Beautiful blue skies and warm weather greeted the 74 people who took part in the 19th annual Carden Challenge. It was fun being together in celebration of this landscape and the species who call it home. All together, participants raised an impressive $30,000 for alvar stewardship efforts. Thank you to …
Unveiling the Frantzke-Williamson Easement
On a beautiful sunny day, staff and friends of Evelyn Frantzke and Robert Williamson gathered at their home to celebrate the completion of their 44.5-acre easement. The easement was completed in January 2023 – check out the OrilliaToday article here. The area that this easement is in is a key strategic …
A Big Thank You to the Youssef-Warren Foundation
The Youssef-Warren Foundation is a Canadian family foundation that has benefitted conservation, arts, and healthcare organizations worldwide since 1997. They took a chance on our fledgling Community Science Program in 2017, and became annual supporters. As the foundation closes this year, we wish to send our heartfelt thanks for both …
Sweetwater Farm Nature Reserve Unveiling
Our thanks to everyone who joined us for the unveiling of the Sweetwater Farm Nature Reserve in Ramara. Thank you for a beautiful day. Thank you to the family and friends of John Pitts and Kathleen Milligan. Thank you to our community, our supporters. Thank you John, thank you Kathleen.
Notes From the Field- Spring 2023
June 16, 2023- A Rare Reptile Find Since we started the Reptile Monitoring Community Science program in 2018 we have had a few species at the top of our ‘must find’ list. Some of these include Spotted and Wood Turtles, Eastern foxsnake, Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, and Massasauga Rattlesnake. These are …
Goodbye to The Villager
*UPDATE: we are excited to share that since writing this article, The Villager has since been taken over and is back under new leadership! Visit their website here. It is with gratitude that The Couchiching Conservancy submits its last Villager article. The Villager has been a staple in The Conservancy’s …
Rare 400-acre opportunity + a rare sighting
It was June 5, 2022 and I was testing my car along Alvar Road, listening for birds that I could add to my square for the Breeding Bird Atlas project. A distance along the road, I heard a Hermit Thrush singing very near the road. The Hermit Thrush song may …
Eight ways to celebrate our Earth this spring
Spring is here and there is so much to take in. Here are EIGHT ways to celebrate our beautiful planet in April and May: Plan an outing with a loved one to take in spring! Anytime! There are over 10 nature reserves with marked trails that are open to the …
Indigenous Perspectives on Conservation: Workshop with Gary Pritchard
On February 16th, Conservancy staff Courtney, Alysha, Madeleine, and Brandon attended a workshop at the Tiffin Centre for Conservation called Indigenous Perspectives on Conservation: Moving Beyond Species at Risk Conservation. It was hosted by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA). This important day of listening and learning more deeply about …
Thank you – 2023 Annual General Meeting Recap
Our thanks to over 190 people who attended in person and on Zoom! It was wonderful to connect with you again and share work accomplished in 2022 as well as plans for 2023 and beyond. A written re-cap is below our video recording. Re-cap: Jane Bonsteel read highlights from the …