300 Trees Planted in the Little River Watershed!
The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, Essex Region Conservation, TD Friends of the Environment, Little River Enhancement Group, Caesars Windsor CodeGreen and the City of Windsor planted 300 trees in the Little River watershed on Saturday October 20 2018.

To read the full event report and see photos, visit the posting on the DRCC website here.
More Meadow Habitat Created in the Turkey Creek Watershed!
On Sunday, October 14th, FCA Windsor Assembly Plant's Joint Workplace Environment Committee (JWEC) teamed up with the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) and the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup (DRCC) to create more meadow habitat.

Over the past 11 years, Unifor Local 444 and FCA Canada management staff from the Windsor Assembly Plant have planted over 1,000 native trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers at various sites around the facility for pollinators and other wildlife. Restoration efforts have been possible due to funding support through the DRCC and planting expertise by ERCA. This decade-long partnership has contributed significantly to restoration efforts in the Detroit River watershed.Read more here.


Media Coverage
State of the Strait Urban Bird Summit report
 
T h e partner organizations of State of the Strait Committee, the Metro Detroit Nature Network, and the Detroit Zoo released the eighth biennial State of the Strait Conference report titled "Urban Bird Summit: Status, Trends, and Risks to Species that Call the Corridor Home". This report is based on the conference held on November 9th, 2017 at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, Michigan. Nearly 200 people from Canada and the United States attended this conference to learn about bird conservation in the St. Clair-Detroit River region, and to formulate recommendations for best practices to use in future projects.
 
"The State of the Strait Conference allows us to review, assess and discuss important issues from both the US and Canadian points of view. The topic of this Conference is especially timely, as Detroit was recently named as an Urban Bird Treaty city," stated U.S. Co-chair of the State of the Strait Conference Steve Francoeur.
 
The report recommends closer coordination and improved data sharing among regional bird conservation organizations. The report also recommends increased outreach, education, and regulation to reduce bird-building collisions, which are a major cause of bird deaths in urban areas. Finally, the report recognizes that continued monitoring and management efforts are needed to maintain bird conservation goals. Examples of conservation projects discussed in this report include bird surveys, multi-continent tracking of migratory birds, habitat restoration, and retrofitting buildings to reduce bird deaths.
 
For more information and a complete copy of the "State of the Strait: Urban Bird Summit: Status, Trends, and Risks to Species that Call the Corridor Home" visit www.stateofthestrait.org.  
 
Canada's Waterscapes: Yours to Enjoy, Explore and Protect
Visit the Chimczuk Museum between S eptember
Ford City Bathing Beach c.1930
15 - December 31, 2018 to catch the Canada Waterscapes Exhibit! This travelling exhibition from the Canadian Museum of Nature explores Canada's unique estuaries, rivers, lakes, oceans, and wetlands and the environmental challenges facing these ecosystems today. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about the fascinating animals and wildlife that depend on these waterways for survival. This exhibit is great for the whole family and features wildlife specimens, mini ecosystems models, interpretive panels, hands-on components, and interactive activities.
 
While you're there, please check out the DRCC's Detroit River photo exhibit! This exhibit takes you through the history of the Detroit River Area of Concern and the steps we've made towards ecological recovery. 
 
For more information: 
Museum Windsor
254 Pitt Street West, Windsor.
Phone: (519) 253-1812
 
Art Gallery of Windsor - The Living River Project: Art, Water and Possible Worlds
October 20, 2018 - January 20, 2019
Visit the Art Gallery of Windsor soon to see The Living River Project: Art, Water and Possible Worlds. Co-curators of this exhibit, Patrick Mahon and Stuart Reid, build on previous iterations of the exhibition to consider the cultural, historical and environmental significance of water issues in the Windsor-Detroit corridor.

