Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists
317 Highland Road East, Kitchener, Ontario N2M 3W6
[ conserving our natural heritage through education and involvement
]
February 27, 2012
404/Rotary Centre
510 Dutton Drive, Waterloo, Ontario
7:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Ontario Bats
"The Impacts of Wind Turbines and White-nose Sydrome"
by
Lesley Hale
plus
Silent Book Auction
(see below)
About the Presentation
Bats play a critical role in Ontario’s ecosystems as
nocturnal insectivores and are considered one of North America’s most valuable
species groups for agricultural pest control.
Ontario has 8 species of bats, all of which are insectivorous. Due to their
longevity and low fecundity, bats are quite vulnerable to environmental impacts.
Unfortunately, there have been two recent introductions of environmental
threats to bats: wind turbines and white-nose syndrome (WNS).
Studies have found that wind turbines represent a greater risk to bats than
birds, especially long distance migratory bats. However, science is
helping develop effective measures to mitigate this impact to bats.
We are currently working with the University of Western Ontario on a research
project in southwestern Ontario to learn more about migratory bat movements in
order to determine high risk areas for wind power development.
WNS is a disease responsible for unprecedented mortality in hibernating bats in
northeastern US and Canada. The fungus, known as Geomyces
destructans, has spread rapidly since its discovery Albany, NY in 2006.
The fungus is found on hibernating bats and is killing cave-dwelling species at
a rate that could place a number of species at risk of extinction or at least
regional extirpation within the next 20 years.
The Ministry of Natural Resources is working with partners such as the Canadian
Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to
develop and conduct research projects in the province to improve our
understanding of the impacts of these threats to our local populations and to
develop methods for controlling the spread of the fungus.
February 27, 2012
404/Rotary Centre
510 Dutton Drive, Waterloo, Ontario
7:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Silent Book Auction: A Dorothy Russell Legacy
(As part of the General Meeting)
COME -- BID -- TAKE HOME A TREASURE
March 27, 2012
404/Rotary Centre
510 Dutton Drive, Waterloo, Ontario
7:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Why are Aerial Insectivores declining?
by
Mike Cadman
Swallows, swifts, nightjars and many flycatchers have
declined greatly in Ontario and much of northeastern North America in recent
decades. The reason for the decline remains a mystery. This presentation
outlines some of the prime suspects in the steady decrease of some of our most
familiar and lovely birds, and discusses what’s being done to find the cause.
About the Presenter
Mike Cadman has been a Songbird Biologist for Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario
Region, since 1992. Much of his professional life has been devoted to breeding
bird atlases. He coordinated Ontario’s two atlas projects (1981-1985 and
2001-2005) and co-edited the resulting books. He currently chairs the Canadian
Breeding Bird Atlas Committee. For CWS, he coordinates the Ontario Forest Bird
Monitoring Program and was involved in the development of the Marsh Monitoring
Program. He has co-authored status reports for 5 Species at Risk, and recently
wrote the Management Plan for the Yellow-breasted Chat. He’s currently involved
in several projects looking at the conservation needs of aerial insectivores.
Mike does most of his birding in Wellington County but has traveled widely in
Latin America and the Caribbean in search of winter warmth and birds.
April 23, 2012 - Ring of Fire by Anna Baggio
May 28, 2012- Waste Management by Shelly Conrad
Meetings are held from September to May, on the fourth Monday of the month with the exception of December when a special (social) meeting is scheduled. If the fourth Monday is a holiday, the meeting is scheduled for the third or the fifth Monday. Our meetings are free and visitors are always welcome. A special presentation is usually a part of each regular meeting.
| September 26 | October 24, | November 28 | December 12 |
| January 23 | February 27 | March 26 | April 23 |
| May 28 |
All meetings are held at the Wing 404/Rotary Centre, Dutton Drive, Waterloo, Ontario.
The Wing 404/Rotary Centre is located on the right as you approach the end of Dutton Drive. Dutton Drive is a short street that runs off the north side of Weber Street West between Albert Street and Northfield Drive.
All regular (general) meetings begin at 7:30 p.m., except the December Social Meeting (6:00 p.m.) and the Annual General Meeting in May (7:00 p.m.) All meetings are scheduled to end by 9:30 p.m. as we need to vacate the hall before 10:00 p.m.
The first hour is usually used for general business including the welcoming of new members and guests, and a time when those present (young and old, novice and experienced) share recent sightings of animals, plants and other natural phenomena.
You may access the approved minutes of the KWFN General Meetings by clicking on the active links below.
May 2011
September 2011
October 2011
November 2011
January 2012 February 2012 March 2012
April 2012 May 2012
Summaries of the presentations made at past General Meetings are available
on-line. We appreciate the effort that our volunteer recorders put into
the preparation of these summaries. Also, we appreciate that Michael Frind
is currently hosting these documents on his server.
Go to Michael Frind.
©2010 Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists. All Rights Reserved.