Otus' Adventures at Ball's Falls Conservation Area

Dress for Success!

2011-02-08T13:06:00.002-05:00

Brrrr, the last few nights here at Ball’s Fall’s Conservation Centre have been chilly!! Almost too cold for a little owl like me!

Owls and humans are very different when it comes to staying warm. For one thing we have feathers and humans have clothes. My feathers keep me warm and dry; but humans have access to many different materials that work in similar ways to my feathers. With the amount of options and differences between materials it can all get very confusing fast! Which is why I flew to see my friends at Outdoors Oriented (www.outdoororiented.ca) to explain to me what are the different ways to stay warm as a human!

My new friends there were able to answer all my questions! And they were so friendly with me. I was informed that staying warm is achieved based on two main principles. 1- Layers and 2- Materials! (Just what I thought)

First, they explained to me that layering in the winter is crucial for survival. Being able to take off and on layers of clothes depending on weather conditions or if body temperatures change is ideal. Not having that ability to remove or add layers could result in danger. Most important is to have a “base layer” means the layer of clothing next to your skin. This layer minimizes airflow and is capable of wicking moisture away from your body. Wicking means the movement of water particles, preferably away from your skin. If water particles mix with air/wind, that combination cools the body. This mechanism is great for summer but is dangerous in the winter. Keeping the body dry and warm is the key!

I was told the next layer that goes on top acts as your insulation. Trapping in the heat your body produces, while the base layer keeps your dry! Wow this is so cool!

Last piece of clothing is your shell. The pieces of material keep out those gusts of wind, and dry from the elements of snow and rain, all while allowing breathability! I was a little confused about how a shell can breathe, don’t they live underwater! I was told that human bodies could produce too much heat and that the moisture should not remain on the body incase the air-cooling the body down. Which means the shell needs to be able to release that moisture, or as my new friends say- breathe. To keep the body dry and warm.

Then I was introduced to materials and fibers! Pretty cool stuff☺

Base layers are typically made from materials called polyester or polypropylene, which are synthetic materials (Man Made). It is made from plastic and the production costs have a high carbon footprint! But they are very successful at wicking moisture. The problems with this material are:
-Heavy pollution cost while manufacturing
-Trap odor and bacteria in the fibers
-Short life span, delicate material
But these materials are mass-produced and have a low cost for the consumer.

There is a new (old) material making its way as the base layer and is almost the complete opposite to synthetics. It comes from a particular sheep called the Morino all the way from New Zealand! It’s a completely natural fiber, which does not itch and has hypoallergenic qualities. Many people have nightmares of wool socks that mom made them wear when they were kids. Wool has always been known to keep you very warm, even when wet!! The Morino wool is very different than Canadian wool, in that it’s a finer fiber, which feels soft to the touch even before the production of a garment. The special qualities that the Morino offers are:
-Holds no odor or bacteria
-Keeps you insulated even when wet
-Wicks moisture away (naturally)
-Highest UV protections
-Long life span
-Fire resistant
-100% Biodegradable!
Wow!!! This stuff sounds great!!!

Lastly, I learnt about the materials used for the Shell! More specifically Gore-Tex! A material that allows moisture (in the evaporation stage) to exit through the tiny holes of the material, all while keeping water in its solid form trapped on the outside unable to seep in! A wonderful material keeping you dry and warm on top of all your layers! Gore-Tex is used is many rain coats, and winter coats.

So remember, when you are going out to play in the snow!! Do not forget to put on layers to stay warm and dry!! I don’t go out when it rains, as my feathers aren’t waterproof like your shell, you are very lucky!

2011-01-06T11:34:00.000-05:00

Woot Woot!!

Happy New Years Blog readers!!! I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday filled with
laughs, good eats and precious moments with friends and family!

Christmas eve, I flew to my parent’s nest. They always host our family’s Christmas
dinner. My whole flock was there to enjoy the feast!

For New Years eve, my owl friends and I got together and flew towards Niagara Falls
to find a good perching place and watched the fireworks show to bring in the New
Year!

With the New Year already here, I wanted to share with you my resolutions! I don’t
know about you, but I am always trying to keep motivated and stick to
resolutions as best as I can. I find it helps to write them down, I even post them up
in my nest so when I wake up I am able to read them and remind myself to stay on
track

Otus’ 5 New Years Resolutions:
1- Decrease my environmental impact
2- Build an addition to my nest
3- Learn more animal tracks
4- Help Balls Falls Centre for Conservation with education
5- Try new things!

I plan on working really hard this year to attain all my resolutions to the fullest! I
will be sure to keep you all informed on my progress!!

Let me know what some of YOUR resolutions are for this year?

Otus!

War on the Lakes

2010-12-08T11:00:00.004-05:00

Woot Woot!! Hello!

