ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN - BIRD FESTIVAL

ART AND PHOTOGRAHY SESSIONS IN THE PARK START NEXT TUESDAY

Art in the Park sessions will start next Tuesday. June 7th. Meet in the parking lot around 9:00 a.m.  Everyone is welcome.  Please bring your own art materials.
 
We're also going to try a photography workshop on the 14th starting at 7:00 pm - again meeting in the south parking lot area.


Questions?  E-mail Don McClement or call him at 416 259 5856.

TORONTO TREE FESTIVAL ON TORONTO ISLANDS - SATURDAY, JUNE 11

BIRD FESTIVAL

Yesterday’s Spring Bird Festival was a tremendous success. The weather cooperated once the morning fog lifted and the rain overnight ensured there were lots of interesting warblers still resting and feeding in the park for us all to enjoy. The CCFEW bird walks yielded many varieties.

 

The Art, Photography and Nesting Box Building booths run by Friends of Sam Smith Park were well attended.  Eager children constructed twenty-five tree swallow boxes and these will be installed on the Toronto Islands. Thanks to John Hayes from the High Park Nature Centre for teaching the children all about the need to provide nesting boxes to tree-cavity nesters who have fewer old trees to use in urban areas as well as helping them to build them.

A wonderful collage of children’s nature paintings was created by the youngsters with help from Don and Donna-Marie and this will be on display soon at Birds and Beans café in Mimico.

George Raikou and the other photographers showed their work and offered tips on taking successful nature shots.

Much appreciation must be given to the staff at City Parks and the Toronto Region Conservation Authority for all their hard work.  This second annual Sam Smith Park Spring Bird Festival establishes our park as the best nature park to visit in the west end of the city.

HOW TO MAKE A SWALLOW NESTING BOX

If you and your kids made a nesting box at the Bird Festival for installation on the Toronto Islands, you may want to make one at home for your garden or country property.

Boxes are easily made from a 6' X 6" X 1" pressure treated board ($3 at Home Depot) and construction plans are available at http://www.coveside.biz/tree-swallow-house-plans.htm The clean-out side panel should be secured with a small screw to deter vandalism. Boxes should be placed facing any direction other than north and at about five feet. This would make a great school or interest project to do with your kids.
Nesting boxes need to be cleaned out and sterilized with a white vinegar/water spray before every season.

A nesting box with these dimensions and this sized entrance hole is good for tree swallows, song and house sparrows and, if you're lucky, maybe even a Bluebird!.

SATURDAY, MAY 28 - SAM SMITH SPRING BIRD FESTIVAL.

WHIMBRELS!

The Toronto Ornithological Club is again co-operating with the Center for
Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, in monitoring the Whimbrel migration observed during the period of May 19 to May 30 at Col. Sam Smith Park.

Daily observations are conducted during that time period from 6.00 a.m. on at the South Peninsula of the Park. 

Peak migration dates are May 24 and 25 with peak hours expected at 06:00 and 08:00 EDST.  Hopefully there will be some stragglers still to be observed at the Bird Festival on May 28th.

The migration progress of individual Whimbrels with satellite transmitters can be followed on 'tracking@seaturtle.org' and http://wildlifetracking.org/index.shtml?project_id=369

THE BIRDERS ARE BACK!

Spring migration is well under way.  Songbirds, including the beautiful, brightly coloured woodland warblers, are turning up in significant numbers.
Birders can be seen every morning prowling the osier dogwoods near last Saturday's planting, the spruce grove along North Creek near the Power House and the north swale.  These are favoured spots for viewing warblers.
Green, natural space along the Lake Ontario north shore, like we have at Sam Smith, is vital to these long distance travelers for feeding and resting up after their nighttime lake crossing on their way from the tropics to the boreal forest to breeds.

Here is a report from Wayne Renaud, a local birder.  He listed on Ontbirds, a subscription bird alert website, the birds he observed yesterday in the park.

