Much as we admire them, they’re facing a serious threat – namely lead poisoning. Scientists believe the primary lead source comes from hunter’s ammunitions. Evidence was found in feathers, bones, livers or blood of 1,200 bald eagles and golden eagles. Often taking in lead poisoning can lead to death and slow population growth. 
A surprise to me while driving through Cape Breton, Nova Scotia were two Bald Eagles landing in the middle of the highway. The number of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) visiting Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley during the winter has increased dramatically. On the roads during January and February, one easily counts several hundred eagles and may see more than 30 perched in a single tree. 
<Photo – Bald Eagles congregated at a Sheffield Mills feeding area in the Eastern Annapolis Valley. Credit – Rick Harley> Most Nova Scotia eagle nests are found on Cape Breton Island, around Bras D’or Lake in areas of shallow water and irregular coastlines. Nests are common along coasts of Antigonish and Pictou counties. They like mainlands on lakes, rivers, and coastal bays. <Information from The N. S. Department of Lands & Forests.>
Monthly Archives: February 2022
BROOKFIELD PLACE IS A FIRST-RATE LOCATION TO TAKE-IN SOME OF TORONTO’S BUSINESS DISTRICT
Designed by Santiago Calatrava. close to Bay Street. and near the corner of Front and Yonge Streets, with the Hockey Hall of Fame in the lower level – that’s part of Brookfield Place. If you’re wandering down Bay or Yonge be sure to go inside and admire Calatrava’s superb architectural success. Stop for lunch at Marche inside and then walk through the giant hallway. Generous space is provided for plenty of spectacular photography.
IT’S A GLOOMY WINTER DAY IN TORONTO’S CABBAGE TOWN & ROSS WINTER WAS OUT WITH HIS CAMERA.
THE CITIZEN-LED ‘BUTTERFLYWAY PROJECT’ IS WORKING TO HELP REVIVE POLLINATORS
From the David Suzuki Foundation for the first time. “We are looking for community-builders, storytellers, nature lovers, schemers and dreamers to become the next troop of Butterflyway Rangers.” Project manager Jode Roberts said “This spring, they start recruiting their friends, colleagues and neighbours to help bring bees and butterflies back to their neighbourhoods, one fun wildflower planting at a time.” Participants will receive free online Ranger training, plus official T-shirts, wildflower seeds and garden signs. Applications for Butterflyway Rangers and Schools will be accepted on a rolling basis until March 23. For more details or to apply as an individual or school to this year’s Butterflyway Project, visit this address – http://www.davidsuzuki.org/butterflyway
TORONTO STAR – A TOP CDN. TREAT – MAPLE SYRUP FROM ONTARIO SUGAR SHACKS – BUT BE AWARE OF ‘COVID 19’
From Karen Kwan – Special to The Toronto Star – “ WHEELS wants to inspire you to get ready to explore – but only if Covid-19 conditions make it safe to do so. Day trips and longer drives highlight great experiences & show you that Ontario is ‘Our’s to Discover’. Luckily we have maple syrup producers just a few hours outside of Toronto. Their (mostly outdoor) seasons start off in early March. So here we go.” – #1) – Richardson’s Farm and Market in Dunnville, 90 minute drive southwest from Toronto, next to Grand River near the North Shore of Lake Erie. Beside the maple goods add in butter, sugar, toffee, salad dressing and tea, plus the Farm’s fruit and veggies. Tour on your own and learn about maple syrup. Breakfast kit – pancake mix, sausages and maple syrup; – #2 – Trillium Ridge Sugar Works – a two-and-a-half drive east of Toronto on Highway #401, with a short drive north from exit # 566. 10,000 taps’ forest bathing while wandering around the sugar bush. Back to the shack to purchase some syrup, 2nd place winner at the Royal AgriculturalWinter Fair last year. “Limestone-rich soil” said the owner Terry Gervais. “It has a delicious flavour.”; – #3 – Petterlaw Creek Farms in Uxbridge, an hour’s drive north from Toronto. Tour of its’ Pancake House (if it’s open); demo for kids on tapping a tree, certified organic syrup operation, sugar bush spreads over 4 forests with 40,000 taps, taster pack with 4 grades of syrup, taster pack at the store. Drive to the farm on Highway #404, then east on Regional Road #31, then north again on Concession Rd. #6; #4 – Mountsberg Sugar Bush – evening tour of the Sugar Bush, an hour’s drive west along Highway #1 from Toronto near Campbellville onThursdays to Sundays – wagon ride, local musicians, fire pit, families want to visit daytime Maple Town, sheep, donkeys and goats in the animal barn, scavenger hunts, and a nautural playground, etc.; – #5 – Wheeler’s Maple Products, three-and-a-half drive east of Toronto in Lanark Highlands. Maple products, sugar camp, a museum, homemade sausages. And farm sights.
THE ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM’S ‘CRYSTAL’ IN TORONTO MAY NOT BE LOVED, BUT AFTER DARK IT’S QUITE FINE
This entrance way addition is all angles of glass and aluminum in a powerful display. Behind The Crystal is the museum, known locally as The ROM. The glass and aluminum seem to jut out of the ground displaying power. It’s in sharp contrast to the stately ROM that has been standing there since 1914. Urban Affairs writer Christopher Hume was a defender. He once said “It seems to express a desire to bring not just the Museum, not just the corner of Bloor and Avenue Road, but the whole city, into the 21st century without diminishing the past.”
CANADIAN ARTIST, JENNIFER MACKLEM, GOT A SUPER SITE FOR “DRAGONFLY”ALONG A TORONTO EXPRESSWAY
“I love dragonflies and that piece. It intersects philosophically with what we believe,” said Di Lorenzo, president of Mirabella Development Corp., creator of luxury condominiums, and an advocate of environmental responsibility. ‘Motion In Air (Ma),’ longer than a football field, consists of more than 500 custom-printed aluminum panels. It’s become one of Toronto’s most ambitious public arts – facing around more than 100,000 daily commuters on the Gardiner Expressway, along with GO Train passengers on the Lake Shore Line. Artist Macklem, associate professor of sculpture at the University of Ottawa grew up in Montreal – thus ‘Motion in Air (Ma)’.
THE NEW ‘NORTH’ SAINT LAWRENCE MARKET IS GOING UP AND IT’S WELL UNDERWAY.
Lawrence Hall and both the North and South Market buildings have served as landmarks for more than 200 years and remain the most valuable of our city’s historical complexes. Work continues on replacing Toronto’s 1968-built North St Lawrence Market structure. It’s been wearing out. 
The new creation by Rogers Stirk Harbour+ Partners will replace the old former one-storey North structure with new multi-levels. The South building opened in 1845 as Toronto’s City Hall and municipal complex contains a major public market, and in an upper level there’s an art gallery (which may or may not always be open). You’ll find the Saint Lawrence Market Complex, North and South on the southwest corner of Front and Lower Jarvis Streets. <Photo below shows the completely finished North structure as it will be> 
WE THOUGHT IT WAS GONE FOREVER, BUT “NO” THE SUNDAY ANTIQUES MARKET WILL NO DOUBT BE BACK
Sundays just wouldn’t be the same without the St. Lawrence Sunday Antiques Market with folks selling vintage collectables of all kinds – jewelry, photography, books, paintings – the works. Unfortunately the Market was opening-and-closing there for some time.
Now things are looking up. Marlene Cook, the owner and organizer for thirty years, pays a fee to the city and rents the space and tables to about 130 regular venders. Ms. Cook once said “We know how important we are to the community and to tourism . . . Not just the dealers are losing if they aren’t selling, but other dealers buy off those dealers and put their (items) into auctions. That feeds those who trade and make money.” <photo below – a great day both inside and out when the Market is open. May it continue real soon!>
TORONTO STAR – ‘WHEELS’ WANTS TO VISIT THE GTA & OAKVILLE – IF COVID-19’S SITUATION IS KEPT SAFE
From Kathy Buckworth – Special to The Star – “This series of daytrips and longer drives highlight great experiences you can have in the province, and shows you why Ontario is “Ours. To Discover”. (The Greater Toronto Area, is commonly referred to as the GTA,) It’s rare to find a place that exudes a small town feeling, but has amenities found in larger urban centres. #1) – First stop – drive from Toronto west along The Queen Elizabeth Way and exit from within about 20 minutes to Oakville with its impressive homes, restaurants, the shore of Lake Ontario, Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park; #2) – Usually street parking available on Lakeshore Road East for clothing, coffee, home furnishings, food shops and restaurants, etc; #3) – ‘By Consignment Shop’ for amazing deals; – Tocca Finita for women’s fashions; – ‘British Grocer’ for Cornish pastas; #4) – Oakville Museum at the Erchless Estate, once home to the town’s founders – the Chisholm family, with exhibits on Black history, The Underground Railroad – Next Stop Freedom presentation; #5) – Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre, a 12-acre property, 1826 house and barn with space for art exhibits by well-known and emerging artists; 6) – Dinner choices varied in price & cuisine include The Works Craft Burgers and Beer (with kids), Colossus Greek Taverna (a family favorite), Oliver’s Steakhouse, Cork’s Restaurant; and ten minutes from Oakville centre The 5-Drive-In located on The Ninth Line, screening a variety of movies (if it’s open). For the rest – do a more walk-about and explore.
Toronto Savvy 