Feeding the Gulls!

I came across this typical Bay of Fundy winter sight while walking the dog this morning. Food for shore birds is scarce this time of year so many people share stale crusts of bread with seagulls. If encouraged, gulls will appear out of nowhere to feast just outside our back doors but I, like most Bay folks, like the excuse to go to the beach to feed 'em.

Nice ice in the Bay of Fundy

The past few winters around the Bay of Fundy haven't been cold enough to produce ice cakes of any decent size. When I was a kid I remember some the size of a car. However, this year we've had enough of a cold snap to witness the formation of sheet ice in Fundy's many sheltered harbours. Here's a photo taken in the inner Parrsboro harbour this morning. The only thing missing is the eerie creaking and groaning of the ice as it shifts from the flow of tide beneath.

Plein Air Painting on the Bay of Fundy

In my frequent travels around the Bay of Fundy over the past decade I've witnessed many photographers (professional & amateur) and painters 'in action' capturing images of our Bay.

I came across one such artist recently: plein air painter Nita Leger Casey. Nita lives in New England but has spent many summers painting the Bay of Fundy in the areas around Campobello Island in Passamaquoddy Bay.

Here's a sample of her work (used with permission). To see more, visit Nita's blog Gingerbread Art Studio.

Enviro impacts of in-stream tidal energy

I've been searching everywhere for comprehensive environmental impact assessments of in-stream tidal energy. I guess because there haven't been any major in-stream tidal energy projects, there also isn't much available in the way of research results.

The environmental and societal impacts of the old style tidal barrage (think: dam) have been well documented: significant damage to estuarine ecosystems including destruction of habitat for fish, bird and other organisms, disruptions to commerical & recreational navigation, as well as significant alterations to river currents & sediments.

It appears that these factors would not come into play where in-stream tidal energy is concerned. Why?
1. in-stream turbines are located individually underwater, therefore no dam blocking the flow of water,
2. small marine life can pass through the slow turning blades (larger creatures are diverted by screens on some turbines),
3. early simulation appears to indicate that in-stream turbines (because they are capturing only a portion of the energy of the current) will not cause silt build up or significant alterations to marine currents.
If this is the case then in-stream tidal energy would be the greenest of the alternate energy technologies!

Joggins Fossil Centre design

Just received this great concept photo from the team involved in the development of the Joggins Fossil Cliffs project on Chignecto Bay in the upper Bay of Fundy.

The 13,000 sq ft centre will house a gift shop, lab, about 6,000 ft of exhibition space devoted to the significance of the cliffs and will greatly improve access to the fossil beachs.

Wonderful to see that the building's design incorporates local sandstone as well as a couple of innovative 'green' features: a vegetation roof and a wind tower to provide electricity.

The Centre, which will open later this year, is expected to attract about 40,000 visitors annually from all over the world. I can't wait to head down there to see the finished product!

For more info on the Joggins Fossil Cliffs see my December post about its UNESCO World Heritage bid or visit the project website for frequent updates.

Snow bug at the beach

Ooooooh, too cold to do my usual dog walk from town to the beach this morning (-21 C) so I heaved Belle in the back of my VW bug and drove over. Went for an awesome walk and I just had to capture these silvers & blues when we got back to the car. Another beautiful day on the Bay of Fundy!

Save Passamaquoddy Bay from LNG

My final New Year's wish for the Bay of Fundy is in such stark contrast to the green tidal energy project I've been describing...it's bizarre!!

This wish involves controversial proposal to build a $700 million dollar liquefied natural gas plant at Maine's Mill Creek where the St. Croix River meets Passamaquoddy Bay just 20 kilometres south of the Canada-U.S border. At least one nearly 1000-foot-long LNG tanker is expected to pass through Head Harbour each week. Even before the plan has gone through environmental reviews on both sides of the border, our government says it will not allow LNG tankers through what it claims are Canadian waters. Yay Canada! but...

I've read that the United States says we will be violating international laws by refusing to allow liquefied natural gas tankers through Head Harbour. Canada says LNG tankers in Head Harbour are environmentally dangerous, potential threats and just plain not wanted!

I'm not alone in wanting to see this project cancelled - hence, it's magical position as New Year's wish #1.

OpenHydro's in-stream turbine pics

Sourced these photos of OpenHydro's style of turbine. The above-surface platform shown on the one photo is primarily for demonstration purposes (to raise & lower the turbine) and would not be in the final 'field' of turbines. They would be fully submerged (like the other photo).

