Page 10 - GM Winter 2021

Birdies of the Bay poster: photo credit Stuart Clarke BSc., Wildlife Photographer www.raincoastphoto.com
Once we understood and witnessed firsthand that creating and nurturing the different areas on the golf course was developing a thriving ecosystem, our focus turned towards programs that would further enhance and develop the ecosystem that was evolving on this young golf course that was once farmland. Golf courses contain a series of biomes that connect to form an ecosystem on the properties that we manage. These biomes are large sections of forest, ponds, streams, naturalized areas, gardens and intensely maintained turf areas that combine to form an ecosystem. Within each of these systems a unique balance is established that we as golf course superintendents can either harm or nurture through our maintenance activities and programs.
An old friend, who was a farmer in Alberta, always told me that we had to be in tune with Mother Nature and this saying resonated with me over the years as I have observed the natural balance of our property spring to life in so many ways. The term Sanctuary is truly what a golf course can become with a focus on collaborating with Mother Nature and not against her.
HABITAT ENHANCEMENT: THE ‘BIRDIES OF THE BAY’ PROGRAM
I do not recall the official species count during our environmental assessment of our wildlife count on the golf course back in 2005, but we were able to identify close to sixty
species of birds that called Cordova Bay their home for a portion of the year. I remember being surprised by that number because I originally assumed the inventory count would be closer to forty or fifty species. However, this number intrigued me and as a result our case study for certification was focused on wildlife habitat enhancement with a focus on creating habit to attract additional species to our property.
Looking back on this decision, it is clear that the implementation of this case study was instrumental in developing a thriving bird population that has created and influenced a thriving ecosystem in so many ways, and the realized benefit has been the creation of a thriving Sanctuary that everyone who plays here cannot help but notice. The energy and smiles created by the birds’ activities throughout the golf course during the different seasons is something that most people will not experience during their daily lives living in the city and that has made the creation of thriving bird populations on the golf course so rewarding.
Twenty-five years later, our Birdies of the Bay poster and brochure that we refer to as our ‘Birdie Scorecard’, is given to our members so that they can keep track of the birds they observe during their round. This scorecard has increased to 99 species and I wait in anticipation for the species that becomes number 100 on our list.
BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME
Reflecting on the different facets of our ‘Birdies of the Bay’ case study, I believe the most crucial decision we made, back in 2005, was to eliminate the use of pond herbicides and insecticides on our property. At first, this decision created undesirable consequences with a small amount of turf lost from grub activity and tree damage by heavy caterpillar populations, but before long, we observed large numbers of a variety of birds or predator insects who became our biggest ally in the control of undesirable insects. After five years, a balance between bird populations and their food sources was established and no damage or turf loss has been experienced in two decades.
Second in order of importance in the promotion of increasing bird species populations was the implementation of habitat enhancement. The obvious programs were the addition of a variety of nest boxes throughout the property, creating habitat by allowing deadfall to stand and nurse logs to lay on the forest floor, and naturalizing turf areas to create meadows where possible. To attract additional species such as Osprey, Bald Eagles, Cormorants, Belted Kingfisher, and Great Blue Heron we began stocking two of our larger ponds with Rainbow Trout as a food source for these birds.
Following these initiatives, the number of species we were observing throughout the year was steadily on the rise, but it wasn’t until the summer of
10 • CGSA • GreenMaster