Rock Dunder RWLT
Stanley Lash Lane

VOLUNTEER WITH RWLT The Rideau Waterway Land Trust owes its success to our volunteers. Without these dedicated individuals, it would be impossible to take on the ambitious programs and projects that we have in the past few years. We need more people to share to our success. If you enjoy the outdoors and would like to contribute to the preservation of natural spaces in our community, please fill in our volunteer form. Once you submit this form, we will add you to ...our volunteer program and contact you when opportunities arise. https://www.rwlt.org/Volunteer/

DID YOU KNOW: The Rideau Waterway Land Trust currently protects 20 lands along the Rideau Corridor. A majority of these lands are Conservation Lands and are not open to the public. ... However, two of our protected properties, J.H Fullard and Rock Dunder, are considered Community Lands and are open to the public. Learn more about some of our Conservation Lands and the value of their protection on our website: https://www.rwlt.org/Conservation-Lands/

Reminder that #GivingTuesdayCA is tomorrow, Tuesday, December 1st! #GivingTuesday is a global movement for giving and volunteering. It takes place each year after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This Giving Tuesday, please consider making a donation to the Rideau Waterway Land Trust! Donations to RWLT help to acquire and preserve lands along the Rideau Waterway, from Kingston to Ottawa. ... Visit https://www.rwlt.org/Donate/ to donate or contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions. **Donations that are made before December 31st are eligible for 2020 Charitable Tax Receipts.**

Remember the Rock Dunder Nature Reserve is closing for the season after November 15th, 2020. If you would like to come before then, you can still purchase your pass in advance (www.rockdunder.org) or at the gate.

"This is a magnificent find! I am grateful for the opportunity to care for this place as if it were my own. Thank you to all those who came before us and left their mark and their contributions to this gem. I watched nature in it's glory. Two mink came and played at the edge of the lily pads. Hummingbird visited a few times. This morning a huge pileated woodpecker! I loved it so much that I booked Covington Cottage next summer." - Aug 2020 Covington Cottage Guest Check out ou...r Covington Cottage Guest Review page to read about the experiences of past guests that stayed in our off-grid cabin on Bullseye Lake. For anyone interested in an off-grid getaway, we still have some weeks and weekends available to book for the 2021 Season. https://www.rwlt.org/Guest-Reviews/

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? A Season Pass to Rock Dunder makes a perfect gift for any nature lover! You will also be directly supporting the protection of vulnerable lands along the Rideau Waterway between Kingston and Ottawa. If you purchase a 2021 Season Pass prior to Jan 1st, 2021, it is $50 rather than $60. As an added bonus, you can also use the pass until the end of this current season (Nov 15th, 2020). ... Purchase a 2021 Season Pass here: https://www.rwlt.org/season-pass

Did you know... Since incorporation in 1996, The Rideau Waterway Land Trust (RWLT) has been able to preserve 20 significant properties within the Rideau Corridor from Kingston to Ottawa. Learn more at www.rwlt.org

A reminder -- tomorrow is November 15th -- the last day this year Rock Dunder is open. We close for the season at sunset. We realize that many of you are still looking for hiking opportunities -- especially this year as Covid-19 has placed limits on so many things we do. My wife and I have two favourites in the area that are open year-round. The Cataraqui Trail is a long rails to trails hiking trail here in Eastern Ontario. The stretch between Chaffey's Lock and Sydenham is one of the most beautiful. CRCA's Marble Rock trail -- on Marble Rock Rd just off County Road 32 north of Gananoque -- is probably the most under-rated hiking trail in the area. A "figure eight" layout with two loops and several lookouts, it can easily be a full day outing.

