Field Report: Lower Don Valley in Toronto, Ontario

Essay Instructions:

Length: single spacing. 2.5 cm margins, 12 pt font. 1375 words.
Objective: During this course, you will have completed three (3) local site visits to High
Park, the Lower Don Valley and to the Toronto Islands. These site visits provide each student with opportunities to gain and develop primary “hands on” experience in the field; to develop ecological identification skills; and to make real-time observations about local ecological features and functions at different scales. In this assignment, you will summarise and report on the substance, significance and relevance of your urban ecological field observations made during the three (3) site visits this term. Notably, the field report should relate these observations to the context of urban planning and assess the insights and value of these observations in decision-making supported with some examples of relevant policies, plans etc. The field report must include supporting photographs to illustrate your observations and analysis, with notes from the site visit that relate your observations to location and context
Tasks: For each of the three (3) site visits complete the following tasks:
1.Summarise in one paragraph the location, route and context of your visit. Where did you go? What route did you travel through the site? Identify key locations in the report. Describe the environmental context and the nature of the place you visited. Support your summary paragraph with a map, sketch, photo, figure or other illustration.
(PHOTOGRAPHS ARE PROVIDED FROM HIGH PARK (FROM HIGH PARK CHOOSE THE ONES YOU WANT TO USE TO TALK ABOUT AND INCLUDE THEM IN TEXT.. ) AND LOWER DON VALLEY, USE BOTH PHOTOS IN BETWEEN TEXT)
Answers:
Where did you go?
1) High Park in Toronto, Ontario. (1873 Bloor St W, Toronto)
2) Lower Don Valley in Toronto, Ontario
3) Toronto Islands in Toronto, Ontario. (The Jack Layton Ferry Terminal is located Bay Street at Queens Quay, Toronto, Ontario)
What route did you travel through the site?
1)High Park: entered the park from Bloor Street West and travelled south.
2) Lower Don Valley: Route: Don River and Valley. Walked straight from Don River (walking in the middle of the site upwards)
3) Toronto Islands: Took ferry from Jack Layton to Ward's Island
2.Choose one ecological feature (or ecological structure) you observed and describe it
in one paragraph, using your notes, locational data and a photograph or sketch (e.g. a plant or animal species, habitat feature, topographic landmark such as a pond, river, shoreline, beach, cliff, etc.)
3.Choose one ecological process (or ecological function) you observed (or the evidence for it) and describe it in one paragraph, using your notes, locational data and a photograph or sketch (e.g. erosion, deposition, weathering, nutrient cycling, hydrological cycling, contamination, breeding evidence, feeding evidence, etc.) identify and describe an ecological gradient related to this process that you observed, and provide a comment about the temporal or spatial scale at which you observed evidence for its occurrence (e.g. very slow or rapid change, over a small defined area or a large area such as a watershed or lakeshore)
4.Describe in one paragraph how your observations relate to the context of urban planning. How might your field observations inform better planning and decision-making? Support your analysis with an example of a relevant policy or plan to which your field observations
apply
Remember: The field report should be succinct and insightful. It should be a summary of what you observed, the significance of those observations, and their relevance to
urban planning. It should explain clearly what you have learned that is useful in informing and making good planning decisions!
INFORMATION TO GUIDE YOU:
Use following links for research or other additional resources.
-keep in mind the dates visited (different climate, season, etc)
• High Park (visited in February 2nd) (photographs of high park are attached for reference of the exact time visited: Feb 2nd/16..i will be using some of these photographs so please use the ones you talk about in between text)
http://www(dot)highparknature(dot)org/wiki/wiki.php?n=HighParkNature.About
https://www(dot)google(dot)com/maps/d/vieweroe=UTF8&t=h&ie=UTF8&msa=0&mid=z3LjAZUd8HfQ.k0SI5dMdQSVA
https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=I_mcMjnWazQ&list=PL396F132E365788E8
http://www(dot)highparktoronto(dot)com
• Lower Don River (visited in March 1st)
CHOSE THIS ROUTE: Only explain this route NOT lower don river generally. (pictures attached)
Route # 1: DON RIVER AND VALLEY
[Discover the Don River Valley, its steep-sided tributary ravines, river, forests and wide vistas.These natural features have captivated and
attracted explorers like you since the earliest days of human habitation in this area. Many native tree species still appear in the nearby well-wooded valleys including oak, pine, beech, basswood, maple and ash]
http://www1(dot)toronto(dot)ca/city_of_toronto/parks_forestry__recreation/trails/files/pdf/DW_DonValley.pdf (this link has Don River and Valley route explained
(#1 on right side)
https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=cRdO0ABDhZA
https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=cFAE3zmVZv8
https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=jMhzobffXKI
https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=YyW2REh-Xo8
https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=PVhpT6yVhjQ
https://drive(dot)google(dot)com/file/d/0B_OaGG2NQsIrNXFOaGxFNDV3YTA/edit
http://www(dot)trca(dot)on(dot)ca/walkthedon/
• Toronto Islands (visited in April)
Remember this route:
From Jack Layton (https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=OgR09hcB89Q)
To Ward's Island (https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=3fnR-ifnQbE) +
Watch this: https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=e55KkLq-rIY (obviously water wasn't frozen like in the video because we went in April which was 0-3 degrees Celsius)
http://torontoisland(dot)com/wards.php
http://torontoisland(dot)com/index.php
http://torontoisland(dot)com/images/toronto_island_map.pdf
find "ward's island "on left..it indicates what features are in that area)
*Each picture's file name indicates which site it is.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Field Report
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Field Report
This paper describes the location where I went during the site visits. One ecological structure or ecological feature that was observed is described exhaustively with the use of a photograph, locational data, and notes. Moreover, one ecological function or ecological process which I observed is described. Lastly, this paper provides a description of how the observations that were made relate to the context of urban planning.
During the site visits, the sites in which I went to include the following: (i) High Park in Toronto, Ontario – 1873 Bloor St. W, Toronto. I entered High Park from Bloor. High Park is the biggest open park in the city of Toronto. It features a convenient parking, several eateries, playgrounds for children, picnic areas, a stunning lakefront, sports facilities, a dog park, several hiking trails, quite a few squirrels, a zoo, and public transport access. By walking on the lakeside, I found hiking trails, geese and ducks. The waterfront is a common destination for families, hikers and even runners. The mini-zoo located in this place has a few animals and birds including peacocks, pigeons, bison, cats, llamas, deer, and buffalo. The sports facilities include soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and tennis courts. Even so, a lot of other sports activities could be played on High Park’s large grassy fields. I visited High Park on February 2nd, 2016.
Picture 1: An animal in a zoo in High Park

