Sightings
Great photograph of an American Mink
With the high water level on Buckhorn Lake, this American Mink came up on shore and rolled around in the grass area for some time. Derry Fairweather, Buckhorn Lake
Sightings
Recent sightings of interest from eBird
*** Species Summary: – Great Egret (1 report) – Sora (1 report) – Upland Sandpiper (1 report) – Least Sandpiper (2 reports) – Cliff Swallow (2 reports) – Golden-winged Warbler (2 reports) – Blue-winged Warbler (2 reports) – Cape May Warbler (1 report) – Clay-colored Sparrow (1 report) ——————————————— Thank Read more…
Sightings
Painted Turtle hatchlings that overwintered in ground emerging
This morning, May 17, I spied a tiny Painted Turtle on our paved path, very slowly making its way to the river. This is the first time we’ve had an overwintering hatchling. As I was taking it down to the river on my hand, it remained quite motionless unlike previous Read more…
Sightings
Orchard Oriole reports – rare in the Kawarthas!
Orchard Oriole (Orchard) (Icterus spurius spurius) (1) – Reported May 16, 2017 06:28 by Matthew Tobey – Airport Rd- Railroad, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.2521363,-78.37056&ll=44.2521363,-78.37056 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S36904608 – Media: 2 Photos, 1 Audio – Comments: “Singing male; Brown Line at the railroad tracks.” Orchard Oriole (Orchard) (Icterus spurius spurius) Read more…
Sightings
Migrating Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at feeder
We’ve had two male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks visiting. We hope they realize they are welcome to stay as long as they like! We first saw them on May 9 and then again this week. Helen and Larry Keller
Columns
The Wonder of Migration: Science is shedding new light on how and why many birds migrate each year
One of my greatest pleasures in May is the welcome sight and sound of songbirds returning right on cue from their southern wintering grounds. I was therefore delighted to hear a northern waterthrush belting out its emphatic double-note song at the start of the de Pencier Trail at the Trent Read more…
Sightings
Great Egret near Kirkfield
I want to report a sighting of a Great Egret on May 10 southwest of Kirkfield. I believe the bird may be uncommon in this area. Sue Mcintosh
Sightings
Hundreds of swallows swarming over Bridgenorth causeway
I have lived in the area for many years….and each year has a different flavour. Last week I noticed a large number of swallows (in the hundreds) flying near the Ennismore/Bridgenorth causeway. Each day they have been there swooping over and under cars, flying at windshields. Many are colliding with Read more…
Sightings
Big hatch of mayflies on Indian River. Early date?
Yesterday, May 8th, about 4pm, we witnessed something we have never seen before. Hundreds of dead or dying mayflies were floating downstream carried by the brisk current or were gathering in the stillness of our little bay. The local fish population were taking full advantage of the sudden bounty. I Read more…
Sightings
More migrants returning!
Today, May 5, I had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak on my feeder. An American bittern has been in the wetland near our house since at least since April 26. Also, I saw my first Yellow Warbler on May 3. I have my hummingbird feeders out, but nothing yet.
Sightings
Remnants of Winter and Pulses of Spring
Although it has been several weeks since hearing of any still around, Ed & Karen Heuvel reported to me a Great Gray Owl they had seen during the early evening on their property along the Ouse River between Cottesloe and Norwood on April 18, 2017. Ed says; “Huntng from a Read more…
Columns
Kids Connect with Nature: Children and Nature Network conference underscores importance of kids spending time in nature
Take a moment to envision the most meaningful place of your childhood. There’s a good chance that it was somewhere outdoors. Ours, however, may be the last generation to remember what it’s like to deeply connect with nature. Why? Because children around the world today spend as much as 90% Read more…
Sightings
Recent sightings of note
We were at the Ecology Park on the morning of April 23 and saw this male Yellow-rumped Warbler. Hallelujah for the return of spring! Helen and Larry Keller, Mark Street We have had a little Chipping Sparrow flying up against our windows Read more…
Sightings
Great Blue Heron rookery near Campbellford
Returning from Campbellford on Saturday , April 29, I noticed that the nests in a heron rookery all contained birds settled down. This rookery is on County Rd 50 just south of Hwy 7 Carl Welbourn
Sightings
Early Whip-poor-will near Lakefield
On April 26, I was extremely surprised and excited to hear a Whip-poor-will calling from the field out behind our house (7th Line Smith & Peacock St. area in Selwyn Township …. near the Otonabee River). It was about 8:45 pm when I heard it, and it “sang” it’s classic Read more…
Sightings
Recent freeze-up and ice-out dates on Stoney Lake