Happy Wacky Watershed Wednesday! Did you know : The Rideau Waterway Land Trust has an off-grid, private cottage for rent? There are still a few weekends available for the 2021 season! ... It is located on Bull's Eye Lake (close to Frontenac Provincial Park) As the only cottage located on Bull’s Eye Lake, you can spend next Spring, Summer, or Fall enjoying peaceful lakeside views in total privacy. Visit our website for more details on booking: https://www.rwlt.org/Rental-Cottage

Happy Wacky Watershed Wednesday! This week, we would like to share about a tree species at risk that can currently be found on our properties: The Butternut Tree Butternut (Juglans cinera) ... What does it look like? It belongs to the walnut family and produces edible nuts in the fall. Butternut is often mistaken for black walnut, but differs in its sticky, elongated fruits, sharply ridged nuts and mature pale gray bark compound leaves like black walnut, but with fewer leaflets on a hairy stalk and usually with the terminal leaflet of similar size as the rest. Butternut trees drop their leaves with the first few fall frosts. Butternuts are short-lived, to about 80 years of age. Where does it live? It usually grows alone or in small groups in deciduous forests. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and is often found along streams. It can also be found well-drained soil and rarely on dry rocky soil. It does not do well in shade, you will often spot it in sunny openings and near forest edges. What threatens it? Butternut Canker is a fungal disease that spreads very quickly and can kill a tree within a few years. It has already made a significant negative impact on the populations. Surveys in eastern Ontario show that most trees are infected and potentially one-third of the trees have already been killed. Where else has it been found? The Butternut can be found throughout central and eastern North America. Specifically, in Canada it can be found in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Additionally, can also be found throughout southwestern Ontario, north to the Bruce Peninsula, and south of the Canadian Shield.

Something to think about as we get out in nature

Have you ever been walking through the woods and heard drumming? Chances are you heard the wingbeat of a Ruffed Grouse. These birds do not migrate and are well ...adapted to #Canadian winters. In fact, once established these birds live their entire lives within a few hectares, highlighting the importance of #habitatconservation #SpeciesSpotlight #WildlifePhotography by Doug McLellan

Happy Wacky Watershed Wednesday! This week, we'd like to share our Summer RWLT Newsletter with you. Learn about what's happening at Rock Dunder (trail improvements), our off-grid cottage, our relationship with nature during Covid-19, and more. ... Follow this link to read: https://www.rwlt.org/Current-Newsletter

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend hikers! This weekend is an especially busy one at Rock Dunder and many of our hiking timeslots have already sold out online. If you didn't buy your day pass yet and are still wanting to go for a hike this weekend, book online at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rock-dunder-trail-passes-ticket... Also, here is a list of alternative (and beautiful!) hikes in the area: https://www.alltrails.com/canada/ontario/rideau-lakes For our beloved seasons pass holders, you do not have to book a hiking time online. Simply give us a call (613) 305-3507 or email [email protected] to let us know when you would like to come and we will hold a space for you.

Happy (rainy) Wacky Watershed Wednesday! This week we would like to share about another Species at Risk that can be found on the protected RWLT lands: The Northern Map Turtle! (Graptemys geographica)... What does it look like? The Northern Map Turtle gets its name from the lines on the upper shell, or carapace, that resemble contour lines on a map. The lines on the carapace are shades of yellow, tan, or orange and are surrounded by dark borders. The rest of the carapace is olive green or greyish brown. The lower shell, or plastron, is light yellow to cream. There is a yellow spot behind the eyes, and both the head and legs have an intricate pattern of bright yellow lines. Where does it live? The Northern Map Turtle inhabits rivers and lakeshores where it basks on emergent rocks and fallen trees throughout the spring and summer. In winter, the turtles hibernate on the bottom of deep, slow-moving sections of river. They require high-quality water that supports the female’s mollusc prey. Their habitat must contain suitable basking sites, such as rocks and deadheads, with an unobstructed view from which a turtle can drop immediately into the water if startled. What threatens it? Habitat loss and degradation due to shoreline development and decline in water quality threaten the Northern Map Turtle in Ontario. The spread of invasive species such as Zebra Mussels also poses a potential threat to this species. It is also vulnerable to mortality on roadways and injury from boat propellers. Additionally pet trade may be contributing to declines of this species in the USA and Canada. This turtle resembles several popular pet trade species, and illegal capture and export may be taking place. Where else has it been found? In Canada, this turtle it is found in southwestern Quebec and southern Ontario. In southern Ontario, it lives primarily on the shores of Georgian Bay, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and along larger rivers including the Thames, Grand and Ottawa. Have you ever come across a Northern Map Turtle?

What amphibian is seen here camouflaged on a rock? #TriviaTuesday #nature _ Answer: Gray Tree Frogs have the ability to change colour from gray to green and may have a mottled pattern to camouflage to bark, leaves or lichen.

Good morning hikers! Today is an especially busy day at Rock Dunder and unfortunately all of our day passes have already sold out online until 3pm today. If you didn't buy your day pass yet and are still wanting to go for a hike today, here is a list of alternative (and beautiful!) hikes in the area: https://www.alltrails.com/canada/ontario/rideau-lakes... For our beloved seasons pass holders, you do not have to book a hiking time online. Simply give us a call (613) 305-3507 or email [email protected] to let us know when you would like to come and we will hold a space for you.

Today is National Tree Day in Canada

Happy Wacky Watershed Wednesday! This week we would like to highlight our newly updated website, www.rwlt.org Here you can find information about:... - Purchasing supporter/day passes for Rock Dunder - What the Rideau Waterway Land Trust consists of - How you can help or donate - Booking our off-grid cottage - Other lands that are protected by RWLT - And other news and events Definitely check it out if you want to learn more about RWLT or how to help protect lands in your community!

Happy Saturday everyone! The trees are starting to change colours, meaning that it's going to be a very busy weekend at Rock Dunder! If you are planning to join us at Rock Dunder for a hike this weekend, be sure to secure a hiking spot for your group by purchasing your pass online through Eventbrite. ... https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rock-dunder-trail-passes-ticket Be sure to select the hour in which you plan to arrive and remember, you only require one $10 pass per car (up to 7 people). For more information about Rock Dunder, visit our website here: https://rwlt.wildapricot.org/rockdunder

Happy Wacky Watershed Wednesday! This week we'd like to remind you to always have your dogs on leash and keep a careful eye on them while hiking at Rock Dunder. We recently had an incident in which a hiker's dog came in contact with a porcupine on our property. ... The porcupine is the prickliest of rodents, though its Latin name means quill pig. There are more than two dozen porcupine species, and all boast a coat of needle-like quills to give predators a sharp reminder that this animal is no easy meal. The porcupines found in North and South America are good climbers and spend much of their time in trees. Some even have prehensile (gripping) tails to aid in climbing. The North American porcupine is the only species that lives in the U.S. and Canada, and is the largest of all porcupines. A single animal may have 30,000 or more quills. North American porcupines use their large front teeth to satisfy a healthy appetite for wood. They eat natural bark and stems, and have been known to invade campgrounds and chew on canoe paddles. North American porcupines also eat fruit, leaves, and springtime buds.

Public Service Announcement: RWLT Implements New Entry Limits at Rock Dunder Effective Sept 18, 2020 Starting Sept 18, 2020, entry to Rock Dunder hiking trails will be limited to 30 groups per hour.... Due to the increased demand for outdoor recreational activities during the Covid-19 pandemic, the hiking trails at Rock Dunder have experienced record-setting levels of usage since our opening in May. The gate staff have been closely monitoring the situation and surveying exiting hikers during peak times to determine if they felt that the 2m social distancing requirements were able to be upheld. On September 5, over 220 groups visited Rock Dunder over the course of the day and the safe operating capacity was exceeded for the first time. The RWLT board decided that enacting an hourly limit on the number of groups entering the property would allow everyone to better enjoy their time in nature while still following governmental and health guidelines on social distancing. To facilitate this change to an hourly limit, tickets purchased through Eventbrite will now be for a specific entry time between 7am and 6pm. Visitors must arrive during the hour in which their ticket is valid. We also strongly encourage visitors to purchase a pass in advance through Eventbrite to ensure that they will be allowed entry. If the limit is reached, groups without a pass will be asked to return at a later time. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rock-dunder-trail-passes-ticket A reminder that all previously implemented COVID protocols are still in place: -Drivers are asked to wear masks when purchasing passes at the trail head. -Please use contactless forms of payment credit or debit -All trails are one way to facilitate social distancing. Please follow the posted signage. -Washrooms are closed for the 2020 season. Used toilet paper and other trash must be bagged and taken offsite by the hiker. At RWLT we understand the need for outdoor recreation opportunities during these stressful times. The new procedures are designed to protect everyone as well as the sensitive environmental features on the properties while still allowing hikers an opportunity to experience nature. The Board of Directors wishes everyone a safe, healthy fall. Contact for more information: 613-305-3507 The Rideau Waterway Land Trust (RWLT) is a charitable organization that has been working to preserve significant natural lands within the Rideau Corridor since 1996.