Blackburnian Warbler

Jerry Lewchyschyn, Brian Tannahill and I spent 3 hours this morning starting at 7:00 am birding the park and adjacent Humber Lakeshore College campus.  Warblers: Yellow-rumped (45); Palm (17); Black-and-white (12); Black-throated Blue (10); Magnolia (8); Black-throated Green (5); Nashville (3); Yellow (3);  Chestnut-sided (2); singles of Cape May, Blackburnian, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart and Ovenbird.  Other notables: 1 Eastern Towhee; 3 Field Sparrows; 1 Swainson's Thrush; 1 Veery; 5 Hermit Thrush; 3 White-crowned Sparrows; 8 Chimney Swifts; 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks; 2 Great-crested Flycatchers; 1 Least Flycatcher; 1 Blue-headed Vireo; 1 Warbling Vireo.  On and off the Peninsula: 2 Spotted Sandpipers, 4 Lesser Scaup; 4 Greater Scaup; 10 Long-tailed Duck; 7 Red-necked Grebe; 1 Horned Grebe; 1 White-winged Scoter. 18 Red-breasted Merganser; 4 Gadwall; 7 Mallard; 1 Blue-winged Teal. 

LAST SATURDAY'S WILDLIFE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT

The planting organized by Trees Across Toronto last Saturday was a resounding success.  Well over a hundred volunteers turned up to plant 800 trees and shrubs, all in the space of about two hours.  It was muddy, soggy and hard work but the cheerful volunteers "stuck" (literally!) at it until the job was done.  Special thanks to a large enthusiastic group from a north Toronto temple, all followers of the late Indian guru Sai Baba, a proponent of doing karmic service for the community.
The plantings will enlarge and enhance the Osier Dogwood area to the east of the sports oval that has become, over time, a significant wildlife corridor and birding hotspot in our park.
Below are photographs and a list of the species that were planted..

(One photograph shows a brave Killdeer sitting on its nest while all this activity was taking place around it.  Can you spot it?)

FISHING IN THE PARK

Toronto Fishing, a website that features local fishing hotspots, has an article on our park.

Colonel Samuel Smith Park offers seasonal fishing opportunities along the Lake Ontario shoreline. A long peninsula shaped like a backwards letter C extends from the park’s eastern boundary, creating a lagoon that contains a sizeable marina. The protected waters in the marina bay are home to bluegill, punkinseed, yellow perch, brown bullhead and carp. The shoreline rocks on the lake side of this peninsula provide opportunities to catch carp, freshwater drum, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and pike. Given the peninsula’s height above the water line, a long-handled net is advantageous here, particularly when fishing the lake side. The large bay located along the eastern park boundary contains good numbers of  largemouth bass, small pike, carp and a variety of panfish. It offers good fishing through the summer months (particularly in early summer before the weeds grow too thick). It is best fished from a small boat, although caution is prudent given its exposure to the open waters of Lake Ontario. On calm summer mornings, look for fish to hide in the shade of weed walls scattered all through this area. Dropping a weedless jig down the shady side of the weeds can produce exciting action.

SATURDAY TREE PLANTING IN PARK - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Click on the here or on the image on the left for a site map

More details on the City of Toronto website.

SAM SMITH BIRD WALK ON SATURDAY

CCFEW Bird Walk Saturday, April 30, 9:00 - 11:00 am Colonel Samuel Smith Park Leader: Bob Yukich Meet in the south parking lot of Colonel samuel Smith Park (where the road ends) at 9:00, rain or shine. MAP These walks are sponsored by Birds & Beans an are free for all to attend.Spring migration is getting into high gear, so this walk should produce some nice sightings.

MAY 7TH - PLANT EXCHANGE AT ASSEMBLY HALL

VANDALISM IN PARK - WHAT TO DO?

If you see vandalism in the park, please bring it to the attention of David Chapman, Parks Supervisor, Etobicoke York District.


He can be reached at 416 394 5413 or by e-mail.


The graffiti on the new nature interpretive signs has been reported by FOSS and David has told us that it will be taken care of as soon as possible.

APRIL 30 - TREE/SHRUB PLANTING AND BIRD WALK IN SAM SMITH

Colonel Samuel Smith Park – CCFEW Bird Walk

Saturday, April  30, 2011 9:00 am    Leader: Bob Yukich

Meet in the south parking lot of Colonel samuel Smith Park (where the road ends) at 9:00, rain or shine. MAP

Trees Across Toronto – Colonel Sam Smith Park – Spring Planting

Saturday, April  30, 2011 10:00 am

Toronto has set a goal to double its tree canopy from 17% to 34%. This goal is part of the city’s Climate Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Action Plan, “Change is in the Air” introduced in June 2007.

SAM SMITH PARK TREE WORKSHOP APRIL 30

Tree Workshop –   (note must pre-register)

Saturday, April 30  9:30-3:00

Toronto's urban forest is aging and in need of help.   Join us for an interactive workshop led by Ian Bruce, a Senior Arboriculture and Urban Forestry Consultant -and Etobicoke resident- with over 30 years experience in the field. The morning session at the Assembly Hall will comprise some basic training in identifying tree species and on issues related to tree health and development.

