Point Pelee National Park is getting 11.2 Million dollars from the Government for improving the park on several fronts. See this link for more details: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/federal-government-announces-major-investments-in-point-pelee-national-park [evernote]. I can't help but think that 1 million of that money could have easily bought the old Windsor Raceway land from Coco Paving to improve the <1% of Ontario's tallgrass prairie habitat.
The Ojibway Park Bioblitz is taking place this Saturday July 18 and I wanted to get out and observe some wildlife as this event approaches. If you are interested in joining this event read more and register here: http://essexcountynature.com/2015/07/08/join-us-for-the-2015-ojibway-prairie-bioblitz/ .
I did some pre bio-blitz scouting earlier this week with a focus on Leps at Ojibway. The butterfly-watching has been a little slower it seems than normal. Fritillaries and Browns are very present, but it seems that hairstreak volume and diversity has been low this year. Some butterflies I noted this week were:
American Copper
Coral Hairstreak
Edward's Hairstreak
Acadian Hairstreak
Little Glassywing
GS Fritillary
Red Admiral
Pearl Crescent
American Lady
Commas and Question Marks
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| Acadian Hairstreak hiding in this Michigan Lily |
Some botanical highlights included Culver's Root and Indian Pipe (a plant that has no chloroplasts!) were noted this week at Ojibway.
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| Culver's Root |
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| Indian Pipe |
Some birds that I noted at Brunet Park in Lasalle was a nice view of a female Indigo Bunting and an obliging Eastern Wood Pewee.
Good birding!
Dwayne
A fun area (Ojibway) to check out!
ReplyDeleteWe did find lots of the sedge skippers on the bioblitz--Dukes' at Brunet and lots of Black Dash at Spring Garden, some Broad-winged and Mulberry Wing.
I was happy to get American Coppers at Spring Garden in the usual area!