Another Sultry Summer in Canada's "Old South"

A string of steamy, sunny days came to an end overnight with a sudden rain shower, just after midnight. Today it's overcast but still muggy. The air, somewhat stagnant. I am not complaining, however! For this is summer in southwestern Ontario, and while the rest of the country was gasping through an unprecedentedly long heat wave, we who live in the most southerly part of Canada just smiled and took it all in stride. What's the fuss?

This is Canada's "bayou" in a way, the last stand of the remaining Carolinian Forest north of the border and home to more species of amphibians, reptiles, and plant and animal life than probably any other part of Canada.

For that alone, this territory is precious. And I haven't even mentioned the Great Lakes yet! The largest inland waterway in the world surrounds us in its blue embrace. Lake Huron to the west and Lake Erie to the south. A green elbow of lush deciduous woods and rich farmland in between. Can you tell that I love it here? You bet!

So this morning's sightings were a feast for my city-weary eyes: great drops of rain dripped from the majestically tall tulip tree; everywhere I looked, green, green, green, green. And the birds: a flicker, a brown thrasher, a hummingbird, and two tiny goldfinches—a splash of brilliant yellow in the deep green foliage.

Then, from the tall grass along the banks of the creek, our blue heron rose suddenly, slowly, struggling (or so it seemed at first) to carry himself aloft on his great wings. Right behind him, a very vocal, very upset red-winged blackbird. The smaller bird relentlessly pursued the long-legged heron, as red-winged blackbirds are wont to do when protecting their nests in the marshes, until the heron was well out over the pond. Of course, no camera on me at the time.

Last year, the blue heron wintered here. I am hoping, in view of the travesty of the oil disaster in the Gulf, the heron chooses to remain here at White's Wetland again this winter. Even in this seemingly secluded, serene sanctuary that is our wetland the utter horror of the destruction of the Gulf's wetlands and marshes is never far from my mind. I worry. I am concerned about the birds who will be migrating straight into Hell this fall. And I feel so helpless.

Oil Spills Kill

The photos are gutwrenching. Those of us who value the lives of wild creatures and who are concerned about wetlands are anguished by what we are witnessing. We knew already how fragile those wetlands, deltas and marshes were, but this oil spill disaster will cause a mass destruction and depletion of species in the Gulf of Mexico the likes of which we have never seen. But the sickening pictures of crude-covered, gasping pelicans show only what we can see with the naked eye. What we cannot see is equally worrisome and troubling.

Oil spills kill. It's as simple as that. What is really happening to the birds, reptiles, crustaceans, amphibians, fish and mammals? It's not just the oil on their feathers, wings or shells; the oil is doing significant internal damage as well.

No, it is not a pretty picture at all.

Here then a little "Oil Spill 101" in order to fully understand what is happening to the wildlife in the Gulf. As hard as it may be to read, these are the facts (thanks in part to Wikipedia for helping me to explain this):

External Damage and Effects

Oil penetrating up the structure of the plumage of birds reduces its insulating ability, making the birds more vulnerable to temperature fluctuations. Birds also become much less buoyant in the water. Furthermore, oil impairs their flight abilities to forage and escape from predators.

Internal Organ Damage

As oiled birds preen (in a desperate attempt to clean themselves), they ingest the oil that covers their feathers, which causes digestive tract irritation, kidney damage and altered liver function. This (and the limited foraging ability) quickly causes dehydration and metabolic imbalances. Moreover, hormonal balance alteration can also result in some birds that have been exposed to petroleum.

Unfortunately, most birds affected by an oil spill die without human intervention at this point. Marine mammals exposed to oil spills are similarly impacted—insulating abilities are reduced, which leads to body temperature fluctuations and hypothermia. Ingestion of the oil causes dehydration and impaired digestions.

Loss of Life at the Organic Level

All levels of marine life and habitat are jeopardized when a significant maritime oil spill occurs. Because oil floats on top of water, less sunlight is able to penetrate the water, which in turn limits the photosynthesis of marine plants and phytoplankton. Ultimately, this adversely affects the food chain of the entire ecosystem.

You could say that the damage to the food chain, or ecosystem, is both a "top down" and a "bottom up" phenomenon—not only do the birds and mammals that live on or near the water suffer physiologically from contact with the oil, even the tiniest organisms that depend on sunlight to thrive are choked off under the dark, sunless waters. It is, therefore, the death of the entire infrastructure.

