Build a “home” for mason bees
In 2015, we learned how to build simple mason bee boxes out of recycled materials. Unlike many “gadgets” purported to help wildlife, these actually work. Mason bees laid eggs in the paper tunnels we made for them, the eggs hatched and completed the life cycle, and the progeny are busily pollinating our fruit trees right now (spring 2016). About mason bees Mason bees are named for their use of mud or clay in their “nests.” They belong in the genus [...]
Naturalists in the making: 2016 OFNC award winners at the Ottawa Regional Science Fair
by Lucy Patterson What is the most endangered bird species in the world? What is the best way to contain an oil spill? Will the emerald ash borer begin attacking lilacs once ash trees have died out? These questions and many more were tackled by students on April 8 and 9 this year at the annual Ottawa Regional Science Fair. Since 1961, this volunteer-run event has encouraged students from grades 7 to 12 in the Ottawa-Carleton region to design, develop, [...]
The search for flower flies – an exploration of Australia and its wildlife
by Danielle Chiasson For the OFNC’s March monthly meeting we were pleased to welcome Jeff Skevington and his family for a presentation on the natural history of Australia and stories from their recent trip down under. For the OFNC’s March monthly meeting we were pleased to welcome Jeff Skevington and his family for a presentation on the natural history of Australia and stories from their recent trip down under. Jeff Skevington is a research scientist with the Canadian National Collection [...]
Third Annual OFNC Members Photo Night
By Barry Cottam Nine presenters turned out on a messy winter’s night, with about a dozen more folks in the audience, for our 3rd annual members photo night event. Organizers Hume Douglas and Barry Cottam had some initial concern about the low numbers, but then were kept on their toes finding time for everyone to present as much as they wished. The room at the Neatby Building had already been set up with tables and chairs, an arrangement we decided [...]
Help save the American Eel: write a letter now
by Ken Buchan, OFNC Conservation Committee Note: The deadline for submissions is 18 March 2016 Background American Eel (Anguilla rostrata). See Freezing Nature for more photos The American Eel (Anguilla rostrata), once common over a large portion of eastern Canada, has declined dramatically in much of its Canadian range due to pressures from fishing, dams blocking migration routes, hydro turbines, habitat degradation, and pollution. According to Conservation Committee member, Ian Whyte, "There were eels in the Ottawa region, [...]
FWG participates in the Great Backyard Bird Count
An American Robin getting a drink from still-open water in our creek by Sandy Garland This year, a group of FWG volunteers reported the smallest number of birds ever, although not the fewest species. The bitter cold over the weekend likely drove most birds into shelter. David Hobden, who leads this activity for us, writes, "The FWG has participated for a number of years, with a group count on Friday morning and often counts done at other times [...]
Brush piles: improving backyard habitat
This is the first in a series of suggestions from the Conservation Committee for things you can do around your home in aid of wildlife and conservation. Some will be published in the next few issues of Trail & Landscape, but others will appear only as blog posts under the category “Conservation how to” - https://ofnc.wordpress.com/. They are all based on personal experience – ours and colleagues’. We would love to hear your thoughts about these practices and your experience [...]
124 hectares of Blandings Turtle habitat to be destroyed : please help
One of the more than 100 Blanding's Turtles that live in an area slated for development in Kanata. Photo by David Seburn by the OFNC's Conservation Committee The Blanding's Turtle needs your help. Kanata Lakes North Development Inc. in Ottawa is proposing to "Kill, harm and harass Least Bittern as well as damage up to 10.9 hectares of Least Bittern habitat" and "Kill, harm and harass Blanding’s Turtle as well as destroy up to 124 hectares of Blanding’s [...]
OFNC communications: building a new website
by Lynn Ovenden, Website Working Group The club is building a website that can become the central place to find all OFNC news and information. For those with a technical interest, the new website will be built in WordPress. Each OFNC committee will receive website training to add event listings and blog posts to the new site at their convenience and to make any changes to their committee information. The website will function equally well on desktop computers, laptops, and [...]