Cottontail rabbit numbers have exploded. Gardeners aren’t impressed. Peterborough Examiner – October 4, 2024 – by Drew Monkman “Drew, you won’t believe what the rabbits have eaten now!” If my wife said this once this summer, she said it a hundred times. Since last spring, our gardens and those of our neighbours have Read more…
An overview of what, where, when and how to feed backyard birds Peterborough Examiner – September 27, 2024 – by Drew Monkman When I was 12 years old, my father and I built a bird feeder. Even though my interest in birds was only modest at the time, it was a great project Read more…
A look ahead at what species to expect between now and Christmas Peterborough Examiner – September 13, 2024 – by Drew Monkman With the official change of season almost upon us, I’d like to look ahead to what birds are likely to grace us with their presence this fall. A big part of Read more…
Wasps play a key role in pest control and pollination Peterborough Examiner – August 30, 2024 – by Drew Monkman As pleasant as a late summer outdoor meal might be, there always seems to be a handful of unwanted guests. More often than not, yellowjackets also show up. While it’s true they can Read more…
Spiders are fascinating creatures and an essential part of our local biodiversity Peterborough Examiner – August 23, 2024 – by Drew Monkman Late summer is a special time of year. Dawn often arrives with heavy dews, gentle mists and a sort of melancholy peace as fall approaches. It’s on these quiet beginnings to Read more…
Climate conversations are the best way to influence others and speed more action and awareness Peterborough Examiner – August 9, 2024 – by Drew Monkman “What can I do? Little old me alone in the world against such a huge problem as climate change.” Well, the most influential thing we all can do is Read more…
Knowing what you can harvest or nibble on as you hike adds fun to nature outings Peterborough Examiner – August 9, 2024 – by Drew Monkman When I’m walking through the woods of the Canadian Shield, I always keep an eye open for wintergreen. It’s a small, ground-hugging plant with leathery leaves and Read more…
Thanks to the internet, learning a second language is easier than ever before Peterborough Examiner – July 12, 2024 – by Drew Monkman When we were in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula in early March, my wife and I visited a Mayan animal rescue and environmental/cultural education centre called Nojoch Keej. The owner, Manuel Trinidad, Read more…
Knowing a language like Spanish is a great way to enrich travel experiences and see more nature Peterborough Examiner – July 5, 2024 – by Drew Monkman I knew that the spectacular great green macaws were nesting nearby. But where? Several birds continually flew low overhead, broadcasting their raucous calls. I then saw Read more…
“Seeing” often comes down to knowing what to expect. Peterborough Examiner – June 21, 2024 – by Drew Monkman Like a celestial clock, events in nature tick off the time of year and the progression of the seasons. The predictability of these happenings – often within a few days of the same date Read more…
The under-appreciated members of the minnow, perch and stickleback families offer great fish-watching opportunities Peterborough Examiner – June 14, 2024 – by Drew Monkman As a child, there was nothing I enjoyed more than pursuing frogs and turtles along Jackson Creek or at my grandparents’ cottage on Clear Lake. However, when I’d try Read more…
Late spring provides a wonderful opportunity for the gentle art of fish-watching Peterborough Examiner – June 7, 2024 – by Drew Monkman The delights of watching birds, mammals and a wide variety of insects are well known to nature enthusiasts. But only rarely do we turn our attention to fish. With the spawning Read more…
As biodiversity becomes increasingly threatened, naturalists are more important than ever Peterborough Examiner – May 24, 2024 – by Drew Monkman Whenever I’m out birding, I’m easily distracted. As much as I’m watching and listening for birds, part of my mind is also paying attention to the trees, flowers, insects, fungi and whatever Read more…
From bird song games to smell cocktails, here are some fun activities to better engage with nature Peterborough Examiner – May 10, 2024 – by Drew Monkman With May now upon us, the promise of spring is being fulfilled. Spectacular long-distance migrants like hummingbirds and orioles are arriving, leaves and flowers are bursting Read more…
Science is shedding new light on how, where, when and why birds migrate Peterborough Examiner – May 3, 2024 – by Drew Monkman Spring and fall migration are the best times to be a birder. For me, however, spring takes top billing. May sees the biggest push of spring migration with the arrival Read more…
