The Kingston Field Naturalists manages three nature reserves in order to protect important habitat and allow for connections with nature. Access to these properties is for members only. KFN members are also able to visit the Amherstview Sewage Lagoons, which though not exactly a “wonderful natural setting” is a good place to see migratory birds.
Helen Quilliam Sanctuary
In 1963, the Kingston Nature Club purchased 200 acres of land from the Gananoque Power and Light Corporation. This land in shield habitat along the Frontenac axis became the Otter Lake sanctuary. To own this land, the club became incorporated and changed its name to the Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN).
The mission of the Otter Lake Sanctuary was to preserve the land as nearly as possible in the same condition as it was found. In 1967, a further 100 acres were purchased and many of the trails we use now were established. Several are named for past members of the club: Roland Beschel trail, Art Bell trail, Betty Hughes trail and Faith Avis trail. A trail map is available for download at the bottom of this page.
In 1981, a further 190 acres were acquired and in 1990, Vanluven Point became the last piece of the current sanctuary. Three more trails refer to features of the landscape: Boundary trail, Porcupine trail and Vanluven Point trail.
On June 11, 1995, the sanctuary was renamed the Helen Quilliam Sanctuary (HQS) in honour of Helen Quilliam, who guided the KFN for 40 years.
Three Bioblitzes (2000, 2002 and 2018) and numerous field trips have been conducted at the sanctuary over the years. Every year in April, approximately twenty volunteers gather at the quarry former site and conduct a clean-up of our trails. There are several Wood Duck boxes on the Sanctuary. They are monitored in late winter every year.
The sanctuary, now over 500 acres, consists of several areas : Mixed forest, Wetland, Rocky outcrop and Oak/Pine woodland. It is a managed forest.
*Use of the Sanctuary is restricted to KFN members and their guests exclusively*
For a PDF map of the HQS trails click the button to open or right-click to save:
A GPX file of the HQS trail system is also available via the KFN Google Drive (click to visit and download from there):
Martin Edwards Reserve
In partnership with Wildlife Habitat Canada and Ducks Unlimited, the Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) acquired 250 acres of pasture and marsh at the east end of Amherst Island in 1986. It was an initiative led by Ron Weir to protect the nesting grounds of the largest colony of Wilson’s Phalarope in Eastern Ontario.
To preserve the habitat for prairie nesters and phalaropes, the KFN entered in an agreement with a drover to have cattle on the property to maintain the short grass. Approximately 50 cows spend the summer within the fenced area (electric and page wire). Also, we have erected two Osprey platforms. For the first 25 years the Osprey have used the northeast platform but recently they have nested on the platform in the southwest field. A thriving colony of Purple Martins occupy the Martin houses are on the property. Tree Swallows can be found nesting along the road.
In 2013, the property was named the Martin Edwards Reserve to honour the world-famous birder and naturalist who had served as our president and on many other environmental organizations.
In 2007, a Bioblitz was conducted on the Reserve. Numerous rare birds and butterflies have been spotted there during the past 30 years.
The Reserve western portion consists of two large pasture fields (approximately 100 acres each). In the eastern portion, a man-made pond is separated from Lake Ontario by a berm. A trail begins at the road and goes along the southern boundary onto the berm and ends at a rocky spit of land which extends into the lake, “The Bar”.
Use of the Reserve is restricted to members and their guests exclusively.
Sylvester-Gallagher Nature Reserve
The Sylvester-Gallagher Nature Reserve is an 92.5 acres (37 hectare) parcel of forest and grassland, adjacent to the Martin Edward Reserve. It was purchased by the KFN in 2018 from the children and grandchildren of Jack Sylvester thanks to a donation of securities by Emily Sylvester and John Gallagher. Jack Sylvester succeeded in establishing a small wooded area on this property. It also has some open fields that support several Eastern Meadowlarks and Bobolinks.
The reserve is not open to visitors at the moment. Once a survey has been completed and a management plan adopted we will be able to develop walking trails.
Amherstview Sewage Lagoons
Thanks to an agreement with Loyalist Township, KFN members are permitted to enter the Amherstview Sewage Lagoons property to do nature observation during daylight hours. Access to this location is a privilege. This is an operational facility not a public park. Entry is only through the gate on the SOUTH side of the property, at the end of Amherstview Golf Course Road. There is a lock on the gate; the code and other details on how to enter the site and observation recommendations can be obtained from Kurt Hennige (kjhennige [at] gmail [dot] com), or from Anthony Kaduck (kaduckintransit at googlemail.com). Please DO NOT climb over the gate and please carry your KFN membership certificate in case you are asked by Township officials to confirm that you are a KFN member.
Following these guidelines will ensure that Loyalist Township continues to allow KFN members to enter.