Originally posted as the newsletter for the Ontario Barn Preservation, November 2024.

Dear Members,

A variety of things happen in early winter. Flu and colds. (I'm feeling better, thank you, and I hope none of you have been ill). Christmas shopping, or the thought of Christmas shopping and baking and cleaning. The first snowfall and finding where you left the snow shovel last season. 

Then there is the annual Canada Post strike just as you start thinking about sending or getting Christmas cards in the mail. 

I (Laura) do have a Christmas card in the works for our members again this year. My niece, Emma-Jeanne, has hand drawn a holiday barn with a few suggestions and ideas. I hope you will like it. She loves drawing and painting. She is a pastry chef by trade. 

Merry Early Winter, 

Laura I found this image on a wallpaper website. A broken link to another site given as the source. So, I don't know who made it.

Wild Animals Living in a Barn

Have you ever tried to make a list of all the animals (wild, not domesticated) that might live in a barn, in Ontario? Let me save you the trouble. If you look for "wild animals living in barns" online, the search gives you farm animals: cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, etc. AI (artificial intelligence) still isn't all the bright. 

First, lets start with barn cats. They are on the fence (jumped up there like it was nothing) because they aren't fully wild, nor quite domesticated. 

My list of wild animals found in Ontario barns: barn owls (if you're lucky), foxes, weasels, badgers, coyotes, chipmunks, bats, squirrels, rabbits, snakes, toads, skunks, raccoons, opossums. A pretty vast assortment of birds, rodents and usually very unwanted mice, pigeons, rats (vermin). Water birds seem unlikely and fish... well, don't be silly. Spiders and assorted insects (I almost forgot the little creatures).

Then there are bigger animals like bears, deer and moose, they seem less likely to be around unless the barn is pretty forgotten and abandoned quite awhile. You aren't likely to see wolves, cougars, or lynx either. Though I wonder if they'd like to find an out of the way old barn for the winter too. Probably a great way to keep out of the wind and find rodent snacks all winter long. 

This is my list. You can probably think of others to include like fishers, those less heard about and not often seen. My brother had a fisher at his rural place near Barrie and Orillia. I didn't see it, I wish I had, from a safe distance. It liked the old outhouse. It hasn't been seen for a couple of winters now. I like to think it found a nice barn for itself. 

57,000-year-old mummified wolf pup discovered in Canadian permafrost - "An incredibly well-preserved wolf pup thought to have lived 57,000 years ago was pulled out of the melting permafrost by a gold miner in Yukon, Canada"

Found in the Yukon, from a time long before there were barns. See how important barns can be, not just for farm animals! 

Ontario Government - Wildlife Management - link

Ontario Government - Creating Wildlife Habitat - link

Hinterland Who's Who: Grizzly Bear

Laura

In case you missed it!

Ontario Rural Diary Archive - Another (like our own 'Your Old Barn Study') rural history project with the University of Guelph. "Centennial farm is no more. It has been replaced with suburban developments, a phenomenon happening in large parts of North America. In earlier times, our important cities were usually built in areas of good farmland. These cities have, of course, grown, and in the last few decades we have been covering up thousands of acres of some of our best farmlands with cement. We are increasing this rate of development all the time.

The year 1967 was centennial year in Canada. As a personal celebration, I did a series of paintings based on those things in my home county of Halton in Ontario which had been there for at least 100 years. Some of these subjects were works of nature but many were the works of man - old barns, farmhouses, fences and so on. Although these things lasted for 100 years or more, every single one of them has been destroyed within the last two decades - they were all gone by 1987.

I think that it is a pity that we in North America are so cavalier about our natural and man -made heritage. In Europe there has been for many years a serious effort to preserve the family farm and to preserve man-made works of previous generations. Such a commitment to preservation requires us to pay attention and to pay for it. The Europeans consider it a worthy cost. We North Americans apparently don't, and so our heritage disappears, very often through carelessness and more often through greed.

I enjoy painting man-made subjects from earlier eras because they have character and individuality. It is evident that they have been worked on by the human hand and by the forces of nature. This can no longer be said of our machine-made, packaged world which is increasingly enveloping us." ~ Robert Bateman - November 12, 2024 Canadian artist, Robert Bateman, posted about barns. I reposted this to our social media accounts. 

One Last Thing...

Inspiration for gingerbread house makers this year... A Gingerbread Barn found on Reddit. This could be an artsy version, with extra fancy icing doodles. Or, a less candy version without lots of little things that keep falling off. 

