Bear x2 and Bald bird

Early this morning I was on my way to near Foleyet traveling on highway 101. Trusty Roll'n is riding shotgun.

Just coming over the hill at boom lake I notice a big bird with a white head. My first Bald Eagle of the season. It was on the move and I did not get any pictures.

This is a map of where I saw the Bald eagle.

A little further down the road a small black bear ran across the road. Suddenly the one riding shogun was much more interested in watching the road then sleeping.

To finish off the day the trip home was made better with the sight of my favorite bird lumbering across the road. What is my favorite bird? You will have to read past entries.

Black Bear Stick Nest

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)

Bear with Me

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

CBC Bear Den Live Webcam

Today on CBC radio there was an interview about bears and how mis-understood they are.

There is a site you can visit and read all about it.

He also has a live feed of the bear and cubs in the den.

It is worth exploring. I an not so sure I want to reach out and grab the fur of a bear, but I have come pretty close !

Read my black bear story and see pictures

Learning about Trees

It is wonderful to see so many people come out to learn about trees.

I spent the weekend at Kettle Lake Provincial Park and had the opportunity to invite campers on a hike to talk about trees and birds in the park. We did not see many birds, but we did stop and look at a large ant hill that had been disturbed by a bear.

Picture 1 : poster showing the areas planted and areas burned.

Picture 2 : I walk and talk with the group

Picture 3 : We had a little guy keep us on track with a GPS unit. Total walk 2.25km

Moose on Highway 101

Come up over a hill and right on the middle of the highway are 2 moose. One large cow and a smaller yearling got off the road faster then I could get my camera out.

I did have to slow down before reaching into the back for the camera. The cow went south and the little one went north. Roll'n really wanted to go and give a little chase. 

If we had been in the bush I would have let him out, he will only chase for a short time, or if the moose turns around.  If the moose stops he stops.

He likes to chase, but he knows better then to catch. Moose are a little bigger then he is.

He does like to attack, once they are down.  Look, here is a youtube video called

"Roll'n taking down a moose"

We also saw our first bear of the season. We pulled to the side of the road to watch the little bear. The window on Roll'n side was down and he has jumped out of the window before. Not to go after a bear, he knows about bears. He is funny in the bush - a bear is the only animal he will bark at. As the bear leaves the side of the road and enters the bush Roll'n lets out 2 little barks just to tell the bear he better get going.

Going to school

I am going to my daughters class on Tuesday. I expect they will all have looked at this and be able to ask interesting questions and be able to answer questions. Important questions about the forests of Northern Ontario.

While in class I might ask questions like :
1. What is the provincial trees of Ontario and why is it important?
2. What forest products are made here in Timmins?
3. What is a better construction material, wood or steal?
4. What tree species are found in and around Timmins.
5. What is the biggest tree in Timmins?
6. What is the oldest tree in Ontario?
7. Where can you buy a piece of hollow birch bark?

Questions that might get asked of me so that you sound smart might include:
1. Do you think it is working in the outdoors that keeps you looking so good!?
2. Who cuts your hair?
3. If I make a mark on a tree at 1 meter when I am 10, how high on the tree will the mark be when I am 20?
4. If I get lost in the bush how do I know which way to keep walking, which way is north?
5. Are you afraid of bears, do you get to see any?
6. How do you get seeds for growing trees?
7. How important are trees to the carbon footprint I am creating?

Hope the class is prepared. I will be there with as much 'hands on' stuff as my dog and I can carry.

Please do not feed the bears

I did not get a chance to walk about at all, work got in the way. Sometimes that happens.

I thought I would reach into the past and post a picture I took a couple of years ago.

A black bear was working the highway 144. Every day he would hang around the side of the road waiting for people to feed him. Feed him they did. Within a couple of weeks just pulling over to see the pretty bear on the side of the road was an invitation for him to lumber on up to your window to see what you had.

I was parked on a side road about to enter the highway when I watched this little bear cross the road. I got out my camera and wondered how close he would come.

He would have climbed in I am sure if I did not close my window.

Bears and highway do not mix well, the bear was killed by a truck a few days after I took these pictures.