PROTECTNATURETO - A NEW UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR THE PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE AND NATURAL AREAS ACROSS THE CITY OF TORONTO

Friends of Sam Smith Park is proud to be one of a number of groups affiliated to a new organization committed to the protection of Toronto's natural heritage.

ProtectNatureTO's excellent website, as well as having research papers, their own publications, links to government documents, calls for action etc. outlines a vision statement that mirrors FOSS's own .....

"Our vision is for a green sustainable city where natural areas, including the plants and animals that depend on these habitats, are celebrated, respected, protected and managed responsibly for the long term. This will be a city where biodiversity thrives and endures. The people who live in this city will be able to experience ecologically healthy green spaces for their own mental and physical well-being, and to maintain and cultivate a personal connection with nature."

Please check it out and spread the word among groups that share similar views.  The more groups affiliated under this umbrella organization there are, the stronger all our voices become.

Below is an example of a brochure ProtectNatureTO produced on the impact of off-leash dogs in natural environments - "You and your dogs: keeping natural areas safe for wildlife."

SAM SMITH CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT RESULTS

The following birds were reported by members of FOSS during the Christmas Week Bird Count. 

December 26-31, 2017

REDHEAD DUCK

Water Birds

Canada Goose

Mallard

Mute Swan

American Black Duck

Redhead

Greater Scaup

GOLDFINCH

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Long-tailed Duck

Red-breasted Merganser

DARK-EYED JUNCO

Ring-billed Gull

Gadwall

*Tufted Duck – first record for the park

*Purple Sandpiper – occasionally seen in winter in Ontario (the only record for the province this winter)

Land birds

Mourning Dove

Black-capped Chickadee

Northern Cardinal

LONG-EARED OWL

Dark-eyed Junco

House Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

Song Sparrow

American Robin

Downy Woodpecker

European Starling

American Crow

American Goldfinch

Raptors

Long-eared Owl

A total of 28 species

If you were at Colonel Sam Smith Park Christmas Week and we missed a bird you saw, please contact me.

Brian Keaveney

President FOSS

masters@sympatico.ca

JEREMY'S "BIG BIRDING YEAR" - 346 SPECIES - A PROVINCIAL RECORD

Jeremy Bensette, a young birder known to many birders in Sam Smith Park, has broken the provincial record for seeing more bird species in one year.  He recorded 346 species in 2017.  The previous record was 343.
Jeremy was a frequent visitor to Sam Smith during that year and, in fact, was there at the very end of the December searching for the elusive Purple Sandpiper to top up his list (as reported in a previous FOSS post.)

Jeremy at Sam Smith Park leading birders in search for the Purple Sandpiper

The Toronto Star has published an excellent article on Jeremy's "big year" that can be seen here.

Congratulations, Jeremy!

FEBRUARY 19TH - FAMILY DAY SKATE AT SAM SMITH

FOSS WINTER BIRD FEEDER PROJECT

Our “FOSS Winter Bird Feeder Project” is well under way, for the third year! 

   

Volunteers have set up 6 “feeding stations” around the Skating Trail at Col. Sam Smith Park- each consisting of a seed feeder and a suet feeder.  Different FOSS volunteers check and fill the feeders each day. 

   

We are getting an interesting variety of birds, a lot of squirrels, and a fair amount of attention and inquiries from skaters.  People are also stopping to thank us for our efforts!

The Urban Nature Store, on North Queen by the East Mall, is generously subsidizing our seed purchases again this year, which is greatly appreciated.

  

The next time you are by the Skating Trail, check out our feeders and see what is happening there.

Thank you to all of our faithful volunteers!

This photo of a goldfinch on one of our feeders was taken by Sandra Hawkins.