To visit this very interesting, real time, site, click on the image below.  It will bring you lots of interesting information about the seas around Nova Scotia, wind and wave patterns, shipping, sea animals, and webcams. Quite an interesting site to bookmark and visit.

The annual TREPA Freecycle at Beacon Hall happened April 12, and we certainly hope to repeat the project next year.  Besides keeping usable electronic equipment out of dumpsites, it saves manufacturing energy and gets good equipment into the hands of people who need it, at no cost.

This year, for the first time, we had no old computer monitors.

I want to share a couple thoughts with the participating public:

(1)   If you have something to donate, please bring it in before 10:00 A.M.  If you bring it near closing time, chances are that nobody will pick it up, and it may, unfortunately, end up in recycling.  I try to rescue the best residual bits for next year’s event, but sometimes, there is more than I can store!

(2)   We would appreciate it if donors could keep the various parts of your unit (for instance, electrical connections, discs, and main unit) together, so that the recipient can receive a working piece of equipment, rather than pieces of one.   If you get pieces and not the whole assembly, guess what:  The pieces won’t work!

(3)   If you have picked up something you cannot use and it may be in working order bring it back next year, rather than throwing it out.

Many thanks to Mil Nickerson, Carol and Gerald Jacquard, Roy Fudge, Virginia Smith, and Barrie MacGregor their help!

One final appeal to the donating public:  If you replace  electronic equipment during the year, and your old stuff is in working condition, don’t throw it out!  If the Salvation Army or another charitable group doesn’t want it, we do.

Clinets collecting goods, under Carol’s guidance

We all know something concerned about coastal erosion. Living Shorelines is a way to manage erosion, while keeping our coast healthy, and friendly for birds and animals.  Join the region’s leading experts for a 2-day applied workshop at beautiful White Point Beach Resort.  You will learn the theory behind the Living Shorelines Approach, and get a chance to practice skills like assessing erosion on your property, starting a vegetated buffer zone, and weaving brush walls and alder mats.   Register by May 1st, for this unique opportunity.

Click on image for more information.

Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz – Please join!

Have you heard a squeaky-hinge song lately, or seen a flash of rust-tipped feathers under a bright yellow eye? Although occasionally overlooked as “just another blackbird,” Rusty Blackbirds face an unfortunate and remarkable notoriety: this species has endured a decline more severe than that of any other once-common landbird – 85-95% in the past 40 years.

In March of 2014, the International Rusty Blackbird Working Group, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, eBird, and many other state, federal, and local partners, launched a Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz that challenges birders to scour the landscape for Rusty Blackbirds during this species’ northward migration.

Thirty-eight states, nine provinces, and three territories will participate in this international effort to find Rusty Blackbirds; each region is assigned a set of target dates during which local birders will seek this elusive species. It’s easy to participate – bird as you normally do during your province’s target dates and submit your data to eBird using the “Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz” Observation Type (from the drop down menu under Other).

Interested in learning more about Rusty Blackbirds, or want to learn more about your province’s Blitz efforts? Use our Migration Blitz website (http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/) to learn more about Rusty Blackbird identification, the factors in this species’ population decline, or get more details about Blitz data collection and submission.

 For Nova Scotia the target dates are mid-April through mid-May. If you see Rusty Blackbirds outside those dates, please report them as well, of course! It is also important to record data if you look for Rusty Blackbirds and do not see any. For more details on collecting and reporting data relating to this species, please see: http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/collecting-and-reporting-data/

Also, follow us on Facebook for the most up-to-date information about the Blitz: https://www.facebook.com/rustyblackbirdspringblitz

 If you have any questions about Rusty Blackbirds, this program, or how to submit your data through eBird.org, I would be more than happy to help. Thanks!

 Kate Steele

katefsteele@gmail.com

Provincial Coordinator for NS – Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz