Lions River Park Improvements

糖心直播 (UTRCA) recently completed work on the second phase of a project in Lions River Park in Thamesford. It includes the construction of multiple viewing areas and fishing steps that will give community members and anglers access to the middle branch of the Thames River, which stretches about 500 meters along the western border of the park.

Previously, foot traffic along the river鈥檚 edge had degraded the riverbank and contributed to erosion and sedimentation in the watercourse. Working with the Thamesford Lions and Zorra Township, UTRCA staff designed a plan for the park that balances community access to the river with stream bank naturalization and rehabilitation.

In the fall of 2025, additional native shrubs, trees, and pollinator plants will be planted between the viewing areas to stabilize the banks, shade the watercourse, and provide habitat for species at risk. This project will improve water quality and habitat for resident species at risk, including Black Redhorse sucker, Round Pigtoe mussel, and Brook Lamprey (a native, non-parasitic lamprey species).

This project is made possible through financial contributions from the Thamesford Lions as well as Environment and Climate Change Canada’s EcoAction Community Funding Program.

Meet the Northern Cardinal听

Affectionately known as redbird, the Northern Cardinal is often featured in white winter scenes because of their splash of colour. The male's conspicuous red plumage, crested head, and warbling song make it one of the most identifiable and beloved birds in Ontario. Even the muted brown female has hints of warm, rosy accents.

The bright crimson colour is thought to help attract a mate. Scientists hypothesize that females are more attracted to males with the brightest feathers because they feel they are superior. In fact, studies indicate that the brighter the plumage, the healthier and more fit the male. 听

Mating听

Cardinals generally mate for life and stay together year-round. During courtship, a male shows his affection and proves his strength as a suitor by feeding the females seeds. Their beaks touch momentarily as she takes the food. This endearing ritual, known as "beak to beak," appears as though the cardinals are kissing.听

While the female builds the nest, the male is her assistant, carrying nesting material to her. Their cup nests are built in shrubs, protective evergreens, or the lower branches of trees. Due to the male's vibrant colour, the eggs are mainly incubated by the camouflaged female. During this time, the male stays near the nest, defending his territory from intruders, feeding and caring for his mate, and protecting the eggs. The male shares in parenthood duties once the eggs have hatched.听 The nestlings are fed insects and spiders by both parents until they learn to feed themselves. 听

Song听

During the breeding season, males establish and defend their domain through song. They can be extremely protective of their breeding territory, showing their anger with a sharp tink-tink-tink call, and dive-bombing intruders and other males they feel are a threat. Male cardinals are so obsessed with defending their territory that they may attack their own reflection in windows or car mirrors, mistaking it for another male. After the breeding season, they become more tolerant of others and will cross borders, gathering where food is most available. This is when you see small flocks of cardinals at your feeder.听听

Cardinals are amazing singers, producing more than two dozen songs. Their sweet what cheer, what cheer, what cheer whistles or pew, pew, pew songs are one of the first sounds of the morning. They are vocal most of the year and only during the deepest part of winter do they take a break from singing. Unlike many species of songbirds, where only the male can vocalize, female cardinals are among the few who also sing and a mated pair will often sing duets. The females express themselves using slightly more elaborate songs than the males. They often do so to reinforce bonding early in the breeding season or while incubating their eggs to communicate to their mate. While moving through their territory, the pair calls back and forth with a sharp, metallic "chip" to stay connected.听听

Habitat 听

The Northern Cardinal can be found in a wide variety of habitats, from deciduous forests to urban parks with low, dense cover, throughout eastern North America. Southern Ontario is the most northerly reaches of its range. Surprisingly, the cardinal was originally a southern species and began to expand northward in the early 1900s. Experts believe a warming climate, the growth of urban areas, and the introduction of backyard feeders are the main drivers of this expansion.

Diet

While cardinals are mostly seed eaters, in the summer months their diet is supplemented with insects and spiders, particularly during the breeding season, and a wide variety of berries, such as wild grapes, dogwood berries, and mulberries. Unlike many other songbirds, cardinals do not migrate and can be enjoyed in the north year-round. Most cardinals live within a mile of where they were born. During the fall and winter, they forego their territorial ways and gather to form flocks, as a group looking for food collectively is more successful than a single pair. 听

The males get their bold red colouration from their diet. It is the result of consuming carotenoid pigment, which is found in red and purple fruits. The amount of the pigment ingested, especially during fall molt, and then deposited in the feathers influences the quality and strength of their colouring. If a cardinal is unable to find berries, its hue will gradually begin to fade. Some cardinals have a defect that fails to convert the carotenoids, causing the birds to be yellow instead of red.听

Cardinals are a symbol of hope, joy, and enduring love. Spotting a red cardinal is a sign that a family member or friend is safe and happy, even if they are far away. This vibrant bird also reminds us that those we have lost will never be truly forgotten if we keep their memory alive in our hearts. 听

Contact:听Brenda Gallagher, Forestry Technician

The annual UTRCA Landowners Workshop is coming to St.Marys!听

Join the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) in St. Marys for an engaging evening focused on soil health, water quality, and sustainable farming. Hear from expert speakers on best management practices, conservation drainage, and how land stewardship supports aquatic life. Plus, learn about funding opportunities available to landowners!听

Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025听

Time: 7:00 PM 鈥� 9:00 PM听

Location: St. Marys Pyramid Recreation Centre (317 James Street) in the Friendship Hall听

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and learn about available funding programs!听

Reserve your spot today!