Where:  Assembly Hall , East Room 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr (Lakeshore Blvd W, at KIpling)

The morning session at the Assembly Hall will comprise some basic training in identifying tree species and on issues related to tree health and development. After a break for Lunch (provided), we will head outdoors into Mother Nature's classroom to put the morning's lessons into practice. Learn how  you can help renew  this important city resource.

Pre-registration is required, as space is limited (FREE); the deadline is April 25th.    To register, or if you have questions, send an email (with your name and phone number) to LPCtreeWorkshop@gmail.com, or phone 416-252-9701 x795 and leave a message

Sponsored by Lakeshore Planning Council - http://lakeshoreforum.ca/environment-and-sustainability

MIMICO WATERFRONT PARK UPDATE

The Mimico Waterfront Linear Park Community Newsletter, Spring 2011 is now available on-line and can be accessed by clicking on the following link:  
http://www.trca.on.ca/dotAsset/103844.pdf

REMINDER - SPRING CLEAN-UP ON SUNDAY

Alan is at it again!

Kudos to Alan Roy for organizing another spring clean-up at Sam Smith Park.  We think that this is his eighth year in a row.

To find out more about Alan, please read this previous FOSS post.

Hope to see a good turnout on Sunday.

NATURE PROGRAMMING FOR KIDS COMES TO SAM SMITH PARK

Humber Arboretum staff are going to bring nature programming to their south campus.

 

They are currently advertising school programs there for this May and June, operating out of Humber College and using Sam Smith Park as their outdoor classroom.

This is tremendous news for those of us who have always seen the incredible teaching potential of our very own "nature park".

Please encourage your children's teachers to book class trips. 
With support, this exciting programme will be successful and grow.

STAR REPORT ON HUMBER STUDENTS PARKING AT SAM SMITH

The signs say park and facility users can park for free in the lot at the bottom of Colonel Samuel Smith Dr.
And judging by the number of cars there, the park should have been buzzing with visitors on a recent Monday afternoon. There were a few people walking their dogs, but other than that, there didn’t appear to be a lot of folks using the park and waterfront trail. Then again, it’s hard to tell who’s who — visitors to the park or students walking through the lakefront campus of nearby Humber College adjacent to the park. Chances are pretty good that most of the vehicles in the lot likely belong to students or staff taking advantage of a freebee.
And that’s got Mark Hlibchuk steamed. He recently came to the park to skate on the trail but couldn’t because all the spots in the free lot were full. He figures students “ignored the numerous signs which state that this lot is for park users only.”
Hlibchuk complained to Ward 6 Councillor Mark Grimes, whose constituency assistant Colin Johnson told him the lot is “open to all . . . including Humber College students. . . . The parks department does not have any policies in place to target drivers using the lot who are not there to make use of the park.” Hlibchuk said he was advised the posted signs are merely a “suggestion,” and unenforceable by law.
“Unless there is a bylaw, people will just ignore the sign,” he told The Fixer. Hlibchuk wants a bylaw passed, “but I don’t think the will is there with councillors, parks and rec, parking, or any other city department.”
Though he doesn’t get many complaints about the parking lot, city manager of parks Kevin Bowser said enforcing the rules at the busy park is tough. It would mean bringing on staff to mark tires and monitor who’s using the lot. That’s time-consuming and expensive. An alternative would be to charge for parking there, just as the city does in the municipal lot to the north, closer to campus. That no doubt would upset legitimate park users.
Bowser said his staff will meet with the parking authority to see what can be worked out and report back. Good thing is, the college year is almost over, which will free up spaces at least until September.

RESPONSE TO MUTE SWAN MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION

RE: KILLING, MOVING AND OTHERWISE INTERFERING WITH THE SWANS AND GEESE OF SAM SMITH PARK

Since the movement of human beings into the Americas 12,000 or more years ago, and particularly since the movements after the 1400s, humans have altered the structures of a wide variety of ecosystems, mostly to suit our needs and most often purposefully and often indirectly.

Ecosystems therefore have changed in many ways over time.

Mute swans are not indigenous to the Americas, nor is our own species: homo sapiens. To think that we can return to what might be termed a natural balance is unrealistic to say the least.

Nonetheless it is vital that we preserve the grebes and the whooping swans. The recovery of the later is threatened by mute swans which are more aggressive. 

I would suggest that if we wish to intervene to control the growing numbers of mute swans and perhaps Canada Geese it behooves us to do so in an ethical and kindly manner.

