Seed Sort Out
Event Details
October 4th, 2019, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Hazel Bird Nature Reserve (Gores Landing), Ontario
Habitat Restoration
Help restore rare prairie habitat to the Rice Lake Plains! Historically, the Rice Lake Plains were covered with tall grass prairies and oak savannah. Today, the oak savannah and tall grass prairies in this area are badly fragmented and overgrown with non-native species. You can give this globally rare habitat a comeback by helping us clean and sort the native wildflower seed. Seed cleaning is an important part of improving germination success for the restoration work that supports species at risk including grassland birds and the monarch butterfly!
If you’re interested in carpooling with other volunteers please click here. Happy travels!
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More Information
This 118 hectare (292 ac.) nature reserve is found within the Rice Lake Plains Natural Area, just 10 km southeast of Gores Landing. Made up of tall grass prairie, sand barren oak woodlands and black oak savannah, this diverse landscape provides invaluable habitat for species such as the spring peeper, Big brown myotis, eastern hog-nosed snake and the endangered monarch butterfly and red-headed woodpecker.
What you will be doingYou will be mimicking the forces of nature through a variety of seed cleaning techniques. This will be an informative and fun workshop preparing our seed for restoration work. Clean seed means less chance that the seed is lost to insects and mould and a higher chance of restoration success! This seed will be used to help create habitat for species at risk including the monarch butterfly.
Why you will love itIn addition to contributing to the restoration of Ontario’s rare tall grass prairie habitat, you can participate in a tour of the property to experience all that the Rice Lake Plains Natural Area has to offer.
Questions?Contact Val Deziel, Coordinator, Conservation Biology: Val.deziel@natureconservancy.ca
Be prepared to hike 1.5 km over variable terrain. This event will proceed rain or shine, please dress appropriately for the weather. Additional event details, including directions and parking instructions, will be provided after registration.
While we do our best to provide you with the tools you need to participate, please bring the following items if you have them:
- Closed-toe footwear
- Long pants
- Long shirt
- Layers of clothing
- Sun hat
- Rain gear
- Work gloves, if you have them
- 1 Litre of water in a reusable bottle
- Lunch
- Any necessary medication