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10 – July 14, 2011 The Review-Mirror The elusive green heron One of the benefits of sail over first-base line fence in what should have been a close play duringWestport Mixed Lob Ball action Saturday at Lockwood Field. Tournament raises $30,000 for Champions for Kids Talk aboutmissing the cut-offman. Scott Halladay, left, and Dan Skuce watch the ball of Golfers enjoyed a day fun on the links Wednesday while raising $30,000 for kids in need during the 4th annual Upper Canada District School Board Champions for Kids Foundation Golf Tournament. This year’s event, which attracted 150 play- ers to the Perth Golf Course, raised $4,000 more than last year. “It was just a fantastic day all around,” said Champions President David K. Thomas. “We did get our share of rain over the course of the day, but people showed up to play and we had an amaz- ing day to help kids. “I want to thank both our sponsors and our play- ers for their generosity.” All money raised will benefit theUCDSB Cham- pions for Kids Foundation. Established in January 2008, the Foundation rais- es funds to help kids from struggling families play sports and enjoy the arts. It also helps families offset unexpected costs for seek- ing medical care. Since its founding, Champions has raised nearly $400,000 and helped hundreds of kids. The tournament fea- tured specialty hole prizes generously donated by Scoreboard South Crosby Friendship Club Euchre winners on Mon. July 4, were: first Dale Burns; second Dorothy Jack; third Wayne Kerr; consolAnna John- ston; door prize Mel Watson; Lone hands Earl McFadden. 50/50 Ellis Dean, Kay Von Min- den, Doug Summers. Elgin Lions Hall Bingo winners on Thursday, July 7, were: early bird Sharon Moore; 1st special Guy Barnes: mini jackpot (Consol) Lynette Simmon, & Joey Dwyre; 2nd special Jennifer Tye; jackpot Jennifer Tye; bonanza Linda Smith. Community Hall Euchre winners at the Commu- nity Hall in conjunction with Elgin Days were: first Frances Charley; second June Smith; third Shirley Dowel & Georgie Shanks. Consol Joey Dwyre. 50/50 Joey Dwyre, Lisa Dwyre, Ed Courneya. North Crosby Hall Board Euchre results July 6. First Judy Davey 103; second (tie) Pat Corrigan 100, Nancy Van- dewal 100, Luella Hare 100; lone hands Jane St. John, Shirley Dowell; 50/50 VicwWar- ren, Janet Ryder, Don Candy, Mickey Scanlan, Joan Har- grave; 6 hand euchre Wed. 7:30. IT’S NOT WHAT YOU EARN, IT’S WHAT YOU KEEP WE CAN HELP... • Minimize personal and corporate taxes • Solve your bookkeeping • and accounting problems Provide computer support CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT BRENT J. BURNS 97 Stone St. N. Gananoque, Ontario Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 382-4731 Main Street Elgin, Ontario Thursday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 359-6615 Westport Legion Euchre July 7. Draws: Ellis Dean, Bea Simpkins, Paul Simpson, Ella Thompson. First Joan Harlrane 110; second Marg Warwick 103; third Helen Barr 98; fourth Shirley Milligan 97; fifth Frank Bresee & Mary Michea 96. Worst luck Earl McFadden. Submitted by Joan Thompson RBC Canada. Golfers could try for a hole in one and win prizes ranging from $10,000 to a golf vacation at a Fairmont resort. A highlight of the day was the live auction, held during the dinner hour. Golfers enjoyed excep- tional deals. The auction featured a hockey jersey signed by Matt Duchene of the Colorado Avalanche. Another hot item was a hockey stick signed by Mark Recchi when he wore #8 with the Montreal Canadiens. The jersey sold for $200, while the hockey stick went for $125. having a pond, creek, or marshy area in proximity to your house is the cross- section of wetland wildlife that you see every day. This is especially true if you don’t manicure the landscape to conform to urban specifications. Such undisturbed waterway edges provide the natural habitat so necessary for the future of our resident water and wildlife popula- tions. Along with the sightings of the familiar birds and animals that fre- quent such places are some that are not so well known. Shy, retiring creatures that arrive unannounced or sometimes appear out of the morning mist like an animated statuette. One solitary bird that we have been getting glimpses