05:00

I wonder if a turtle could recognize me??

Today, via snail mail,

I received a certification from the Toronto Zoo.

That was very nice. This year I was able to report a Blanding's Turtle, my first ever in the Northern Boreal Forest.

Turtle sightings reported to the Timmins Naturalists over the last 15 years have been documented on the Observations Naturally page. I encourage everyone in the Timmins Area to report turtle sightings. You can also read more about Snapping Turtles in the Timmins area here.

You can read more about a painted turtle observation here.

You can send for a free package from the Toronto Zoo with the Adopt-a-Pond program. You get a great poster, ID cards, stickers and magnets. I really like the flash card they have provided.

They did send me the Ontario Turtle Tally : 2010 Data Summary. It is not available on line yet, but the 2009 information is here.

See a turtle near Timmins, take a picture, get the GPS location, sent it to the Naturalists!!

Now the White pine seams Frosty!!

2011-01-23T19:20:00.009-05:00

Today I drove past the large White pine with a seam from top to bottom,

It was covered in frost. The entire area is covered in frost.

It is so pretty to see the area covered in a white frosting covering everything.

I also stopped and took some closer pictures of a younger White pine that was covered in old man jack frost.

I bought a Sony digital video camera and I just can't wait to find something interesting in the forest to film. A 10 second video of the forest growing may be a little boring, but maybe I will get to film a tree being used by a forest creature.

Thinking about Earth Day. This year the Earth Day theme will work well with the UN International Year of Forests. Get a tree on Earth Day and plant it in the spring, a forest is created one tree at a time!

.

Big White pine would seem unwell

2011-01-06T19:53:00.000-05:00

or

Big White Pine wood seam unwell!!

This great White pine has stood for over one hundred years, I would guess. It look like it must have been hit by lightning within the last 10 years. The tree is still doing ok, but I guess a lot of it's stem strength is gone.

If the tree can survive another 100 years it will just look like a long seam. The split runs almost the entire length of the tree. If I am still around in another 100 years I will post an update here, wait for it . . .

Go take a look for yourself, you can see the tree from the road if you are standing here.

2011 International Year of Forest. read more

It is all about the trees here at Oxygen Grows On Trees.

My First Millson Forest

2011-01-01T12:26:00.002-05:00

2011 International Year of Forests

My first forest with Millson Forestry Service.

I started at Millson Forestry Service (MFS) July of 1999, in September I was in charge of a tree plant on the west side of town.

Here is a map of the plantation area. Here is a look at the plantation from the highway in street view of google maps

I went to the Jack pine plantation yesterday to get some pictures and thin a tree to get a cookie. It was a wonderful warm rainy day. A little unusual for the last day of 2010. Plus 5C and raining while Roll'n and I walked in the young forest.

2011 is International Year of Forests more info

When I count the rings on the cookie of the tree I thinned from the plantation I confirm the tree is indeed 11 years old.

I hope you will follow me this year while I work and write about the forest. If you have never planted a tree, this is the year you need to do it! You will have opportunity during Earth Day and Arbour Day to get a tree. You can also get a larger tree, just visit the MFS webstore.

It is all about the trees and the FOREST at Oxygen Grows On Trees

Scoutrees a Forest for Tomorrow

2010-12-26T20:24:00.002-05:00

Forest Planted in 2002 visited

In the spring of 2001 and 2002 the Timmins and Porcupine District Scouts planted as part of Scoutrees. A National program that is a fund raiser for the Scouting program. The first tree plant in the Timmins District, Called Trees for Canada, at the time, was in 1980. My first tree plant with the Scouts was 1997 when we planted in Deloro Township, just south the Timmins Landfill.

That summer crows and ravens came to the plantation and pulled out almost all the seedlings. Any seedling that had the smallest paper showing was pulled up. Those curious birds! The seedling container of the time was called a 408 PaperPot. There were used for only a few years before it was determined that in some soil conditions the paper would not rot for many many years.

