Area News Summer 2010

Kukagami Environment Watch                                                Area News

http://www.kewatch.blogspot.com/                                                                               Summer 2010

At The Water’s Edge

I step carefully

Down

To the water’s edge.

The scent

Of pinesap hangs

Fresh

In the air.

I stare across

The glass lake

Until

A small

Chilly breeze

Shatters it

Into tiny pieces.

Then all

Is silent

All

Is still

But,

That peaceful

Moan,

That swoops

Over the lake

And straight

Into

My soul.

That loud,

Hooting call

Of the

Loon. 

This poem, and the one at the end of the newsletter were written by Livvy Hlywka (age 9)

for her grandfather, Ed Kusneirczyk.

painting by Ann Feifel    http://www.annsnaturepaintings.ca/

International Year of Biodiversity   A year of celebration, action, and hope.

Take time to celebrate the unique and varied life that exists on our planet. Biodiversity refers to the variety of different species in our region. From the tiniest snowflea to the largest forest mammal, the moose, all species play a part in the health of our ecosystems.

Wetlands are one of the most ecologically diverse ecosystems in the world.  Kukagami is blessed with an abundance of these natural areas.  They contain hundreds of species of plants, insects, mammals, fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians that together, create an intricate and complex food web. If one species is removed, the health of the entire ecosystem is jeopardized.  Wetlands are important in retaining water, preventing flooding, and filtering pollutants out of our water.

We as humans have to remember that we are an integral part if the biodiversity of our planet.  We can preserve it, not only for ourselves and our future generations, but also for all other species with which we share this planet.

Thanks to Ontario Nature for this excerpt. 

Adopt-a-Road clean up is in its 6^th year!  We are getting to know the habits of the regular litterers, and are more than a little concerned about the number of beer cans, although it does provide a tiny gratuity for those who make the effort to clean the road.  Take notice! There is no longer a fee to get rid of old tires!  Tell everyone you know that they can drop off 4 tires at a time at most new tire stores, including Canadian Tire.  Hopefully this Ontario initiative will reduce the number of tires being dumped in the bush.

Forests!

The new Forest Management Plan is now available for public viewing. The allocated areas closest to us are along both sides of McLaren Creek.  As always there will be no logging within 200 meters of Kukagami because we are protected within the Forest Reserve since 1999.   You can see the logging plans for all areas of Ontario. The new Sudbury Forest plan will cover the years 2010 to 2020.  Some interesting maps and local logging information can be seen at the Vermillion Forest website.

Blog from the Bog…A new danger in the bush ..  In the past few years, I have noticed that the highway signs for blueberries have revealed a new and terrifying threat. Blueberries have gone wild!!!!

One can conjure up terrible images of Attila the Blueberry Hun riding on his Mongolian pony dragging unsuspecting pickers around by their 6-quart baskets. The Blueberry Bluebeard Pirate with a patch over one eye and a little twig peg leg has been reported to carrying off the women in a group. Small outlaw blueberry bands are pillaging the area – little children have been found sobbing in berry patches –their mouths and fingers stained blue. Guerrilla bands have reportedly taken over the Donald lake portage and are known to favour retirees.  Perhaps the most dangerous group are the teenage blueberry gangs who are now infiltrating the area – they are easily recognisable with their blue dyed spiked hair and little iPods covering their ears and are often seen relaying picker whereabouts information to other gangs on their little blue i-phones.
Be careful when you go out. There are dangers hiding behind every blueberry bush!
 We must join together and conquer these blueberries – it is best if we travel in at least groups of 3 or 4 with machetes, blueberry repellent, and use the eyes in the back of our head to be ever ready for a sneak attack (teachers have an advantage here).
Please report any sightings or encounters to the Blueberry Eradication Vigilante Association        (BEVA)          853-BLUE

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Wild blueberries are very high in antioxidants (specifically, anthocyanidins, found in the skins). Called a superfruit for their exceptional antioxidant properties, they may play a role in slowing the effects of memory loss, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
Wild blueberries are also prized among bakers for their density and yield per pound; unlike cultivated blueberries, wild ones rarely explode during baking and hold their shape well.

History of blueberries   http://www.wildblueberries.net/bluehistory.html

Wild bears will eat nothing except the succulent, juicy blueberries when they are in season. It has been documented that they will travel with an empty stomach, from ten to fifteen miles per day to sniff out a blueberry patch.

Night Sky

I stare up

At the vast,

Black sky.

I see those

Millions upon millions,

Of stars,

Shining,

Going on,

And on,

And on.

I feel lonely,

Small,

Yet filled

With content

And happiness

To be

This tiny

Speck,

In the

Universe.

written by Livvy Hlywka (age 9)

Website and Newsletter

The KEW newsletter is published quarterly, and sent by email to any interested person.  Paper copies can be provided to residents upon request.  Drop a note to Kukagami Environment Watch, 432 Fox Road, Wahnapitae, ON, P0M 3C0.   The Website is updated randomly through the year – so check for new information and photos!  Submit photos and news items to us via email KEWatch@gmail.com.

                      

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