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.
OFNC Urges Deferring the Inclusion of Tewin in Ottawa’s Urban Boundary Expansion
For Immediate Release - February 9, 2021 Ottawa, ON – The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club (OFNC) is urging the City of Ottawa to defer including the proposed Tewin development in the expanded urban boundary, pending further study. On January 26th, a joint committee of Ottawa city council recommended that a 445-hectare parcel southeast of the city be included in the forthcoming expansion of the urban boundary, in order to allow a development proposal known as Tewin to proceed. This parcel includes [...]
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 [...]