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It's worth noting that the birds Donna is most concerned about - those of "=
unfragmented, closed canopy, mature and generally late-successional forest"=
- are the ones essentially not protected by newly elaborated L&F's "Variab=
le Retention" harvests. View =C2=A0 recent posts on nsforestnotes.ca*
- =E2=80=9CWhen is a Clearcut still a Clearcut?=E2=80=9D in Nova Scotia 26F=
eb2019
- Evidently, Nova Scotia L&F considers adherence to the Interim Retention G=
uidelines as equivalent to Not Clearcutting 25Feb2019
- Recent changes (Jan 30 & Feb 20, 2019) in Harvest Plan Map Viewer increas=
e concerns about clearcutting in Nova Scotia
(Not sure if I can insert links into NatureNS posts)
Kudos to Bev Wigney's concept of getting people out exploring our Crown lan=
d forests generally, not just those about to be chopped up. If there is any=
hope of finally really changing forest management in NS, it will require p=
opular support as its quite clear=C2=A0 that reasoned argument alone is far=
from sufficient in NS. It=C2=A0 also offers opportunities for highly posit=
ive experiences, e.g. a visit to what looks like an interesting but unexplo=
red piece if Crown land would make pretty interesting field trips for natur=
alist groups, hiking groups etc.=C2=A0
David G PatriquinProfessor of Biology (retired)Dalhousie University
Web Stuff at versicolor.caForest Blog at nsforestnotes.ca
emails sent to patriqui@dal.ca & davidgpatriquin@gmail.com go to davidgpatr=
iquin@yahoo.ca=C2=A0
=20
On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 10:50:34 p.m. AST, Donna Crossland <dc=
rossland@eastlink.ca> wrote: =20
=20
=20
The Migratory Bird Conventions Act most certainly has been ignored in the w=
oods, and the Act needs to be amended in my humble opinion. We are long pas=
t the feather trade and hunting threats.=C2=A0 It hasn't protected birds fr=
om the newest threats of harvesting, and of course when it was written ~ 10=
0 years ago, they had not envisioned the clearcutting, and chipping machine=
s that produce ~ 2 million or more tonnes of biomass/year in NS, much of it=
quietly shipped overseas -the latest scam that falsely declares that our =
chipped up old growth sugar maples and other hardwoods are 'green electrici=
ty', preying upon the naivety of us all.=C2=A0 As many are aware, the probl=
em is that a nest actually has to be found in order for the Mig Bird Act to=
kick in.=C2=A0 This wouldn't be such a big deal if birds were not so craft=
y at hiding their nests.=C2=A0 We are going to need skilled birders and oth=
erwise very patient folk to seek out nests this spring in order to stave of=
f some additional bird decline (and perhaps save some forests).
=20
=20
I should explain my statement below that David Simpson commented on.=C2=A0 =
I am truly struggling with envisioning forest harvesting proceeding at Corb=
ett Lake during nest season, adding insult to injury after a clearly inadeq=
uate public consultation process for that location.=C2=A0 The stands at Cor=
bett Lake were never posted for comment on through Harvest Plans Map Viewer=
(instead they were posted under the old 2014 process that reached very few=
people and used a much abbreviated comment period), and the harvest prescr=
iption was derived from using the earlier versions of the Forest Management=
Guides which set up nearly all forest stands, regardless of forest composi=
tion or seral stage, to be clearcut (using a variety of clever terms that a=
ll meant 'clearcut' in plain speak).=C2=A0=20
=20
=20
Since the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour, one can ass=
ume that the Department could actually allow harvesting of this stand this =
spring, despite the whole landscape being over-harvested already, and despi=
te presence of large, old scattered sugar maples and other late successiona=
l trees, now so rare in that area.=C2=A0 Even if they delay harvesting, the=
y will simply harvest somewhere else during nest season, but perhaps in les=
s mature forest (since we now see ~30 year old stands flattened).=C2=A0 In=
some desperate measure to find some solace in all of this, I believe harve=
sting the young, early-successional forest during nest season may be slight=
ly better (though they may kill thousands of birds, depending on the size o=
f clearcut or two-stage clearcut, and progression of nesting-estimating ~4 =
young hatched in each nest that could get put through the chipper), than ha=
rvesting mature late-successional forest patches during nest season.=C2=A0 =
How could one scenario possibly be better than the other when both of them =
are terrible?