I wanted to let everyone know about the current exhibit at the Centre for Conversation, which features our very own Great Lakes! The exhibit is called War on the Lakes, and it's all about the War of 1812 which is so fascinating! An artist from Windsor Ontario, named Peter Rindlisbacher, who is known for his marine paintings, documents this historical period beautifully. The exhibit features many not so famous naval battles that took place during the War. I am sure a sense of surprise will arise at all the wonderful prints and one original painting of our very own Great Lakes, during pinnacle battles such as the Battle of Lake Erie. ATTENTION All Brock Students!!! Sir Issac Brock is featured in the Battle of Queenston Heights October 13^th 1812, and you can find artist images and posters in the gift shop! Better hurry on over to the Centre for Conversation because the exhibit will not be displayed forever! It runs from November 20, 2010- February 4, 2010

Visit this exhibit at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area, Centre for Conservation, 3292 Sixth Ave., Jordan, Ontario.

The Centre is open daily from 9-4 with the exception of Dec. 24, 2010 to Jan 1, 2011.

Admission: Adults.$5.50, Seniors/Child $4.00, Car Max: $15.00

For more information contact: 905-562-5235, ext. 26.

2010-12-05T21:02:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

I have some exciting news for you! Yesterday I was visiting an Owl friend at his nest a couple trees over from me. The inside of his nest was decorated with home made Christmas Crafts! They looked so wonderful, so I thought I would share them with you, and you too can make your nest beautiful as well! Some materials you might already have at home, others you can find outside and some materials you will need to buy. But do not worry, you can always substitute materials for other ideas you have as well! Try putting on some Christmas music while you work, or your favourite Christmas movie to get into the spirit!

Ornaments & Decorations:

Snow Globe

Materials: Instructions:

-1 Glass Jar Clean out the glass jar, making sure there is nothing left over. Glue your

-A Plastic Toy plastic toy to the inside of the cap, using very strong glue. Fill the jar

-Baby Oil with baby oil and glitter. Add glue along the inside ridge of the cap,

-Glitter tighten the cap onto the jar as well as you can and wait till the glue

-Strong Glue dries before turning over.

Q-Tip snowflakes

Materials: Instructions:

-30 Q-Tips(estimated) Spread wax paper over your table top for a working space. Using the

-Glue Q-tips, design a snowflake, you may bend or break into two. Using the

-Waxed Paper ends of the Q-tips with the cotton to touch. Once you have finished your

-Glitter design, use the glue to attach all the ends together. Before the glue dries

sprinkle the glitter on top.

Time Capsule Ornament

Materials:

-Fillable clear plastic ornament

-Double sided tape

-Paper cut into strips

-Markers

-Small photo or other memorabilia that fits inside the ball

-Ribbon

Instructions:

-Separate the two halves of the ball. Apply a strip of tape around the outside of the wider half. Carefully press the ribbon to the tape so that it’s close to but not touching the outer edge.

-Write notes on the strips on paper and tuck them into the ball. Add pictures and other mementos if you like. Put the ball back together, and then tie the ribbon and a tag with the year written on it.

Edible Decorations: When cooking make sure you have the help of an adult

Meringue Snowflakes

Ingredients:

-2 large egg whites, at room temperature

-1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

-1 cup confectioner's sugar

-1/4 teaspoon flavoured extract such as lemon, peppermint, orange, or almond

-2 tablespoons coloured sugar or edible glitter

Instructions:

Heat the oven to 200 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy, about 3 minutes. Then beat the mixture until it turns fluffy, another 3 minutes. This is easier to do with an electric mixture, but still possible with a whisk and good old elbow grease.
Add the confectioner's sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and continue beating until the egg whites are stiff and glossy, about 5 minutes. Then beat the extract.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Use a pencil to draw snowflake patterns on the paper. Stick the parchment paper ink side down into the backing sheet with a little meringue in the corners.
Using a pastry bag, or even a zip-lock, fill the bag with meringue. Cut a corner at the bottom if using a zip-lock bag. Pipe the meringue onto the paper in between the lines of the snowflakes. Sprinkle the meringue with colour sugar or edible glitter.
Bake the snowflakes until dry but not browned, about 1 hour. Slide the parchment paper onto a wire rack and let cool
Cut between the meringue snowflakes and gently peel the parchment paper off. The meringue will stay crisp for up to 2 weeks if stored in an airtight container, do not refrigerate! Makes about 20

Gingerbread Lantern

Ingredients

-THE GINGERBREAD -THE ICING

-1/3 cup butter -1 ½ cups confectioner’s sugar

-1/3 cup sugar -1 tablespoon meringue powder

-1/2 teaspoon baking soda -2 to 3 tablespoons warm water

-4 teaspoons water

-1 2/3 cups flour, plus extra for rolling

-1 ¼ teaspoons ginger

-1/4 teaspoon allspice

-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

-Hard Candies, such as Jolly Rancher

Instructions:

1) To make the gingerbread, heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar. Stir the baking soda into the water to dissolve it, and then add this to the butter mixture. Stir in the molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, allspice, and cinnamon in a medium bowl, and then stir dry ingredients into the butter mixture a little at a time. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let chill for 1 hour.

2) Roll out the chilled dough to a ¼ inch thickness on a large piece of parchment. Sprinkling on some flour if the dough sticks. Then, using a 4- by 7-inch piece of cardboard as a template, cut 4 rectangles from the dough, removing any scraps. Transfer the gingerbread pieces to a cookie sheet.

