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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, April 19, 1989-9 Kids at Play at the Orono Play Group The Orono Play Group has ex- and now has taken up quarters in Above children at play at the cen- panded greatly over the past year the basement of the Orono Town. tre. Hit Tent Caterpillars early in the year T.J. Farmer, Extension Technician Forest tent caterpillar moths lay their eggs in bands aroùnd the branch tips of trees. When the caterpillars are fully formed in the eggs, they enter diapause and overwinter overwinter in the egg. Egg hatch occurs about the time of initial tree bud development in the spring. There can be 150 or more caterpillars per'egg band. The tiny caterpillars feed openly in colonies on the unfolding leaves. This is an ideal time to take control measures against this foliage- devouring pest. When in this early stage of development the caterpillars caterpillars are much more susceptible to insecticides. Use only registered insecticides insecticides and FOLLOW ALL LABEL DIRECTIONS. We suggest suggest you use a biological insecticide containing the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis. This insecticide is often referred to as Bt. For small ornamental or shade trees agricultural ground spray equipment may be very useful. However, if you'have large acreages of forest or large woodlot trees you may want to obtain the services of an aircraft sprayer., It is probably best for all landowners landowners in an area to band together and obtain the services of an ex- Mandy Bidwell, District Visitor Services Programmer The 1989 camping, season for Lindsay District Provincial Parks is , just around the corner. This year, the provincial park campsite reservation system has received a few changes to facilitate more consistent and high quality service to all our visitors. The parks in the Lindsay District are accepting reservations as of April 3, 1989 and the following changes have been implemented: 1) All reservations must be guaranteed through Visa/Mastercard Visa/Mastercard number or payment in advance of arrival by money order or a cheque. cheque. 2) Reservations will be accepted, perienced, licenced aircraft- equipped' spray operator. Applying Bt is best done when insects insects are at their most susceptible development stages and when weather conditions are right. An experienced experienced operator will know about these aspects of spraying and set up a schedule accordingly. If spraying is unacceptable or unavailable, the next best method is to destroy the caterpillars when they mass up on the stems and branches of the tree. The caterpillars will form up in large resting patches on the trees, usually in the evenings when temperatures are lower. They will also move into this mass formation formation when shedding skins and moving moving from one stage of larval development to the next phase. You can collect and destroy these masses of caterpillars or you can destroy them right where they mass. The forest tent Caterpillar is a native pest and is here for only a short time. These outbreaks soon subside once the predators and other natural controls start to reach their own peak levels. If you require information on tree insects such as the forest tent caterpillar, contact your local Ministry of Natural Resources office. office. i processed and confirmed weekdays from 8 a>.m. to 4:30 p.m. from April 3 to September 1, 1989 for all Lindsay District Provincial Parks. 3) A maximum of two telephone reservations will be accepted at one time. 4) Reservations will be accepted by telephone,'mail or in person. All reservations must be made by calling the park directly. We urge you to make your reservations as early as possible to ensure a campsite campsite is available. Following is a list of park operating dates and telephone numbers to assist you in planning your summer holidays: Balsam Lake (705) 454-3324; Darlington (416) 436-2036; Emily (705) Woods, Water and Wildlife by Marion Strebig The Sky is Falling Eastern Bluebirds are back. In the children's story, Henny Penny decided that the acorn that hit her on the head was the sky falling. Anyone seeing for the first time a male Eastern Bluebird in the spring sun might be pardoned for feeling that a piece of the spring sky had come loose. Early to arrive the bluebirds âre real harbingers of spring. Since early early March, reports of their arrival have been coming in. They had arrived arrived on Lake Erie, near Long Point, before the middle of March. By late March there were reports from Presqu'île on Lake Ontario, and last Friday a pair had arrived at the nest boxes in Ken Reid Conservation Conservation Area near Fenelon Falls. Within days that number had risen to 6 pairs, a new record for that area. Why is it that the arrival of the bluebirds is an even more joyful event than the arrival of the first robin? For a number of years, reports like the ones I've been getting getting this spring would have been few and far between. Bluebird populations had disappeared from many of their former breeding areas. According to the Atlas of Breeding Birds of Ontario this species is particularly hard-hit by severe winters in its wintering areas in the southeastern United States. Disastrous winters of 1957-58, 1976-77 and 1977-78 caused an estimated. 60-90% decline in numbers. Other factors were also at work. The Eastern Bluebird is a cavity nester, at a time when natural 799-5170; Serpent Mounds (705) 295-6879. The fee schedule for 1989 will be as follows: Campsite with hydro $13.25; Campsite with shower $11.25; Additional Vehicle $4.50; Reservation Fee $3.00. The Ontario Provincial Parks Guide, listing all provincial park operating rates and dates is now available free of charge at your local Ministry of Natural Resources office and Chamber of Commerce. cavities are in short supply. A general mania for tidiness has reduced the number of snag trees, and wooden fenceposts have been replaced by metal. For those .remaining .remaining natural cavities the competition competition is fierce, and the peace- loving bluebird usually loses to aggressive aggressive birds like the Starling, the House Sparrow, the Tree Swallow and the House Wren. Nice guys do often finish last. . But the disappearance of this beautiful and cheerful bird from many of its former haunts affected many people very deeply. Active partisans sprang to the bluebirds' aid of providing ■ suitable artificial cavities for them in areas where they had formerly beeri common. Soon nest box trails in the U.S, and Canada were giving the bluebird a new lease on life. Although both Committees on the Status of Endangered Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources had declared it to be rare, after the disastrous winters of 1976-78, the Atlas concluded that it can probably probably now be regarded as uncommon uncommon rather than rare. , NoW' 4 new generation in southern Ontario can hope to see a bluebird somewhere in the province. province. Recently I have seen bluebirds near Grimsby, in Toronto's Toronto's High Park, in the Ganaraska Forest, in Haliburton and in the Rideau Lakes area north of Kingston. There are major concen trations of bluebirds along the Niagara Escarpment and along the southern edges of the shield. Since they need open areas, their distribution distribution in northern areas, where forest openings and agricultural areas are fewer, i's sparse. In an effort to coordinate Ontario Ontario efforts at bluebird conservation, conservation, The Ontario Eastern Bluebird Society was formed in the fall of 1988. Thé society gives as its main objective "to increase the number of managed nest box trails and to give guidance to new bluebird trail operators." The society is attempting to monitor population trends to bluebirds across Ontario by surveying surveying bluebird nest box trail participants participants as to the number of fledg- , ed young. Although I have not got all the 1988 figures, the present total is more than 6500 fledged young, up significantly from the 4950 fledged in 1987. William Read, founder of the society, believes that well managed nest box trails have helped significantly to improve the situation situation for the Eastern Bluebird in Ontario. Ontario. The society membership fee of six dollars covers 2 newsletters and a copy of each year's summary of the survey results. Anyone interested interested should contact William Read, 165 Green Valley Dr., Unit 2, Kitchener, Ontario, N2P 1K3. And may you all be lucky enough to see a bluebird this season. ATHELETIC APPRECIATION NIGHT An Appreciation Night was held last Saturday night in the Orono Community Centre for all those taking part in promoting minor sport in Orono and area., The event was sponsored by the Orono Amateur Athletic Associtation which included a banquet and dance.Some 140 were in attendance with Certificates of Appreciation being awarded. o° A : Rs ^ presents ii 'Something Green ' ' 4 PLAYS by Michael Green Thurs., April 27 , Friday, April 28 8:00 P-m. Saturday, April 29 4 Clarke High School Phone 987-4771 for tickets Adults $5.00 f Students $4.00 4 Entertainment - Door Prizes Do You Need Help In Financing Your College, University or other Post Secondary Education O.S.A.P. Ontario Student Assistance Program Presented by Durham College Thursday, April 27,1989 .10:30 a.m. Clarke High School EVERYONE WELCOME 1 Reservation system for Provincial Parks