durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, July 14, 2022 | | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a whollyowned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@durhamregion.com facebook.com/newsdurham @newsdurham WHO WE ARE Vice President Dana Robbins Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Managing Editor Mike Lacey Director of Advertising Tanya Pacheco Director Distribution Jason Christie Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron Durham Advisory Council Dan Carter; Esther Enyolu; Jake Farr; Dr. Vidal Chavannes; Cynthia Davis; Elaine Popp/Don Lovisa; John Henry; Sue McGovern; Kerri King; Steve Yamada; Kelly LaRocca; Peter Bethlenfalvy; Dr. Steven Murphy; Norah Marsh; Tracy Paterson; Chris Darling; Christina Curry CONTACT US This Week Phone: 905- 579-4407 Newsroom: 905-215-0462 Sales: 905-215-0424 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-579-2238 Web: www.durhamregion.com Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at durhamregion.com Delivery For all delivery inquiries, call 905- 579-4407 or visit the Contact Us page on durhamregion.com. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT DURHAMREGION.COM LETTERS & COMMENTARY After robins, I would bet more children in southern Ontario grow up hearing house wrens singing than just about any other birds. And might not even realize it. Totally unafraid of people and at home in yards and gardens everywhere, house wrens spend much of each summer day boldly chasing after insects and devouring them. But they're so small -- four inches plus a cocked-up tail -- and such a cryptic grey-brown that they're like tiny darting shadows in the shrubbery. Now you see them, now you don't. The males make up for that with their loud, rambunctious song, a rising-falling burst of gurgling notes delivered often, dawn till dusk, throughout the breeding season. Which stretches on through July, since most pairs raise two broods every summer. But like other repetitious sounds, it's easy to tune them out after a while. While her mate does most of the singing, defending his nesting territory from rivals and advertising it to perspective future mates, Momma Wren isn't shy about expressing her own opinions. I was having coffee on a neighbour's deck near a cute little Swiss-chalet birdhouse mounted near the door, and jumped every time Mrs. Wren came and went, scolding me with her churring, chiding notes. House wrens are cavity nesters and readily use man-made structures. This same neighbour has an ornate octagonal box mounted on a post in her flower garden where wrens raise babies every summer. We have an old bluebird box nailed to the back wall of our shed that often houses another brood or two. But this year, to our surprise, a pair broke protocol and decided to build on an open ledge above the window of Dennis's second-story office. For weeks he's been watching them "playing house," fetching nesting material, incubating, and finally feeding babies. There was a great kerfuffle the day he got out the ladder and exchanged storm windows for screens, but peace soon returned. Meanwhile, I've discovered that stretching out on the couch by the living room window provides a great view of both parents' pale bellies as they come and go in the cedar trees above. I often see the male with his head tipped back and his throat quivering as he sings. And any day now there should be darling fledged babies lined up in the cedars. If you want to get to know house wrens, follow that singer to the nearest birdhouse, sit nearby and just watch for a while. They're energy personified. Nature queries: mcar- ney1490@gmail.com or 905- 725-2116. Metroland columnist Margaret Carney finds so much to discover and marvel at exploring the great outdoors. 'TINY DARTING SHADOWS IN THE SHRUBBERY' MARGARET CARNEY SAYS YOU MAY HEAR HOUSE WRENS, BUT SEEING THEM IS ANOTHER STORY MARGARET CARNEY Column Columnist Margaret Carney says house wrens are, "small … and such a cryptic grey-brown that they're like tiny darting shadows in the shrubbery. Now you see them, now you don't." Mike McEvoy photo ENERGY PERSONIFIED PAID WATERFRONT PARKING BAD FOR BUSINESS With respect to the recent Pickering waterfront parking permits, I suggest that the City of Pickering provide one-hour free parking for anyone in front of waterfront businesses. It would help their businesses. Only Pickering residents get free waterfront parking. Out-of-town customers have to pay. Because of COVID-19, the businesses suffered and paid parking hinders the businesses further. SHALINI BHALOO PICKERING ROUGE SANDBAR DIG AN 'INCREDIBLY BAD IDEA' Excavation of the sandbar at the mouth of the Rouge River is such an incredibly bad idea that I am gobsmacked that it ever could have gone so far as a proposal. That sandbar is used year-round as a loafing and foraging site for wildlife. It is used by both gulls and terns in summer, by shorebirds in both spring and fall passage, by ducks and geese year-round and by snowy owls in winter. There is no possible rationale for excavating it that would outweigh its existing benefit to wildlife. Its formation is a natural and ancient process. The fact that common terns are nesting there naturally shows that it is providing a habitat lacking in the rest of the Rouge Marsh and Rouge Beach area. It is beyond comprehension that any rational person would suggest excavating that sandbar. François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon and François-Saturnin Lascaris d'Urfé recorded a snowy owl on a similar sandbar at the mouth of the Rouge River as far back as December 1669 when visiting the Seneca village of Ganatsekwyagon at the lower Rouge River Marshes. It was the first owl species described for the GTA by Europeans pioneering into the habitats of Lake Ontario. I would sincerely hope any plans for excavating the sandbar are shelved for good as a reckless idea that is counterproductive to good stewardship in a national park. Leave it alone! GLENN COADY WHITBY SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT DURHAMREGION.COM