Happy Wacky Watershed Wednesday! Today we will be sharing about a species that we recently came across on the Rock Dunder property: The Imperial Moth. Few moths have both the size and colours of the Imperial Moth. That said, the two sexes tend to have different ratios of yellow colouring making it possible to think a male and female are different species! Females are more yellow, while males have larger blotches of pink/purple. ... As members of the Giant Silkworm Moth family, Imperial Moth are relatives to the largest known moths in North America. A first generation of adult Imperial Moths emerges in early spring, giving time for a possible second generation to arise later in the summer in warmer climates. Imperial Moth adults are extremely attracted to lights, which is causing their numbers to decline. They become too visible to predators, like birds, in the light and are eaten, sometimes before having a chance to breed. Artificial illumination at night, like exterior house lights, street lamps and urban light pollution, are unfortunately creating swaths of habitat that are now void of Imperial Moths. Have you come across an Imperial Moth before?

Love this video featuring Rock Dunder. Be sure to share your Rock Dunder hike photos and videos with us -- we love to see them!

Happy Wacky Watershed Wednesday! This week we will be sharing some information about a local species at risk, the Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor). What does it look like?... The Common Nighthawk is a medium-sized bird, 21 to 25 centimetres long, with long, narrow, pointed wings, and a long tail that is slightly notched. Its head and eyes are large for its size. Its plumage is dark brown with black, white, and buff specks, allowing it to blend in with roost sites, which includes gravel beaches, rocky outcrops and burned woodlands. When flying, a wide white stripe can be seen near the tip of the wing. Females can be distinguished by their buff-coloured throat, while males have a white throat. Where does it live? The Nighthawk habitat consists of open areas with little to no ground vegetation, such as logged or burned-over areas, forest clearings, rock barrens, peat bogs, lake-shores, and mine tailings. What threatens it? The large-scale use of insecticides may be partly responsible for the widespread decline in Common Nighthawk, since insects are their main food source. Habitat degradation resulting from fire suppression, land use changes in the boreal forest and an increase in intensive agriculture are other contributing factors. The proliferation of terrestrial predators around urban areas, such as domestic cats, striped skunks, racoons and American crows, have likely caused increased nest predation. Where else has it been found? Other than our property, JH Fullard, you can also find this bird throughout most of North and Central America. In Canada, the species is found in all provinces and territories except Nunavut. In Ontario, the Common Nighthawk is found throughout the province except for the coastal regions of James Bay and Hudson Bay. It winters in South America where it is concentrated in Peru, Ecuador and Brazil. Have you ever come across a Common Nighthawk? Let us know in the comments.

Happy Wacky Watershed Wednesday! This week we have a couple of exciting opportunities to announce. First, we are hiring 4 new staff for the fall: two Trail Maintenance Assistants to keep the trails at Rock Dunder and JH Fullard in good shape, giving visitors the best hiking experience possible, and two gate and office staff to greet visitors, sell passes and keep everything running smoothly in our lovely trailer in the woods. If you know anyone that might be interested in wo...rking for the Land Trust this fall, please pass this along. For more information, contact us at [email protected] or view our job ads on Indeed, KEYS or the St Lawrence job boards. Secondly, American Friends of Canadian Conservation is hosting a photography contest to celebrate our connections to both Canada’s diverse landscapes and each other in this midst of these unsettled times. This is a great opportunity to select your best pictures of the Rideau Watershed, show them off and potentially win a prize for you and the Rideau Watershed Land Trust! For more information and to submit your photos to the contest, visit https://conservecanada.org/american-friends-photo-contest/

