Bird Protection Quebec "field Trip"

Saturday's Spontaneous Spring Field Trip.


Saturday April 21
DESTINATION: Réserve Nationale de faune du lac Saint-François - Dundee
Leader: Sheldon Harvey 450-462-1459 E-mail
MEETING TIME 8:00 a.m. at the Visitor Centre parking lot on Fraser Point Road.

DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS: From Montreal take the Mercier Bridge to Hwy 132 and follow it west through Châteauguay to Beauharnois. At Beauharnois (before reaching the bridge and dam), turn left on Hwy 236 and follow it through St-Étienne-de-Beauharnois, St-Louis-de-Gonzague, and St-Stanislas-de-Kostka until it once again joins Hwy 132. Continue on Hwy 132 west past Ste-Barbe and St-Anicet and Cazaville. Continue approximately 8 km on Hwy 132 past Cazaville to Pointe Fraser Road. Turn right on Fraser and watch for the Visitor Centre parking lot about 1 km along on the left. Calculate roughly a 1.5 hour drive from Montreal to Dundee.

(NOTE: The Mercier Bridge will most likely be reduced to one lane only in each direction for the weekend, although construction is sometimes cancelled if there is rain. It shouldn't cause too many problems getting across in the early morning, but delays may occur on the return trip home.)

An alternate route for those in West Island is to take Hwy 20 west to Exit 14 and cross over the Msgr. Langlois Bridge to Valleyfield along Hwy 201 to the intersection with Hwy 30, then continue west to Hwy 132 and follow it to Dundee.

We will explore the trails leading through the marsh from the welcome centre as well as the observation tower. We will then drive to the Great Egret Walk, just north of Fraser Point Road on Highway 132. It is here that at least two pair of Sandhill Cranes have been observed nesting. There are also several good observation points along rural roads in the region which we can also explore.

The outing will involve a fair amount of walking. The forecast is for some rain so rain gear may be necessary. The trails can be quite wet, so appropriate footwear is essential.

Over 60 species of birds have already been seen by birders in this area within the last week, so it should be an interesting trip. Please feel free to bring along your lunch as this trip historically takes us past the lunch hour.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by e-mail or telephone. If you need to reach me on Saturday morning, please call me on the BPQ cellphone line at 514-637-2141. - Sheldon