Previous blog entry has chart with years and numbers planted. read the entry now

The last Scoutrees planted in 2003.

Mine Site in the background.

Click Here to see a map of where the trees are planted.

Pictures from the tree plant and the pictures of what it looks like today. Look Now

International Year of the Forest 2011

2010-12-20T21:35:00.000-05:00

2011
International Year
of the Forest

"The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests."
UN Page

The year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations^[1] to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable forest management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.
Wikipedia

Forests are home to millions of people and are responsible for the livelihoods of over a billion people. Most of terrestrial biodiversity is found here. Join us as we explore forests over the next twelve months.
Youth and Biodiversity

Get Your 2011 International Year of Forests Poster

Get your 2011 International Year of Forests poster showcasing the unique artwork of famous children’s book illustrator Wallace Edwards.
Canadian Wildlife Federation

2011 is officially the Year of the Forests and both WWF and Sky will be doing plenty to celebrate.
World Wildlife Fund

International Year of Forests 2011 –
The Role of Europe’s Forests
• 25% of worlds forests are in Europe, forests cover 44% of
continent’s land area and is increasing
• Provide wide range of environmental, economical and
social benefits
• Important resource for rural development in local
communities
• Employment for 4.3 million people in forestry and forest
based enterprise
Forest Europe

Brainripples Forest Arboreality

2010-12-20T20:32:00.000-05:00

I am not the only one who enjoys thoughts about trees.

Came across this blog the other day while looking at information on the up-coming International Year of the Forest.

The author is obviously a much better writer then I am. I am short on words, but rely on links and pictures to keep things interesting.

Take a look at her blog now

Ontario Wood Works Awards Program

2010-12-11T19:06:00.005-05:00

Student from Timmins wins first prize !!

I read this week in the Timmins Times that Carleton University architecture student Steph Bolduc of Timmins Ontario won a first prize.

Carleton architecture student Steph Bolduc has won first prize in the student design category of the 2010 Ontario Wood Works Awards Program sponsored by the Canadian Wood Council.

Bolduc Design Blog see more pictures

Carleton University Newsroom

Construction Canada

Wood WORKS!

Fisher south of Timmins

2010-11-28T17:14:00.004-05:00

My first Fisher in the wild
south of Timmins.

I saw it come out of the bush and walk across the road. At first I thought it was a small bear, but the tail was very long. The fur was thick like a bear, but it was longer and the tail gave it away.

I had never seen a Fisher here, did not know we even had them around here. Talking to my trapper friend he tells me they are somewhat common. He does not trap for them, but has from time to time found one in a martin trap. I was surprised to hear a martin trap was big enough, but he assured me a martin trap would work. If setting for a fisher a bigger trap is used.

My dog wanted to go out and chase it, but I am sure the Fisher would not run. The dog is about the same size, but not nearly as wild as that Fisher looked.

Most interesting is that the Fisher is one of the only animal that will kill and eat a porcupine.

BorealForest.org

Nature Conservatory Canada

Wikipedia

Map of where I saw the Fisher

Live weather in Timmins - Gillies Lake

2010-11-27T15:19:00.005-05:00

Gillies Lake Conservation Area

Live Weather

Here you can get current conditions and high and low temperatures.

Precipitation, dew point, pressure, growing degree days, etc.

You can also see current month and previous month records.

Take a look

Roads Remove Forests

2010-11-27T13:10:00.009-05:00

The Forest is Tenacious

Time will recover all

productive forest ground

When I was giving a tour to a group of students from southern Ontario we had a discussion around what removes forests from the natural life cycle.

Urbanization we decided was the one element that removed productive forest the most.

A side note of the conversation was they described a loss of agricultural land to urbanization. It had not occurred to them that agriculture had removed forests first. They had no idea or concept that all the farms were at one time a vast forest. Fields left long enough will easily revert back to forested land.

There is more non-productive forest in the walmart parking lot then all the crown land around Timmins.

