Tis the Season – of Christmas Bird Counts
Started in 1900, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is North America’s longest-running Citizen Science project. People in more than 2000 locations throughout the Western Hemisphere participate in the CBC each year. There are lots of opportunities to volunteer to participate in this exciting project, meet new people and even learn more about other birding areas. You are not alone. Most counts organize small groups of people to cover defined areas so you do not have to be an expert birder. [...]
Severe Defoliation of American Elm by the invasive insect Elm Zigzag Sawfly (EZS)
by Owen Clarkin, OFNC Vice-President & Chair, Conservation Committee The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club has been tracking Elm Zigzag Sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda) since its recent (2020) detection in North America near Montreal. This includes making the first observations of EZS in Ontario (2020), the city of Ottawa (2021), the state of Vermont (2022), and the city of Toronto (2023).Our focus until recently has been detection: when we are at new locations, we have been searching for EZS to confirm whether it [...]
Editor’s synopsis of CFN 136(4) plus FREE 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 at https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn. This issue has eight manuscripts, covering freeze-dried turtles, Red-eared Sliders nesting in the Greater Toronto Area, wolf teeth from Greenland, marine invertebrates in south-coastal British Columbia, effects of burns and clear-cuts on Caribou [...]
More on Atlas III information – Zoom Meeting
With spring upon us, several local species have already started their breeding behaviour. Migrants are arriving daily and staking out territory before nesting. Observing and reporting this activity to the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas provides essential information for Canadian researchers, scientists, government officials and conservation professionals that will help guide environmental policies and conservation strategies across Ontario for years to come. The Atlas is conducted every 20 years and is five years in duration. Participation in this once in a generation [...]
Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Year III Launch Weekend
Ottawa Region Meet and Greet An informal Meet and Greet for the Ottawa Region of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas from 0830 to 1000 at the Shirleys Bay Boat Launch on Sunday 23 April. Come find out about the Atlas and meet fellow participants who would be happy to share their experiences as a part of this premier community science activity. Participation is straight-forward and as easy as simply noting the presence of a bird. Your observations will provide essential [...]
Editor’s synopsis of CFN 136(3) plus FREE feature article
The latest issue of The Canadian Field-Naturalist (CFN) will soon arrive in the physical mailboxes of those with subscriptions for the printed copy. The CFN is the official journal and publication of record for the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club. The current issue is already posted online. The 108 pages are full of exciting discoveries on Canada’s historical and current biodiversity ranging from birds to wolves to earthworms. These include manuscripts on fern fossils and wood tur tle pre-fossils and a couple more [...]
The Results are In – 2022 Ottawa-Gatineau Christmas Bird Count
The 104th Ottawa-Gatineau CBC was held December 18, 2022. Temperatures ranged from minus 7.5 to minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, with variable skies throughout the day. 146 field observers plus 28 feeder watchers found 77 species and a record high 50,851 individual birds. Highlights included 3 Northern Shovelers (only the fifth record), a Harlequin Duck, 2 Horned Grebes and a Red-necked Grebe, the sixth record for American Coot, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a Red-bellied Woodpecker and 2 American Three-toed Woodpeckers. A [...]
OFNC Point Pelee Excursion – May 10-14, 2023
Update: As of March 14, we have a waiting list. Please follow the information below to add your name, if you would like to be offered a space should one open up. OFNC Point Pelee Excursion - May 10-14, 2023 The Events Committee is pleased to offer the Point Pelee Excursion to registered OFNC members in 2023! This page will be kept updated with any new information as it becomes available. The trip will run from Wednesday, May 10th to [...]
Christmas Bird Counts are all Around Us
The Ottawa-Gatineau Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took place on December 18 but there are plenty of opportunities to participate in other nearby counts. Check out Christmas Bird Count Calendar 2022-23 The Kemptville area is preparing for its second Christmas Bird Count on December 29 and could use more participants. If you are interested, please contact Vanessa Skelton at kvillecbc@gmail.com