of these past weeks is the green-backed heron. For- merly called the green heron, this small crow- sized water bird frequents the snags, hummocks, mud flats, and shallower areas of the waterways. Unlike the great blue heron that is at once con- spicuous by its large size and loud alarming "awks", the green-backed heron is secretive to the point of often remaining unno- ticed. One clue to the pres- ence of this small hunched up heron in your area, besides the occasional rapid fly past, is the sharp distinctive call note. It was just such a cut- ting, well-defined sound that first alerted us to the fact that we had something different lurking in the tag alders near our pond. Hav- ing a metallic likeness in tone, notes these descending can best be described as a piercing "skee-ow." In some ways it may resemble the sound a heavy lawn dart makes when it penetrates a sheet of light metal. Yet even after the bird’s call notes were originally heard, it was some time before we were able to locate the RIDEAU LAKES 3GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB km. east of Westport off Hwy. 42 on to Golf Club Road EVERY WEDNESDAY During the month of July Golf 18 Holes FOR THE PRICE OF 9 Soft spikes only please To book a tee time please call (613) 273-2937 or 1-800-835-0570 www.rideaulakesgolf.ca OR Art Briggs-Jude shrill-calling musician itself. Since that evening a half-dozen years ago, this elusive bird has been seen intermittently each sum- mer since. Occasionally a single bird will be noted flying along the valley or in the early spring a pair might be seen winging overhead. At other times this really more bluish than greenish small heron will landmomentarily on a bare branch over the water or stride slowly across a patch of lily pads. Once when some unthinking people pulled out an upstream beaver dam, the eggs of a green-backed heron were among those floating in the pools when the flood waters receded. Of course the proof of the pudding is in produc- ing a picture of this reserved but interesting wader. And if locating the bird itself was a challenge in the shrubs and tangles of this particular pond area, finding the nest somewhere in the valley wetlands would require an even greater effort. So how do you get a picture of a wary bird without set- ting up your camera beside an active nest? It’s really simple, so I’ll let you in on my secret.First you locate a place where a pair of otters feed regularly and set up a well-camouflaged blind.And unless you plan on sitting in this hide for many hours, there must be a hidden trail that allows your approach and entrance without the otters knowing it. Then you need a couple of cows to come down to drink to divert the bird’s attention. Having everything in place, you’re in the blind with the camera ready to shoot. The otters that you came to photograph have not co-operated at all and are by now blissfully swimming away behind the cover of a convenient grassy hummock. While you’re agonizing over the missed otter pic- tures, you also wonder what else can go wrong. Almost immediately a lit- tle guttural squawk is heard in the near pond side shrubbery. Your eyes blink in disbelief when a chunky green-backed heron strides right in front of the blind, picking up a crayfish as it goes by. There’s time for only a fleeting focus as the bird disappears into the greenery again. To make matters worse, two cows come down to drink near- by, sloshing in the water noisily. The little heron is spooked by the cattle, but for some reason it flies up and perches momentarily on a dead branch close to your blind. It stretches its neck and raises its crest in alarm. Click, click, and the bird is gone, only this time you’ve got your picture. Some will say it was easy, but I myself believe it was just pure luck. From the files of Art Briggs-Jude Greg Beesley, Manager Telephone A&B FORD COLLISION CENTRE 613-267-5749 Fax: 613-264-1099 collision2@abford.com A&B Ford Sales Ltd. 37 Lanark Rd., Perth RIDEAU LAKES 3GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB km. east of Westport off Hwy. 42 on to Golf Club Road EveryThursday GOLF & WINGS after 4 p.m. only Night $Wing $1995 To book a tee time please call (613) 273-2937 or 1-800-835-0570 www.rideaulakesgolf.ca 995 lb. S u b m itdb te yG e ogeS ri h a n k s