Just read your tweet about bird – window collisions. Our dining room and living room windows line up exactly, with bird feeders outside the dining room window. Last fall two white-crowned sparrows killed themselves on the living room windows, and we’d had frequent non-fatal collisions on the dining room windows. Read more…
The lovely spring weather we’ve enjoyed this past week has caused an explosion of plant growth. Buds are swelling, grass is turning green, and a half-dozen species of wildflowers are in bloom. The blossoms are already attracting the first bees. Although I’ve witnessed this rebirth of nature over too many Read more…
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) (1) – Reported Apr 14, 2016 07:31 by Donald Sutherland – Peterborough–Trent Rotary Rail Trail, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “singing, fields E of S entrance to Promise Rock Trail” I heard my first Fox Sparrow of the spring on April 13 on Read more…
How do we raise engaged and concerned citizens in the 21st century? How can we teach our children to care for each other as well as the land, water and other species? Who will be the conservationists of the future when the average child can identify over 300 corporate logos, Read more…
On Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 5:00 PM, I saw one Osprey on the nesting platform on the Highway 28 bridge at Young’s Point. I’ve been heading up to Apsley twice a month all winter and this is the first time I’ve seen any activity at this nest. Sheelagh Hysenaj
We returned to our home on Dodworth Island on Stony Lake on Monday and immediately filled the four feeders. The activity is the most ever….We have 10 usual species but two things stand out. There are no Common Redpolls, but we have over 50 Pine Siskins. At least one Osprey Read more…
Less than a year ago, we said goodbye to our 16-year-old cat, Polly. She had lived a long, healthy life, but it was still gut wrenching to finally have her put down. We loved her quirky, independent personality, how she was aware of anything that was new in the house, Read more…
I heard my first Spring Peeper chorus for me this year on March 31 at the 9th Line and County Road 32 (east bank of Otonabee towards Lakefield. Susan Chow
On March 28 at 8:45 PM, I had 2 Blue-spotted Salamanders on Sumcot Drive off Allen’s Road west of Buckhorn. The salamanders were headed north in the direction of a known breeding pond north of Sumcot Drive. Martyn Obbard
With the arrival of spring in the Kawarthas, local wetlands will soon come alive with the calls of countless frogs and toads. This annual spectacle provides a wonderful opportunity to engage with nature. Here are three activities adapted from “The Big Book of Nature Activities” that I have written with Read more…
I saw two swans, most likely Trumpeters, last week in Scollard Bay on Buckhorn Lake. They had a straight neck most/all of the time and were definitely not Mute Swans. They hung around for 5 minutes and then flew over to another sheltered uninhabited bay where there may have been Read more…
We were surprised to see an Eastern Meadowlark perched at the top of a pine tree on our property yesterday morning (Sunday, Mar 20). Meadowlarks are usually seen in fields or high in bordering trees. Gwen Forsyth, Lakefield
For years, my wife and I have wanted to explore California’s legendary Highway 1, which runs along the Pacific coast. It is one of the world’s most scenic drives. Our anticipation was therefore at a peak when we took the storied highway out of San Francisco on a two-day trip Read more…
I found a dead Great Horned Owl on our property in Lakefield. It had a tag on its leg (#788-30808). I went on-line to https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/ and was able to find the following information: Species: Great Horned Owl Date banded: 03/16/2009 Banding Location: 5 KM N OF LAKEFIELD, ONTARIO, CANADA Age: Read more…
On March 18, I was driving south on Fenel Rd, southeast of Kirkfield. I crossed Highway 48 still southbound by Goosebay Road and the intersection of Islay Road, where I saw a pair of Sandhill Cranes flying over the fields at about 6:45 PM. Gavin Hunter
On March 18 at 11 AM, I heard a Song Sparrow singing in my front yard near Chemong Road and Reid streets. Awfully early, no? Marilyn Freeman Note: Yes, I’d say the bird is about a week earlier than usual. I’m not surprised, however, given the mild temperatures, and the Read more…
I took these pictures of a Cedar Waxwing and Red-bellied Woodpecker yesterday and today. Jeff Keller, Bridgenorth
Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) (1) – Reported Mar 15, 2016 23:45 by Scott Gibson – 1_Gibson Home – Bissonnette Dr., Peterborough, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “continuing. giving clear tremolo, closer to house than on other dates.” Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) (1) – Reported Mar 14, 2016 Read more…
For most anyone who enjoys the unfolding of a new season, spring stands head and shoulders above any other time of year. The greening of the landscape and explosion of animal life never fails to amaze. Spring is a season that regales all of the senses. Our ears reawaken to Read more…
I am writing about the phenomenon of squirrels gathering stones. I found reports from a couple of folks, but my case is quite different. I have a heated bird bath on my porch, just 8 feet from my glass door. I clean it every few days. About two months ago Read more…
I’ve had a “white-capped chickadee” visiting my feeders on Langton Street for the last three years. Its tail and wings are those of a normal chickadee but everything else is pure white. I was amazed when I first saw this bird, so looked it up on Google and found it’s Read more…
We’ve been fortunate to have seen a Barred Owl at our lakeside home on three occasions recently. One evening after dark, it flew through our covered feeder and grabbed a flying squirrel with its talons. It took the squirrel to the deck, stayed there for a couple of minutes, and Read more…
We had a Sharp-shinned Hawk sitting on our bird feeder stand at 4:30 pm on March 14. We live at Gannons Narrows, on the Pigeon Lake side of the bridge. Kingsley Hubbs
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) (2) – Reported Mar 15, 2016 12:31 by Matthew Tobey – University Road, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “pair flushed by vehicle out of marshy area on east side of road ~300m north of Warsaw Rd. Teal-sized ducks, wing pattern unmistakable. Facial crescent Read more…
I witnessed the first sighting of an Osprey yesterday, March 13, on Upper Buckhorn Lake. This is the earliest I have seen the Osprey coming back from the south. There is a lot of open water near the town of Buckhorn. Attached is a picture of an Osprey I took Read more…
The meltwater pond at Mather’s Corners, located at the junction of County Road 2 and Drummond Line, is once again attracting a variety of waterfowl. Several hundred Canada Geese are there right now, along with dozens of Mallards. In addition to the species listed below, there are also small numbers Read more…
Seeing exciting new plants and animals often requires effort – maybe rising at dawn and setting off on a long hike or driving for hours to some far-flung destination. Getting easy, close-up looks at iconic species right in the heart of a metropolis is therefore quite a treat. Such was Read more…
Even people who don’t like winter will grudgingly admit “well, at least, there’s no bugs.” Guess again. Insects are indeed out and about in the winter woods. The good news, however, is that the species you’re most likely to encounter ‑ the minuscule snow flea ‑ has no interest in Read more…
With the El Niño weather phenomenon warming Pacific waters and contributing to record-warm temperatures this winter, participants in the 2016 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) may be in for a few surprises. The 19th annual GBBC starts tomorrow, February 12, and continues through Monday, February 15. Information gathered and reported Read more…
January 2016 was warmer than normal and most of the province was drier than normal. This month, northern Ontario and the Far North were warmer than normal by 2 to 5 degrees Celsius. The largest variations were observed in the Moosonee area, where differences exceeded 5 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, areas Read more…