Everard Fen

The Everard Fen Nature Reserve

In 2000 TBFN was pleased to receive the donation of a 160 acre parcel of significant conservation land at the base of the Black Bay Peninsula.

The reserve is part of a large area of open peatland located past the end of the Everard Road. The property can be reached by hiking along the winter road corridor and then through some bush to reach the open fen.

This property includes a Sharp-tailed Grouse lek site, where the birds “dance” as part of their courtship rituals. These grouse are known to use the same location for their lek year after year. Protecting these sites from disturbance is very important to the breeding success of this species. Sharp-tailed Grouse is uncommon in Thunder Bay District.

In addition to the Sharp-tailed Grouse, there are Great Gray Owls, Sandhill Cranes, Le Conte’s Sparrows, and Palm Warblers breeding there. These are all uncommon breeding species in Thunder Bay District. A pack of wolves regularly roams the area. A number of arctic disjunct plants and some unusual butterflies live there, and one of the province’s rarest orchids, the Bog Adder’s-mouth (Malaxis paludosa), has been found on the property. The fen itself is of an unusual sort called a “patterned peatland” (long ridges of peat separated by shallow long pools forming a pattern easily seen on aerial photos).

TBFN is grateful to the generous donors of this significant property. We also thank The Nature Conservancy (of America) and the Nature Conservancy of Canada for their help in arranging the cross-border donation.

Photos of Everard Fen