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10th Annual Park Cleanup and Barbeque
Special Anniversary Edition
Join us at our Annual Park Cleanup and Complimentary Barbeque on Sunday September 25. For ten years our Friends have been getting together annually to set a positive example for park stewardship and to have a little fun. Click to open the poster for details and please Contact Us or call Shannon at 783-4249 to register for the Barbeque and be notified in the event of a weather-related cancellation. Sponsored by Prairie Chic Spa and the Birds Hill Campground Store.

Annual General Meeting
It's your say
Wednesday, October 26 will be an important night for Friends. You are invited to come discuss and approve our updated by-laws and freshly refined mission statement. The Board relies on the general membership to assess the value of our projects and help keep the organization moving in the right direction. We'll account for what we've done over the past year and present our 2011-12 Activity Plan for your authorization. There will be coffee and cookies. How could you not come? Stay tuned to the web-site for more details.

August 2011 Knapweed Pull
With a little help from our Friends
Volunteers pulled together in a hot hurry to pull weeds after learning from our partner, the Invasive Species Council of Manitoba (ISCM), that spotted knapweed had been identified in Birds Hill Park. Noxious knapweed can quickly establish itself on grazing lands, degrade wildlife habitat, displace sensitive species, and reduce biodiversity. We don't want that! So Friends Board member Cary Hamel, assisted by VP Shannon Rogalski and in conjunction with ISCM, quickly organized a pulling party. See Cary's Knapweed Pull Report for details on how it went. View the Information Sheet on Spotted Knapweed to learn to identify this invader in the Park or in your own back yard.

May 2011 Guided Bird Walk
Cheep fun
In May, we cooperated with the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas to lead a Guided Walk on the Nimowin Trail. The Atlas is an ambitious five-year project to engage bird watchers at all skill levels in documenting the distribution and abundance of breeding birds throughout Manitoba. The information they provide will help to track changes in bird populations over time; inform conservation practices; serve as a reference for environmental impact assessment; assist us to recognize changes in our local environment; and help determine the value of parks and other areas for maintaining biodiversity. If you weren’t able to join us on the Guided Walk, click to introduce yourself to the Atlas.

Fall Speaker Event
Remember to mark your calendar for our upcoming event on Wednesday, November 23. Further details will be available on our website at FriendsOfBirdsHillPark.ca.

Memorial
Fred Zaeh (July 28, 1921 - August 4, 2011)
Many of us at Friends of Birds Hill Park knew Fred Zaeh as a founding member and regular participant at our annual clean-up and barbecue, and at the AGM. We knew Fred as a steadfast member, a congenial man, and a thoughtful contributor. He will be missed.

Nifty Merchandise
Visit the Campground Store to see and purchase useful and pretty things. Our matte cobalt blue mugs feature the Park logo and make a great gift. Proceeds are re-invested into the organization. If you would like to develop your entrepreneurial talent and benefit Friends, apply for the volunteer experience of Merchandising Manager.

Reminder
Don't forget that you help support the work of Friends every time you use our CO-OP number with gas purchases at Red River Co-op stores. Membership #501077.