Today’s post comes from Discovery and Marketing Specialist Dave Sproule.
Migrating birds are already arriving along the edges of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, and many southern parks have birding events and festivals.
But for most of the migrants, these parks are just a rest stop after crossing those big stretches of water. Their destination may be much further north: the boreal forest.
Continue reading The boreal forest: Ontario’s songbird nursery
This post was written by David Bree, Natural Heritage Education Leader at Presqu’ile Provincial Park.
While Presqu’ile is not the busiest park in Ontario, it can get quite hectic at times in the summer. However, I am pretty sure most people could not guess where the busiest place in the park is.
It is not the Friday line-up to register your campsite, or the beach on a sunny Sunday in July. It is not even the line-up for ice cream at the park store on a hot summer day.
It is a place most campers never go…
Continue reading Pecking away at Presqu’ile: High Bluff and Gull Island bird colonies
Ever wondered about or wanted to pursue scientific research in a provincial park? Today’s post from Northwest Zone Ecologist Intern Lindsey Boyd and Northwest Senior Assistant Zone Ecologist Evan McCaul should answer your questions.
Spread throughout Ontario, our 340 provincial parks protect 8.27 million hectares of land and 1.3 million hectares of lakes and rivers. There are also 295 conservation reserves that form a protected areas network along with parks. From mosses to moose, protected areas provide endless research topics and opportunities.
Scientifically speaking, protected areas are an excellent place to conduct research. They can be used as a reference site to measure natural conditions within a broader landscape study, or provide an excellent place to study climate effects on species and systems in a place with fewer human pressures like roads or high levels of noise, light, and air pollution.
Continue reading The importance of research in Ontario Parks
This post comes from Sarah McMichael, senior marketing specialist at Ontario Parks.
Have you ever spotted leftover trash along our roads, sidewalks, and trails?
How many times have you walked past this trash while out for a walk, run, or jog? Did you pick it up, or leave it on the ground?
A new environmentally friendly workout trend is encouraging you to stop and pick up litter during your outdoor exercises.
It’s called plogging, and it’s an amazing way to keep our environment and our bodies healthy at the same time.
Today’s post comes from Amy Tanner, Biology/Ecology Intern with Ontario Parks’ Southwest Zone.
Before heading out for a fun day of fishing, we all go through our checklists. Have we got:
But here are two questions many people don’t ask:
Our “Forever protected” series shares why each and every one belongs in Ontario Parks. Our great system of protected areas is based upon a model of representation. In today’s post, Biologist Lauren Trute tells us Petawawa Terrace’s story.
For many families in the area, Petawawa Terrace Provincial Park is literally a park in their backyard.
Unlike many provincial parks in Ontario, Petawawa Terrace is not pristine wilderness. Locally known as the “fish hatchery park,” the 215 ha park is located in the heart of the Town of Petawawa.
This little parcel of protected land belongs in the Ontario Parks system because it gives us a glimpse into Ontario’s history, and represents provincially significant ecosystems and species.
Continue reading Forever protected: why Petawawa Terrace belongs
Today’s post comes from John Etches, marketing specialist and disc golf enthusiast.
When I received the call about the possibility of a new disc golf course in one of our parks, I shook my head in disbelief!
As an avid disc golfer, could this be a dream come true?
Want to enjoy nature with family and friends in southeast Ontario?
Our parks are the perfect places to reunite. We have accommodations and facilities that are great for low-key get-togethers with the people you love.
Continue reading Group campsites and shelter rentals in southeastern Ontario
Here at Ontario Parks, we believe that camping is for everyone.
This is why we want to make our parks as accessible as possible by identifying potential barriers, and creating a plan to remove them.
Fishing season’s not here yet, but that’s no reason not to plan your dream getaway now.
If you’re planning a northern adventure in 2019, we’ve got a few fishing trips to add to your bucket list:
Continue reading 8 bucket list fishing trips in Northeastern Ontario
