I have several bird books, from a 1947 edition of Peterson’s “A Field Guide to the Birds” to a 2006 edition of “Sibley Guide to the Birds”. The distribution of a number of bird species has changed significantly in the sixty years between the publishing of these two books. In a few more years, changes [...]
Archive for the ‘Manitoulin Island’ Category
Southern Ontario Sandhill Cranes
Posted in birds, environment, Manitoulin Island on July 23, 2009 | 18 Comments »
Twice Frightened!
Posted in Manitoulin Island, this and that, vacations on July 19, 2009 | 18 Comments »
I like to think I am fairly rational, calm, and not easily frightened. It is important to be alert and observant when out on trails, or anywhere for that matter. I have tried to overcome my two main phobias, those being my fear of snakes and heights, but doubt that will ever happen. I came [...]
Evening and Morning
Posted in Manitoulin Island, seasons of life, skywatch on July 17, 2009 | 21 Comments »
Lake Manitou, 10:00 PM in the evening God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Genesis 1:5 The Jewish day begins at sunset, or somewhere between sunset and the appearance of the first three stars. Depending on your proximity to the earth’s [...]
Time, Temperature and Turtles
Posted in Manitoulin Island, nature, vacations on July 15, 2009 | 13 Comments »
Blanding’s Turtle Summers used to be long and leisurely but it seems they rush by faster every year. July is almost half over, today being Sandland Brother’s birthday. We had a relaxing time earlier this month on Manitoulin Island with no internet, television, newspapers or radio. Our cabin has always had a clock radio in [...]
The World Without Us
Posted in books, environment, Manitoulin Island, spirituality on August 5, 2008 | 18 Comments »
One of my daughters brought a book home from the library called The World Without Us. Author Alan Weisman discusses “how our planet would respond without the relentless pressure of the human presence.” He uses New York City as one example and describes in detail how long it would take for human structures to deteriorate [...]
Friday Flowers: Collecting Butterflies
Posted in books, butterflies, family, friday flowers, Manitoulin Island on July 25, 2008 | 17 Comments »
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail on Sweet Clover- Waterloo Region Sandland brother was a collector of snakes, rocks, especially the fossils from our gravel driveway, bugs and butterflies. We lived in the north part of Metropolitan Toronto in the mid to late 1960′s just as suburban sprawl was creeping northward from the city core. From our home [...]
More Sandhill Cranes
Posted in birds, Manitoulin Island on July 24, 2008 | 11 Comments »
Last year I wrote about the Sandhill Cranes on Manitoulin Island in this post. This year they were around in great numbers again and we saw and heard them frequently in the fields around the camp. I saw a pair of young birds for the first time as they walked down the gravel road ahead [...]
Fuel Efficiency: Good, Better and Best
Posted in environment, Manitoulin Island on July 22, 2008 | 11 Comments »
I filled up my vehicle yesterday at a bargain price of $1.25 per litre. How quickly our perception of a “good deal” changes! Last week gas was $1.38 per litre. Small cars are quite popular in Canada and Cooper minis and Smart cars are not unusual to see on our streets. I took these pictures [...]
Black and White and Red all Over
Posted in books, Manitoulin Island on July 17, 2008 | 11 Comments »
I asked the Becka if she knew any “black and white and red all over” jokes and she just looked at me strangely. I remember plenty of “knock-knock” jokes and black and white and red riddles from my childhood, probably when I was in that wonderful seven to eleven year old age group. What is [...]
The Art of Fishing
Posted in Manitoulin Island on July 16, 2008 | 18 Comments »
She took a box of books.He took a box of fishing tackle. She took a camera and binoculars.He took a fish finder and several fishing rods. She could walk the trails for hours.He could fish for hours and hours and hours. She took extra food, just in case, butHe caught enough fish for the week. [...]
