Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Ducks

Trumpeter Swans in Aurora, Visit To Harry Lumsden’s Pond

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 03:32:45 +0000

Sometimes I see Trumpeter Swans at the McKenzie Marsh and sometimes not. Once I was sitting with Matthew on the bench overlooking the marsh and when I looked up there was a slow flying swan above us.

What a spectacular view that was. Okay just one swan, but still – I never seen a flying swan before. A tip then – don’t ever forget to look up – you will never know what will pass above by you.

Trumpeter Swans, Harry Lumsden's Pond

Perhaps I could call Harry Lumsden and ask if I can come and photograph swans at his pond. I discovered about Mr. Lumsden and his connection to Trumpeter Swan restoration program when I read about his Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement (more than 25 years).

Trumpeter Swans, Harry Lumsden's Pond

I called Mr. Lumsden in May to schedule an appointment. To my surprise he asked me ‘Can you come now?‘. A piece of advice never call for visit around dinner time – you can be surprised as I was. I paused. ‘Can you come tomorrow?‘ – he asked again. ‘Okay, I can‘ – I replied. ‘Well then come anytime tomorrow. See you. Bey.‘ – he replied. ‘Yes I will see you tomorrow‘ – we concluded our short conversation.

Trumpeter Swans, Harry Lumsden's Pond

We arrived next day. That day was a beautiful day – clear blue sky and perfect not over exposed sun light. The green dense trees behind the pond set for the green water background. Reflection was perfect – I couldn’t ask for better light, photographer’s best friend.

Trumpeter Swans, Harry Lumsden's Pond

When we arrived Mr. Lumsden let us in on the property to look around and was back shortly after his first visitor left. He gave I and Matthew a quick tour and told me to get closer to the pond and away from the nets and feeders so I can get good photos of the swans without any obstructions.

Trumpeter Swans, Harry Lumsden's Pond

Taking photos of the swans was quite an experience. We saw one on the nest and few floating around. Mr. Lumsden mentioned that one was missing, probably the one we saw in the Atkinson wetland right across the McKenzie marsh. We also saw a duck with babies, lots of Canada Geese, Blue Jays and Grey Blue Heron flying above.

Trumpeter Swans, Harry Lumsden's Pond

We were also allowed to go and explore trails around the pond. Mr. Lumsden land is like a wildlife park. I really thought that it will be quick in and out visit, but we were there a good forty five minutes.

Trumpeter Swans, Harry Lumsden's Pond

Prior to visit and even now I did some reading about Harry Lumsden’s work. It is quite amazing what he did – including telling us during our visit that he dig all three ponds himself and transform them what can I say – to a swan pond in Aurora.

In some of the reports and newsletters I also came across references to the a movie called Winged Migration, a documentary on the migratory patterns of birds shot over the course of three years on all seven continents. I shall check with our local library in Aurora if they have a copy to watch, sounds like great movie for bird watching enthusiasts.

Trumpeter Swans, Harry Lumsden's Pond

Well not just birds that day. There were also beehives. This was my first time to see and to be that close to the beehive, and see honey bees in action.

Bee Hives, Harry Lumsden's Backyard

That was an amazing adventure seeing larger population of Trumpeter swans, meeting Harry Lumsden and exploring his backyard ponds. I am planning to go back for Doors Open Aurora 2012 and may be I will be able to photograph baby swans (cygnets).

Nature’s Snugly, Ugly & The Ant That Sucked Life Out Of Him

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 27 May 2012 03:37:06 +0000

The Nokiidaa Trail link boardwalk section of the St. John’s sideroad is now fully adapted – one visit is not enough to discover this short and popular trail on the boardwalk. It is also hard to believe that just last year in March the boardwalk was still under construction. The adaptation process went very well for everyone.

Hello There! Lady Wood Duck With Brood

The population of the lady Wood duck is booming and the ducklings look so snugly and adorable. As a matter of fact this one looking in my direction is reminding me Mumble from the Happy Feet movie.

Hello There Again!

The Lady Bugs found are the real ones, not the Asian one which were released few years ago to get the aphids under control. I still remember when they used to crawl into our house, or seeing a cloud of them flying on our backyard. They were biting as well and had this orange juice coming out of them – yikes.

Beautiful Lady Bug

Who likes spiders? Not me, but they are nice little creatures great to photograph. This one is less than 10 mm in length, including the limbs. Not very big, but good light does help to get nice sharp image, okay, and a good macro lens as well. If you like spiders no worries many many different species crawl everywhere.

Ouch A Spider

I don’t know what kind of insect on the photo below that is but I had to do lot of body bending around to get him to look at my camera.

Used To Be Beautiful

The sad part is that the red ant was sucking life out of him. I didn’t notice at first, but I did notice that he didn’t look too good. For some reason an ant was attached to him and probably trying to kill him, while he was crawling around and anticipating that it will eventually get lost.

Ant Sucking Life Out Of Him

But what I did not notice was that little creature on the stone when I was processing my images. I could be wrong but I think I photographed a tick (bottom left corner photo below), that means I was so close.

Perhaps not all ticks cause Lyme disease. Perhaps the one bit me many moons ago was not the blacklegged tick. I was five or six years old when I was bitten and my mom took out fat tick from my wrist. I did not get any reaction and lost some blood thrown away with the dead tick.

