Canada's largest bird of prey: two bald eagles having a staring contest
After a few minutes of giving each other looks and making small calls, the bald eagle on the left flew off, leaving the carcass for the other eagle to enjoy. (Photo by Nila Sivatheesan/NCC staff)
I’ve always loved being outside and learning about the nature around me, since I was as young as I can remember. So, when I first picked up a camera at 19, I naturally gravitated toward photographing nature and wildlife. Being in nature...
Not to be outfoxed
Swift fox (Photo by Karol Dabbs)
Back in 2017, I wrote a blog detailing my ongoing quest to find a swift fox in the wild. A little over two years later, I thought I would provide an update. Since December 2017, I have continued to spend a substantial amount of time wandering the...
The wolverine went over the esker
Wolverine going up the esker as the red fox trails behind (Photo by Claire Elliott/ NCC staff)
By Wendy Ho, as told by Claire Elliott It’s not every day that you see a wolverine. These elusive predators have vast home ranges (50–400 square kilometres for males and 230–1,580 square kilometres for females). So, when I not...
An otterly delightful encounter
River otters (Photo by Dreamstime)
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been asked the question “what is your favourite animal?” As time passes, this question becomes increasingly more difficult for me to answer. How can I pick just one? My favourite species...
A Canadian winter warrior
Snowy owl (Photo by Gregg McLachlan)
A few winters back, during the continued irruption of snowy owls into southern Ontario, I was lucky enough to come across a “snowy hot spot” just 25 minutes from my home in Guelph, Ontario. My husband and I have passed many Sundays...
Wallowing: More than scratching an itch for plains bison
Bison at Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area (Photo by Jason Bantle)
Have you ever had an itch that you just couldn’t scratch? Needed to cool down on a hot summer day in the Prairies? Want a new way to show off to the ladies? If you answered yes to any of these questions, have you tried simply rolling around...
A reckoning with bats
Northern long-eared bat (Photo by Al Hicks, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
Well folks, it’s that magical time of year once again. The leaves are changing colour, the air is crisp and decorations are making their annual migration from the basement to the lawn. Indeed, fall is here, and Halloween is right around the...
Reflections from 500 days of birds: A story of citizen science
Me and my birding sidekick (Photo by Jodi Elchyshyn)
Following the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic in early March 2020, many of us faced new challenges during these unprecedented times. As a recent graduate and working biologist, I was lucky to be able to work remotely from my apartment in...
Clowns of the sea: the Atlantic puffin
Atlantic puffins (Photo by Laurel Bernard/NCC staff)
The summer of 1999 was a unique one for me. I spent three months living on a small 23-acre (9.5 hectare) island 16 kilometres away from the nearest land. Machias Seal Island in New Brunswick was home to two full-time lighthouse keepers, three...
Unlikely animal pairings: Part two
Brown-headed cowbird (Photo by David Dodd CC BY-NC)
This is part two of a two-part series on unlikely animal pairings. Check out part one, the hunting partnership between an American badger and a coyote, here. Another unlikely animal partnership features a bird that is known to take advantage of...