Roads remove the forest from being productive for a very long time. I find it interesting to see the old highway 101 while traveling from Chapleau to Timmins. The hydro lines follow the old road so you see the lines disappearing into the bush and returning at another location.

It will be many years before the forest reclaims the ground a highway has been constructed.

How much area?

Lets say a lane with 4 meters wide. The MoT tells us there are 39000 lane kilometers in the province. 39000000 meters x 4meters = 156000000 meters square.

That is 15600 hectares.

MoT no longer leaves the black top when they move a highway. Only the gravel is left, the forest will be able to regenerate it much faster.

Picture 1 and 2 location

Picture 3 location

Picture 4 location

Provincial Highways Management

There are over 16,500 kilometres (39,000 lane km) of provincial highway. Placed end to end, Ontario's highways would span Canada twice.
The Ministry of Transportation manages 2,720 bridges and structures, 29 remote airports and either owns and operates or provides funding for nine ferry services.
Replacement value of Ontario's highways and bridges is approximately $57 billion.
Annually, $1.2 trillion worth of goods are transported in Ontario, $222 billion of which pass over international bridge crossings linked to provincial highways.
More than 90 per cent of all Ontarians reside within 10 km of the provincial highways. During the peak periods, about one third of the auto trips in Ontario use provincial highways.
Asphalt pavement lasts an average of about 15 years before it needs resurfacing, if it's properly maintained.
Bridges need to be thoroughly inspected every two years. Older bridges are generally rehabilitated every 20 to 30 years and completely replaced after 75 years. New bridges are designed to last at least 75 years without major rehabilitation.
There are more than 180 COMPASS cameras in the province.

From the Ministry of Transportation webpage

Balsam Fir added to the T.H.R.T.

2010-11-27T12:38:00.011-05:00

Balsam Fir added to the

Timmins Honour Roll of Trees

This is big for a balsam fir. I found this tree last year, but only stopped last week to measure, GPS and photograph.

Balsam fir usually do not get all that big, compared to the white and red pines. They simply do not last that long.

It is interesting that half of the trees currently on the Honour Roll are all within 1 kilometer.

Look at the map that has all the trees on it, many are grouped just 25 km down highway 144 south of highway 101.

Timmins Honour Roll of Trees

Map of all the Trees

White Birch added to the T.H.R.T.

2010-11-27T12:30:00.008-05:00

White Birch added to the

Timmins Honour Roll of Trees.

I do not think this is the biggest white birch I have seen on the Timmins area, but I figured I would just grab a tree to compare to others.

This tree should not be very hard to displace from the Honour Roll.

Timmins Honour Roll of Trees

White Pine Past it's Prime.

2010-11-07T21:04:00.013-05:00

White Pine stands strong

long after it has stopped

producing Oxygen

Trees produce oxygen for many years over their life span. While they produce oxygen they also store a great amount to carbon.

This tree has a large amount of carbon stored, which it is slowly releasing as it rots. Eventually this tree will fall and over many years return to the earth.

This tree was captured by the google street view camera a couple of summers ago.

I have been watching the contrast of dead branches on the skyline every time we travel the highway. I wonder if I will get a picture of it after it falls, or will it still be standing long after I am not?

map view

street view

Moose Grow in the Forest

2010-11-05T20:31:00.010-04:00

Bull wonders about me.

Only wonders off when dog arrives.

This "bull of the woods" was not concerned about my pickup, and just walked in front of it.

He moved off the road to feed. While his head was in the water I was able to walk up to within 10 meters. When he lifted his head he just looked at me. It was not until the dog finally came out of the truck that he moved off.

I remember reading a book when I was about 12 years old, the book was called "Bull of the Woods" about a fellow who logged in the days of horse-logging. He was a man bigger than Paul Bunyan and was real!

I will look for the book in the library this weekend.

This is where the moose was standing, right here!

Hiking Day in Timmins

2010-11-05T20:22:00.004-04:00

What a great day.

Great turn out too!

Hiking Day at Hersey lake Conservation Area.

