BY WGO STAFF
ACAP Cape Breton and CBRM Wastewater Operations invite the community to a free birding event along Louisbourg Harbour Saturday, February 2nd. Participants will meet in the parking lot at the Louisbourg Lighthouse at 11 am. The tour will be led by Dave McCorquodale and Dave Harris of CBC’s The Bird Hour.
What do wastewater and waterfowl have in common with us at home? We are all connected to the same food web! We are intimately connected to our environment via the water that comes out of our tap, passes through our lives, and then flows down our drains. Once water leaves our homes through various drains, as well as the stormwater in our driveways and yards, it ultimately leads to the ocean. It is through these avenues that nutrients, and indeed contaminants, from our homes feed an ecosystem that exists mostly under the surface.
The boldly coloured diving ducks that come to Cape Breton to overwinter are feeding on the plants and animals that feed upon our waste. We can expect to see many different species of sea birds and diving ducks at the fourth annual Harbour Hop.
“Although we are not always aware that we are a part of a complex ecosystem, we do always have the opportunity to preserve and conserve”, says Jen Cooper, project manager at ACAP Cape Breton. “Using biodegradable products at home and being careful not to flush anything that belongs in the trash can, like dental floss and hygiene products, are great ways to respect our connection to the ocean.”
For more information, please phone ACAP Cape Breton at 902-567-1628 or visit www.acapcb.ns.ca. Dress for the weather and please bring binoculars if you have them.
ACAP Cape Breton, located at 90 Esplanade in Sydney, is a registered charity with a clear vision in which local people are actively engaged, working, and learning together to build a healthy and sustainable community. ACAP offers the knowledge that Cape Bretoners need to make greener choices, and works directly on practical solutions that help protect and restore our natural environment.