OpenHydro's turbines resemble giant fans with the blades connected to a rotor which spins slowly inside the structure as water flows through. Electricity is generated as the rotor turns past a magnet generator on the outer rim of the structure.

The whole "fan" is anchored to the ocean floor, and no dam is required. The speed and volume of water passing through the area, depth and geology of the seabed and distance to a grid connection determine the cost and output of its turbines.

Irish company chosen for Fundy tidal pilot

Just in the news this weekend:

Nova Scotia Power has picked an Irish firm to provide its first in-stream tidal turbine for an experiment in the Bay of Fundy. OpenHydro of Dublin was selected for the project, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2009.

"By selecting OpenHydro, Nova Scotia Power has chosen a company that has been most successful in demonstrating their design in ever increasing sizes. They offer a simple and environmentally friendly unit, which we believe will allow our demonstration project to be successful. When completed, this will be the largest in-stream tidal generating unit integrated into an electricity grid in the world," said James Taylor, NSP’s general manager of environmental planning and monitoring.

Last fall, NSP submitted an application for funding for the tidal power demonstration project to Sustainable Development Technology Canada. The company is awaiting further notification on funding and an environmental assessment of the project.

Looks like a tidal energy project will be underway in the Bay of Fundy sooner rather than later!

Take a look at a tidal energy in-stream turbine

Further to previous posts about tidal energy, here's an interesting artist's rendition of the type of turbine that could be used to create in-stream tidal energy in the Bay of Fundy. Look to me very much like the modern wind turbines, only submerged. (photo borrowed from Marine Current Turbines website (U.K.))

Road under water at Ministers Island

After posting my "100 billion tonnes" high/low tide photo a few days ago, I received these photos & a note from Susan at the Ministers Island Historic Site in St Andrews, New Brunswick.

This is my favorite high/low tide spot on the Bay of Fundy. The road to our island is fully exposed for several hours at low tide (we escort visitors over, just to be safe!) but then at high tide it is 14 to 17 feet under water. At high tide we really are an island in the traditional sense of the word. For sure this is one spot on the Bay of Fundy that is worth seeing at high tide then again 6 hours, 13 minutes later at low tide. People are astounded by the change!!

I hope Susan doesn't mind that I put in a little dotted line on the low tide photo to show the sea floor road. I've been over many times - it is very cool!

New year's wish #2 - Bay of Fundy whale wish

Further to my 2nd Bay of Fundy New Year's wish that none of our whales get injured or killed by shipping this year...

As evidenced by my previous posts, Fundy's whales are never far from my mind. Therefore, you can imagine how I felt when I heard on December 30th that a two-year old male Right whale had been discovered dead off othe coast of Georgia (winter feeding grounds). Struck by a ship.

This sad photo shows researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution of Massachusetts performed a autopsy on the whale.

2006 proved to be an exceptionally bad year for what might be the world’s most endangered large whale as six of these giant creatures that migrate up and down the East Coast were found dead. Five of the deaths were the direct result of human caused interactions including four deaths due to ship strikes and one from a fishing gear entanglement.

With less than 400 North Atlantic right whales on the planet, scientific studies have shown that the precarious population cannot withstand this level of human caused mortality. In addition to Canadian efforts, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service in the U.S. has been in the process of proposed rulemaking to better protect right whales from both shipping and fishing impacts for several years.

This type of measure (though not perfect) was implemented successfully in 2004 in here in the Bay of Fundy, which is the principal late summer feeding ground for many right whales. A similar proposal is in the works to move the shipping lanes going into Boston, which has America’s only whale feeding marine sanctuary, just 25 miles east of its port.

What's a 100 billion tonnes of water?

Unless you've actually seen the tides here on the Bay of Fundy, it's a bit tricky to get your head around exactly what 100 billion tonnes of seawater looks like filling and emptying the bay twice a day. Short of having an aerial timed video of the tide moving in & out over 6 hours, I guess photos are the still the best option. (I'm totally up for doing the aerial if anyone has a spare helicopter they'd like to donate to the cause). There are many pairs of high/low tide photos that help to show the volume of water in our bay. I'll track them down and post them as I find them. These two photos were at Five Islands Provincial Park near where I live.

A different type of tidal "energy"

Just had a note from the folks who operate Inn on the Cove & Spa in Saint John on the New Brunswick side of the Bay of Fundy witnessing another type of tidal energy...

Since the inn first opened some 15 years ago, a regular Scottish guest maintains the area is magical. He says the Druid lines of force intersect close to the property creating a powerful and magical strength. No matter what one might believe, it is clear that the tides have an enormous influence on us and our guests at the inn.

