Glad You Asked . . .
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This page will feature questions children often ask park staff.

What are the black twisted things on the branches of some bushes?

The black, twisted shapes on some of the chokecherry and pincherry bushes in the park are a disease called black knot of cherry. In reaction to an invasion of spores from the Apiosporina morbosa fungus, the bushes increase their xylem and phloem cells, resulting in black lumps. Throughout most of the year, the spindle-shaped lumps are black. However, sometimes in the spring, the lumps are light green and have a velvety texture. This disease does not kill the bushes but a severe infection will stunt growth.

Activity: Fungi are plants that lack green chlorophyll so they cannot make their own food using the process of photosynthesis. Fungi must feed on dead or living plants or on animals. They reproduce using spores instead of seeds and come in a wide variety of shapes and colours. Black knot of cherry is just one example of a fungus found in the park. How many types of fungus can you find as you walk in the park?

Why are visitors NOT suppose to feed the birds?

Park visitors are expected not to feed the birds because:

• unconsummed bird seed may germinate in the spring, introducing non-native plant species to the park's ecosystems
• birds may become dependent upon the feeders and experience difficulty when the feeders are empty
• feeding encourages birds to stay, when normally they would be migrating to other locations
• birds stay healthier eating foods they find in their ecosystems
• feeding results in unnatural population numbers of other species, like mice, that access the bird seed
• concentrating birds in one area, like a feeder, makes them more susceptible to predators, both domestic and wild

PLEASE: Never encourage birds to land on your hand! When wildlife lose their fear of humans and approach people, conflict situations sometimes arise. Often, the wildlife suffer because of this. See our Fauna Feature on Winter Birds.

Leave the wild in wildlife. Observe from a distance.

Environmental Education Links: Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre | 
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