Flowers Along McIntyre Creek Hiking Trails

Except for the purple crocus (center top), which is the first flower we see in spring, this is a composite of the June flowers currently in bloom along the hiking trails surrounding McIntyre Creek. The Wild Roses should be the next flowers to blossom, and will enhance the hiking experience with their wonderful fragrance. There are carpets of tiny mauve flowers that almost appear as ground cover, growing in and around rocks, and in the clay soil. I don't need to know the names of these flowers to enjoy them on my hikes. Now is a great time to experience the McIntyre Creek trails and enjoy our wilderness City.

Photos by Gerry Steers
Gerry's Computer Magic

Wild Life Viewing in the Yukon

http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/wildlifebiodiversity/wildlifeviewing.php

Check out the above link

Greenspace Referendum

Hi everyone - at the last Friends of McIntyre Creek board meeting we
discussed the fact that the City of Whitehorse as part of their Official
Community Plan review is asking whether the Greenspace Referendum Bylaw
should be done away with. Evidently Planner Mike Gau has said that it would
be impossible to make changes that are recommended in the review with this
bylaw in place. I disagree - the only changes that would not be possible
without a referendum would be ones that change park reserves, environmental
protection or greenbelt into development zones. I'm attaching the bylaw for
your info.

http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BADA6C371-38A7-4376-A020-33C43181D3B3%7D&DE=%7B46AEBD4F-E2CB-4014-819F-80AF2B121B5A%7D

Mayor Buckway was quoted in the paper as saying it was the Chamber of Commerce that wants the bylaw axed.

Another thing that was raised at the FOMC meeting was that maybe we couldn't
get McIntyre Creek made into a park because of the OCP referendum
requirement. The way I read it is that there might have to be a referendum
before the park was created, but I don't think that would be a bad thing.

I think it is important to let the City know that the referendum bylaw is
valued by residents as a way to ensure a democratic process for zoning and
to protect greenspace from being eroded a little at a time by City Council
in response to rezoning applications.

- Karen

Karen Baltgailis
Executive Director
Yukon Conservation Society
302 Hawkins Street
Whitehorse, Yukon
Canada Y1A 1X6
Tel: (867) 668-5678
Fax: (867) 668-6637
ycsed@ycs.yk.ca
www.yukonconservation.org

American Dipper - McIntyre Creek

The photo of an American Dipper and location information is provided by Adam Skrutkowski. "It was located about 20 feet downstream of the culvert about 2KM from Fish Lake Road on the Copper Haul Road. I was watching the dipper for a while as it dove into the water every 30 seconds or so to feed on the vertebrae in the water. It chirped away between dives."

Swan Viewing

On Sunday, April 26, 2009, there were a dozen swans (and more ducks) in the small opening of water.

The best viewing is to walk in to the end of Range Road Dump or along the bluff from the golf course road. Either way, you have to walk in a bit.

Any day now too, there should be some swan viewing at the Hydro Pond, up the Fish Lake Road, as the south end of the pond is opening up.

Adam

Public Meeting - April 1, 2009

April 1, 2009 Friends of McIntyre Creek held a public meeting in the Mount McIntyre Recreation Center, to show the value of protecting this area from development. Various Clubs and Organizations, as well as private citizens, spoke about their use of the McIntyre Creek area, and their desire to see it preserved as a nature park. Dorothy Bradley, Director, appears in this photo, with a map of the proposed park area showing in the back.
Representatives of the Klondike Snowmobile Club, Yukon Bird Club, Rock Climbing Club, Dog Mushers, Icy Waters Fish Hatchery, Fish & Game Association, Porter Creek Association, Members of Ta'an and Kwanlin Dunn First Nations, the Yukon College, Yukon Conservation Society, Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club are some of the groups who shared their visions for the proposed park.

Bird Watching May 19, 2009 with Ione Christensen

May 19, 2009 Bird Watching

Bird Watching

McIntyre Creek and its wetlands provide a veritable feast of photo opportunities for bird watchers. Bald Eagles, many species of ducks, ravens, chickadees, and many other bird species inhabit this area, nesting and rearing their young, and passing through to other breeding and feeding grounds.

Moose, deer, bear, wolves, foxes, coyotes, lynx, beavers, porcupine, squirrels, and rabbits are also found along this wildlife corridor that the McIntyre Creek runs through. There are also several fish species, as well as flora and fauna for the nature lovers to explore.

All this nature is within the City of Whitehorse bounderies and is a treasure and jewel that the Friends of McIntyre wish to preserve for future generations. A lot of the area is easily accessible by foot from the residents homes, providing exercise and enjoyment for the citizens, as well as an area for students from the nearby schools to study nature.

Some of the activities enjoyed along the creek are hiking, walking with dogs, dog mushing, fishing, orienteering, rock climbing, skiing, skidooing, ATV'ing, bird watching to mention a few.