The trails offer smooth walking trails and signs to make sure you do not get lost. Distance at each sign means you can plan the distance you want to walk.

Great event, hope you can come out next year.

The Earth Moves

2010-11-05T19:36:00.006-04:00

The Earth Moves

Rock Falls for Gravity

In September 2008 I stopped on our way to Sault Ste Marie to show the kids this interesting rock formation along the side of highway 101.

I have alway wondered about the formation of the rock and how such thin rock could stand.

The kids and I crawled all over these rocks to explore the formation.

2 years after the first picture part of the wall would fall. I suspect the vibration of the highway was too much for this part of the shield pushed up to the surface.

I want to go back and try to push over the other pillar still standing. If the big slab could fall maybe the little one will fall too.

It is a little boy thing. I like to smash beaver dams and make a trench across a road that is holding back water. Control water and gravity.

When you go by stop and take a look. Please do not give it a push. Let me try it first!

This map is where to find it.

Maybe one of my geocache friends will make this a cache. Sign in after you give it a push.

This is incredible, here is the google street view of the location.

Here is the map view of the location.

Oxygen Grows on Trees the T-Shirt

2010-09-25T19:31:00.008-04:00

2 oxygen molecules bound together is oxygen

O-O = oxygen

You can have your own shirt now.

Every time I wear my O2 t-shirt someone wants me to give them the shirt off my back. I went and had a bunch made. This is what I have.

I have 20 ultracotton tees.

5 medium lime, 5 medium royal, 5 large lime and 5 large royal. When they run out I will get some more made. If you want a bunch let me know and we can make it happen.

So now if you really want one send me $20 per shirt and I will send one to you, anywhere in Canada.

Oxygen Grows On Trees

I am working on getting a second shirt together. As it turns out wood also grows on trees. Who wood have guessed.

White Moose near Foleyet

2010-09-19T17:56:00.014-04:00

White Moose near Boulder Lake, Ontario.

Came around the corner and 3 vehicles were parked on the side of the road and just in the ditch not far from on the vehicles a white moose.

As I pulled over one more vehicle came from the west, and the animal started to move off. I quickly took a couple of pictures, but did not get a good one.

I travel that section of road once a week for the past two summers. Caught just a glimpse of a white moose last year.

This is the 5th White Moose I have seen in the Foleyet area, west of Timmins.

The white moose reporting station is not operating anymore and the whitemoose.ca website has not been updated since 2007. The Timmins Naturalists are always interested in your observations, including the white moose. Look at other observations reported to the Timmins Naturalists.

PROVINCE PROTECTS WHITE-COLOURED MOOSE (2006)

White Moose web site (last update 2007)

map where I saw the white moose.

Porcupine in the Porcupine

2010-09-01T18:29:00.004-04:00

Biggest Porcupine I Have Ever

Seen in the Porcupine

Roll'n just would not come when I called him. This only means one thing - he has found something he wants me to see.

I walked towards the occasional bark. He will not bark very much, so I stand and wait for him to come get me. I follow and away he goes. Had to wait again, since I lost him in the thick vegetation.

When I finally catch up to him, he is walking around a large poplar. Not far up the tree was a big porcupine. Roll'n was convinced I should be able to help with this creature up the tree.

He has encountered one porcupine before, the result was 4 quills in the face. Not bad, I have seen worse!

The forest is home to so many wonderful creatures, Roll'n will have to learn to leave some of them alone.

This porcupine was west of Timmins map

Tamarack in the alder

2010-08-28T11:10:00.006-04:00

BIG WOLF TREE

Can a tree be a wolf? Yes, when it is a wolf tree!

Ontario Extension Note on terms talks about a tree that has a large crown.

I noticed this Tamarack that I have been looking at for a month from a distance. I finally went for the short walk through alder and raspberries to the base of the tree.

What a large, narly tree. It is a wolf tree! It stands by itself, towering over all the shrubs and plants that grow in low wet areas.