If you feel nostalgic for more Hinterland Who's Who I found the updated new videos. For me its just not the same without the old music to start it off and the same announcer's voice. 

Or, you could find more with YouTube and other places that host videos.

Bonus link. I'm not sure this was included here, or might have just been shared on social media for OBP. Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity

I remember reading about this project when it was a new idea. I thought it sounded like a smart solution. I guess others didn't, but there are always going to be people who don't agree (sometimes they turn out to be right). But, until it is given a try, no one really knows if it will work. There are unpredictable factors, especially with wild animals and changes to technology as far as vehicles too.

I'm glad its working and especially nice for it to be here in Canada.

Since the 1980s, the Canadian government has allotted more than $400 million to upgrade and twin the four-lane highway, with a quarter of the budget set aside for projects that would reduce wildlife collisions, a growing concern. Parks Canada decided they would use part of that money to fence the entire highway — roughly 180 kilometres — and construct several dozen wildlife crossing structures in hopes of lowering the mortality rate.

In November, Parks Canada marked the 20th anniversary of the completion of the first wildlife overpass in Banff National Park. ... the six overpasses and 38 underpasses that criss-cross the Trans-Canada are today considered a worldwide conservation success story, reducing wildlife collisions by 80 per cent. Delegations from around the world now visit Banff to learn more about their crossing structures in hopes of building similar systems in their home countries, where new roads are cutting through wilderness areas at unprecedented rates.

Roads don’t only imperil wildlife through vehicle collisions; they can fragment habitat and cut off critical migration routes for species. It’s estimated that 25 million kilometres of new road will be built by 2050, the majority in developing countries who have never before had to confront the impact of highways on biodiversity.

Clevenger now has 17 years-worth of data proving the efficacy of the crossings. Among large carnivores, mortality rates are 50 to 100 per cent lower along sections of the highway where overpasses and underpasses exist. In those same sections, mortality rates for elk are almost zero, compared to 100 elk-vehicle collisions per year in the mid-1990s. Clevenger’s research has shown that 11 species of large mammals in Banff have used the structures more than 200,000 times, including unexpected species such as red fox, hoary marmot, boreal toads, wolverines, lynx, garter snakes and beavers.

Black bears and mountain lions prefer to use these shadowy, damp tunnels, says Michel, whereas grizzlies and ungulates prefer the open sightlines offered by the overpasses.

... away from passing motorists’ eyes, lies a grassy oasis. Against the odds, pine trees and wildflowers have taken root here, giving the overpass a fringe of greenery. On the edges, wire fencing provides safe passage for roaming animals.

In 2010, Parks Canada joined forces with CP Rail on a $1 million, five-year joint study to figure out why animals, mainly grizzlies, were dying on the railroad in unprecedented numbers. Their research revealed that a number of factors were drawing animals into the rail corridor, from increased vegetation to an inability to detect oncoming trains, with bears often running toward them, instead of away.

Paraphrased from Canadian Geographic - As Banff’s famed wildlife overpasses turn 20, the world looks to Canada for conservation inspiration

Would you support pigeon feeding stations in your city? The idea of pigeon feeders is to move them from areas where they are not welcome and prevent rats/ rodents in general from eating the food intended for wild birds. Also, keeping the birds for those tourists who think feeding pigeons is something to do while visiting cities. (I'd skip it).

I don't think there are parrots and other exotic pet type of birds living in Toronto. I know I haven't seen any in Barrie, where I live now. Could they migrate this north and live through the winters? Winters are milder overall but one good, cold snap could be too much for birds used to a southern climate.

The Parrot Sanctuary (Toronto) From what I read the birds are from people who had them as exotic pets. So, parrots and other exotic birds are still not able to survive winters north of New York.

Brooklyn Parrots - about a non-native species which is surviving and doing well, without causing problems for the native environment. Or at least merging with the existing pigeon population and not causing more trouble than the pigeons.

The site has a wild parrot FAQ, intended for the local, New York area.

The Monk Parakeet, also known as the Quaker Parrot, is an adaptable, hardy bird from South America noted for its intelligence, sociability, creative approach to nest-building, and general resourcefulness. They were first detected in the wild in New York City in the late 1960s, and continue to be seen around Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and occasionally in Manhattan.

For more than 40 years, the birds have survived on New York’s tough streets, weathering tornadoes, hurricanes, and a multitude of predators — both avian and human. Populations have come and gone in New York City, and this will likely recur as urban habitats change.

