Friday, April 17, 2015

Friends of Rouge River Headwaters Park and Trails

2015 Spring Community Cleanup-drive


Date                 : Sunday, 3rd May 2015  
Time                : 2.30-4.30pm
Starting point : Headwaters Park parking lot (opposite Redstone Public School,
                           235 Redstone Rd, Richmond Hill, ON L4S 2E2)
                           Closest intersection is Leslie and Elgin Mills.
Cleanup AreaRouge River Headwaters park and trails
Contact Info   : Priya (priyaunni@yahoo.com), 416-970-5205
What to bring: 1 garbage bag/family, reusable water bottles, snack (optional), Bring a small plastic bag/reusable gloves for your hands to pick up the litter.

Most of us have sought the calm and peace of the lake, streams and the myriad trails along the Rouge River Headwaters. Our children play here and ride their bikes and scooters along these trails. After a long and windy winter, garbage has blown around neighborhoods, into our parks, wetlands & woodlands. Lets join hands to help cleanup our community so we all can continue to enjoy this natural haven in its clean and pristine form!

Community Service:
As a small group of friends, we can work together to protect and preserve this natural habitat. The clean-up drive will educate us all of the importance of not polluting the place we call home. This will teach children social responsibility and connect them to the land where they were born. We can all do our bit to make the world a better place and develop an appreciation and love for the natural world.

Lets soak in some sun and have fun while serving the community!!!
Adults, kids, seniors ...all are welcome to join! 
High school students can earn "community volunteer hours"
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A big thanks to all who participated in the Clean-up Drive!! Thanks! Joe Agg from Richmond Hill Naturalists for the support and the equipments.  


  

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Nesting Goose: Love is at the heart of creation

The same goose making her nest this year
Every April through September we get the great opportunity of watching the Canadian Geese go through another cycle of birthing and rearing the little ones. It seems like I will never ever tire of watching them. Last year, I found four nesting areas alongside the wetlands and the marshes. So this year it was easy to look for them as the goose will choose the very same spot again. Everyday after I pick my children from school, we walk over and check on the nesting goose.

Its been a few days now since I saw her preparing the nest. The mother goose plucks soft down from her own breast to line the nest for the delicate eggs. The last two days were harsh with the relentless rain pouring throughout the day. The mother goose was still there with her head tucked low. She still had a long way to go..almost a month. She will not eat, drink, or bathe while incubating. The father goose is constantly on guard standing nearby so she accomplish the immense job that nature has bestowed on her.

This is the time when extraordinary effort, dedication, selfless love, sacrifice .. all come together to continue the song of creation. From now until October, the couple have only one goal and that is to ensure that their little goslings survive. Do we need any other examples of a great mother, a great husband and a great father? If this is not love, what else is??

Love is the only reality and it is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation - Rabindranath Tagore