=20
=20
In an effort to triage the horrors I see in the woods (where woods used to =
be), I am most concerned about forest songbirds that require unfragmented, =
closed canopy, mature and generally late-successional forest (e.g. Blue-hea=
ded vireo, Blackburnian warbler, Black-throated green warbler and other neo=
tropical migrants- nearly all of them in decline, that fly all the way here=
to nest, seek food and shelter in the unique habitat offered by the Acadia=
n forest).=C2=A0 The more common birds may be of less concern because they =
can nest in a broader range of habitats, including young forests that now c=
omprise the majority of our remaining stands, though of course they deserve=
protection as well (e.g. Common yellowthroat, Goldfinch, etc).=C2=A0=20
=20
=20
In any case, it will be helpful to find nests of ANY migratory species this=
spring in order to slow cutting during nest period.=C2=A0 Many of us have =
sensed that industry is making a mad dash to cut all they can before they a=
re forced to conduct more ecological forestry on Crown land.=C2=A0 There is=
perhaps also a dash to feed Northern Pulp before it closes.=C2=A0 I believ=
e this year truly matters for naturalists to watch over our forests.=C2=A0 =
Industry may return to cut the habitat later, and so the location will be a=
dded to the growing number of hectares unsuitable for many spp to nest for =
decades to come, but at least we may have saved some birds and their food a=
nd shelter for this year. =C2=A0 Perhaps the adoption of Lahey recommendati=
ons will improve management to the extent that we won't have to be concerne=
d about this next year.=C2=A0 Let's hope.=C2=A0=20
=20
=20
It may be strategic to approach Bev's project with a narrower list of speci=
es (e.g. rare lichens, plants, birds, etc) so as to allow more naturalists =
and less experienced folk to help zero in on certain species.=C2=A0 The dat=
abase may be less cumbersome, too.
=20
I sound like a "Debby Downer" this evening so will end here.
=20
=20
Donna Crossland
=20
=20
=20
On 2019-02-26 11:24 a.m., David Simpson wrote:
=20
=20
Please add my name to the list of willing naturalists. I've done a fair nu=
mber of bird surveys, particularly for songbirds, and I'd be very happy to =
partake in the data collection and promulgation efforts. I'm in Hants Count=
y, but willing to travel. If a similar undertaking is happening in my neck =
of the woods I'd be happy to know about it; the number of loaded logging tr=
ucks I see coming down the Chester Road is alarming.=20
Further to what John Kearney said, it might behoove us to be pointed in o=
ur searches and search for predetermined targets. I say this because in a b=
ioblitz, the aim is to record every species in an area. *IF* it is the enti=
re flora/fauna assemblage that could be a deciding factor, then yes, a biob=
litz could be the means to an end (the end being stopping a clearcut). But =
it could be that the means to that end is a much simpler, easily determined=
piece of evidence, for example, the presence of a species at risk. A biob=
litz takes much more time and effort than searching for one or several targ=
et species. Either way, as I see it, the key to being effective here will b=
e to determine exactly what piece of information comprises a means to the e=
nd, and then go look for evidence of that specifically.=20
Donna Crossland said "The harvest at Corbett Lake will surely NOT take pl=
ace during nesting season". Is this a fact? I know it's illegal to disturb =
nesting migratory birds - which are present in virtually any stand of trees=
in the Spring - but I was under the impression these laws were ignored whe=
n it comes to forestry. I could be wrong.
=20
Thanks for getting this going.=20
Dave in Curry's Corner=20
David Simpson (902) 580 8007 david.sonsimp@gmail.com =
=20
=20
On Tue, Feb 26, 2019 at 9:55 AM Bev Wigney <bkwigney@gmail.com> wrote:
=20
Thanks to everyone who has responded -- especially with regards to
documentation and dissemination of any findings by the ground-truthing
groups.=C2=A0 I agree very much that the observations need to be recorded
in such a way that they can somehow be useful in supporting
conservation of ecologically significant forests.=C2=A0 That said,
iNaturalist,=C2=A0 is a terrific vehicle for compiling observations.=C2=A0=
It
has a pretty easy user interface anyone who wants to enter their
observations.=C2=A0 It is easily adapted to use by a community of
naturalists who wish to collaborate on their findings.=C2=A0 Confirmation
of IDs works quite well.=C2=A0 Further, there are so many ways in which th=
e
data collection can be customized -- for instance, it is easily
possible to create "places" such as particular forest stands of any
size -- and have all observations within those outlined areas feed
into that "place".=C2=A0 =C2=A0I believe it's a good tool for naturalists =
who
have come to the realization that there is a growing and desperate
need to fill in the gaps of what is known about the forests around us.
The hour to do so is growing late.
=20
bev
=20
On 2/26/19, Donna Crossland <dcrossland@eastlink.ca> wrote:
> Thanks for the advice, Fred.=C2=A0 You're right, the follow-up documenta=
tion
> is essential (though perhaps less fun) and then after that there is the
> hurtle of having various decision-makers read and apply new
> facts/knowledge.=C2=A0 Everyone is so reliant on GIS layers these days t=
o
> supply all the points rendered in decisions. I suppose we will have to
> suggest that they be added to certain GIS layers or it will be
> over-looked, conveniently or otherwise. In this era of rapid decline of
> many species coupled with poor management, the initiative of casting a
> net to the widest possible group(s) of naturalists to help catalogue
> species obs- location and abundance, etc, is of increasing importance.
>
> I will forward your advice and Bev's new initiative to our group, Nature
> NS, as well.
>
> Donna Crossland
>
> On 2019-02-25 11:55 p.m., Frederick W. Schueler wrote:
>> On 25-Feb.-19 10:10 p.m., Donna Crossland wrote:
>>> This is a wonderful initiative.=C2=A0 I will finally hone some skills =
with
>>> iNaturalist, so it seems.=C2=A0 Bev and others will be good teachers.
>>> What better use of a naturalist's time than combing our public
>>> forests for nature's treasures?