3) To install the windows, use cookie cutters dipped in flour to cut and remove a few shapes from each gingerbread piece. Unwrap candies in similar colours (you'll need about 2 to 3 for each 21/2-inch cut out) and place them in doubled freezer bags. Hit them gently with a hammer to crush them, and then generously fill each cut out with crushed candy. Bake the gingerbread for 12 minutes, and then let it cool for at least 1 hour. (The candy windows will be extremely hot! Do not touch them until they have cooled completely.)

4) Finally, construct the lantern by beating together all of the icing ingredients in a small bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until blended, then increase the speed to high and beat for 4 to 5 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Using a pastry bag or a plastic bag with 1 corner cut off, pipe icing along the long edges of 2 of the walls. Assemble all 4 walls vertically on a platter or a piece of foil-covered cardboard, filling in any gaps and decorating the edges with more icing. Allow the icing to dry overnight. Set the lantern in a safe spot, then place a small candle inside and light the wick (parents only).

Puffy the Polar Bear

Materials: Instructions:

-Toothpicks Using a toothpick, attach the two large marshmallows

-2 large marshmallows together to make the body and head. For each arm,

-6 mini marshmallows thread two mini marshmallows onto a toothpick and poke

-2 white jelly beans, halved each into the body. For each leg do the same but use one

-Royal Icing one marshmallow and half a jelly bean for the foot. Using

-1 brown mini M&M royal icing, glue two jelly bean halves for the ears and the

-Scissors M&M for the nose. Use black licorice for the eyes.

-Black shoestring licorice

Mmm-Moose

Materials: Instructions:

-2 chocolate wafer cookies For the body, glue together the wafer cookies with icing.

-Royal Icing Poke four toothpick legs into the body and add circus

-Toothpicks peanut half for each foot. With a toothpick attach the

-2 orange circus peanuts, halved two caramels together and glue them to the body using the

icing. Poke two pretzel pieces into the caramel for antlers.

Using icing, glue on an M&M nose and pretzel tail.

Nice to Meet You!

2010-12-02T10:43:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone, it is so nice to finally meet you all! I have heard so much about you from Boomer
the Blue bird. Boomer pecked me a message not too long ago explaining to me about this blog created
for Ball's Fall's Conservation Area. Since it is getting colder with each day and food is getting harder to
find, Boomer asked if I would be able to take on the blog while traveling down to Mexico (lucky
little bird!). I gladly accepted the job! I am so excited to write to you all, and let you know what will be
going on around the Conservation Area over the winter months.
My name is Otus, and I am an Eastern Screech Owl or Otus asio. I live at Ball's Fall's
Conservation Area http://www.npca.ca/conservation-areas/balls-falls/default.htm all year round. You
can recognize me by my small size, and pointy ears. Some of my family members are a grey color,
while others are reddish. When were not gliding through the air with our heads tucked in, you can
spot us perched in a tree. We love to make our home inside holes in the trunk of the tree! It's nice and
cozy inside there. Eastern Screech Owls are normally found in many parts of North Eastern America,
all the way down to Northeast Mexico and of course Southern Ontario; Just like me! Some of my
favorite things to eat would be: insects, small mice, snakes, lizards, small frogs, salamanders, snails,
small fish... and well I could go on, but I'm getting really hungry!
If your interested in coming out and spotting me, there are lots of trails around Ball's Fall's
Conservation Area that you can hike. Make sure to wear lots of warm clothes! And don't forget your hat
and mittens. (Stay tuned for a post about “How To Properly Dress for hiking Success”!) You might
want to bring your camera as well, there are many beautiful fall sights that are soon going to be
covered by a blanket of snow.
Here is my address: Ball's Fall's Conservation Area
3292 Sixth Ave., Jordan, Ontario
905-562-5235
Open 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Daily
*Admission Fee Applies

Farewell!

2010-10-27T12:10:00.000-04:00

It is that time of year, the days are getting colder and the food is running out for us Bluebirds. It is time I migrate my way down to Mexico! Sorry I have to leave you here in the cold winter but I need to stay warm and eat lots. I really hope you enjoyed your time with me these past months, I know I sure had fun. But remember just because I am leaving does not mean Ball’s Falls is closing! It is open all year long so check it out this fall and winter. The historical buildings have reduced hours in November offering tours Monday to Friday from 10-4 on the hour. The tours will start back up in May, if you come wanting a tour it is best to call ahead to ensure availability. The Centre for Conservation is open 9-4 daily where wonderful exhibits and a children craft area awaits. The trails are maintained throughout the year so hiking is always possible, on the snowier days snowshoeing and cross country skiing are great activities. There is always plenty to see and do at Ball’s Falls regardless of the time of year! Thanks for listening to me tweet and I hope to see you at Ball’s Falls in the future. I have pecked a letter to an owl who stays here in the wintertime and asked if they would like to continue blogging for Ball’s Falls. This will let you know first hand about all the very cool things to do this fall and winter. And Otus the Screech Owl has said YES!! Stay tuned for post by Otus and enjoy your winter, hope to see you next summer!

