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…
While walking in Burnham Woods this morning, September 3, I came across this striking fungus called Blushing Rosette, abortiporus biennia. The sun was hitting it and the “guttation” drops sparkled like rubies. Sue Paradisis
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…
I discovered this account about foxes with mange in the Beeton/Innisfil area of Ontario. It was written by someone who works at an animal rehab center called Procyon Wildlife. The centre has seen many cases of mange in foxes in 2021. I have provided the link below for your information.https://www.procyonwildlife.com/2022/01/24/incredible-lives-of-foxes/ 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…
Local butterfly count tallies 53 species but number of individuals is low Peterborough Examiner – July 30, 2022 – by Drew Monkman Viceroy, pearly-eye, white admiral, hobomok, and American lady. No, this is not a list of famous race horses but rather the names of five of the 105 species of butterflies that Read more…
A tale to share with children of how the Universe and all living things came to be Peterborough Examiner – July 15, 2022 – by Drew Monkman Every culture has its own origin story. They are often elaborate narratives that help explain the mysteries of our existence. “Big History”, however, is an origin Read more…
It preserves critical migratory bird habitat and supports farmers Peterborough Examiner – July 6, 2022 – by Drew Monkman When you enjoy your morning coffee, what comes to mind? Maybe the aroma, taste, warmth, and the pep-up it gives? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could also feel satisfaction that your choice Read more…
I see a Jinny Clark in 2014 commented about squirrels licking her rocks but they took them.As far as I know my squirrel(s) are not taking the rocks but they move them all over the patio and yard. The white decorative rocks are located right outside a large 3 window Read more…
End of spongy moth invasion in sight but global heating continues unabated Peterborough Examiner – July 2, 2022 – by Drew Monkman From land protection initiatives to a wonderful new book, there’s lots of good things happening on the local conservation front. The end of the spongy moth invasion might even be in Read more…
City well on the way to becoming a safer place for wild birds Peterborough Examiner – June 10, 2022 – by Drew Monkman I can trace my life-long fascination with birds to having grown up in a Peterborough neighbourhood with easy access to natural areas like Jackson Creek. Bird-rich greenspace was only a Read more…
I thought I’d share that I saw a number of Yellow Lady’s Slipper orchids just north of the London Street bridge on the east bank, close to “the island”. The photos are from June 1. Sylvia Dee On my walk last night, June 10, I came across a Jack-in-the-pulpit and Read more…
Today, May 24, we saw our first Monarch of the spring. Very exciting! Scott Sargent On May 23, I spotted this beautiful Monarch in Peterborough. Carley Wilson On May 9, we had male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and our first Baltimore Oriole in our backyard in Peterborough. (Trudy Gibson) On May 5 Read more…
With nesting season here, June is a perilous time on our roads Peterborough Examiner – June 10, 2022 – by Drew Monkman As I’ve written many times in this column, my love of nature began with a special fondness for turtles. As a child, I loved nothing more than catching, feeding and then Read more…
May 21 a taste of all we stand to lose by refusing to commit to action on climate change Peterborough Examiner – June 3, 2022 – by Drew Monkman The devastating reality of climate change has once again unleashed itself on Peterborough and the Kawarthas. If the 100-year floods of 2002 and 2004 Read more…
Keep your eyes and ears peeled Peterborough Examiner – May 20, 2022 – by Drew Monkman As we begin to transition from spring into summer, I’d like to provide a taste of some of the wonderful events in nature to look forward to in the coming weeks and months. Top of mind for Read more…
Another Ford majority government would be disastrous for environmental protection Peterborough Examiner – May 13, 2022 – by Drew Monkman On June 2 as we head to the polls, many voters will have the skyrocketing cost of living top of mind. The cost of everything from food to housing is approaching crisis proportions. Read more…
Two apps make finding and identifying birds simpler and more enjoyable Peterborough Examiner – May 6, 2022 – by Drew Monkman I’ve been a birder nearly all my life. For nearly all of this time, my equipment was limited to binoculars, field guides, and a spotting scope. However, beyond word of mouth and Read more…
On April 25 on McCrea Drive in Peterborough, I was awakened by the calls of two Whip-poor-wills. One was near our backyard and the other was off in the distance. I was very surprised because as a youngster at the cottage we went to sleep every night to the sound Read more…
Trees are important in fighting climate change. You can register for a free tree for your city yard. Peterborough Examiner – April 22, 2022 – by Drew Monkman As we celebrate another Earth Day, I’d like to turn my attention this week to trees and what you and your family can do to Read more…
Here are a few pictures of our Fisher. We’ve been seeing a Fisher on our cameras for three years now, and I’m assuming it’s the same one. I don’t know a lot about them, but I suspect this is a female since it seems to be staying around. We see Read more…
On February 7, we had a juvenile Northern Goshawk in our backyard. My wife saw it first, and we watched totally mesmerized. It appeared to have just killed a squirrel. I’m a birdwatcher and I get a lot of different bird species. We have feeders set up. I’m sure I Read more…
Peterborough Examiner – February 18, 2022 – by Drew Monkman It’s no exaggeration to say that this winter has been brutally cold. On January 29, the mercury plummeted to -34 C! While we enjoy the luxury of our cozy, heated homes, plants and animals are on their own. Surviving this kind Read more…
Peterborough Examiner – February 4, 2022 – by Drew Monkman A look at how amphibians, reptiles, and fish endure winter Whenever I’m out walking in the woods in winter, I often think of the many strategies used by animals and plants to survive this punishing season. Seen or unseen, awake or dormant, life Read more…
At our cottage on Crowe Lake, we’ve been watching our annual convention of Trumpeter Swans. After I took this video there was quite the flurry of activity. We are so fortunate to be able to enjoy this part of nature. Maxine Prentice, Peterborough Update from Maxine: The swans return each Read more…
Peterborough Examiner – February 4, 2022 – by Drew Monkman Evolution has conferred birds and mammals with intriguing adaptations. One of my most frequent bird sightings this winter might surprise you. It’s the American robin. People often ask me, “How in the world are robins able to withstand the cold?” As it turns Read more…