The Everard Fen Nature Reserve

Linear-leaved Sundew at the Everard Fen Nature Reserve

Birds, Plants and Butterflies

In May of 2000 TBFN was pleased to receive the donation of a 160 acre parcel of significant conservation land at the base of the Black Bay Peninsula. The official property description is the west half of Lot 9, Concession 3, Township of Lyon.

The new reserve is part of a large area of open peatland located past the end of the Everard Road. The property is not road accessible but can be reached by turning south off Highway 11/17 on to the Everard Road, then driving south along that road to its end, and finally hiking on foot along logging trails and through some bush to reach the open fen.

This site was first identified as a potential nature reserve by Nick Escott, TBFN's Bird Records Chairman. Nick discovered a Sharp-tailed Grouse lek site (dancing grounds) at this location in 1996. The Sharp-tailed Grouse is uncommon in Thunder Bay District. These birds are known to use the same location for their lek year after year. Protecting such a site from disturbance is very important to the breeding success of this species. Nick wrote to the two owners about this find and fortunately they were willing to donate their property as a nature reserve.

The property owners requested a charitable donations receipt for the value of their donated property. As one owner was an American from California, a receipt valid for U.S. tax purposes was required. Fortunately the Nature Conservancy (of America) and the NCC (Nature Conservancy of Canada) were able to work together to make this possible. The Nature Conservancy looked after the complex paperwork and legal requirements that allowed the donation to proceed across international borders. TBFN is grateful to the Nature Conservancy in both Canada and the U.S. for volunteering their expertise and help.

 

Further visits to the Everard fen have revealed other important natural history features. In addition to the Sharp-tailed Grouse, there are Great Gray Owls, Sandhill Cranes, Le Conte's Sparrows, and Palm Warblers breeding there. These are all uncommon breeding species in Thunder Bay District. A pack of wolves regularly roams the area. A number of arctic disjunct plants and some unusual butterflies live there. The fen itself is of an unusual sort called a "patterned peatland" (long ridges of peat separated by shallow long pools forming a pattern easily seen on aerial photos).

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