Dragonflies and damselflies are some of our most beautiful and intriguing insects Peterborough Examiner – July 14, 2023 – by Drew Monkman Working in the garden one evening this week, I was spending as much time swatting mosquitoes as tending to the plants. I then noticed several dragonflies darting back and forth above Read more
Peterborough author Sean Kane’s madcap animal story highlights a host of contemporary themes Peterborough Examiner – July 7, 2023 – by Drew Monkman As a child, I loved books that highlighted the intelligence and emotions of animals. My favourite was the 1963 book “Rascal”, by Sterling North. It’s the story of a year Read more
The Kawarthas is home to close to 100 species of butterflies. Peterborough Examiner – June 30, 2023 – by Drew Monkman My special affection for butterflies began as a classroom teacher. Each September, I would collect monarch caterpillars for my students to raise. They would watch and document each stage of metamorphosis with Read more
Lots to look forward to in the coming weeks Peterborough Examiner – June 23, 2023 – by Drew Monkman As I do at the beginning of each new season, I’d like to look ahead at some of the events in nature that we can expect over the coming months.To enjoy some of these Read more
Big change begins with small talk Peterborough Examiner – June 16, 2023 – by Drew Monkman As a dystopian orange sun rose over the Kawarthas last week and Peterborough recorded the second worst air quality in all of North America, one thing became abundantly clear: the impact of climate change has descended upon Read more
Male cones are now releasing copious amounts of pollen. Peterborough Examiner – June 2, 2023 – by Drew Monkman In recent days, you may have noticed a mysterious dust that has descended upon your car windshield or outdoor furniture, turning surfaces a lemon colour and making puddles appear like some strange, yellow alga Read more
They may be annoying, but they’re a crucial part of the natural world. Peterborough Examiner – May 19, 2023 – by Drew Monkman Every year when mid-May rolls around, the relative number of mosquitoes becomes a popular topic of conversation – and one not always appropriate for tender ears. If my recent yardwork Read more
Fifteen birding hotspots in Peterborough and the Kawarthas (and two great apps!) Peterborough Examiner – May 12, 2023 – by Drew Monkman With mid-May comes peak songbird migration as multitudes of warblers, vireos, flycatchers, tanagers, orioles and more arrive from Latin America. Some of these birds will stay to nest in our area Read more
The biggest part of seeing is knowing what to expect. Peterborough Examiner – May 5, 2023 – by Drew Monkman “The world’s favorite season is spring. All things seem possible in May.”– Edwin Way Teale Although it seems foolish to talk of a favourite month, for anyone who takes pleasure in watching the seasons Read more
Nesting season is a reminder to keep cats indoors Peterborough Examiner – April 28, 2023 – by Drew Monkman It’s hard not to have a special fondness for robins. Unlike most other birds, they treat us to intimate views of their family lives and provide a rewarding connection to backyard nature. A pair Read more
Earth Day is a time to appreciate all that’s happening locally. Peterborough Examiner – April 21, 2023 – by Drew Monkman When I think back to my childhood, so much of what I recall were moments spent outside: the joy of catching frogs and turtles; the excitement of evening grosbeaks coming to the Read more
Spring is an exciting time for nature enthusiasts Peterborough Examiner – April 14, 2023 – by Drew Monkman As we enjoy spring’s arrival, I’d like to provide a taste of some of the wonderful events in nature to look forward to in the coming weeks. Before doing so, however, let’s look back Read more
When the world comes together for the love of birds Peterborough Examiner – February 3, 2023 – by Drew Monkman Looking for something to do over the upcoming Family Day Weekend? Consider taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) from February 17 to 20th. Participation couldn’t be simpler: Spend as little Read more
Indigenous species’ names contain an abundance of precious information Peterborough Examiner – January 27, 2023 – by Drew Monkman Joe Pitawanakwat is on a rescue mission: to catalog the names of birds in Anishinaabemowin, the Ojibwe language, before knowledge of these names – and what they mean in English – disappears forever. He and Read more
Local Christmas counts provide a glimpse at the ups and downs of bird populations Peterborough Examiner – January 13, 2023 – by Drew Monkman How quickly winter bird numbers can change. Just a year ago, the forests, fields, and feeders of the Kawarthas were attracting large numbers of redpolls, crossbills, siskins, and goldfinches, Read more
