Nature Memories
by Lynn Ovenden On January 8, 2021, we shared our personal memories of things in nature that we once knew, but they aren't the same any more. A few members who couldn't attend the zoom meeting submitted written stories in advance that were read aloud. Twelve people spoke. We recalled animals, landscapes, and sounds of 20-60 years ago. Some of them have disappeared and we miss them. Some have been replaced, sometimes for the better. We value all these memories: [...]
Greens Creek trail 63 and beyond
On December 18, a small group of OFNC members met at NCC P26 for a brisk wintry walk. After introductions, we headed for the top of the toboggan hill, then down a hydro right-of way to a perch overlooking the steep side of the Green's Creek valley. One of us recalled the high adventure of exploring the valley as a child but it looked like a slippery scramble to get down there now. Instead, we continued up the trail, through [...]
Small walk at Macnamara Trail
Maureen Carrier knows the diverse habitats along this lovely trail near Arnprior. She and one other member enjoyed a terrific winter walk in the quiet forest on December 8th. They saw 9 species of birds.
Small walk in Pine Grove
Participants on the November 27th walk on NCC trail 43. by Lynn Ovenden The group met at P18 and we all introduced ourselves. From there we crossed Davidson Road and walked leisurely up trail 43 to the 'arboretum'. The interpretive panels tell the history of the site: a sandy farm and woodlot 80 years ago, followed by red pine plantation and natural regrowth with transition to NCC greenbelt. Then we returned to the parking lot and continued south on trail [...]
Friends of Gatineau Park/Les Amis du parc de la Gatineau
Looking for things to do? Check out the exciting programs in the Gatineau Park Quoi de nouveau cet automne? | What's new this fall?
The Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas
The Third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas begins in 2021. The atlas is an incredibly ambitious endeavour and is only possible with the support of keen volunteers across Ontario. Volunteers are being sought within the six counties that make up the Ottawa Region - parts of Renfrew, Lanark, Prescott-Russell, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, and Leeds and Grenville as well as all of Ottawa-Carleton. Everyone who is interested in participating is invited to complete a short questionnaire available at: https://forms.gle/6FuZohkLnLLMSv7i8. In addition to [...]
Seedathon 2020
The results are in!!! The OFNC Seedathon took place on August 30, 2020. There were 15 participants who submitted 39 checklists. The first was submitted from a residential area in the east end at 5.25 am, listening for night migrants, while the last was doing the same from a residential area in Britannia just before midnight. The tally of species was only 121 this year, perhaps reflecting the limited coverage area (for example no lists were submitted from Quebec this [...]
OFNC butterfly count 2020
Which fritillary? Participants found Great Spangled, Atlantis, Silver-bordered, Meadow, and a record number of Aphrodite Fritillaries on 4 July 2020. Photo by Li-Shien Lee. Despite the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a small dedicated group of 18 OFNC members undertook this year's butterfly count. This annual count is part of the North American Butterfly Association's census of butterflies across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Our local count takes place at Mannion Corners, an area where a diversity of [...]
Mycology Ottawa
by Lynn Ovenden. Several OFNC members who enjoy looking for mushrooms and lichens are sharing information and photos of their fungal finds on a web forum. We meet periodically for Shroom Zoom, an online show&tell. Details at forum.mycoott.org. If this sounds fun, join OFNC if you haven't already, and check into the forum. .