Our Southern Ontario area plays a special role in the development of what we now call the environmental movement. Few of us know much about this pivotal role. Starting in the Spring of 1864, the young Scotsman turned American, John Muir, spent several months botanizing through Southern Ontario. This was his first real exploratory trip beyond his adopted home farm in Wisconsin. It was over in the Pottageville Swamp area (what was then part of the much larger Holland Marsh) that he had one of his most significant events of his lifetime, seeing a rare northern orchid, Calypso borealis. This epiphany started him on his way to dedicate the rest of his life to the preservation of the natural world. “The rarest and most beautiful of the flowering plants I discovered on this first grand excursion was Calypso borealis (the Hider of the North). I had been fording streams more and more difficult to cross and wading bogs and… Read more »
(Check the Speakers page for more details and for updates!) Thanks to the work of your club executive, here is the quick listing of the speakers who will be presenting to us this coming year! September 27, 2016: John Muir in Ontario, including in our Headwaters area!: Robert Burcher October 25, 2016: Orchids of Ontario: our own member, Kevin Tipson! November 29, 2016: Astronomy 101: Jason Tabroff, Dufferin Astronomy Club) January 3,1 2017: A Botanist Traces Spring Northwards along the Bruce Trail: Mark Whitcombe, our President February 28, 2017: UCFNC Member’s Night March 28, 2017: Bees, Identification and Pollination: Victoria Macphail April 25, 2017: Ontario Coyotes: Erica Newton is a scientist who works for the Ministry of Natural Resources, and has engaged in research about a variety of animal species, including wolves and coyotes. Erica will explain the differences between wolves and coyotes, and talk about the animals that we see in our area. What is… Read more »
Guided Blitz Registration is now open! Join us for the 2016 Ontario BioBlitz in the Credit River Watershed on June 11-12! The Guided BioBlitz is an opportunity for less-experienced nature enthusiasts to learn a bit more about their favourite species through field surveying and identification techniques – important skills for understanding the world around us. Our 2015 flagship event in the Don Watershed was a big success. Thanks to the 700+ registered participants and volunteers – we couldn’t do it without you! The Guided BioBlitz is open to all ages and all experience levels, but be aware that sessions can require a lot of walking. Please also note that there can be a 40 minute drive between Guided BioBlitz sites. Visit http://www.ontariobioblitz.ca/guided-registration.html to register for sessions, look at the map of the Guided Blitz sites, and download a copy of the schedule. Most sessions are limited to 30 people per group, and will fill up quickly – so make sure… Read more »
