Flashback Ten Years

Take a Walk
Flash Back! On our great Owl Prowl Search back in January a few years ago I met on Ott Road some American birders from near Fredonia, New York. That’s not too far away. Guess what? They along with other service clubs have adopted an old rail line over there. The man I talked with was quite enthused about the project. Apparently it’s going quite well. All ages use the trail at all seasons. Cross-country skiers to bicyclists available themselves of the six-mile run. Here in Fort Erie we would have a much longer trail. Think about it.
I was just out on a walk in Marcy’s Woods with my Junior Naturalists. One boy found a beer bottle courtesy of snow-mobilers. I have picked up wine bottles and beer cans this winter there. So? We helped clean up the woods. The Fredonia man said that they made regular trips to clean up their stretch of trail. That’s a good idea. No Fort Erie tax money involved just supportive citizens willing to spend a few hours keeping their part of our proposed trail in shape, that includes cleaning up a little horse manure too if you think it necessary...
Don’t get me wrong about snowmobiles and dirt bikes. I have had both but a walking, hiking, riding trail should not be for motorized vehicles. I know that there other places for them to ride.
Town property - town liability insurance? I don’t know. The Americans had individual portions of their trail covered by their own liability insurance at no cost to the municipality. That sounds a little complicated but we will investigate further. It would be a shame that this old stretch of C.N.R. disused track can only be used by a few ***
We were asked about the Club’s Owl Prowl recently. I missed it last year because of church commitments. This year wife, Elaine, and I were able to make it. It’s an all day affair from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dress warmly and have good footware. It was well worth it. Thanks to birder Blayne Farnan and his wife from Port Colborne we saw a Saw-whet, a male and female Screech Owl, over 30 Short-eared Owls, a Great Horned Owl on its nest, and my first, a Long-eared Owl. This couple from Port Colborne have the uncanny ability to take you back into the woods to a special place and there they show you an owl. Amazing! Last year they found a Snowy Owl. No kidding.
There were about 25 Bert Miller Nature Club members and about the same number of birders from the Buffalo area. I believe that there were about 23 cars going from location to location all as part of the Owl Prowl. You have to love these raptors.