As the sun sets, bats begin their night shift — emerging silently to hunt insects and play a vital role in healthy ecosystems. In Ontario, these quiet mammals are key to controlling insect populations, supporting agriculture, and acting as indicators of environmental change. Yet seven out of the eight native bat …
Field Notes: Whitney Wetland Eco-passage Summer Updates
With the Summer in full swing, many reptiles are mating and nesting near lakes, rivers, and wetlands—which means that the roads adjacent to these areas are an even more perilous place than usual. When roads are built beside or bisecting natural areas, wildlife must either cross them, or risk remaining …
Field Notes: 2025 Carden Bird Blitz
It’s 6am on the Carden Alvar, and nearly sixty people have gathered in the early morning light, many with binoculars or cameras in hand. Some are groggy, others bright-eyed and eager—but we’re all excited to see what the day has in store. This is the Annual Carden Bird Blitz, when …
Field Notes: Two Weeks At Couchiching Conservancy
Hi! We’re Darian and Ellen, and we’re students in the Ecosystem Management Technician program at Fleming College. This month, we finished up our program with a two-week placement at Couchiching Conservancy. We started our placement right after the huge ice storm, so our initial itinerary changed to allow us …
Field Notes: Community Effort to Combat Invasive Species- Join Us!
How do we take care of the land we love? One critical action is invasive species removal to ensure species like Monarch Butterflies have suitable habitat to thrive and survive. Over the past two months, our staff and volunteers have come together to remove over 1,000 lbs. It’s absolutely inspiring …
Field Notes – Reptile Surveys
My first expedition with The Couchiching Conservancy is one I will remember for a long time. I joined Conservation Biologist, Toby Rowland, Youth Stewardship Coordinator, Alysha Henry, and community science volunteers Morah Fenning and Paul Robinson for reptile surveys. Our goal was to observe as many species as possible while …
Field Notes – Amphibian Migration
Perhaps nothing symbolizes the end of winter like the return of the amphibians. Amphibians such as Jefferson-blue spotted salamanders, toads, and wood frogs emerge from winter hibernation, typically on the first warm/rainy/wet nights early spring, after the ground has thawed. They make their way into wetlands where they will mate …
Field Notes – Solar Eclipse & Wildlife Behaviour
People across the world prepared for and celebrated the solar eclipse on April 8, but what were wildlife doing? How did their behaviour change during this rare occurance? That was the question that spurred on a few of our staff to venture out on the solar eclipse day to get …
Field Notes – Using Data Loggers for Species Monitoring
In the expansive landscapes of our region, nature whispers its secrets…but who is there to hear their calls? A key aspect of monitoring for species at risk are inventories. Some are conducted by staff, and there is also on-going monitoring by trained Community Science volunteers. But what about the times …
Nature Counts Highlights
Our thanks to everyone who attended our in person Nature Counts summary, and to all volunteers who contributed to efforts in 2023 to protect nature in our region. Community Science Highlights: