So many species, so many ways to study them
Spotted salamander (Photo by Rosemary Mosco)
I have the best job in the world. I encourage people to get excited about nature. I’m a science communicator — someone who bridges the gap between scientists, the media and the public, helping us understand each other better. One way...
Plogging: What it is and why you should try it on your next run
Running in nature (Photo from Masterfile)
Plogging, a combination of jogging and picking up litter, is a trend that is dashing across the world. Originating in Sweden in 2016, it has now made its way to other parts of the world, including Canada. It began as an organized activity to...
Cruising for birds
Our 14-deck mammoth cruise ship ― Costa Pacifica (Photo by Rob Alvo)
If you want to see many species of birds, you will undoubtedly be faced with a choice: visit only one or two sites to maximize the chances of seeing what is present, or visiting many sites to maximize the number of species that don’t require...
Getting your hands dirty: How to build a contemporary chickadee nest box
Black-capped chickadee (Photo by Bill Hubick)
Ever since I started working for the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), where I was exposed to the world of conservation science and communications, I grew fond of birds and wanted to share this newfound interest with my family. My dad was an...
A walk with Robert Frost: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
The woods by my parents' house (Photo by Kailey Setter/NCC staff)
While science and logic have the ability to influence our thoughts, poetry has a marvellous ability to move our hearts and capture our imagination. Robert Frost has long been my favourite poet. Not just because his poems are relatively short and...
My 2017 Ontario birding “Big Year”
Violet-green swallow at Thunder Bay Marina, Ontario's third ever record of this species. (Photo by Jeremy Bensette)
Last year was a pretty “big” one for me, birding-wise! I committed to completing a "Big Year," a quest to see as many bird species as possible in one year in my beautiful home province of Ontario, and held onto that goal until dark on...
Style meets sustainability: Circular fashion comes to Vancouver
To Kaya, sustainability means doing the absolute best she can in every aspect of the business. (Photo by Kaya Dorey)
What does sustainable even mean? The word “sustainability” is overused and misused over and over again. It also has a tendency to turn people off in a conversation because as soon as you say it, their guard goes up and they stop...
The Sapling: Q&A with Jessie Klassen
Jessie Klassen, author of The Sapling.
When a tiny maple seed becomes a Sapling, she discovers there’s much about life that she doesn’t know or understand. This fear stunts her growth, and she becomes too afraid to continue her life cycle — until she meets Big...
How a hidden forest valley is a big opportunity for conservation
Photo assignment for NCC is a journey into a pristine habitat that will make a difference in southwestern Ontario. (Photo by Gregg McLachlan)
Towering hemlocks reaching for the sky. A deep and rugged valley covered with ferns. A coldwater stream flowing over and under moss-covered fallen pine trunks. Just the thought of these scenes makes my mind wander yet again to northern...
Ringing in 2018 a little lighter: How reducing my impact kept me in the black
Festive lights (Photo by Jonathan McIntosh/Wikimedia Commons)
The holidays have come and gone, but there’s one thing that tends to stick around with the glitter: debt. In the past, I would rack up my credit card bill, year after year, causing a mini heart attack each time I looked at my bank account....