>>
>> * but you're going to have to formalize your results in documents,
>> sent in multiple copies to the attention of the ministries in charge,
>> because, at least in Ontario, the environment ministries and
>> environmental assessment rackets are well-blinkered experts in
>> ignoring the ordinary sources of knowledge about biodiversity: museum
>> collections, the peer reviewed and local natural history published
>> literature, and online provincial & national databases. They only heed
>> their own internal grey literature unless their noses are rubbed in
>> some more conventional info.=C2=A0 I bet they're almost as good at igno=
ring
>> eBird and iNat as they have been at ignoring the Ontario herp atlases.
>>
>> When we were reviewing http://www.dumpthisdump2.ca/ I published a
>> first record of a clover species for Ontario east of Windsor from the
>> proposed dump site in Trail & Landscape - the only local natural
>> history journal - and they missed both that and a paper about a SAR
>> we'd found, but they'd missed, at the site, that was peer-reviewed in
>> the Canadian Field-Naturalist.
>>
>> So call it a serial publication, "Ground-Truthing Nova Scotia Forests"
>> or something, and put out an issue for each of your trips, send pdf's
>> to ministry officials, and deposit a hard copy with Andrew Hebda at
>> the NS Museum, and maybe at the NB Museum so you'll have an out of
>> province repository.
>>
>> fred.
>> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>>
>>> Song bird surveys and nest surveys will also be useful.=C2=A0 The harv=
est
>>> at Corbett Lake will surely NOT take place during nesting season, yet
>>> another assault on a forest with old growth and plenty of nest cavity
>>> trees.
>>>
>>> It is a sad reflection on the lack of good governance over the
>>> 'peoples' forests' (public Crown lands), with continued clearcutting,
>>> particularly on very sensitive, poor soils in the southwest.=C2=A0 And=
so
>>> it comes about that local folks feel the need to provide more
>>> oversight;=C2=A0 a neighbourhood watch, of sorts, over nature's bounty=
.
>>>
>>> Thanks to Bev.
>>>
>>> Donna Crossland
>>>
>>> On 2019-02-25 10:24 a.m., Bev Wigney wrote:
>>>> Everyone,
>>>>
>>>> I know there has been very little discussion about harvests of Crown
>>>> land forests here on NatureNS, but I'm putting out a somewhat related
>>>> request.=C2=A0 =C2=A0Here in Annapolis Royal area, we've been organiz=
ing a
>>>> ground-truthing group to make occasional forays to check out Crown
>>>> land forests that have a fair likelihood of being good candidates for
>>>> biodiversity - forests that would qualify as ecologically significant
>>>> under the Lahey triad model.=C2=A0 This group has come about after a =
couple
>>>> of previous forays to inspect forests that were slated for clearcuts
>>>> or uniform shelterwood cuts (2-stage clearcutting).=C2=A0 In the case=
of
>>>> the hardwood parcel at Corbett-Dalhousie Lake, we were astounded to
>>>> find multi-age "old forest" climax hardwood trees -- Yellow Birch tha=
t
>>>> were 8 feet in circumference, as well as many large Sugar Maple and
>>>> Red Spruce.=C2=A0 The fate of that forest is still somewhat uncertain=
- it
>>>> will be harvested in some way this spring, but we don't really know t=
o
>>>> what extent.=C2=A0 In any case, our forays have taught us that there =
is a
>>>> need to know more about the Crown land forests in our region. It is
>>>> not enough to wait for them to turn up on the Harvest Plan Map Viewer
>>>> (HPMV) list of "parcels" awaiting approval for harvest.=C2=A0 With a =
scant
>>>> 40-day comment period, that doesn't give our group much time to get
>>>> out to ground-truth a forest, especially if it suddenly appears on th=
e
>>>> list in mid-winter -- as was the case with the Corbett-Dalhousie Lake
>>>> forest - although 18 of us did go out to walk it on Boxing Day.
>>>> Unfortuantely, we still have no true idea of the extent of its
>>>> biodiversity and won't have much chance to take a serious look at tha=
t
>>>> before the harvest equipment moves in -- but we have learned from thi=
s
>>>> experience.=C2=A0 Waiting for forests to show up on the harvest lists=
is
>>>> not the way to go.
>>>>
>>>> So, to cut to the chase -- what I am asking is that some on this grou=
p
>>>> may know of ecologically significant Crown land forests that you have
>>>> visited in the past.=C2=A0 Our Annapolis group is currently putting
>>>> together a list of "good candidate" forests to begin surveying over
>>>> the coming season - basically doing bioblitz-type visits to see what'=
s
>>>> there -- take geo-referenced photos, measure trees, identify trees
>>>> species, look for signs of wildlife, breeding bird activity, native
>>>> plants, etc...=C2=A0 We realize that many of the forests people may s=
uggest
>>>> might already be gone -- in fact, there's a pretty good chance that
>>>> they've been clearcut as there has been an incredible amount of
>>>> harvesting of Crown lands in Annapolis County.=C2=A0 If you haven't
>>>> actually been out to a favourite forest in recent months, you might b=
e
>>>> in for a shock.=C2=A0 However, we'll consider any suggestions even if=
you
>>>> are unsure of the state of the forest.=C2=A0 We have a couple of ways=
of
>>>> checking to see if a standing forest is still there or if it's alread=
y
>>>> been clearcut.=C2=A0 I should mention that there are some people in t=
he
>>>> Kings County area, and some in Digby County,=C2=A0 who have also star=
ted
>>>> or are forming ground-truthing groups, so if you know of forests in
>>>> those counties, you can send them along as well and I'll pass on the
>>>> prospective locations to them.
