Hamilton
Naturalists’ Club
Naturalist
A person who specializes in natural history,
especially in the study of plants and
animals in their natural surroundings.
Learning Objectives
• Understanding the HNC
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goals
history
activities
volunteer opportunities
• Contact points for more information at the HNC
HNC Goals
• to promote the enjoyment of nature through environmental
appreciation and conservation
• to foster public interest and education in the appreciation and
study of nature
• to encourage the conservation of natural resources and
environmental protection
History
• May 8, 1919 the Hamilton Bird Protection Society is founded
with the objectives of:
• protection of land,
• hospitality to wild birds,
• increased knowledge of bird species,
• and the awakening of public interest in bird protection and bird
studies.
History – First Steps
• Establishing Bird Sanctuaries
• 1919 Barton Reservoir
• 1920 Dundas Marsh (Cootes Paradise)
• 1927 Marsh was officially declared a game sanctuary by the
Ontario Department of Game and Fisheries. (RBG)
History – Education of Children
• 1919 the Club has educated
children and the general
public about biodiversity and
the protection and
enhancement of wildlife
habitat beginning with the
organizing of 273 Junior
Audubon Clubs in 45
Hamilton area schools
History – Records
• 1921 Christmas Bird Count
• was done in the Hamilton region.
• 1925 Noteworthy Bird Records
• of the Hamilton area.
The Club has also made
significant contributions to
the Ontario Breeding Bird
Atlas, the Ontario Rare Bird
Atlas, the Ontario Bird
Record Committee and the
Ontario Herpetofaunal
Summary.
History – Turning Point
• 1958
• President Robert Elstone - “it is
becoming apparent that there is
neither will or facility for
government, or other groups, to
guard against pollution and
development”
• 1961 the Club was the first
Naturalist Club in Ontario (and the
second in Canada) to purchase land
to become a nature sanctuary in
perpetuity.
History – Notable Notes
• 1961 Club member Raymond Lowes “ a dream that can be
made real.”
History – Survey/Inventory
• 1976 “comprehensive survey of biotic elements” in the region
to help identify and secure ESA designations
• 1987 Herpetofaunal Atlas and computerizes all documentation
recorded in the Wood Duck by members over the years
• 1988/89 botanical survey of the Dundas Valley
• 1991 comprehensive region-wide biotic inventory nicknamed
“What’s Alive in Hamilton”.
Notable Notes
• 1989 as a first step towards the restoration of Cootes Paradise,
the Club raised $15,000.00 for this goal.
• 1991 the Club endorsed an ambitious Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Restoration Project aimed at restoring the marsh. This $12.6
million project was the first to be funded by the Great Lakes
Cleanup Fund.
History - Advocacy
• efforts include:
• urging that the Ancaster Radial Line property be declared a
Provincial park;
• opposing further infilling of Hamilton Harbour;
• opposing a major highway project that would have had Highway
403 go through Cootes Paradise and another highway built
through the Dundas Valley;
History – Advocacy
• 1995-96 Red Hill Valley
Despite efforts by the HNC and other Friends of the Red Hill
Valley an expressway was erected in the early 2000’s
History – Study/Inventory
• 1987 to 1991 the Club prepared a Herpetofaunal Atlas to
supply information about the species and relative abundance
of all the reptiles and amphibians known to live within the 40
km of Hamilton.
History – Protection of
Endangered Species
• 1986/87 Club raises
and releases Bald
Eagles
1996 Falconwatch
History- Sanctuary
• 1961 the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club became the first volunteer
organization in Ontario (and the second in Canada) to
purchase a significant area as a nature sanctuary.
• 1993 a further acquisition brought the sanctuary to 165 acres
History - Sanctuary
Spooky Hollow 1961
Short Hill 1967
Cartwright 2004
Thomas and Mary Young 2005
Amaolo 2010
History – Land Trust
• 2005 HNC formed the Head-of-the-Lake Land Trust
In 1998, the Club
became a
founding
member of the
Ontario Nature
Trust Alliance, an
organization
formed by
owners of Land
Trusts and
Private Nature
Sanctuaries
whose purpose is
to share
information and
support each
other in this vital
work.
Club - Activities
• Land Trust management and sanctuary stewardship
• Monthly membership meetings
• Monthly Bird Study meetings
• Monthly Wood Duck publication
• Field Events
• Conservation and Education
• Advocacy
• Falconwatch
The Future
The Future
• One of the most exciting initiatives underway in which the
HNC is once again playing a key role in a collaborative effort is
the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System.
The Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System is a collaborative initiative to
protect, restore and connect almost 1,900 hectares (4,700 acres) of natural
lands at the western end of Lake Ontario.
http://www.cootestoescarpmentpark.ca/
Club - Funding
• The Hamilton Naturalist Club is a volunteer based, nongovernment organization
• They receive funding through a variety of sources
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Foundations and endowment funds
Bequests
Donations – both citizens and corporate
Memberships
Government grants
Activity based fundraising
Club - “Behind the Scenes”
• Board of Directors
• Members and Volunteers
• Staff – Land Trust Program Coordinator
Volunteer Roles
There are over 80 distinct volunteer roles within the HNC.
They fall under the following basic areas:
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Board of Directors
Membership
Program (monthly meetings)
Sanctuary/Head-of-the-Lake
Land Trust
Bird Study (monthly
meetings)
Falcon Watch
Conservation and Education
Field Events
• Wood Duck
• Publications
• Fund Development and
Fundraising
• Volunteers
Volunteer Roles
• Episodic
• Occasional
• Weekly
• Monthly
• Ongoing
• Work Party
• Outing registration
• Junior Naturalist
• Biologist
• Team Leadership
• Project Management
• Event Planning
• Administrative
• Fund Development
We invite you to chat about how we can match your skills and interests
with opportunities at the Club
Thank you
for your time and attention
• Questions?
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For more information:
HNC Website http://hamiltonnature.org/
HTTL Website http://headofthelakelandtrust.org/about-us/
HNC Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/HamiltonNaturalists-Club/386408715600
• Lee Jones – HNCVolunteer@gmail.com 519-281-6711
• Jen Baker – land@hamiltonnature.org 905-524-3339