The Ottawa-Gatineau 2024 Christmas Bird Count Results are In
The 106th Ottawa-Gatineau CBC was held December 15, 2024. Temperatures ranged from -14.9 to -6.4 degrees Celsius, skies were most cloudy, with only a few centimetres of snow on the ground; waterways were partly frozen. 171 field observers plus 25 feeder watchers found 77 species and a 42,855 individual birds. The most abundant bird was, again, American Crow. We produced a roost count of 25,000 birds, down several thousand from the previous year, but the effort was hampered by more [...]
The Results of the Richmond (ONRI) Christmas Bird Count are In
The total species count this year was 56 , slightly lower than in the previous 4 years (58-60). An additional 8 species were found in the 3 days prior or after count day, so 64 species in count week overall. This was a better than expected result, considering how quiet it was in most places during the count. The full report is available at Richmond ONRI CBC Report for 2024
OFNC Book Club Next Pick
OFNC Book Club Reads: Bitch by Lucy Cooke What do albatrosses, whiptail lizards, and meerkats have in common? The females of these species are all used by writer and zoologist Lucy Cooke to demonstrate that, when it comes to the sexes, even the field of evolutionary biology has a few biases that need debunking. In the OFNC Book Club Pick for December and January — Bitch: On the Female of the Species (Basic Books, 2022) — author Cooke explores neglected stories [...]
Editor’s Synopsis of CFN 137(4) plus FREE feature article
This issue of The Canadian Field-Naturalist (CFN) received national attention over an article by a team of researchers at Simon Fraser University. The article, a deep dive into the evolutionary isolation of Canada’s vertebrates, was featured on CBC News: “Move aside, moose — a new study has found the most distinct animals in Canada.” It was also included in a segment on the popular radio show Quirks and Quarks; you can listen to the segment here). CFN subscribers have access [...]
Christmas Bird Count Season is Approaching
Christmas Bird Counts are a great way to get out to see winter birds and meet fellow birders while contributing to Citizen Science. There are a number of counts in and around Ottawa that may be of interest. This calendar gives the dates and contacts. Please contact the individual for the area of interest to you. Volunteers are always needed. Christmas Bird Count Calendar 2024-25 The counts take place across North America. Check out Christmas Bird Count Map
How to Find 250 Bird Species in a Single Year – October to December
We are in the final quarter of the year. Did you set a target for the year? Well, this reference will help you through the October to December. How to Find 250 Birds - Part 4 At the same time, it's an opportunity to review the Code of Conduct for Birders and Photographers
OFNC Book Club Reads: Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
By Jessica Sims The Book: Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures (2020) by Merlin Sheldrake, 368 pages Mushrooms are having a moment. Workshops, books, and classes on wild mushroom foraging abound, while fantastic fungi can be found populating books and TV shows. But these incredible organisms, albeit an excellent device in science fiction, also have so much to teach us about the natural world. For September and October, the OFNC Book Club [...]
Editor’s Synopsis of CFN 137(3) plus FREE feature article
Editor’s Synopsis of CFN 137(3) Free Online Access to Feature Article The latest issue of The Canadian Field-Naturalist (CFN) will soon arrive in the physical mailboxes of those with printed copy subscriptions. The Canadian Field-Naturalist is the official journal and publication of record for the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club (OFNC). The current issue is already posted online. Issue 137(3) follows the double Special Issue 137(1–2), dedicated to a remarkable Canadian scientist and naturalist, Dr. Donald F. McAlpine. Don is the [...]
How to Find 250 Bird Species in the OFNC Study Area – July to September
As we celebrate the summer solistice, many of birds are getting ready for fall migration. There are still many opportunities to add to your year list. This guide, prepared by Greg Zbitnew, is just what you need to help you in your quest. TL-523-250-birds-in-one-year-Part-3