>>>>
>>>> The other thing I should mention - related to the ground-truthing
>>>> groups -- is that there is, or will be, a need for good naturalists
>>>> who know their flora and fauna.=C2=A0 Our Annapolis group is fortunat=
e to
>>>> have a good number of naturalists and biologists who are already on
>>>> board and keen to ground-truth our forests, but more are always
>>>> welcome, especially at the eastern end of the county.=C2=A0 That will=
also
>>>> be the case for other groups that are beginning to form around the
>>>> province. You need not come out as a group -- you can just do your
>>>> own thing as always as you go about birding, herping botanizing,
>>>> etc.., but we are asking that people consider posting their
>>>> observations on iNaturalist, and make them available to be used in
>>>> "projects". If you're already an iNaturalist user, you probably know
>>>> what I'm describing, but if not, I will explain briefly.=C2=A0 When y=
ou
>>>> post observations to iNaturalist, you can make them available for use
>>>> in projects such as atlases, studies, surveys, etc...=C2=A0 =C2=A0For=
our
>>>> Annapolis group, I have already created a project for for Annapolis
>>>> County. It currently captures any observations made by anyone who has
>>>> made their observations available to projects.=C2=A0 You are welcome =
to
>>>> take a look at our project -- I believe even non-members of
>>>> iNaturalist should be able to see the project and observations.=C2=A0=
Just
>>>> remember that when you contribute observations, it is wise to obscure
>>>> the locations of any sensitive species (there's a simple way of doing
>>>> so in the photo upload) - and, in fact, I think iNaturalist does that
>>>> automatically for some species, but do check, especially in the case
>>>> of herps and plants.=C2=A0 By the way, that really goes for anything =
you
>>>> contribute to iNaturalist even if you are not in projects.
>>>> https://inaturalist.ca/projects/annapolis-royal-and-area-environment-=
ecology-and-nature
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> If you wish to contact me with suggestions for forests, or to join ou=
r
>>>> Annapolis ground-truthing group, or to coordinate your own botanizing
>>>> or other field forays with the forests we are studying, just email me
>>>> off-list.
>>>>
>>>> regards,
>>>> Bev Wigney
>>>> Round Hill, NS
>>>>
>>>
>>> ---
>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>>>
>>
>
=20
=20
| | Virus-free. www.avast.com |
=20
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<html><head></head><body><div class=3D"ydpca28a748yahoo-style-wrap" style=
=3D"font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px=
;"><div><div><span>
<div>It's worth noting that the birds Donna is most concerned about - those=
of "unfragmented, closed canopy, mature and generally late-successional fo=
rest" - are the ones essentially not protected by newly elaborated L&F'=
s "Variable Retention" harvests. View <span class=3D"ydpc728d754Apple-conve=
rted-space"> </span>recent posts on nsforestnotes.ca*</div><div><br><=
/div><div><span><p class=3D"ydpc728d754p1" style=3D"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); fo=
nt-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">- =E2=80=9CWhen i=
s a Clearcut still a Clearcut?=E2=80=9D in Nova Scotia 26Feb2019</p><p clas=
s=3D"ydpc728d754p1" style=3D"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica Ne=
ue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">- Evidently, Nova Scotia L&F conside=
rs adherence to the Interim Retention Guidelines as equivalent to Not Clear=
cutting 25Feb2019</p><p class=3D"ydpc728d754p1" style=3D"color: rgb(0, 0, 0=
); font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">- Recent cha=
nges (Jan 30 & Feb 20, 2019) in Harvest Plan Map Viewer increase concer=
ns about clearcutting in Nova Scotia</p></span>(Not sure if I can insert li=
nks into NatureNS posts)</div>
<p class=3D"ydpc728d754p1">Kudos to Bev Wigney's concept of getting people =
out exploring our Crown land forests generally, not just those about to be =
chopped up. If there is any hope of finally really changing forest manageme=
nt in NS, it will require popular support as its quite clear<span class=3D"=
ydpc728d754Apple-converted-space"> </span>that reasoned argument alon=
e is far from sufficient in NS. It<span class=3D"ydpc728d754Apple-converted=
-space"> </span>also offers opportunities for highly positive experie=
nces, e.g. a visit to what looks like an interesting but unexplored piece i=
f Crown land would make pretty interesting field trips for naturalist group=
s, hiking groups etc.<span class=3D"ydpc728d754Apple-converted-space"> =
;</span></p>
<p class=3D"ydpc728d754p1"><br></p></span><br></div><div><br></div><div cla=
ss=3D"ydpca28a748signature">David G Patriquin<div>Professor of Biology (ret=
ired)</div><div>Dalhousie University<br><br>Web Stuff at <a href=3D"http://=
versicolor.ca" rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank">versicolor.ca</a><div>For=
est Blog at <a href=3D"http://nsforestnotes.ca" rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"=
_blank">nsforestnotes.ca</a></div><div><p class=3D"ydpca28a748MsoNormal">em=
ails sent to patriqui@dal.ca & davidgpatriquin@gmail.com go to davidgpa=
triquin@yahoo.ca </p></div></div></div></div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div>
=20
</div><div id=3D"ydpb0cf0ee8yahoo_quoted_1463313221" class=3D"ydpb0=
cf0ee8yahoo_quoted">
<div style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, s=
ans-serif;font-size:13px;color:#26282a;">
=20
<div>
On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 10:50:34 p.m. AST, Don=
na Crossland <dcrossland@eastlink.ca> wrote:
</div>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<div><div id=3D"ydpb0cf0ee8yiv6403905185"><div>
<p>The Migratory Bird Conventions Act most certainly has been
ignored in the woods, and the Act needs to be amended in my humble
opinion. We are long past the feather trade and hunting threats. =
;
It hasn't protected birds from the newest threats of harvesting,
and of course when it was written ~ 100 years ago, they had not
envisioned the clearcutting, and chipping machines that produce ~
2 million or more tonnes of biomass/year in NS, much of it quietly
