The warm days of summer are highly valued by naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts in the Great Lakes Region – some perks include warm hiking days, peaceful canoe outings, observing Ontario’s vast selection of migratory birds, and for botanists, ample opportunity for plant-identification. After fall’s vibrant colors, the lack of plant …
Winter Birds of the Couchiching Region
Both spring, and summer are enjoyable times of year for birding in the Couchiching area. From pine-oak barrens of Matchedash, and the shrublands of Carden Alvar, to moist maple forests around Awenda and Oro Moraine, the region provides a wide variety of habitat types, allowing birders to observe a large …
Holiday Gift Guide for Nature Lovers
Wrap up your holiday list early with our holiday gift guide, packed full of ideas and gifts for every nature lover in your life! For the person who loves experiences: The best gift is time together. Plan an outing to a nearby trail for a snowshoe or hike and bring …
Notes From the Field – 2022 Recap
Check out what the Couchiching Conservancy Community Science teams and stewardship staff have been up to in 2022. We also have focused Notes from the field for Winter, Spring and Summer. On March 25, Aiesha and Toby set up acoustic monitoring devices on a tree overlooking a wetland. These devices …
Passport to Nature is here!
The Couchiching Conservancy is inviting you to get out, connect and protect nature through the popular Passport to Nature program. This year the conservancy is offering a hybrid program of in-person events, virtual seminars and downloadable activities. New for this year are the Family Fun Collection of downloadable activities, two …
Notes from the Field – Winter 2022
Winter provides an opportunity to explore corners of protected land we don’t see very often. When wetlands freeze over and dense bush disappears under deep snow, it’s time to slip on the snowshoes and go exploring. Through an extended Canada Summer Jobs grant, we were able to keep Ryan Lamoureux …
Celebrating Success in 2021
As 2021 comes to a close and we look forward to ringing in 2022 The Couchiching Conservancy has an incredible bounty to be grateful for, and we invite you to share the feeling. This year, The Conservancy was able to continue its essential work despite the ongoing challenges brought on …
Wishing you a Safe & Happy Season!
The holidays are almost here, and we’ve got you covered with a new Holiday Green Giving Guide! Here’s our list of ideas for experiences or gifts to purchase in support of the mission to protect nature. Please note that the office closes at 3:00pm on Friday, December 24th and will …
Orillia needs to calculate the high cost of business as usual
UPDATE: WSP and City Staff have now had the opportunity to review and provide answers to the 100+ questions raised. Those questions and answers have been posted to the MCR webpage, with a direct link provided here. Your input is needed on December 1. Imagine Grant’s Woods inside the city limits …
Notes from the Field – Winter 2021
Animal sightings can be very rare on a cold February afternoon, but wildlife leave a story behind in the snow. Visits to Sweetwater Nature Reserve this winter have revealed coyote, fox and deer tracks, and also this spot in the snow where an owl dove headfirst after a rodent, leaving …