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E WASTE COLLECTION - SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 9 A.M. TO 2 P.M.

KRC (knights refurbishing computers) INC, and Friends of Petrie Island are co-sponsoring an electronics collection day at Petrie Island, for 9am to 2pm, on June 2, 2012. You are invited to bring all excess and unwanted electronics items, and take advantage of your visit to the Petrie Island wonderland with a walk around the nature trials and centre, or a visit to the beach area. CFER Outouais will be there, with their collection trucks to take away all electronics destined for disposal, and will have displays and information to tell you more about what happens, as part of the Ontario Electronics Stewardship (OES) process. We are also expecting a representative from OES to be there to discuss any questions you might have with this (one of many) provincial/federal stewardship organizations. Any re-usable electronics items that are brought in may be refurbished and donated to those in need, depending on their condition and the level of demand in the community. In particular, higher-end computers, both desktops and laptops, will be happily accepted for this process; if they are not functioning, we will attempt to fix that. As well, if you have problems with your own equipment, bring them along and we hope to be able to assist folks with simple issues (given the outdoor venue, and limited electrical, only some things can be done at that time.)

Beaches to Open June 16

All of Ottawa's beaches will be officially open and supervised between Saturday June 16 to Sunday August 19, 2012. LIfeguards are on duty from noon to 7 PM.

The washrooms for the beaches will be opened May 19th to September 3rd, 2012, Monday to Thursday 10:30 am - 9 PM, Friday to Sunday 10:30 am - 7 PM.

Parking fees will be in place at Petrie from May 19 to September 3.

Activities for 2012

Friends of Petrie Island will run activities which we started last year, including:

  • MAY 5 -- JANE’S WALK – 10 a.m. at Nature centre- Tour of Petrie Island - TOPIC – BEAVERS
  • JUNE 10 –- TURTLE DAY – 1:00 p.m.
    Featuring live specimens, including a show by LITTLE RAY’S REPTILES on endangered species of Ontario
  • JUNE 2-23 –- WILDFLOWER WALKS – SELF GUIDED TOUR
    (Some guided tours will be arranged, dates to be determined)
     

    SPIRIT Summer day camps will not be run this year.

     

  • YOUTH NATURALIST – dates and times to be determined
  • AGES 2 – 5 – Two hour program, featuring nature tours, crafts, games - fees $2.00
  • AGES 7 – 12 – Two hour program featuring nature tours, crafts, games – fees $2.00
  • If interested please leave your name and number
     

Plans for 2012

TOURS – Organized tours are available for schools, youth groups, day camps and  seniors, ½  hour to 1 ½ hour – cost $10 - $20.  Tours can be designed to cover general to  specific topics.  For more information inquire at Centre or check our website or twitter.

CLEAN UPS – Group or individual clean ups are encouraged at anytime. Garbage bags and gloves available at the Nature centre.

NATURE CENTRE – is open from May 19th to Sept 3rd  from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. It can be opened at other times between,  May 1st to Sept 30th, by arrangement.  Free 15 minute nature centre tours  are available at no charge.


For information contact Al at: hatweddle@rogers.com
 

Petrie Island on Twitter

Get instant updates on what is happening at Petrie Island by following @PetrieIsland.

2011 Water Quality

Petrie's River Beach came in second best, behind Britannia Beach, 2011.  Using the water quality statistics provided by the City of Ottawa, we show below the number of days for which the beach was officially closed.  We also show the number of days on which the E. coli count exceeded 100.  This is not the same as when the beaches are officially closed, which is 200 counts.  For the second year in a row, Petrie's East Beach had particularly poor water quality.  It is thought that the number of Canada geese and sea gulls are responsible.

 

Beach Red Flag Days Days over 100 E. coli
Britannia 18 20
Mooneys Bay 26 29
Westboro 27 32
Petrie Island River Beach 22 26

Visitor Contributed Photos on Web Site

We welcome photographs provided by visitors to Petrie Island.  We can now offer to publish them on our web site.  Click here to visit the contributed photos page.  The first album contains instructions on how to submit photos.  If it all seems like too much work for you, just email your photos and we will do all the work for you.

