It’s turtle time!
Blanding's turtle (Photo by NCC)
Anyone who drives the winding, hilly roads of Ontario’s Frontenac Arch is familiar with the picturesque views of forest rolling along granite ridges, lakes scattered across the landscape, diverse wetlands and the potential for wildlife...
An introduction to the science of bird migration in Canada
Palm warbler (Photo by Marshall Faintich)
Birds move. Actually, they do better than that: most birds fly. And the distances these tiny creatures can cover is jaw-dropping. On top of that, can you imagine the views from a bird's vantage point as it flies from South America to Canada?...
Birding by ear: What birdsongs tell us
Eastern meadowlark (Photo by Mhairi McFarlane/NCC staff)
Have you ever been out walking and heard birds singing and wondered which bird was making which sound? Or perhaps you’ve been sitting outside on a summer’s evening and heard a persistent bird calling, but you weren’t sure what...
Lichens: An often overlooked little universe
The colours, forms and textures of the microcosms are fascinating. (Photo by Doug van Hemessen/NCC staff)
I often go out for an “aimless wander,” especially in the woods surrounding my home. Aimless wandering is a way of being mindful through wandering and spaciousness versus concentration and focus. It is as the words themselves:...
The wildflower blog: Harbingers of spring for Ontario
Pepper and salt (Photo by Pat Deacon, CC BY-NC 4.0)
I am a retired forestry scientist who has wildflower gardens. My mother introduced me to wildflowers at an early age. She grew up in Pennsylvania, and her favourite wildflowers were the delightfully fragrant trailing arbutus and mountain laurel...
Hooray for hummingbirds
An Anna's hummingbird on one of her nests. (Photo by Eric Pittman)
You hear a buzz and see a streak of green, red or purple, and then you realize that a hummingbird just flew by! Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures that have captured our attention for as long as humans have co-existed with them. They are...
10 fascinating facts about beavers
Beaver (Photo by Makedocreative/Wikimedia Commons)
First launched in 2009 by non-profit organization Beavers: Wetlands & Wildlife (BWW), International Beaver Day celebrates the rodent’s environmental contributions and its important role in shaping landscapes. The dams that beavers build...
The hurdles of the charisma-challenged
Eastern mole (Photo by Bert Cash, CC BY 4.0)
What do dodgeball and charisma-challenged species have in common? In elementary school, I was always, by far, the shortest kid in the class, and I barely cracked 80 pounds. In gym class, I was pretty much the last player chosen for the dodgeball...
Gardening with native plants this spring
Wild bergamot (Photo by Sarah Ludlow/NCC staff)
I love to garden. I excitedly begin planning for the next year as soon as the autumn chill settles over the Prairies. I’m always impatient for spring to arrive, and it doesn't help when the seed catalogues start arriving in November. I find...
Canada's splendid sparrow crew
Dark-eyed junco (Photo by Bill Hubick)
Sparrows often don’t get enough credit. Many don’t have flashy plumage like jays, orioles or cardinals, or melodic songs like thrushes or meadowlarks; however, sparrow species are often fairly distinct (once you get to know them) and...
