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 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 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 We thought you might like this 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 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, 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 Read more…