Feathers and Fangs

Posted May 26, 2011

Our Victoria Day long weekend holiday was spent near Tobermory on the Lake Huron side of the Bruce Penninsula.  For me it is a naturalist’s paradise with a great many species of birds and a variety of wild orchids flowering  almost every month of the growing season. This weekend we logged just over 50 species […]

my backyard

Posted May 22, 2011

Just as the fireworks were being lit around the neighbourhood I heard a familiar sound coming from my backyard – the unmistakeable song of the Common Yellowthroat. I had to hear it again to make sure and then it also gave two call notes. I called my brother-in-law (who called me to let me know […]

Now Arriving – Indigo Bunting

Posted May 20, 2011

Even the briefest period of fair weather has revived the spring bird migration. Clouds of jays have been on the move the last few days, a dozen at a time chowing down at the Blair feeders. But yesterday a dazzling flash of blue caught my attention, and since there is little else in nature quite […]

Lifeguard On Duty

Posted May 19, 2011

You’re safe to swim – as long as you don’t mind the fact that the lifeguard is a turkey vulture!! 30+ of these soaring scavengers roost overnight in a stand of pine trees at Camp Shalom where I do pond studies with grade 4 classes. I see theme regularly as they get ready for a […]

Cool Critters

Posted May 15, 2011

This little critter is a “fairy shrimp.” It is a tiny crustacean – related to crabs and crayfish – but it has no outer carapace or shell. If you were touch it it would feel like jelly!! Fairy Shrimp inhabit vernal, or temporary, meltwater ponds and pools. They live only a short time, mate, and […]

Urban Wildlife

Posted May 14, 2011

Lots of natural goings-on around my house in Kitchener this spring. My next-door neighbour had 4 baby raccoons removed from her attic. Another neighbour was out jogging one morning and saw a wild turkey on a lawn on Forest Hill Drive. Last week two coopers hawks were screeching at each other from trees on the […]

Big Migration Day

Posted May 11, 2011

Today while waiting for the AM bus (~10 mins) I heard or saw 48 species of birds. Included are my first Cape May Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Parula, and Tennessee Warbler of the year. I also had 4 species of sparrow, and a couple birds of prey. I have been entering all of my sightings […]

Earth Day Revisited…

Posted May 10, 2011

It’s been a while since our Web of Life 2.0 Earth Day program, and we have been remiss in not acknowledging the great things that took place that day. 48 students from 12 schools, with accompanying teachers and parent volunteers, joined us at the Huron Natural Area for our annual Earth Day Green Team Challenge.  […]

A Bird in the Hair

Posted May 5, 2011

A Titmouse trying to get nesting material.  From welovebirds.org [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U6P2vydE9c&w=425&h=344]

Quiz #2

Posted May 3, 2011

The spring migration of songbirds is well underway in Southern Ontario. Over the past couple of weeks the Camp Heidelberg property has seen the return of Chipping, Song, and Swamp Sparrows, Northern Flickers, Wood Ducks, and even an early Eastern Kingbird. Although warblers, a group of songbird consisting of 30-ish species during migration in S. […]

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