It is estimated there are over 50 million people in North America alone who consider themselves bird watchers! This group is made up of casual bird watchers–people who may know a few local species, to the professional birder who make serious study of birds and their behaviour.
Balsam fir; Not just a tree for the festive season
Forested areas in our region contain a wide variety of majestic deciduous and coniferous trees. As you travel further north in Simcoe County, the forest type shifts as you get closer to the Canadian Shield. You will begin to notice that there are more conifer trees, especially the common, yet important, balsam fir.
Bird Watching: Bird Houses in the Winter
Come fall and winter when most of our song birds have gone south, we tend to forget the bird houses we have in our yards. But have another look!
Continuing to bring key habitat under protection
One of the organization’s key goals is to move beyond isolated islands of green by linking protected areas to create critical masses of natural habitat with connecting corridors.
In other words: bridge building.
For years now, the Conservancy has been at work with various partners on the Carden Alvar to protect this globally-rare ecosystem. The alvar — a limestone plain with shallow soil or no soil at all — lies just east of Lake Dalrymple and it has garnered interest around the world. Protecting it would be a good thing, but if it is isolated with no solid linkages to the northern shield territory, it will be devalued.
Bird Watching: Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmice are members of the Paridae family of birds and are close relatives of Chickadees. They look and act much like them, although they are a little larger, don’t have a black cap, but they do have a gray crest on their head. They have gray under parts and rusty coloured flanks. I knew I would recognize one when I saw it!
The elusive Red-headed Woodpecker
The Red- headed woodpecker is a striking bird with a bright red head, contrasting blue/ black back and primary wing feathers and white breast and secondary wing feathers. It exhibits similar behavioural characteristics of all woodpeckers such as flight and tree climbing pattern. It is that solid bright red head that makes it easy to distinguish it from other members of the woodpecker family.
The history of a well-known spruce…Fred’s Tree
For many in Orillia, the blue spruce tree that stands tall at the corner of Mississauga and West is known as the Opera House Christmas tree. It is lit every year during the Candlelight Parade, taking place next Friday. But for my family, and many that knew my grandfather, it will always be known as Fred’s Tree.
Notes from the Field Fall/Winter 2014
Follow along with our volunteers and Stewardship Program Manager, David Hawke and learn about what it takes to care for land.
Bird Watching for all ages: Canada Geese
Canada Geese have fared very well across Canada and many parts of the World in spite of significant residential and commercial growth. They have adapted to human intervention unlike any other bird, to the extent that for many of us, they have become quite a nuisance.
Land trust movement continues to gain momentum
This past week Geneva Park hosted the Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) Gathering, an annual three day conference that brings together land trust members and others that are dedicated to protecting land. Each year, well over one hundred people attend. What an amazing feeling it is to be in a room with other people that are dedicated to a similar mission – to protect nature.