The tree is 201.2 cm circumference and 64.0 cm diameter. There is another Tamarack in the list but this tree is bigger. I think we will keep the top 2 of each species as the list grows.

We still require a couple of representatives, keep your eyes open for us.

Timmins Honour Role of Trees

More pictures of this tree and other can be seen here.

Biggest Balsam Poplar in Timmins Area

2010-08-28T10:44:00.005-04:00

Balsam Poplar added to the Timmins Honour Role of Trees.

I have added a large, old Balsam poplar to the website that has all the large trees in the Timmins Area.

This tree is 210.3 cm circumference and 66.9 cm diameter measured at 1.3 meters above the ground (commonly known as breast height).

The Ontario Honour Roll of Trees is up again. Take a look. 2 trees on the Timmins list are bigger then the Ontario giant. I will need to get the height of the trees to see how they stack up points wise.

We are still looking for the biggest White birch, Black spruce, Balsam fir and Red maple. I will find a representative before the end of the summer. If you can help please let me know!

Red Toad, American Toad

2010-08-17T22:22:00.006-04:00

Toads can be RED - read about them now.

I first heard about red toads at Kettle Lakes Provincial Park, when a young lad asked the biologist "what toad is red?".

A couple of days later I again heard from a person who asked me what toad is red. I did not know, I have never seen one.

Well today in the bush a co-worker says "look how red that toad is, I have never seen one like that!"

It is red, brick red the documentation describes .

It is just a colour phase of a young American Toad.

Frog Watch wants to know what frogs and toads you see. Check out frog watch if you are interested.

Always any unusual species you see near Timmins we want to know about it. You can see what interesting observations have been seen at Observations Naturally.

Varved Clay today on the road

2010-08-10T19:38:00.006-04:00

A Glacier was here, and I saw the art that it left behind. map

Varved clay is an accumulation in proglacial lakes of yearly-couplets of lacustrine beds called varves: during the summer, silt (light gray in color) settles and accumulates and in the winter, when the lake is ice bound (frozen over), clay-sized material (dark gray in color) settles and accumulates.

[The origin of till, outwash, varved clay, and loess]

I was first introduced to varved clay when I was kayaking on the Fredrickhouse Lake map.

There is an eroding shoreline that is stripped with different soil layers and colours. When I got home and did some reading I discovered varved clays.

Later I would work for Ontario Parks and find out the location I had been looking at was actually a non-operating Provincial Park. Fredrick House L. Provincial Nature Reserve March 1985. map

Here is a very interesting paper by the National Research Council Canada. December 1954 some

of our tax money produced a paper called "A Laboratory Study of Varved Clay from Steep Rock Lake". I am guessing it is this lake north of Atikokan, Ontario.

You can see information on the Steep Rock Lake Mining and see a picture of the lake with no water in it here.

White Pine Falls in the Forest

2010-08-02T20:47:00.005-04:00

My White pine has fallen, my White pine has fallen!!

This White pine was the first tree on the Timmins Honour Roll of Trees, and was the first geocache I had created.

I first met this tree a couple of years ago when we were working in the area. There were a few surprises in the area, like the 400 year old white ceder and the yellow birch stand.

Ontario Honour Roll of Trees

2010-07-31T22:22:00.002-04:00

Ontario Honour Roll of Trees - Updated!

For the longest time the Ontario Honour Role of trees has been a broken link. The Ontario Forestry Association has updated their site and the honour roll is once again front and center.

Take a look at the Ontario Honour Roll.

Take a look at the Timmins Honour Roll.

The Timmins Honour Roll needs your help to be completed. If you can fill in a blank with a big tree please let me know. Maybe we even have the biggest in Ontario!!

Nighthawks Overhead

2010-07-31T20:21:00.003-04:00

The Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) fly overhead while I BBQ.

I was in the back yard cooking supper when I notice a single Nighthawk fly overhead. A little unusual for my neighbourhood.

I watch as another follows then another. I walk out onto the front yard to get a better look at the sky.

