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Ain’t no mountain high enough

Hikers in Happy Valley Forest, ON (Photo by NCC)

Hikers in Happy Valley Forest, ON (Photo by NCC)

So, you’re the master of hiking up hills in the Greater Toronto Area, are you? You take the stairs over the escalator at the shopping mall. You’ve conquered the stair climber at your local gym. Perhaps you’ve even climbed the CN...

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Nature knows no borders: Why Canada–United States conservation matters

Green Mountains, QC (Photo by NCC)

Green Mountains, QC (Photo by NCC)

Have you ever crossed the Canada–U.S. border by land? If so, you’ve probably noticed that the transition from one country to the other is almost seamless, not counting the mandatory stop at the customs office. I have vivid memories of...

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Zebra and quagga mussels: Tiny but terrifying invaders

Zebra mussels (Photo by Michael Massimi, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program/Bugwood.org)

Zebra mussels (Photo by Michael Massimi, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program/Bugwood.org)

As motivated and concerned members of the community, there are countless opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint, protect habitat and conserve biodiversity. Invasive species are just one piece of the puzzle, and the good news is that...

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Support local biodiversity by avoiding invasive plants in your garden

Winged euonymus (Photo by John Ruter/University of Georgia/Bugwood.org)

Winged euonymus (Photo by John Ruter/University of Georgia/Bugwood.org)

With gardening season upon us, the warm weather brings hope that your favourite plot of soil will be better than it was last year. At the Invasive Species Centre, we have one request as you mull over your garden plans for 2019: please avoid the...

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Best places to bird in Ontario: Pelee Island and NCC’s natural areas

The burrowing owl is the bird that really started it all for us on Pelee Island. On a whim back in April 2008, we decided to bird on the island, and, incredibly, found a burrowing owl. (Photo by Mike Burrell)

The burrowing owl is the bird that really started it all for us on Pelee Island. On a whim back in April 2008, we decided to bird on the island, and, incredibly, found a burrowing owl. (Photo by Mike Burrell)

We had an interesting first visit to Pelee Island back in September 2001, where we “dipped” (missed) a trio of wood storks that had been on the island the entire summer, only to have had them leave the evening before we managed to make...

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Native grassland is important habitat for grassland birds

Native grassland (Photo by Sarah Ludlow/NCC staff)

Native grassland (Photo by Sarah Ludlow/NCC staff)

Saying that native grassland is important habitat for grassland birds seems quite obvious. And you might think to yourself, “Of course grassland birds like grassland habitat; it’s right in the name!” The important point to note...

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Driving Miss Hazel

Hazel Bird Nature Reserve, ON (Photo by NCC)

Hazel Bird Nature Reserve, ON (Photo by NCC)

Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) staff like to say that science drives our conservation work. This is true, but sometimes while following the science, we stumble into something unexpected and truly amazing. Let me explain. Back about 20 years...

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Alvar explorations of a wandering biologist (part two)

Esme on the alvar in Malham Cove, U.K. (Photo by Esme Batten/NCC staff)

Esme on the alvar in Malham Cove, U.K. (Photo by Esme Batten/NCC staff)

In part one, I explained what alvars are, where they occur and their importance. Now, I talk about my alvar explorations in the U.K. On Boxing Day in 2018, I set off early in the morning from Cornwall, in the southwest end of the U.K., to drive...

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A place that’s for the birds: Newfoundland and Labrador’s Codroy Valley is a haven for wildlife and a boon for bird lovers

Grand Codroy Estuary, NL at sunset (Photo by Mike Dembeck)

Grand Codroy Estuary, NL at sunset (Photo by Mike Dembeck)

The saying “for the birds” is often used to state that something or somewhere has little worth or none at all. But when Claudelle Devoe says that the Grand Codroy Estuary in friendly Newfoundland and Labrador is for the birds, she...

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Conserving carbon sinks: A natural solution to climate change

Darkwoods mountains, BC (Photo by Bruce Kirkby)

Darkwoods mountains, BC (Photo by Bruce Kirkby)

In the global effort to fight climate change, forests, wetlands and grasslands are more and more being recognized for their important role in absorbing greenhouse gas emissions (i.e., carbon dioxide) and storing carbon over the long term....

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