WPEC celebrates International Migratory Bird Day Have you noticed birds starting to migrate? As the birds we enjoyed all summer begin their long journey south find out why and how they know where to go. Birds are important as they pollinate flowers, feed on insects and rodents that eat crops, and they are good indicators of environmental change. Consider helping migratory birds and their cousins who over-winter in Ontario. Predators, disease, loss of food and habitat sources and climate change are some of the dangers facing birds today. On Sunday, Oct. 1 at Willow Park Ecology Centre in Norval between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., rain or shine, come and enjoy a variety of events. Visit the Backyard Habitat corner to see demonstrations in relation to bird houses, important bird areas and the bird identification safari. Feeding the birds in winter is a wonderful way to bring life to your yard on snowy days. At the Junior Birder corner children are invited to enjoy the Helping Hands programs such as bird feeder and reflector making, and games. Look for wildlife at the live bird displays from a local wildlife bird center and in the exclusively native plant species Butterfly Garden. Find out how you can contribute to scientific knowledge right in your own backyard by joining observation and monitoring programs. Take the taste test and sample shade grown, organic coffee! Willow Park recently received an Evergreen Foundation Grant to improve bird biodiversity through enhancement of bird habitat and food sources in the park. Find out how you can make your yard a bird paradise! Back by popular demand, the annual Falling Leaves Festival on Sunday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to host a chance to see the Park with its beautiful nature colors before winter. Join a variety of fun activities such as pumpkin carving, making cool stuff, habitat preservation and putting the park to bed for the season! Please register by Friday, Oct. 20. These events are open to the public, but please register at 905-702-9055 or wpec@sympatico.ca to help planning. The park operates through grants and donations and is run by dedicated volunteers. No Credit for trash Craig Quirk, 15, from the 4th Venturers Company retrieves a computer screen during the T.D. Canada Trust Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up at the Credit River at River Road. Photo by Sabrina Byrnes CVC to survey anglers Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), working with a number of partners, has recently launched a study to assess the socio-economic impact of the Credit River fishery. To gather the necessary data they are conducting an angling survey along the River and on-line via their web site. CVC will be attempting to determine the value of the Credit fishery by evaluating such information as: distances traveled to fish, expenditures, amount of time spent and other variables. However, in order to get an accurate measure of its value all Credit River anglers are being requested to participate between now and the end of October. This information, when analyzed, will help provide the social and economic case for protection and restoration of the fishery and efforts to help keep the Credit River healthy. This study is the first part of a larger initiative by CVC to better understand how the natural features and areas of the Credit River Watershed benefit the residents and the local communities in social and economic ways. The survey is easy to complete, and all information anglers provide is kept strictly confidential. The survey is only a click away and can be accessed through the CVC website: www.creditvalleycons.com/anglersurvey. Ed & Charlene Meyers and Nora & Ross McConnell are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Julie Meyers to Christopher Russell, son of David & Debbie Russell Family & friends are welcome to join us for an Engagement party to be held at 8:00 pm on Oct. 14th @ The BarberTown Pub