I count at least 20 nighthawks flying from north to south. They were all 10 to 20 meters above the ground.

I did not know nighthawks traveled together, I have only ever seen them one or two at a time.

More links and picture of the one I saw last year, click here.

Old Rocks and Really Old Rocks in Timmins

2010-07-26T20:04:00.003-04:00

I learned a little bit about some rocks near Timmins last week.

Took my son for a tour to look at the interesting formation.

What is the kid looking at?

This is my understanding :

A crack in the billion year old rock, the Canadian Shield, had magma from the mantle of the earth fill that crack.

That crack was filled and the glacier that was more then a kilometer thick here smoothed out the surface. To me it looks like cement has been poured to fill the gap in the rock.

It is young rock, just 100 million years old, between old rock, maybe billion years old.

I do not remember what he called the formation.

I would never have noticed if it was not pointed out to me. I guess I need to look under foot more often. Usually where I am walking the rock is under a rooted mat of material.

Purple Iris

2010-06-22T22:02:00.007-04:00

Purple Iris

This was sitting in my draft folder since the summer.

Delete or add, well here it is.

I enjoy seeing the contrast of flower colours in the swamps and forest floor.

Ontario Wildflowers

eHow information

Location Map

Painted Turtle east of the watershed.

2010-06-22T21:22:00.003-04:00

A painted turtle came looking for me.

I just love seeing a turtle during my travels

This little creature was crossing the road while I was going by.

Added this sighting to the turtle tally. If you see a turtle you should enter the sighting in the turtle tally.

They want the location, lat long, and a picture is always nice.

If you see the turtle anywhere near Timmins the Timmins Naturalists likes to keep track of those sightings. We add the all sightings to the Observations Naturally webpage. Check it out!

Found in Ontario - Arrowheads

2010-06-22T20:44:00.003-04:00

Ontario Arrowheads

I have had these arrowheads for awhile. I finally got around to finding out the story on them.

There is a guy you can email pictures of what you have and he will let you know what you have.

This was his answer to me.

If lettered left to right, a to f, these are:

b - Adena type, Early Woodland period circa 1000 - 300 B.C.
c - Snyders type, Middle Woodland period circa 300 B.C. - 500 A.D.

a, d, e, f - all variants of Late Archaic period types circa 3000 - 1000 B.C.

So it seems that 4 of these arrowheads are 3000 to 5000 years old. That is so neat to know.

My mommy tells me that the arrowheads were found by her father. Somewhere in southern Ontario. Grandfather lived in AYR so it would seem the arrowheads where found around there.

Ask an Archaeologist at the University of Western Ontario

Southwestern Ontario : The first 12000 years

eBird has come along way

2010-06-06T21:06:00.002-04:00

eBird is a interactive site for bird observations.

I have not found an easy way to display a map of Timmins with all the observations, but I am sure I will.

Great information and good site.

Welcome to eBird

June 5, 2010 set as Canada Planters' Day

2010-06-06T20:16:00.004-04:00

Missed Canada Planter's Day this year, but it was all about the trees here in Timmins. The 5th was Arbour Day in Timmins.

Wintergreen Fund for Conservation again made white spruce tree seedlings available for a donation to the not for profit organization.

The day is intended to recognize silviculture workers, the work being done and the work needing to done to restore forests across the country. Media field tours, press releases and festivities of varying description are being organized in towns across provinces. The celebration of Canadian silviculture workers and their work is part of broader public awareness campaign soon to be announced by the Forestfacts: Plant More Trees movement.

Western Silvicultural Contractors' Association

Forest Facts . CA

World Clean Air Forest Initiative

Community Forests International connects people to the forest, fostering sustainable environmental relationships while strengthening communities against climate change.

Timmins Melrose Bird Buddies

2010-05-14T21:48:00.003-04:00

Don has a yard that just attacks the big birds, he must feed the squirrels well !!!

Don had an owl in his yard a couple of years ago.

