Survey Participation

Hooray!!!

To date we have 70 responses to our recent survey concerning lake activities. This response represents close to 50% of the cottages on our lake.

If you read this blog bulletin and have not responded to the survey its not too late to participate!!

Missing Muskoka Chair

Missing - Muskoka Chair - Lot 1072

This past weekend Rick McCoy (left side of Lakeshore beside run-off) discovered 2 chairs had blown off the dock in the recent high winds. A kind neighbour found one floating and returned it. The other is missing. If you have seen it - or a neighbour has a newly acquired unpainted wood chair on their shore - please e-mail vmccoy@rogers.com or call 905-201-0976. A reward can be negotiated.

Thanks,

Hembling / McCoy's

Help! Lake Monitoring

A team of students from Fleming College (see previous blog)are conducting a series of tests on our lake. This weekend (Oct. 15 & 16) they will return for their second and final testing. We desperately need a boat and an operator to take them around the lake to their testing sites. If you can assist us in this regard please contact Valerie McCoy at 416-500-6995.

Loon Autopsy

Early in September my family and I located a dead loon on the south road point.

The loon was sent to Guelph via the Bracebridge Department of Natural Resources office for an analysis.

Recently we received a preliminary report from DNR. The adult loon was very emaciated and it was determined that it died of lead poisoning. A lead fishing weight and a snap swivel were found in the bird's gullet.

How could a mishap like this take place? A number of scenarios come to mind.

An abandoned lure,
A lure in a fish that escaped,
A lure lodged too deep in a fish to retrieve and it gets cut loose.

Everyone should refrain from using lead sinkers. Lead is lethal to all forms of life. Wild fowl swallow small pebbles and other small solid objects from the bottom of the lake to assist with their digestive system. These objects lodge in their gullet and help to grind solid objects like fish bones etc. Lead weights ingested will certainly result in death.

In all cases we should make every effort to retrieve lures that get stuck in rocks or submerged logs so loons do not mistake it as a fish and swallow it.

Possibly someone may catch a bass where the lure is lodged too deep in the fish to retrieve it so it may be thrown back into the lake. A loon catches the fish and the lure is consumed along with the fish. We should never throw the fish back in this case. The fish should be removed from the lake so one can safely dispose of it.

Also when loons are in the area we should refrain from fishing and move on or wait until the loon(s) have vacated the area.

Alan Greenwood

State of the Lake Team - 2011

Meet our state of the lake team from Fleming College (from L to R: Miriam Odermatt, Chris Surita, Taylor Boucock & Colleen Greig).

The team began its Leech Lake project on Saturday Oct 1st. They began with a benthic review (invertebrates/bugs that live at the bottom of the lake) and on Sunday they were our gathering water sample for a variety of tests.

The team will be back on the lake during the weekend of Oct. 15/16 and we can expect a project report from them around the end of the year.

Some information about our team:

Miriam Odermatt:

Home: Oshawa

Education:
Bachelor in Humanities (combination of Eng. Literature & History).
Ecological Restoration Plan Project Diploma - Team Leader.

Work:
Jane Goodall Institute Uganda - Environmental Club Leadership
Bulk Barn - Pickering

Chris Surita:

Home: London, Ontario.

Education:
Fish and Wildlife Diploma - Fleming
Currently in Ecosystem Management Technology

Work:
Natural Heritage Educator
Scout Leader
Stewardship Leader

Tracy Boucock:

Home: Fort Erie, Ontario

Education:
Two Years - Ecological Restoration Program
OBBN Certified

Work:
Study Biologist- Town of Ft. Erie Beaver Creek - Endangered Species Project
2010-11 Eco-Rez Team Coordinator Frost Campus Residence
Farm Manager Camp Counselor Riding Instructor

Colleen Grieg:

Home: Stouffville, Ontario

Education:
Degree in Psychology and a minor in Environmental Studies - University of Guelph

Work:
Volunteer at Earth Day Canada Office and as tree planter.
Teaching children in South Korea