Preventing the introduction of Invasive Species

Julia Ruhl will be presenting “Preventing the Introduction of Invasive Pests into Canada“. Think Emerald Ash Borer … for which she was the outreach and media spokesperson when the invasive Emerald Ash Borer was introduced into northern Ontario.

What else are we aware of? Hemlock Adelgid? Lantern Fly? Lyme Disease and the other associated illnesses?

Julia will talk about:

  • the role of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in respect to preventing the introduction of invasive plant pests into Canada
  • rules and regulations of importing plants and plant material into Canada
  • what are invasive pests and their significance to the environment, economy and trade
  • examples of regulated pest introductions
  • what can we do to prevent such potential introductions

Julia Ruhl has an Honours B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Guelph. She worked for the federal government for 30 years in a variety of scientific positions including inspection, auditing and administration in several locations in Ontario. For the last 10 years she was a Plant Protection Program Officer with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in the Plant Health division providing scientific, technical and regulatory advice to inspection staff and management. She was involved in outreach and media spokesperson roles when the invasive pest, the Emerald Ash Borer was introduced into northern Ontario.

Julia lives with her family and furred and feathered friends on 10 acres near Beeton, Ontario and continues to be passionate in the biological world of gardening and farming.

Join us Tuesday evening, 7:00 – 9:00 P.M., September 26th, at the Orangeville Seniors Centre on Bythia Street.


Our upcoming roster of Speakers:

    • Oct 24/23: Steve Burrows: The Birder Murder Mysteries
    • Nov 28/23: Don Scallen: Turtles of Ontario
    • Dec (late):  Christmas Bird Count:  details coming in the next month
    • Jan 30/24:  Gary Hall: How a photographer sees nature
    • Feb 27/24: Robin and crew, Nature Nerd Night — oh, the fun!!!
    • March 26/24:  Sarah Griffith: Clear as Mud – Using Geoscience for Decisions, Advice, and Accountability
    • April 30/24:  Fiona Reid:, Moths and Butterflies as Pollinators
    • May 28/24:  Jennifer Baici: Wild Turkeys in Ontario: a life history

(Details about each session will come out in the month before the actual event.)

To whet your appetite for the Nature Nerd Night, some of us saw this at the last Photography Workshop at the Mono Pollinator Garden. What is it?  (It is not from an invasive species!)

Burrows from Digger Crayfish, one of several species in different genera in Ontario that form chimneys at the entrance to their burrows:  genuine Nature Nerd stuff!

Nature in ‘our back yard’ — for kids and more on Saturday September 9th

Come and discover nature in ‘our back yard’!

    • Join us Saturday September 16th, from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M.
    • At the Mono Pollinator Garden, on the south side of Hockley Rd about 1km east of the intersection with highway 10
    • Discover pollinating insects, flowers, snails, birds — anything and everything!!
    • A short FREE field trip for kids and adults
    • We welcome kids from 3 years and up accompanied by a responsible adult.
    • If your child uses cameras or binoculars ,you could bring your own — but we’ll be concentrating on direct observation and interpretation.
    • See the natural world through the eyes and ears and perceptions of kids!

For More Information, contact: info@onheadwatersnature.ca

2023 CVC Butterfly Blitz is starting soon!

This message is from Laura Timms, a past Headwaters Nature speaker.  She’s a Senior Specialist, Natural Heritage Management for Credit Valley Conservation, and is in charge of the annual CVC Butterfly Blitz. A number of our members have participated in this over the years.The 2023 CVC Butterfly Blitz is starting soon, running from May 6 – September 16.

They’re starting earlier this year in the hopes that we all can spot more early spring butterflies, many of which are already flying. We’ll then meet for an in-person kickoff event on June 3rd.

You can find out more about this fifth Butterfly Blitz at https://cvc.ca/butterfly-blitz/ and can register there via the enroll now button on the website.

One of the early spring butterflies of special interest is the West Virginia White, a provincial species of Special Concern. They should be flying soon, and may be found in large areas of intact deciduous forest with good populations of toothwort plants. (This describes quite a few hardwood bush lots up in our area!)

Those who register for the Butterfly Blitz will receive the online resource package and get the opportunity to sign up for our newsletter. Their newsletter will keep you informed about upcoming butterfly hikes, Butterfly Blitz contests, observations of the week, and more.

Citizen scientists in the Butterfly Blitz program collect useful data on local butterfly populations. You can take part on your own time, join in-person events throughout the summer, and watch the excellent online training videos if you need a butterfly refresher.

Eastern Comma, an early Spring butterfly, found at Island Lake on 2023 April 13 (MW)

Mourning Cloak, one of the most common and most recognizable early Spring butterflies, found at Island Lake on 2023 April 13 (MW)

Compton Tortoiseshell, Willoughby Nature Reserve, 2023 April 10. This poor photo taken with my smartphone turns out to be quite confidently identifiable because of the three orange marks along the leading edges of the front wings that just poke above the maple branch four metres above my head! (MW)