14 teams and 66 participants searched for as many species as possible from Friday, May 27 at 6:00pm to Saturday, May 28 at 6:00pm, while raising money to help the Conservancy protect the Carden Alvar. All together they counted 247 species and raised over $33,000 for alvar conservation efforts! See …
Notes from the Field: Fall 2021
While most of our Community Science monitoring activities have finished until next spring, the work of Land Stewards and Maintenance teams never stops. This fall, Val Holt and Laurie Stanford picked up the mantle of stewarding Church Woods for the very active group of volunteers living around this popular nature …
Re-defining Ecological Perspectives: An Indigenous-Led Bioblitz.
Join Gary Pritchard of Curve Lake First Nation and principal consultant, 4 Directions of Conservation. On the shores of the Black River in Treaty Territory 20 and Williams Treaties, Gary will teach us about decolonizing conservation and learning to value all of our relations. All life deserves a space on …
Notes from the Field: Summer 2021
Monarch Monitoring Begins: Canadian Conservation Corps Interns Ryan and Claire, along with staff member Aiesha – have spent numerous days mapping out milkweed habitats and setting up new monarch monitoring sites at two Conservancy Nature Reserves. The new protocols for this pilot project are currently being tested in the field …
Notes from the Field: Spring 2021
Annual chemical control of Dog Strangling Vine in Carden is necessary to protect this globally-unique alvar. The spraying program has been successful and each year less and less chemical application is necessary. Great care is taken to spot spray and only the minimal amount of chemical is needed to kill …
Notes from the Field – Spring 2020
Windstorms and power outages are the perfect excuse to make impromptu monitoring visits. There could be downed trees blocking trails, and you also never know what creatures are around. Each visit to a Conservancy nature reserve holds a surprise, and on this day it was a dozen Hooded Merganser …
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 …
Notes From The Field – Spring 2019
Kim Trudeau and family discovered the Couchiching Conservancy through time spent at Church Woods. This winter and spring Kim took our Species at Risk, Invasive Species, and Vernal Pool workshops. Now she and her family are putting her new knowledge to work monitoring the Vernal Pools and salamanders of Church Woods. …