The ice left Stoney Lake on April 12 this year, which is a little earlier than I had anticipated this year. I have included the dates of freeze-up and ice-out for the past few years. I know I have older records and will send them along. Freeze-up in 2015 was Read more…
Sightings
Recent sightings
On the afternoon of April 23, Sylvia and I went for a walk in the Trent Wildlife Sanctuary. When up on the drumlin, where the Tree Swallow boxes are, we met two young women birders who said they had just seen what they thought was a Northern Mockingbird. Almost on Read more…
Columns
Teaching Kids About Evolution (part 2): Celebrate Earth Day with kids by exploring the basics of evolution
One of the greatest gifts you can give a child is a sense of wonder in the natural world and how everything in nature can be explained by science and critical thinking. And nowhere is there a better example of the power of critical thinking than when it comes to Read more…
Sightings
Great views of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Spring is springing forth at a rapid pace now – hard to keep up! I was so excited to see a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the brushy trees near our house this morning -just classic and unmistakable -white eye ring and white wing bars, and he even showed a bit of Read more…
Columns
Teaching Evolution to Kids (Part 1): Celebrate Earth Day by helping kids grasp the wonder of how species came to be
Kids make great amateur scientists. They love to ask “why” questions. “Why is the monarch butterfly so colourful? Why does it start life as a caterpillar? Why does it migrate? Thanks to Charles Darwin, we now understand that questions such as these are entitled to an evidence-based answer – and Read more…
Sightings
Beautiful shot of a pair of Wild Turkeys
A pair of bearded hen and tom Wild Turkeys photographed April 8 near Peterborough. Doug Gibson
Columns
Urban Brook Trout At Risk: Peterborough teen’s research reveals natural wonders of city’s Harper Creek
When I used to hear the words ‘brook trout’, the image that came to mind was a pristine lake in Algonquin Park. Well, that image has changed. What I now see is a tiny stream running along Rye Street in this busy commercial and industrial sector of southwest Peterborough. As Read more…
Sightings
Ospreys and first loons are back!
Happy spring! Today, April 4, there were 2 Osprey on the nesting platform in Young’s Point. Most of Stony is still frozen but there were pair of absolutely resplendent Common Loons dancing and calling. Rob Welsh, Stoney Lake This morning, April 5, I heard my first Common Loon (Upper Buckhorn Read more…
A Changing Climate
Climate change impacting ‘most’ species on Earth, even down to their genome
Three recent studies point to just how broad, bizarre, and potentially devastating climate change is to life on Earth. And we’ve only seen one degree Celsius of warming so far. Source: The Guardian Author: Jeremy Hance Date: Wednesday 5 April 2017 Climate change is rapidly becoming a crisis that defies Read more…
A Changing Climate
Climate-driven species on the move are changing (almost) everything
Source: The Conversation: Academic rigor, journalistic flair Date: April 5, 2017 Authors: Gretta Pecl: Deputy Associate Dean Research, ARC Future Fellow & Editor in Chief (Reviews in Fish Biology & Fisheries), University of Tasmania; Adriana Verges, Senior Lecturer in marine ecology, UNSW Ekaterina Popova: Senior Lecturer in marine ecology, UNSW; Read more…
Sightings
A rare visit from a Virginia Opossum
My wife, Mathilde, spotted a Virginia Opossum in our backyard on the evening of March 24 at around 9:30. We saw the white face and body by the light from our livingroom windows. It was eating a pomegranate that she had set out for some robins. Ralph Colley
Sightings
You never know what will happen when you call in owls!
On March 23 at about 5 pm, I used a hooting call to lure in this fabulous Barred Owl. To our surprise, a female also showed up. They quickly mated, and then hung around for a bit before going their separate ways. We were in the vicinity of Sandy Lake Read more…
Sightings
Some recent spring sightings
April 2 – I heard a Wilson’s Snipe quietly calling in the marshy area on the Parkway trail, east of Chemong, directly underneath the WalMart parking lot. Also, 3 Northern Leopard Frogs hopping along the new not-yet-opened road that skirts east of the airport as well as 3 Killdeer in Read more…
Sightings
Fairy shrimp in Harper Park vernal pool
I had the pleasure of wading around in a vernal pool at Harper Park in Peterborough this afternoon and found 100’s of fairy shrimp (Eubranchipus sp.). They are an indicator species for vernal pools. Wood Frogs breed in this same pool. The pool has lots of ice in it still, Read more…
CLIMATE CHANGE COLUMNS
A Spring Nature Almanac: Timing of events in nature increasingly affected by climate change
As we turn the corner into spring, let’s pause a moment to reflect back on the winter that’s been. For many people, the temperate weather was a blessing, with only moderate snowfall and temperatures well above average. Yes, the abnormally mild winter did make life easier for most of us. Read more…