We are getting ready for the 20th annual Carden Challenge!
100% of funds raised supports efforts to protect nature on the Carden Alvar
Are you in?
Take part in the 20th annual Carden Challenge - count species, raise money and protect nature. Read the info on the page to learn about the event.
Form a Team
Pick the category that best suits your team: Competitive - for teams who can count more than ~100 bird species. Recreational - for teams who like to count species, but want to do it at a more leisurely pace. Biodiversity - teams that count everything and are vying for the trophy! Hybrid - no maximum of team members, can split up to count. The point is to take part! Full rules here.
Where to?
Come out to the Carden Alvar OR stay in your own backyard / neighbourhood (stay within a 8 km radius).
Register!
Email Tanya Clark with your team name, team members, category (competitive, recreational, biodiversity or hybrid) and where you will be counting from.
Fundraise!
Every dollar raised matters. Funds raised helps us care for this landscape, empowers us to work towards protecting more Alvar and more. There is no minimum amount to fundraise.
Prizes
Last year's prizes included binoculars donated by 4 Directions Conservation Consulting Services, a stay at cabinscape, prize packages with goodies, an XL colouring page from Gillian Lowry Art
Resources
Scroll to the bottom of this page for documents, species lists and other resources for studying.
Count!
On May 24 - 25, count as many species as you can & share your journey with us while spreading awareness of the critical need to protect nature. Your team can take part from home or on the Alvar.
Featured Species:
What is an Alvar?
In an area east of Orillia and northwest of Lindsay, a flat limestone landscape called the Carden Plain harbours rare habitats known as alvars. Alvars occur only on limestone bedrock with little or no soil, where spring floods and summer droughts create harsh conditions. Many of the wildflowers, native grasses and invertebrate species found on alvars normally occur in the western provinces, and many are rare. These habitats are globally imperiled, occurring only in the south of Sweden and scattered around the Great Lakes Basin. Carden Township’s alvars are thought to be among the richest in the province, with a great diversity of alvar species.
Mammals:
- Moose
- Red Fox
- Snowshoe Hare
- Otter
- Porcupine
Birds:
- Eastern Loggerhead Shrike
- Bobolink
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Black Tern
- Bald Eagle
Reptiles & Amphibians:
- Blanding's Turtle
- Eastern Milksnake
- Spotted Salamander
- Western Chorus Frog
- Wood Frog
Odes & Leps:
- Aurora Damsel
- Racket-tailed Emerald
- Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
- Monarch Butterfly
- Wild Indigo Duskywing
THANK YOU TO OUR PRIZE DONORS:
Vortex Diamondback HD Spotting Scope
Four passes through an immersive journey through Planet Earth in Toronto, ON
Two night stay at a cabinscape
2023 HIGHLIGHTS
- 236 total species (154 birds, 15 mammals, 5 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 19 leps, 20 odes)
- Some species counted by just one team: Blue-winged Teal, Sharp Shin, Coopers & Red-Shouldered Hawk, Soa, Great Horned Owl, Woodchuk, Skunk, Newt, Pickerel Frog, Mourning Cloak, Dreamy Duskywing, Marsh Bluet, Aurora Damsel, Taiga Bluet
- A new award, in memory of Dan Bone. Dan was a long time Challenge participant and he died last August. He was a great birder, but his real passion was butterflies. He participated in finding a Mottled Duskywing in Ontario and resulted in the Mottled Duskywing recovery program. They are doing releases in Pinery Provincial Park and they found some living as a result of the release of the catterpilars. In honour of Dan, the new Dan Bone Memorial Can (a can of Beer) goes to the Biodiversity team who counts the most butterflies.
- Over $30,000 raised!
COMPETITIVE
The Cool Catbirds
129 bird species
Best – stopping the car to hear a Canada Warbler along warbler alvar (but the Strawberry Rhubarb pie was a second highlight). Miss – Double-crested Cormorant or a Loggerhead Shrike.
BIODIVERSITY
Fauna Fanatics
145 species.
Best – Sandhill Cranes flying above us. Miss – No Snapping Turtle. Also Black Tern because the Cool Catbirds got it before us!
RECREATIONAL
Loon Rangers
105 bird species
Best – Pied-billed Grebe, Owl. Walking at the Sedge Wren trail and seeing a Martin. A Pine Martin! Miss – Downy Woodpecker. Now they move onto the Competitive category!
HYBRID
Let's Wing It
120 species.
Best – they initially missed the Common Gallinule on Friday evening, as they were distracted by the Cecropia Moth. On Saturday afternoon, they went out looking for the Gallinule and got it AND a Virginia Rail. Miss – their teammates! Two team members were up in Thunder Bay (Cam & Ali) and they missed being together.
FUNDRAISING
Top Fundraising Team: Ravin Ravens, $6,117
Top Fundraiser: Ginny Moore, $2,010
TEETER ASS TROPHY
Nerd on a Wire