In the eye of an osprey
Osprey in flight (Photo by Lorne)
Since the publishing of “An osprey family affair,” I’ve made three trips to a primary nest site to witness the arrival of the Kawartha Lakes osprey this spring. As a photographer, waiting up to four hours for even a short burst,...
A race for survival, and a photo finish
Ella enjoying the sunrise along the Beaver River trail (Photo by Mark Stabb/NCC staff)
Nature lovers are spoiled by the phenomenal wildlife footage circulating on various media these days. But you don’t have to be a cinematographer to capture real-life wildlife “foot”-age of your own. This little photo essay shows...
Owl angels in the snow
Have you ever seen an owl's snow angel? (Photo by Jaimee Dupont/NCC staff)
My hometown is a small, lovely and isolated boreal mining town in northern Manitoba. On a recent trip back to visit family, my husband and I were out for an evening walk when we stopped alongside the edge of town to marvel at the silence. That...
Poems for Trees: Barred owl
Barred owl (Photo by NCC)
In early spring the world hovers in limbo Water drips and melts from tree branches and towering drifts Drizzling into rivers, sneaking across roadways, filling lakes with the cold, fresh promise of summer But night skies are frozen, laced with...
Take a walk on the wild side with NCC
Western screech owl (Photo by Josh Shaw)
The field observations made by scientists at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) are key to telling the stories of conservation. On an average day field staff may encounter an array of wildlife species. Their ordinary field day can yield...
Why did the turtle cross the road?
Minesing Wetlands (Photo by Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority)
I didn’t expect one of the neatest experiences of my summer to happen while surveying the Minesing Wetlands for road mortality last June. In fact, I’d spent the day preparing myself mentally to have to make difficult observations of...
New year, new beginnings – even if it’s not in an ideal spot
Can you spot the killdeer? (Photo by Sarah Wallace/Dispatches from the Field)
Often when biologist go out to the field for their first time, they are super excited and usually think they have it all under control. Thoughts, such as, “Oh I can carry all of those heavy totes myself,” or “I will map out the...
What's flapping around in two Christmas Bird Count circles? (Part Two)
Bob and Mike checking out a flock of sparrows and finches (Photo by Kristyn Ferguson)
A ways up Highway 400 and across the top of Lake Simcoe from the Richmond Hill count circle (read about it in Part One), the Carden Alvar Christmas Bird Count took place on Saturday, January 2. It was a cold and dark morning when I left my house...
What’s flapping around in two Christmas Bird Count circles? (Part One)
Dark-eyed junco (Photo by Bill Hubick)
This is Part One of a two-part series on Christmas Bird Counts that took place this winter. The Christmas Bird Count is North America’s longest running citizen science project since 1900. Counts are carried out within a 24-kilometre-diameter...
Lichen: 10 reasons to make it your new favourite hobby for 2016
Troy McMullin, lichenologist from the University of Guelph, takes a lichen sample from a rock. (Photo by NCC)
As we enter into the crisp, blank canvas of a new year, many of us have laid out plans and promises to become fitter, smarter, nicer, happier, richer versions of ourselves. Some plans for self-improvement may include trying a new activity like...
