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. …
Notes from the Field – Summer 2018
Sign vandalism continues to be the biggest management issue at our newest acquisition, the Ron Reid Nature Reserve, as some of the hunters in the area let us know of their presence. While we are not anti-hunting, we do believe that having protected areas for wildlife is important, and therefore …
Bird lessons- are we taking note?
The Orioles have long left, and we haven’t see a Hummingbird for well over a week. Obviously they have all left for good reason.
Leave it to Nature: Lessons on Fall colours
If you’re anything like me you know the feeling of sheer excitement when the leaves begin to change colour in fall. As trees begin to brace for… dare I say, for those less excited, winter, our favourite natural spaces in Ontario transform into colourful works of art.