Super cool species to know this Halloween
Vampire finch (Photo from Wikimedia Commons)
The leaves have changed, the air has cooled and the pumpkins have been carved. You know what that means — it’s Halloween! This spooky custom has always been my favourite. Growing up, I always took the opportunity to dress up as the...
The best free nature apps
Engaging with nature doesn't mean you have to put down your phone (Photo by ©ysbrandcosijnfotografie via Canva)
Some nature lovers may find technology and the natural world at odds. How can you enjoy tranquility with the ping of your smartphone? While nature may be a refuge to unplug, I would like to present an alternative view. Apps and the technology that...
My fuzzy muse
Virgin tiger moth (Photo by Nolie Schneider – CC 4.0 via iNaturalist)
I used to think moths were ugly. Compared to their colourful, beloved cousins — butterflies — moths are hardly ever prized to win the blue ribbon at the beauty pageant. Often monotone, muted and furry — the latter of which makes...
Wild about chickens
Lacy Mae and Matilda (Photo by LM Neilson/NCC staff)
Today it starts at 5:36 a.m. The rusty cackle slides in through my open window with the early morning light. I pause for a brief second to make sure I really heard the sound before opening my eyes and swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. The...
To mow, or not to mow, that is the question
Maria Olkinitskaya picking dandelions at Baie Verte CV event, NB (Photo by NCC)
During the month of May, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is encouraging people to hold off on trimming their lawn in favour of letting the flowers and grasses grow, to provide habitat for insects and birds. The idea is to reimagine our...
Create a messy garden for nature
Gardening is a great way to connect with nature (Photo by Lisa via Pexels)
As the warmer weather rolls across the country, many people have started tidying their garden for spring planting. But did you know that by leaving some of the stems and stalks that we traditionally clean up in the spring, you can create habitat...
Finding hope for the planet in an old sweater
My sweater became a symbol of my increased awareness of environmental issues. (Photo courtesy of Christine Beevis Trickett/NCC staff)
During the pandemic, many of us have spent several months at home. To pass the time, some of us have started tackling projects that have been on our to-do lists for months, even years. For me, that meant cleaning out our spare rooms, which led to...
Adventures in native gardening
Wild bergamot (Photo by Nicole Senyi/NCC staff)
If you live in Ontario, as I do, you’ll know we had a run of some pretty nice weather in early April — albeit with the odd blizzard mixed in here and there! But now, with the sun shining, birds singing and nowhere to go, getting...
Find the Birds – How a mobile game can aid conservation
Vermillion flycatchers in the game (Graphic courtesy of Adam Dhalla)
It is not a stretch to say that our planet is in dire need of more conservationists, and environmentally minded people in general. Birds and birdwatching are gateways to introducing conservation and science to a new generation. Growing up in...
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...
