Juncos still in our backyard

Photo by Barry Wallace

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco Hyemalis)

FEMALE

The Dark-eyed Juncos (a.k.a. Slate-coloured Juncos) are still foraging for seeds beneath the seed feeders.   They forage on the ground but do not scratch for food like many other sparrows.   This week's forecast calls for nights below or at the freezing mark, with colder temperatures further north.   These beautiful little birds seem to be in no hurry to head north.   As far as Linda and I are concerned, they can hang around our backyard for as long as they want.
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Barry Wallace

2nd Barn Swallow kiosk appears in King

Photos by Barry Wallace

Barn Swallows get special protection on Hwy. 9

A second Barn Swallow temporary nesting facility has been built in King, near to the Hwy. 400 and Hwy. 9 intersection expansion.   It is pictured above, west of Hwy. 400 and north of Hwy. 9, on the south side of both the Holland Marsh's south canal road and the canal itself.   It is designed to to provide nesting sites for Barn Swallows that are to be displaced by the massive reconstruction of the Hwys. 400 & 9 interchange. Barn Swallows are a threatened species and were added to Ontario's Endangered Species Act list in January 2012.   An earlier similar installation (pictures below) was created about three years ago, on Hwy. 9, east of Schomberg, where the Schomberg River crosses south under Hwy. 9 and becomes becomes part of the Holland Marsh canal system.   The site near Schomberg provides approximately 32 artificial nest cups, which the swallows use as bases for their own nest construction.   The site at Hwy. 400 has approximately 64 cups.   The two King installations are among 95 Barn Swallow kiosks at 57 locations in the province.   They provide more than 1,500 nesting cups.   Why the investment?   Barn Swallows are helpful to farmers because they devour huge numbers of insects that are often harmful to crops.   Meanwhile, the population of Barn Swallows in Ontario has declined 65% between 1966 and 2009.   The concept's success and measurement of results is to take three years, with an optional extension of two additional years.   First verified results from certain location will probably be available soon.

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Barry Wallace

Bad hair day in cold March rain

Photos by Barry Wallace

I stopped to grab a picture of this wet and slightly bedraggled donkey on the 19th Sideroad last Monday morning.    The look on its face seemed to ask: "Is this really necessary?"   Below, it took a moment or two to clean its muddy feet and I thought this donkey was lucky it didn't have long white feathering on its lower legs like a Clydesdale, perhaps.   It quickly gave up, took atep or two towards me and stared me in the eye (see photo at bottom).   It was a gloomy and somewhat baleful look.   We spoke briefly.   I bid it adieu and wandered on my way.

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Barry Wallace

Bridge out over East Humber River

Photos by Barry Wallace

Part of Humber Trails is closed

If you haven't been a regular visitor to Humber Trails Conservation Area this winter, then you're in for a bit of a surprise.   The bridge over the Humber, at the halfway mark on the property was substantially damaged this winter and the bridge, and the remainder of the trail beyond, are closed to pedestrian traffic.   While the bridge did not collapse completely into the river, it would appear a complete replacement is probably the solution.

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Barry Wallace

Maple Syrup sap by the barrel

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Maple syrup-making is upon us throughout many forests, lane ways and backyards in King.   Pots hanging on trees have sprung up everywhere.   The maple forest pictured above and below, on the south side of King City, is a little different in that the sap is collected by hoses and stored in barrels.   The entire woodlot is on an incline and slopes towards its south-west corner.   Gravity does all the work of getting the sap to the barrels for collection, by the sap-maker.   The sap is then transported to the nearby syrup-making site.   A highly efficient operation, indeed.    

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Barry Wallace

Daughter's novel hits bookstores

My younger daughter's first paperback print book, entitled SKINNY DIPPING WITH MURDER hit bookstores on March 1st.   It is the first of three books she has written in the 'cozy mystery' genre.   Local booksellers include Walmart, Chapters, Indigo, Coles, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Book City.   The book is also already in many libraries in Canada and the U.S.  The second book in the series is called PUMPKIN PICKING WITH MURDER which will be published on August 30th of this year, followed by the third in the series to be published in early 2017.   Publisher for all three books is St. Martin's Press/MacMillan Publishing.   Two online books have preceded the three cozy mystery books.   They were published by Harlequin and are entitled SIDEKICK and SIDEKICK REVISITED.   Both are in the 'urban fantasy' genre.   Auralee was born and raised in King City and attended King City Secondary School, Guelph and York Universities.   She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a Masters in English literature. 

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Barry Wallace

Spotted at Humber Trails...

 Photo by Barry Wallace

An Australian Shepard named Maple

With just a week to go 'til spring there was anticipation in the air at Humber Trails Conservation Area on the Mill Road, south of the King Road on Sunday.   Above,   this beautiful Australian Shepard (or Australian Sheep Dog) was on a ramble with its owners, the Dobsons, well-known King Township and Nobleton-area residents.   Just for the record, this breed was not developed in Australia, but rather on ranches in the western United States in the early 1800s.   Below are other shots of Humber Trails where winter has faded and the new season beckons. 

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Barry Wallace