Happy Wacky Watershed Wednesday! Did you know that Rideau Waterway Land Trust (RWLT) has another property for the public to explore? Its called JH Fullard!... Directions to Trailhead: Turn west from Hwy. 15 at Elgin and follow Davis Lock Road for 7 km. Arrive at 1408 Davis Lock Rd. For the entrance fee there is a donation box at the trailhead and there is a parking lot. It is a gentle walking trail that takes in the views of Murphy’s Bay Wetlands as well as vistas of Opinicon Lake. A favourite for those looking for a less strenuous walk. The rating of this trail is considered to be easy to moderate. The distance is 2.8 km and should take about 1 hour to hike. This trail is deemed suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Want to know a little bit more about JH Fullard? When Sugarbush Island became available the supporters of the Rideau Waterway Land Trust rallied together and, after a successful community fundraising drive, enabled the Trust to purchase this special place in October 2010. This 26 acre island is located near Chaffey’s Locks in Lake Opinicon. Sugarbush Island is an integral part of the 385 acre wetland complex known as the Murphy’s Bay Wetland Complex, a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) and Ministry of Natural Resources Fish Sanctuary. Sugarbush Island, widely regarded as one of the best natural areas in the Rideau Corridor and one of its top botanical sites, is a precious remnant of the region’s original natural landscapes. As an RWLT protected area, Sugarbush Island is available to the community for passive recreational use and quiet contemplation. In 2012 a walking trail was developed leading from Davis Lock Road through the meadow and woods to the short causeway leading to the island. The property is known as the James H. Fullard Nature Reserve in memory of one of the favourite professors associated with the nearby Queen’s University Biological Station. It is home to many animal species-at-risk including the Northern Map Turtle, Gray Ratsnake and Eastern Ribbon Snake. Its woodland areas provide rare habitat for many uncommon breeding birds, such as rare Common Nighthawk and the spectacular Red-Shouldered Hawk. The rich woodland nurtures the growth of many deciduous and coniferous trees. Large specimens of Butternut and Bitternut share the island with Sugar Maple and majestic White Pines. The understudy consists of Dogwood and other flowering shrubs while the shoreline vegetation is important to preserving the adjoining wetlands.

SSsSSSssuper Wacky Watershed Wednesday This week we're going to talk about the wonderful, exciting, and interesting Grey Ratsnake. Also known as the Black Ratsnake or Eastern Ratsnake, this species is divided into two populations in Ontario that are found in different habitats and are widely seperated geographically. The Carolinian population is typically found in a mix of agricultural land and deciduous forest in southern Ontario, and is considered to be Endangered. The Fron...tenac Axis population, where we happen to be located, is considered as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This population is found in a wider variety of habitat types, including deciduous forest, wetlands, lakes, rocky outcrops, and agricultural fields. Ratsnakes are facing several significant threats, including loss of habitat, persecution by humans, motor vehicle mortality, and destruction of suitable hibernation sites. They are strongly attached to their home ranges, breeding and hibernating in the same location year after year, which can make it more difficult for them to handle disturbance to their habitat. We at the Land Trust are lucky enough to have Grey Ratsnakes at several of our properties, including Rock Dunder. At some of our properties, we are working closely with other organizations to encourage and research rat snakes. Endeavors include the creation of suitable basking areas, and protected nesting boxes that exclude predators interested in a tasty breakfast of snake eggs. We also ask that you drive carefully when visiting Rock Dunder, as well as going about your daily lives. Brake for snakes! For more information, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/gray-ratsnake

Hi Everyone, Missing cat! This cat went missing on Tuesday night. He lives close to Rock Dunder and may be seen in the area. If anyone has seen or heard him, please contact the number on the poster!