Detroit River Evening - Mackenzie Hall   
Thursday, June 14 2018, 6:30pm 
Join us for our 8th Annual Detroit River Evening on Thursday, June 14 at Mackenzie Hall at 6:30pm. The Detroit River Evening is a free, public event to highlight our coordinated efforts to improve the Detroit River and remove it from the list of Great Lakes' Areas of Concern.  
 
We will release our 207/18 annual report and you can learn more about the health of our local wildlife from Environment and Climate Change Canada, as well as recent fish habitat monitoring conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. During the second half of the evening, we are pleased to welcome representatives from the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority who will provide an update on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project.     

SAVE THE DATE: Detroit River Family Fishing Day - July 7, 2018     
In partnership with the Town of LaSalle, the University of Windsor, Essex Region Conservation and Just Fishin' Friends, the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup is hosting the second annual Learn to Fish event! Join us on Saturday July 7 2018, rain or shine at Riverdance Park,1190 Front Rd, Windsor in LaSalle from 8am to 1pm.

This event takes place during Ontario Family Fishing Event week when residents can fish in Ontario waters without the mandatory license. Fishing equipment will be available for public use for free and there will be displays, giveaways, prizes, and more! Groups of 5 or more are encouraged to register in advance by calling 519-776-5209 ext356. Participants are encouraged to bring their own rods (if they have them), pfds, folding chairs, a hat, sunscreen/bug spray, reusable water bottle, snacks and plenty of patience while waiting for a bite! 
Detroit River Watershed Spring Projects
That's a wrap! Thank you to all volunteers, project partners, schools and students who helped plant native trees and shrubs in various locations across the Detroit River watershed this spring!

In May, the DRCC participated in planting projects at St. Peter Elementary School, St. Thomas of Villanova and Tranby Park in Windsor with the City of Windsor, Forests Ontario, Scouts Canada and the Little River Enhancement Group. This collective effort means over 200 trees were planted by over 150 volunteers!

The DRCC also participated in the Essex Region Children's Water Festival in May educating grade 4, 5 and 6 students about healthy food webs in the river, Bald Eagles, and Lake Sturgeon! Over 4000 students attend the festival annually.
Calling all Tree Lovers!   
Join the DRCC, Essex Region Conservation and the Association for Canadian Educational Resources (ACER) as they collect tree related field data from a sample of the Earth Day trees planted on April 22 2018. Pre-registration is required as spots are limited.

Volunteers will gain experience collecting field data from native trees while using proper equipment such as calipers and handheld GPS units. High school students who would like to earn volunteer hours should bring their paperwork along. For questions about the event, call Gina at 519-776-5209 ext. 245. 
Canadian Turtles in Trouble    
In early May, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) recommended the Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) be considered a species of special concern.

Painted Turtles are very common to see along shorelines and ponds basking on rocks. They take about 10 years to mature, and lay small numbers of eggs. This means that even small increases in adult deaths can lead to large declines in population size.

Turtle populations lose a lot of eggs and young turtles to predators such as racoons but as an adult, in an undisturbed population, midland painted turtles have a 98 per cent survival rate annually, Herman said.  The problem is that very long reproductive possibility ends when the turtle is run over by a car, the leading cause of death for turtles.

While the Painted Turtle still is found in some regions of Canada, the increasing numbers of turtles killed by vehicles, and the historical loss of 70% of southern Ontario wetland habitat led COSEWIC to identify it as a species is of Special Concern. Every one of Canada's ten native freshwater turtle species is now at risk in at least some part of the country.
 
What Does a Midland Painted Turtle Look Like?
Photo credit: Toronto Zoo, Midland Painted Turtle. Webpage here.

All painted turtles have an olive to black
upper shell with red or dark orange markingson the larger scales on the shell. They also have red and yellow stripes on the head and neck. The shell is broad, smooth and flat, and generally reaches a length of 12 to 14 centimetres. The midland painted turtle has a yellow or dark tan lower shell with a darker, irregular markings along the middle.

