TBFN President's Report: 2007

The 2007-2008 annual reporting year is a good one for the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, although not a year of significant growth for our club. The recent successes are measured in our diverse and impressive activities. To encourage growth, I ask that you let your neighbours and friends know about how we keep busy as a club.

Our reserves committee was perhaps most noteworthy last year, for making the news in the purchase of most of Paradise Island, a jewel on the Superior coast complementing the Lake Superior Archipelago Conservation Reserve. We have also just created the McLaren Reserve by purchase of Hare Island.

In acquiring new conservation land, we are ahead of the Prime Minister of Canada now, who only in late October announced the new Lake Superior Marine Conservation Area and has yet to acquire land. Over the last year we also updated the insurance on our conservation reserives, including the arrangements with Bird Studies Canada for our operations at the Thunder Cape Bird Observatory. The bird observatory had one of its most active banding seasons, including new research relationships with Lakehead University students.

Finally, the Greenwood Lake Conservation Reserve had several long overdue road and trail upgrades, and also got involved in a significant research project on old-growth pines. Let’s be sure we get out to some of the favourite and some of the new reserves this year, as members celebrate 75 years of the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists in nature appreciation and nature protection.

Our role as an advocacy group has also been strong last year. We became involved in the environmental assessment process for the Superior Aggregates Company, which wants to redevelop a gravel mine at Michipicoten Bay, in the environmental assessment for the McGraw Falls Hydro Electric Project, which involves changing water flows in the Matawin River, potentially changing Black Tern nesting habitat, in the Pine River estuary cottage development reviewed by the Municipality of Neebing, and in the new management plan for Quetico Provincial Park.

We lent support to the Environmental Film Network in Thunder Bay, to the process to oversee the new city waterfront development, including Marina Park, and to the group of concerned citizens against pesticides. We also joined in Ontario Nature’s effort to become active in the provincial election process, ensuring that politicians are aware of the region’s top environmental issues. I hope that your view of our involvement in activism has been appropriate and comprehensive. If you feel we are missing your views in advocacy, please let me know.

Of course, our established programs, which include Project Peregrine, regular field trips, and the evening programs, have been running as well as ever. Our field trips in particular see many new members show up to share nature knowledge. The big production in the upcoming year is to develop a nature guide to extend our knowledge of the region even further and to help celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists. With a club that has over 200 members, close to $300,000 in equity, a dozen nature reserves and a recognized community name, why wouldn’t members want to advertise us further and ensure future strength in memberships?

Brian McLaren
President