Amherst Isl. Nature Reserve 7b

They are trying to protect this area, but it is hard with unethical naturalists and birders. You cannot go on this property unless you are or are with a member of the reserve. That makes good sense to me.
Amherst Island is a prime area during migration seasons.

  

Amherst Island Wind Farm Construction 6

We drove 87 km! It's a lovely island, Amherst Isl. We visited Topsy farm, as well.

My information told me that these are magical places. The road traffic told me that those from away, like us, are taking advantage of the birding possibilities. Locals wave at us as we pass them on their muddy, miserable roads. I'm not sure they wave to the wind farm construction crews.
The contractors are ubiquitous, although limited to particular roads. This is a good thing.

Locals have protested for a long time, online as well as with signage, but the wind farm is being built.

Amherst Island’s “Windlectric” project, owned by Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., project.

I felt guilty being on the island. We cannot contribute to their economy, although we do pay the $9 ferry fare as does everyone. We did make some purchases at Topsy Farm.
There are a couple of B & Bs, as well as a restaurant, which is closed for the season.
Air BNB has a webpage for accomodations, thousands of birders visit the island during spring and fall migration, as well as now, during winter owling season.Hubby bought a coffee at the General Store. They've owned the store less than a year, and decided to also make sandwiches, as construction crews are hungry.



It's interesting that the construction company has its own barge and tug boat to ferry across the equipment, the turbines and the crews.

Amherst Isl. Wind Farm from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Amherst Isl. sights 5

We usually pop in to Topsy Farm, on the island. They are kind people. They keep people informed as to farm events! They are kind to the birders, who crawl all over the island on weekends. There can be as many an 100 birders on this little island. Some are awful.
They are wonderful on social media.

Our Wool Shed is open 7 days a week all year. Reminder to folks ice fishing and to birders that our customers have access to a warm toilet in winter. Heads, hands, feet, bums, backs -we've got you covered. Then a roast or chops for supper after.#woolsho… https://t.co/qjPQaSDOR2 pic.twitter.com/Osq6iwtasI

— Topsy Farms (@TopsyFarms) January 23, 2018

Leading the sheep to better windshelter and feed with our grain 'snacker'. … https://t.co/J8hN20h79Q pic.twitter.com/uPiOlwdg5g

— Topsy Farms (@TopsyFarms) January 21, 2018

It's such a lovely island. It's interesting comparing photos from summer: Kingston Trip – Part 5: Amherst Island. Like Wolfe Island, which we've visited before, they are constructing a wind farm, which I'll show in a later post. It was frosty day.
Amherst Island a lovely island, many farms, birds, fields, sheep!
The island was popular after the 1776 Rebellion. People began farming. Irish colonial settlers began taking it over around 1822.
The winter population goes from 400 to 1000 in summer.



SE Ontario has had a big melt. Some of the roads were impassable last week when my friend went birding. It's very flat.  This week they were OK.


Deer and cows and sheep, as well as coyotes when the water freezes!


Some park and go ice fishing


Aren't they beautiful? Topsy Farm runs an amazing business, with grass-fed, sustainable, Canadian wool products.
Topsy Farm Sheep from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.