What Can You Do To Help?
  • Report a sighting to the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas
  • Avoid removing trees, fallen wood, natural debris, and shrubs or cutting tall grass on your property. These featyres provide important habitat for frogs, snakes and many other animals.
  • Preserve natural wetlands, creeks and shoreline areas, as they are critically important habitat for most amphibian and turtle species.
  • Reduce road mortality by helping reptiles and amphibians cross when it is safe. Animals should always be moved in the direction in which they are facing, no matter what the habitat looks like. Nesting turtles should never be moved.
More Information
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!   
The Detroit River and Great Lakes in the news. Here are some links to articles that may pique your interest. Click the link  to read on.  
Upcoming Events  
Save the date for these great local events! Contact the organizer for more information. 
Essex County Field Naturalists' Club Member Meeting
 Wednesday June 13, 2018, 7:30pm, Ojibway Nature Centre. 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor.    
Join Essex County Field Naturalist Bob Pettit as he explains bird migration and monitoring at Holiday Beach. For more information, please contact Carl Maiolani 519-972-1399, Membership Secretary, Essex County Field Naturalists' Club.   
Communities, Trees and Wildflowers of Fish Point
Saturday June 16 2018, Pelee Island, 9:30am, Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve, McCormick Rd, Pelee Island, ON.  
Join Gerry Waldron (author of Trees of the Carolinian Forest) for a walk through Fish Point. See the special plant communities from the shoreline, to the sand spit forest, to the marsh, and the many species of interest that inhabit this peninsula. Meet at the Fish Point parking. Register at: waldronmsc@cdpwise.net.  
Dark Sky Night and Point Pelee 100 Vintage Car Show
Saturday June 16 2018, Point Pelee National Park, 1118 Point Pelee Dr, Leamington, ON 
Celebrate Point Pelee's centennial with this classic car show, remembering the days of parking on the beach at the Tip and cruising through the park from 9am to 1pm. Accepting same day registration for cars (pre 1980s) at Visitor Centre parking lot at 9 am. For more information: pelee.info@pc.gc.ca or 519-322-2365.

Then, join members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) - Windsor Centre for an evening of stargazing starting at 8:30pm. Bring your own binoculars or take a look through one of the special telescopes on site for the evening.   
 
South Coast Adventure Race
Saturday June 16, 2018, various locations across Windsor-Essex 
The SCAR:  South Coast Adventure Race is a multi-sport adventure race that takes place in several municipalities in the Windsor-Essex region. For more information, visit the event page here.  
Belle Isle Stewardship Saturday
Saturday June 16, 2018, 9am to 12pm. Meet on Central Avenue, just east of Portage Way. FYI, this street is listed as Meadow Rd in Google Maps.  
Join the DNR and Belle Isle Conservancy for Stewardship Saturdays. For questions or more information please email Laurel Malvitz-Draper, DNR Resource Steward for the Stewardship Unit at malvitzl@michigan.gov. 
Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee Meeting
Thursday June 21 2018, 9am to 11am, Belle Isle Nature Zoo, Flynn Pavilion - Near Intersection of Picnic Way & Loiter Way, Belle Isle, Detroit, MI, 48207 
Please visit their website for past agendas, meeting minutes, and additional information! 
Early Summer Nature Hike at the Grand Canyon of Essex
Thursday June 21 2018, 7pm, Thomas Road/Concession 2/County Road 5.  
Join Essex County Field Naturalist members Dave Martin and Linda Wladarski for a 1 .5 hour ramble to see the deepest canyon in Essex County. The completion of the Cypher rail trail from the north end of Amherstburg to Essex has opened up a whole new set of nature exploration opportunities for Essex naturalists.The Grand Canyon section of the trail is the most spectacular and diverse of 10 sections  from a birding and habitat perspective.
 
Meet and park along the EAST side of Thomas Road at the north end of Amherstburg [north of the Amherstburg water tower and just south of Texas Road]. Thomas Road is also labeled as Conc 2 and County Rd 5 on different maps. It's the first north/south road in from [east of] the Detroit River. Parking is somewhat limited so car pool if you can. There is room only for 5 or 6 cars to pull in head first from the road. Otherwise there is a wide shoulder to the north and south of the trail entrance.
DRCC Public Advisory Council and Education and Public Involvement Work Group Meeting
Tuesday June 26 2018, 4:30pm to 6:30pm, Windsor Airport Conference Room, 
The DRCC Public Advisory Council and Education and Public Involvement Work Group will be meeting on June 26 2018 at the Windsor Airport Conference Room. RSVP required. For more information, please contact postmaster@detroitriver.ca.  
Marsh by Moonlight
Thursday June 28 2018, Point Pelee National Park, 1118 Point Pelee Dr, Leamington, ON 
Enjoy a warm summer evening and a full moon. Join us moonlight paddle through the marsh. Bring your own canoe or kayak, rent a canoe from us or reserve a spot on the freighter canoe.
Pre-registration is required for the paddling event. Please contact the park at pelee.info@pc.gc.ca or 519-322-2365 for more information.


The DRCC initiative is a partnership between government, industry, academics, as well as environmental and community organizations that work together to improve the Detroit River ecosystem through a Remedial Action Plan. Our main goal is to remove the River from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern.