Bird Banding

Huntsman is known by many as an education facility but there is also a large amount of research done on campus.  For example, Tracey Dean, the Director of Education at the Huntsman has run the St. Andrews Bird Banding Station since 1989.  Over the past 22 years, 20,200 birds representing 99 species have been banded.  Banding provides important data on the age, sex and body condition of the overall population.  Adding to the banding database each year allows changes in songbird’s populations’ health and fluctuations to be “measured”, especially boreal forest species.

Occasionally students participating in Huntsman field courses are given the privilege of assisting Tracey as she checks her nets and bands the birds that have been caught.  It is really interesting to see the birds up close and to see Tracey work. 

For more information on the St. Andrews Bird Banding Station visit www.huntsmanmarine.ca/html/bird_banding.html.

Putting on the band.

Ready to be released.

Schools from the United States

Huntsman field courses draw in school groups from the Maritimes and Central Canada but also from the United States.  For example, student groups from Essex Agricultural and Technical High School in Danvers, Massachusetts, Cabot School in Cabot, Vermont and Rohan Woods School in St. Louis, Missouri attend field courses at the Huntsman.  These schools bring students that range from grade 6 to grade 12.       

What do our American friends think of their time at the Huntsman?  Check out the Rohan Woods 2010 trip blog, www.rohanwoods.org/Leadership-Ethics/Hunstman-Daily-Diary.aspx#14. 

Humpback Whales

Students taking part in summer and fall field courses at the Huntsman usually have the opportunity to see a number of whale species that visit the Bay of Fundy to feed.  One such species is the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).  This beautiful whale is known for lots of activity at the surface, such as breaching, spyhopping and flipper slaps.  They are a treat to see! 

Humpback info:

• Individuals can be identified by the pattern on the underside of their tail and by body markings and scars. (Catalogue http://whale.wheelock.edu/whalenet-stuff/humpcat.html) 
• Have throat grooves that expand when they take large gulps of water and food.  They then push the water out through their baleen which acts as a filter to keep the food, krill and small fish in their mouth. 
• Arch their back when preparing for a deep dive.  
• Their flippers are the largest appendages of any animal; reaching up to 5 metres in length.

Video of a humpback while out with Beaconsfield High from Quebec.

Field Trips

School groups take part in Huntsman field courses for a number of reasons.  For most it is as an extension of their science class but for a few it is as a fun and exciting field trip.  For example, teachers from Eastview Secondary School from Barrie, Ontario bring a group of high school students to the Huntsman every other year.  The students come to have fun and learn about the marine environment, its organisms and to experience the local area.  They are a group of students who enjoy the outdoors so spending at least half of every day in the field suits them well.

Another example would be the group from Glenview Senior Public School in Toronto, Ontario.  These grade 8 students come to the Huntsman for a year-end trip.  While here they take part in Huntsman activities but also visit the Sunbury Shores Centre to do art, walk across a road only accessible at low tide to Minister’s Island for a history tour, and go cosmic bowling.

Huntsman field courses are flexible and can be adapted to meet the needs of a variety of groups.  If you are looking for a unique facility for a field trip, visit our website, www.huntsmanmarine.ca to see what we can offer you.

Swallowtail Lighthouse on Grand Manan

Making prints at Sunbury Shores Art and Nature Centre

Walking across the "road" to Ministers Island

Enjoying the bathhouse on Ministers Island

Tour Tuesday – Residences

When attending a Huntsman field course students stay on campus in our residences, Needler Hall and Anderson House.  Usually middle and high school students stay in Needler Hall, which is set up in a university style with three bunk beds per room.  Anderson House is home to the dining room that is shared by all groups on campus.  Everyone raves about the delicious meals that are delivered by the friendly kitchen staff, especially the yummy homemade soups and cookies!  From the dining room, you look out over the Algonquin golf course to Passamaquoddy Bay.   Attached to Anderson House is the newest residence, the Annex.  Occasionally students will stay in Anderson House and the Annex but these are usually reserved for university/adult groups.  The residences are found at the top of our campus, with the labs, aquarium and boat located down the hill on the lower campus. 

Entrance to Anderson House

Dining room at Anderson House

View from Anderson House dining room

Needler Hall

Needler Hall first floor

Room in Needler Hall