For more information:
Art Gallery of Windsor
401 Riverside Drive West, Windsor
Phone: (519) 977-0013

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. 
Marsh Monitoring Advanced Training Workshop
Saturday November 3 2018, 8:30am to 1pm, Hillman Marsh Conservation Area, 1826 Mersea Rd 2, Leamington, ON.  
Did you help collect important amphibian and aquatic bird data this year for Bird Studies Canada in Windsor-Essex County? We would like to hear from you! Bird Studies Canada (BSC), in partnership with Environment Canada, the City of Windsor and the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), are hosting an advanced marsh monitoring training workshop. More info here. 
Essex County Field Naturalists' Club Member 34th Annual Dinner
Saturday November 3, 2018, 5:30pm, Dante Costa Hall, Fogolar Furlan Club, 1800 N. Service Road, Windsor.  
Save the date! The guest speaker is Tom Hince and his topic is "POINT PELEE:  The Park that Birds Built." There will be a silent auction table, door prizes, a share the wealth draw and a cash bar. Tickets are $40.00 each if prepaid, and $45.00 if pre-ordered and paid for at the door.  If not pre-ordered, $45.00 at the door, only if there is space. Tickets can also be purchased for a period of time through our website:   essexcountynature.com/tickets . 
The Dennis B. Chase Smile Walk for Optimism and Conservation
Saturday November 10 2018, 8:30am, Hillman Marsh Conservation Area, 1826 Mersea Rd 2, Leamington, ON.  
This annual walk has been created to support the incredible work of the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA), in honor of a man who left the world a better place by nurturing personal relationships and working in an industry he took great pride in.
All proceeds from this event will support the efforts of the Essex Region Conservation Foundation - Place for Life. For more information please visit  dbcsmilewalk.com. 
Dark Sky Night
Saturday November 10 2018, 7:00pm, Point Pelee National Park Visitor Centre, 1118 Point Pelee Drive, Leamington, ON. 
Join members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Windsor Centre for an evening of stargazing. Bring your own binoculars or take a look through one of the special telescopes on site for the evening. 
Science on Tap: Birds and Beers II
Thursday November 15, 2018, 7:00-10:00pm, Walkerville Brewery  
The Faculty of Science at University of Windsor is hosting  Science on Tap: Birds and Beers II at Walkerville Brewery. Join them for an evening of fun with bird researchers from the university who will be sharing in the excitement of learning about birds by presenting some bird research findings. Building on the success of last year's event,  Birds and Beers II will feature:
  • Mini-talks about UWindsor bird research
  • Graduate student bird research posters
  • Avian taxidermy Club bird exhibit
  • Science Meets Art (SMArt) exhibit
  • Live bird-themed musical performance from our School of Creative Arts
  • And a bird trivia game with bird prizes
 Tickets are $15 (or $10 for students) which includes one free beer or non-alcoholic drink of your choice.  Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite.Space is limited, so get your ticket soon.
Super Santa Run
Saturday November 17th 2018, 5pm to 7pm, Amherstburg.  
Walk or run 5km dressed as Santa! Limited early bird rates for adults and children. Free Santa suit with registration! Stay for the Amherstburg River Lights Festival. Proceeds go to local conservation projects happening throughout the region. More information here.  
Deck the Holidays Workshop
Saturday November 24, 2018, 2pm to 4pm, John R. Park Homestead, 915 Essex County Rd, Essex, ON 
Ring in the holiday season with a hands-on wreath making workshop from 2pm to 4pm John R. Park Homestead using natural materials form the forest and farm. Fee of $30.00 includes materials and instruction, a mug of cider or cocoa, and a holiday snack from the hearth. To register, click here.  
Fall Hiking
Thursdays, September 20 to November 29, 10am to 11:30am, Ojibway Nature Centre, 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor.  
Exercise body and brain during a brisk morning walk with one of Ojibway Nature Centre's naturalists. Explore and meet new friends! Thursdays, September 20 - December 6, 10-11:30am. Cost is $80/11 weeks.
Fall Bird Migration Field Course
Various Saturdays and meeting places  
A series of morning field trips to observe the incredible variety of birds that migrate through Southwestern Ontario each fall. Led by Paul Pratt.
Morning field trips (8:30 am - noon) to Point Pelee and Holiday Beach C.A.
$16/adult, $14.50/senior each trip (dates are tentative)
  • Nov 10, (Sat) meet at the Hawk Tower, Holiday Beach C.A.
  • Nov 24, (Sat) meet at the Tip parking lot, Point Pelee
  • Dec 01, (Sat) meet at the Tip parking lot, Point Pelee


The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup 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 goal is to remove the Detroit River from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern.