PICTURE: L to R -- Terry Thomson (President, Wahnekewening), Jim Parrott (President, Nottawaga), Judith Grant (Addison, and President of FoTTSA), Laurie Schutt (Executive Director of the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre), Bruce and Judy Cook (Bluewater, Georgina Wendake), and Karen Thomson (Wahnekewening).

After Laurie Schutt, Executive Director of the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, gave one of her compelling presentations at a meeting of the Federation of Tiny Township Shoreline Associations, FoTTSA decided to have a dual focus for fundraising this year – local hospitals AND the Wye Marsh.
Six associations – Addison; Bluewater Georgina Wendake; Nottawaga; Pennorth; Wahnekewening and Woodland -- decided to donate all or part of the funds they raised to the Wye Marsh – $2,570 in all. They report that they did more than that – a number of their members sent their children or grandchildren to the Wye Marsh’s camps, some took in a raptor exhibit, and many toured its facilities walked its paths.

On the morning of Friday, September 14th ten bird pens were succesfully moved to the Old Fort Road property. Many thanks to all the volunteers, Hydro One, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, as well as the Wye Marsh staff.

One of the first pens transfered from Wye Marsh to Old Fort Road by the Ontario Hydro Helicopter

Attached to the bird pen is a pine tree which acts as a counter balance and prevents the pen form spinning during transportation

Pilot from Hydro One being presented a T-shirt and Hat by Laurie Schutt, Wye Marsh's Executive Director

Pictured to the left are the crew that helped make this project such a success

Press Release Below Issued by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Before the Airlift

Hydro One and O.F.A.H. team up to airlift Birds of Prey at Wye Marsh

Media invited to get up close to stunning airlift operation

Attention: Assignment Editor, City Editor, Environment Editor, News Editor, Photo Editor

ONTARIO: O.F.A.H. MEDIA RELEASE/--(Marketwire - Sept. 13, 2007) - On Friday, September 14, starting at 9 a.m., a helicopter crew will touch down at the Wye Marsh, in Midland, as Hydro One assists in the delicate operation of airlifting 10, four-meter wide nesting structures to an area approved to host a formal bird breeding program.

Dismantling and moving the nests across land is not a viable option, and Wye Marsh staff and volunteers are grateful for a solution presented by members of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.). who approached Hydro One about utilizing the skills of its helicopter crew to orchestrate the rescue of the Wye Marsh's Birds of Prey Breeding Program.

"We are extremely fortunate that Hydro One, at the request of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, has stepped up with an exciting solution," said Laurie Schutt, Wye Marsh Executive Director. "They have offered to actually airlift the pens by helicopter to an adjacent property on Old Fort Road which was recently purchased with the support of a sponsor. A successful trial lift has already been completed in preparation for the removal of the remaining 10 aviaries. Once in place, all of the birds during this stage will have the advantage of a central and less public location with 24/7 monitoring by the staff that live full time on site."

The Birds of Prey Program, directed by Friends of Wye Marsh, has many facets, one of which is breeding. Aviaries are essential structures for this purpose, and were generously built at the Wye Marsh Site by Home Depot staff with the materials donated by RAM Forest Products. However, Environment Canada has made a request that the breeding program be moved off the National Wildlife Area of Wye Marsh. This will not affect the birds used for education programs and flight demonstrations; they will continue to reside at the Wye Marsh.

The media are invited to attend the operation to relocate nesting platforms that will be shackled by a 100-foot cable and airlifted almost one kilometer to the new home of the Wye Marsh's Bird of Prey Breeding Program. Lift-off starts following a media briefing at the Wye Marsh Centre at 9 am sharp. Representatives from the Wye Marsh, Hydro One and O.F.A.H. will also be on hand.
/For further information: Denise Brophey
Wye Marsh Communications and Marketing Coordinator
705-526-7809 ext. 220/

The day was a success and many attended our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for our Two Wind Turbines on Friday, May 25th, 2007

Pictured are Ron Neville, Project Coordinator, Phil Marley, President & CEO Midland Power Utility Corporation, Garfield Dunlop, MPP Simcoe North, Bruce Stanton, MP Simcoe North

Ron Neville, Project Coordinator,speaking about the two wind turbines and thanking everyone for all their contributions.

Laurie Schutt, Executive Director at Wye Marsh, thanking everyone who attended and also aided in this project and it's realization.

