PaBIA's eBlast August 12, 2020

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Volume 12 No. 24

Greetings!

We've had some welcome rain but the sunny skies and warmer temperatures are returning! Last Saturday morning a heavy fog stole across the water from the east and coated trees and rocks with dew…when it lifted, every spider web glittered silvery in the sunshine. Looking to the east with the sun behind the webs, It looked like the trees were covered in frost - until the rising sun dried them out. Many thanks to Trudy Irvine who captured these most beautiful displays of nature.

Please remember that this is the final week for the Scavenger Hunt...while the photo entries continue until the end of September!

Stay safe and healthy out there!

In this eBlast:

PaBIA EdCom: Marvelous Mergansers
PaBIA's Photo Contest Ongoing throughout the Summer
PaBIA's Marine Patrol Phragmites Cut
PaBIA's Scavenger Hunt NEW Clue - Until August 19^th
Paradise Closed: It's a Lost Summer for Americans
PaBIA PaBAR Sailing Races - Saturday Aug 15 @ 11:00 am
PaBIA EdCom: Right of Way
PaBIA Cottage Patrol Tags for Non Canadians
PaBIA PaBAR Sailing Races - Saturday Aug 15 @ 11:00 am
PaBIA's Cottage Patrol Tag Offer to Non Canadians
BAY NOTES with Earl and Scott July 2020
PaBIA's AGM Rescheduled for September 24^th
WPSHC Cyclist Fun(d)raiser - Check It Out!
GBLT Virtual LandMark Series for KIDS - August 15^th
GBBR Celebrate Flight of the Monarch Butterfly - Aug 22^nd
Lake Michigan-Huron Water Levels - August 10, 2020

Latest Updated Calendars for

July (7.13.20) and August (7.13.20)

Of Interest

Marvelous Mergansers

by Trudy Irvine, PaBIA's Education Committee

How many mergansers do you see in this photo? Three dozen or so? Mother mergansers have their work cut out for them- with the crisply colored green and white males departing shortly after breeding in the spring, the females are on their own with their flotillas of young for the summer. Common Mergansers are known to form “creches” (the care of another’s offspring in a colony) with groups of up to 30 or 40 ducklings, though single females leading over seventy ducklings at one time have been observed. Talk about ducky daycare!

Merganser ducklings have to be tough and grow up fast. Females usually nest in natural tree cavities or holes carved out by large woodpeckers. (On occasion they use rock crevices, holes in the ground, hollow logs, old buildings, or chimneys.) Young leave their nest hole within a day or so of hatching. The flightless chicks leap from the nest entrance and tumble to the forest floor. The mother protects the chicks, but they catch all of their own food- they start by diving for aquatic insects and switch over to fish at about 12 days old.

Have a look at this amazing video of one day old mergansers leaping from their nest to begin their life on the water- you will have a whole new respect for these seemingly shy little birds and get your whole recommended daily allowance of cute in just a couple minutes.

For more great information on the birds of Georgian Bay, don’t forget to register to tune in to the Birds of the Biosphere webinar tomorrow, Thursday August 13th at 11am.

Remember to Join in PaBIA's Friendly Photo

Fun Contest -

It's for Everyone!

Want to share your favourite pictures and the stories that surround those images from this summer's fun? Enter PaBIA's contest as often as you like - and please, don’t hold back - so we can together build a treasure house of 2020 summer memories!

You might even win a prize!!!

Phragmites Cutting and Surveys

The Marine Patrollers, for the next couple of weeks, will be doing Phragmite cuts and surveys within the Pointe au Baril area. August is seen as the prime time to cut the invasive plant. If you think you have phragmites on your property, please send the Marine Patrol an email with a picture and the location (island number and whether it is the N, S, E or W side), and we will come confirm it.

If you have phragmites, the Marine Patrol is ready to help train you on the best phragmites cutting practices.

Before cutting, it is very important to look to see if your phragmites have seed heads. If seeds are present, they MUST FIRST be removed from the stem and put in a brown paper bag to ensure the seeds do not spread to new locations. Be sure to close the bag securely so that no seeds can drop out!

It is best to cut the plants as low to the ground as possible even if it is underwater. This method of cutting attempts to drown the reed-like plant, while, at the same time, removing all the photosynthetic area: basically, starving these invasive species. The stalks can be then be tied together using twine and left on a bare rock area where there is little wind so that they can dry out. Be careful when moving the plants to their drying location, as plant fragments and seeds could start a new stand, making the problem worse, rather than better!

Clues for

PaBIA's Scavenger Hunt

1 week left to complete the PaBIA Scavenger Hunt! Get your family together, complete the activities and find the identified items. Participants have a chance to win a $100 Gift Card to the Ojibway Club Gift Shop!

Need a hint? The featured picture shows the Magical Unicorn. Recognize the view? It’s a very busy channel!

Start the hunt. Snap a pic. Submit the game board. It’s as easy as that!

The scavenger hunt will run from now to August 19^th. The Submissions will be done via drop box (see hunt instructions for details). The hunt can be done individually or as a family.