How to do so is open to question.

Should we relocate them, we must take due diligence not to smother them in trucks during hot weather.  Should we relocate them it must not be into the territory of other mute swans or geese as they will be invading their territory and aggressive encounters will ensue.

Should we, I believe the term is coddle, their eggs, they will lay more and spend their energy sitting on nests to no avail.

Killing them is out of the question on ethical terms even if it could be done humanely.

Therefore the only good way that I can see to deal with the issue would be to neuter the males and/or have animal doctors perform hysterectomies on the females and release them, when recovered, back into their own territories where they would likely continue to disturb some other birds but in numbers which would gradually decrease over time.

I can not imagine that our current civic society would go to such trouble and expense, so we are left with either BEING CRUEL OR ACCEPTING THAT ALL OF NATURE IS IRREVOCABLY AND CONTINUOUSLY BEING ALTERED BY  HOMO SAPIENS.

In the interests of humanity, therefore, I say accept that we have interfered with and altered ecosystems and try to live our lives in kindness to all the other species we still have to share this beautiful earth with.

The notion of controlling free running dogs during nesting time should also be considered in the appropriate areas of Sam Smith Park.  Humans as well should not disturb the wild life nor should we be feeding birds bread which is not healthy for them and fills up their stomachs and thus prevents them from eating appropriate food.

One final note this spring.  Please leave the pussy willows for the beavers to eat and remember Toronto Bylaws state that no fauna or flora should be removed from our Sam Smith Park.

Kathy Sims

MORE ON FISH DIE-OFF

MOE (Ministry of the Environment) confirms MNR and TRCA findings about the fish die-off last Sunday .......

"On March 21 2011, Ministry staff contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). According to a report from MNR, the fish kill was comprised of mostly Carp and the cause of mortality was due to the following:

1)      anoxia coupled with temperature fluctuations as the pond is shallow, had a lot of algae in it and no flow or;

2)      winter kill under ice.

Ministry staff attended the site on March 21 2011 and did not identify any dead fish or any signs of potential contamination. This supports the conclusions found in the report from MNR".

FISH DIE-OFF AT SAM SMITH

Last Sunday (March 22th) Friends of Sam Smith Park received a report of a fish die-off in the large pond at Sam Smith.  Upwards of 40 dead fish were counted.  FOSS immediately contacted the City Councillor, Laurel Broten's office, Toronto Region Conservation Authority and Environment Specialists in the City Parks Department.  All agencies responded immediately and inspections were conducted the following day by the Ministry of the Environment and TRCA.  The concern, of course, was about possible chemical contamination of the pond coming from North Creek which is, essentially, a stormwater run-off.  FOSS was assured during our inquiries by David Chapman, Park Supervisor, that the ice-skating trail does not use any chemicals in their operation.  The report below was forwarded to FOSS by Connie Pinto, Senior Project Manager at TRCA.  It looks as though there is a natural explanation for this event.  Interesting to note is that a similar fish die-off at Humber Bay was reported on the same day.  It was also investigated.


On March 21st TRCA staff conducted a shoreline/lake inspection within the area of Colonel Samuel Smith Park.  The inspection areas included, the boat basin, Lake Ontario open coast zone and the pond fed by North Creek.  Observations within the boat basin and open coast areas did not reveal any fish die-offs.  Located slightly northeast of the boat basin is the North Creek pond which did have a fish die-off.  The conditions within the pond is not ideal for overwintering fish habitat.  The pond is slow moving, relatively shallow and has abundant aquatic macrophyte biomass during the open water season.  Due to the habitat type and bathymetry, we believe that the fish die-off is a result of a winter kill and unrelated to fish health.  TRCA staff took photographs and visually inspected the fish located within the pond and did not observe any signs of disease.  The predominant fish species affected by the winter kill was Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosos) with 25 observed, Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) with 2 observed and Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) with 2 observed.

In addition to inspections, in-situ water quality parameters were taken and displayed relatively normal aquatic conditions.  In addition, surface water samples were collected as a precautionary measure. TRCA has spoken with Ministry of the Environment staff and they did not find any issues with suspected spills or contaminant releases.

MUTE SWAN MANAGEMENT

TRCA (Toronto Region Conservation Authority) are reviewing their management strategy for Mute Swans and Canada Geese.  While many Sam Smith park visitors enjoy seeing the swan families at Sam Smith, that does come at some cost to native species like Red-Necked Grebes who are also trying to breed in the park.  Read the letter below that was sent to Friends of Sam Smith Park by TRCA when more information was requested.  TRCA will have swan and goose info at the Sam Smith Bird Festival on May 28th and have lots of information available as well as staff to answer questions.

