Cancellation of All April OFNC Events
Due to the current situation and ongoing measures being taken to combat the spread of COVID-19, there will be no OFNC events in the month of April. Any previously advertised events have been cancelled, including the monthly meeting. A determination will be made later with respect to events further out, based on the evolving circumstances. We hope to resume our appreciation of nature in group settings as soon as it is safe and practical to do so. Until then, [...]
Birders find a warbler in the bleak mid-winter!
By Gregory Zbitnew; photos by participant Suzanne Hawkins (Editor’s note: Gregory submitted his text long ago, just after the trip; as did Suzanne submit the photos. It’s all my fault that it’s being posted so late. Thank you very much to Gregory and Suzanne! BM) The third annual “birding in the bleak midwinter” field trip took place on the Rideau River on February 1, 2020. Nine participants enjoyed a surprisingly mild, windless day. A mild winter so far meant that [...]
Bird question leads to survival lesson at school
by Sandy Garland, quoting OFNC's Bob Cermak and teacher Stephen McRae, photos from Brooke Valley School copied here with permission It all started with a routine question to the OFNC: Hello, I am a 2nd grade teacher at a small private school outside of Perth, Ont. We are doing a unit on birds and have a bird feeder that we use to record the types of birds. Last week we saw four robins in a tree nearby and we wondered [...]
Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season is here
The Ottawa-Gatineau CBC will take place on December 15 and the Dunrobin-Breckenridge CBC on January 5. For information on how to participate please check out 2019 CBC information There are counts all across North America, but for dates and contact information of other nearby Christmas Bird Counts that touch on the OFNC 50 km area. Dates and contact information are available at Christmas Bird Count Calendar 2019
Transit explorers “discover Pinecrest Creek”
Pinecrest Creek is piped underground from just south of Carling Avenue to near its mouth at the Ottawa River. Above, Erik looks for invertebrates. by Bev McBride (photos: Bev McBride) Today’s [Saturday, November 2, 2019] OFNC field trip, “Transit explorer series, Lincoln Fields the other way,” was fun and interesting. I can say that, even though I was the leader, because the small group of participants made it so. Many thanks to Bei, Erik, and Mike. It was well worth [...]
Biocontrol of Dog-strangling Vine
Does Hypena opulenta prefer DSV grown in the sun or does it thrive better on shade-grown plants? by Sharla Foster, MSc candidate, University of Ottawa and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Dog-strangling vine (Vincetoxicum rossicum, DSV) has been plaguing Ontario and Quebec for decades. With few effective control strategies practical for use at large scales, the biocontrol agent Hypena opulenta, a leaf-feeding moth from the Ukraine, was approved for release at several sites in Canada. There is still a lot to learn [...]
Baby Snapping Turtles
Much excitement at the FWG on Tuesday morning, when we discovered that a much-watched nest was open. by Sandy Garland A turtle nest cage consists of a wooden frame with a wire grid over the top to prevent digging. It's placed over the nest with wedges under the edges to allow hatching turtles to escape. In June, an FWG visitor had reported seeing a large Snapping Turtle laying eggs in "left field" at the baseball diamond. We had [...]
Birding Petrie Island
We saw many of these plants loaded with colourful red berries, “highbush cranberries,” either the native North American or introduced European subspecies of Viburnum opulus. According to the experts present, these berries are edible, but when raw they are very sour, and have an unpleasant taste and smell. According to one source, “When you eat these berries raw, it tastes as though you are eating poisonous berries.” They are a winter survival food for wildlife. by Greg Zbitnew A Bald [...]
Carlington Woods – a fine place for a nature walk
Carlington Woods is a natural wonder in the middle of the city. by Bev McBride What a treat it was to go on the Carlington Woods Ramble this morning! This was a joint event with the OFNC and the Friends of Carlington Hill. Convener-leader Owen Clarkin met the group at the trailhead. It was a ramble-style walk, so the pressure was off the leader to find all the good stuff. Participants were encouraged to explore and point out items of [...]