4th annual members’ photo night: from backyards and around the world
By Barry Cottam Once again OFNC members got together to share their passion for nature and nature photography. And once again, we discovered the amazing range of interests and experiences Club members explore. We could have used even more time than the three hours scheduled for this event. Each presentation by the ten participants was interesting and informative and the photography was excellent. Organizers Hume Douglas and I never really know until the evening starts just how many presenters we’ll [...]
Searching for mammals in the Study Area (Jan. 21, 2017)
There were animal tracks all over the place at the Study Area, but apart from a few squirrels, we really had to search to see anything with fur on it. There were the footprints of all sizes of dogs along the walking/skiing trails, deer tracks crossing those trails, and muddy raccoon footprints leading from one muddy melted-out patch to another. Luckily, Rob knew just where to search, and how. We focused on porcupines. One of the sure places to find [...]
Earth’s atmosphere (Jan. 14, 2017)
Why do puffy clouds have flat bottoms? This was just one of the many questions Rob posed as we explored different aspects of earth's atmosphere. Earth's breathable atmosphere is the only habitat we really, truly live in, but owing to the normal invisibility of air, we forget about it. So why are clouds flat on the bottom? Rob characterized clouds as forming when bubbles of warm air break loose from the ground and rise up. We know higher places, like [...]
Youth Summit 2016: thanks for the opportunity
by Priya Nagpal Experiencing nature up close. Photo by Daynan Lepore I am high school student from Ottawa. At my school I run the environment club with a group of friends and have been involved with environmental leadership. When I saw an application for a grant to attend the Ontario Nature Youth Summit for Biodiversity and Environmental Leadership, I decided to go for it and apply. When OFNC told me that I had received the grant and would have [...]
Help end the Snapping Turtle hunt
by David Seburn An increase of only 0.1% in the annual mortality rate of 15+ year old Snapping Turtles would halve the number of adults in the local population in less than 20 years. Source: Management Plan for the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) in Canada Snapping Turtles face many threats including the loss of wetlands, traffic mortality, by-catch from commercial and recreational fishing, persecution, and toxic chemicals. If that were not enough, the province of Ontario also allows [...]
Skulls and bones (Dec. 10, 2016)
Macouners are notorious scavengers of skulls and bones, routinely raiding a friendly trapper's carcass pile with abandon, and dragging home items that parents with more sensitive noses may relegate to the garage, the backyard, or even earthen burial. But well chosen, cleaned, and prepared specimens can be things of fascination and beauty. OFNC member Jim Montgomery has donated his own childhood collection, and came in with two other enthusiasts to share their knowledge. David Campbell is a retired zoologist from [...]
Rob’s winter forest (Dec. 3, 2016)
Macoun leader Rob Lee lives in the forest, and today we explored part of it. We found a good lunch place where the bare deciduous trees (Sugar Maple, Beech, and Ironwood) let a little sunshine in, and a few White Pines provided dead, dry branches for a hot, steady fire. The temperature never got above freezing, but those sitting closest soon stripped off coats and boots. At the end, we used snow to douse the last flames and embers. Then [...]
Kids visit Museum of Nature’s special live reptile exhibit (Nov. 26, 2016)
A month ago, Macoun member Morgan told us about an amazing travelling exhibit of 30 live reptiles that is being presented at the Museum of Nature this winter. Today we visited as a group. With the benefit of prior experience, Morgan held intense consultations with some of the boys. Heads together, the three of them sidled along, gesticulating, and punctuating their conversation with bursts of laughter, and exclamations of “Oh! That reminds me!” Rory and Aidan told her all about [...]
Study Trees and more (Nov. 19, 2016)
Our Study-Tree Woods is only 10 acres in extent, yet after 25 years of choosing trees, new Macoun members can still find ash trees and ironwoods that no one else has ever studied before. We spent the morning hours touring all those that current members are following (and picking new ones). One very large White Ash had split wide open and fallen in big pieces. Niccolo took it as his own and counted the exposed annual rings: the tree appeared [...]