For questions about the hunt, please email Virginia Skuce or Savannah Richardson.

Thanks to so many folks who sent me the link to this article!! Hilde

Paradise Closed: It's a Lost Summer for Americans with Deep Roots in this Ontario Cottage Country

This was an article in the Financial News written by Joe O'Connor on August 07, 2020.

"In many ways, Pointe au Baril is more home to me than any other place on Earth.”...Ed Garner, US Citizen

The virus has cut off hundreds of American families who have made Pointe au Baril their seasonal home for generations

POINTE AU BARIL, Ont. — Ed Garner was sitting in the rector’s office of an empty church in San Luis Obispo, Calif., a college town between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It was late July and the sun was shining, as it almost always does in that area, but it was not enough to brighten his mood.

He had been enlisted to update a bunch of old computers at the church. As a professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic State University, he was the right congregant for the job. But as the 82-year-old describes it, he had a feeling — a pervasive, wake-up-with-it-every-morning sense — that he was in the wrong place, even the wrong country. Read On...

RIGHT OF WAY

by Helen Bryce and Ann Doritty, the PaBIA Education Committee

Here are a couple of statistics that should give us all pause as boat operators. Nearly 30% of all boat fatalities in Canada occur in Ontario and according to the US Coast Guard, operator inattention is the most common contributing factor in boating accidents.

It is easy to get lost in the scenery, the weather and our conversations as we traverse the wide open PaB bays in our boats. However, there are numerous situations where extra caution is required. For example, when boat operators are converging towards a narrow channel, crossing paths in an open area, turning a corner towards each other, approaching a kayak, canoe, sailboat, etc. or approaching a slower moving vessel from behind, they need to attend and adhere to Right of Way.

Right of Way determines how two boats approach each other and every boat driver must understand and respect the right way to interact with other boats. That also means that boat operators should be regularly checking their port and starboard sides - as we all do in our cars.

Stand On

When a vessel has the Right of Way they are called the “Stand On” boat. If a power boat approaches your boat from the Port Side, you are the Stand On boat and you have the Right Of Way. Maintain your course and your speed with caution and awareness.

Sailboats, Kayaks, Canoes and Paddle boards always have the Right of Way over motorboats.

Give Way

The “Stand Off” or “Give Way” boat is the one that does NOT have the Right of Way. If any boat approaches your boat from the Starboard Side, you must keep out of its way. You are the Stand Off/Give Way Boat.

Approaching from Stern

Any boat approaching another boat from the stern is the “give way” boat and must give the boat ahead the Right of Way. When a boat is behind you, maintain your speed and course.

Give Way if it makes sense

Even if you have the Right Of Way in a situation that could be dangerous, it is your responsibility to alter your course to avoid an accident. Safety always takes precedence.

For a PaBIA dashboard sticker seen in this article, visit the Marine Patrol office at the Ojibway Island 8:30-9:00am and 4:30-5:00pm, daily (except for Wednesdays).

TO OUR AMERICAN &

OVERSEAS MEMBERS

from Tom Scoon, President of PaBIA

It is now the case that the Government of Canada has closed its borders to non essential travel until August 21st, 2020. As a result, it is likely that many of you will not be returning to Pte Au Baril this year.

In consideration of these restrictions, PaBIA will arrange for the cottage patrol to do the following at its expense:

A late summer patrol.
Punch existing cottage patrol tags for next Fall, Winter and Spring.
Replace any missing tags.

Please let us know of any specific request by emailing Nancy.

We all look forward to your return once conditions permit.

BAY NOTES - WARD 3

with Councillors Earl Manners and Scott Sheard

July Council Meeting

Introduction

In addition to our recent Newsletter that updated our response to COVID-19 in the TOA and throughout West Parry Sound District, we are delighted to provide highlights of Council activities from the July meeting.

Your Ward 3 Councillors submitted resolutions relating to the funding of the WPS Health Centre, acknowledgement and recognition of TOA staff and front-line workers, as well as a sincere acknowledgement of the importance of our International and American residents and their contribution to the community and economy of the TOA.

Your Councillors believe these resolutions support three key principles that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted.

First, that the TOA is able to do more as a small Township because our staff and front-line workers consistently rise to the occasion.

Second, we enjoy a first-rate health care centre in our midst despite operating on inequitable funding that does not recognize all residents of in its catchment area. Third, being a resident of the TOA and active contributor to the community, full community status does not depend on how long you reside here.

Reeve Liverance also outlined the Township's important initiative to bring cost-effective, high speed broadband services to our residents through the establishment of municipal and service partnerships.

For information about the TOA/GBBR Environment Program and Waste and Recycling, please consult our last newsletter.

More Information in BAY NEWS*:

International & US Resident Resolution
WPSHC Funding
Recognition of TOA Staff & Front Line Workings
TOA Broadband Initiative (see below for this information)

The TOA has partnered with the Muskoka-Parry Sound Riding Cooperative Broadband Initiative to further the strategy of ensuring the availability of reliable broadband services to all residents.

