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Welcome to the Carden Plain an Key Biodiversity Area

Carden Plain is a popular destination for bird watchers and plant watchers alike. Less than two hours from Toronto it offers globally rare alvar habitat supporting an abundance of grassland birds, including the endangered Loggerhead Shrike and the rare Golden-wing Warbler plus Osprey, Black Terns, Sedge Wrens, Yellow Rails, Upland Sandpipers, Blues Birds, Eastern Towhees, and Broen Thrashers. Indian Paint Brush, Prairie Smoke, Tufted Hairgrass, Northern Dropseed, Little Bluestem, False Pennyroyal, Balsom Ragwort, Fragrant Sumac and Shubby Cinquefoil are typical alvar plants.

Situated amongst the unpopulated backroads in Carden Township, Carden Plain has been a favorite haunt of birders, botanists, and naturalists, all drawn to the area by its curious and impressive array of habitats and wildlife. As its natural features were documented, parts of Carden Plain were recognized as a globally-significant, rare habitat: an alvar.

The Carden Plain is considered one of the main tourist attractions within the Kawartha region and is considered by naturalists to be one of the most interesting birdwatching areas in Ontario. From mid-May to mid-July, the landscape offers breathtaking views of vast meadows full of wildflowers, numerous grassland birds and rare butterflies.

Birders and other naturalists from all over the world come to view and enjoy the curious and impressive array of wildlife that Carden has to offer, many of which come with hopes of catching a glimpse of the Plain's endangered species.

A tourng guide to the Carden Alvar, Carden Nature Guide, is available free from the Couchiching Conservancy, 705-326-1620 and ask for Tanya or from the City of Kawartha Lakes Economic Development Department 705-324-9411 ext 1232 or toll free 1-866-397-6673

In the winter, snow mobiling is increasing in popularity with the establishment of well-groomed trails. These trails double for cross country skiing. Get the snow mobile map as a guide.

Along with the Carden Plain, one of the main tourist attractions within that IBA is the Kirkfield Liftlocks. Completed in 1907, the Kirkfield hydraulic liftlock was built to raise commercial steamer and barge traffic in one quick 48 foot elevation using a minimum of water (Carden Tourism Services, 2000). The hydraulic lift is the second largest in the world. Today, a tremendous rise in recreational boating traffic is providing the liftlock with busier seasons than ever.

All tourists are encouraged to spend some time in the area to visit surrounding communities and offer patronage to many of the local businesses and amenities.

Please be aware that:

• Most of the land in the Plain area is private property and birds can be observed well from the roadside.

• Nesting birds can be stressed and even abandon their nests if people approach too close. The Migratory Bird Act provides for heavy fines for the harassing of any migratory bird listed under the Act - including shrikes, thrashers, bobolinks and bluebirds.

• Ranches and others use the roads for work, so please keep them clear. Please park so that vehicles can move freely and consider carpooling to cut down on traffic congestion.

• Poison ivy grows freely along roadsides. Avoid plants with green shiny leaves in groups of three.

The Carden Plain is an attractive blend of unique habitats that offer an unspoiled panorama of grassland and shrubland birds, a blaze of wildflowers and vegetation with prairie affinities, and a wide array of butterflies and insects, many of which are restricted to this area. Large expanses of grassland, occasionally interspersed with shrubs and savannah, lend a subtle, but yet distinct flavour of Africa. If you look carefully, and are lucky, you will spot an Eastern Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans). This Endangered species, along with a large assemblage of grassland species, call the Carden Plain home during the spring and summer months.

Situated amongst the unpopulated backroads in Carden Township, Carden Plain has been a favourite haunt of birders, botanists, and naturalists, all drawn to the area by its curious and impressive array of habitats and wildlife. As its natural features were documented, parts of Carden Plain were recognized as a globally-significant, rare habitat: an alvar.

The Carden Plain is characterized by very shallow limestone bedrock, which in most places is relatively flat. Calcareous remains of billions of sea creatures settled to the bottom of the vast, warm tropical waters which occupied this area hundreds of million years ago, and were gradually compressed into these resulting layers of limestone.

About 14,000 years ago, when humans first entered North America, all of Southern Ontario and northern parts of U.S.A. were covered by the Wisconsian Glacier. Ice level up tree Kilometers thick exerted a huge pressure on the earth.

Around 13,000 years ago, global warming began. The melting glacier formed a large lake called Algonquin which initially drained south down the Mississippi. As the glacier retreated the land was released from the pressure raising up to 600 feet (called isostatic rebound) cutting off drainage outlets and replacing them with others newly exposed. Around 11,200 years ago the glacier withdrew past the Kirkfield Outlet through the Kawartha Lakes, through the Trent Valley and on to the Hudson River.

This phenomena washed the Carden Plain clean in contrast to the Canadian Shield. A few abandoned beach ridges and offshore sand and gravel deposits remain from this era, such as the gravelly ridges which can be found along Wylie Road just north of County Road 6.

The original forest of the Carden Plain appears to have included some good stands of White Pine, and considerably more Tamarack than now occurs. However, the northern parts of Carden Plain were also recorded by the first surveyors to include open areas, often described as rock barrens or spruce plains.

According to Chapman and Putnam (1984), the population peak on the Carden Plain was reached during the lumbering era, when farms could sell local produce such as beans and pigs to the lumber camps. In 1881 there were about 3,300 people and 470 occupied farms on Carden Plain; by 1941 there were only 1,700 people and 280 farms. The decline in agriculture, which followed forest clearing and wildfires, continued in later years, with average farm size becoming significantly larger to an average of 200 hectares in 1981. Over 70 percent of the farmed areas is rough pasture, requiring more than 5 hectares to support each unit of livestock.

Over the past 50 years, the overall population of the Carden Plain has stabilized, with most of the new residential development taking place around Lake Dalrymple and Canal Lake.

"The purpose of the Carden Plain IBA is to protect and conserve the ecological significance of the Carden Plain for grassland and shrubland birds, especially area-sensitive species, Loggerhead Shrikes, and other important natural values which rely on or are part of this habitat."

The IBA program is an international initiative coordinated by BirdLife International, a partnership of member-based organizations in over 100 countries seeking to identify and conserve sites important to all bird species worldwide. Through the protection of birds and habitats, they also promote the conservation of the world's biodiversity. There are currently IBA programs in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas including nearly 1000 sites in Canada.

The Carden Plain was designated a nationally significant IBA in 1998,based on its large concentrations of grassland bird species, and because it is an area which supports one of the last known breeding populations of the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike in Ontario. In 2000, a steering committee composed of local naturalists and landowners was established to promote the IBA concept in the area, and to develop and implement a conservation action plan.

The first step was to find out more about the birds that make the Carden Plain their home: what species live here, and how many there are of each species. We also needed to know more about what kind of habitat -- space, vegetation, etc. -- each species prefers and where that habitat is located within the IBA. A team of naturalists and biologists conducted a survey to estimate the number of breeding pairs of grassland and shrubland birds, and to map the locations of IBA species' main habitat types: alvar, grassland, and shrubland, as well as cropland.

Drawing on the findings of the survey, we developed a list of 30 target bird species, each of which is declining range-wide or locally; is area-sensitive (needs large uninterrupted areas of habitat in order to breed); is a priority species for the City of Kawartha Lakes as identified by Bird Studies Canada; and/or is endangered or threatened at a national and/or provincial level.

The goals of the Canadian IBA program are to:

•To protect and restore key habitat that supports Loggerhead Shrikes, grassland birds, and shrubland birds as well as maintaining diversity of breeding birds and other natural values.

•To maximize benefits associated with birds and with saving bird habitats, including public enjoyment, educational and economic benefits.

Here's the progress that's been made to date:

Protecting and restoring key habitat, and maintaining diversity of breeding birds and other natural values

Protection. Since the committee was struck, thousands of acres of the Carden Plain have received permanent protection, due to the purchase of the Cameron Ranch, The Windmill Ranch and Prairie Smoke Conservation Area approximately 5000 acres in the heart of the IBA, by the Nature Conservancy of Canada in conjunction with the Couchiching Conservancy. IBA members worked hard to raise funds, and the publicity around the purchase raised the public profile of the IBA considerably. An additional 500 acres also ajoing the Cameron Ranch was donated by an IBA member in 2008. A 200 acre wetland was acquired by an IBA member on Prospect Road in 2008 and will be donated in the future. Ongoing outreach has also led to negotiations concerning the permanent legal protection of. other tracts of land in the area.

Quarrying and other development pose major challenges to the preservation of habitat, and the IBA has been very active in raising key issues in planning processes in the area. For example, we participated in an Ontario Municipal Board hearing concerning the application for a license to quarry land where Loggerhead Shrikes nested. Unfortunately the OMB decision did not provide the protection we sought for the habitat of an endangered species. However the process led to the designation of the Sedge Wren Wetland Complex as Provincially Significant thus, raising its level of protection.

IBA Steering Committee members provided leadership in the City of Kawartha Lakes' Community Visioning process, which helped achieve the commitment of the city to the "Environment First" principle in its planning activities. The "Environment First" principle has been incorporated into the draft new Official Plan through the efforts of IBA members. Other lobbying resulted in the city's agreeing to provide active support of conservation easements. Representatives of the steering committee sit on the City of Kawartha Lake's former Aggregate Management and current Environmental Advisory committees. Members also have been working actively with Loggerhead Shrike restoration projects, and a representative sat on the former federal Shrike Recover Team advisory committee. IBA members helped form a collaborative with local quarries to address local land use issues and dispel misconceptions among landowners.

