Month: July 2020

The installation of an Osprey nesting platform and box, by Hydro One, at Bayfield River Flats, was featured on CTV news.

The Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (HTLTC) and Bayfield River Valley Trails Association would like to thank CTV News London Videographer Scott Miller for visiting the Bayfield River Flats, of the HTLTC, to cover the Osprey nesting box story.

To watch the television news item visit this link:

• Ospreys get community-built nest in Bayfield, Ontario

The television news item was featured in July of 2020.

Thanks go to Hydro One, for completing this project; to Peter Jeffers and the Bayfield River Valley Trails Association; and to Jack Pal, who took photos for the story.

Here is the CTV news story:

Ospreys get community-built nest in Bayfield, Ontario

BAYFIELD, ONT. – Ospreys near Bayfield have a new potential nest, thanks to some local volunteers and Hydro One.

Earlier this month, members of the Huron Land Tract Trust Conservancy and Hydro One came together to built an osprey nest, that will sit atop the trees in the Bayfield River Flats, near the marina.

“It’s a perfect spot for a an osprey nest, because the osprey is at the top of the food chain. They’re coming in off the lake, and they’re searching along the river,” says Roger Lewington, from the Huron Land Tract Trust Conservancy.

Hydro One committed to donating and building the nest after having to take some trees down in the conservation area for a construction project.

“We take our hats off to Hydro One. They have been brilliant in fulfilling their promise to make good, following the damage they had to do to our little conservation area. They had to take a lot of trees down for construction, but they’ve really come up in spades by providing this opportunity for the osprey to find a new home,” says Peter Jeffers, with the Bayfield River Valley Trails Association.

Hydro One says they were happy to do so.

“One of key environmental objectives is to identify and integrate biodiversity into our activities. So, we’re proud to support efforts to protect local Osprey populations,” says Elise Croll, head of Hydro One’s Environmental Services.

Ospreys typically make their nests in artificial structures, like hydro poles or light standards. They typically make a nest during springtime, but locals are hoping they set up shop this summer.

“This is something that will attract a lot of people, particularly when the osprey come. Hopefully, we’ll get ones nesting their shortly. I’m sure it will attract people from miles around,” says Jeffers.

PHOTO:
Osprey nest built. A new osprey nest is lifted into place by Hydro One in Bayfield, Ont. in July 2020. (Source: Jack Pal)

Osprey nest box one of newest cooperative projects to protect, improve Bayfield River Flats Natural Area

A new nesting platform for Osprey habitat is one of the cooperative projects happening at the Bayfield River Flats. Hydro One collaborated with the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (HTLTC) by donating and installing the new nesting platform and box to support local Osprey populations in the area.

“One of our key environmental objectives at Hydro One is to identify and integrate biodiversity management approaches into our activities,” said Elise Croll, Director, Environmental Services, Hydro One. “At Hydro One, it is our priority to support the communities where we work and live, and we are proud to support efforts to protect local Osprey populations.”

The work on the Osprey nesting box was “quite an operation and led to great results,” said Roger Lewington, Bayfield resident and HTLTC Chair. “This good news story would not have been made possible without the community partnership from Hydro One. We appreciate the support of Hydro One, volunteers, and donors who are helping to realize the vision for improving the Bayfield River Flats Natural Area.”

An Osprey is a large raptor often making its habitat near bodies of water. One of the reasons this bird is important is because it is an “umbrella species,” with its presence reflecting the health of an aquatic ecosystem.

The Bayfield River Flats Natural Area is a 4.75-acre riverside property open to the public. It is preserved thanks to volunteers and donors from the Bayfield area as well as by the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy.

The Bayfield River Flats Natural Area is owned and protected permanently by the Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy, working with the Bayfield River Valley Trails Association (BRVTA). The other properties permanently protected by the land trust are Woodburne Farm, south of Goderich; Heaman Tract, near Ailsa Craig; and Mayhew Tract, near Holmesville.

Generous citizens and community organizations raised more than $70,000 to acquire and protect the Bayfield River Flats. As reported by The Bayfield Breeze, during the autumn of 2016, almost a quarter of the population of the Village of Bayfield donated to a fundraising campaign to purchase the 4.75-acre plot of land on the river, including donors from all over North America. These efforts ensured that the river would continue to be publicly accessible.

About Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy (HTLTC): The Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy was formed in 2011, by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation, a registered Canadian charity. The land trust serves the area of the historic Huron Tract from the early days of settlement. The HTLTC is a volunteer organization with a separate board of directors and is a member of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance. The Huron Tract Land Trust Conservancy accepts donations and bequests of land and gives people in the Huron Tract area a way to make a positive difference by helping protect and restore land, water, and nature. For more information on the Conservancy, please email info@htltc.ca or call 1-888-286-2610 or visit htltc.ca.

Photo below by Jack Pal: