One-Tank Trip for
Aug. 27-16
(c) By Jim Fox
Tell us it isn’t so
– our fine feathered friends are already saying goodbye and starting their long
trips south.
It seems like only
yesterday when the birds and butterflies returned, while their exodus is a sure
sign that the not-long-enough hot summer is winding down.
Another signal is the
Monarchs and Migrants Weekend at Presqu’ile Provincial Park in Brighton, east
of Toronto, on Labour Day Weekend.
 |
| Kestrels and other birds of prey are heading south for the winter. (Photo by L. Dunlop) |
Visitors on Sept. 3
and 4 will be able to “witness a spectacular scene repeated for millennia by
migrating bird and monarch butterflies,” said park naturalist David Bree.
The critters are
stopping off to refuel on their long journey south, heading for points between
Mexico and the tip of South America, he added.
Presqu’ile is a migration
hotspot in the spring and fall, with 336 bird species recorded and 130 breeding
species.
There’s a
one-kilometre marsh boardwalk trail accessing the largest protected marsh on
the north shore of Lake Ontario.
On both days, there
will be bird banding demonstrations, monarch tagging, informative guided walks
and children’s programs.
 |
| A tagged monarch butterfly is shown at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. (Photo by J. Hickman) |
Don Davis, an expert
butterfly tagger, will be telling about migration theories and providing a
hands-on experience in tagging and releasing monarchs both days from 1 p.m. to
3 p.m. at the Lighthouse Interpretive Centre.
There have been “modest
numbers” of monarchs as of mid-August, Bree said, anticipating a “moderate
flight” this fall.
“Last winter nearly
half the overwintering population of monarchs was killed in Mexico by an ice
storm and it is encouraging that we are seeing as many as we have so far this
year,” he said.
There’s also a “chance
to get up close and personal with some of our feathered friends” at the bird banding
demonstration, weather permitting, at the Owen Point parking lot between 8 a.m.
and noon both days.
Information will be
given about how and why birds are given bands that let naturalists
understand their migration patterns.
There will also be
guided walks looking for birds and butterflies on both days.
“The miracle of
migration is one of the great natural wonders of the world and Presqu’ile is
one of the great places to experience some part of that miracle,” Bree said.
All events are free
but regular park admission fees of $14.50 a vehicle apply.
The park has a
variety of camping sites in settings from shoreline to forest and there’s a
2.5-kilometre sandy beach.
There are
also 16 kilometres of trails and paths along shorelines and through woodlands
and meadows.
The park is at 328
Presqu’ile Parkway, Brighton. ontarioparks.com/park/presquile;
613 475-4324
What’s that smell?
Time to wake up and
smell the garlic as the Stratford festival celebrating the “stinking rose” returns
on Sept. 10 and 11.
 |
| Garlic is the star of the weekend in Stratford. |
The Kiwanis Garlic
Festival offers a “star-studded lineup of chefs and presenters” and moves
inside this year to the Rotary Complex and Agriplex at 353 McCarthy Rd., said Cathy
Rehberg of the Stratford Tourism Alliance.
There will be celebrity
chef demonstrations with Laura Calder, presenting garlic inspired French food,
while Massimo Capra talks about Italian garlic inspirations.
 |
| Garlic is on the menu for competitions at the festival. |
Stratford chefs
will compete in garlic cooking competitions and square off against Mayor Dan
Mathieson and local farmer Gary West in a black box competition.
They are to create
the best garlic inspired recipe in less than an hour, using the secret “black
box” ingredient.
Cookbook author
Charmain Christian returns with her favourite garlic recipes from the Messy
Baker.
Presentations on
growing garlic will feature Frankie Flowers, Ken Brown and Roman Osadca.
 |
| Warren Ham with some of the garlic he grows on his Stratford-area farm. |
“A variety of
vendors populates a diverse garlic and artisan market along with lots of great
activities for children,” Rehberg said.
Hours are 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. on Sept. 10 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 11.
New offers on the
Savour Stratford Chocolate Trail (visitstratford.ca/chocolatetrail
) include decadent chocolate cupcakes, house-made signature truffles and a
chocolate and moonshine pairing, Rehberg said.Tickets are $25 for six tasty
chocolate treats.
There are also new
offers on the Savour Stratford Bacon & Ale Trail and the Savour Stratford
Pumpkin Trail that will launch on Sept.13.
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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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