Only forty five minute spent on the boardwalk today yet so much we discovered and only partial journey shared. I will share more stay tuned.

Presumably A Tic

‘Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known’. ~ Carl Sagan

WONDER® Bread-y Power Of Public Opinion, Makeover

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:57:53 +0000

Last night we were driving on Bayview Street in Aurora when a new radio commercial about the WONDER® bread makeover started to play. So, the WONDER® bread got complete makeover according to the commercial – simplified ingredients list, no artificial preservatives, no chemical additives as artificial flavors or artificial colors.

Aha, are they kidding me?

I don’t have to write here about the health benefit of not having all those removed in the ingredient list.

It was a public opinion that got the company to do the makeover. According to their press release through PR Newswire:

‘… consumers are paying more attention to food labels and are seeking products that are free of artificial ingredients. The research revealed that nearly eight in ten (79%) of all women feel buying foods that are free of artificial preservatives, artificial colours and artificial flavours is important — and 77% of all women say buying foods free of these artificial ingredients is more important now than it was one year ago.’

I don’t think it was the research that initiated the make over, probably their sales were down and then they had to do the survey to figure out what is going on.

Okay, okay I will get to the point.

Do you really think that the WONDER® cares about consumers?

My opinion – no.

Less ingredients – reduced cost, increased profits.

No preservatives is interesting one. Now they are telling us – eat faster because it will not last that long. Consumer will have to buy this bread more frequently because of its reduced shelf life.

Oh and because of the health benefits they have grounds for increased price – I just hope not.

See what the power of public opinion can do, bring the better product to the market and profitability for the company.

What are they trying to do whack my head. No I will not allow because I am sticking with my whole grain bread.

Nokiidaa Trail Link, Do Not Feed Ducks With Bread

PLEASE Do Not Feed This Duck, That Duck, Any Duck In The Pond

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 05:55:08 +0000

I saw father feeding ducks yesterday in the pond with white bread. He was with a small girl and was letting her feed ducks too. Ducks loved it. Girl enjoyed it. Matthew was doing happy dance. I was about to say something, but I did not.

Feeding wildlife in our ponds is not prohibited. Feeding waterfowl with our food destroys their health and creates serious health risks to humans.

It is so easy to see when ducks in our ponds are fed. Every time we arrived at the pond, ducks would come up close. Many ducks in Aurora are fed. How do you think I get these nice close ups. They come up to me all the time but I never have anything to offer, just a photograph. They leave.

Mallard

The scary part is that father, nor the ducks know that such fun and joyful feeding is harmful to everyone. May be it is time to let everyone know.

We definitely are not short on warning signs here in Aurora, so what will one more do. But if we do not want one more sign, may be it is time to reconsider new sign design. For example, like the ones on the highway directing drivers to the gas station, but also telling them that there are other services such as food court and restrooms. A sign that tells ALL. Just an idea if anyone is reading.

Duck Heading For Food

Educating public is everything. So I did little research. This may shade some light.

Please do not feed ducks, and this is why? Just a simple list here for now.

Bread or any junk food makes ducks sluggish, unable to fly or escape predators. Also affects migration.

Bread or any junk food makes them eat our food which is less in nutrients. Ducks become malnutritioned.

Bread or any junk food will make them stay where they are fed. The pond may become overcrowded and thus the increased territorial aggression.

Once slice of bread from you does not seem a lot. But once slice of bread from 20 of you is a loaf of bread.

Excess food thrown pollutes water in the pond or stream. Especially in the pond because water stays in one place, not like in the stream where water constantly flows.

Excess junk food attracts rats, pests and predators that kill ducks.

Disease/Parasite Alert. Uneaten and rotting food pollutes the water and breeds deadly diseases and parasites such as Duck Virus Enteritis (caused by artificial feeding) that kills all of the ducks.

Mold Alert. Uneaten and rotting food forms a deadly mold called Aspergillus; fatal to ducks if diagnosed too late.

Disease Alert. Avian Botulism (caused by artificial feeding) can kill entire waterfowl populations and also hospitalize people.

Parasite Alert. Artificially fed ducks emit a parasite causing a condition in humans called Swimmer’s Itch.

Ducks that are over-fed create dangerous amounts of waste that can harm fish and other animals living in ponds thus affecting the complete food chain.

Do not feed anything. You may think corn may be okay. Well, when feeding ducks others may join – like fish, and fish cannot digest corn and die. Note that some bird seeds cause severe cramping pain in ducks.

Mallard, Do Not Feed This Duck.

Lastly here is something to think about if you toss any other object, a coin or garbage.

It does not have to be food to kill a duck. A duck will eat anything tossed in the water. Coins thrown into the pond can be ingested by ducks causing serious health hazard. Zinc contained in the single penny will kill a duck. Duck will ingest anything by scouring the bottom of the pond such as coins and fishing tackle. Foreign objects or let say garbage that sometimes mysteriously appears in the water, again can be ingested by ducks. Anything that is not food cannot be digested properly. As the metals breaks down, toxins form and enter the bloodstream, muscle tissue and bones. Duck is poisoned and dies.

Mallard, Do Not Feed Even When They Look At You

That is my message for today, so think twice before you feed wildlife.