The Festival is Happening!

2010-10-08T09:07:00.002-04:00

Looking for something to do this weekend? I have the perfect thing for you! The Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival! Come out and enjoy handcrafted merchandise and gourmet foods at the festival which runs Friday to Monday 10-5 daily. There is plenty to do and see here and is just $6 a person with children under 14 free if accompanied by an adult or purchase a pass for weekend long access for $14. Make sure to enjoy the live entertainment and heritage demonstrations. Also make sure to head up to the Centre for Conservation and see the Northern Owl exhibit and take part in a great children’s craft, owl puppets! Check out the other cool activities they are offering and what prizes you could win, including a cool gift bag from Owl Magazine and some wonderful giveaways from Warner Brothers Canada who are promoting their new movie “Legend of the Guardians”! So stop by this weekend, I will be here enjoying the festivities! For more information please call 905-562-5235 ext. 26.

A Success!!

2010-10-06T09:01:00.001-04:00

The Northern Owls Opening Day was a great success! I was sure happy to fly by and see all the children enjoying themselves. The Owl Foundation’s zoologist Annick Gionet was wonderful; she brought a very interesting presentation on owls and her foundation http://www.theowlfoundation.ca/. Mark Ricker was another great addition displaying his artistic work involving owls http://www.markricker.com/. There was a ton of giveaways, including Warner Brothers Canada “Legend of the Guardians” movie http://legendoftheguardians.warnerbros.com/ giveaways and Owl magazines http://www.owlkids.com/ for all. The owl cupcakes from Sweetcakes Cupcakery were devoured by all in attendance http://www.sweetcakescupcakes.ca/. Also there were 11 raffle draws held! These included great Owl Magazine gift bags, Warner Brothers Canada supersized posters, and Pen Centre Empire Theaters family movie packs. The guided hike was very interesting; I followed along and found out where the owls like to hide, always helpful when they try to eat me! Back inside the children’s craft area was always packed and I saw many great pictures, masks and owl trees made there. All in all it was an amazing opening day event! There will be more exciting things happening with the exhibit and more draws to be won over Thanksgiving weekend so be sure to come by.

Festival Time is coming!!

2010-10-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

It’s that time again! Thanksgiving Festival Time! October 8-11 is the 36^th annual Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival. Each day the festival will run next weekend from 10am to 5pm and the admission is $6 a person, children under 14 are free when accompanied by an adult and seniors are $4 on Friday October 8. Or if you think you may come for a few days a weekend long pass is $14.

There is plenty for all to do and see. High quality, handcrafted merchandise booths will be set up for you to enjoy. Also an assortment of food and beverages, including a gourmet food tent will be ready to tempt your tastebuds. There will be live entertainment as well as children’s activities daily. Don’t forget the heritage buildings are open during the festival and demonstrations will be set up. There is a live raptor display that includes owls. And that reminds me of something cool after you see the live birds you can check out the Northern Owls exhibit up at my favourite building which will be open the whole weekend, the Centre for Conservation! Let me tell you they have a great weekend planned up there. There will be wine tastings in the main room and the museum exhibits will be open for visitors. The “Northern Owls” exhibit will be in full swing at this time with many special events happening over the weekend, Wildlife artist Mark Ricker will be demonstrating his owl paintings on feathers and displaying his amazing work, there are owl children’s crafts and activities, Warner Brothers Canada Legend of the Guardians: the Owls of Ga’hoole giveaways and a prize drawing of an Owl magazine gift bag! So be sure to stop by Ball’s Falls on festival weekend and have a memorable day! Maybe I will see you there! For more information please call 905-562-5235 ext. 26.

Birds get sick too!

2010-10-02T09:06:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone, I am back! I was under the weather there for about a week but am feeling much better now. While I was sick I heard a lot of information around the forest about some great people that help sick birds. One amazing group is The Owl Foundation which takes in sick and injured owls and helps them get better. Once the owl has recuperated they release it back into the wild. The Owl Foundation was the first facility of its kind in North America to both breed and foster wild owls to release status. For those owls that cannot be released because of great injuries The Owl Foundation cares for them permanently. Some of these owls help in the rehabilitation process as foster parents teaching young owlets to survive and provide a family for them. The Owl Foundation has also partnered with Ball’s Falls for the current Northern Owls exhibit . and they have Included in this exhibit is a National Film Board Documentary about the founders Katherine and Larry McKeever entitled “The Lady and the Owl”. This is a really are a great organization that really cares about Owls, for more information please visit http://www.theowlfoundation.ca/. There is also a very cool woodworking project below to create a screech owl roost box! This would be a great activity to do with a family member.

http://www.theowlfoundation.ca/screechroostbox.htm

Blacksmithing At Ball's Falls

2010-09-29T12:09:00.000-04:00

You have seen it on television but have you ever seen it in real life? I am talking about Blacksmithing! For those of you unfamiliar with this it is the practice of making objects out of metal by heating it to a high degree. The metal is put into a superheated fire until it glows red hot. Then is taken out and pounded into new shapes and once cooled a new object is formed! At Ball’s Falls there are traditional, fully functioning Blacksmith workshops. Many Sundays from spring to fall you can hear the hammering of metal at these workshops. You can make something to take home from beginner workshops to Intermediate and Advanced workshops for participants over 18. It is an all day event 9 am until 4pm. Lunch is included as well as all materials for the cost of $100 a person. Workshops are limited to 4 participants to ensure hand-on experiences and quality instruction. The workshops run throughout the summer into the early fall. It is a wonderful experience and a perfect gift for that person who has everything! Just call 905-562-5235 ext. 26 to book or for further information.

