It had been a busy month but hearing about the active beavers at Petrie I had to make a point of getting down. I arrived about 90 minutes before sunset and started looking for the beavers.
Early afternoon, mid-week, and late February combined to present a very quiet visit. One ice fisherman on Muskrat Bay, two walkers and three chickadees who dropped by to say hello once. The only noise was the quiet rustling of the ice flowing down the river rubbing against the grounded ice.
After the snow and rain of a few days ago I expected the river to be up a bit, but I found the Bill Holland Trail impassable with open, flowing water. I checked the River levels website and discovered it was some three plus feet over the normal summer levels.
I spent two hours in a winter wonderland at Petrie the day after freezing rain and some 4-5″ of snow. The trails and trees were all coated with snow. It would only have been better had it be a clear sunny day.
I didn’t get down to Petrie until the last week of the month, and it was the middle of the day when things are quieter. I noticed right away one sign that winter is coming…. the ice fishing huts were being lined up, and the muskie “lodge” was already in the water.
DISPATCH FROM PETRIE #141, SEPTEMBER, 2023 We visited Petrie Island late in the afternoon mid-month. The light was wonderful for
DISPATCH FROM PETRIE #140 A brief walk on August 24, 2023 produced some flowers, and other things, not seen on August 15th
DISPATCH FROM PETRIE #139 Dropped into Petrie Island this morning (August 15, 2023) for a brief walkabout and then watch
(Le français suit) Summer dispatch – August 2023 Hope everyone is having a good summer. We have been very productive
I started doing “dispatches” from Petrie 22 years ago. The dispatches, a summary of what I saw on visits, were
(Le français suit l’anglais) This newsletter comes to you to share some of the challenges of our current period of
Al Tweddle was a great man. We became friends about a year after the Kennedy family first moved into Orléans.
Petrie Island once again experienced significant flooding this spring. See a drone video of the island from 5 May 2023.
April 17 2023. Photos taken 10:50. River is at 43.2 meters above sea level. About ten inches of water before
(Le français suit l’anglais) Dispatch #2 – July-August 2022 As the summer comes to an end our students are leaving;
(Le français suit l’anglais) June was unusual this year as the river was so high that most of the trails
Turtle research study at Petrie Island The turtle season is right around the corner and turtles should start basking in
Happy Spring to all our members! As the Island emerges from hibernation, conversations turn to the 2022 season. And it
As we close out summer, it is a great time to reflect on the progress to date and think about
For all of our new members since May, we would like to extend a big thank you for supporting the
Quiet Morning on the Water It has been 3 weeks since last paddling down at Petrie Island, and yesterday there
Canoe Paddle at Petrie Island This morning was my first opportunity to go canoe paddling within the inlets and bays
Thank you for supporting the Friends of Petrie Island. While programming ended last fall after the Turtle Release, our volunteers
Petrie Island: Then vs Now Article by Atirah Ally, FOPI summer employee 2020 Everyone has been affected by the COVID-19
July is nearing its end and our last summer month, August, is finally here! We have been seeing the attendance
Paddle before the heat of the day…….While putting my canoe atop my car and tying down the last strap at
As the summer goes forward, many new developments have been made. Provincial laws have now allowed groups to maintain a
Thank you everyone for another month of support! This month the Friends of Petrie Island staff, along with the help
We would like to thank you for all of your support in 2018! With your help, we were able to
I saw twin bolts of lightning during the first storm, obviously hitting somewhere near Jean D’Arc (North Service). It caught
Found the Blanding’s Turtle this morning. It was just in front of the “Turtle Viewing Platform” and only had its
Its been a long time since we’d been down to Petrie and even longer since I sent in a “Dispatch”.
From Dan Chenier, General Manager, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services, City of Ottawa, regarding FOPI’s nature centre, or interpretation centre. This
After a short winter period Petrie Island was flooded to the highest level in many years during April and May.
As we now find ourselves at the end of August, the season is starting to wind down. The city will
Last week Friends of Petrie Island hosted an Eel Release Day in partnership with the Ottawa Riverkeeper, Canadian Wildlife Service,
Our picnic area, trails, and beaches have been mostly cleaned of the flooding debris and damages. The nature centre is
Just a quick update about Petrie Island. Currently, due to construction on the causeway, there is no vehicle or pedestrian
Water levels on the Ottawa River have now receded enough that Petrie Island is accessible by foot. The road, however,
Just came back from a little paddle around the island. The current on the second causeway bridge was very strong-
As bad as the flooding is in 2017, spring flooding has occurred before. Here is a photo of the Grandmaitre
We were kayaking through Petrie Island today. — Bruce Webster
Hello FOPI members, We would like to thank you all for your support in the past year, and looking into
As of 0800 today, the water at North Service barricade is about a meter closer to the bottom of the
Greetings from P3. Al and I performed a circumnavigation (walk is the wrong word here). One can drive carefully (washouts)
No change in the last two days. The water has dropped, but not visibly. Dozens of the curious and loyal
Here are a few more pics- I took them from a mini kayak yesterday.
River continues to rise to unprecedented levels. Gained a few feet longitudinally on the access road. I had an exchange