Tag Archives: wildlife

One side benefit of the leash free zone.

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The new leash free zone has taken some of the pressure off the wild area. The evidence for this is the fact that the old path is quite overgrown.

The old path is visible as a mild depression in the undergrowth.

There is a path there somewhere.

The lack of dogs and humans is also helpful to new plantings that are part of the rehabilitation of the former staging area. The bags at the base of some of the trees are containers which allow water to be released slowly (I always wondered). The brand name is Tree Gator.

New plantings of trees and grass. Our plentiful rainfall this summer is helping. Let’s hope winter ice is kind.

In the meantime, work continues on re-lining the sewage pipes that run along the Humber. The project has blown past its announced completion date of July 2017.

This equipment fire across the river on July 9th may not have helped the project timeline.

Warm weather brings problems

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The onset of  warmer weather is the worst possible time for wildlife in the park. Many animals are in the most crucial part of their reproductive cycle and increased numbers of people add a considerable burden to their lives. Fortunately, numbers decrease as the season progresses and the novelty wears off. Today, this gentleman let his very active dog off leash at the entrance of the park and it ran to the footbridge flushing out wildlife as it went, causing considerable distress to wildlife, pedestrians and cyclists. Many people seem to regard the park as a leash free zone.

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Face obscured.

This lady decided that the zoom on her camera was insufficient so she had to impose herself on these poor geese, giving them no option but to leave their peninsula. The small island in the distance is about the only safe place for nesting birds and other animals.

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On a happier note a pair of American Black Ducks were waddling in a corner of the park this morning, snacking on new growth and happily out of sight of unleashed dogs. It’s possible that they are in the process of migrating from the southern U.S. to summer grounds further north although some stay here year-round.

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Couple of shots

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Spring has yet to impose itself on this part of the world although the ice left along the banks of the Humber has almost all melted. A sad testament to the nursery trees torn up by the ice is the spiral plastic protectors which somehow have remained.

Native trees were planted here two years ago - some didn't make it through the winter.

Native trees were planted here two years ago – some didn’t make it through the winter.

This weather-beaten piece of driftwood was left behind by melting ice and has a nice texture.

Tons of material gets left behind when the ice melts.

Shadows on driftwood.

A good variety of birds was making the most of today’s strong sunshine. This robin posed nicely for me.

This one seems well fed!

This one seems well fed!

Park pariahs

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Yesterday I encountered two people in the park who, although well meaning, are a detriment to wildlife.

How long have we known that bread is bad for ducks and geese?

How long have we known that bread is bad for ducks and geese?

This old boy is one of a few who regularly feed Canada Geese and Mallards at this spot just above the weir. In fact, anytime you approach the water in this area, birds will swim over anticipating a free (but potentially harmful) meal.

Here’s pariah number two. She was skating along with her very active dog off leash, no doubt congratulating herself for exercising the unfortunate animal. As I approached with my dog, it was evident she had no leash and had to hold onto her dog’s choke chain in order to keep it close. All this without missing a stride!

I'm such a free spirit, I don't leash my dog.

Such a free spirit, she doesn’t even bother bringing a leash.

Once she passed us, the dog was released and went on its way, flushing wildlife in its path. I have never seen this young lady and her dog before and probably won’t see her again but it’s hard to understand how people can be so cavalier about the responsibility of animal ownership and the effect an uncontrolled dog has on wildlife in a park setting.

Raymore Park never sleeps

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Copyright © 2013 by Roy Murray, all rights reserved.

Bright lights looking north towards Weston but dark in the park.

Copyright © 2013 by Roy Murray, all rights reserved.

Looking south, all is dark.

In winter, deer, muskrats, coyotes and foxes are seen occasionally in daylight; especially when the river is frozen. In fact, we get pretty well everything you would expect in the countryside, except for bears and wolves since the river valley acts as a wildlife corridor.

Even in daylight, few people use the park. Although there is a large population surrounding it, most people just aren’t interested. At night, especially in colder weather and with longer hours of darkness, people are even more scarce and wildlife is able to relax a little more.