Ecology Update – Fall 2026
By Phil McRae, Chair of Ecology Committee
The park received funding and has installed new turtle fencing along the main road. It was time to replace the older version as it was beginning to break down after 10 years of use. The new fencing is sturdier, so it should withstand the elements. The park’s Biodiversity staff continue to monitor the protected snapping turtle nests near the fence and elsewhere in the park. As hatchlings emerge, staff collect them and release them safely into the marsh. This improves the survival rate of the young turtles.
This was a good summer for Monarch butterflies. High Bluff Island boasted a large population owing to the lush vegetation from all the rain this summer. Butterflies also gathered across the meadows sporting plenty of milkweed. The very popular Monarchs and Migrants Weekend was held over Labour Day with park staff and Friends volunteers hosting displays, presentations, bird banding, and the always popular Monarch Butterfly tagging with Don Davis.
Biodiversity staff conducted its annual counts of nests on High Bluff Island. Both Black-crowned Night Heron and Great Egret nests were counted – some 260 were recorded. The island has one large colony with a mix of night herons and egrets, and several satellite colonies of mainly night heron nests. In addition, staff conducted an evaluation of the forest and vegetation on the island to measure the impact of cormorant nesting, deer browsing, and invasive species.
More details on the Common Tern project are covered in a separate article, but the park staff are an integral part of the protection of these birds. Staff monitor the nests and repair the grids on a regular basis, as well as assisting with banding of the chicks before they fledge.
This fall, the Friends will hire some of the seasonal staff to work on invasive species removal, tree planting and nursery maintenance along with Friends volunteers. The Friends are also sponsoring another round of dry-landing spraying for invasive Phragmites control. It will concentrate on areas along the bike path, Calf Pasture, shoreline behind the beaches, and sections of the Marsh Boardwalk. It is hoped that necessary permits can be secured to begin spraying over the marsh next year.
The Memorial Tree Planting will be held in mid-October. This year, 18 trees will be planted by donors in memory of their friends and families. This year, a new site has opened for the tree planting. It is behind the picnic shelter in the Day Use area.
