From Nature Trust’s Landlines for Apr 2, 2024
“…The second property lies within the Purcells Cove Backlands, a unique urban wildland in the heart of Halifax. Popular for hiking and picnicking, swimming and skating, birding and botanizing, the Backlands are also ecologically valuable, hosting unique ecosystems and habitat for many sensitive species. Continue reading
American Woodcock, Dartmouth site on April 8, 2015
Photos by Joshua Barss Donham
This funny little feathered friend would like to thank you for sticking to the trails while they’re nesting – contrary to what we often think about birds, the American Woodcock makes its nests right on the ground.
Woodcocks are secretive and solitary. Their mottled reddish brown, gray, and black feathers make them almost invisible on the forest floor. They are so well hidden that they are often observed when startled – exploding from their hiding place with the air twittering through their wingtips!
Dark Eyed Junco
Photos by Joshua Barss Donham
Its nesting season for the Dark-eyed Junco & you can help…
With nests at ground level rather than in trees, Dark-eyed Juncos could really use a bit of cooperation from us 2-legged visitors to the wilderness – from March 20th to September 23rd, please keep yourself & your pets on the trails to allow these feathered friends to nest & raise their young safely.
Dark-eyed Junco
INTRO (Apr 1, 2024)
Spring is in the air… and underfoot
That’s right, we said “underfoot” and we’re not talking about a budding crocus…
Over the next few months, we will be sharing profiles of four ground-nesting bird species found in the Backlands. Wondering what a ground nest looks like? When you might spot a nestling? What they eat? Where they will go in the winter?
Have you noticed the birds have started to sing? These ‘early birds’ are staking out their territories and hoping to attract a mate. Soon, eggs will be laid in carefully hidden nests all over the Backlands, but not all these nests are in trees.
Several of our most familiar (and threatened!) birds nest right on the ground where eggs and young are very vulnerable to being eaten or trampled….
Over the next few months, we will be sharing profiles of four ground-nesting bird species found in the Backlands. Read More
Dear Friends of the Backlands,
This is such good news for our mission to protect the Backlands. As you will read below, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust has a campaign to protect 17 acres of treasured land near Purcells Pond. The Pond is a special place for quiet reflection, swimming and watching wildlife.
In order for this dream to become reality, we need to ask our supporters to generously donate now to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust and specify the Purcells Cove Backlands Campaign. Here is the link to the page for donation https://nsnt.ca/campaigns/purcells-cove/ . Please ask your friends and family to go to this webpage, scroll down and click the button that says HELP SAVE PURCELLS COVE WITH A GIFT TO TWICE THE WILD . Any size donation is welcome. Continue reading
Backlands Coalition Response to the Housing Accelerator Fund proposed amendments Regarding the Suburban Development Requests:
Our position reflects our values
Watersheds identified in Steeghs et al., 1994.
Click on image for larger version
The mission of the Backlands Coalition: to ensure no loss of wildlife habitat in the Backlands and to preserve them for natural, historical, cultural, conservation, educational, recreational and common use. There are two major watersheds that are present in the Backlands, the Williams Lake Watershed and the McIntosh Run Watershed. We have an interest and a stewardship responsibility in maintaining the integrity of these two watersheds.
An unprecedented degree of development and growth is slated for Spryfield. We are very aware that growth is necessary in our area. We believe that growth should enhance the community, enrich its character and promote sustainability. In addition to the Suburban Development Requests there are other site-specific requests and developments already approved for the Spryfield area. Each new request needs to be considered within the context of the whole Spryfield community and the capacity of the current infrastructure to support this growth. Continue reading
It’s item No 15.1.4 on the Agenda for today (Dec 12, 2023)
Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Suspend the rules of procedure under Schedule 5, the Environment and Sustainability Standing Committee Terms of Reference, of Administrative Order One, the Procedures of the Council Administrative Order;
2. Direct the Mayor to write a letter of support to the City of Montreal for Halifax Regional Municipality to become a signatory of The Montréal Pledge.
View Details. Continue reading
By: Cathy Vaughan
Reprinted with permission from Chebucto News
Besides healthy sea breezes, the Northwest Arm has gifted HRM citizens with beauty, peace, recreation, fishing and transportation. This popular, well-loved public waterway is now facing a complicated dilemma with the existence of outdated “pre-confederation” water lots. This designation gives these unique waterfront properties a potential extension of the property beyond the shoreline, into the waters of the Northwest Arm.
There are 155 “pre-confederation” deeded waterfront lots on the Northwest Arm that extend beyond the shoreline. Pre 1867 the deeds gave landowners access to the water and allowed for the construction of wharfs, fish sheds, docks and boat moorings. Fast forward to today’s situation where some shorelines have already been filled in with rock, silt and soil, effectively creating a landmass into the Arm. While this additional land increases the property value for owners there are some present-day issues and concerns that are being hotly debated. Continue reading
Public notice posted next to the dam. Phot by Cathy Vaughan
From the Williams Lake Conservation Company:
Dear Members and Friends of the Williams Lake Conservation Company:
We’re excited to update you on the long-standing issue of the Williams Lake Dam!
Build Nova Scotia has issued the following public service announcement regarding preliminary assessment work that will be taking place in the area of the dam. Equipment necessary for this work will be accessing the area by the Shaw Wilderness Park trail beginning this month: Continue reading
So writes Matt Stickland in The Coast
“One of the recurring complaints about citizen participation at municipal meetings is that it’s hard—logistically and practically taxing—to speak at public meetings. It’s hard for people who work the 9-to-5 grind to speak on a weekday at 10am, 1pm or 6pm. And it’s hard for people on the fringes, the Ecum Secums of the world, to drive two hours to City Hall, just to speak for five minutes. But that all changes today…” .
Read more in It’s never been easier to yell at councillors by Matt Stickland in The Coast, Nov 14, 2023
Thx Matt, Thx HRM