The pulse of the tides effect our total environment here. Every six hours and 20 minutes, more than 100 billion tonnes of water rush in or out of the bay with an energy that can be felt as well as seen. The very geology and complete environment of our area is affected by this power.

Winter weather can produce 'dragon's breath' or clouds of 'sea smoke' roiling and boiling off the surface of the massive tidal panorama. During warm summer days, cold waters of the Bay of Fundy sometimes generate fog that swirls and spills like airborne rivers over headlands and islands to cloak the area in a cotton-like blanket of mystery. Nearby the rapidly flowing St. John River also is stopped and reversed at high tide as bay waters roar inland twice daily.

The mighty tides of the Bay of Fundy influence both beauty and wellness our inn & spa on the edge of this incredible body of water. Stones smoothed by the bay's tidal energy and marine nutrient based aesthetic products are used for a special Bay of Fundy massage therapy unique to Inn on the Cove. Such treatments were first used successfully by ancestral peoples and the benefits are now being recognized and repeated.

Map of the Minas Passage

I just came across this great aerial map of the Minas Passage between Parrsboro and Cape Blomidon, the narrowest channel in the Bay of Fundy (approx. 4.5 to 6.5 km wide). It's not hard to imagine why this site was identified in a recent tidal energy study as having great tidal in-stream energy potential! (photo borrowed from the Maritime Tidal Energy website).

Further to Fundy Tidal Energy

I forgot to mention the potential of the Bay of Fundy's tidal energy resource. It is estimated that a single generator in the Minas Channel (between Parrsboro and Cape Blomidon) could generate 250 megawatts of power - that's about enough to power 200,000 homes.

I guess that makes sense when you consider that there is 100 billion tonnes of sea water moving in and out of the Bay of Fundy in a single tide cycle - more than the combined flow of all the freshwater rivers in the world!

There is already one small tidal energy project: the Annapolis Tidal Generating Station which has been operating on the Annapolis River since 1984. It uses Bay of Fundy tides to produce 20 megawatts of energy, or enough to power 4,000 homes.

The world's largest tidal power project, the La Rance station built in France in the 1960s, generates 240 megawatts.

Bay of Fundy wish #3 - Tidal Energy

I thought I'd explain my Bay of Fundy New Year's wishes in more detail.

#3 - Fundy Tidal Energy

In the 1970s there was a move to create a barrage-style tidal energy project in the upper Bay of Fundy. Fortunately communities and ecologists rallied against such a plan (which would have involved creating a huge dam across the bay!). Such projects proceeded in other parts of the world to somewhat disasterous effects - such as the Severn Estuary barrage in Wales. Last summer I hosted a ecology researcher from the Severn Estuary who told me first hand about the "legacy" of that tidal project.

Some 20 to 30 years later, the technology of tidal generators appears to have greatly improved. Now there are several wave power projects on the go (these are used in the open ocean) and other in-stream concepts (this is what would be suitable for the Bay of Fundy). One type of in-stream tidal generator is something the modern wind mill, but it located under water and not visible from shore. Another type is something like a sub-surface kite that switches direction when the tide turns. Both appear to be much less disruptive to the environment, the fishing industry and recreational use of the Bay of Fundy.

Our mayor in Parrsboro has just returned from a tidal power discovery mission to London, Glasgow and the Orkneys with various government departments. He has a great personal interest in tidal energy as well as being the mayor of the town that is likely to be the staging ground for a pilot project, so I guess that gives me a front row seat for all the action!

3 New Year's wishes for the Bay of Fundy

I'm not much of a resolution maker but as we move into the new year I realized that I do have three hopes for our beautiful bay in 2007:
1. that the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) proposal for Passamaquoddy Bay (a part of the Bay of Fundy on the New Brunswick side bordering Maine) be CANCELLED,
2. that NO Fundy whales are injured by ships this year,
3. that discussions continue toward the possibility of TIDAL energy (which would result in the Bay of Fundy being respected throughout the world as a source of GREEN energy)....I think more needs to be known about the environmental impacts of tidal power but the idea is intriquing to me at this point.

Bay of Fundy lobster

The Bay of Fundy lobster season closes in our area (zone 35) tomorrow so our Christmas day feed was well-timed. We piled a dozen lobsters on a platter in the middle of the table then dug in...gives a whole new meaning to all-u-can-eat! I don't think I'll quit my day job to become a food photographer but my first 2-pounder was every bit as appetizing as it looks in this photo!

Dreaming of a white Christmas...