From the largest predators to the tiniest microscopic organisms, maritime oil spills are utterly devastating.

Environmentalists, ecologists and animal lovers alike, we are all venting our outrage, because what we are witnessing in the Gulf these days is a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions. I do not believe I exaggerate.

Rivers to Oceans Week: June 8 - 13, 2010

Did you know...?

"Canada has the longest coastline in the world – 243,793 km – and is home to almost one-quarter of the world’s wetlands. More plants and animals actually live in water than on land, and there are many ways we can contribute to their survival through our everyday activities." (CWF)

Water, water everywhere ... but one day there may not be a drop of (clean) water to spare. Unthinkable in Canada, you say? Not necessarily. Canada's pristine waterways and the precious life they support need to be protected. Water is essential to life. Period. Without it, we all die - salmon, turtles, birds, beasts, humans.

Wetlands - yes, wetlands! - streams, creeks and rivers are part of the discussion about healthy lakes and oceans, which is why the week is called Rivers to Oceans.

So check out The CWF site to learn more. There are some great pics of the leatherback seaturtle too. CWF dares you to care about the quality of Canada's water and about endangered aquatic species. So get "in the flow" next week...

The "Environment Scene" This Week

This is Canadian Environment Week, from May 30 to June 5, 2010, which leads up to World Environment Day on June 5th. I must admit, the distressing reports on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are derailing my usual drive and optimism. Forty years of concerted environmentalism and this kind of catastrophe still manages to occur, despite the efforts of dedicated people everywhere?

So this week and on World Environment Day, let's take a moment to first honour all the victims of the BP Spill and then renew our individual commitments to the green revolution. Plant a tree, sign a petition, donate to a wildlife charity, leave the car at home. Whatever. Maybe a million small acts of kindness ...

The BP Oil Spill

I haven't been blogging about the BP oil spill in the Gulf because, quite frankly, I can't seem to summon the words—my sorrow and my anger just get in the way each time I begin. Here, surrounded by the beauty of our own wetland, I have such a difficult time grasping the fact that so many people on this planet are simply unable to respond with awe and wonder when confronted with the splendid magnificence of the natural world. Indeed, they are so unmoved by it and care so little about it that they are willing to put the environment in harm's way to serve their own ends. Amassing money and wealth is a mirage, a foolish and fleeting illusion—you can't take it with you! So why not leave something behind for your children to truly enjoy—like a living, breathing, healthy planet that will be able to sustain them?

Vast acres of shoreline, inland waterways, marshes and wetlands will be irreparably damaged for decades to come. Entire populations of migratory as well as resident birds, marine animals, reptiles, amphibians and insects—many of which were already on the endangered species list—will be devastated. The death toll is rising every day. We won't see the full extent of the effects on living organisms, including humans, for a long time to come. The entire web of life in the Gulf bioregion is going to be compromised like never before. And BP seems no closer to a solution. I won't even begin to air my feelings about BP and their disingenuous PR patter here on this blog. As far as I am concerned, they are criminally negligent.

So no images of oiled birds here. At least not today. Such photos abound on the Internet. I'm not going to embed links to the countless articles and reports circulating. Yet please read and follow reports from CNN, PBS and other sources as well, such as Natural News. Learn the truth. Learn as much as you can about this heinous and disgusting event, which could have been avoided if BP had been a responsible corporate citizen in the first place with both preventive and emergency measures in place. Today, I simply needed to break my silence.

As we face these truly dark days ahead, however, let us all be more wary of corporations who apply a thin coat of green wash to their company policies then continue on business as usual, of environmental agencies and governments who are willing and complicit partners in the rape of the world by allowing themselves to be bought by big money, of the sad reality that collusion and greed are destroying this planet.

Politicians love to trot out the words "economic" and "employment" to mollify the populace, to have us believe that jobs and the economy must trump all other concerns.

Nothing is further from the truth: if we do not have a healthy, clean environment first and foremost—air, water and soil—then we will have nothing. We will not need jobs and we will not need dollar bills if we cannot eat, cannot breath and cannot find potable water to drink. It will not matter at some point if you are rich or poor. There is no insurance policy in the world that is going to get us out of this mess unless we humans change the course of events with our anger, our outrage and our sorrow. It is down to us.

