The Delight of Urban Wildlife

 

                                                                 World Wildlife Day 2021 Logo 

In my other, Lion Lamb, blog I reflected on this United Nations World Wildlife Day. I talked about the efforts of people who live in our neighbourhood the east end of Belleville, Ontario, to stop development of green space nearby. A portion of  these woods contain old growth maples and oaks, and the stream running through it is part of a Provincially Significant Wetland. This area is less than half a kilometre away from our home yet deer, beaver, foxes, coyotes live here. There are birds galore, including blue herons, red-bellied woodpeckers, and various hawks. 

For me razing a portion of these woods for cookie-cutter housing would literally be a sin, a violation of our covenant with the Creator. I appreciate that others who oppose this subdivision project may not share my theological sensibilities, but I was impressed with the eloquent and informed opposition presented at Monday evening's Belleville Planning Committee Meeting. 

We aren't always aware of the critters in the midst of our communities, those which also call it home. Even in Toronto, aka the Big Smoke, there is surprising diversity. Of course Tdot (really, that is a nickname) has many ravines  and parks which are real gems. One of our daughters lives in the High Park area and we saw an egret in a pond on one walk. 

                                               Don Valley Trail, Toronto: photo by Andrew Budziak

Today on CBC Metro Morning there was an interview with Andrew Budziak, a Toronto photographer, who is determined to take photos of all 42 mammal species which are residents of the city. While there are no roaming lions, and tigers, and bears, aha, there is considerable variety, including flying squirrels Just before he spoke with host Ismaila Alfa he'd encountered four deer. 

Yes, saving superstar fauna is important, as the World Wildlife Day logo suggests. How wonderful though, for us Groundlings to live alongside and preserve the diversity of Creation, right where we are. Doing so is downright biblical. 

Here is the interview link: 

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-39-metro-morning

And here is the Belleville Petition if you would like to sign:

https://www.change.org/p/save-our-community-greenspace-by-stopping-development-of-the-hanley-park-north-subdivision?signed=true