Tricks in disguise: Fools and facts in nature
Self-portrait of a Celebes crested macaque female (Photo by Wikimedia Commons)
A friendly exchange of practical jokes and hoaxes often poses no harm, especially on such a day as April Fools’ Day. But there are some real tricksters in nature that will fool even the most attentive eyes and ears. On April Fools’...
Using migration patterns to understand bird population declines
A tree swallow sits on a barbed wire fence (Photo by Lisha Berzins)
I don’t know about you, but by this time of the year I am ready for winter to be over. I think birds feel the same way. As soon as the sun comes out of hiding and the temperature inches above freezing after a dreary Ontario winter, the...
Look for these first signs of spring across Canada
Red-winged blackbird (Photo by Bill Hubick)
With the springing forward of our clocks and the increased daylight, many Canadians are getting antsy for the arrival of spring. What can be more delightful than noticing the little signs that signal the arrival of a new season, such as the...
50 bird species and the sounds that they make
Tufted titmouse (Photo by Jocelyn Anderson, Wikimedia Commons)
While many of the birds included are not native to Canada (but may be present as farm animals, pets or invasive species), it is still enriching to listen to birds from around the globe. Some examples of native Canadian birds on the infographic are...
World Wildlife Day: The impossible eagle
Bald eagle (Photo by Keith Mombour)
I have many memories of wildlife firsts. There’s a vivid memory of seeing my first white-tailed deer peering through the woods as I peered back through the school bus window. And I can still see the eyes of my first up-close encounter with a...
You think your relatives are wild? Take a look at nature’s own families
Red colobus monkeys in Jozani forest. Endemic to Zanzibar (Photo by Olivier Lejade, Wikimedia Commons)
With Family Day on the doorstep, what better way to share facts about animals with interesting social structures than with your own tribe? Monkeys have strong family dynamics. Like humans, they spend their lives in large communities or social...
Exploring the boreal forest with an interactive story map
Canada warbler (Photo by Gerald Deboer)
Imagine taking a flight across Canada’s vast and breathtaking boreal region, which stretches across approximately 60 per cent of the country. Now take a step back from this picture of grandeur to focus on the littlest bird residents flitting...
Hiker meets hunter: An encounter with a snowy owl
A male snowy owl (Photo by Pixabay)
When I moved to Newfoundland in 2011, I was excited to explore the incredible landscapes of my adopted province. Even the most densely populated part of the province — the Avalon Peninsula near St. John’s — is still wild enough...
The most enchanting lump of snow
Snowy owl (Photo by ThinkStock)
As the end of the year approaches, we, the editorial staff at the Nature Conservancy of Canada, search high and low for species’ close encounter stories from our colleagues across the country. As I anxiously waited for submissions, I had...
A wildly delicious holiday guide
Woodland caribou (Photo by Steve Forrest CC BY-NC 2.0)
It’s that time of year again: the temperatures are geting colder, but our hearts warm with holiday spirit. It’s the season of hot cocoa, snowflakes and family gatherings. However, for some of us, that also means preparing a grand...
