Look for these first signs of spring across Canada
Red-winged blackbird (Photo by Bill Hubick)
With the springing forward of our clocks and the increased daylight, many Canadians are getting antsy for the arrival of spring. What can be more delightful than noticing the little signs that signal the arrival of a new season, such as the...
Five years with NCC (part one)
I am Kylie (Garchinski) McGregor, natural area manager for the Missouri Coteau Natural Area with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). I started here as an intern in 2014 and have worked on and off for the organization since. Throughout my NCC...
The beauty of bogs
Grand Codroy Estuary Nature Reserve, NL (Photo by NCC)
You don’t have to stray far from the road on the island of Newfoundland before you come across a bog. In fact, beautiful stretches of this spongy wetland can be seen from the comfort of your own vehicle, as you drive along the...
50 bird species and the sounds that they make
While many of the birds included are not native to Canada (but may be present as farm animals, pets or invasive species), it is still enriching to listen to birds from around the globe. Some examples of native Canadian birds on the infographic are...
Don’t forget to brake for snakes
The western rattlesnake. (Photo by Stephanie Winton)
The Okanagan Valley, a hot spot for many at-risk species, is located in the south-central Southern Interior region of British Columbia. It is home to 185 wineries, many golf courses and fruit orchards, and an incredibly diverse landscape that...
Small but mighty — Migrating green darner dragonflies
Common green darner (Photo by Nancy Norman, CC BY-NC 4.0)
In February when I wrote this blog, I was thinking about my “snowbird” colleagues taking vacations to escape the cold, Canadian winter. Little did I know that right around that time, a species of dragonfly was beginning to migrate...
Meet your butterfly neighbours
Great spangled fritillary butterfly (Photo by Monica Seidel)
Did you know that there are over 300 butterfly species in Canada, with 150 in Ontario alone? While most people are familiar with the iconic monarch and swallowtail butterflies, there are many other species fluttering around that would love to meet...
Canada in bloom: Rare treasures of Strathcona Provincial Park
As a keen hiker, I spend much of my time gazing in wonder at some of the incredible views on offer across Canada’s magnificent hiking trails. From the awe-inspiring, snow-capped peaks of the Rockies, to the rugged coastline of western BC, it...
The race against rats: The most successful invasive species in the world
Everyone has a rat story, except for, maybe, Albertans (the lucky ones); I’ll explain why in a bit. In Hong Kong, where I grew up, rats and mice were collectively called lo shu in Cantonese. The term was probably tossed around by parents to...
Human-created noise pollution impacts wildlife
Just as noise pollution negatively impacts human health, it also affects wildlife. It can interfere with animal communication, hinder their foraging abilities and impact where they live. A recent study published in Biology Letters found that...
