Field Trip – Lichens
Landmark Inn 1010 Dawson Road, Thunder Bay, ON, CanadaCome out and enjoy the tail end of winter with a lichen field trip at Ravine Lake, Sleeping Giant Provincial […]
Come out and enjoy the tail end of winter with a lichen field trip at Ravine Lake, Sleeping Giant Provincial […]
This is the first "official" field trip to this new reserve acquired in August, 2022. The reserve is located at the far eastern end of Thunder Bay. The reserve has no road access. The total lake frontage is about 3,200 feet, with area around 80 acres.
Preliminary visits have established how to get to the reserve and what to expect there. More visits before the field trip will add to this.
While shallow, sand bottom water access to the shore of the reserve is available, doing so with a group would require extensive preparation and logistics and the dangers of wind and waves before and after make this unfeasible as there is no launch point within a reasonable distance of the reserve.
Our field trip will therefore access the reserve by land. A dead end road terminates about 400 yards from the nearest corner of the reserve. We will walk from there along an old survey line which runs along the souther boundary of the reserve. It's another 400 years or so from this corner to the waterfront.
Enjoy a morning and afternoon at Hurkett Cove when bird migration is at its peak. Don't forget your binoculars, and dress for the weather.
Meet at the Landmark Inn parking lot at 7:30 am or at the Cove by approximately 8:30 am. Contact Marian Childs at 577-1324 to register. From there, we will drive to Hurkett Cove.
Parking is free if you have an Explore Card, otherwise there is a $5.00 per car fee. Explore Cards can be purchased through the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority.
Lichens are everywhere, but wha are they good for? The unique composite organisms are consumed, constructed with, and provide camouflage for forest birds, mammals, and insects and were a fundamental foundation of the boreal forests after the most recent glaciation. These sensitive organisms are also great indicators of habitat qualities. Join me in an outing to expand the appreciation of these integral forest organisms.
A valid Ontario Park permit (either a valid seasonal or annual permit) is required. Vehicle day passes can be purchased up to 5 days in advance from the Ontario Parks website located here: https://reservations.ontarioparks.com. Day permits are $15.50 including tax.
To register, email Hanna Dorval at hannadorval@gmail.com. Meet at the Landmark Inn parking lot at 9:30 am.
Parking is free if you have an Explore Card, otherwise there is a $5.00 per car fee. Explore Cards can be purchased through the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority.
TBFN will be offering a glacial history field trip outing with Brian Phillips and Fred Dean. This outing entails a route that will encompass traveling to Kakabeka to the mouth of the Kam into Upper Beaver Bay level of Lake Superior and then will proceed to the Kam River Valley to Little Dog Lake and the Dog Lake Moraine, returning via the Lappe Delta and the Current River. Silver Falls Provincial Park will be the final point where the trip finishes. For those interested on the return trip, another couple of stops can be added. Please meet at 9:00 am at the Landmark Inn car park. This outing will include short walks, and mostly roadside stops. Bring along a lunch, rain gear, and have a full tank of fuel. Participants are encouraged to wear masks at each stop. A route map with stops will be provided once a pre-toured route to decide on stops is established. Please contact Brian Phillips at brianph220@gmail.com to secure a spot.
131 – 1100 Memorial Avenue ● Thunder Bay, Ontario ● P7B 4A3
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