shipped overseas -the latest scam that falsely declares that our
chipped up old growth sugar maples and other hardwoods are 'green
electricity', preying upon the naivety of us all. As many are
aware, the problem is that a nest actually has to be found in
order for the Mig Bird Act to kick in. This wouldn't be such a
big deal if birds were not so crafty at hiding their nests. We
are going to need skilled birders and otherwise very patient folk
to seek out nests this spring in order to stave off some
additional bird decline (and perhaps save some forests).<br clear=3D"=
none">
</p>
<p>I should explain my statement below that David Simpson commented
on. I am truly struggling with envisioning forest harvesting
proceeding at Corbett Lake during nest season, adding insult to
injury after a clearly inadequate public consultation process for
that location. The stands at Corbett Lake were never posted for
comment on through Harvest Plans Map Viewer (instead they were
posted under the old 2014 process that reached very few people and
used a much abbreviated comment period), and the harvest
prescription was derived from using the earlier versions of the
Forest Management Guides which set up nearly all forest stands,
regardless of forest composition or seral stage, to be clearcut
(using a variety of clever terms that all meant 'clearcut' in
plain speak). <br clear=3D"none">
</p>
<p>Since the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour,
one can assume that the Department could actually allow harvesting
of this stand this spring, despite the whole landscape being
over-harvested already, and despite presence of large, old
scattered sugar maples and other late successional trees, now so
rare in that area. Even if they delay harvesting, they will
simply harvest somewhere else during nest season, but perhaps in
less mature forest (since we now see ~30 year old stands
flattened). In some desperate measure to find some solace in al=
l
of this, I believe harvesting the young, early-successional forest
during nest season may be slightly better (though they may kill
thousands of birds, depending on the size of clearcut or two-stage
clearcut, and progression of nesting-estimating ~4 young hatched
in each nest that could get put through the chipper), than
harvesting mature late-successional forest patches during nest
season. How could one scenario possibly be better than the othe=
r
when both of them are terrible?<br clear=3D"none">
</p>
<p>In an effort to triage the horrors I see in the woods (where
woods used to be), I am most concerned about forest songbirds that
require unfragmented, closed canopy, mature and generally
late-successional forest (e.g. Blue-headed vireo, Blackburnian
warbler, Black-throated green warbler and other neotropical
migrants- nearly all of them in decline, that fly all the way here
to nest, seek food and shelter in the unique habitat offered by
the Acadian forest). The more common birds may be of less conce=
rn
because they can nest in a broader range of habitats, including
young forests that now comprise the majority of our remaining
stands, though of course they deserve protection as well (e.g.
Common yellowthroat, Goldfinch, etc). <br clear=3D"none">
</p>
<p>In any case, it will be helpful to find nests of ANY migratory
species this spring in order to slow cutting during nest period. =
;
Many of us have sensed that industry is making a mad dash to cut
all they can before they are forced to conduct more ecological
forestry on Crown land. There is perhaps also a dash to feed
Northern Pulp before it closes. I believe this year truly matte=
rs
for naturalists to watch over our forests. Industry may return =
to
cut the habitat later, and so the location will be added to the
growing number of hectares unsuitable for many spp to nest for
decades to come, but at least we may have saved some birds and
their food and shelter for this year. Perhaps the adoption of
Lahey recommendations will improve management to the extent that
we won't have to be concerned about this next year. Let's hope.=
<br clear=3D"none">
</p>
<p>It may be strategic to approach Bev's project with a narrower
list of species (e.g. rare lichens, plants, birds, etc) so as to
allow more naturalists and less experienced folk to help zero in
on certain species. The database may be less cumbersome, too.</=
p>
<p>I sound like a "Debby Downer" this evening so will end here.<br clea=
r=3D"none">
</p>
<p>Donna Crossland<br clear=3D"none">
</p>
<p><br clear=3D"none">
</p>
<div class=3D"ydpb0cf0ee8yiv6403905185yqt9925815211" id=3D"ydpb0cf0ee8y=
iv6403905185yqt46178"><div class=3D"ydpb0cf0ee8yiv6403905185moz-cite-prefix=
">On 2019-02-26 11:24 a.m., David Simpson
wrote:<br clear=3D"none">
</div>
<blockquote type=3D"cite">
</blockquote></div></div><div><div class=3D"ydpb0cf0ee8yiv6403905185y=
qt9925815211" id=3D"ydpb0cf0ee8yiv6403905185yqt93277"><div dir=3D"ltr">
<div>Please add my name to the list of willing naturalists. I've
done a fair number of bird surveys, particularly for
songbirds, and I'd be very happy to partake in the data
collection and promulgation efforts. I'm in Hants County, but
willing to travel. If a similar undertaking is happening in my
neck of the woods I'd be happy to know about it; the number of
loaded logging trucks I see coming down the Chester Road is
alarming.</div>
<div><br clear=3D"none">
</div>
<div>Further to what John Kearney said, it might behoove us to
be pointed in our searches and search for predetermined
targets. I say this because in a bioblitz, the aim is to
record every species in an area. *IF* it is the entire
flora/fauna assemblage that could be a deciding factor, then
yes, a bioblitz could be the means to an end (the end being
stopping a clearcut). But it could be that the means to that
end is a much simpler, easily determined piece of evidence,
for example, the presence of a species at risk. A bioblitz
takes much more time and effort than searching for one or
several target species. Either way, as I see it, the key to
being effective here will be to determine exactly what piece
of information comprises a means to the end, and then go look
for evidence of that specifically.</div>
<div><br clear=3D"none">
</div>
<div>Donna Crossland said "The harvest at Corbett Lake will
surely NOT take place during nesting season". Is this a fact?