Looking ahead to what nature has in store this winter Peterborough Examiner – January 6, 2023 – by Drew Monkman As global heating continues, it comes as no surprise that 2022 was a warmer-than-average year for Peterborough. In fact, nine of the past 12 months registered a mean temperature higher than the 1971-2000 Read more
Readers saw everything from cobra-like hog-nosed snakes to the elusive fisher Peterborough Examiner – December 23, 2022 – by Drew Monkman I would like to thank the many people who have shared some of their nature sightings, anecdotes, and photographs with me over the past year. This week I’m offering a sampling of Read more
Envisioning what nature protection could look like in 20 years Peterborough Examiner – December 16, 2022 – by Drew Monkman Imagination is critical to sustainable and just futures for life on Earth. Imagining a species-rich future that also meets society’s needs engages with emotions that motivate action. As the COP 15 UN Read more
Peterborough Examiner – November 25, 2022 – by Drew Monkman This has been a particularly depressing fall for all of us who value nature and a healthy climate. As just two examples, the recent State of the Birds 2022 report has once again sounded the alarm about steep bird population losses in virtually Read more
Trent’s TARP project engaged in long-term study of freshwater ecosystems Peterborough Examiner – November 18, 2022 – by Drew Monkman Everyone loves a good fish story. However, we learn to take them with a grain of salt. Well, there’s a fish story of a different kind happening right now on Stoney Lake and Read more
Many discovered this pastime while stuck at home during pandemic lockdowns Peterborough Examiner – November 4, 2022 – by Drew Monkman Although the store owners themselves might feel a little sheepish saying so, the global Covid-19 pandemic provided a huge boost to the sale of bird seed and bird feeding accessories. This was Read more
Stock up your feeders because winter finches are coming Peterborough Examiner – October 21, 2022 – by Drew Monkman Like every fall, I’ve been busy meeting the food demands of the many birds descending upon our yard and feeders. October is an especially busy month as southbound migrants pass through, stopping for a Read more
Peterborough’s new official bird offers much to teach us Peterborough Examiner – October 7, 2022 – by Drew Monkman Standing motionless in Jackson Creek or cruising slowly over the Otonabee River with its silent, deep wingbeats, there a few sights in nature more majestic than a great blue heron. Add the beauty of Read more
Knowing the common asters adds enjoyment to a fall walk Peterborough Examiner – September 23, 2022 – by Drew Monkman I often walk the Trans Canada Trail from the bottom of Wallis Drive up past Lily Lake to Ackison Dr. I love paying attention to what’s in bloom, what leaves are changing colour, Read more
Personal testimonies of the emotional impact of May’s derecho windstorm Peterborough Examiner – September 16, 2022 – by Drew Monkman We rarely hear about the ecological grief (sometimes called “solastalgia”) caused by the climate crisis. Many people are still reeling from the impact of May’s derecho windstorm and the loss of beautiful old Read more
Make a habit of asking why species look and behave the way they do As much as we delight in nature’s beauty, there’s an equally wondrous dimension to every species that usually goes unappreciated: the evolution story behind what we’re looking at. From an organism’s appearance to the way Read more
Autumn is a wonderful season to spend more time in nature If you’re anything like me, you probably welcome the arrival of fall. It’s a season that represents a fresh start, perhaps from long-held associations of going back to school. It makes us feel more motivated and in many Read more
Seeing a nesting leatherback turtle a once in a life-time experience Peterborough Examiner – August 19, 2022 – by Drew Monkman On March 30, I got a call from my friend Jason Westlake that leatherback turtles had been coming ashore to nest at Playa Gandoca on Costa Rica’s border with Panama. He asked Read more
Costa Rica is not just about dazzling nature; it’s also about great people Peterborough Examiner – August 12, 2022 – by Drew Monkman My morning Costa Rican routine is always the same: get up at dawn, hop on my bike, and head out to enjoy the peak hours of bird activity. Invariably, an Read more
Southern Caribbean region offers up non-stop nature delights Peterborough Examiner – August 5, 2022 – by Drew Monkman Deciding to return to Costa Rica this past winter was not difficult. A big part of my attachment to this country comes down to the way it elevates all the senses. Your eyes are treated Read more