Looking at bryophytes
Bryophytes are non-vascular plants that include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. They create tiny but intricate and extensive landscapes that play an important role in regulating ecosystems. by Sandy Garland, with thanks to Lynn Ovenden for providing scientific names, Diane Lepage for the photos of Broom Moss and Silvery Moss When the OFNC announced a currently rare in-person excursion, led by bryophyte expert, Jennifer Doubt (a scientist with the Canadian Museum of Nature), I jumped at the chance to get outside [...]
Great Resources for Birders
If you haven’t visited the OFNC website for some time there are two excellent additions to help birders get out and about and find all the birds they can. Ottawa has plenty of varied habitats that make for good birding all year round. You might want to visit all of them or try to discover favourite spots of your own. You can get a good start by heading to the OFNC website and checking out Where to Go Birding. Want [...]
Pollinator Garden in 3 Boxes
by Lynn Ovenden There are 3 raised beds at the edge of FWG’s old field between the butterfly meadow and the old woods. Together, they contain 18 species of native wildflowers that were planted in the boxes in spring 2017 by UOttawa students as part of a community outreach project supported by Friends of the Earth Canada. Sandy Garland propagated the plants and built the boxes with help from the students and her son Mark. The goal was to show [...]
Proposed new road threatens Mer Bleue wetland
by Jakob Mueller A proposal to build a six-lane roadway through the Greenbelt is open for public consultation, but only until Friday, 16 July. The City of Ottawa wants to extend Brian Coburn Boulevard across the northern fringe of the Mer Bleue wetland complex (see proposal). Of the various options for this project, the city is proposing to proceed with the one ranked most environmentally disruptive (see map). If built, this road will further fragment protected Greenbelt lands and threaten to [...]
A microscopic look at our ponds
A Daphnia, or water flea, and copepods are among the many tiny creatures that live unseen in our pond water. by Julie Laurin I first discovered the Fletcher Wildlife Garden in 2018. Earlier that year, I’d lost the ability to walk independently. I spent six months wondering if I’d ever walk again, if my condition would improve, and if I’d ever feel normal again. While I grew up in the woods in Northern Ontario, up until that point, I hadn’t [...]
Rare Bird Reports
This spring, Ottawa was visited by a number of rare birds. Do you ever wonder about what rare birds have been seen over the years? Rare Bird Detailed Records covering the OFNC Study area ( 50 Km radius of the Peace Tower, Ottawa) was last updated on October 31, 2020 and the information is now are available at Ottawa Annotated Checklist of Rare Birds Due to the widespread use of eBird and the near certainty that any rarity [...]
Where to Go Birding in Ottawa
Spring birding is underway. This guide to birding in Ottawa is now updated and can be reviewed at Where to Go Birding. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Please keep in mind that during the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel.