It's Northern Owls Opening Day!!

2010-09-18T14:50:00.000-04:00

The Northern Owls have arrived! Join us today, Saturday September 18th, for a special opening day to celebrate this unique exhibit. The main event will happen from 1-3 pm on Saturday, but the exhibit is open from 9am to 4pm. There will be a guided nature walk starting at 12 noon which will show you the local habitat of these owls. Then at 1pm come inside to talk to Annick Gionet a zoologist specializing in owls. Also check out great owl art by local artist Mark Ricker and join in a staff lead owl craft! There will be super cute cupcakes throughout the day, compliments of Sweetcakes Cupcakery and giveaways for all who attend, compliments of Owl magazine and Warner Brothers Canada! Two amazing prize drawings will be happening at 1pm and 3pm so be sure to get your ballot on the way in! Today will surely be a HOOT hope to see you there!

Adopt My Friends

2010-09-16T09:54:00.000-04:00

The Giftshop

There is a gift shop at Ball’s Falls. It also houses the admissions desk. You can purchase some refreshments and snacks there for your day at Ball’s Falls as well as cool toys. There are authentic Ball’s Falls gifts and wooden games and toys just like the settlers would have played with. Reference books are also available for purchase if you happen to see something on the trails that you want to identify or if you are interested in learning more about your surroundings. But the best part of the gift shop is that you can adopt some of my friends! So be sure to stop by Ball’s Falls and see what the giftshop has to offer!

My Friends who are ready for Adoption!

Northern Owls are a HOOT!

2010-09-13T10:00:00.007-04:00

Who doesn’t love owls? I personally know they are great birds, even thought I have to watch out because they might be hungry when they see me! Ball’s Falls Centre for Conservation is holding a “Northern Owls” exhibit starting September 18th and running until November 15th. In this exhibit, which is from the Royal Ontario Museum, you can learn all about different types of owls and their habitat. Also accompanying the exhibit is a great children’s activity area where there is plenty to do! There will be a few different special day events during the run of this exhibit so be sure to keep checking back for more information on them. There is also an educational program that is available for schools from kindergarten to grade 8, to book this or for more information please call 905-562-5235 ext. 26. Don’t forget to do the scavenger hunt in the building there are prizes for all! The Centre for Conservation is open 9am to 4pm every day.

Something Strange!?!

2010-09-11T10:00:00.001-04:00

Have you ever seen something weird that people once considered normal? Well I found one here at Ball’s Falls! I was exploring by the Ball family home the other day and found something I find very strange…..a three seat toilet!

That is me on the 3 seat toilet!

I found this so unique I had to tweet one of the staff to find out more! She said that this was actually quite normal in those times because the toilet was outside people would just have a little opening on their underclothing to use the facilities. So they actually wouldn’t take off clothing to use the washroom. In this case it did not matter who was right beside you. And I thought I had it bad having to go in the woods with no privacy, but at least I can hide behind a bush! Come see it for yourself and just ask one of the tour guides for more information. If you have any other ideas of once common things that now seem strange let me know!

Just Waterfalls!?!

2010-09-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

Just a couple of our Heritage Buildings!

I always overhear visitors at Ball’s Falls say how surprised they are that there is more at the conservation area than just waterfalls. So I just wanted to let you know that YES we have two waterfalls here but so much more than that! There are beautiful maintained hiking trails in the conservation area, including one that links up to the Bruce Trail. On the site is a historic settlement, where many original buildings are preserved and staff give daily tours. At the Centre for Conservation there are also two museum galleries! One is a permanent exhibit based on the geography of the conservation area and the early settlers. The other changes exhibits to offer new and unique ways to explore Ball’s Falls every time you come! There is always a children’s craft and activity area where learning and playing come together. Did you know so much was offered at Ball’s Falls? I did! And now you know so pass it on!

The Centre for Conservation where the museum galleries are!

The Children's Water Festival!

2010-09-04T09:23:00.001-04:00

Hello kids, parents and grandparents, September 12th, 2010 is Grandparents Day! I found something VERY exciting to do on this day, whether you can bring your grandparents or enjoy the day just thinking about them. The Children’s Water Festival is happening at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area! It is a perfect opportunity to bond with your family and have a fun, educational day.

The festival will be happening from 12 noon to 4pm, and is FREE! Complimentary hot dogs and drinks will also be served up for this wonderful day. You can learn all about water, how it is used, conserved, protected, used for science, and water technology. There are activity centres throughout the festival where experienced leaders explain the use of water and create a fun atmosphere to learn. There will be plenty of activities to keep the children busy, such as crafts, face painting, balloon art, and a falcon demonstration. Firefighters will be here as well to show off the latest in fire fighting equipment and give fire safety tips!

