Couchiching Conservancy adds 55th protected property SEPTEMBER 20, 2023, ORILLIA, ONTARIO – The Couchiching Conservancy is overjoyed to announce the protection of the Deverell-Morton Nature Reserve. This 169-hectare (417-acre) parcel is in Carden Township, 35km east of Orillia. The property has been in the Deverell family since the mid 1800’s. …
Rare 400-acre opportunity + a rare sighting
It was June 5, 2022 and I was testing my car along Alvar Road, listening for birds that I could add to my square for the Breeding Bird Atlas project. A distance along the road, I heard a Hermit Thrush singing very near the road. The Hermit Thrush song may …
Notes From the Field – Summer 2019
During a recent Salamander Monitoring visit to Church Woods with Kim Trudeau & family, they encountered two Eastern Red-backed Salamanders. This terrestrial species of salamander can live for up to 25 years and requires a damp environment to survive. This is because they need to breathe through their skin as they …
Notes from the Field – Summer 2019
Photo: Kim Trudeau
Participants raise $22,000+ for Carden Challenge
That’s a wrap on the 15th annual Carden Challenge. With 34 participants, these nine teams scoured the Carden alvar in search of as many species as possible in 24 hours. Participants battled the rain, hail and thunderstorms on Saturday but birds were singing, the reptiles were out and it was another enjoyable year …
The Spirit of Giving: Cameron Curran
Every year, hundreds of people donate to The Couchiching Conservancy to make protecting land in our region possible. Here we feature four people who who took fundraising into their own hands.
Notes From the Field – Fall 2017
Notes from volunteers and staff about our field observations, research, maintenance, and adventures stewarding Couchiching Conservancy properties.
Featured Bird: Cuckoos (Not Just on Clocks!)
I also was delighted by the farm houses, because in those days, most had a cuckoo clock.? I was also thrilled, with a little help, to pull the long chains which wound up the clock mechanisms. Little did I know that there was a real bird called a Cuckoo!
Expedition Alvar: The 2017 Carden Challenge
Just imagine the opportunity to embark on an environmental expedition that immerses you in the depths of wilderness, where you get to learn, explore, and engage with nature alongside like-minded people. A whirlwind “safari,” if you will, for 24 hours observing species at risk, breathing in fresh air, and taking immediate conservation action all while having fun.
Passport to Nature: Are Your Kids Nuts for Nature?
The Couchiching Conservancy will be holding the 3rd “Nuts for Nature” family funfest at the Carden Recreation Centre this coming Sunday, June 11 from 9 am to 4 pm. The focus is on kids and their exposure to the natural world.