NOnews

Friday, August 8, 2008

David Kennedy - Photographing Loons

"The cry of the loon reminds us of our northern lakes and captures the wildness of this environment. In a similar way, seeing a loon is a wonderful experience to be remembered. On your cottage dock, you may see one swim by and, as you are boating, you may see a pair fishing out in the lake.

Photographing a loon, however, is not as easy as it may seem. The loon may not be close enough for your camera and lens combination. If that is so, you can try an environmental portrait where the loon is part of the photo but not the photo. If you do want to capture a portrait of the loon, you will need a longer lens such as an 80-400 mm zoom (which is an effective 120-600 mm lens on most single lens reflex digital cameras).

Even if you do have the loon (or loons) within reach of your camera, you are often faced with difficult lighting. The light may be too dark for a moving subject or you the light may be casting harsh reflections on the water that distract from your subject. You can compensate somewhat by choosing a higher ISO for the dark light and using a polarizer for the reflections. Or, you can wait to find better light on a bright but cloudy day.

Waiting is probably the most important trick to photographing loons. If you wait, you can study their behaviour...."

Read David's great photography tips on OspreyBlogs !

Thunder Bay: Exciting night at the festival stage

Exit West’s Nolan Raynak performs Thursday evening during Superior Youth Fest at Marina Park. (Jamie Smith)

By PETER BURKOWSKI
Friday, August 8, 2008

" Youths and adults alike gathered for an evening of music and fun Thursday at the second annual Superior Youth Festival.
By 5:30 p.m., 100 people had already arrived at the Marina Park festival stage for the 5 1/2-hour event.
“We‘re really excited about the range of bands that we have,” said Youth Zone director Jaclyn Moneypenny. “It‘s going to be a good night.”
The festival‘s free concert featured headlining act Ten Second Epic from Edmonton, as well as local bands Twist of Fate, Empire Lies, Brett Cizmar and Z3, Exit West, Without the Glory and AVS.
X‘s For Eyes was also on the roster, but was replaced at the last minute by Vega.
“(Vega) have a girl in the band – so it‘s nice to at least get one girl out,” joked Moneypenny.
The concert opened with Brett Cizmar and Z3, a band put together less than a month ago. This was their first public performance together.
“I think (the set) went great actually – almost as good as we could have hoped,” said Cizmar.
He and his bandmates agreed that the new festival stage was no small part of their success.
“I love the venue . . . it makes me feel professional,” said Cizmar.
The Superior Youth Festival was presented by Youth Zone and the City of Thunder Bay in association with The Chronicle-Journal. "

Read this at the Chronicle Journal

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Don't approach injured animals, MNR warns

Posted By CHELSEY ROMAIN THE DAILY PRESS
Posted 14 days ago

"It isn't uncommon to see wildlife while travelling the highways or hiking the nature trails or Northern Ontario.

But officials are warning those who come across injured, sick or orphaned wildlife to use caution.

In most cases, the Ministry of Natural Resources suggests leaving the animal be and contacting a wildlife custodian, who knows how to handle the situation.

"The best bet is to leave it where it is and let nature take its course," said MNR information officer Ben Legouffe. "Most of the time it's a young bird that's just learning how to fly -- it will either fly or it won't."

Signs that an animal may be injured, sick or orphaned include blood or wounds on the body, a body covered in fleas, unusual or uneven loss of fur or feathers, closed eyes, dangling limbs, and difficulty breathing.

It is suggested by the MNR to check in on an animal over a period of 48 hours to see if it is truly abandoned or simply without an adult for a period of time. If the adult senses predators or people nearby, it will stay away, so people are asked to keep their distance.

"If we do interfere, we have to be careful what we do," Legouffe said. "After the 48 hours, you might want to give us a call."

Legouffe said what the MNR will do with the animal varies on the animal species and what state it is in. In some cases, Legouffe said, it is best to have the animal euthanized. In the case of young, abandoned animals, MNR officers will transport it to a wildlife rehabilitation centre where it will be taken care of and released when ready.

"Sometimes the mother gets hit and killed, and we'll try to get the orphan to a rehabilitation centre," Legouffe said.

"We've done that with small bears, moose, loons and birds of prey."

Most of the time it's advised not to approach an animal, but in an emergency situation it is advised to seek advice from a wildlife custodian to minimize the risk of being bit or scratched..."

Reaed the rest of this story at The Timmins Daily Press

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Marilyn's Big Adventure

"Onward to Kenora, where I pulled into the parking lot of McDiarmid Lumber, as suggested by Diane and Jerry, my cousin. We had previously agreed that I would call them when I arrived, so that they could come to guide me to their cottage. It’s just as well that they did. Not only is the road twisty with several turns, it is also badly damaged after the winter, with giant potholes and parts of boulders exposed. Jerry sat with me to guide me through the obstacle course until we arrived. The land in this area of Lake of the Woods is owned by an aboriginal tribe so the cottage lots are on a 79-year lease. Diane and Jerry have two acres and have built a beautiful cottage with a panoramic view of the bay. There are decks front and back, with a glassed-in porch, leading into the dining room, kitchen and high-ceilinged Great Room. And to top it off, there’s a hot tub on the back deck! There are three bedrooms, which is just as well, as they have a lot of visitors. And no wonder. It is a beautiful, serene location."

**The tale of Marilyn Cole, a self-confessed lover of adventure as she embarks on a year of exploring Canada and the USA, along with her faithful dog Ripley.

Follow Marilyn's adventures on Marilyn's Big Adventure Blog