Weather forecast is not looking very 'white' for Christmas around the Bay of Fundy this year. However, we had a couple nice snowfalls earlier in December at least to get winter launched. I just opened my email to find these frosty photos from the Annapolis Historic Gardens taken a after the first snowfall this month. I previously posted some of Trish's fabulous pics... Fundy in Bloom in November!!

$7 million Christmas gift for Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO Bid

Just heard about an early "Christmas gift" for one of the Bay of Fundy's most intriguing natural attractions: the Joggins Fossil Cliffs!

Yesterday federal and provincial governments announced $7-million for development of an interpretive centre at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs; a key part of a plan to win UNESCO world heritage status for the site.

The site covers 10 kilometres of cliffs up to 30 metres high in the village of Joggins, Nova Scotia. It's about an hour along the coast from where I live in Parrsboro. At Joggins the tides continually erode the cliffs, exposing fossils that date back 310 million years.

The money will be spent on creating a tourism and heritage centre, which would house displays and lab space for researchers, as well as a cafe and store. The project also includes an access trail to the beach, guides to explain the site to tourists, and a marketing plan to transform the centre into a major tourist destination.

The $9-million Joggins Fossil Centre should be completed next summer (with the UNESCO World Heritage designation expected in 2008). I think this will add an outstanding facility to an already amazing natural wonder - Bay of Fundy fossils - way to go, Joggins!

Oranges & cloves for Christmas

Decorating oranges with cloves is another Bay of Fundy Christmas tradition. Oranges can be completely covered in cloves (and later tucked into a closet as a natural air freshener for the rest of the winter), or a simple design can be created. I like to make a pattern then pop a tealight candle into the top, just like this one on the living room mantle of our captain's house.

Fundy Christmas cookies, Italian-style

Finally got around to making my Christmas cookies this week. One of my favourite culinary exercises involves taking customary Bay of Fundy ingredients and popping them into other people's traditional recipes - in this case Italian biscotti. Several years ago I developed two recipes that have become Christmas favourites: cranberry-orange biscotti and gingerbread biscotti. Cranberries are harvested commercially here in the Bay of Fundy and also grow wild in bogs. Ginger is a prominent element in Fundy baking, having arrived generations ago when Fundy's brigs and barks sailed the international spice routes.

What a difference a day makes...

So much for winter on the Bay of Fundy! It's plus 5 degrees C today and all the pretty snow has melted away. Here's a video of that same beach I shot yesterday - now looking strangely summery...hrmph! Ah well, it's still a neat video to have beside the other because this is LOW tide at Partridge Island beach and yesterday panoramic was shot at HIGH tide. **notez: the Bay has lots of beaches with much more extreme tide differentiation than this one!

Bay of Fundy winter beach video

I had such a great result with the winter beach photos that I decided to video the high tide beach at the edge the Parrsboro harbour. I finally opened a YouTube account so I could post this properly - that's assuming I can figure out how to embed it... Take a look and see what you think!

Christmas with the Captain

I just can't resist adorning our historic sea captain's house (inside & out) on the Bay of Fundy with the best acoutrements that nature can provide - balsam fir branches, fresh holly & pine boughs. We just enjoyed our first 'sky is falling' snow this week - chubby fresh flakes. Nothing like a blanket of the white stuff to get me in the mood for the holidays.
(to see our house emblazoned in autumn leaves, check out one of my Fall colours postings)

Winter arrives on the Bay of Fundy

After a delightfully warm and colourful autumn on the Bay of Fundy, the weather has moved on to the next chapter of our storybook seasons: winter. I love how snow transforms Fundy's beaches into monochromatic palates where even colour photos like these express the subtle texture of artful black & whites. I snapped these pics this afternoon just after high tide turned to recede in the Parrsboro harbour.

Shipping lanes shifting for whales!

Ah well this news is timely, seeing as we've been talking about whales a lot this week...

From London, England... the International Maritime Organization is expected to vote to shift the busy shipping lanes off Massachusetts up to 16 km (10 miles), north and narrow them by a mile to reduce collisions with whales - the first time such a detour would be enacted in U.S. waters to protect an endangered species.

The move, government scientists say, will reduce the risk of ship strikes to the North Atlantic right whale by up to 60 percent and other large baleen whales by as much as 81 percent.

Three years ago, the IMO, a United Nations agency, shifted shipping lanes in Canada's Bay of Fundy four miles east to protect right whales, the first time that a world shipping lane had been altered to protect an endangered species.

The U.S. government has been trying to do the same for several years and has documented the vast number of right whales and other large whales that feed and frolic smack in the middle of the current shipping lanes off Massachusetts.