I know it's illegal to disturb nesting migratory birds - which
are present in virtually any stand of trees in the Spring -
but I was under the impression these laws were ignored when it
comes to forestry. I could be wrong.<br clear=3D"none">
</div>
<div><br clear=3D"none">
</div>
<div>Thanks for getting this going.</div>
<div><br clear=3D"none">
</div>
<div>
<div class=3D"ydpb0cf0ee8yiv6403905185gmail_signature" dir=3D"ltr=
">
<div dir=3D"ltr">
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr">
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr">
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr">
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr">
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr">
<div dir=3D"ltr">
<div style=3D"font-size:small;"><i styl=
e=3D"color:rgb(255,0,0);font-size:large;">Dave
in Curry's Corner</i></div>
<div style=3D"font-size:small;"><i styl=
e=3D"color:rgb(255,0,0);font-size:large;"><br clear=3D"none">
</i></div>
<div>
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr">
<div><font size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
00000">David
Simpson</font></div>
<div dir=3D"ltr"><font size=3D"2"=
color=3D"#000000">(902) 580
8007</font></div>
<div><font size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
00000"><a shape=3D"rect" href=3D"mailto:david.sonsimp@gmail.com" rel=3D"nof=
ollow" target=3D"_blank">david.sonsimp@gmail.com</a></font></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br clear=3D"none">
</div>
<br clear=3D"none">
<div class=3D"ydpb0cf0ee8yiv6403905185gmail_quote">
<div class=3D"ydpb0cf0ee8yiv6403905185gmail_attr" dir=3D"ltr">On Tu=
e, Feb 26, 2019 at 9:55
AM Bev Wigney <<a shape=3D"rect" href=3D"mailto:bkwigney@gmail=
.com" rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank">bkwigney@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<=
br clear=3D"none">
</div>
<blockquote class=3D"ydpb0cf0ee8yiv6403905185gmail_quote" style=3D"=
margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-lef=
t:1ex;">Thanks
to everyone who has responded -- especially with regards to<br cl=
ear=3D"none">
documentation and dissemination of any findings by the
ground-truthing<br clear=3D"none">
groups. I agree very much that the observations need to be
recorded<br clear=3D"none">
in such a way that they can somehow be useful in supporting<br cl=
ear=3D"none">
conservation of ecologically significant forests. That said=
,<br clear=3D"none">
iNaturalist, is a terrific vehicle for compiling
observations. It<br clear=3D"none">
has a pretty easy user interface anyone who wants to enter
their<br clear=3D"none">
observations. It is easily adapted to use by a community of=
<br clear=3D"none">
naturalists who wish to collaborate on their findings.
