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The swamp’s unlikely hero: a beetle

Purple loosestrife at Beaver Meadow wetland, ON. (Photo by Jen Arbeider/NCC staff)

Purple loosestrife at Beaver Meadow wetland, ON. (Photo by Jen Arbeider/NCC staff)

When I first started as a conservation technician with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in May, I was very excited to observe unique species of plants and wildlife, as well as work in a diversity of habitats and make a difference in...

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A rare encounter with a rare species

Allison Patrick stands among the tall grasses and wildflowers at NCC's property on Hog Island. (Photo by NCC)

Allison Patrick stands among the tall grasses and wildflowers at NCC's property on Hog Island. (Photo by NCC)

As a conservation biologist with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in Fredericton, I spend each summer working in some of the most beautiful parts of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. One of my favourite areas in New Brunswick is...

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April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring…flies?

A pawpaw flower (Photo by Andrea J. Moreau)

A pawpaw flower (Photo by Andrea J. Moreau)

Come spring, natural spaces are always buzzing with activity. The warmer weather and sweet floral scent carried on the wind attract people and prospective pollinators alike. I was no exception to this rule on one late May afternoon, excitedly...

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Appreciating insects this World Animal Month

Eastern black carpenter ant (Photo by Wally Simpson, CC BY-NC 4.0)

Eastern black carpenter ant (Photo by Wally Simpson, CC BY-NC 4.0)

October is World Animal Month, a time for us to reflect on the important roles that animals play in our lives. Animals are an integral part of human existence, and this month gives us a chance to appreciate their presence and create solutions for...

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Check out these amazing finds from the 2022 Big Backyard BioBlitz

Monarch butterfly on Joe-pyeweed (Photo by NCC)

Monarch butterfly on Joe-pyeweed (Photo by NCC)

Over the July 28–August 1 weekend, thousands of volunteers joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) annual Big Backyard BioBlitz. Together, we were able to contribute a total of over 50,000 observations of more than...

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A day in the life of a field biologist

Field technician Breanne Kenner with a successful catch! (Photo by NCC)

Field technician Breanne Kenner with a successful catch! (Photo by NCC)

There are numerous findings in the world of science, and conservation biology specifically, that would not be possible without field work. As part of my conservation internship with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), I have been given the...

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Meeting my first monarch butterfly up close

Monarch butterfly feeding on common milkweed flowers (Photo by Wendy Ho/NCC staff)

Monarch butterfly feeding on common milkweed flowers (Photo by Wendy Ho/NCC staff)

A gentle breeze blew on a mid-summer evening, the sky still lit from the setting sun. I set up my step stool along the edge of my driveway for some light weeding among my collection of plants in the front yard. It’s a chore that I...

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Moths: Amazing, beautiful, important and in need of study

Wood nymph moth (Photo by NCC)

Wood nymph moth (Photo by NCC)

Moths are amazing creatures that are only beginning to receive attention from naturalists. Many people have difficulties determining the difference between moths and butterflies. They can be similar looking, as they both have scales that cover...

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The buzz about bumble bees

Western bumble bee (Photo by sydcannings, CC BY-NC 4.0)

Western bumble bee (Photo by sydcannings, CC BY-NC 4.0)

The western bumble bee is a medium-sized (measuring one to two centimetres in length) bumble bee, with a band of yellow hair across its thorax (the area between its head and abdomen), in line with the base of its wings. It also most often has a...

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My native species bring all the pollinators to the yard

Northern crescent butterfly on swamp milkweed flowers (Photo by Jaimee Morozoff/NCC staff)

Northern crescent butterfly on swamp milkweed flowers (Photo by Jaimee Morozoff/NCC staff)

Now that spring has finally made its way across Canada (in some places it was slower in arriving than others), gardening season is in full swing! With all of the choices present at our local nurseries and big box stores, it is easy to get carried...

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