Monk parakeets are considered by some scientists to be an example of “charismatic megafauna” whose ability to charm humans helps keep them alive and viable as a species.

I read the title "3 Ways to Keep a Naturalist's Notebook" and felt that buzz of inspiration. But, reading the post, it was just about other people's projects, people long gone and famous for their other writing. It wasn't what I was hoping for. I wanted something, fresh, something on the scale of in my own backyard versus famous places and perfect settings. So, what was there to do but collect my own ideas for a backyard naturalist, like myself.

First of all, if you don't have a backyard, there is a whole world out there. Take a look at a local public place like a church, cemetery, park, or get creative. Being a naturalist isn't just about walking around in a forested area. Studying urban areas is important too. Even if you walk on paved ground instead of grass, nature can be found. Not even just outdoors!

Make notes about what you see. Including illustrations. Don't try creating masterpieces with your drawings. They can just add to your words as you find more to be curious about, or make note of. If you make a digital notebook you can add digital photos. Later you can look into a magnifying glass and fancier equipment. But, the main thing is to see what you discover while its still out there to be seen. Technology and more equipment can be distracting and time consuming. To start with at least, stick to a pencil and notebook for quick notes.

What can you find in your immediate, local ecosystem? Learn to identify different plants growing in your backyard. What types of grass are in your lawn? What are the "weeds" you see? Watch for animals in your yard, not just birds. What do they find to eat and how do they eat? Do they interact or avoid each other? Add details like the location, season, the weather, time of day, colours, texture, how they move (or blow in the wind), so many details you can think to add once you get started.

Consider all your senses when making observations and notes: sight, sound, smell, hearing and touch. Include your sixth sense, your feelings, too. Avoid touching poisonous plants. Try not to disturb animals and plants in general. That doesn't mean you can't touch things around you, just learn to understand them without endangering or upsetting them. You don't want to harm life while studying life - be responsible for your actions, not a bumbling professor uncaring/ thoughtless about the chaos your actions can create.

How does the environment affect the natural world? The environment can include the location, traffic from vehicles or people, buildings, sidewalks, fences, a river, trees, everything. I think of the odd weed poking up in an otherwise pristine sidewalk. There is the natural world surviving in the environment it finds itself in.

Take time and return. You may see something interesting while busy and make quick notes before moving along. But, plan ahead and choose a time and location where you are not rushed and can return to again and again. Things change in the natural world. You need more than one visit. Try a sunny day and later a rainy day, even in the same week.

You could make a study of just one weed growing where it manages to get a start. What changes day by day? What struggles does that weed have? Does it grow to full height or remain stunted? Does it produce flowers or seeds? If someone pulls it out, does it have enough root to grow back? Endless questions and observations.

Don't forget the motto (used by urban explorers) "take only photographs, leave only footprints". Whatever you bring with you should leave with you, no littering. On the other hand, don't remove things from their environment. Instead hope you will see them/it again next time you visit. I make an exception for seeds and clippings from plants which you could add to your notes. But, don't harm the plants, make sure there is enough of it to keep thriving. In some locations you may need to stay on trails, especially in fragile ecosystems. Think of it as the butterfly effect without the time machine.

Dress appropriately. Think about insects (bees and mosquitos). Think about the weather. Bright colours or anything flashy will make it harder to watch animals, no matter how patiently you wait. Bring everything with you in an easy to haul around backpack or something else that works well for you.

Give yourself credit for what you have learned, progress you have made in understanding the ecosystem and new discoveries you make. Celebrate your discoveries. Add to your research by looking into history and lore about the plants and animals in your own backyard. Which plants are edible? Find out about foraging and cooking/ baking with wild plants. Learn tracking skills for seeing where the animals came from and where they go.

Here are some reflection questions to help you choose your next outdoor adventure: What am I excited to learn outside? What would be easy for me to do in the amount of time I have? What would be easy for me to do in the locations I have nearby? What areas of nature study am I most passionate about? What areas of nature study have I not done in awhile? If you ever get stuck and unable to go deeper in a particular area of naturalist curricullum… simply take a break and go study something else for awhile! Quoted from Brian Mertins, Nova Scotia.

• Discover the World Around You: Your Guide to Becoming an Amateur Naturalist
• Citizen Science 101: What It Is and Why It Matters
• Backyard Naturalist podcast (US based).
• Backyard Naturalist (Australia)