Confirmation<br clear=3D"none">
of IDs works quite well. Further, there are so many ways in
which the<br clear=3D"none">
data collection can be customized -- for instance, it is
easily<br clear=3D"none">
possible to create "places" such as particular forest stands
of any<br clear=3D"none">
size -- and have all observations within those outlined areas
feed<br clear=3D"none">
into that "place". I believe it's a good tool for
naturalists who<br clear=3D"none">
have come to the realization that there is a growing and
desperate<br clear=3D"none">
need to fill in the gaps of what is known about the forests
around us.<br clear=3D"none">
The hour to do so is growing late.<br clear=3D"none">
<br clear=3D"none">
bev<br clear=3D"none">
<br clear=3D"none">
On 2/26/19, Donna Crossland <<a shape=3D"rect" href=3D"mailto:=
dcrossland@eastlink.ca" rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank">dcrossland@eastl=
ink.ca</a>> wrote:<br clear=3D"none">
> Thanks for the advice, Fred. You're right, the follow-=
up
documentation<br clear=3D"none">
> is essential (though perhaps less fun) and then after
that there is the<br clear=3D"none">
> hurtle of having various decision-makers read and apply
new<br clear=3D"none">
> facts/knowledge. Everyone is so reliant on GIS layers
these days to<br clear=3D"none">
> supply all the points rendered in decisions. I suppose we
will have to<br clear=3D"none">
> suggest that they be added to certain GIS layers or it
will be<br clear=3D"none">
> over-looked, conveniently or otherwise. In this era of
rapid decline of<br clear=3D"none">
> many species coupled with poor management, the initiative
of casting a<br clear=3D"none">
> net to the widest possible group(s) of naturalists to
help catalogue<br clear=3D"none">
> species obs- location and abundance, etc, is of
increasing importance.<br clear=3D"none">
><br clear=3D"none">
> I will forward your advice and Bev's new initiative to
our group, Nature<br clear=3D"none">
> NS, as well.<br clear=3D"none">
><br clear=3D"none">
> Donna Crossland<br clear=3D"none">
><br clear=3D"none">
> On 2019-02-25 11:55 p.m., Frederick W. Schueler wrote:<br cl=
ear=3D"none">
>> On 25-Feb.-19 10:10 p.m., Donna Crossland wrote:<br clea=
r=3D"none">
>>> This is a wonderful initiative. I will finally
hone some skills with<br clear=3D"none">
>>> iNaturalist, so it seems. Bev and others will =
be
good teachers.<br clear=3D"none">
>>> What better use of a naturalist's time than
combing our public<br clear=3D"none">
>>> forests for nature's treasures?<br clear=3D"none">
>><br clear=3D"none">
>> * but you're going to have to formalize your results
in documents,<br clear=3D"none">
>> sent in multiple copies to the attention of the
ministries in charge,<br clear=3D"none">
>> because, at least in Ontario, the environment
ministries and<br clear=3D"none">
>> environmental assessment rackets are well-blinkered
experts in<br clear=3D"none">
>> ignoring the ordinary sources of knowledge about
biodiversity: museum<br clear=3D"none">
>> collections, the peer reviewed and local natural
history published<br clear=3D"none">
>> literature, and online provincial & national
databases. They only heed<br clear=3D"none">
>> their own internal grey literature unless their noses
are rubbed in<br clear=3D"none">
>> some more conventional info. I bet they're almost =
as
good at ignoring<br clear=3D"none">
>> eBird and iNat as they have been at ignoring the
Ontario herp atlases.<br clear=3D"none">
>><br clear=3D"none">
>> When we were reviewing <a shape=3D"rect" href=3D"http://=
www.dumpthisdump2.ca/" rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank">http://www.dumpth=
isdump2.ca/</a>
I published a<br clear=3D"none">
>> first record of a clover species for Ontario east of
Windsor from the<br clear=3D"none">
>> proposed dump site in Trail & Landscape - the
only local natural<br clear=3D"none">
>> history journal - and they missed both that and a
paper about a SAR<br clear=3D"none">
>> we'd found, but they'd missed, at the site, that was
peer-reviewed in<br clear=3D"none">
>> the Canadian Field-Naturalist.<br clear=3D"none">
>><br clear=3D"none">
>> So call it a serial publication, "Ground-Truthing
Nova Scotia Forests"<br clear=3D"none">
>> or something, and put out an issue for each of your
trips, send pdf's<br clear=3D"none">
>> to ministry officials, and deposit a hard copy with
Andrew Hebda at<br clear=3D"none">
>> the NS Museum, and maybe at the NB Museum so you'll
have an out of<br clear=3D"none">
>> province repository.<br clear=3D"none">
>><br clear=3D"none">
>> fred.<br clear=3D"none">
>> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br clear=3D"none">
>><br clear=3D"none">
>>> Song bird surveys and nest surveys will also be
useful. The harvest<br clear=3D"none">
>>> at Corbett Lake will surely NOT take place during
nesting season, yet<br clear=3D"none">
>>> another assault on a forest with old growth and
plenty of nest cavity<br clear=3D"none">
>>> trees.<br clear=3D"none">
>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>> It is a sad reflection on the lack of good
governance over the<br clear=3D"none">
>>> 'peoples' forests' (public Crown lands), with
continued clearcutting,<br clear=3D"none">
>>> particularly on very sensitive, poor soils in the
southwest. And so<br clear=3D"none">
>>> it comes about that local folks feel the need to
provide more<br clear=3D"none">
>>> oversight; a neighbourhood watch, of sorts, ov=
er
nature's bounty.<br clear=3D"none">
>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>> Thanks to Bev.<br clear=3D"none">
>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>> Donna Crossland<br clear=3D"none">
>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>> On 2019-02-25 10:24 a.m., Bev Wigney wrote:<br clear=
=3D"none">
>>>> Everyone,<br clear=3D"none">
>>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>>> I know there has been very little discussion
about harvests of Crown<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> land forests here on NatureNS, but I'm
putting out a somewhat related<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> request. Here in Annapolis Royal are=
a,
we've been organizing a<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> ground-truthing group to make occasional
forays to check out Crown<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> land forests that have a fair likelihood of
being good candidates for<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> biodiversity - forests that would qualify as
ecologically significant<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> under the Lahey triad model. This group ha=
s
come about after a couple<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> of previous forays to inspect forests that
were slated for clearcuts<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> or uniform shelterwood cuts (2-stage
clearcutting). In the case of<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> the hardwood parcel at Corbett-Dalhousie
Lake, we were astounded to<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> find multi-age "old forest" climax hardwood
trees -- Yellow Birch that<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> were 8 feet in circumference, as well as many
large Sugar Maple and<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> Red Spruce. The fate of that forest is sti=
ll
somewhat uncertain - it<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> will be harvested in some way this spring,
but we don't really know to<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> what extent. In any case, our forays have
taught us that there is a<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> need to know more about the Crown land
forests in our region. It is<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> not enough to wait for them to turn up on the
Harvest Plan Map Viewer<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> (HPMV) list of "parcels" awaiting approval
for harvest. With a scant<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> 40-day comment period, that doesn't give our
