Welcome to HHLT’s Barnum Creek Nature Reserve
The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust would like to welcome you to the Barnum Creek Nature Reserve. This fabulous 500-acre property was kindly donated to the Land Trust in 2017 by Leopoldina and Margaret Dobrzensky. Historically, from 1865 until the late 1950s, this site was utilized for mixed-farming practices,despite its shallow and rocky soils. Signs of this difficult farming still exist throughout the area and areespecially evident in the large stone piles still dotting the landscape. The property was last farmed in the late 1950s, when land use reverted to a more forestry-based model. Portions of the property have since been managed for timber harvesting, and have been selectively harvested as recently as 2007, as evidenced by the wide trails you will be exploring. Since being acquired by the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust, the property’s main uses are now environmental and wildlife protection, research, education, and low impact recreation.
Barnum Creek
There is nothing like the sound of running water to soothe the soul! Listen to the song of Barnum Creek as it dances downward, tumbling over rocks and ledges, on its way to Barnum Lake far below. From here, it eventually drains into Lake Kashagawigamog, a large lake to the west. But this waterway has a split personality. From its Barnum Pond source a few kilometers to the east, this creek flows gently westward. Along the way, it traverses a series of tranquil wetlands before reaching this rocky escarpment. Suddenly, its quiet character changes abruptly, cascading down this rocky defile for the next several hundred meters. As the water tumbles, it becomes saturated with oxygen, creating excellent habitat for a variety of animals including the Speckled Trout. This species was once common in Barnum Creek but disappeared with changing land uses during the past century. Recently, the lower stretches of Barnum Creek, however, have been rehabilitated by the Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association with the intention of reintroducing the Speckled Trout back into the watershed. Barnum Creek Nature Reserve’s heavily forested environment plays a pivotal role in not only protecting the headwaters of this stream but ensuring that the temperature remains cool, and the water clear and highly oxygenated. The result is an ecosystem with a rich population of aquatic insects, including some interesting dragonflies such as the Ski-tipped Emerald. These insects in turn provide valuable food for Speckled Trout.
Mature Forests
As you wander along this next stretch of trail, you’ll probably notice how dark it has become in places. You seem to be walking through a tunnel of trees, with a full canopy above and to the sides of you. Although this area was logged decades ago, it has slowly reverted to a mature maple forest. This type of habitat is perfect for the stunning Scarlet Tanager. Tanagers are mostly tropical birds, and this species certainly looks like it belongs with its gaudily coloured cousins to the south. Scarlet Tanagers are neon red in colour and have black wings and tail. They spend most of their time in the high canopy, so it is easy to miss them. Here at Barnum Creek Nature Reserve, they are commonly seen or heard in this type of habitat. As you walk, listen for their distinctive “chik-bree” call notes from May to September. Only the males sing, however, giving burry phrases somewhat like a robin with a sore throat. Scarlet Tanagers are sensitive to habitat fragmentation and require large tracts of undisturbed forest to breed successfully. Barnum Creek, with its extensive forest cover, offers this in dividends.Ovenbirds, ground nesting warblers that make a nest reminiscent of a Dutch oven, seem to sing from every direction. Their loud, repeated “tea-CHER, tea-CHER, tea-CHER” song is hard to ignore. Signs of White-tailed Deer abound. Look for signs of browse or pellets as you stroll.These extensive tracts of forest not only provide excellent habitat for a myriad of species, but also store massive amounts of carbon. The result is that these areas play an important role in building resilience to climate change.
Indigenous History
Although Barnum Creek Nature Reserve has been occupied by European settlers for the past 150 years, it had been visited and stewarded long before by Indigenous First Nations. The first inhabitants to this general area were hunter-gatherers, and likely the ancestors of the present-day Mississauga peoples. Evidence of Indigenous life here can be traced back to the last ice age some 12,000 years ago when the region looked very different….more like the present-day tundra. As the ice sheet slowly retreated, the habitat also changed, first to a boreal coniferous ecosystem, and finally to the mixed or deciduous woodlands you see today. But archaeological evidence of early Aboriginal life here is scarce. It is thought that this is because many of the areas most used by these people were along lake shores where water levels have risen over the years, submerging much of the evidence. The other reason is that these hunter-gatherer societies lived so lightly and respectfully on the land that they left very little trace of their presence.The original name for the area of Haliburton Highlands is Ogidaaki, or Gidaaki in the Mississauga pronunciation. Gidaaki can be broken into two words - Gidaa meaning upwards and Ki meaning earth. “Upwards Earth” is a perfect description for the rolling landscape that is present day Haliburton County, and even Barnum Creek Nature Reserve on a micro scale.Today, Haliburton County is situated on the Anishinaabe lands covered by Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig territory and the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations. This territory is protected by the “Dish with One Spoon” wampum agreement between the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Peoples to share and safeguard the land in the spirit of peace, friendship, and respect. The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust respectfully acknowledges that the Williams Treaties First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity, and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come. HHLT is grateful for their wisdom and leadership and is mindful of broken covenants and the need to learn, heal and reconcile with all our relations. The Land Trust is committed to caring for this land and each other, in peace and friendship, for the sake of generations to come.
