Lynn's incredible photograph

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

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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.

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Earth Day 2011 Planning Started

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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.

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Osprey Nest North West of Timmins

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. 

read more about the black bear nest

The tree this bird has chosen is an old jackpine tree. When I walked to the base of the tree I could tell the tree was very dead, and was surprised the tree is standing so strong. I wonder how much longer the tree will stand. The plantation this tree is standing in looks to be 10 to 12 years old.




LINKS

Live nest cam waiting for the return of a pair of Osprey





When I see the bird return I will let you know, maybe I will get to use my video camera???


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Is Wood the Best Renewable Fuel for Heating?

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

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

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

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

See in Google Maps

Festival of the Trees #56

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!




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Foxy in Timmins Ontario

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

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111th Christmas Bird Count Results.

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.

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!!

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!


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Big White pine would seem unwell

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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!