A giant in the land conservation movement passed away at his home in Washago on Sunday, December 15th. His partner of 45 years, Janet, and their sons Alex and Peter were by his side. Ron Reid is locally known as co-founder and first Executive Director of the Couchiching Conservancy, formed …
Great Lakes Alvars, with focus on Kawartha Lakes Carden Alvar
Alvars are unique and fascinating ecosystems that are defined by limestone or dolostone outcrops, often with little to no soil, supporting grassland, shrubland, savanna, or woodland vegetation. These ecosystems are quite rare, found in only a few areas worldwide, with the most notable concentrations occurring in the Baltic Sea region …
Nature Counts 2024: Celebrating Volunteers and Monitoring Efforts
Every year, Nature Counts brings us together to celebrate the dedication and hard work of our volunteers and to reflect on the impact of our conservation efforts. This year, we shared some incredible highlights from our Community Science monitoring programs, successes in species conservation, and the vital role volunteers play …
The Couchiching Conservancy’s First Eco Passage
Every year, thousands of animals face a perilous journey across roads, risking their lives in the face of speeding vehicles. For salamanders, frogs, and many other species near Whitney Wetland & McIsaac Nature Reserve, this danger has been especially pronounced. Thanks to The Couchiching Conservancy’s Wildlife on Roads Community Science …
Move From Radio To Couchiching Conservancy A Wild Ride (As originally published in Orillia Matters)
I’m a middle age woman who has just switched careers at 45. It’s terrifying. I worked in media for close to twenty years. I got up at 3:30am, arrived at work to read news headlines, celebrity gossip and stories from around the world before going on air at 5:30. I’d …
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 …
Benthic Invertebrate Workshop
Have you ever thought about what a baby mosquito looks like or where a young dragonfly spends its days? For many insects, their story begins underwater. Eggs laid in or near the water hatch, and the larval insect is born into their new watery reality. They find a home amongst …
To All A Good Night
With a spring of solar flares carrying the northern lights further south than usual more of us have been making an effort to enjoy the night sky. Of course when we go out into the dark we aren’t alone, we are accompanied by bats, birds, moths and more of the …
A Love For Swamps, (as originally published in The Villager)
In 2018, Evelyn Frantzke & Robert Williamson had an encounter at The Orillia Fall Fair that changed their lives. The Couchiching Conservancy had a table set up and they went over. They’d recently bought a home with land in Oro Medonte and wanted to know about the area. They quickly …
Fabulous Fall Fungi
As fall settles across Orillia and the vibrant leaves catch our attention, fungi quietly emerge in the forests of Grant’s Woods Nature Reserve. These fascinating organisms, more commonly known as mushrooms or toadstools, thrive in the cooler, damper conditions of autumn. Fungi are neither plants nor animals—though they are often …