BBEMA - Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association

BBEMA Fall 2011 Newsletter

tracy — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:28:04 +0000

Hello BBEMA Community, Friends and Supporters!

We are excited to share the latest Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association (BBEMA) happenings with you in our attached newsletter! (To increase or decrease the size, please use the + or – tabs at the bottom of the newsletter).

Sincerely,

Tracy Brown - Executive Director

BBEMA 2011 Fall Newsletter

Newsletter August 19 – congratulations to a job well done

tracy — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:19:44 +0000

The 2011 Summer Field Season is coming to a close and BBEMA would like to congratulate our students on all their hard work over the last few weeks. Be it hot weather, swarms of mosquitoes or torrential downpours the BBEMA summer staff were truly dedicated to completing their field projects. As our summer students return to their studies we hope that they have enjoyed their time working with our organization and that the field experiences obtained has in some way has enhanced their environmental awareness and ecological outlook.

Cheers - may you all have an industrious and successful school year.

From the BBEMA staff:

Tracy Brown – Executive Director

Jan Strachan – Administrative Assistant

Samantha Doucette – Environmental Education Coordinator

Newsletter July 17 – BBEMA planting trees in your community

admin — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:25:46 +0000

The BBEMA summer staff has been working throughout the summer on a tree planting initiative aimed at enhancing and preserving habitat and ecosystems around the Bedeque Bay watershed. So far, approximately 1500 trees have been planted, with an estimated 500 more to be planted in the coming month. BBEMA staff works with a variety of different plant species, some of which include a selection of different low lying shrubs and bushes. Some of these species include different varieties of willows, maples, spruces, pines and ashes, wild apple, larch, cedar and elder. Along with these, highbush cranberry, bayberry, aronia, spirea, red osier dogwood, and wild rose are also included in the planting projects of BBEMA students. This distribution of species is used in the conservation and improvement of vital riparian zones bordering our island’s freshwater streams and springs, the construction of necessary hedgerows for agricultural land, as well as the creation and enhancement of wildlife habitat in upland areas. Our most current goals lie in stream enhancement, where unnecessary and limiting debris is removed and replaced with water tolerant and flourishing species of vegetation to improve fish habitat, as well as the overall health of the stream.

Interested in enhancing your lands for native wildlife – once again this summer BBEMA will have native tress and shrubs available to help local landowners – please contact us at the BBEMA office 886-3288.

Newsletter June 11 – BBEMA hosts BioBlitz

admin — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:23:10 +0000

May 24 BBEMA hosted a Get To Know BioBlitz Student Field Day: This 1 day event was held at the Maple Plains Agri-Environmental Demonstration Farm site in Kinkora – 60 grade 9 students from Summerside Intermediate School attended the event – students participated in a 3 hr BioBlitz – enjoyed BBQ hotdogs and milk for lunch and then finished off the day with a nature scavenger hunt. Students were divided in 12 groups of 5 students each – each group worked (in partnership with an adult chaperone) together in a coordinated effort to locate, identify, and count as many species as possible within different habitats (field, bog, forest, pond etc) – the students are presently collaborating the data to provide BBEMA and the landowners of the Maple Plains property a rudimentary baseline measurement of the biodiversity of the site.

The goal of BBEMA’s biodiversity BioBlitz was not to make youth environmental experts or biologists but to simply get students outside, interacting with and enjoying nature – looking at and asking questions about different plants and animals – and to that end we had a very successful outcome.

Newsletter May 22 – BBEMA Urban Bird Celebration

tracy — Sun, 22 May 2011 19:40:38 +0000

BBEMA in partnership with Wedgewood Manor Seniors Residence, (an assisted seniors living facility of 65 residents, located in Summerside) hosted an Urban Birds Celebration Day for residents, staff and family members – the event included an introductory presentation on common native bird species: an information session from a local bird enthusiast on the characteristics and behaviors of urban bird species as well as discussing the importance of different plant communities, and how to incorporate native tree and shrubs into urban green spaces. Proper bird identification and specialized feeding techniques phamphlets were also provided to help local residents to enhance urban residences attract local bird species through increased food and shelter.

The unique goal of this activity is not only to provide an educational and fun affair, but to provide the residents of Wedgewood Manor the opportunity to socialize with community members, youth and their relatives in a positive and enjoyable manner.