group much time to get<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> out to ground-truth a forest, especially if
it suddenly appears on the<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> list in mid-winter -- as was the case with
the Corbett-Dalhousie Lake<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> forest - although 18 of us did go out to walk
it on Boxing Day.<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> Unfortuantely, we still have no true idea of
the extent of its<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> biodiversity and won't have much chance to
take a serious look at that<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> before the harvest equipment moves in -- but
we have learned from this<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> experience. Waiting for forests to show up
on the harvest lists is<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> not the way to go.<br clear=3D"none">
>>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>>> So, to cut to the chase -- what I am asking
is that some on this group<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> may know of ecologically significant Crown
land forests that you have<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> visited in the past. Our Annapolis group i=
s
currently putting<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> together a list of "good candidate" forests
to begin surveying over<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> the coming season - basically doing
bioblitz-type visits to see what's<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> there -- take geo-referenced photos, measure
trees, identify trees<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> species, look for signs of wildlife, breeding
bird activity, native<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> plants, etc... We realize that many of the
forests people may suggest<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> might already be gone -- in fact, there's a
pretty good chance that<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> they've been clearcut as there has been an
incredible amount of<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> harvesting of Crown lands in Annapolis
County. If you haven't<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> actually been out to a favourite forest in
recent months, you might be<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> in for a shock. However, we'll consider an=
y
suggestions even if you<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> are unsure of the state of the forest. We
have a couple of ways of<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> checking to see if a standing forest is still
there or if it's already<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> been clearcut. I should mention that there
are some people in the<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> Kings County area, and some in Digby County,&nbs=
p;
who have also started<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> or are forming ground-truthing groups, so if
you know of forests in<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> those counties, you can send them along as
well and I'll pass on the<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> prospective locations to them.<br clear=3D"none"=
>
>>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>>> The other thing I should mention - related to
the ground-truthing<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> groups -- is that there is, or will be, a
need for good naturalists<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> who know their flora and fauna. Our
Annapolis group is fortunate to<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> have a good number of naturalists and
biologists who are already on<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> board and keen to ground-truth our forests,
but more are always<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> welcome, especially at the eastern end of the
county. That will also<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> be the case for other groups that are
beginning to form around the<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> province. You need not come out as a group --
you can just do your<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> own thing as always as you go about birding,
herping botanizing,<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> etc.., but we are asking that people consider
posting their<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> observations on iNaturalist, and make them
available to be used in<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> "projects". If you're already an iNaturalist
user, you probably know<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> what I'm describing, but if not, I will
explain briefly. When you<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> post observations to iNaturalist, you can
make them available for use<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> in projects such as atlases, studies,
surveys, etc... For our<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> Annapolis group, I have already created a
project for for Annapolis<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> County. It currently captures any
observations made by anyone who has<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> made their observations available to
projects. You are welcome to<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> take a look at our project -- I believe even
non-members of<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> iNaturalist should be able to see the project
and observations. Just<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> remember that when you contribute
observations, it is wise to obscure<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> the locations of any sensitive species
(there's a simple way of doing<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> so in the photo upload) - and, in fact, I
think iNaturalist does that<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> automatically for some species, but do check,
especially in the case<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> of herps and plants. By the way, that real=
ly
goes for anything you<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> contribute to iNaturalist even if you are not
in projects.<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> <a shape=3D"rect" href=3D"https://inaturalist.ca=
/projects/annapolis-royal-and-area-environment-ecology-and-nature" rel=3D"n=
ofollow" target=3D"_blank">https://inaturalist.ca/projects/annapolis-royal-=
and-area-environment-ecology-and-nature</a><br clear=3D"none">
>>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>>> If you wish to contact me with suggestions
for forests, or to join our<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> Annapolis ground-truthing group, or to
coordinate your own botanizing<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> or other field forays with the forests we are
studying, just email me<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> off-list.<br clear=3D"none">
>>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>>> regards,<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> Bev Wigney<br clear=3D"none">
>>>> Round Hill, NS<br clear=3D"none">
>>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>><br clear=3D"none">
>>> ---<br clear=3D"none">
>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast
antivirus software.<br clear=3D"none">
>>> <a shape=3D"rect" href=3D"https://www.avast.com/anti=
virus" rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank">https://www.avast.com/antivirus</=
a><br clear=3D"none">
>>><br clear=3D"none">
>><br clear=3D"none">
><br clear=3D"none">
</blockquote>
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