White's Wetland: Our "Mascot"

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Our "Mascot"

Danny Boy may not live at White’s Wetland, but I like to think of this sweet white Standard mule as our mascot. Danny Boy’s home is the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada in Guelph, Ontario, where this docile and gentle creature gets lots of tender loving care.

This is the second year that I have participated in their Sponsor a Donkey Program. This program is a wonderful opportunity to give with both your heart and your pocketbook to help defray the costs of a donkey’s ongoing care through the year.

The DSC is home and refuge to donkeys and mules that have been abandoned, neglected or abused. So if you are interested in sponsoring one of the residents or just want to learn more about the DSC, visit their website or find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

I am told that Danny Boy is doing very well, and I am sure you will agree that he does indeed look the very picture of good health!

Bless you, Danny, and Happy New Year!

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What is a Wetland?

A wetland is an area of land that is covered by water for part or all of the year. There are four main types of wetlands in Ontario: swamp, marsh, bog and fen. But they are all environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) and worthy of conservation and protection.

At one time, there were over five million acres of wetlands in Southern Ontario. Less than 20% of those wetlands remain.

White’s Wetland is an officially designated ESA. The White family is proud to protect these thirty precious acres, representing some of this region's last remaining
wetlands.

Why are Wetlands Important?

Wetlands are one of the earth’s most productive and diverse ecosystems, acting as a natural water filtration and purification system. They are important because they are capable of filtering pollutants such as chemicals and nutrients from water. Our drinking water is safer, thanks to this natural
filter.

Wetlands help maintain the ground water table. They slow the water run-off after snowfalls and rainfalls, thereby preventing
flooding.

They also produce oxygen and are home to hundreds of birds, mammals, fish, plants and trees, many of which are rare or threatened.

Without wetlands, surrounding farmland would be drier or prone to flooding, entire ecosystems would vanish, the health of our water supply would suffer, and there would be less oxygen.

So, yes, the loss of wetlands significantly impacts human well-being. However, the loss of wetlands means the loss of habitat
to so many unique species that call them Home.

White's Wetland - Fast Facts

White’s Wetland is a deciduous seasonal swamp. A swamp is defined as “wooded wetlands where standing to gently flowing waters occur seasonally or persist for long periods on the surface. The vegetation cover may consist of coniferous or deciduous trees, tall shrubs, herbs and mosses.”

Over 95 different species of vegetation have been identified in our wetland woods. From the stately silver maples, blue beeches, yellow birches, black willows and white oaks (which gave the west boundary road its name) to the tiny “butter and eggs,” spotted touch-me-nots, wild leek and wood anemones, the trees, shrubs, underbrush and brambles of this ecosystem provide the rambling amateur naturalist with a staggering variety of plant life to identify and enjoy.

White’s Wetland also shelters wildlife: white-tailed deer, raccoon, fox, opossum, turtles and snapping turtles, brown trout, little brown bats, and numerous species of birds and songbirds, notably wild turkey, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, mallards, blue heron, goldfinches, red-winged blackbirds and baltimore orioles. Most recently, cedar waxwings have been sighted on the property.

Kettle Creek Conservation Authority has determined that due to its contribution to the base flow of Dodd Creek, White’s Wetland is a valuable asset to the Kettle Creek Watershed.

Reflections: Great Quotes

"In Wildness is the preservation of the world."

Henry David Thoreau

"Nature is our grandest and oldest home, older than language, grander than consciousness."

Scott Russell Sanders

"I find I incorporate gneiss, coal,
long-threaded moss, fruits, grains,
esculent roots.
And am stuccoed with quadrupeds
and birds all over."

Walt Whitman

"Honour every being, for each is
needed to complete the tapestry
of life on earth.

Penelope Smith

"When one day, suddenly, everything becomes radiantly clear to you, you will happily and gratefully stretch in the grass, your face turned down to the earth."

Jaroslav Havelka

"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature."

Frank Lloyd Wright

White's Wetland

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Our "Mascot"

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What is a Wetland?

Why are Wetlands Important?

Why are there so few Wetlands today?

White's Wetland in southwestern Ontario

White's Wetland - Fast Facts

Why this Blog?

Posts by Title

Reflections: Great Quotes

Blog Archive

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Important Sites To Visit

White's Wetland

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Our "Mascot"

No comments:

Post a Comment

What is a Wetland?

Why are Wetlands Important?

Why are there so few Wetlands today?

White's Wetland in southwestern Ontario

White's Wetland - Fast Facts

Why this Blog?

Posts by Title

Reflections: Great Quotes

Blog Archive

Subscribe To White's Wetland

Followers

AddThis

Important Sites To Visit