Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry
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Fisheries and Oceans Canada
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Water Soldier
Water Soldier is continuing it southward progression down the Trent
River towards the Bay of Quinte. It is, now, located a far south as
Glen Ross. If it reaches the Bay of Quinte it will negatively impact
both boating and the fishery. Find out more about this invasive plant and its possible impacts on the Bay.
Water soldier is a prohibited invasive aquatic plant, native to
Eurasia that was first observed in the Trent River in the fall of
2008. Water soldier is an “evergreen” perennial plant resembling aloe
vera or spider plants, with sharp, serrated leaf edges. It forms dense
mats of floating and submerged vegetation that can aggressively
out-compete other aquatic plants and negatively impact the biodiversity
of aquatic ecosystems. Water soldier also poses a threat to navigation
and recreation. The population of water soldier in the Trent River is
one of only two known wild occurrences in North America.
Tweet for Osprey
The Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan is looking for
volunteer citizen scientists to help locate and monitor Osprey’s nests around
the Bay of Quinte. The goal is to establish a long-term monitoring program to
ensure the Osprey population remains healthy and abundant.
This project utilizes Social Media (Twitter) and
Geo-Location technologies. Citizen scientists are being asked to use their
smartphones to capture details about Ospreys that include: nest locations,
whether the nest is active or not, the number of fledglings and departure dates
for the fall migration.
It’s a simple process.
First, ensure that the location settings are
activated on the smartphone, then open Twitter, select Tweet, then click the Location
tag and Share precise location, next
compose your tweet, add your
pictures and use the hashtags #bqrap and #osprey and post. Make sure you complete your post from the nest site, otherwise the post will not
be accurately located.
The tricky part is remembering
to make sure you click on both location settings. Now, you are a citizen
scientist!
Why monitor ospreys?
Because
Ospreys eat fish almost exclusively,
and are considered
indicators of water quality health. Changes in the number of nesting pairs and
number of chicks produced and fledged can reflect changes in aquatic ecosystem
health.
Once, the widespread use of DDT brought these great
raptors to the brink of extinction. But with a ban, in the 1970s, on this toxic
pesticide and the efforts of federal and provincial governments, conservation
authorities and groups, and individuals the Ospreys have made a dramatic comeback.
The Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan is in the
process of changing the status of several of the fish and wildlife
environmental challenges identified for the Bay to unimpaired. One way the
public can help maintain healthy and diverse fish and wildlife populations and
habitats is by participating as citizen scientists.
“The return
of this top predator to the Bay of Quinte and their successful nesting is a
sign of a healthy ecosystem. By collecting data on how the Ospreys are doing,
we can ensure the Bay doesn’t return to the conditions that required a Remedial
Action Plan in the first place”. - Sarah Midlane-Jones, BQRAP Communications.
Visit
the nest sites throughout the season and post comments and photos of the birds
for everyone to enjoy.
Sarah Midlane-Jones, Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan, 613-394-3915 ext.
214, smidlanejones@bqrap.ca
Mary
Gunning, Quinte Conservation, 613-968-3434 ext. 106,
mgunning@quinteconservation.ca
Osprey Fact Sheet