Landowners in the IBA are vital to protecting habitat, since most of the Carden Plain is privately owned. Some landowners fear the designation of their property as environmentally significant will reduce its economic value. They fear if a Loggerhead Shrike is spotted on their land they will lose control. Bird watchers present another landowner irritant sometimes blocking traffic and occasionally trespassing. Landowners question why bird watchers can’t be directed onto conservation lands and away from private property. The IBA, together with other groups, including some quarries, has conducted a series of workshops, aimed at local residents, focused on water security, quarry operations, land designation, land evaluation and quarry truck haulage, seeking to reduce landowner anxiety over quarry expansion by replacing rumors with facts.

In 2008, a number of local naturalist organizations, including the IBA, decided to take advantage of several new sources of funding to address some of these concerns. A “Birder’s Code of Conduct” was published to addressing many birder behavioural concerns. In addition some parking pull-off areas were built on Wylie Road and Prospect Road to facilitate traffic flow. A viewing blind was constructed at Box #10 on Wylie Road to focus attention toward conservation lands. A parking area and a 3.5km nature trail was built on the Cameron Ranch to provide access while keeping birders and cattle separated A grazing seminar was sponsored and well attended. It offered suggestions to improve grazing productivity. Prompted by the seminar, a number of landowners have become partners in property improvement programs such as fencing, water supply and hawthorn thinning partly paid for by government programs accessed by the naturalists.

The future plan, called the Integrated Carden Conservation Strategy ICCS), is to work with quarries to develop a detailed landscape-based conservation plan for Carden as a supplement to the municipal Official Plan. ICCS will also create and ongoing Carden Forum to steer future projects such as ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) whereby landowners are paid to support species at risk. Funding sources are as yet undefined.

A project to install and maintain wood duck nesting boxes in local wetlands, in conjunction with Sir Sandford Fleming College. has been abandoned after five years due to a lack of interest from the local wood duck population, who prefer natural cavities. IBA members maintain an extensive chain of Blue Bird boxes that are monitored monthly. IBA members also carryout an annual Road Clean-up on about 4 km of local raods.

We have conducted a wide variety of projects to increase tourist's awareness of the Carden Plain and its significance. Road signs with our bobolink logo tell people entering the area from any direction that they are in the IBA. A large billboard identifying the 30 target species, and providing other information, has proved interesting and useful to local people, and orients tourists and visiting birders as to what to look for and where to look. This web site (www.cardenplainimportantbirdarea.com) with extensive links provides resource material, updates and valuable information for potential visitors, and is supported by local advertisers who seek to attract business from birders. We have supplied local service providers with “Welcome Birders” signs to display in their windows. The village of Kirkfield also posts “Welcome Birders” on their community display boards. We have developed and published a Carden Nature Guide with details of potential bird sightings through out the IBA area.

The most ambitious tourism project undertaken by the IBA has been the Carden Nature Festival. Launched on June 15-16, 2007 and repeated in 2008, the Festival celebrates the smorgasbord of biodiversity on the Carden Plain. 350 participants in 2008, 75% from out of the immediate area, partook in 60 alternative events serves by over 100 volunteers. Post event feedback proclaimed the Festival an unqualified success while generating an estimated $50,000 in tourist dollars for local service providers. The Festival will be repeated in 2009 at twice the scale, The Festival web site is www.CardenGuide.com/Festival

Business people, elected representatives, government officials, residents, and students have enjoyed spring birding tours we have organized for them. Displays at local fairs in Carden and Kirkfield enable us to reach landowners and residents, as well as tourists, to talk about the important features of the area. Annual road cleanups have also helped to raise the profile of the IBA. We continue to reach out to local merchants with information and publications to help them respond to questions from people passing through the area.

With our encouragement, the City of Kawartha Lakes promotes birding and the IBA is a major element in its outreach for tourism. CKL distributes the IBA Nature Guide to the Carden Alvar through its Service Centres. IBA representatives are regularly called on to lead media tours of the area and to contribute information to the city's official tourism publications.

GRASSLAND BIRDS

If you are interested in recent sightings click the following site managed by Bob Bowles: www.b2g4.com/boards/board.cgi?user=CardenBirdBoard

Grassland birds have shown steeper, more consistent and more geographically widespread decline in population than any other guild of North American species (USGS, 1999; Dale, 1998). Recently, breeding bird surveys in the United States and Canada have shown alarming declines in grassland birds (Jones et al., 1998; Dale, 1998). For example, in the Northeastern United States Bobolinks have declined by 38 percent and Grasshopper Sparrows by 69 percent in the past 25 years. Preliminary results from breeding bird surveys in Canada have shown significant declines of several species.

Estimates of the numbers of breeding pairs of grassland/shrubland birds found within the Carden Plain IBA, summer 2000.

* Priority species for Victoria County (Couturier 1999).
‡ Nationally declining population (BSC, 1999).

