FOSS ONLINE WINTER PHOTO CONTEST STARTS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY

Friends of Sam Smith Park's online winter photo contest starts January 1st, 2021 and will continue until the end of February when prize winners will be announced.  Details and directions will be posted on this blog and on our Facebook page on New Year's day as well as being emailed to our contact list.

It is important to note that only FOSS Facebook group members will be able to post their photographs and vote, so, if you are not a member already and you are a Facebook user, please take a few moments to sign up.

We are excited about this new project and look forward to seeing and sharing beautiful images of our special park and its wildlife during the winter season.

WHIMBREL POINT'S WEATHER DAMAGED SIGNS REPLACED.

Friends of Sam Smith Park volunteers were out at Whimbrel Point over the holidays replacing the faded weather-damaged signs on the utility pole.

It gave them the opportunity to explain to curious park visitors the significance of that special spot, the best spot anywhere to observe the spring whimbrel migration, and to pass on the story behind the bench’s dedication plaque to Fred Bodsworth and his role in the fact that we can still see this beautiful bird and other passing shorebirds today.

Click here for a previous, more detailed, FOSS post on Fred.

4. KID'S FRIDAY ACTIVITY CORNER - "Holiday Swag"

 

3. KID'S FRIDAY ACTIVITY CORNER - "Nature Crafts - Angel and Owl"

 

2. KID'S FRIDAY ACTIVITY CORNER - "Holiday Twig Ornaments"

 

2020 FOSS CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT IN COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK

Volunteers needed.

How it’s done?

See the attached park map and link to the Winter Bird Count List for Colonel Sam Smith Park. Print the list.

Go out in to the park area shown on the map on December 26 (Boxing Day) and look for birds . Keep track of the time of day you visited the park, all the bird species you saw in the park or on the water as well as how many of each species you found. Send a list along to Brian at FOSS (see address below) so we can add them to the overall Christmas Bird Count. If the weather is poor on the 26th then use the 27th for your count.

Here is a link to a printable list for you to use for your count.

Try to send a photo with or without birds.
We will try to place some of the photos on the FOSS website (no faces please)
Send your Bird Count to:  Brian Keaveney, President of FOSS, at masters@sympatico.ca by Dec. 28th.

You can scan your list and send the scan by email or just include the data in the body of the email. Results will be posted on the FOSS website.

Note: Bring a colour bird book with you to help identify birds or ask another birder that day.

Make it a fun family outing and stay warm

Brian Keaveney 

1. KID'S FRIDAY ACTIVITY CORNER - "Recycled Card Gift Box"

 

WINTER ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY FRIENDS OF SAM SMITH PARK

Friends of Sam Smith Park applied for and was recently given a modest grant from Park People to offer some in-person and virtual activities during the winter months.

Activities will have an environmental theme related to educating people about nature at Sam Smith Park.

We are planning to offer nature and photography walks, winter tree identification, a Winter Photo contest through our Facebook page and an online day in mid February.  

"People" events will be conducted under the appropriate Covid-19 guidelines.  All events will be announced here on the blog, by email and on our public Facebook page.

Watch this space!

To kick this off, we are starting a "Kid's Activity Corner".  Themes are the environment, recycling and fun!  Activities will be posted every Friday on this blog and on our Facebook page - starting this Friday, December 4th.

Look for this ....

FOSS WINTER BIRD FEEDERS NOW INSTALLED AROUND SKATING RINK

The FOSS Winter Bird Feeder Project is up and running again for its 6th year!  There are 5 bird feeding stations set up around the Skating Trail at Col. Sam Smith Park.  Each one consists of a seed feeder and a suet feeder.  

FOSS owes a big thank you to "The Urban Nature Store" on North Queen Street again this year, for donating a 50 lb. bag of black oil sunflower seed to this project.  

When you are at the park, check out our feeders to see what birds we attract. Please do not walk on the ice without skates.

And a big shout out to Brian and Barbara Keaveney who, every winter, set up the feeders, organize seed collection and co-ordinate the volunteers.