The Rainy River Valley Field Naturalists Club has been accepted as a member of the Federation of Ontario Field Naturalists.
The federation held a board meeting Saturday and voted to include the local club. Its executive had been waiting for a response after submitting an application to join in December.
“Along with a land trust group in Algoma, that brings 12 member groups in Northern Ontario,” noted FOFN executive director Rick Symmes. “Rainy River will be the most westerly. Up until now, the most westerly club was in Thunder Bay.
“There are some important birds in the north and having a member group in that area will be helpful in monitoring what’s going on,” he added.
The announcement came as great news to local club members.
“They’re sort of the premier field naturalist club going,” said Bob Jeffery, treasurer of the Rainy River Valley Field Naturalists Club. “We now have access to their services and support and expertise.
“Basically, it allows us to get info from them in terms of provincial projects and we get insurance for outings through them,” he added.
The local club, which has about 20 members, has been organizing outings for those who appreciate the outdoors, including canoe trips, bird-watching, cross-country skiing, and dog-sledding.
It also has offered info sessions from biologists, photographers, and other professionals who work with flora and fauna.
“It’s for learning more about the natural environment and its inhabitants,” said Jeffery. “There’s a mix in ages, ranges, and background and in the area, one of the misconceptions is the people who belong to the sportsmen’s club and things like that don’t [join].
“We have people who do all sorts of things, hunting, fishing . . . .” he noted.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
