Quebec

Young biologists discover birds of prey and plants at Alfred-Kelly Nature Reserve

Equipped with magnifying glasses, binoculars and sketchbooks, 24 youth from Montreal’s La ruelle potagère summer camp became biologists in training last summer.

The group of 12- to 15-year-olds set off in search of birds of prey along the escarpment and plants on the ecological trail of the Alfred-Kelly Nature Reserve in the Laurentian region.

As part of the Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC’s) Nature Days program, this activity was not only an opportunity to get out of the city, but a chance to learn and see conservation in action.

Over the course of the day, the young naturalists observed a variety of species, including bloodroot, downy woodpecker, eastern wood-pewee, turkey vulture and beech trees marked by black bear.

In an era where children spend more and more time indoors, the Nature Days program, organized by NCC in partnership with HSBC Bank Canada, gives young people the opportunity to discover nature and the biodiversity all around them, and learn more about career opportunities in conservation and biology.

The unique natural environments in the Alfred-Kelly Nature Reserve foster the growth of an impressive array of plants and significant animal diversity.

NCC works actively with local partners in the Laurentian region to protect this important habitat for plants and animals.

Three new properties protected on the majestic St. Lawrence River

Thanks to the generosity of donors, NCC added three new properties totalling 51 acres (21 hectares) on the St. Lawrence River.

Île de Grâce

A riverside property at Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel has been added to île de Grâce protected area in the Lac-Saint-Pierre archipelago. This site is important for the habitat protection of the copper redhorse, a species endemic to Quebec and considered endangered under the Species at Risk Act.

The property’s sandy shore provides a suitable nesting site for northern map turtles, a species of special concern. The property is also an important buffer zone between the aquatic environment and the grass prairie beyond.

The Grondines Swamp

The Grondines Swamp extends along seven kilometres of shoreline, and is one of the last large swamps on the river. Located at Deschambault-Grondines, the property includes a large floodplain forest and a waterfowl gathering area.

Numerous colonies of Victorin’s water-hemlock, a species of special concern, and provincially threatened Parker’s pipewort, two plants found exclusively in the St. Lawrence estuary, can be found here. 

Argentenay Point

Argentenay Point, a jewel of our natural heritage, contains a rare and unique forest and abundant plant life. Located at Saint-François-de-l’Île-d’Orléans, the property’s neighbouring grassy tidal flats provide an important stopover for migratory waterfowl.

The tidal flats are home to Victorin’s gentian, a threatened species, as well as Victorin’s water-hemlock and Parker’s pipewort. The forest contains endangered butternut trees.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada wishes to recognize the following donors and partners who helped make these projects possible: the Government of Canada under the Natural Areas Conservation Program, the Virginia Parker Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Fondation de la faune du Québec, the children of Joséphine and Adrien Laganière, son of Charles B. Laganière, the late Jeanne d’Arc Thibault, Earth Rangers, the Guimont family, the Lafrance family as well as private donors.