Currently TRCA manages Mute Swans and Canada Geese on waterfront sites (including Sam Smith) and select inland sites.  For Mute Swans management entails egg oiling, and for Canada Geese management entails egg oiling and a round up of moulting geese at a couple of locations.  We are updating the strategy to ensure that we are approaching the issue using the best science, monitoring and management tools available.  Mute Swans are managed because they are a non-native, invasive bird that have significant impact on native flora and fauna.  Specifically, Mute Swans are very territorial and will defend their territory against almost all intruders thereby excluding (and sometimes directly harming) many wildlife species from coastal marsh habitats at critical breeding times.  Mute Swans are also voracious eaters, consuming about 3.8kg of wetland vegetation a day.  This can seriously affect native wetland vegetation communities, wetland restoration efforts, and the availability of food to other species, especially waterfowl.

Based on the 2008 CWS mid-summer inventory (monitoring sites are grouped by general location) there were 98 adults in the Toronto Islands alone and an additional 463 adults between east of the Island to Oshawa Second Marsh and west of the Islands to Burlington.  Inland sites are not surveyed, so the numbers are an underestimate.  This same area in 2002 had a total of 240 adults, so the population trend is steadily increasing.  CWS staff note that the trend would have a much sharper incline if there were no control efforts underway.  The next survey will occur this year.  The Toronto population also fluctuates seasonally.  There were hundreds of Mute Swans across the waterfront in winter 2008-09.  While this doesn't impact nesting birds, it does impact wetland vegetation as they continue to forage in the winter and may reduce the availability of food and habitat to native species.

The only control method that TRCA uses for Mute Swans is egg oiling.  While this does not address all the effects they have on marshes, it will ultimately slow the population growth and reduce their impact on our native flora and fauna.  Oiling procedures following the US Humane Society protocol where eggs are immersed in water and only oiled if they are less than 10 days old (eggs older than this float, so it is easy to determine their age).  The management strategy is a region-wide plan that involves the collaboration and cooperation of multiple agencies and municipalities.  Public education is a major component of the strategy. 

NEW CITY OF TORONTO PARKS GROUP

Parks People are holding their first Summit on Saturday, April 16th.  It will be at the Brickworks and registration is free.  If you go to their website, you can register there.  Some FOSS members have already signed up.

Park People is a new organization dedicated to improving Toronto's parks.

Across many Toronto neighbourhoods, there is a concern that Parks are not living up to their potential and fully responding to the needs of our communities. Parks are essential to the health and vibrancy of any city, and Toronto is lagging behind cities across North America that are bringing people, government, park staff and private organizations  together to create dynamic parks that become the hub of  neighourhoods.

In 2010 Park People was formed to do just that.  Led by concerned citizens, and partnering with communities, parks staff and private enterprises, Park People is working hard to create lasting solutions to our underperforming parks.

Park People advocates for better parks for all communities by facilitating neighbourhood engagement in their parks, building a network of local community park groups, acting as a watchdog on issues affecting parks and highlighting the importance of good parks to the social, health, environmental and economic well being of all residents of Toronto. 

The group was founded in response to the groundbreaking Metcalf Foundation report by Dave Harvey - "Fertile Ground for New Thinking: Improving Toronto's Parks". A key focus for Park People in 2011 will be a citywide Parks Summit in April that will bring together park advocates from across the city for the first time ever.

COOPER'S HAWK

It looks as though the bird photographed a few days ago may be a returning Cooper's Hawk.  Hopefully they will set up house again this year near the Power House as they have for the past few years.

SUNRISE - Photos from George Rakou

SAM SMITH SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY

Alan Roy is holding his clean-up day at Sam Smith on Sunday, April 17th,
It starts at 8.30 a.m. and runs through to 3.30 p.m.

TRCA NESTING BOXES

Over the winter, TRCA (Toronto Region Conservation Authority) set up two kestrel nesting boxes on poles out on the headlands and two screech owl boxes in evergreens at two locations in the park.  They have also installed forty songbird nesting boxes which should attract even more tree swallows and, who knows, maybe a bluebird family!  These, along with the twenty-five boxes that FOSS repaired or replaced last year constitute quite the “Swallow City”.  (Have you seen the “Swallow City” at Mountsberg Conservation Area near Milton?)

