Spring with OSFN: Flood Forecasting, Bluebirds, Maple Syrup & More
Owen Sound Field Naturalists' April events include flood forecasting, Earth Day celebrations, a tribute to Dennis Lewington, and youth nature outings.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
The Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN) club is pleased to welcome John Bittorf of Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA) as our guest speaker for the April 10 presentation. Bittorf will discuss GSCA’s unique flood forecasting, weather monitoring, and water quality programs—some of which are rare or exclusive in Ontario.
As GSCA’s Water Resources Coordinator and Flood Duty Officer, Bittorf brings extensive firsthand experience and insight into the organization’s operations within the Grey Sauble watershed. A local with roots in Owen Sound, he has worked at GSCA since graduating from the University of Guelph.
His career has encompassed fish and wildlife habitat projects, tree planting and forest management, groundwater and surface water monitoring—including benthic sampling and taxonomy to the lowest practical level (self-taught)—as well as leading flood forecasting and warning efforts.
Personally, I’m especially looking forward to this presentation, especially given the recent spells of uneven weather and the proverbial April showers.
The talk takes place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 10 at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre. Everyone is welcome. Admission is by donation for non-members of OSFN. The presentation will also be available via Zoom. You can register here: 🔗 Zoom Registration Link.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., giving attendees time to browse OSFN merchandise and purchase tickets ($10 each) for our Celebrate Earth Day keynote event, taking place on Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. at the Harmony Centre.
The keynote speaker is Dr. Anne Bell, former Director of Conservation and Education at Ontario Nature. Her talk, "Rapture and Resistance – The Heart of Nature Advocacy," is sponsored by Caframo. Tickets are also available at the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library, Owen Sound Farmers’ Market (from Sheila Gunby’s Paper Cut Designs), the Ginger Press, and Suntrail Source for Adventure in Hepworth.
Click here to purchase tickets online (to be held at the door).
Meeting Highlights and Field Reports
One of the OSFN meeting traditions is the "Sightings" segment—a chance to share interesting local nature observations.
Recently, during the evening of an approaching ice storm, I heard the loud “screaming” calls of many gulls flying through our neighbourhood between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. This unusual phenomenon was also noted by others within a 10 km radius—from downtown Owen Sound to the area near Inglis Falls.
While I often hear Killdeer at night and have come to expect it, this was the first time I’ve experienced such a vocal gathering of gulls after dark.
Young Naturalists Visit a Maple Syrup Farm
The Owen Sound Young Naturalists had a “sweet” March outing at the maple syrup farm of Bob and Mary Beth Gray. As described by Amanda Eriksen, Young Naturalists Coordinator:
“We learned all about maple syrup from Bob Gray—checking out maple trees, tap lines, and tasting both sap and syrup.
Due to an ice storm in Kemble, boiling wasn’t underway, so we were able to get a great look at the boiler instead.
Bob also talked about forest health and how to identify sugar maples in winter. Eight youngsters braved the icy rain for this event.”
The group’s next outing is April 27 at Fossil Glen Nature Preserve with Jeannine Kralt, introducing her Sydenham Bruce Trail youth hikes.
Saugeen Nature’s 50th Anniversary
Congratulations to our friends at Saugeen Nature (Saugeen Field Naturalists), celebrating their 50th anniversary on Monday, April 28 at the Elmwood Community Hall.
The evening includes a celebratory dinner, Annual General Meeting, award presentation, and a special guest speaker—Environmental Scientist and Beekeeper Janine McGowan—who will speak about bee biodiversity and global species.
More details: 🔗 saugeenfieldnaturalists.com
In Memoriam: Dennis Lewington (1934–2025)
On a sad note, we remember Dennis Lewington, who passed away on March 29 at the age of 90. I last saw Dennis in May 2024, assisting in the transition of care for the many Eastern Bluebird nesting boxes he and his late wife, Gwen, had maintained near Wiarton.
Dennis and Gwen’s legacy includes the Sauble Dunes Nature Reserve, a property they donated to Ontario Nature, and their tireless efforts to support Eastern Bluebird recovery.
In 2013, OSFN honoured them with the Community Conservation Award. Close friend and OSFN presenter Bruce Mackenzie shared:
“As much as this news may have been expected, it is the end of a wonderful chapter for the lives of Dennis and Gwen. They will not be forgotten easily, as the Sauble Dunes Nature Reserve and their love of birding will be with us for a long time.”
Peter Middleton also offered this tribute:
“With Dennis’ death, we have lost a gentle man who loved the planet and strove to preserve its beauty. Rarely without his soulmate Gwen, he left a legacy of commitment, accomplishment, and the celebration of nature. Hundreds of Bluebirds took wing because of Dennis and Gwen’s efforts. Future generations will be able to experience the beauty and stillness of nature in the Sauble Dunes Nature Reserve, the gift he and Gwen bequeathed to Ontario Nature.
He will be missed.”
Earth Day Events Around the Region
Earth Day is officially on April 22, and many special events are planned throughout Grey-Bruce. A comprehensive event listing can be found at thesustainabilityproject.ca/events.
Highlights include:
Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory AGM
Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. (Zoom)
With guest speaker Jeannine Kralt
➤ Email bethannecurrie@sympatico.ca for the Zoom link
Earth Day Festival – Owen Sound
Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Along 1st Ave West between 8th and 9th Streets
Theme: Building Green Communities
Willy Waterton: Bear Encounters – Tobermory
Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m.
Parks Canada Visitor Centre, Tobermory
A free event with donations encouraged. Part of the Sources of Knowledge series.
Earth Film Festival – Owen Sound
Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m.
Fundraiser for Grey Sauble Conservation Foundation
Featuring All Too Clear and more.
🎟 Tickets: $30 at the Roxy Theatre box office
Willy Waterton at Kemble-Sarawak
Saturday, May 10
Kemble-Sarawak United Church
Part of the Island View Drive and Area Ratepayers Association 50th Year Speaker Series. Presentation: Black and White Bear Encounters
Admission by donation
A Final Word
To close, here’s a nature quote from Andrew Armitage, taken from his “Sugaring Off in March” essay in The Way They Lived in the Lovely Townships of Grey and Bruce, as read by Kris Morris on CFOS:
“The Maple, a symbol of a nation. What more practical symbol could we have? This wonderful tree provided shade in the summer, firewood of long burning quality for the winter, gorgeous colour in the fall, and sugar and syrup in the spring.”
Thank you to sponsors of The Owen Sound Current Writers’ Fund, who make these community contributions possible. Contributions from the community do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Owen Sound Current and its editor or publisher.
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