An Explosion of Colour
Hiking through this area in late April and early May can be breathtaking as tiny wildflowers carpet the ground in a tapestry of colour. These first blooms, the spring ephemerals, spend the majority of their life as dormant roots and bulbs in the forest floor, patiently awaiting the spring melt and the arrival of warm temperatures. Then, they race for the sky, emerging and quickly flowering while the trees are still bare. With the lack of a full canopy overhead, these plants rush to complete their life cycle while obtaining the maximum amount of sunlight available to them. They photosynthesize in earnest, sending some of the collected energy into producing blooms and into seed production, but also storing some of it in their root systems in anticipation of the following year. As the trees begin to leaf out and the available light dwindles, the flowers begin to wilt and die, turning into seed. The seeds disperse, the plants wither, and only the underground root systems remain.A stroll through this area in the early spring will reveal a verdant carpet of mottled leaves. The leaves of the Yellow Trout Lily emerge first, followed shortly by the beautiful yellow blooms. This species is colonial, sending up many leaves, although only a few of these will produce flower stalks. The rest of the leaves collect energy for the colony. Some of these colonies are thought to be over 300 years old! Look for the gorgeous Dutchman’s Breeches, with its dissected leaves and its distinct white blooms looking like pants hanging along a clothesline. The tiny Carolina Spring Beauty grows in clusters. The pale, 5-petaled flowers show veins of deep purple or pink. Wild Leeks send up large patches of odorous leaves but save their blooms for later in the season. As the canopy begins to leaf out, the beloved Red Trillium and White Trillium bloom, signaling the latter end of the ephemeral cycle and the beginning of blackfly season. The long slumber begins until the following spring.
Vernal Pools – An Amphibian Bonanza
Look down the slope from this point and you will see a depression in the landscape where water collects. This is an example of an ephemeral pond, also called a vernal pool. These wetlands are incredible places in the spring and early summer, and prime breeding grounds for some of Haliburton’s amphibians. In the spring, as the snow begins to melt, water collects in depressions such as these. Triggered by the spring rains, the first amphibians to appear are the salamanders, often in massive numbers. They cross the forest floor, over snow, ice, logs, and debris, heading blindly in the direction they were born, and returning to the exact same pool where their lives began. Upon arriving at the pond, the salamanders court, pair, mate, and eventually lay eggs in jelly-like, globular clusters. This explosive breeding event is over as quickly as it began. The next to come are the frogs, especially Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs. The former species, barely larger than your thumb nail, emits an incredibly loud, high-pitched call.The Wood Frog, on the other hand, is more reminiscent of a cackling duck. The combined chorus, however, can be absolutely deafening, as they call with the intensity of a smoke detector! The frogs call incessantly in the hopes of attracting a mate. Like the salamanders before them, the frogs pair, mate, lay their eggs and leave the pond to spend their summer in the forest. The eggs hatch quickly and the race to grow begins in earnest, as the young need to obtain enough nourishment to metamorphose before the pool dries up. So why ephemeral ponds? Why not marshes, or beaver ponds? The answer lies in predator avoidance. These ponds are fishless, providing a relatively safe haven to grow quickly without being eaten. With climate change, these habitats are at higher risk of drying early, directly affecting the survival of the amphibians utilizing them.
The Importance of Open Spaces in Haliburton County
Look at any satellite photo of Haliburton County and a few things stand out. We live in a sea of trees, dotted with a myriad of lakes and wetlands. Many other counties in southern Ontario are not so lucky and have lost virtually all their wild spaces. As important as these forests are, open habitats are equally vital. Fields and grasslands, like the one you see before you, are a relatively rare habitat type in Haliburton County and are crucial to maintaining biodiversity in the region. These open, sunny places provide habitat for many species of butterflies, moths, birds, reptiles, and plants. As you roam through this open area, listen and look for some of the residents that call this grassland home. Eastern Bluebirds can frequently be heard giving their plaintive “turlee” calls.These birds are thrushes and are closely related to our ubiquitous Robin. Bluebirds likely benefited from European colonization as early forest clearing practices created a mosaic of open spaces, hedgerows, and fruit orchards….ideal habitats for this species. With intensifying agricultural practices and the introduction of aggressive exotics such as the European Starling and the House Sparrow, they declined severely during the middle of the last century. By the early 1980s, bluebirds were considered rare in Canada. Thankfully, the population has rebounded successfully, due in large part to dedicated nest box programs that target this species. The Land Trust has been actively erecting nest boxes in appropriate habitat within Barnum Creek Nature Reserve in the past several years, with success. Today, bluebirds are once again a common sight in open spaces like the one before you. This grassy field is actively managed by the Land Trust because if it were not regularly mowed, it would soon be lost to regenerating forest and this special habitat would vanish.
Sunny Refuges
You are standing near the location of the original Dugan homestead. The Dugan family were early settlers and farmers. In late May and early June, the sweet smell of lilac bushes permeates the air. Although not a native species in Ontario, this cultivar provides an excellent nectar source for a myriad of butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, flies, and other insects in the region. During flowering season, these bushes are alive with insects! The showy Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is a common visitor to these blooms in late May and June. Its large size, flowing tails, and striped yellow and black pattern make it a favorite of children and adults alike. An interesting moth that is also frequently observed here is the Clear-winged Sphinx Moth, sometimes called a Hummingbird Moth. This insect is a bumble bee mimic with its yellow and black fuzzy body and clear wings. A quick glance and you can easily mistake it for a bumbler. But a closer look will reveal a hovering moth with a long proboscis. Unlike a bumble bee, which needs to land on a flower to gather nectar, sphinx moths unravel a long “tongue”, allowing them to hover in front of the bloom without ever landing. These lilacs and the edges of the nearby forest are also home to the sapphire Indigo Bunting, often heard singing its “quick-quick, fire-fire, water-water” in doubled phrases. Even a brief encounter with this stunning bird is seldom forgotten!Watch for the beautiful Eastern Milk Snake, with it’s red on gray blotches, hunting stealthily for mice and voles among the grasses. Butterflies such as Eastern Tailed Blues, Clouded Sulphurs, Common Ringlets, and several species of skipper can be observed dancing among the grasses. Grasslands such as these also provide a home for species at risk such as the Eastern Meadowlark and the Bobolink. As with many grassland birds, these species have declined significantly in the past several decades due to habitat loss. The protected open fields before you provide a refuge for these disappearing birds.
Protecting Biodiversity for Future Generations
One of the mandates of the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust is to protect habitat for all flora and fauna, including species at risk. Barnum Creek Nature Reserve provides a 500-acre refuge for many local species and several species at risk including the Five-lined Skink (Ontario’s only native lizard), the Wood Thrush, and the Blanding’s Turtle.Recently, the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust has embarked on an enormous, visionary initiative called the Highlands Corridor. The Corridor is a unique model of conservation that includes land trust and municipal properties, private land stewardship and unceded Crown land. This project was influenced by several factors, including the federal government’s pledge to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030, building resilience to increasing climate change, and stemming the loss of global biodiversity. With this in mind, a large swath of land linking Queen Elizabeth Wildlands Provincial Park in the west to Kawartha Highlands and Silent Lake Provincial Parks in the east was identified by the Land Trust. The Highlands Corridor is 100,000 ha of Crown land, municipal land and private land with 4800 ha of provincially significant wetlands extending throughout. This swath of land, lying along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, is recognized as a significant wildlife corridor, an area rich in wetlands, home to some 35 species at risk, and a place where deep carbon deposits abound. Protecting it by designating the unceded Crown land as a conservation reserve would offer a nature-based solution mitigating the effects of climate change and, at the same time, addressing the problem of declining biodiversity. Within this long-term strategy, HHLT would continue to build strong partnerships with private landowners and encourage good stewardship to enhance connectivity within the Corridor. In addition, consultations with First Nations have been initiated to identify traditional uses and knowledge within the identified region. Dahl Forest and the Fred and Pearl Barry Wetland Reserve, other Land Trust owned and managed properties to the southwest of you, lie within the Corridor boundaries and already protect portions of this mosaic. Barnum Creek Nature Reserve also plays a role in the goals of the corridor, as it protects land within the northern buffer zone of this region. For more information about the Highlands Corridor, visit highlandscorridor.ca.
Thank You for Your Support
We hope you have enjoyed your guided walk through the beautiful Barnum Creek Nature Reserve. If you would like to support the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust in their endeavour to conserve and steward lands and waters for future generations, please visit the HHLT website at www.haliburtonlandtrust.ca for more information. You can help in a number of ways: Consider becoming a member, as your membership not only supports the HHLT financially, but also provides yet another supportive voice for local conservation. You may want to adopt an acre of this reserve for yourself or as a gift for someone you know. You can volunteer some time to assist with the many projects and initiatives the Land Trust is involved with. Think about making a donation. Every little bit helps!