In late spring of 2018, deep in the backcountry of Fundy National Park, a group of Resource Management Officers made a fishy discovery in a pile of animal scat (fecal matter). Their day started just like any other, a quick morning meeting before grabbing a radio, hopping in the truck and heading out in the field. The crew was deploying temperature loggers in streams, which continuously monitor the water quality and help ensure the ecological integrity of Fundy National Park.
by Kat Hallet
In late spring of 2018, deep in the backcountry of Fundy National Park, a group of Resource Management Officers made a fishy discovery in a pile of animal scat (fecal matter). Their day started just like any other, a quick morning meeting before grabbing a radio, hopping in the truck and heading out in the field. The crew was deploying temperature loggers in streams, which continuously monitor the water quality and help ensure the ecological integrity of Fundy National Park.
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by Paul Gaudet Not the bagpipers, nor the pied pipers, but the sandpipers are the topic of this piece. You see, we are full-on into summer here in Albert County and at the Hopewell Cape Rocks, so I thought it might be time to remind people of the amazing bird migration that will begin around mid-July, peak around mid-August and continue well into September, and even early October. By Jennifer Shelby My daughter’s hand was warm and sweet inside my own as she peered into the dark forest. "It's not as dark as I thought it would be," she announced. I tried to point out the fireflies among the wildflowers, but her eyes never left the seldom-seen stars of the hazy night sky, devouring them with her entire being. "Wow," she whispered, transfixed. By Micheal McBurnie It’s now time to think about planting your pots, window boxes and hanging baskets.There are a number of key factors to consider before racing off to the garden centre. What location will the plants be living in? Are they in morning sun until noon or are they in the afternoon sun from noon until sundown? There’s a huge difference. The morning sun is not as strong as the afternoon sun, so if you are getting sun until noon, consider shade plants. If you have hot afternoon sun, select full sun plants. Join us as we open campgrounds and many trails for the season this Victoria Day long weekend. Are you excited to celebrate spring by getting outdoors? Memories await you at Parks Canada's places from coast to coast to coast!
Bee Day Bash Hillsborough Farmers Market June 15th, 2019 BEE with us at the Hillsborough Farmers Market for a special day all about pollinators. On June 15th, several groups that share the goals of protecting and caring for our endangered pollinators will come together to offer workshops, activities, special guests, information, plants, seeds and more! Text and images by Kat Hallett Pollinators – including bees, wasps, flies, beetles, butterflies and moths – are vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems. Small but mighty, they are responsible for fertilizing a huge percentage of plants, helping them form seeds that eventually blossom into new plants. Without pollinators, the next generation of plants – and the foundation of any ecosystem or food chain – would be in jeopardy. Sadly, significant declines in pollinator numbers are being observed across Canada and globally. In Fundy National Park (FNP), biologists are taking action and engaging in efforts to recover a number of at-risk pollinator species, including the iconic monarch butterfly and the yellow-banded bumblebee. By planting an approximately 3,200-ft2 pollinator garden on the Headquarters Bluff, the garden will increase the amount of habitat available to pollinators in the park, providing a continuous supply of nectar and pollen to native pollinator species throughout the season and as they migrate. Park staff will monitor the presence of pollinator species in the park and which types of plants they favour. This will enable staff to help make better decisions to support at-risk pollinator species. By Jane Chrysostom
More than thirty volunteers so far are contributing to the 12-act stage production called “H2WHOA!” taking place in Alma on May 4th at 7:00pm. By Kat Hallett One of the most welcome aspects of spring is all the extra daylight for spending time outside and in nature. What better place to take advantage of those extra daylight hours than a national park? A park of rivers, Fundy is a great place to feel the power of nature as the Point Wolfe and Upper Salmon rivers race to meet the Bay. Springtime rivers have much higher water levels and flow much faster than usual, so make sure to practice caution as you explore. Higher water levels make waterfalls even more spectacular than usual this time of year. Add Dickson Falls to your May bucket list! By Annick Robichaud Butland sus·tain·a·bil·i·ty: (noun) the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level; avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. We are blessed here in Albert County! We have fresh air to breathe, ample beautiful spaces to enjoy, and nature’s therapy available to us at any given time. Through every season, we find ways to get outside and make the most of it. Story and picture by Paul Gaudet Spring has fully engaged (or at least I hope so by the time you read this) and we, at Hopewell Rocks, are reawakening our site for the coming season which starts Friday, May 17th at 9am. Look for our spring and autumn food-bank days when we collect dry goods or a monetary donation for the Shepody Food Bank in lieu of paying admission fees. These dates will be announced in the next month or so. While some critters hunker down and hibernate for the winter, there are plenty of animals that stay active and brave our cold and snowy New Brunswick winters. With snow blanketing the ground, winter is the perfect time to learn how to track wildlife. The snow lets us easily see what types of animals are present, even when we don’t see the animals themselves. “One of my favourite things about winter is being able to tell who’s been where and what they’ve been up to!” says Neil Vinson, Resource Management Officer at Fundy National Park (FNP). by Marc Leger When New Brunswick’s Trail Action Plan was announced in 2018, many trail advocates in Southeast New Brunswick were disappointed to learn that the region would not have a signature trail product. This reality catalyzed a desire to identify and develop a hiking/cycling trail project that would showcase the diversity of scenery, history and culture in the Southeast. After consideration and consultation, it was noted that two