Water is one of the most important resources we have. Learning about it and its uses is a great step to being a valuable member of this planet. Why not fly over to http://www.niagarachildrenswaterfestival.com/index/page/name/home and check out some more information, you’ll discover just how much fun it can be.

The Centre for Conservation is a LEED Building!

2010-08-28T10:17:00.001-04:00

The Centre for Conservation (CFC) is a certified LEED building. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This means it was built with concern for my habitat. There are five key areas of human and environmental health for LEED buildings. First is sustainable site development. Architects ensured the building was placed in the proper spot for optimum use of natural resources and blend with the natural environment. The second key area is Water Efficiency. The CFC collects rainwater off the roof to flush the toilets. After flushing this water is treated onsite and returned to the earth. The sewage treatment goes through a 3 step process. First the septic tank separates and digests sewage by using anaerobic bacteria. Second the Waterloo Biofilter adds fanned air to the sewage and aerobic bacteria consumes the waste products and chemicals. The resulting water is cleaner than the water we collect off the roof. Lastly, the water travels through shallow disposal trenches which have perforated side to allow the the water to feed the surrounding forest.

Part of the water treatment system in Ball's Falls Centre for Conservation

The third key is Energy Efficiency. At the CFC natural light is used as much as possible and when additional lighting is required automatic timers are utilized. The fourth key is the Material Selection is an area in which a LEED building must be sustainable. The CFC is composed of local materials with recycled content, helping it blend with the environment and reduce transportation pollution. When building was constructed all the waste was kept to a minimum and every bit was sorted and recycled for new building materials. The fifth key concern, Indoor Environmental Quality. The ventilation system automatically brings in air as needed and transfers the heat or cool from the air leaving the building to the air coming in saving energy. In the winter the floors are heated through pipes that take the heat from the earth and transfer it to the floor. This building is a great example of using natural and local resources in our community and it is a great neighbour for me and all my forest friends. For more information on how a Waterloo Biofilter works visit The Waterloo Biofilter Website.

The Waterloo Biofilter System

Time Travellers Day Camp

2010-08-23T15:21:00.002-04:00

Have you heard of Ball’s Falls Conservation Area’s Adventure Camp? Well I flew down to check it out this week and let me tell you it is amazing! There is tons of stuff to do everyday! The camp counsellors have fun activities planned everyday and they do a great job entertaining children. Some fun things they do at camp are hikes, water games, scavenger hunts, crafts, and games.

Below are some pictures from Time Travelers Week just one of the many themed weeks at camp. This camp is starting next week for the last time, so book now for an amazing adventure!

One of Our Rocketship Camp Counsellors Gets Ready for Blast Off!!

Up it Goes!

That flies almost as high as ME!


And the Rocket lands safely back on Earth

If you are interested and are or have a child between the ages of 6-10, just call 905-562-5235, ext. 26 to register. Registration can be done for one day, a whole week, or more! The regular hours of camp are 9-3 with extended hours available 8-4:30. The cost is $30 a day or $100 for a 5 day session, extended hours are $5 additional per day. If more than one child comes a family discount applies! So join us for some summer fun at our Adventure Daycamp, you might even see me flying around amongst the rockets!

The Centre for Conservation

2010-08-21T11:05:00.001-04:00

The Centre for Conservation at Ball's Falls

Have you ever wondered what the newer building is at Ball’s Falls? Well let me tell you it is an amazing building! It is called the Centre for Conservation and is the entry point to the whole park. Inside it houses the admission counter and it doubles as a gift shop. Inside are two exhibit galleries are. First, there is a gallery that shares interesting things about the conservation area and the early settlement. The second gallery always changes, so there is something new to check out all the time. Right now the “Count Your Pennies” exhibit is there and in September “Northern Owls” will sure to be a hoot! There is also space available which you can rent for your own event. Different size rooms are available to suit any need and budget. Alongside this space is a servery which is available for a catered event. Large washrooms (including a family one) and a coat check station complete the building to provide a wonderful space. So come on by and check the building out! If you are interested in renting event space just call at 905-562-5235 ext. 26 for more information. Special wedding rental packages are available! Check back next week for information on the Centre for Conservation and how it was built as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building.
Canada LEED Building Certification Website

Ball's Falls near St. Catherines, ON - a mountain biking and hiking trail

2010-08-14T12:40:00.000-04:00

Ball's Falls near St. Catherines, ON - a mountain biking and hiking trail
Parking is now located at the Centre for Conservation and admission is $5.50 for adults, $4 for students/seniors, $15 for a carload, a membership pass is $70 which is the best value if you come often or want to go to other NPCA areas.

Daredevil Ducks!!

2010-08-12T10:29:00.011-04:00

Even though I am a Bluebird I appreciate the over 350 species of birds that fly around at Ball’s Falls! We have a family of ducks living here that I see often and I wanted to share something remarkable about them with you. These are Mallard ducks and the mother often takes her babies out swimming, you should come soon to try to spot them as they will soon grow big and have adventures of their own.

