Sharing a quiet forest with a Canada lynx

Canada lynx (Photo by Mike Dembeck)
Sitting for hours inside a cramped, cold blind waiting for wildlife doesn't sound exciting — but it is. Being able to observe animals in their natural surroundings isn't just a thrill, it's a passion, and one that doesn't come easy and is...
Little fairy ponds

Stream flowing through the site near Porter's Lake, NS (Photo by Sally Hilton/NCC staff)
There is never a dull moment at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). While some staff venture into the field looking for species and monitoring various habitats, others contribute to the action from afar. Everyone has an important role to play...
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)
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...
Black ash, beetles and beavers

Kayla, Olivia and Jen caging a black ash tree (Photo by Julia Ball/NCC)
By Julia Ball, Kayla Fisher and Olivia Lymburner Three of us, Julia Ball, Kayla Fisher and Olivia Lymburner, had the pleasure of being conservation interns with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in Newfoundland and Labrador during the summer...
Take time for reflection

Nova Scotia's South Shore (Photo by Brianne Curry/NCC staff)
Saturday, September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day provides an opportunity for people to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools and celebrate Indigenous resiliency and culture today. This day has...
Fifty years ago

Abraham Lake Nature Reserve, NS (Photo by Len Wagg)
Fifty years ago, as a junior forester, I was introduced to “Big Red.” Towering above the other red spruce trees in a classic example of old-growth Wabanaki (Acadian) forest, Big Red was located near the trailhead of the Nature...
Behind the scenes at Gaff Point, one of Nova Scotia’s most beloved trails

Doug, the Nova Scotia stewardship manager, introduced the NCC staff and volunteers (Photo by Andrew Herygers/NCC staff)
The forecast had predicted rain on the morning that I attended a Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) Conservation Volunteers (CV) event at Gaff Point, Nova Scotia. I was there to help repair part of the trail that had been affected by erosion and,...
Understanding gratitude as a survival skill

NCC’s Black River Bog property, NS. (Photo by Jill Ramsay/NCC staff)
A naturalist and former mentor of mine once told me that gratitude was a survival skill. My initial interpretation took this to be a re-imagining of the various “stay positive” expressions we have all heard over the years. But he...
A home away from home

Gaff Point, NS (Photo by Andrew Herygers/NCC staff)
Growing up in Iran, a country with a vast and varying geography, I had little opportunity to explore and enjoy the outdoors. From the peaks of the snow-covered mountains to the hot sandy dunes, some of the world’s most beautiful natural...
International Women’s Day is about being inspired and inspiring others every day

NCC staff conducting fieldwork at the Black Ash Nature Reserve, NL. (Photo by Triina Voitk/NCC staff)
For decades, International Women’s Day (March 8) has been celebrated around the world to recognize the achievements of women and our contributions to society. Every day, the people behind the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s...