previously identified conceptual trail projects could be combined into one long distance trail. This trail, the “Shore-Line” will connect two coastlines. by Kathryn Hallett The Friends of Fundy, incorporated as the Fundy Guild, is a non-profit, charitable organization that works to increase public awareness and enjoyment of the natural and cultural heritage of Fundy National Park and its surrounding communities. We work closely with Fundy National Park and other partners, such as the UNESCO-de-signated Fundy Biosphere Reserve, on events such as the Rising Tide Festival, Fundy Salmon Recovery, and the Fundy All Nations Pow-wow. We operate two gift-shop locations within the park, Outpost East and Outpost West; all proceeds are reinvested into park and community-identified goals. Text and images by Paul Gaudet I would guess that we are all quite familiar with Route 915 which starts at the Four Corners in Riverside-Albert (intersection of Routes 915 and 114) and ends in Alma. Many explore this route to experience its scenic wonders in spring, summer and autumn, but maybe some people never venture out in the winter to visit these same spots. by Marc Leger Trails play to Albert County’s strengths. They are perhaps the best way to showcase our scenery, culture, history and biodiversity. This is not a novel idea; many folks already know we have a strong tradition of trails and trail stewardship in Albert County. The Dobson Trail, a 58 km hiking trail connecting Riverview with Fundy National Park, is perhaps our best example. Established in 1959, it’s the oldest volunteer-maintained and managed, long-distance trail in Canada. By Melanie Shaw On August 24-26th, I was able to take two groups to Grindstone Island for a night. This has never happened before and it was a huge success. We left Harvey Dam on Zodiac boats on high tide with Tri-County Ground Search & Rescue. The water was very calm when we started out, but the closer we got to the island, swells and white caps appeared—which made for some wet humans! By Alison Elias I have a few, very fond and distinct memories of my summers as a child. Some of the clearest are of camping alone in my backyard. I would set up my pup tent under a tree in a corner, facing away from the house (to further the illusion that I was in some exotic and wild location) or my father would, after some convincing, open up the Coleman camper that we took on family vacations and I would drag in books, blankets, toys, games and snacks from the house. I stayed out there for days sometimes. When I got hungry, I went in the house for meals. When I needed company, it was only a few steps away. When I needed the facilities, there they were. All the convenience of living at home but I had my own private, secluded and cozy place far away from the hustle and the bustle of my everyday 10-year-old life. Flash forward 35 years and I realize that what I was doing now has a name. I may have actually invented “Glamping.” This trendy new accommodation and vacation experience, a mashup of glamour and camping, meets all the needs of experienced outdoor vacationers but leaves no convenience forgotten. It’s a catchy name for a suddenly stylish activity that has no official rules. The claim to the true history of Glamping is, in fact, still up for grabs. One wonders who coined the phrase first and marvels at the fact that we aren’t going Famping (fancy+camping) or Corting (fort+camping). Despite its murky origins, Glamping’s present day popularity is clear and undeniable. In 2015, Canada adopted the 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada, putting into action the federal government's commitment to the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity, committed to in 2010. Target 1 states that “by 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial areas and inland water, and 10% of marine and coastal areas of Canada are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based measures.” A September election is looming, and PC Leader Blaine Higgs wants to lift the fracking moratorium for communities that want it. He specifically mentions Sussex and Albert County, although Hillsborough Village Council clearly stated they oppose fracking in their jurisdiction and Riverside-Albert and Alma agree. by Ally Harris Imagine you’re walking along the ocean floor, enjoying all the usual sights that the Hopewell Rocks have to offer – the incoming tide, giant sea stacks, the tranquility of nature. Suddenly, out of the corner of your eye, you see what looks like a tennis ball fall out of the sky and land on the beach. Strange. by Kevin Snair The story of the birth of the Hopewell Rocks begins over 330 million years ago and features some of nature’s most powerful forces that have been battling since the beginning of time. Century after century, storms rained down on the nearby Caledonia Mountain Range and washed small rocks and sediment into the level valley below. Millions of years passed and this sediment got higher and heavier and pressed on the layers below. Eventually this pressure transformed the layers into a unique type of rock that is now known as the Hopewell Conglomerate. by Deborah Carr The maps caught my attention as soon as I walked in the room at a recent Sea Level Rise workshop. The colourful depictions of predicted high water zones for the year 2100 were spread out over three tables. I looked more closely. The Alma Wharf, Parkland Village Inn and Alma Lobster Shop were in flood zones. So were Water Street and the crossroads at 915/114 in Riverside-Albert. The Railway Diner and Golf Club Road in Hillsborough. Grey’s Island will be an island, again. These were just some of the vulnerable areas identified in the three villages. |
Environment
Connecting Albert County would like to thank the following supporters & advertisers: Platinum supporters - Bennett and Albert County Health Care (BACH) Foundation - Albert County Pharmacy - Hon. Rob Moore, MP for Fundy Royal Gold supporters - CBDC Westmorland Albert - Albert County Funeral Home - Friends of Fundy Silver supporters - Crooked Creek Convenience - Hon. Mike Holland, Minister, MLA-Albert - Fundy Highlands Motel and Chalets Bronze supporters - Chipoudy Communities Revitalization Committee (CCRC) - Jeff MacDougall, SouthEastern Mutual Insurance If you would like to support Connecting Albert County, visit our Advertising page or Donation page. With your support, we can continue to share the news of rural Albert County. Comments We welcome comments to our blog postings. Please provide your email address and name with your comment, and respect our content guidelines. Archives
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