Good to Know

  INCREASING THE OCEAN'S ABSORPTION OF CARBON DIOXIDE  A Nova Scotia company has received a million-dollar prize from Elon Musk for its plan to increase the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide — essentially by dosing it with an antacid. Dartmouth-based Planetary Technologies announced Friday it has received the cash infusion from XPRIZE Carbon Removal — a four year, international competition backed by the Elon Musk Foundation with the aim of speeding up climate solutions.  Planetary was one of 15 companies to win XPRIZE’s Milestone Award out of an initial pool of more than 1,000. The company’s plan involves treating mine tailings — the debris left behind when mines are dug — to remove toxic substances and any valuable metals, then treating the tailings to produce an alkaline powder. When that powder is distributed into the ocean, it lowers the acidity of the water, thereby increasing its absorption of carbon dioxide. The company projects that by 2035, it c...

  Become A Bird Friendly Citizen by Joining Nature Barrie The Brereton Field Naturalists' Club (Nature Barrie )  of Barrie is a group of friendly people who se aim is to enjoy and work diligently to protect, maintain, and enhance our natural heritag e and to share our findings. The Breretons advocate for the protection of significant green spaces and corridors in the planning process for our high-growth region. Little Lake , a provincially significant wetland, is a high priority.  They monitor and advise the city on the management of its woodlands bordering Little Lake. I n addition, they work with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority to manage Minesing Wetlands, an International Ramsar site and provincially significant wetland complex, support MTM Conservation Association in managing provincial wildlife areas at Mar l Lake, Tiny Marsh and Matchedash Bay (another Ramsar site), and support local Rails-to-Trails organizations. They partner with...

  How I Can Become a Bird Friendly Citizen   Join Nature Canada Nature Canada supports community-based bird conservation programs across Canada to promote local stewardship and restoration efforts. Since 1996, Nature Canada has supported more than 150 grassroots projects and invested close to $450,000 in on-the-ground projects involving 100 Important Bird Areas. Nature Canada fought vigorously to bring Bill C-15 into law to ensure shipping companies and their ships are held accountable if they illegally dump bilge oil in Canadian waters.  The new law protects birds from chronic oil pollution at sea and could prevent the deaths of some 300,000 seabirds annually off the coast of Newfoundland alone. The Boreal forest region contains crucial breeding habitat for 80% of the waterfowl species of North America, 63% of the finch species, and 53% of warbler species.  To protect the boreal for all birds, Nature Canada is a member of the Boreal Forest Conservation Frame...

  EARTH DAY PLANS AND TREE PLANTING IN BARRIE Please record the following dates- April 22 from 4-7 and April 23 9-1 Living Green will be selling rain barrels, native trees and shrubs. More birds flock to native trees than non-native trees. Trees provide food, dew, shelter, resting and observation points for our 450 species of birds in Canada. A SINGLE OAK TREE CAN SUPPORT 147 SPECIES OF BIRDS! Birds such as Baltimore orioles,  brown thrashers,  downy woodpeckers, northern flickers, red-bellied woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, ruby-throated hummingbirds,  scarlet tanagers, tufted titmouse, warblers, and white-breasted nuthatches all frequent oak trees. Tree planting events - May 7 – dates and location -TBA Assikinack 200 trees n Date – TBA 500 trees with Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and Living Green Dates and Location- TBA Oct. 29 -details TBA NVCA- 150 tries TBA Rotary Club and Living Green Batteaux Park Date -TBA If you ...

  Climate Chaos and Birds As climate continues to change, bird populations are expected to shift toward the North and to higher elevations to remain with their ideal temperatures. A study of 35 North American warbler species found that 7 of the species had shifted their range of occurrence significantly north in the past 24 years, by an average of over 100 km.   None of the birds shifted to the south. The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas data demonstrates that “southern” bird species such as tufted titmouse, blue-gray gnatcatcher, northern mockingbird, and red-bellied woodpecker have increased in numbers  and have expanded their range northwards in Ontario compared to 20 years ago. Unfortunately, not all bird populations are able to cope with a warming climate by shifting their range.   Migrating birds may be prevented from finding new ranges by human development, fragmentation, or natural geological features like large bodies of water. At least 85 of the w...

 w hat are the Greatest Threats to Birds Today? If you guessed building or vehicles, or wind turbines, or pesticides or power lines or hunting you would be wrong!! Cats are responsible for killing an astounding  196 million birds   each and every single year  in Canada  - more  than power lines, houses,  pesticides,   v ehicles, hunting, and buildings combined! Domestic cats kill over   200, 000 birds  every single day- a little over   8,000 bird s   every single hour of the day!! Here   are the annual stats from Nature Canada Feral cats – 116 million  Domestic cats – 80 million  Power Lines – 25.6 million Houses – 22.4 million Vehicles – 13.8 million Hunting – 4.7 million  Agricultural Pesticides – 2.7 million Low, mid rise, tall buildings – 2.5  million   Birdsbesafe   Free range cats including pet cats cause  unimaginable harm  to our fragile eco-sy stem by competing with nat...

  How I Can Become a Bird Friendly Citizen  -CATS If you have a cat never, ever let it roam outside! Cats are an example of an introduction of an invasive species wreaking havoc on an ecosystem.  Here are the annual stats from Nature Canada Feral cats – 116 million  Domestic cats – 80 million  Power Lines – 25.6 million Houses – 22.4 million Vehicles – 13.8 million Hunting – 4.7 million  Agricultural Pesticides – 2.7 million Low, mid rise, tall buildings – 2.5  million   Cats are responsible for killing an astounding 196 million birds each and every single year – more  than power lines, houses, vehicles, hunting. and buildings combined!! Cats are responsible for killing an astounding 196 million birds each and every single year - more  than power lines, houses, vehicles, hunting. and buildings combined!! Domestic cats kill over 200, 000 birds   every single d...