Peterborough City Nature Challenge encourages residents to document local biodiversity To culminate local Earth Week activities and to celebrate biodiversity, Peterborough is once again taking part in the four-day City Nature Challenge (CNC). It takes place from Friday, April 26 to Monday, April 29. The CNC is a global “bioblitz” Read more…
Many people spend their whole life never knowing such an iconic bird exists. Peterborough Examiner – April 12, 2024 – by Drew Monkman With monikers such as pop-eyed shot dodger, bogsucker, sky dancer and timberdoodle, the American woodcock may have the most evocative nicknames of any bird. However, the real claim to fame Read more…
Monday’s solar eclipse can also pique our interest in moon-watching Peterborough Examiner – April 5, 2024 – by Drew Monkman As we cross our fingers that next Monday’s solar eclipse will be graced with clear skies, I’ve found myself thinking not only about the sun but also the moon. In order for a Read more…
Peterborough just experienced what it is almost certainly its warmest winter on record. Peterborough Examiner – March 22, 2024 – by Drew Monkman Many people no doubt enjoyed the balmy weather of our winter “that never was”. This is understandable, just as long as we keep in mind that the terribly abnormal temperatures Read more…
Peterborough Examiner – February 9, 2024 – by Drew Monkman I get it. Reading about climate change is depressing. There’s no doubt that for some people it causes severe anxiety. But, in case you’re tempted to turn away from reading any further, being uninformed will only make the climate crisis worse. It’s akin Read more…
Peterborough Examiner – February 2, 2024 – by Drew Monkman Years ago, my wife Michelle and I were at Rondeau Provincial Park on Lake Erie to do some May birding with friends. I was very excited because a rare Connecticut Warbler had been turning up along one of the trails and we were Read more…
Paying attention to the night sky enhances a sense of season Peterborough Examiner – January 19, 2024 – by Drew Monkman Like many aspects of nature, the night sky changes dramatically over the course of the year. Knowing the comings and goings of stars and constellations contributes to a rewarding sense of the Read more…
High waterfowl diversity and numbers was a highlight of this year’s local Christmas Bird Counts Peterborough Examiner – January 12, 2024 – by Drew Monkman Dan Chronowic and his group of fellow birders won’t soon forget the spectacle they witnessed on Chemong Lake. “The huge raft of Common Mergansers was truly a sight Read more…
Trent University professor Erica Nol played a leadership role in the decision to rename many of North America’s birds Peterborough Examiner – January 5, 2024 – by Drew Monkman A hot topic among birders and nature enthusiasts right now is the recent decision to rename many of North America’s birds. On November 1, Read more…
Nature enthusiasts have much to look forward to in the coming months. Peterborough Examiner – December 22, 2023 – by Drew Monkman All you have to do is step outside this month to get a sense of how quickly global heating is accelerating. In fact, 2023 will have been Earth’s warmest year on Read more…
Some local road trips for the geographically-curious Peterborough Examiner – December 8, 2023 – by Drew Monkman My recent articles on the geology and landforms of the Kawarthas (Nov. 10) and on the formation of our rivers and lakes (Nov. 25) both garnered a large response. This has inspired me to propose several Read more…
70 or more species can be seen locally during the winter months Peterborough Examiner – December 1, 2023 – by Drew Monkman With winter almost upon us, we sometimes need a little extra motivation to bundle up and head outside. Looking for birds can provide both purpose and interest to any outing. Yes, Read more…
Ancient rivers, ice sheets and then locks and dams were the key players. Peterborough Examiner – November 25, 2023 – by Drew Monkman It’s hard to over-emphasize how fortunate we are in the Peterborough area to have such a wonderful chain of clean, beautiful lakes right on our doorstep. It’s easy to take Read more…
The geology and landforms of the Kawarthas tell an amazing story. Peterborough Examiner – November 10, 2023 – by Drew Monkman If there’s a metaphor that best describes the location of Peterborough County, it’s “sitting on the edge.” On a map, the edge is simply an irregular line running across the middle of Read more…
The Kawarthas is home to over 500 lichen species. Fall is a great time to get to know them. Peterborough Examiner – November 3, 2023 – by Drew Monkman Of all the common organisms of the Kawarthas, lichens are perhaps the most overlooked. Although they’re small, when you pay attention you’ll see them Read more…