THREATS TO THE CARDEN PLAIN

The immediate future of Carden Plains' IBA species depends on healthy, productive, stable, and well-managed habitats. Most grassland ecosystems have been altered profoundly over the last 100 years, and many are now considered North Americas' most endangered ecosystems (Vickery et al, 2000). Effective bird conservation and management must recognize both historical and present dynamics which shape and drive the ecological processes of alvars and grasslands.

Species and habitats are subjected to threats that not only endanger their future viability, but their very existence. Many of these threats are of human origin, whether through direct human activities or human-induced changes to the ecosystems. Identifying these threats is a vital first step towards effective conservation action.

Quarrying

Limestone quarries are by far the most serious threat to the future integrity of the Carden Plain IBA and its species. Recent expansion of aggregate operations within and surrounding Carden Plain has created a high level of concern. Quarries own approximately 13% of the Carden Plain area and are still trying to expand. (See map of quarry property and environmentally protected property) Yet the present licensed reserves represents a 100-year supply and the combined output of all the five current pits is less than 20% of licensed limits. This suggests there is little need for more quarries yet they continue to appear.

The development and operation of limestone quarries have several effects on habitat and species. The quarry itself, along with the associated stockpiles, berms, and access roads, destroys natural habitats. The practice of surface rock harvesting for large chunks of flat limestone, which is underway in some parts of the IBA, strips habitat of its foundation, leaving little opportunity for restoration. Finally, the noise and dust associated with quarry operations and truck haul routes affect nesting birds in adjacent areas. These impacts are likely both ecological (e.g. impact on the food web), and behavioural (e.g. impact on breeding activities such as courtship and use of song). Some quarries may have deliberately destroyed habitat on their property to prevent endangered or threaten species from nesting there. While they deny this there are no Loggerhead Shrike currently nesting on active quarry property despite history of active nesting prior to the quarry operations.

On an economic level, quarries represent a threat to tourism, probably the most promising economic opportunity available to Carden, while providing minimal local benefits to the economy. Despite all the negatives, provincial policy favours quarry expansion and, in spite of strenuous effort by environmental groups such as the Carden Plain IBA and the municipal government, they will expand.

The Provincial Policy Aggravates Threats

It is a paradox that the legislation designed to protect endangered and threatened species actually worsens their prospects. Draconian regulations specify the if an endangered species decides to breed on a landowner’s property approximately a 100 acre area surrounding the site is protected for at least five years. Some landowners interpret this to mean that they are prohibited from even walking on the designated land. Their solution is simple, shoot, shovel and shut-up. In 2007, several local landowners spurred on by the Ontario Landowners Association, created a media event by cutting down, what they claimed were thousand of acres of hawthorn trees. Hawthorn trees are the primary nesting sites for Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes, a locally endangered species. The new provincial Endangered Species Act will come into force in April 2008 replacing the Provincial Policy Statement.. Hopefully the accompanying regulations will focus more on positive inducements and less on punitive measures.

The Decline of Cattle Ranching

Approximately 70 percent of the occupied land within the IBA is utilized for pasture, much of it being held in lots of 400 hectares or more (Couchiching Conservancy, 1997). Cattle grazing has been the most common land use in Carden for over a century. There is much debate regarding the role of grazing in maintaining grassland and alvar sites. On one hand, many grassland birds benefit from light grazing. It creates a mosaic of grass heights and structure, removes ground litter, and allows the development of wildflowers and scattered shrubs (Massachusetts Audubon Society, 2000). Disturbance caused by grazers is one of the driving forces that maintain grassland integrity. Grazing slows down ecological processes that eventually lead to successional woody scrubland and forest growth, by maintaining large, open areas (Rodger, 1998). Grasses are adapted to grazing; since their growth points are located close to or underneath the surface of the ground, they can easily re-grow from these points following grazing (Rodger, 1998). A moderate amount of grazing actually stimulates plant growth, and thus increases productivity. A new approach to pasture management called rotational grazing can increase productivity by 30%

From this point of view, the health of grasslands for Loggerhead Shrikes and other grassland birds is dependent on a continuation of grazing activities. Therefore, a decline in the area of active grazing is a threat to many grassland bird species.

On the other hand, little is known about the effects of grazing on the more pristine alvar habitats. Cattle grazing introduces weedy species through manure and disturbance to the thin alvar soils, and it selectively removes some alvar plants (Reschke, 1999). Grazing has likely caused a decline in quality of some alvar communities, and should be discouraged on these sites.

Hayfield Management and Conversion
Populations of grassland birds adapted to agricultural landscapes are now diminishing as the result of land use changes. Over the last part of the century there has been a general trend for fewer farms and larger tracts of land in the IBA. A single change in agricultural practices on one large piece of land within the IBA poses a significant change for the birds nesting there. For example, converting a large central hayfield to corn would not only alter its habitat composition and make it unsuitable for many species, but also cause a disruption to surrounding breeding birds through habitat fragmentation.