Petrie Island Natural Diversity

According to Dan Brunton, a biologist who has been hired by the City of Ottawa to assess Petrie Island, "The Petrie Islands supports one of the highest level of floristic diversity of any natural area in the City of Ottawa.  Over 325 native vascular plant species are now known from this area.  This represents almost 100% of the native diversity of comparable Ottawa River alluvial islands.  Over two dozen Regionally Significant plant species occur with the Petrie Islands.  One additional significant species is listed as federally and provincially endangered.  This species is the butternut."

In the Know

Friends of Petrie Island annual report 2011 is now available.

Management Plan Final Report - Report by Dan Brunton to the City of Ottawa with an assessment of the natural environment.

Petrie Island stewardship plan updated.  The Friends of Petrie Island and the Ottawa Stewardship Council have prepared a draft Stewardship Plan for Petrie Island. The draft plan was presented to the Ottawa Forests and Advisory Committee (OFGAC) in November, 2007. Following the presentation, OFGAC recommended that the Parks and Recreation Branch Work with FOPI and the OSC to finalize and implement the Stewardship Plan.

Species at Risk Turtle Survey 2008 July 2008
2008 is the fourth consecutive year that there have been confirmed sightings of Blanding’s turtles on Petrie Island. One was seen in 2005, two in 2006, one in 2007, and two in 2008.

Experimental Turtle Nesting Site  In June 2009, the Friends of Petrie Island and the Ottawa Stewardship Council undertook a project, in cooperation with the City of Ottawa, to expand and enhance a turtle nesting site for species at risk and other turtles. The objective was to try and attract nesting turtles to an area that was less subject to high human use, and thereby promote better hatchling survival.  Read the report here.
 

  Ice breaking up on the Ottawa River at Petrie Island, March 2012.  Photos by Al Tweddle.

Petrie Island is a complex of islands and wetlands located on the south shore of the Ottawa River in suburban Ottawa, Canada. It features a large public beach, boat launch, interpretation center, and an extensive nature preserve with access trails where you may view many birds, reptiles and other animals as well as rare trees and other plant species.

The site is owned by the City of Ottawa, which operates the beach. The Friends of Petrie Island operate the interpretation center and oversee the nature preserve, which covers most of the western portion of the site.
 

When You Visit

The Petrie Island area consists of wetlands and backwaters that are environmentally sensitive. When you visit, please be respectful of the site and mindful of others.

Dogs are prohibited everywhere on Petrie Island.

Stay on trails - do not disturb or harm wildlife, pick wildflowers or damage trees and other plants. Many birds and animals inhabit and breed in this area.

Do not catch turtles and frogs along the shoreline. It is illegal to catch turtles or disturb their nests; handling of frogs can harm them (you are toxic to them) and the shoreline is easily damaged by trampling

Do not fish along the Turtle Trail or beaches – discarded fish hooks and lines are dangerous to people and to wildlife.

Bicycles are not allowed on the trails.

Do not litter.

If you observe wild animals acting strangely, please let staff know.

Fires and camping are prohibited.
 

Les îles Petrie forment un complexe de terres humides et d’îles sur la rive droite de la rivière des Outaouais, à Ottawa, Canada. On y trouve une plage publique, une rampe de mise à l’eau, un centre d’interprétation et une réserve naturelle offrant une variété d’oiseaux, de reptiles et autres animaux ainsi que des arbres et autres plantes rares.   

Le site appartient à la ville d’Ottawa, qui administre la plage. Les Amis de l’île Petrie gèrent le centre d’interprétation et supervisent la réserve, qui occupe le plus clair de la partie ouest du site.

 

 

Votre visite

Les îles Petrie consistent en terres humides et étangs don’t l’écologie est délicate. Respectez le lieu et les autres visiteurs.

Les chiens sont interdits partout sur l’île Petrie.

Restez sur les sentiers - ne nuisez pas aux plantes et animaux sauvages - plusieurs oiseaux et animaux vivent et se reproduisent sur le site.

Ne touchez pas les grenouilles et tortues. Il est interdit par la loi de capturer les tortues ou de déranger leurs nids; les grenouilles sont sensibles à la manipulation (votre toucher leur est toxique) et la circulation endommage les berges.

Ne pêchez pas le long du sentier des Tortues ou des plages - les hameçons perdus et lignes posent des dangers et nuisent à la faune.

Vélos interdits sur les sentiers.

Ne laissez pas de déchets.

Rapportez au au personnel tout comportement inusité des animaux.

Les feux et le camping sont interdits.

 
Page updated 2012-05-16    © Friends of Petrie Island