Great Lakes Education Workshop Builds on Retrospective Report Findings听

On Wednesday, February 12th, the 糖心直播 (UTRCA) hosted a Great Lakes Education Workshop as part of a larger project funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). This project focused on a retrospective review of the Great Lakes Student Conferences, which MECP funded and supported across the province over the past decade.听

As part of the retrospective, UTRCA education staff interviewed 31 participants, including conservation authority staff, environmental non-governmental organization (ENGO)s, teachers, and school board leads. They also analyzed final reports to gather insights on the conferences' impact and opportunities for future Great Lakes learning initiatives.听

The workshop was a key component of the larger project, bringing together over 25 participants鈥攆rom Thunder Bay to Ottawa鈥攖o review and build on the findings of the retrospective report. Participants, including CA staff, ENGOs, and educators, discussed ways to optimize Great Lakes education moving forward, with a focus on collaborating with local school boards to deliver impactful learning opportunities for students. The event provided an opportunity to explore how conservation authorities and ENGOs can work together to strengthen experiential and place-based education that connects students to their local and Great Lakes watersheds.听

UTRCA appreciates MECP's support in funding both the retrospective project and the workshop. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to enhance Great Lakes and watershed education across the province.听

For more information, contact Karlee Flear, Community Education Coordinator听

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Seedy Saturdays in London and Woodstock听

Spring is in the air and on the land! As folks begin to plan their gardens and start their seeds, 糖心直播 (UTRCA) Partnerships and Education staff participated in Seedy Saturday events on March 1st and 8th in London and Woodstock, respectively. In London, 1000 + visitors took in the over 60 exhibition booths at the Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre. UTRCA staff used a flood plain simulator to demonstrate how rain gardens and other forms of low impact development (LID) can help with flood control while bolstering native plant biodiversity. Visitors also learned about LID initiatives in London, including the City’s Residential Rain Garden Program (a partnership between the London Environmental Network and the City of London). 听

The following weekend, UTRCA participated in Seedy Saturday Woodstock, which was held at the Woodstock Public Library and included displays from ten community partners. The event was attended by many children and youth (and their parents) who were enjoying the first Saturday of the March Break. UTRCA staff chatted with visitors about the connections between watershed health and native plant and animal species. Many attendees were fascinated by our collection of freshwater mussel shells and interested to learn about the connection between mussels, fish, and water quality. Our youngest visitors had many questions about our snapping turtle shell, with our favourite question being, 鈥淲here is the turtle now?鈥�

Source Water at The Farm Show: Protect Your Private Drinking Water!听

From March 5th to 7th, the Thames Sydenham and Region Source Protection Region was represented at the 糖心直播's booth at the London Farm Show. We provided Public Health Ontario drinking water sample bottles for the public to test their private drinking water wells.听

If you own a private well, check out for information on where you can get free sample bottles to test your drinking water for free:听听

Public Health Ontario provides testing for the presence of bacterial indicators of contamination, such as E. coli and total coliforms, in private drinking water systems. This information is crucial for people who rely on drinking water from privately owned sources, such as wells and other private drinking water systems (e.g., water from cisterns, treated lake water, or wells).

Well water quality can change frequently. The best way to protect your drinking water is to test it often. Your well water can affect the health of everyone who consumes it.

Private well owners are responsible for preventing surface water and other foreign materials from entering their systems. You can protect the long-term quality of your drinking water by safeguarding the water source and properly maintaining your well.听

Protect your water by:听

• Having your septic system inspected annually and your septic tank pumped regularly.听
• Testing your drinking water system regularly.听
• Performing an annual visual inspection of your well.听
• Using eco-friendly alternatives for commercial fertilizers, pesticides, household cleaners, and road salts.听
• Storing your fuel tanks with drip trays underneath them to prevent contamination.听
• Conserving water in times of drought.听
• Disposing of hazardous waste and medications at proper facilities.听
• Keeping a riparian or shoreline buffer zone to help reduce chemical runoff into nearby lakes.听

Learn how you can protect your source of drinking water 听听

London Farm Show 2025

The 糖心直播 (UTRCA) hosted a booth at the London Farm Show from March 5th-7th. This year's booth was themed around phosphorus reduction, showcasing best management practices to help prevent losses in phosphorus. Topics included water quality monitoring, cover crops, reduced tillage, and the restoration of marginal lands. Forestry staff from the UTRCA and other southwestern Ontario Conservation Authorities also hosted a booth at the Farm Show, promoting tree planting programs and forestry management.听

The London Farm Show is the largest indoor farm show in Eastern Canada, with over 15,000 visitors in attendance this year. This show provides a great opportunity for UTRCA staff to connect with local landowners, experts, and exhibitors.