Redrawing lanes is not simple; changes must be submitted to the International Maritime Organization who can take more than a year to review requests and make a decision.

If the U.S. government request is approved, the shift will take place in June, 2007, to ensure there is time to make changes to navigational charts. An International Maritime Organization official said this week that a subcommittee on navigation and safety recommended the change and that such recommendations usually gain adoption by the agency.

Researchers at U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have discovered that whales tend to feed in two distinct areas that form an hourglass-like design off the U.S. coast.

Right whale nursery?

The area where Right whales calve, off the coast of the southeastern United States, is the home to three major shipping ports. This means that the whales' nursery is criss-crossed by at least 245 ocean-going vessels a month.

Whale reseachers in this region regularly perform aerial surveys between now and the end of March, looking for mothers and their calves, in order to recommend appropriate shipping routes and specific conservation efforts.

Researchers in Canada and the U.S. are constantly monitoring whale population size, trends, migration patterns, distribution, demographics, reproduction, mortality rates, inheritance of skin markings, degrees of chemical exposure, association patterns, mating strategies and incidence of past human interactions.

Because there are so few right whales, researchers know individuals at a fairly intimate level and can readily recognize individual whales by their markings.

Incidentally, Right whales have a natural life span similar to that of humans - one whale is known to have been around for more than 70 years.

More about Right whales

Since we're on the topic of Right whales, I thought you might like to know a bit more about them...

From the 11th century to the early 20th century, right whales were hunted extensively.Their name comes from the fact that they were the "right" whales to kill: They are large, slow moving and filled with oil, blubber and high-quality baleen, or what whalers called whalebone.

Almost anything we'd use steel for now was made of whalebone in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, including bedsprings, pie cutters, corsets and buggy whips.

In 1935, after being declared "commercially" extinct, the right whale was granted federal protection. Unfortunately, the population has not rebounded the way researchers would like...with only approximately 350 whales surviving today.

It's predicted that if the population continues to stagnate, the species will be extinct in 200 years. Part of the problem is that right whales are long-lived and reproduce slowly. But the real danger lies at the intersection of human and right whale behavior and geographical preference.

Like people, right whales spend most of their time near the coasts - in areas where boat traffic is high and fishing gear, such as lobster pots and lines, is prevalent.

added Dec 10 - for more info on our whale's visit the Fundy whale blog

Fundy whales have Georgia on their minds

I always knew that the Bay of Fundy's northern right whales headed south for the winter, but I've only recently thought about where exactly they go.

I've discovered they're on their way to a 25 mile wide swath of ocean that lies between Brunswick, (north of St. Simons Island), Georgia to Jacksonville, Florida. These coastal waters are the only known calving grounds of this highly endangered species of whale – an estimated 300 – 350 whales remain.

Seasonal movements are still poorly understood but, generally, they move between rich summer/fall feeding grounds (Bay of Fundy) and warm winter calving grounds. During November and December right whales almost disappear with a few scattered reports coming from far flung areas such as Jeffreys Ledge off Northern Massachusetts and offshore of Cape May, New Jersey. By late winter and early spring, two distinct groups appear: calving females off southern Georgia/northern Florida and non-calving whales feeding off the Massachusetts coast (Cape Cod Bay, Great South Channel and Nantucket Sound).

Right whales heading south...finally!

Good news to report this week. About 40 rare North Atlantic right whales that were lingering in the Bay of Fundy are finally heading south. It's assumed that they delayed their departure by six weeks because of an abundance of plankton in the Bay.

The Department of Fisheries reports that they were spotted in the Gulf of Maine as they ventured further south.

Earlier this month, lobster fishermen agreed not to set traps within two kilometres of a whale in a bid to prevent entanglements, while the Fisheries Department conducted aerial surveillance flights to track their movements.

Officials and conservation groups say the whale's eventual departure caps a bleak season that saw the loss of two females and the deaths of a calf and adult that were hit by ships in the summer feeding grounds.

Two whales could have produced in excess of 20 calves over their lifetimes - a vital contribution to a population that has dwindled to about 320 worldwide after years of being slaughtered, dying in gear or being struck by ships.

About 19 right whales were born this year, but one calf was killed and a pregnant female died in U.S. waters.

Scientists and ecologists are hoping to reduce the risk of ship strikes by pressing the International Maritime Organization to make the Roseway Basin an area to be avoided by large vessels. Whales migrate to the basin, a diverse ecosystem rich in marine life off the southwest coast of Nova Scotia, every year to feed on plankton and other food sources.