(ii) Lower Don Valley in Toronto, Ontario – in this site, the route taken was through Don River and Valley. I walked straight from Don River, strolling in the middle of the site going upwards. The Don River valley winds through conservation areas and parks in Toronto and offers a beautiful glimpse into Toronto’s history. I visited the Lower Don Valley on March 1st, 2016. I observed the Don River Valley, viewed its steep-sided tributary ravines, wide vistas, and river. It is notable that these natural features in Don River and Valley have attracted and captivated travellers ever since the earliest days of human habitation in Toronto, Canada. A number of indigenous tree species are still appearing in the close by well-wooded valleys for instance ash, beech, oak, maple, basswood and pine.
Picture 2: Don River

(iii) Toronto Islands – here, the route that I took entailed taking a ferry from Jack Layton to Ward’s Island. This site comprises a sequence of small islands within Toronto city. The Toronto Islands are the only group of islands on Lake Ontario’s western region, these islands are situated just offshore from the Toronto city center. They provide shelter for Toronto Harbour. In these islands, there is a small residential community, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, an amusement park, home to parkland, there are quite a few sand beaches, as well as a number of boat clubs.
Picture 3: A sand beach on Toronto Islands

Ecological feature
One ecological feature that I observed during my site visits was ducks in the river. As I walked along the lower Don River valey, I was able to see a number of bird species in the river. In particular, I saw several wood ducks dashing a...

Updated on January 26, 2024

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Field Report: Lower Don Valley in Toronto, Ontario

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