Oakville Beaver Weekend 7Sunday June 13, 1999 i'o /a tO U f / C / H T R / I O I O /you /< Fabulous Father's Day Sale! June 14* June 19* f He may not be Father Christmas or Father Favio but Dad deserves these deals! T * Red Tags 50% off! FREE Tie with every puchase! 356 Kerr St., Oakville f j - \ j J Mon.- Wed. Sot. 10-6 Thurs.-Fri. 10-8 495 Brant St. Burlinston .. Mon.- Wed., Sot. 9-5 Thurs.-Fri. 9-8 Closed for Lunch 1-1:30 Aside from being poor fliers, the red necked grebe isn't much of a nest builder either. The fami ly in Bronte Harbour had to have its home anchored by res idents before unway boaters destoyed it. P h o to by P e ter C. M cC usker m ■ Bronte residents caring for grebes By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Oakville's own family of red necked grebes is safe and sound thanks to some caring local residents. For the past two summers the pair nested and raised their family in a mooring tire located in the outer basin of Bronte Outer Harbour. Extremely rare in these parts, the grebes attracted visiting bird-watchers from as far away as Dallas Texas. Local bird lovers also took them to heart, some monitoring their almost every move. After all, classified as "rare breeders" in this area, the distinc tive waterbirds are common to western Canada - not Oakville, Ontario. The 1997 nest was the first success ful grebe nest documented in the har bour in over 50 years. It is also the only known one this far south. As instinct would have it, though, the couple returned again this year, but found that - with improvements to the harbour - their rubber residence from years gone by was nowhere to be found. According to Oakville resident and South Peel Naturalists Club member Ken Musgrave, the pair returned March 28th and constructed a series of floating nests that kept drifting off. According to Bronte Outer Harbour Marina spokesman Bill Miller, the grebes' latest nest found its way beneath the main dock of the facility and they soon got used to people walk ing above them. Musgrave explained that a single white egg was laid Wednesday night, but, unfortunately, the unsecured nest drifted out from its hiding place and lodged next to the out-drive of a small power boat moored at a nearby slip. The dangers were obvious: the nest would drift free once again or be destroyed when the propeller was acti vated. Workers carefully used mechanic's wire to snag the nest and attach it to a more stable home. The grebes, their nest and their egg are now back beneath the main dock, safe and secure. "We're taking good care of them," said Miller. When asked whether he planned to charge the grebes docking fees, Miller laughed, "If they have too many chil dren we might." Grebes - which are poor fliers, but expert divers - have brownish-grey bodies, are almost tailless and feature rusty-red necks, dark heads and slen der, yellowish and pointed bills. S p e c ia l P r e -S e a s o n E v e n t !! S a v e $300B0 Installed AIR CONDITIONER Easy Monthly Payments Available Reg. Price *1670" PPLEWOOPA lIR CONDITIONING• 10-year Free Parts & Labour • Enbridge Consumers Gas Dealer • 1 1/2-ton condenser & c o l only. (905) 825-1950 Lansing has all the right gifts for the man in your life. LANSING Built By Knowing a thing or two about renovations ■ < - • r ? t \ w t \ * 399 Speers Rd., Oakville 8 4 4 -8 0 1 0 All prices shown subject to P.S.T. and G.S.T. All Items cash and carry priced. We reserve the right to correct any errors and limit quantities purchased. S a le th ro u g h J u n e 27/99 G r e a t s a v i n g s ! H O T D E A L ! Barbeques for your summertime chef! Lim ited Q uantities Reg. $4595 NOW Great Lakes rope hammock 5 9 9 0 0 Picture may not be exactly as shown._______ G reat s e le c tio n fo r d ad !