facebook

Point counts at Wideview: 10,000 steps by 7 a.m.

Wideview, SK (Photo by NCC)

Wideview, SK (Photo by NCC)

3 a.m.: Why am I awake this early? The only other creatures awake right now are the birds. Oh, right. The birds are exactly why I’m awake this early. It’s time for point counts at the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s)...

Continue Reading »

Connecting to the land through conservation

We spent the morning walking NCC’s Ursulan property. (Photo by NCC)

We spent the morning walking NCC’s Ursulan property. (Photo by NCC)

On my first field day with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), I was expecting a rigorous day of mapping, tracking and other GPS functions I don’t understand. Instead, I found myself birdwatching my way around a beautiful piece of NCC...

Continue Reading »

Where land meets sky

Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area, SK (Photo by Mark Taylor)

Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area, SK (Photo by Mark Taylor)

The sky was clear over the vast, windy prairie. In the distance, plains bison could be seen grazing on the native grass that covers the entirety of the Old Man on His Back (OMB) Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area, located in southern...

Continue Reading »

Happy Father’s Day to the ultimate bird nerd

Me as a child with my father (Photo courtesy of Maia Herriot)

Me as a child with my father (Photo courtesy of Maia Herriot)

There is an infamous home video of my older sister learning to ride a bike. My dad is coaching her while my mom records the milestone on a rented camcorder. When the video begins, my dad is slowly pushing my sister along, holding on to the back of...

Continue Reading »

Bossing the burn: Part two

Morgan Kanak, Emily Little, Michael Burak, Dale Gross and Gabriel Foley admiring the black line we established using the tools of the trade, including flappers and a drip torch. (Photo by NCC)

Morgan Kanak, Emily Little, Michael Burak, Dale Gross and Gabriel Foley admiring the black line we established using the tools of the trade, including flappers and a drip torch. (Photo by NCC)

This is part two of “Bossing the burn.” Click here to read part one. Have you heard the Tragically Hip song, “Lonely End of the Rink”? I’m pretty sure it is a love song that also describes the toughest position in...

Continue Reading »

Bossing the burn: Part one

Prescribed burn at OMB (Photo by NCC)

Prescribed burn at OMB (Photo by NCC)

Those of you who have met me know that I’m a pretty big, intimidating guy. Braggadocios, people have said. Bold, even. I mean, you know if you’ve seen me that I’ve got what you’d call a bit of swagger when I walk across the...

Continue Reading »

Are you seeing the whole picture? Using elevation data to help conserve biodiversity

Elevation data showing the Beaver Creek River Valley. Historic data (100-metre resolution) vs. newly available LiDAR data (> one-metre resolution). (Image by NCC)

Elevation data showing the Beaver Creek River Valley. Historic data (100-metre resolution) vs. newly available LiDAR data (> one-metre resolution). (Image by NCC)

As a land planner, I am always looking for new ways to learn more about the landscapes in which the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) works. Enter LiDAR (or light detection and ranging), a technology that has been around for decades but...

Continue Reading »

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...

Continue Reading »

Wrapping up the Natural Areas Conservation Program

Darkwoods, BC in March (Photo by Bruce Kirkby)

Darkwoods, BC in March (Photo by Bruce Kirkby)

When I started working for the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in early 2017, I was excited to be joining a tremendously successful conservation organization with a stellar track record of success. As someone who loves to spend time outdoors...

Continue Reading »

Nature's medicine

Medicine wheel (Image by NCC. Icons designed by Freepik from Flaticon)

Medicine wheel (Image by NCC. Icons designed by Freepik from Flaticon)

As a Kanien'keha:ka (Mohawk) woman, my connection to my culture and my community is as important to me as the water I drink and the air I breathe. I find my Indigenous roots in nature, where my identity is as deep in the land as the roots in the...

Continue Reading »

Items 31 - 40 of 98  Previous12345678910Next