Now take a look at these pictures….notice they are a family of daredevils! The red circles in the big picture show you where the ducks are! The ducklings were just feet from the edge of the waterfall! But the mother was carefully watching her babies and training them to swim hard and fast.

So come by Ball’s Falls when you have a chance and maybe you can spot this family of daredevil ducks!

Nesting Box Draw!!

2010-08-09T10:30:00.001-04:00

Hello there, I just had share with you the latest news! You have a chance to win my nesting box! Well, not mine exactly but a new, real bluebird nesting box that the NPCA is giving away at Ball’s Falls. If you want a chance to win it all you have to do is print out the Bluebird Box Ballot from my blog page (that you are on right now!), fill it out and drop it off at the Centre for Conservation at Ball’s Falls. You can will need to put your ballot into the actual box you can win. But you can only get the Ballot here on the blog, so don’t forget to print it out! Once at Ball’s Falls why not spend the day with friends or family but if you are in a hurry don’t worry you can simply drop off the ballot for free. Just let the person at the front desk know you are here to drop off your ballot and they can let you out of the gate when you are done. Come on out and get that ballot in so next year you may have your own Boomer in your backyard! The draw will be held on October 21^st and we will post the winner right here so be sure to check back! Good Luck!

Ball's Falls Conservation Area Trail

2010-08-07T15:49:00.000-04:00

Ball's Falls Conservation Area Trail

Reflections from Muskoka: MTM - Balls Falls in Niagara

2010-08-07T15:45:00.000-04:00

Reflections from Muskoka: MTM - Balls Falls in Niagara

How the Settlers Lived....

2010-08-07T09:07:00.002-04:00

I was flying by the historic buildings on site yesterday and thought I should tell you about them a bit more! These buildings are really ancient; many were actually built by the Ball family. Some were moved or reproduced to look like those from the past. The original Ball home is here! This is a large house that doubled for the family as a store and office. The Grist Mill was the first industry the Ball family built and the mill ground grain for flour. The original grinding stones are still inside and when you visit you can take a tour and see how the flour was made.

A carriage house displays transportation and agricultural vehicles, but there are more of these on display in the barn. Sometimes you can hear the church bell ringing when a wedding or church services is happening. On the site there is a small log cabin which is similar to the first home for the Ball family The blacksmith shop still operates with blacksmithing workshops and demonstrations held some Sundays, just call 905-562-5235 to sign up for the workshops. There is another large barn which now doubles as a place to hold events, especially those weddings, they always end with a great feast here. An old white house was originally a house for one of the many employees that worked for the Ball Family. It is now where a lot of children play in the Adventure Daycamp. Finally there are a few small buildings such as the fruit drying shed, lime kiln and bake oven which were necessary to the daily lives over a hundred years ago. All of these buildings can be toured with a guide who can share with you the exciting stories from the past, but if you like you can also just look through screen doors into most of them. Times for the tours are on the hour from 10am to 3pm. So why not come out and see these unique, old buildings and meet some of the engaging staff ready to chat about the past.

A Day of Adventure!

2010-08-05T09:55:00.000-04:00

Calling all kids and parents! Have you heard of Ball’s Falls Conservation Area’s Adventure Camp? Well I flew down to check it out this week and let me tell you it is amazing! There is tons of stuff to do everyday! The camp counselors have fun activities planned and they do a great job engaging the children. Some of the exciting things they do are hikes, water games, scavenger hunts, crafts, experiments and games.

Each week they have a theme and do unique activities, such as Time travelers, Mad Eco-Scientists, Woodland Wonders, and Water Wizards.

You Wanted to Know!

2010-08-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone, Boomer here, over the past few days flying around Ball's Falls Conservation Area I have observed people with some questions. So I thought I could help out by giving you some basics about Ball's Falls. Ball's Falls is located at 3292 Sixth Avenue in Jordan, Ontario the postal code is L0R 1S0, for those human GPS units, although I do not need that since I have a bird GPS built in! The phone number is 905-562-5235; hope you have an easier time dialing a phone than I do! The website link is here, I have done the hard work pecking it in http://www.npca.ca/conservation-areas/balls-falls/default.htm and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority's is http://www.npca.ca/ they are the wonderful team who manage Ball's Falls so you can check out that site for information on the many other conservation areas in the Niagara Peninsula. I like to fly to them all every year on my summer vacation.

Ball's Falls is open year round and the hours are 9am to 8pm until Labour Day when it closes at 4 p.m. At the top of the hill is the Centre for Conservation. Outside this beautiful building are wonderful nesting boxes for bluebirds like me. This is also the place where you park and start your visit. Inside is the admission desk and gift shop where you can pick up some extra supplies if you need. A good starting place for your visit is the exhibit gallery which about Balls' Falls with interactive exhibits. There is also a spot for rotating exhibits that changes every few months, here you can learn about different things. From the Centre for Conservation you can see the Heritage Buildings or have a tour on the hour from 9am to 3pm. If you arrive before a tour begins you can enjoy the display barn and look in the doors of some of the buildings. The tour guides are truly fantastic and have a lot of information about the Ball family and what life was like back then. These tours are included in the price of admission! After all of that you could hike on one of the many trails that surround the conservation area. Oh and don't forget to check out both waterfalls! There is a smaller one up a short trail and a bigger one below near the Heritage Buildings. The creek in between is a perfect place for a quick birdbath….if you're a bird that is! So you can see there are many things to do here at Ball's Falls and with picnic tables and washrooms available you could easily spend the day here with friends or family.

