Bird Friendly Ottawa says Ferry Road purchase critical to bird survival
By Jake Davies - West Carleton Online
FITZROY HARBOUR – Bird Friendly Ottawa’s Deborah Doherty says the city’s proposed plan to purchase 223 acres of land along the Ottawa River near Fitzroy Harbour will be critical to the protection of the many bird species that travel through the area.
Doherty is a City of Ottawa resident who moved to the area because of the natural environment.
“Access to nearby nature is the main reason I chose to live in Ottawa, and I have been here for more than 50 years now,” Doherty told West Carleton Online today (Jan. 22). “Over the decades, I have seen the city grow and its natural landscapes dwindle, making it increasingly urgent to protect and restore green spaces that remain.”
For the last few months, City of Ottawa staff have been working on a plan to purchase a 223-acre parcel made up mostly of forest and pasture along the Ottawa River on Ferry Road. The city’s plan is to purchase the property for roughly $2 million under the Natural Heritage System in the Official Plan. The plan was approved by the city’s Finance and Corporate Services committee (FCSc) on Dec. 3. Coun. Clarke Kelly, who is not on the FCSc, spoke opposed to the purchase, with his main point being the city is not in a financial position to purchase the land.
The FCSc recommended council approve the purchase, but at the last City of Ottawa council meeting of 2024, council decided to send the project back to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee (ARAc) to discuss the issue and also provide a recommendation to council. ARAc will discuss the issue tomorrow (Jan. 23).
“The City of Ottawa now has an extraordinary opportunity to preserve a vital piece of our natural heritage: a 223-acre parcel of mixed forest and pastureland on the Ottawa River near Fitzroy Harbour and the Quyon Ferry,” Doherty said. “This land is part of the Ottawa River watershed, and the most northern section of the Lac Deschênes-Ottawa River Important Bird Area (IBA). It is a piece of natural habitat cherished by Ottawa and Gatineau residents and is an important area for the region’s birds and other species. Birds Canada and others are currently working to make this a Key Biodiversity Area and this purchase would provide citizens and visitors to Ottawa with an extremely important legacy for future generations.”
Doherty, on behalf of Bird Friendly Ottawa, has already booked a delegation to speak in front of ARAc tomorrow on the issue.
“This property is not just any plot of land,” the Overbrook resident said. “It is a treasure trove of biodiversity. With 0.8 kilometres of shoreline and 223 acres of mature forests, wetlands, and meadows, it provides essential habitat for species in greatest decline across North America, including aerial insectivores, grassland birds, and shoreline birds. All these bird populations have declined drastically in recent years, primarily due to habitat loss. This property lies on a key migratory route, making it critical for sustaining bird populations during their long journeys.”
Doherty feels an opportunity like this does not come up often.
“City staff have called this proposal a ‘highly unique conservation opportunity,’ in their report, and they are absolutely right,” she said. “Not only does this land ‘occupy a significant section of the Natural Heritage System Core Areas and Linkage Areas’ but it contributes to the stewardship of an international system of Key Biodiversity Areas.”
Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are the most important places in the world for species and their habitats.
“Faced with a global environmental crisis we need to focus our collective efforts on conserving the places that matter most,” Doherty said. “The KBA Programme supports the identification, mapping, monitoring and conservation of KBAs to help safeguard the most critical sites for nature on our planet.”
This land aligns with Ottawa’s Official Plan, which prioritizes acquiring conservation lands, as well as the council’s strategic priority to building a green and resilient city.
“Its acquisition would reinforce Ottawa’s leadership in protecting critical ecosystems while providing invaluable benefits to all residents, from carbon sequestration and protection of biodiversity to improved heath benefits that come from nearby access to nature,” Doherty said. “I am extremely proud our city staff has found a property that aligns with council’s commitments in the Official Plan that calls for acquiring conservation lands, the term of council’s strategic priorities include conservation (green and resilient city), and the Rural Summit last year called for conservation of rural forests at such as reasonable price.”
Doherty says much of what she told West Carleton Online today, she will be saying at ARAc tomorrow.
“I understand there are competing priorities for rural wards, but I urge councillors to recognize the advantages of preserving this property extend far beyond any one area,” she said. “Its purchase would secure an environmental legacy that benefits not only today’s residents but future generations as well. When this proposal comes before ARAc this Thursday and council on Jan. 29, I hope it will receive the strong support it deserves. Please help us in sharing this valuable land, water and air with current citizens and as a legacy for future generations.”
For more information on Bird Friendly Ottawa, click here.
Do we not already have a river property – Pinhey’s Point? I would think that it is bird friendly. While I am excited that the city is purchasing land for the future in West Carleton, I was hoping it would be for humans not the birds. We have young people and seniors who cannot remain in West Carleton due to lack of planning in providing affordable housing. 2 million dollars is too rich at this point. Councillor Kelly is right on this one. And I for one spent much time on the Rural Summit. I heard time and time again – we will have a voice. We’ll I think before the city signs on the dotted line, West Carleton residents should get a vote. And there aee many questions to be asked about access to the property once it is acquired. Will there be entrance fees? There will be maintenance codts that the city– taxpayers will have to bear. The city once owned the property on Corkstiown Road. I think it was pretty bird friendly at one time. Not to say that horse shows are great and we’ll attended but the facilitty was put up for lease to a private entity. Further to our east, there is Upper Canada Village and again who runs it now? Just saying, these great ideas and gestures are not always sustainable financially. But the taxpayers are buying with no guarantee that it will remain for the purpose that it is intended. Have we seen an operation plan? Breakdown of costs, what you and I will pay to use it? What will the hrs of operatoon be? We lost a 32 year old lawn bowling facility that was already established and the city did not provide any funding to keep it running. But 2 million for the birds? Years ago in Carp, a group of citizens worked to purchase land around the fair grounds. I did not see the city step forward with a cheque book. And I do support conservation areas and we do have Conservation Authorities, where are they in the purchase and future management of this property?
The fact is we had a Rural Summit, at least follow through on all that we were told, we will have a voice – our Councillor has said it is not the time.
Before this purchase goes ahead, I think we need a Town Hall, we need an Operation Plan presented, we need assurances that it will remain a city- owned and run facility. Are you listening Mayor Sutcliffe?