You can read about sightings in Timmins on the Timmins Naturalists Observations Page.

I think this is a Cooper Hawk. wow a Cooper hawk right out of his kitchen window!!

more Cooper Hawk info.

Great Bird Resource Online

2010-05-14T20:35:00.002-04:00

Bird Pictures

Bird Sounds

Online pictures and sounds of birds. What a great resource.

If you want to learn the songs and calls you can use this tool. there has been a lot of work put into this site - I suggest you check it out.

DENDROICA

An aid to identifying North American birds

Thank Melanie at Timmins MNR for reminding me of the site. I also have the program on my computer so I can carry it with me everywhere. Now if I could just learn more!

There's Safety in Numbers

2010-05-14T20:07:00.004-04:00

Muddy Mark puts Safety First

The Safety Groups Program promotes health and safety in the workplace.

In front of the camera again, commenting on the safety culture at Millson Forestry Service.

You can see the promo video here it is now on you tube.

Timmins Business Environmental Award

2010-05-14T19:26:00.008-04:00

2010 Nova Business Award

Environmental Award

presented to

Millson Forestry Service

Timmins Chamber of Commerce recognized the local business community, handing out 16 NOVA awards for business excellence.

Timmins Chamber of Commerce more info on the nova awards

Read about the awards by the Timmins Daily Press

Bear with Me

2010-05-08T20:35:00.003-04:00

On Friday I was on my way to see the Bolduc brothers that are doing site preparation for tree planting. They are operating disc trenchers behind 748 John Deere skidders.

Disc trenchers expose mineral soil for tree planter. The furrows created also makes it easier for the tree planter to ensure all the ground is filled with tree seedlings.

Construction along the highway had a visit from 4 four legged forest friendlies. I stopped on the highway to take a picture. I rolled down the window so Roll'n and I could get a better look. Roll'n is so funny when it comes to bears. He kind-of talks to them, not a growl, not a bark.

This is where I took the picture. go to map

White Pine Do Not Like Salt

2010-05-04T19:29:00.004-04:00

White pine have all turned RED along the side of the highway.

Driving north on highway 144 this afternoon I stopped to take a picture of the young white pine that have all turned red.

I noticed the red white pine the last couple of times I have traveled down the highway, I finally stopped to take a picture.

The young red pine seem to be doing much better, but even some of them did not do very well this year. I think it is due to the warmer winter. When it is not really cold salt is used on the highways. I understand that salt is used until the temperature is below -13C. If it is colder then that the salt will not melt the ice and then sand is used. I would guess that much of the winter the highway was above the -13C threshold, thus lots of salt was used.

This is why I tell people in town not to plant white pine close to the road. Eventually the salt will kill the white pine and in many cases the red pine too. The spruce and cedar will do OK and continue to make up the forest along the road sides.

You may say " the Red pine further south on the highway are doing alright". Yes they are. They are much older and a little further back from the road. When they were just young sap(lings) salting the highways was not done that much. Now they are bigger they can take it.

The white pine is the Ontario Arboreal Emblem. If you want your own White pine to plant visit this store, they have Ontario seed sources.

This map shows about where the photo was taken. I did not GPS the location so this is just a guess.

Stab a puffball, make it sneeze

2010-05-02T21:03:00.004-04:00

Puffballs on the forest floor.

When you stab a puffball spores get coughed up.

The Canadian Encyclopedia has some information on puffballs.

Here is a great page on fungi

I always love to step on them as I walk in the forest, it looks like smoke coming from this little ball.

Notice in the pictures the puffballs are growing on birch bark! Two great forest floor finds

Hollow Birch Bark

2010-05-02T20:37:00.004-04:00

I just love that hollow birch bark!!

Here is another great example of how the wood of a birch tree will rot way before the bark.

I saw this bark laying on the forest floor and thought the rotten wood inside would fall out easily. I took a picture of it before I pulled if off the ground.

