Hamilton Naturalists’ Club

NaturalistA person who specializes in natural history, especially in the study of plants and animals in their natural surroundings.

Learning Objectives

• Understanding the HNC• goals • history • activities• volunteer opportunities

• Contact points for more information at the HNC

HNC Goals

• to promote the enjoyment of nature through environmental appreciation and conservation

• to foster public interest and education in the appreciation and study of nature

• to encourage the conservation of natural resources and environmental protection

History• May 8, 1919 the Hamilton Bird Protection Society is founded

with the objectives of:• protection of land, • hospitality to wild birds,• increased knowledge of bird species,• and the awakening of public interest in bird protection and bird

studies.

History – First Steps• Establishing Bird Sanctuaries

• 1919 Barton Reservoir • 1920 Dundas Marsh (Cootes Paradise)• 1927 Marsh was officially declared a game sanctuary by the

Ontario Department of Game and Fisheries. (RBG)

History – Education of Children

• 1919 the Club has educated children and the general public about biodiversity and the protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat beginning with the organizing of 273 Junior Audubon Clubs in 45 Hamilton area schools

History – Records• 1921 Christmas Bird Count• was done in the Hamilton region.

• 1925 Noteworthy Bird Records • of the Hamilton area.

The Club has also made significant contributions to the Ontario Breeding Bird

Atlas, the Ontario Rare Bird Atlas, the Ontario Bird

Record Committee and the Ontario Herpetofaunal

Summary.

History – Turning Point• 1958• President Robert Elstone - “it is

becoming apparent that there is neither will or facility for government, or other groups, to guard against pollution and development”

• 1961 the Club was the first Naturalist Club in Ontario (and the second in Canada) to purchase land to become a nature sanctuary in perpetuity.

History – Notable Notes• 1961 Club member Raymond Lowes “ a dream that can be

made real.”

History – Survey/Inventory

• 1976 “comprehensive survey of biotic elements” in the region to help identify and secure ESA designations

• 1987 Herpetofaunal Atlas and computerizes all documentation recorded in the Wood Duck by members over the years

• 1988/89 botanical survey of the Dundas Valley

• 1991 comprehensive region-wide biotic inventory nicknamed “What’s Alive in Hamilton”.

Notable Notes• 1989 as a first step towards the restoration of Cootes Paradise,

the Club raised $15,000.00 for this goal. • 1991 the Club endorsed an ambitious Fish and Wildlife Habitat

Restoration Project aimed at restoring the marsh. This $12.6 million project was the first to be funded by the Great Lakes Cleanup Fund.

History - Advocacy• efforts include:• urging that the Ancaster Radial Line property be declared a Provincial

park; • opposing further infilling of Hamilton Harbour;

• opposing a major highway project that would have had Highway 403 go through Cootes Paradise and another highway built through the Dundas Valley;

History – Advocacy• 1995-96 Red Hill Valley

Despite efforts by the HNC and other Friends of the Red Hill Valley an expressway was erected in the early 2000’s

History – Study/Inventory

• 1987 to 1991 the Club prepared a Herpetofaunal Atlas to supply information about the species and relative abundance of all the reptiles and amphibians known to live within the 40 km of Hamilton.

History – Protection of Endangered Species• 1986/87 Club raises

and releases Bald Eagles

1996 Falconwatch

• 1961 the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club became the first volunteer organization in Ontario (and the second in Canada) to purchase a significant area as a nature sanctuary.

• 1993 a further acquisition brought the sanctuary to 165 acres

History- Sanctuary

History - Sanctuary

Spooky Hollow 1961 Short Hill 1967 Cartwright 2004Thomas and Mary Young 2005 Amaolo 2010

History – Land Trust• 2005 HNC formed the Head-of-the-Lake Land Trust

In 1998, the Club became a founding member of the Ontario Nature Trust Alliance, an organization formed by owners of Land Trusts and Private Nature Sanctuaries whose purpose is to share information and support each other in this vital work.

Club - Activities • Land Trust management and sanctuary stewardship

• Monthly membership meetings

• Monthly Bird Study meetings

• Monthly Wood Duck publication

• Field Events

• Conservation and Education

• Advocacy

• Falconwatch

The Future

The Future• One of the most exciting initiatives underway in which the

HNC is once again playing a key role in a collaborative effort is the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System.

The Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System is a collaborative initiative to protect, restore and connect almost 1,900 hectares (4,700 acres) of natural lands at the western end of Lake Ontario. http://www.cootestoescarpmentpark.ca/

Club - Funding

• The Hamilton Naturalist Club is a volunteer based, non-government organization

• They receive funding through a variety of sources• Foundations and endowment funds• Bequests• Donations – both citizens and corporate• Memberships• Government grants• Activity based fundraising

Club - “Behind the Scenes”

• Board of Directors

• Members and Volunteers

• Staff – Land Trust Program Coordinator

Volunteer Roles

• Board of Directors• Membership• Program (monthly meetings)• Sanctuary/Head-of-the-Lake

Land Trust• Bird Study (monthly

meetings)• Falcon Watch• Conservation and Education• Field Events• Wood Duck

• Publications• Fund Development and

Fundraising• Volunteers

There are over 80 distinct volunteer roles within the HNC.They fall under the following basic areas:

Volunteer Roles• Episodic

• Occasional

• Weekly

• Monthly

• Ongoing

• Work Party• Outing registration• Junior Naturalist• Biologist• Team Leadership• Project Management• Event Planning• Administrative• Fund Development

We invite you to chat about how we can match your skills and interests with opportunities at the Club

Thank you for your time and attention

•Questions?

• For more information:• HNC Website http://hamiltonnature.org/• HTTL Website http://headofthelakelandtrust.org/about-us/• HNC Facebook https://

www.facebook.com/pages/Hamilton-Naturalists-Club/386408715600

• Lee Jones – HNCVolunteer@gmail.com 519-281-6711• Jen Baker – land@hamiltonnature.org 905-524-3339