Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 6048 FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2016 Time spent deepening our connection with nature, through any number of ac- tivities, is always time well spent, especially according to Friends of Nonquon (FoN) – a volunteer group of educa- tors and nature enthusiasts that enjoy presenting family based outdoor events for fun and fascination in the Wild- life Area north of Port Perry. Once again this year Friends of Nonquon, in as- sociation with North Dur- ham Nature, will be hosting a morning of experiential learning as families are invited to take part in Bird Studies Canada’s Christmas Bird Count for Kids (CBC4Kids). The Friends will open the doors of the Nonquon Environmen- tal Education Centre to young participants on Saturday November 26th and provide guidance as they are im- mersed into the world of birds, their habits and their en- vironmental importance. They will learn how the outdoor pursuit of identifying and counting species creates a scien- tific data base that contributes to worldwide conservation initiatives. The first official Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took place in 1900 and challenged interested na- ture lovers to identify species while counting as many birds as possible in a one day blitz. Since then traditional Christmas Bird Counts number in the thousands across North America. And through the interest and energy of volunteer birders, these one day surveys monitor winter bird populations providing important information in bird science, environmental concerns and conservation. In 2007 the idea of a count just for kids was hatched, providing a perfect way to connect children with na- ture in our increasingly fast paced world. The CBC4Kids is modelled after the adult version and is designed with fun in mind to actively engage young people (6 - 16 yrs) in learning about birds in their part of the world. Thedaybeginswith“Bird Basics” - an introduction to common winter birds of our area - followed by a lesson in effective binocular skills. Ac- companied by a bird leader small groups of participants will then venture out and explore a variety of habitats along their survey route with field guides, binoculars and species lists at the ready. Each team counts the number of bird species and individual birds found along their route. Following the survey, teams regroup to tally the results and children will have the opportunity to share stories of best sightings, fun experiences and warm mugs of hot chocolate. Although the focus of the CBC4Kids is to learn and enjoy – the science is real and count results will be entered into the eBird Canada database (www.ebird.ca) officially qualifying CBC4Kids as Citizen Science initiative. So come and join us for a morning of fun in the out- doors. Good quality binoculars, field guides and species lists will be provided for all participants. Just dress for the weather, lug a mug for hot chocolate and come ready for adventure – the natural way. This free family event will take place at the Nonquon Environmental Education Centre – David Carroll Class- room located at 1710 Scugog Line 10 on Saturday November 26th from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Arriving on time will ensure your family enjoys the full experience. For fur- ther information and/or to pre-register your group to let us know you are planning to attend please call 905-985-8351. Friends of Nonquon currently has two additional events planned for the upcoming year: Saturday February 4th, 2017 Winter Wetland Wonders – Family Snowshoe Hike Saturday May 27th, 2017 Spring Surprises – Biodiversity in the Wetland Elizabeth and Lily Keys-Brasier delight in hand feeding Black Capped Chickadees at Nonquon. Friends of Nonquon host ............................. By Cathy Galberg, Special to Focus on Scugog Saturday November 26 Christmas Bird Count For Kids JAMES PAPIA ISA Certified Arborist 905-982-1998 • treeriffic@gmail.com • Tree Trimming & Pruning • Tree & Stump Removal • Free Estimates • Arbor Consultation TREEriffic Tree Service #SO-4204A