I pulled up most pieces without breaking them. It creates great hollow birch bark tubes. These tubes are very old. The tree may have lived 50 to 60 years and it would have taken another 20 years to rot the wood inside.

This is where I found it. See the map

The wood falls out black and rotted. I left them there if you want to go and get them!

If you want to buy a tube for yourself visit me at the webstore.

Timmins Daily Press pictures Muddy Mark

2010-04-27T19:12:00.007-04:00

That is it for this years Earth Day, which really is Earth Week.

Millson Forestry Service supplied almost 4000 tree seedlings in 4 different locations here in Northern Ontario.

More tree seedlings will be available this year during Arbour Day, presented by Wintergreen Fund for Conservation.

Now is spring. I want to hear about your sightings. I like to hear about unusual bird sightings, turtles and now I guess I really want to hear about your cougar sightings. When you contact me I keep records on the Timmins Naturalists Observations page.

Don't forget we still need to find some more trees for the Timmins Honour Roll of Trees.

Timmins Honda on Earth Day !!

2010-04-26T20:16:00.005-04:00

Honda was a good Earth Day Partner

Muddy Mark and Forester Moe. gave out tree seedlings at Timmins Honda as part of Earth Day celebrations.

Ryan gave Muddy the once over on how the car was environmentally friendly.

What I really like about the car is as you take your foot off the gas, no say throttle, the car slows and actually charges the car batteries.

The car is called an insight.

The other great thing that Honda does is they do not have brochures. You have to go on line. Instead of giving a brochure they give you a wildflower seed packet with the web address on it.

I am all for the web, paperless.

Earth Day 2010 Timmins Honda

2010-04-26T18:46:00.009-04:00

Timmins Honda, CTV and Millson Forestry Service partnered to bring Earth Day 2010 to Timmins.

It was wonderful to be home for Earth Day. Forester Monique and I spent the day with Gary from CTV at Timmins Honda.

We gave away white spruce tree seedlings to everyone that came in to ask for one. It is always wonderful to hear the stories people have of trees. Trees that were planted when they were little, trees that they watched grow over time, trees that fell on the house, trees that the husband cut with the lawn mower. They are all good.

It is not all fun and games at the Earth Day events. The boss came by to make sure Muddy and Forester Moe. were working hard. Muddy is the orange wild daylily between two pretty flowers.

Muddy Mark has many of his own stories about trees. Once you get him talking about trees it is hard to get him to stop.

A special guess dropped by.

Jeff and Foster.Foster is the brother of Roll'n. I do not think they know that or care. Jeff and I met by chance while on a walk.

Same age, same kind and rescued by Lisa. Jeff tells me the name of the dog was originally Negerski.

Earth Day Electric Ride - Tesla

2010-04-24T19:00:00.008-04:00

Rainbow Concrete Green Everyday, a real commitment from the top down!

Muddy Mark was educated at Rainbow Concrete. Rainbow is doing so many different things for the environment, and much of it is driven by the owner Boris. Still keeping an on on Boris is his mother. She dropped by to get a picture with the son and Muddy Mark.

My understanding is Rainbow Concrete got it's name from being able to produce many different colours of bricks.

"Rainbow Concrete Industries Limited, a family ownedbusiness, was founded in 1953 and originally supplied concrete blocks to the Sudbury area. For over four decades we have been developing a complete line of environmentally friendly concrete products which we supply and distribute throughout Northern Ontario and beyond."

Most impressive is the fact that they have been using BioDiesel in all of their trucks since 2008.

They also inflate all tires with nitrogen, reducing fuel consumption and tire wear.

Rainbow Concrete promotes healthy food concepts to lessen the footprint on the earth. Organic foods grown naturally is just another aspect to help Mother Earth.

Source-Energy Pipe system provides heating and cooling for buildings, with an energy efficiency ranging from 400% to 500%.

Really cool is the totally electric car Boris drives. It is called a Tesla. It can really move and when you take your foot off the throttle it actually slows down and charges the battery. What a fantastic car. The smallest foot print for an automobile I would guess.