The agricultural practice of most concern in the IBA is the management of hayfields. Due to the unsuitability of the predominately thin soils for row crops, hay is the single largest crop in the Carden area. Hayfields support a rich diversity of grasses, wildflowers, and invertebrates that are important for breeding grassland birds (Jones et al., 1998). Many grassland birds readily nest in hayfields, while others nest nearby and use the fields for hunting and foraging (Massachusetts Audubon Society, 2000). Some species, such as Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks, build nests on the ground, raise young, and forage within the hayfields during the spring and summer months. Other species, such as Savannah Sparrows, are more common in idle hayfields than in annually mowed hayfields (Dale et al., 1997).

Historically, hayfields that were traditionally harvested late in the season provided ideal breeding habitat. Today, remaining hayfields are mowed earlier and often twice during the summer to provide a greater quantity and a better quality of hay. This practice may destroy nests and young birds, depending on the actual timing of mowing, which is often weather-related.

Fire Suppression
Lack of fire on the Carden Plain in recent years is a potential concern to the health of the IBA grasslands. While most people think of fire as a destructive force, fire is often the main driving force behind the persistence of grassland, prairie, and savannah communities (Rodger, 1998). Grassland vegetation employs the same strategy used in recovering from grazing - extensive stem and root systems allow plants to regrow immediately once the above ground biomass has been removed by fire (Rodger, 1998). The occurrence of fire under carefully controlled conditions is desirable to maintain a healthy grassland community (Madden et al., 1999; Rodger, 1998).

Fire suppression allows trees and shrubs to invade the grassland community. Re-introducing controlled burns could: enhance native grass species; eliminate ground litter; kill trees and shrubs like juniper

There is evidence specific to the Carden Plain which suggests that fire could be an important restoration tool in the IBA. In 1946 there was a very large and long-lived fire which burned the 7th and 8th concessions of Carden Township extensively for nearly two months (Couchiching Conservancy, 1997). Some of the highest quality alvar and grassland/shrubland habitats are now found in this area.

The potential of fire as a management tool for the Carden Plain IBA has been recognized by the IBA Steering Committee Consultant advice has suggested it is viable and preliminary discussion with City of Kawartha Lakes officials suggest it is permissible. A pilot burn is planned for a small portion of the Cameron Ranch in the fall of 2008

Habitat Loss through Fragmentation
Loss of habitat is usually considered to be the major contributing factor to species population declines, but the shape and integrity of remaining habitat blocks is also critical. Research now shows that many species of grassland birds require large blocks of habitat and do not nest successfully near edges (Herkert et al., 1993). Populations of these species generally do poorly where habitat is broken into small, isolated patches, a process called habitat fragmentation. Nest predators such as foxes, raccoons, coyotes, skunks, crows, and jays are attracted to small habitat patches as travel corridors, thus drastically increasing chances of detection and predation. Brown-headed Cowbirds, which lay their eggs in the nest of other species and reduce the reproductive success of the host, also prefer habitat edges and small patches.

Fragmentation into smaller patches may also result in inadequate food sources or space for social interactions for some species. Many grassland birds are loosely colonial, and need habitat blocks large enough to accommodate a cluster of nesting pairs. These species are genetically programmed to breed in proximity of others of their own kind, and isolated pairs are often not viable. For very rare species, widely separated and fragmented habitat patches may pose difficulties in simply finding a mate.

The bird species sensitive to habitat fragmentation are generally referred to as area-sensitive species, which includes 11 of the 30 target species in Carden.

Habitat fragmentation in the Carden Plain IBA can be attributed to a combination of factors, including changing agricultural practices, highways, power lines, quarrying, and related practices. Woodland succession has been identified as an area of concern within the IBA. While ongoing fragmentation is a serious concern, it is important to note that the present degree of fragmentation within much of the Carden Plain IBA is substantially lower than other areas of southern Ontario. This character underlies much of its value to grassland and shrubland bird species.

Invasive/Exotic Species
The presence of invasive or exotic species in alvars and grasslands reduces the ecological value of habitat that is already globally endangered (Couchiching Conservancy, 1997). Invasion of species such as Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare) that can withstand the harsh conditions of alvars has changed the native plant composition in the Carden Plain IBA. Little or no research has been carried out on how much of a threat is posed to grassland bird species from these non-native species. Alvars at the north end of the township are not dominated by exotic species, perhaps due to the absence of grazing in the area (Schaefer, 1996).

In comparison, many hayfields within the IBA are composed of a variety of exotic species. Some birds will not nest in fields containing only one species of grass. These birds depend on a variety of height and density of grasses for nesting, foraging, and cover. Other species such as Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks are able to take advantage of productive hayfields, as long as some vegetation diversity still exists.

Tourism
While tourism plays a vital role in IBA recognition and support, it can also be a threat to the integrity of the habitat and presence of certain species if not managed properly. Two threats closely associated with tourism in the Carden Plain IBA occur through birding and off-road vehicle recreation.

Naturally, birders from many places come to view and enjoy the unique landscape and associated species of Carden.. Visitors are encouraged through publications (and soon signs), not to trespass, not to disturb these birds, not to look for nests, or attempt close-up photography. Ontario's Endangered Species Act prohibits the killing, injuring, or interfering with endangered species or the interference with or destruction of the habitat of the endangered species (Pittaway, 2000). The penalty is a fine of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment up to two years.

NATURE CONSERVANCY OF CANADA STAKES A CLAIM please click here for an area map.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is a national land trust with 25,000 members. They have targeted the Carden Plain for protection due to its globally rare alvar communities. Starting with 200 acres donated by the MacDonald bothers twenty years ago, they have purchased the Cameron Ranch (2850 acres), then the adjacent Windmill Ranch (1500 acres), the Prairie Smoke Reserve (675 acres), the Little Blue Stem Alvar Reserve (710 acres), in 2008 McGee Creek Reserve ( 500 acres) was donated, then they purchased North Bear Alvar (800 acres) and in 2014 they purchased the Holt Reserve (200+ acres) named after Margo Holt who bequithed the money in her will.The Couchiching Conservancy working in partnership bought Wolf Run Alvar (200 acres), Blue Bird Ranch (200 acres).and Starr property abutting Queen Elizabeth II Park (100 acres) All together summing to over 7800 acres. In addition the Couchchiching Conservancy hold Conservation Easements on three properties totaling 600 acres. The expectation for 2015 is to add acquisitions and easements totaling another 600 acres. In 2005 Ric Symmes the regional director presented NCC’s grand ten-year plan for the Carden Plain. As shown on the map, NCC has defined a “project area” of 25,000 acres that includes all the quality alvar and borders Queen Elizabeth II Park (3,000 Sq. Km.) on the Canadian Shield. Their announced goal is, by 2015,to directly protect 12,000 acres, either alone or with partners such as Ontario Parks and Couchiching Conservancy, and indirectly protect the balance by deflecting aggregate development elsewhere. As of 2014 they will be two-thirds of the way there.

Much of this success is due to a Environment Canada grant to the Nature Conservancy of $225 million of matching funds over five years called the Natural Areas Conservation Program with the goal of acquiring and protecting 500,000 acres across Canada. Fortunately Carden is one of those target areas. Unfortunately this program has now expired and is not likely to be renewed.

INTEGRATED CARDEN CONSERVATION STRATEGY

In 2007 the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Couchiching Conservancy, the Carden Plain IBA and Wildlife Preservation Canada began an initiative to expand the 25,000 acre alvar focused project to include the IBA boundaries into an area of 50.000 focused on species at risk we well as alvar. The goal is to develop a program that protects species and alvar within the target area while at the same time creating benefits to local landowners. The initiative is named the Integrated Carden Conservation Strategy (ICCS). Initial public meetings revealed that landowners fear that the designation of their property as environmentally significant will reduce its economic value. They fear if a Loggerhead Shrike is spotted on their land they will lose control. With Bobolinks and Medow Larks added to the endangered species list, landowner concerns have intensified. Bird watchers present another landowner irritant sometimes slowing or blocking traffic and occasionally trespassing. Landowners question why bird watchers can’t be directed onto conservation lands and away from private property.

Taking advantage of several new sources of funding (Species at Risk and Lake Simcoe Restoration) to address some of these issues. A “Birder’s Code of Conduct” was published in 2008 addressing many birder behavioural concerns. In addition some parking pull-off areas were built on Wylie Road and Prospect Road to facilitate traffic flow. A viewing blind was constructed at Box #10 on Wylie Road to focus attention toward conservation lands. A parking area and a 3.5 km nature trail was built on the Cameron Ranch to provide access while keeping birders and cattle separated.

A grazing seminar was sponsored and well attended. It offered suggestions to improve grazing productivity. Prompted by the seminar, a number of landowners have become partners in property improvement programs such as fencing, water supply and hawthorn thinning partly paid for by government programs accessed by the Couchiching Conservancy. In an enterprising initiative, landowners that host breeding shrike were offered $15.00 rent for each acre they owned within a 600 metre radius of the nest. Of the thirteen landowners qualified in 2014 five took advantage of the offer resulting in one pay-out of $1000 The plan is to repeat the program in future years in the hope more landowners will participate .

CARDEN CHALLENGE

he last weekend of May each year is set aside for the Carden Challenge. This is a fund raising event in which teams of four birders each compete for the most species spotted over 24 hours and the most money raised. Each team promotes pledges from sponsors in the form of outright gifts or $ per species. The species winner in 2014 listed 148 species and the pledge winner over $1500. Overall $22000 was raised half of which is directed toward the sponsorship program to protect Loggerhead Shrike habitat mentioned above.

