​Huron Fringe Field Naturalists learn about declining forest health in Maitland River Watershed

Erin Gouthro, watershed ecologist with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA), made a return appearance to the Huron Fringe Field Naturalists, Nov. 26, to report on a forest health study.

Begun in 2021, the work was aimed at identifying trend lines in forest health data and to fill in gaps in the data gathered from the previous study, completed in 2000. The ultimate goal is to use the data to build better forest management plans.

Sadly, it was not a “good news” story. As expected, the research showed significant decline in all areas of measurement: all tree species are at risk, one-in-five trees are dead, and overall species diversity is in decline. The data suggests that forest managers have not adjusted their practices to respond to changes in forest health.

Gouthro first presented to the group in March, 2023, when she gave a comprehensive outline of the forest study, including a comparison of pre-settlement tree species diversity versus the current distribution, and an extensive examination of the effect of disturbances in particular invasive plants and insects, such as the Emerald Ash Borer.

Her presentation, Nov. 26, concentrated on ephemerals, pollinators and birds.

Ephemeral plants are herbaceous species that complete their entire lifecycle in a short period and then die back, such as trilliums. They are the first plants to flower in spring and are adapted to thrive in the under-story of forests.

Huron Fringe Field Naturalist members were surprised to learn that ephemerals play an important role in forest regeneration because they provide necessary nutrients for saplings. They are also susceptible to destruction and are particularly threatened by invasive plants, such as garlic mustard.

The next section looked at invertebrates, creatures without backbones, which comprise 95 per cent of all animals. In this case, the focus was on insects, particularly pollinators.

Club members learned a great deal about the various species of native bees in Ontario, their social habits and lifecycle. They also learned that the presence or absence of bees in a forest may be used as an indicator of forest health, and guide restoration and management practices.

The final section of the report dealt with song birds and owls. Gouthro described the labour intensive protocol of volunteers recording nearly 3,000 minutes of bird song which were then listened to, and identified, by experts at Bird Canada.

Gouthro described her time in the forest and interactions with the inhabitants with humour and in terms that revealed her deep affection for her study subjects. Her photos and graphics were informative and beautiful.

In other club business, James Turland promoted the 2024 Kincardine Christmas Bird Count, set for Dec. 19, and shared highlights of 2023’s species counts and rare or unexpected sightings. To find a count and register to participate, visit www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/christmas-bird-count.

Kim Armitage of the newly-formed environmental group, KEAN (Kincardine Environmental Action Network), talked to the group about tetrapacks – their composition and efforts to recycle. Her group is trying to create a local depot system for recycling the ubiquitous packaging.

The Huron Fringe Field Naturalists will not meet again until Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., at the Point Clark Community Centre. This will be the annual potluck and photo contest gathering and will feature a presentation by KEAN. Members are encouraged to invite family, friends and neighbours to enjoy a good meal and learn about the club and its activities.

Contact information for inquiries can be found at https://hffn.huronstewardship.ca/ or on the club’s Facebook page.