Lori Murrison of the Grand Manan Whale and Seaboard Research Station said Transport Canada has approved the initiative to issue an advisory to seafarers and is optimistic the international group will approve it, possibly next year.

Bay of Fundy wrack lines

Wrack lines are rows of seaweed, shells pieces, driftwood, etc. that run the length of the beach marking the place where the tide reaches its highest point. Since the tides of the Bay of Fundy differ in height every day a quick glance down the beach will often give you a glimpse past few days' tidal history.

I snapped this photo at our tidal harbour when I was out walking the dog on the weekend. There are 5 clear wrack lines there showing that the tide was higher in the first cycle (1), then slightly lower on the subsequent four cycles. One big full moon tide will scoop up all those rack lines and form a nice neat line along the beach above them all!

Strange uses for Bay of Fundy lighthouses

I've heard of people having their weddings at lighthouses, etc., but today heard of something even more fun (okay, so I'm a car nut!): Cape d'Or Lighthouse and approaching cliffside roads being used for 2007 truck road tests by General Motors - no kidding!

Here's a taste of Lesley Wimbush's Auto123.com road test commentary...(photos also by Lesley).

We're high above the point where the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia runs into the Minas channel and yet, the clifftops of Cape D'or tower over us. Winding down and around the jagged cliffs and thick forest, a rough road resembling a logging trail ends at a ledge that juts out into the Bay. Perched on this ledge, the Lighthouse of Cape D'or overlooks the hauntingly remote panorama of the Fundy shoreline.

Our arrival at the lighthouse turned bed and breakfast was a scheduled lunch stop on a two-day driving program - a Canadian press launch for General Motors new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. Our journey had begun in New Brunswick, with photo stops at the fossil strewn shoreline of Joggins, where fishing boats were left stranded by the receding tide. We'd reached our rest stop via the harrowing forest road, bordered only by a battered guardrail. Parking our trucks and making our way to the edge of the cliff, more than one person remarked that it could just be the end of the earth....

To read more, take a look at Lesley's full posting (Nov. 24) on Auto123.com!

High/low tide aerial photos

I was digging around in my photo archives this afternoon (a.k.a. cleaning my office) and came across these rarely seen aerial photos of the tide in and tide out at Hopewell Rocks on the New Brunswick side of the bay. Another perspective of the tidal 'scene' in the bay with the awesome tides!

other awesome Fundy books

There are several other Bay of Fundy books that I'd recommend:

• Whales of Fundy - a pocket-sized guide to the whales who visit the Bay.
• Dykes & Aboiteaux - another tiny book that tells the story of the elaborate sluice innovation that allowed the Acadians to cultivate the vast Fundy Bay marshlands for over one hundred years.
• Tangled in the Bay - a children's book written by Fundy whale researcher, Deborah Tobin. The story of a right whale mother & daughter in the Bay of Fundy, who come to the Bay to feed in the rich waters and prepare for the winter.
• Dawning of the Dinosaurs - Important fossil finds have occurred in the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Fundy. The story of the rise and fall of the dinosaurs.

Got a favourite Fundy read? send me a note using the comment link below!

Seven Wonders of the World

Did you know that there is currently a global competition to name the seven wonders of the world? In this case it's the seven manmade/architectural wonders of the world...the Egyptian Pyramids being the only surviving structure of the orginal seven wonders of the ancient world.

Anyone in the world can vote by visiting: www.new7wonders.com.

Contest organizer, Swiss Adventurer Bernard Weber, "felt it is time for something new to bring the world together" and to "symbolize a common pride in global cultural heritage".

I think it's also time to re-consider the NATURAL wonders of the world. The Bay of Fundy is sometimes identified as one of the world's great natural wonders, along with the Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon, and Mount Everest. Yet, by times, the Bay of Fundy turns up on a list of Seven Forgotten Wonders of the World - ah, that's not so good!

Favourite Bay of Fundy books

The annual Atlantic Canadian booklet arrived in the mail this weekend, reminding me that there are many excellent Bay of Fundy titles out there for consideration as Christmas gifts. I seem to have a habit of collecting Fundy books. One of my favourites...

Tidal Life: A Natural History of the Bay of Fundy
by Harry Thurston - I've read and re-read this book many times and give it to speakers at Fundy conferences or to new people who have moved to my Fundy community. Harry's writing is captivating and informative and the photos are stunning. Published by Nimbus in both hard & soft cover and available at independent book stores, assorted Fundy gift shops and Chapters/Amazon.