QUARRY CONFLICTS
The City of Kawartha Lakes Council protested to the Ministry of the Environment that the current and potential cluster of quarries in the area could threaten the source water supply to municipal wells and that before any more licenses were approved a “Cumulative Ground Water Impact Analysis” (CIA) was required. The Minister wrote back agreeing and pledging to conduct the CIA and make the results available. The CIA has begun by the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Operators Association (OSSGA) under the supervision of MOE. The CIA was completed in May 2012 with the finding that, under reasonable operating assumptions, there was no threat to ground water supply In the meantime external events changed the conditions.

QUARRY COLLABORATION
In September of 2005, the Carden Plain IBA together with Couchiching Conservancy, the Carden Field Naturalists and the Victoria Land and Water Stewardship Council, hosted the Carden Plain Natural Heritage Conference chaired by Ron Reid. Among the ninety attendees were naturalist, local landowners and quarry representatives. A wide range of expert speakers expressed why the Carden Plain was special to them. The objective was to kick off a dialogue between the quarry industry, conservation interests and local landowners based on mutual respect and factual inputs. At the end of the conference the audience was asked to recommend future action. The overwhelming consensus was to form a multi stakeholder task force to seek a more harmonious future.

In October of 2005 the first task force meeting occurred with representatives of two major quarries, Lafarge and Dufferin (Tomlinson joined latter), plus the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (OSSGA), the Couchiching Conservancy, Carden Plain IBA, Nature Conservancy of Canada plus one cattle rancher (later two local landowners were added). On March 25, 2006 The Task force hosted Workshop #1 “A Dialogue on the Future of the Carden Plain”. Attendance was by invitation only in order to ensure a broad representation of views. Approximately 65 people attended. The purpose was to identify the key issues of concern to local landowners. Five key issues emerged; security of water supply, quarry operations especially blasting, the Official Planning process and zoning, land valuation resulting from zoning, quarry truck haul routes.

On July 9, 2006, the Taskforce hosted Workshop #2 “Quality and Quantity of Ground Water”. This time invitations were open to anyone interested. Approximately 50 attended. Expert speakers presented material on; Hydro geology on the Carden Plain, the Role of the Conservation Authority and the Role of Ministry of the Environment. An extensive panel discussion followed guided by questions from the floor.

On November 1, 2006, the Taskforce hosted a bus tour of three local quarries, Lafarge, Dufferin and Miller, to demonstrate the operations process including a blast. Invitations were open to all and about 50 attended. In each case the site manager led the tour and questions were encouraged.

CARDEN FORUM

Having fulfilled its education mission, the Taskforce transformed itself into an information sharing process called the Carden Forum. The Forum is open to anyone interested but a potential list of about 50 stakeholders are invited to two meetings a year. The propose of the meetings to provide up-to-date information about plans and concerns of the many stakeholders. Attendees include representatives from quarries, conservancys, landowners, Ontaruio Parks, MNR and CKL. One of the major reasons for tensions in the past was the spread of misinformation. The Forum seems to have gratly reduced this problem.

OFFICIAL PLAN

In March 2007, another Workshop was held directed at Official Plan process. The intent was to provide attendees with a factual understanding of what Official Plans are intended to accomplish and how they are created. The timing anticipated that the City of Kawartha Lakes would publish their revised new Official Plan in the spring of 2007. In fact the Official Plan was finally published and approved in 2012. In 2014 the City tabled a draft Secondary Plan for quarries. It provides protection from extraction for all the significant alvar habitat and protection from competing development for all other locations with significant aggregate resource. The Secondary Plan also designated haul routes for quarry truck accessing the GTA. Primary routes included county roads 48 and 8 while secondary routes included county roads 45 and 6.

ONTARIO LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION
The environmental theme is being challenged politically by a significant group of landowners, both local and away, who call themselves alternatively the Rural Revolution or the Ontario Landowners Association (OLA) They reject any government planned use of their private land (i.e. zoning) especially if it interferes with what they can do on it and who they can sell it to. They have posted signs throughout the City reading “THIS IS OUR LAND, GOVERNMENT BACK OFF!”. Seven local landowners, on the Carden Plain, went further in the summer of 2006 and posted signs prohibiting birders from looking for birds in their fields from the road. One local landowner even began stopping birders, walking on public roads, telling them to stop bird watching. He ceased this activity after being confronted by the police.

In the spring and early summer of 2007 tensions between OLA and birders appeared to have abated. Most of the anti-birder signs were not reposted and no confrontations with birders were reported. This calm was deceiving. In September the OLA hosted a rally on a member’s property on the east side of Wylie Road opposite box #10. They announced that they intended to clear all the hawthorn trees from 13,000 acres to prevent Loggerhead Shrikes from nesting. About 70 people attended the rally most of whom came from outside of Carden. There were numerous speeches and loud cheers before the rally broke for lunch. In all, about 100 hawthorn trees were cut down in a 100-acre site. While the threats proved empty, the rally did attract a good deal of local publicity and sparked the initiative to create an Integrated Carden Conservation Strategy and the Carden Forum mentioned above.

