Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

For this Saturday's field trip, we're heading out on a search for Spring around the South Shore areas of St-Hubert, St-Bruno, Boucherville and Varennes. This will be a combination walking/driving trip. We will, hopefully, come across a mix of late winter birds and possibly some early spring arrivals.

We will meet at a spot familiar to most of you have participated in some of our previous South Shore outings, that being Parc de la Frayere, on boul. Marie Victorin in Boucherville, on the St-Lawrence River. We'll begin by exploring the park, particularly the waterfront and the wooded trail in the Boisé Langevin. We'll then head out on the road trip taking us through parts of Boucherville, Varennes, St-Bruno and finally to the airport in St-Hubert.

STARTING POINT: Parc de la Frayere, boul. Marie-Victorin, Boucherville, Quebec, in the parking lot.
GOOGLE LINK: https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.649393,-73.443776,15z/data=!4m2!5m1!1b1?hl=en
DATE: Saturday, March 14, 2015
TIME: 8 AM - Half day trip
LEADER: Sheldon Harvey

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: The park is a little less than 30 minutes from the South Shore side of the Champlain Bridge. From Montreal, take the Champlain Bridge, to the first exit off the bridge. Follow Highway 20/Highway 132 EAST, heading towards Varennes/Longueuil). Continue east on Highway 20/132. Note that Highways 20 and 132 split at the exit for Quebec City & Hippolyte-Lafontaine Tunnel. Stay to the left at this exit, continuing east on Highway 132. Continue past the exits for de Montarville, de Montbrun and chemin du General Vanier. The next traffic lights will be at Boul. de la Marine/Boul. Lionel Boulet (Highway 229). Turn left at the traffic lights on to Boul. de la Marine, heading north towards the waterfront. Continue north, cross the railway tracks and turn left at the traffic lights at the corner of boul. Marie Victorin. Continue on boul. Marie Victorin, past the hydro pylons. You will see an entrance road into the parking lot for the Parc de la Frayere on your right.

NOTE: As alternates to the Champlain Bridge, HIGHWAY 132 East can also be accessed from any of the other bridges to the South Shore (Mercier, Victoria, Jacques-Cartier, or the Lafontaine Tunnel, as well as Highway 30. Once on Highway 132 east, route instructions above apply.

We will work in a pit stop, or two, throughout the trip. Carpooling is recommended, if possible, plus if you have two-way radios, bring them along, tuned to channel 11, for inter-vehicle communications. If you have any questions, please contact me at 450-462-1459, or on Saturday morning at 514-637-2141. - Sheldon Harvey