Clarence Smith's giving nature
Clarence Smith (Photo courtesy of the Smith family)
The deerfly and mosquito whirl was unrelenting under 90 degrees of humidity. I was walking with two land appraisers deep into the Minesing Wetlands. We were wading through waist-high ostrich ferns through a cedar swamp, searching for the...
Making peace with the Scotch pine (I mean, Scots pine)
Young volunteers tackling Scotch pine on an NCC reserve, ON (Photo by NCC)
When it comes to Christmas trees, I am a balsam fir man through-and-through. I like the form, the smell and the smooth, soft needles. I also admit that I am not crazy about Scotch pine, a main alternative here in Ontario. You could say we have...
What does the fox say? Well, that wasn't really the focus of this study
Gray fox on Pelee Island, ON (Photo by NCC)
I find it quite bizarre how Canadians were overwhelmingly curious about what the fox says this year. As the video went viral over the last few months, I found myself joking with colleagues that any biologist worth their weight has been aware of...
Siri, where's the nearest conservation area? Celebrate GIS Day with NCC
Gary White and Laura Robson in the field, ON (Photo by NCC)
Have you ever used Google Maps or Siri to find directions to the closest coffee shop? Congratulations! You just conducted a GIS analysis and are encouraged to celebrate GIS Day on November 20. GIS Day started in 1999 and is held on the third...
Sowing the seeds of conservation: The importance of fall seed collection in native biodiversity protection
Fall seed collection on the Rice Lake Plains, ON (Photo by NCC)
As fall arrives on the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) Rice Lake Plains properties, the colours change — not just the trees, but the grasses as well. Transforming from summer green to yellows and reds, this change heralds...
