cktimes.ca Archives for Nature Link


Nature Link

With Blake Mann

Moore Wildlife Management Area

Tuesday, May 27, 2003

One of the interesting places to walk, especially in the winter, is Moore Wildlife Management Area on Bickford Line, east of Kimball Rd. It is one of the many properties managed by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority. There are trails throughout, and one of the tributaries of the north branch of the Sydenham winds through it.
There is an old oxbow of the river on part of this property, and it crosses Bickford Line just before the parking lot. It is always interesting to look at these oxbows, and imagine where the river once flowed. One should watch for mink along the river banks.
The floodplain valley contains a significant number of Hackberry trees. These are uncommon in southwestern Ontario. They are readily identified by their unique bark that has thin raised ridges with a wart-like appearance. There are many other Carolinian-type trees found within such as ash, oak, hickory, maple and beech. I'm not sure if there is the uncommon Blue Ash there, but there is one example along the Waubuno Rd. just east of here in the same creek valley floodplain.
On the east side near the parking lot is a demonstration prairie site.
It is a good bird-watching location, especially in winter. One significant species that winters every year is the Yellow-rumped Warbler. I have found at least one or two every winter since I have been going to this place. This past winter there were at least nine spending the winter in this protected valley. They feed mainly on poison ivy berries, which are abundant there. Other birds in winter may include Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, White-throated Sparrow.
On the northwest portion of this property is a "plateau" where you might find a wintering Northern Shrike. In summer it is a good place to look for butterflies.
Wild Turkeys were released in this area many years ago, and have proliferated. They are more easily seen in winter in huge groups. This past winter I encountered a group of about 65 along the nearby Waubuno Road.
There are many other conservation areas and lands managed by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, and are listed at: ( HYPERLINK "http://www.scrca.on.ca"; www.scrca.on.ca).
Some of these more significant areas are listed in my NATURAL HABITAT AREAS section found on the cktimes website.