Submitted by Peninsula Bruce Trail Club
The Peninsula Bruce Trail Club (PBTC) is thrilled to be a 2021 grant recipient of the Community Foundation Grey Bruce. Community Foundation Grey Bruce supports Grey Bruce residents through grants to community projects by non-profit organizations and scholarships, bursaries or awards to students.
Grant funds paid for the materials required to build an 8’ X 6’ bird viewing platform which was constructed by PBTC volunteers, Tim, Olivia and Tamara Wilson (PBTC President) and installed by Land Stewardship volunteers, at Otter Lake Nature Reserve. Otter Lake Nature Reserve is located on Cape Chin Road North and is easily accessed by a short hike along the Otter Lake Side Trail.
Olivia, a local birder, describes the avian diversity at Otter Lake, “The diversity of the birds in this small area is amazing. I did not know places like this even existed. One of my favourite memories is walking up to Otter Lake and hearing a call in the tree beside me that sounded mechanical — like some sort of robot. That was my introduction to the Otter Lake Bobolinks and they became one of my favourite birds, often accompanying me during my hikes. My time at Otter Lake made me realize the importance of conservation efforts, and the significance of keeping sections of the Bruce Trail such as this in pristine condition, away from harmful human impacts.” Observations at Otter Lake will assist the public in learning about wetlands and the diversity of bird species found here.
Otter Lake Nature Reserve is one of several Bruce Trail Nature Reserves on the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula. Explore the Otter Lake Nature Reserve while hiking on the Otter Lake Side Trail by joining one of the PBTC Migration Monitoring hikes. Or, take your time for quiet reflection and observation of this wonderful wetland habitat while perched on the bird viewing platform.
Peninsula Bruce Trail Club is a non-profit organization, the northernmost Bruce Trail Conservancy Club, with a dual mandate of a land trust and hiking club. Utilizing only volunteers, it maintains the Bruce Trail and stewards several nature reserves and properties located on the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula from Wiarton to Tobermory. For more information about the Bruce Trail Conservancy and the Peninsula Bruce Trail Club Migration Monitoring hikes, go to www.brucetrail.org.
Thank you to Community Foundation Grey Bruce for providing the funds for this initiative.