BLUE BIRD BOX RESULTS 2011

From Herb Furniss, IBA Steering Committee.

2014 was a especially cool summer however 82 bluebirds fledged about average .To date we have fledged over 3000 Eastern Bluebirds. As always we look forward to the next year.

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE RESULTS For 2011 Prepared by Hazel Weeler, Species Recovery Biologist, Wildlife Preservation Canada

Wild Pairs

•16 pairs, 9 in Carden, 6 in Napanee, I in Smith Falls

•35 fledged

Captive pairs

•26 pars in Ontario

•21 fledged young

•91 fledges released, 11 retained for breeding

The wild population is in continuous decline since about 40 pairs in 1991 and is now far outnumbered by the captive population. Environment Canada has cut off funding. Wildlife Preservation Canada has branched out to other species that are funded. The long term prospects for the Loggerhead Shrike appear discouraging.

NATURE GUIDES TO THE CARDEN PLAIN
This fold out map and guide was first produced in 2005 and proved to be very popular It was repeated with updated versions in 2007 and 2012. Copies are still available from the Couchiching Conservancy office (705)326-1620 or picked-up at the City Service Center in Kirkfield

CARDEN NATURE FESTIVAL
June 2007 saw the launch of the inaugural Carden Nature Festival as a celebration of the natural wonders of the Carden Plain, a smörgåsbord of biodiversity in southern Ontario, close to the GTA, and formed by a distinctive geological history. In 2010, the fourth year, 325 people attended, compared to 280 in 2009, 280 in 2008, and 200 in 2007. Attendees came from from all across the province with about half from the GTA and another third from Simcoe County. Market research has revealed the Festival contributed $60,000 to the local economy 2009 Comments from participants were extremely positive. Beginning in 2011 attendance began to decline possibly due to a lack of novelty in the events, In 2014 the Festival was reduced from 2 ½ days to 1 ½ days to save money and reduce the organizing effort. Attendance was only 120.

LINKS
Canadian Bird Links www.bsc-eoc.org/links/links.jsp?page=l_can
World Bird Links www.bsc-eoc.org/links/links.jsp
Assoc of Field Ornithologists www.afonet.org/index.html
Birding Adventures( South Africa)www.birdingadventures.us

Birdwatching.com www.birdwatching.com
Birder.com www.birder.com
Birding.com www.birding.com
Birding in Canada www.web-nat.com/bic
Birds Studies Canada www.bsc-eoc.org
Boots Adventure Tours www.bootsadventure.com
Brereton Field Naturalists www.members.tripod.com/brereton_naturalists/index.html

Canadian Wildlife Service www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/index_e.cfm

Carden Bird Bird www.b2g4.com/boards/board.cgi?user=Cardenbirdboard

Carden Nature Festival www.CardenGuide.com/Festival
City of Kawartha Lakes www.city.kawarthalakes.on.ca
Cornell Lab of Ornithology birds.cornell.edu
Couchiching Conservancy www.couchconservancy.ca
Field Botanists of Ontario www.trentu.ca/fbo
Friends of Misery Bay www.manitoulin.com/misery-bay
Friends of the Spit www.interlog.com/~fos
Hamilton Naturalists Club www.hwcn.org/link/hamnature
Important Bird Areas www.ibacanada.com
Kingston Field Naturalists pavlov.psyc.queensu.ca/~davids/kfn.html
Kitchener-Waterloo Field Nat www.sentex.net/~tntcomm/kwfn
Midland Penetang Field Nat www.csolve.net/~mpfnc
Muskoka Field Naturalists www.muskoka.com/~sinclair/mfn
National Audubon Society www.audubon.org
Nature Canada www.naturecanada.ca
Nature Conservancy of Can www.natureconservancy.ca
Ontario Birding www.web-nat.com/bic/ont
Ontario Field Ornithologist www.ofo.ca
Ontario Parks www.ontarioparks.com
Ontario Nature www.ontarionature.org
Ontario Tourist Network www.ontournet.com
Orillia Naturalists Club members.rogers.com/rbowles/onc
Ornithology www.ornithology.com
Ottawa Field Naturalists Club home.achilles.net/ofnc
Simcoe County Nature Links members.rogers.com/rbowles/simcoe
South Peel Naturalists Club www.spnc.ca

The Carden Project www.theCardenProject.com
Wild Birds.Com www.wildbirds.com
Woodstock Field Naturalists www.execulink.com/~wfnc

MENTORS:
TD Canada Trust Friends of the Environment
Federation of Ontario Naturalists
Canadian Nature Federation
Bird Studies Canada
Couchiching Conservancy
Harold Stiver
Ann Cook

SPONSORS:
Bird House Nature Company
Kirkfield Restaurant
The Old Tin House
Bowles Environmental Consultants

BIRD SIGHTINGS
Carden Bird Sightings

We acknowledge that we are on William’s Treaty territory of Turtle Island.

Welcome to the Carden Plain an Key Biodiversity Area