The term sea change means "a marked transformation." We need a massive and global transformation in attitude about the environment. We ARE the environment. Brown pelican, sea turtle, dragonfly, human—we are all part of the web of life on this planet.

Unfortunately, for much of the marine life in the Gulf and the humans who hug its shores, depending on the waters for their livelihoods, it is already too late.

Trees Planting Day at White's Wetland

Approximately 1200 - 1300 trees were planted today at White's Wetland! Kentucky Coffee Tree, Shagbark Hickory, Bur Oak, Tulip, Tamarack, White Pine, to name just a few of the species. It was a perfect day for tree planting - blue skies, fresh breezes and sunshine. Pictures, video and details to follow. Thank you, KCCA!

The Trees Are Almost Here...

No, Birnam Wood is not on the march, MacBeth! But 1500 native species trees will be arriving at White's Wetland very, very soon. Indeed, a mini-forest will be springing up! Stay posted for pics and vids of this first-ever WW event. Over the years we have planted a lot of trees, but never this many at one time.

Needless to say, we're very excited to be doing our small part to help replenish the Carolinian woods in the Kettle Creek watershed. We look forward to the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority's arrival next week with great anticipation.

In the meantime, enjoy this photo of yours truly and her favourite maple tree taken many years ago when both tree and reader were, well, shall we say, a little bit younger! This is a lovely summer memory I'll always cherish.

The Lives of Trees: An Old Friend Falls as New Ones Arrive

Trees, like people, have a natural life cycle and a finite life span. Trees grow up, grow old, and eventually die. The life span of a tree is influenced or determined by a variety of natural events, not the least of which is the variety itself. Some tree species simply live longer than others. Other factors that affect the life span of a tree include the availability of water, sun, the presence or absence of wind, fires, insects, as well as specific diseases.

It is said that sugar maples can live up to 400 years. While we do not have an exact figure on this tree, we estimate that this particular maple is most likely well over 150 years old. It was probably here when the land was cleared for the first house. It was a mature tree as far back as my father can remember, and I grew up loving this lofty beauty. Its sheltering foliage has shaded me from the hot southwestern Ontario sun many a summer. I have often read beneath its lush green canopy, or sat with a dog at my side and my back against its sturdy trunk. At one time, many years ago, that area was fenced. Happily for me and my horse, there was a gate directly beneath the two old maples, and kids and horses just love gates: I liked to perch on the top rung and my horse liked to hang his head over it. We spent some good times together in the shade of that tree. Winter, spring, summer and fall—it has been there all the days of my life, so I shall miss it terribly if it has to come down.

I think this will soon be inevitable, however. It is not looking healthy at the crown. The foliage is small compared to that of its equally elderly neighbour, another big old maple tree just a few feet away. While only one of the largest limbs has sheared off, the interior texture of that limb was soft and spongy. I am no expert, but I think this once sturdy sentinel is probably at the end of its life cycle. Will it last the summer? Even as we welcome 1500 new trees this month, it seems we will soon be saying goodbye to a dear old friend.

Spring Comes to the Wetland

One of the female snapping turtles has returned to the pond. Red-winged blackbirds are suddenly in abundance, their distinctive, shrill call piercing the calm spring air. The barn swallows are back too, swooping giddily over the water in search of insects. There are shoals of minnows in the creek. The geese and the mallards have been contentedly spending entire days here together. Not even Monty (our rambunctious Alsatian) seems to faze them. Across, in the wetlands proper, the trees are full and green, and it is a welcome sight. Around the house, the apple trees are bursting into blossom. So too are the lilacs and the magnolia. It's May in southwestern Ontario.

The Oil Spill is Massive ...

Satellite pictures from NASA are showing us the size of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This is an environmental disaster of monumental proportions, and one that further threatens an already threatened coastline.

The coastal areas of Louisiana, like delicate lacework, are a web of marshes, deltas and wetlands that are home to migratory birds, fish and other wildlife. What is happening in the Gulf right now is deplorable. Louisiana was already losing critical coastal habitat - and now this. It is truly heartbreaking.

Visit America's Wetland Foundation for information, press releases, statements, and ways to volunteer or help.

To learn more about "dead zones" you can visit Microbial Life. Unfortunately, there is a dead zone in Lake Erie too.