This is in addition to the allocation of $500,000 toward the expansion of broadband connectivity throughout the TOA in conjunction with other local municipalities and the SMART Network as outlined in our last Newsletter. This strategic initiative is to ensure our residents and businesses have access to high speed internet services at a cost-effective rate.

*Please remember that if you would like to have BAY NOTES sent to your inbox, please email either Earl or Scott to be placed on their mailing list.

Upcoming Events

PaBIA AGM

Notice of AGM

Change of date and venue

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th, 2020

at 7 p.m. EDT, online.

Details and agenda to be announced.

PABAR This Saturday August 15^th - 11 a.m.

PABAR this Saturday

We will be having the traditional 3 PABAR races on Saturday August 15, but there will be no dinner afterwards. The first race will start at 11 am, and the second and third will be held after a short lunch break. You are encouraged to bring your lunch and eat on your boat. If you can get to the Bradshaw's island, the family are happy for you to picnic on the island and to use their washroom if needed. The second race is expected to start about 1 pm.

Our starting system is 5/4/1/Start. For a quick refresher on the rules, flags and the starting sequence, see Racing Rules.

Bell Buoy Race on Labour Day Weekend

The last race of the season will be on Saturday September 5 at 2 pm starting near the Lighthouse as usual. We are working on holding a casual BYOB awards ceremony immediately afterwards.

COVID 19 Reminders

A reminder that our races must comply with the Ontario Stage 3 COVID requirements . You are encouraged to read them, but a few simple reminders:

If you are sailing with another person, please make sure they are either in your family/social circle "bubble" or wear masks (not easy but possible)
Stay at least 2 meters away from other boats and the Race Committee boat, including at the start and at mark rounding

See you out there!

Stephen Griggs

Commodore PaBIA Sailing

PS If the weather is inclement on any one Saturday, PaBIA's Sailing Commodore, Stephen Griggs, sends out an PaBIA Sailing eBlast cancelling the sail. If you would like to receive this notification from Stephen and you don't at the present time, please email Stephen directly to ask to be added to his special sailing mailing list!

Calling all Cyclists! Help Fun(d)Raise for

New X-Ray Equipment for WPSHC

John Offutt, a Lake Joseph cottager, avid cyclist and grateful patient to West Parry Sound Health Centre along with a friend, Harold Fisher, and Parry Sound Bikes are doing a cycling fundraiser to raise needed monies for new X-Ray equipment.

By clicking on the PSRide decal to the left, folks can log their kilometres and John will pledge 5 cent per logged kilometer.

If the cyclist wants to obtain other pledges, that too would be wonderful! With so many avid cyclists in PaB, WPSHC wanted to know if anyone was interested in participating!

Special Presentation: LandMark Speaker Series for Kids!

August 15th – 10 am – Georgian Bay Turtles

with Dr. Pat Chow-Fraser

Join us on August 15th for a special online presentation geared to kids ages 8-12. Wetland biologist Dr. Pat Chow-Fraser will tell us all about the turtles of Georgian Bay, and the science she and her students are doing to learn more about them. Kids are encouraged to send their turtle questions in advance to Dr. Chow-Fraser, who will do her best to answer them during the presentation. Questions can be emailed to or sent in when registering at the link below.

Click here to register and submit your questions.

Celebrate Flight of the Monarch Day

Many of us silently celebrate the return of the Monarch butterfly each summer, a butterfly familiar to us since childhood. Monarch populations have not been doing well over the last decade, with populations being closely watched by scientists and the public alike.

This year, on August 22^nd, hundreds of people in communities will recognize “National Flight of the Monarch Day,” a nationwide event to recognize the iconic monarch butterfly and draw attention to their amazing life cycles, fantastic migration, and the serious threats they face. The Monarch has been listed as a species of special concern both provincially and federally in Canada. Despite annual fluctuations, it is estimated that Monarch populations have declined by over 80% since the 1990s.

Climate change is frequently cited as one of the leading causes of Monarch population declines, and indeed it is a significant factor. Extreme weather such as severe storms, wind, drought, and temperatures that are too hot or cold can affect the timing of the Monarch’s migration and milkweed emergence. This in turn can affect the Monarch production.

Climate models for future decades show that Monarch overwintering grounds will see cooler weather and heavier precipitation, which could affect Monarch survival. With current trends in our greenhouse gas emissions and an increasing global temperature, habitat for Monarch’s overwintering sites in Mexico is moving higher in altitude, and by 2090, no overwintering habitat for Monarchs will be left.

Please click to read the entire article!

Lakes Michigan/Huron Water Levels Aug. 10, 2020

To better read the charts, please click on the chart for the

Daily or Six Month Forecast Water level chart and the corresponding websites

Yearbook Update

With each eBlast, we will provide you a list of names for those who provided updated information. The details of all the changes since the Yearbook's came out in April is provided in a printable format for you to print out and insert into your own Yearbook copy!

Duff, A