Greenpeace, YouTube & Bottom Trawling

Now that I've got a couple months of blogging experience, I figured YouTube was the next web medium to explore. And what to my wondering eyes should appear today but a new video spoof by Greenpeace slamming Canada's stance on deep-sea dragging just as a
six-day round of talks on sustainable fisheries begin at the United Nations.

The online ad features the lippy kids from South Park: their target is the Canadian government and its opposition to a ban on bottom trawling on the high seas.

Greenpeace Canada said they launched the ad Friday as a way to reach a segment of the population who might not otherwise be familiar with Ottawa's position on trawling.

Opponents of bottom trawling say the heavy, weighted nets destroy sensitive marine habitats as they drag along the ocean floor. Conservation groups note that Ottawa has long supported
a ban on drift-netting. They maintain that if Canada refuses to back a trawling ban, along with Spain, Iceland and Japan, it's unlikely the UN will pass a tough resolution outlawing dragging.

Sounds like a perfect time to dash off a note to my local Member of Parliament!!

Bay of Fundy in bloom...in November?

Just had these photos and a fascinating note from Trish at the Annapolis Historic Gardens in the town of Annapolis Royal on the Nova Scotia side of the Bay of Fundy...reporting dozens of unusual sights in the gardens for this time of year!

Nov. 13 - I had absolutely no intention of doing another Bloom Report for 2006, since the season is over. But then today happened, and well, it's just too nice out there not to share it with others! A member emailed me this morning and told me about some things she found as she walked the Gardens this weekend, including forsythia in the Victorian Garden. So naturally, I thought I should grab my camera and take a few photos. 193 shots later, I came home! The Gardens right now are like a magical treasure hunt... if you keep your eyes open and really explore the Gardens carefully, you'll discover all sorts of flowers, berries or other interesting colour and texture. ~ Trish

Green Thai Curry Mussels

This month's mussel recipe: Green Thai Curry Mussels...mmmmm!
This recipe is imported from our neighbouring province: Newfoundland! I plucked it right off St John's Telegram newspaper's food section while visiting that fine part of Canada this week. I have to confess, I haven't made this recipe yet so if you venture forth before I do, send me a note to let me know how it turned out!!

Green Thai Curry Mussels
Serves 2 as a main, 4 as an appetizer

1 Tbsp veg oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 Tbsp chopped fresh ginger
1 Tbsp green thai curry paste (or more if you like it spicier)
1 14 oz can coconut milk
juice of a lime
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 lbs fresh mussels
1/4 chpd cilantro

Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger and curry paste and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the coconut milk, lime juice, brown sugar & soy sauce and bring to a gentle simmer for 4-5 minutes. Add mussels, cover, and cook until just open (about 3-4 minutes). Divide the mussels and sauce among bowls, sprinkle with cilantro and serve. Can also be served atop steamed rice.

note: green thai curry paste is available at Asian markets or in the Asian food aisle of most supermarkets.

Previous mussel recipes on my blog include October's Spiced Beer Mussels and September's Mussels Panagea. Enjoy!

Whales Linger in the Bay of Fundy

Bay of Fundy whales have been in the news a lot in the past few days. Here's photo of a Right whale seen last week by Quoddy Link Marine the coast of Black's Harbour on the New Brunswick side of the bay. Whales in the bay are not normally very newsworthy but whales in the bay at this time of year are! Usually by now all but a couple Bay of Fundy whales have gone into the Gulf of Maine then south for the winter.

Yesterday, the Department of Fisheries & Oceans reported 22 whales in the bay during an aerial assessment and it is estimated that there could be up to 30 out there.

The most pressing concern is that the lobster fishing season is about to re-commence in the this part of the bay. The $30-million fishery takes place in two areas and involves about 300 boats. Possible entanglement of whales in fishing gear as well as boat strikes pose risks to our visiting whale population.

Fundy cliffside apple picking

Just completed one of the more extreme sports in our family - cliffside apple picking! While we have access to many wild apple trees on our property here by the Bay of Fundy it's always this particular tree, hanging over the edge of a 200 foot cliff, that bears the best fruit. Snapped this pic atop the cliff with the bay's horizon looking like it could make a fine slice of that perfect apple!

Monitoring the Bay of Fundy

There are many people and interesting groups around the Bay of Fundy keeping a pretty close eye on the health and vitality of the many different aspects of our bay.

One organization, based right in the bay, is Fundy Baykeeper. Fundy Baykeeper works for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick to defend the public's right to a healthy Bay of Fundy. This right is inherent in laws written to protect the marine environment and the species that inhabit it. Too often, however, these laws are not enforced. Part investigator, scientist, lawyer, advocate and educator, the Fundy Baykeeper's top priority is to make sure environmental laws are enforced as citizens expect them to be.

