Many ways of seeing nature: OFNC members’ photo night
By Barry Cottam On January 18th at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden (FWG) interpretive centre, at least a couple dozen people came out for the OFNC members’ photography night, hosted by Hume Douglas and Barry Cottam. Eleven presenters took us to locations near and far in a nice mix of exotic and local that proved to be a perfect photographic pot luck. Photo by: Victor Rakmil We were treated to terrific views of the birds of New Zealand and Australia by [...]
Food for birds and other wildlife at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden
by Christine Hanrahan I thought it might be interesting to compile a list of all the natural food sources around the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, used by wildlife. I include only plants on which I have actually seen birds or other wildlife feed. Many are obvious, of course, the crabapples, mountain ash, wild grape, sumac, and cones of various conifers. What I find interesting, and hope you do too, is the number of weedy plants that are used by wildlife, mostly [...]
Year in review: 135th Annual OFNC Business Meeting
By Natalie Sopinka Diane Lepage holding award from Nature Canada for OFNC's volunteer efforts during the 2013 BirdLife International Congress. With over 30 members in attendance at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden Interpretive Centre, the 135th OFNC Annual Business Meeting was called to order by President Fenja Brodo. Some notable sightings were discussed first including a merlin enjoying a feast of pigeon and playful house finches bathing in a divot of ice. Fondly remembered were Bob Bracken, one of the [...]
Recognizing trees and shrubs in winter
By Sandy Garland An OFNC excursion to Hampton Park Woods With the sun shining and the temperature hovering just below zero, it was a great day to be out in the woods! At least 30 other OFNC members had the same idea, so we all joined Owen Clarkin for a lesson in identifying trees in winter in Hampton Park Woods. Before starting, Owen did a quick run down of the equipment we might need or want to bring [...]
Snowy weather and Snowy Owls
93rd Ottawa-Gatineau Christmas Bird Count By Jonathan VanAmburg "Perfect Christmas Bird Count weather in Ottawa: -32°C and 20-25 cm of snow. Fun times, fun times,” remarked Gillian Shields on Facebook, as she set out for a day in the cold. She and dozens of other area birders came out for the 93rd Ottawa-Gatineau Christmas Bird Count on Sunday, December 15. The annual event was organized by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club and the Club des ornithologues de l'Outaouais. Photo taken by [...]
There and back again: a man, his canoe and a message
By Natalie Sopinka Adult Silvery Blue.Photo by: Jocelyn Gill. Good-bye CMN At the December monthly meeting, OFNC members bid farewell to the Canadian Museum of Nature. The club fondly recalled the dedicated hospitality and help from museum staff and technicians over the decades. Starting in February, monthly meetings will be held in the K.W. Neatby Building at the Central Experimental Farm. Refreshments at monthly meetings will once again be possible. If interested in organizing drinks/cookies, please contact club President [...]
Christine’s walks: early December
hairy woodpecker work on ash trees by Christine Hanrahan December 4, a mild day, with the merest hints of snow. A day to visit the FWG and look for blog subjects. Apart from the many squirrels, it was pretty quiet. A small flock of house finches in the Backyard Garden (BYG), several cardinals, a couple of crows flying over, several juncos also in the BYG, and of course, black-capped chickadees all over the place. Although I saw no [...]
In case you missed it: 1st Annual Bug Day
By Jeff Skevington, foreword by Natalie Sopinka Whether it's beetles, butterflies or bees, "bugs" are in the news. Invasive southern pine beetles are wreaking havoc on New Jersey’s pine trees, as the world warms butterflies are emerging earlier, and a parasitic fly may be changing honey bees into "zombees." In local news, on September 7 this year, the Entomological Society of Ontario (ESO) hosted Ottawa's first Bug Day. It was funded by a public encouragement grant from the Entomological Society of Canada and sponsored by [...]
Home sweet snake home: Bill Halliday’s research on snake habitat selection
By William (Bill) Halliday, member of the OFNC Bill Halliday As many of you might have seen recently on the OFNC Facebook page, web site, and Trail & Landscape, I was (and still am) looking for snake hibernating sites (called hibernacula) around the National Capital Region. I received great feedback from this call-out. I learned of six potential communal hibernating sites (places where multiple snakes hibernate), as well as one location where a snake was hibernating under someone’s pool. [...]