Remember to check for upcoming events through me, on the website http://www.npca.ca/events.htm or call 905-562-5235 since there are special events going on which you would not want to miss!

Count Your Pennies at Ball’s Falls!

2010-07-31T10:25:00.001-04:00

Hello everybody, looking for something to do this weekend? I just took a little trip through the new "Count Your Pennies" exhibit at the Centre for Conservation. Wow it is amazing! Did you know how much shopping has changed from the 1900s? The exhibit shows you what it was like to do your grocery shopping in the 1900s, 1930s, and 1950s.

1. Shop in the 1900s 2. Shop in the 1930s 3. Shop in the 1950s

There are examples of what you would find in the stores and what prices you would pay. Also a really neat feature is the audio centre at each time period, where you can listen to what a typical grocery store would sound like! In each time there are examples of what the money looked like as well.

1. 1900s Money 2. 1930s Money 3. 1950s Money

There is a checkout centre where you can scan your own groceries; there is one for the kiddies too with plenty of small food for them to play with.

1. Kids grocery Area 2. Kids Check Out

Along with this interesting exhibit are plenty of activities to keep the kids busy, like puzzles, colouring, games, and crafts.

1. Activity Area 2. Coin Rubbing Area 3. Puzzle Area

Don't forget to get your scavenger hunt forms as you come in, there is a prize for returning it complete! I almost forgot a real exciting thing! The Raffle! When you come in you can pick up a raffle ticket to fill out and you could win a really cool prize pack. So why not come and "check out" the exhibit while it is here. I know you will enjoy it! http://www.npca.ca/events.htm

A Little About Me, Boomer, and my fellow Bluebirds!

2010-07-23T09:00:00.001-04:00

Hello everybody! Welcome to my blog, my name is Boomer the Bluebird and I live at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area http://npca.ca/conservation-areas/balls-falls/default.htm. I am the unofficial mascot for Ball’s Falls and I will be letting you in on all the fun and exciting things to do and see there this summer! Today I am going to tell you a bit about myself and I hope you follow me in my adventures; I sure am excited to show you! That’s me below on the left, and that’s one of my real bluebird buddies on the right. Since I have superior typing skills I will be writing to you and using them to give you a bird’s eye view throughout the conservation area.

1.Boomer the bluebird frolicking at Ball’s Falls 2.Bluebird Outside the Centre for Conservation

I am an Eastern bluebird or Sialia sialis in Latin. You can recognize me and my family by our white bellies. The males of our species have a bright blue back and a reddish brown throat and breast while the females have a lighter blue and grey back and a brown throat and breast with a grey crown. Bluebirds are found in forest edges and open country east of the Rockies from Southern Canada to the Gulf of the United States.
Most of my diet is insects; and I know how they bother humans so I do my part to keep them in check. The rest of what I eat is fruits and berries, which is what I mostly eat in wintertime. I perch on a high fence or post and look for yummy insects to eat and when I see the right one I just swoop down and catch my snack.
When I do stay in one place for the winter I choose a heavy thicket or orchard which provides me with enough food and coverage for the winter. For the rest of the year I like to live in nests in tree holes and of course birdhouses made by our great human friends!
Unfortunately in the past few decades the number of bluebirds has been declining. There are a couple of reasons for that, first loss of habitat; trees and meadows that I need to live in are disappearing. Sometimes trees are cut down or cleared to make room for houses or dead trees are just removed (which I don’t mind living in). Another problem for bluebirds is the non-native bird species which have been introduced and have entered these areas, such as House Sparrows and European Starlings. They take over bluebird nests which leaves me homeless.
But not to worry, I have some wonderful human friends on my side who are helping me live here by improving my habitat and building me bluebird nesting boxes, like those around the Centre for Conservation at Ball’s Falls. With humans helping to make sure that other birds do not make a home in my bluebird box, bluebirds are slowly making a comeback! I hope everyone will help me and my family because we really love living here with all of our wonderful human neighbours. If you are interested in a great weekend activity, here is a link to show you how to make your own Bluebird nesting box http://www.oebs.ca/nestboxes/index.html or you can always find one at a store already made for you. Once you have a nesting box here is a link on how to attract us to it, http://www.ehow.com/how_5602838_attract-eastern-bluebirds-nesting-boxes.html. We certainly would appreciate the help!

1.Bluebird Nesting Box outside the Centre for Conservation 2.Boomer by his nesting box at Ball’s Falls

So that is a bit about me and remember I live at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area so come on by and see me sometime. Also stay tuned for exciting events that will be happening at Ball’s Falls this summer! Talk to you soon! http://www.npca.ca/conservation-areas/balls-falls/default.htm