This photo shows the fine vessel that Fundy Baykeeper, David Thompson, uses to patrol the Bay of Fundy.

Bay of Fundy poetry

I'm sure that the Bay of Fundy is not the only dramatic seascape to inspire pen to paper! The first time I recall seeing the bay in poetry was Bliss Carmen's Low Tide on Grand Pre in high school English. Bliss Carmen, born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, was, at the time, Canada's best known poet.

Fundy poetry popped to mind recently when I met a come-from-away Parrsboro resident, Donna Sheehy, who just published a book of poetry called "Romancing on the Bay of Fundy: My Soul's Attraction".

Here is a sample of her Bay of Fundy poetry....


There is a rhythm in this place
with a gentle stillness and grace,
unlike anywhere I have been
it touches the soul from within.

The aroma of salt in the air
breezes whisper like a prayer,
alongside the pebbled beach
with blue skies endless reach.

The woodlands frame the coast
a wildlife haven for all to boast,
life is astir in this bountiful place
unharmed by society’s embrace.

Stand silent, face toward the sea
close your eyes and you’ll agree,
the rhythm of this beautiful Bay
will hypnotically lure you away.

"The Rhythm on the Bay"
by Donna Sheehy
Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved.

Bay of Fundy video

Yesterday I had an email from a traveller looking for a comprehensive video of the Bay of Fundy to share with his friends back home. This is the first video that came to mind - I know it is still available to purchase on line....

Where The Bay Becomes The Sea (29:27 minutes)
Produced by the National Film Board of Canada. Still available to order on line, link to location on NFB website.

The richness, complexity and fragility of marine life unfold like a Persian carpet in this beautiful film. The bay of the title is the Bay of Fundy, and where it meets the sea a unique ecosystem has developed. The film traces the intricate interrelationships within the food chain, from tiny plankton, through birds and seals, and finally to whales and humans. More than just a visual feast, the film is a plea for careful management of our ocean resources. First telecast as part of the Nature of Things series.

Fundy Ferry Saved!

I was relieved to hear this morning that Bay Ferries will be continuing its ferry service across the Bay of Fundy. This is a great service that runs year round back and forth between Saint John, New Brunswick and Digby, Nova Scotia. Just two weeks ago I took this trip with a bunch of tourism folks from the region. There has actually been a ferry service operating across this part of the Bay of Fundy since the early 1800s...well before any significant roadways, let alone highways, were in place. Ridership aboard the current vessel, Princess of Acadia, has decreased somewhat over the past few years which is really too bad as it's an inexpensive way to cruise the bay and also cut down on the driving. If you're lucky you may even see a whale during the crossing! Many folks in the Digby and Saint John areas frequently walk aboard the ferry and venture over to the "other side" to visit friends and relatives.

(added ferry photo on Oct.31)

Bay of Fundy wins!

We won!
Last night at the Canadian national tourism conference in Jasper, Alberta, the Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership was presented with a national award: the Parks Canada Award for Sustainable Tourism. I've been working with the Partnership for 9 years, so I got to go out to receive the award.

For about a year now we've been doing green business assessments for our member tourism operators: natural and historical attractions, accommodations and adventures. I'm really excited that all this hard work to make the Bay of Fundy a greener place is being recognized. Our partner for the implementing the eco-business program is Dalhousie University's Eco-efficiency Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Here is a picture of me and Peggy (Manager of the Eco-efficiency Centre) in our fancy clothes accepting the award during the gala event.

Whales are following me!

The last thing I expected to see in the world's largest mall was a whale! I knew that West Edmonton Mall had “something for everyone” but I was surprised and oddly amused to discover a life-sized (albeit a bit stout) baleen whale sculpture emerging out of concrete tub in mall floor. Interpretation about this gentle giant was unfortunately a bit scant. With the volume of people moving through West Ed, it struck me as an interesting opportunity to raise awareness of Canadian whales, their endangerment and their sensitive habitats. Or maybe the wishing coins that speckle its tub could be collected for whale research. If such awareness has to take place indoors at least it is better than live shows were captive whales and other sea mammals are “on show”…in my view.

Chick outta water!

Bay of Fundy chick meets Alberta prairie city…I’ve just arrived in western Canada to attend a national tourism conference for the next few days. The Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership project that I manage (my day job) has been short listed for a national award for sustainable tourism. Before heading out to the resort town of Jasper to attend the TIAC conference I’ve decided to visit the famous West Edmonton Mall...I'm told no visit to Edmonton is complete without it!