u/Upbeat-Pound2922

Keywords: construction, homes, labor shortage, modular homes, Royal Homes

A decade ago a neighbor's pan-abode cottage was torn down and a prefabricated modular home installed . The owner assured us the footprint would remain the same and the dwelling would reduce the period of disruption from construction activities.

Obviously, I was skeptical and reviewed the application via the access to information Act at the township office before driving to Peterborough to speak with a sales representative with Royal Homes.

The lot was on a very steep hill accessed by a narrow 300 m long private lane-way. The logistics were daunting. But the owner was not one for either preserving the aesthetics of trees nor abandoning the convenience of a quick maintenance free home. Royal Homes, to retain their reputation of "building anywhere", were reticent in backing out of their marketing commitment , and the project was large enough to represent a comfortable profit.

The owner washed his hands of any possible liability and signed a contract abdicating his responsibility for any damages or accidents.

There was a 45 % turn half way up the lane-way and after the trees were cut and foundation poured the buildings arrived on flat-beds . The first of two sections of the prefab was backed up the small mountain. The workers had never encountered this type of terrain as they were from the flats of Lindsay and Toronto.

I watched in disbelief as it appeared there was not foreman in charge and the whole procedure was a disaster ready to happen. The truck was not anchored from above or behind to prevent a possible roll or break failure.

The flatbed did start to roll horizontally and the tailors rear wheels started to lift off the ground. Where were the health and safety inspectors? What was the safety protocol? Who was in charge?

The small 20'x20' cedar cottage and treed lot was obliterated in the construction process and replaced with an unsightly plastic sided prefab in a neighborhood where homes never sold below a million dollars.

This was not integrating a building with the environment. The transportation process caused extensive damages to the landscape. The lane-way, and trees on adjacent lots were damaged. Royal Homes lost money on the contact. Moreover, the amount of addition retrofits extended the homes completion dead-line and cost another two years. The lane-way washes out several times a year now from the additional impermeable surface of the massive new building.

Haste makes waste. Attempting to fit a square peg in a round hole is not working with the natural environment, but against it. This type of shortsightedness is unfortunately on the increase with Ontario's shortage of skilled tradesman.

Will we ever return to a point in history where people work with ; and not against the environment ?

Background: Blue Spotted Salamander, amphibians, temporary ponds, drought

On Friday April 17, I encountered my first salamander of 2026; a Blue-Spotted Salamander crossing the municipal dirt road returning from a Beaver Pond. The warmer temperatures and rain allow these amphibians to travel under the cover of darkness in a humid environment. However, I only encountered a total of two individuals so far. Until three years ago there would have been dozens crossing this same stretch of road in Killaloe, Hagarty, Richards Township.

Over the past three or more summers we have experienced extreme hot summer temperatures and drought which evaporate the ponds these amphibians use to lay their gelatinous egg masses. I suspect the short time frame of open water is insufficient for the eggs to fully develop into juvenile salamanders.

About a week ago the American Wood Frog and Spring Peepers emerged. It appears they can breed and lay eggs which hatch into tadpoles before the pond dries-up.

Frogs and salamanders intentionally choose temporary ponds because they do not harbor fish which would otherwise eat their eggs. But a pond that evaporates too soon is also a death trap for future generations of these important amphibians.

photos: by the author of a blue-spotted salamander taken a few years ago in Killaloe, Ontario

Background: bird mortality, spring migration, windows

This Common Yellow-Throat flew into my window and developed a concussion a few years ago. In the second photo it is clear by the semi-closed eye that this bird is in considerable pain. It eventually left after a few hours but I suspect that the head trauma caused irreversible neurological defects and possible intra-cranial pressure from internal bleeding and swelling which would have killed the bird in a few hours.

This could have been avoided had I attached some markers on my windows. Each spring millions of migratory song bird are killed by flying into windows and disoriented by night lights by home owners.

Currently the first early spring migrants have arrived at my residence to nest. These include the Yellow-Bellied Sap Sucker, Eastern Phoebe, Northern Flicker and American Robin. These will be joined by a dozen or more warblers and other song birds in the coming weeks.

Please do your part to reduce unnecessary mortality of these declining species by insuring your windows do not reflect the outside vegetation.