Valu Mart generously donated a full slab cake for the Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Thank you so much.

Wye Marsh would like to take this opportunity to express a
heartfelt thank you to everyone that made Friday Night’s First Annual Spaghetti
Dinner such a success. The generous supporters and all the wonderful
volunteers are what made this evening run smoothly and we can’t thank them enough.

2nd Annual Swamp Swim
The staff at Wye Marsh once again take to the water to raise funds for research and survey for turtles including Species at Risk such as the Blanding's Turtle. This year the swim will be in July as vegetation growth in the channels will not be as thick (we hope).

Staff obtain sponsors for the approximate 1 km swim. Swimmers will launch off the dock at the Observation Tower at 1 pm on Saturday, July 21st, 2007 . The course runs parallel to the main walking berm, past the swan feeding dock, around Swan Island and back to the tower.

This swim is not a competition – it takes a lot of nerve to swim in a wetland as it is and to have a race through Lilly pads, cattails and aquatic plants is challenge enough!

Spectators are welcome as are pledges for each swimmer. Free admission for supporters contributing a pledge

Wye Marsh Says Thank you to Sweetwater Harvest 2007 Volunteers

Sweetwater Harvest 2007 was a sweet success due to the extraordinary efforts of the team of volunteers that helped the Wye Marsh staff make it all happen. The sun came out and so did over 2,100 visitors to welcome in the sights and sounds of spring at Wye Marsh on March 24th and 25th, 2007.

Many heartfelt thanks to all involved in making this Sweetwater Harvest one of the most successful to date.

...thanks to the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers' Association, Bruce Stanton, MP for Simcoe North, Garfield Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North, and Laurie Schutt, our Executive Director. They were all put to work, drilling holes, inserting taps, and hanging the buckets to collect the sap. We would like to thank everyone who participated in this exciting and fun filled morning followed by a traditional pancake and maple syrup lunch.

Wye Marsh Fundraising Dinner
Tickets are selling fast, book your table now, for Wye Marsh's Annual Fundraising Dinner and Silent Auction. This special evening will begin with a guided walking tour of the Marsh, then a Social Hour and Silent Auction Preview. A delicious dinner will be served with opportunities to bid on auction items. Please call the Wye Marsh to purchase your ticket and reserve your place as tickets will not be available at the door. Business casual attire.

Date: Thursday, October 19 th, 2006
Cost: $50.00 each. Includes complimentary wine at each table. A tax receipt will be issued for $25.00.

Wye Marsh Turkey Run
This 10 km & 21.1 km (half Marathon) trail race will take place through the picturesque Wye Marsh on Saturday, October 7, 2006 (Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend).

Sponsored in part by The Running Room, TrailRunner Magazine and Casino Rama, awards are given for the top 3 finishers in each race in various age categories.

Canadian Wildlife Carving Championship Highlights Fall Activities at Ontario's Wye Marsh

Midland, Ontario …………… .. Fall 2006. The 21 st Canadian Wildlife Wood Carving Championships are taking place the weekend of September 16-17. Visitors will see the best Canadian carvers compete for $8,500 worth of carved prizes donated by several partners including a Pair of American Goldfinches w/habitat $700 (The Co-operators), Miniature Green Heron $500 (Wye Marsh), Meadowlark w/habitat $500 (Midland Home Building Centre), Male Bohemian Waxwing w/habitat $700 (Canadian Tire Midland), Pair of Chestnut-sided Warblers w/habitat $1,000 (Mrs. Carol Fazackerley). Visitors will be amazed at the life-like quality of the carvings by many of Canada ' s finest wood carvers and will have the opportunity to see carving in progress and talk to the artists about their techniques and favorite species. The event is sponsored by the Wye Marsh Association of Woodcarvers and the Canadian Custom Packaging Company .

Wye Marsh Rhythms Folk Fall Festival 2006 also takes place the weekend of September 16 - 17, in conjunction with the Canadian Wood Carving Championship. The weekend is an opportunity for families to get out and experience the fall colors in the Wye Valley with some good music, food and many family events for both the kids and adults. The general admission price of $10 per person includes fun activities such as free canoe rides through the channels of the Marsh, children's crafts, Birds of Prey show, on site camping (additional fee), scope spotting contest, dip-netting, and geo-caching. Family rates available.

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