There is also a plan in the works to mount the two purple martin houses that were donated last year to FOSS and CCFEW in a secure area of the park.  A chimney swift tower is also a possibility.

TRCA will be trying the red-necked grebe platforms again this year.

WINTER BIRDS VISITING SAM SMITH - NORTHERN SHRIKE, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, MUTE SWANS (George Raikou)

2011 SAM SMITH SPRING BIRD FESTIVAL

This year's Sam Smith Spring Bird Festival will be held on May 28th, 2011. This is earlier than last year and should afford the opportunity to see more migrating species.

Photos from last year's festival.

We learned a lot from last year in terms of what was successful and what was not.  This year's festival has the potential to be bigger and better!
We need to hear your ideas from the very beginning of the event planning process.  This is the opportunity to include new activities and participants, and to improve the promotion of the event.

Please e-mail Terry ASAP with suggestions.
We meet with City staff next week.

STORMWATER COMMUNITY GROUP MEETS WITH CITY

On December 13th, 2010, the City and their consultants presented to the Etobicoke Waterfront Stormwater Management Facilities Study Community Working Group.  The purpose of the presentation was to share with us the City's preliminary choices for dealing with end-of-pipe stormwater before it gets discharged in to the lake.  
This was the second meeting with the group (FOSS, CCFEW and Lakeshore Planning Council, as well as some other community representatives, are members).  Meeting #1 was about fifteen months ago and that first meeting was followed by a public meeting at which the community was asked to offer submissions on the matter.  FOSS, as well as CCFEW and many others, sent in submissions.  Click here to see FOSS's submission.
To our knowledge, community comments generally aligned with FOSS's position and favoured natural solutions (i.e. wetland, wet-ponds, creek water level enhancement etc.) over engineered designs.
The City, in fact, told us that, because of public comments they had received, they gave "Natural Criteria" the top weighting in their evaluation of alternative solutions.  Then, to our surprise, their evaluation results showed a totally engineered design as the first choice on their short list!  This was pretty well what was shown to the workgroup 15 months ago, before public input was requested.
The design involves an underground storage shaft and pump station in Sam Smith Park with buried transfer pipes along streets coming in to the park from east and west.  There is no enhancement whatsoever to natural habitat in the park.  Rainwater in South Etobicoke would be completely transferred and processed underground as it makes it way to the lake - without any benefit at all the to the natural environment or to public enjoyment.
Members of the group made strong pitches for at least some of the water flow to be directed to habitat improvement and suggested that the community at the next public meeting may feel their input has been largely ignored .
The image below shows details (double click for larger image)
That second public meeting is proposed for Spring, 2011.  FOSS will send details to our e-mail list when they are known.

FROZEN ART AT SAM SMITH - GEORGE RAIKOU

ICE SKATING TRAIL OPENS ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11TH

LYME DISEASE CARRYING TICK FOUND IN SAM SMITH

A dog walker in the park says she recently found a tick on her dog, which she had a vet remove.  It turns out that the tick was not only a species that could carry Lyme disease but, in fact, has now been tested and is positive for Lyme disease.  The only place she had walked her dog in the previous weeks was in Sam Smith Park.  She feels that she would be remiss if this information was not shared.

She says, “The tick looked very much like a smudge of dirt and, when I tried to remove it, it stuck.  It also had a very rubbery feel to it.  Our vet noted that it is not unheard of for tick populations to rise during bird migratory periods and Sam Smith Park is on a direct route for many migrating birds.  Our vet was also quite adamant about getting our pet on a regimen of antibiotics as soon as possible to minimize any effects the tick may have on her so I didn’t want to take this lightly.”
This has been passed on to a Natural Environment Specialist with the City's Parks.  We are told that there have been unconfirmed reports of these ticks on the Toronto Islands so it makes sense that they could be in other places along the waterfront.
City Parks has passed this on to Toronto Public Health. Here is their response -

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. It is not uncommon to find a positive tick anywhere in Ontario however, Colonel Sam Smith park is not recognized as a hot spot with an established blacklegged tick population. We will note the finding and consider having the park assessed by dragging in the area next season.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ms/lyme/public/default.aspx

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/disease/lyme.aspx

Above are some links for more information.

MARIE CURTIS REVITALIZATION PLANS

Plans were unveiled for the Marie Curtis Park revitalization at a public consultation meeting at the Assembly Hall Tuesday night.

For map, plans and details check out last night's Etobicoke Guardian report or read 27th Street blogger Mr. Anchovy