The late winter wait for spring can be almost painful. I’ve had enough of the cold, snow, and hibernating wildlife. When can I go outside without a jacket? Disappearing snow, robins on the lawn might be enough for some, but not for me.
Then finally…yes! I hear it: rrrrRRRRT, rrrrRRRRT, rrrrRRRRT!
The Presqu’ile Provincial Park pannes have come through once again with my first real sign of spring — the calling of the Chorus Frogs.
For some, it’s the song of summertime. For others, it’s the song that signals impending doom. It was part of what made Hank Williams (so) lonesome, but many consider its presence far too surrounding.
Whatever your interpretation, it’s easy to learn this bird’s classic “WHUP-poor-WILL” song.
Continue reading Saving the unseen: managing habitat for Eastern Whip-poor-will at Pinery
Today’s post comes from the Discovery Program staff at Neys Provincial Park and our Northwest Zone Office.
Parks are a popular spot for park visitors, but did you know they’re just as popular for animals like lynx, deer, and moose?
Continue reading Behind the scenes: on-camera creatures at Neys
Today’s post comes from Shannon Walshe, biologist at Wabakimi Provincial Park.
Peering out from among the trees, I am certain these curious animals watched us as we paddled by.
We know they exist, but they’re so seldom seen that they’re referred to as “the grey ghosts.”
Wabakimi Provincial Park is home to the elusive creature known as the Woodland Caribou, at the southernmost edge of their range.
In today’s post, Caitlin Sparks, a Senior Park Interpreter, shares a wonderful species-at-risk success story from Rondeau Provincial Park.
The Barn Swallow is a commonly seen bird around southern Ontario.
Actually, the most common and widespread of swallow species in the world!
So why, might you ask, are their numbers declining so much that they’re deemed a “threatened” species in Ontario? And what are we doing to help protect them?
Today’s article comes from Emily Wright, Discovery Program Leader at Grundy Lake Provincial Park.
Spring at Grundy Lake is a quiet time of year.
The lake waters are cold from the melting snow and ice, birds are just starting to arrive from their long migrations, and visitors are few and far between.
Park staff, however, are often busy and bustling about as they begin to prepare for another season of campers.
Continue reading Turtle eggs and salamander spawn: spring monitoring at Grundy Lake
Our “Forever protected” series shares why each and every one belongs in Ontario Parks. In today’s post, Alistair MacKenzie tells us Pinery’s story.
Not until I began working for Ontario Parks did I realize that our great system of protected areas is based upon a model of representation. Each park is different and critical to the success of our protected areas system on the whole.
I am the Supervisor of Natural Heritage Education and Resource Management at Pinery Provincial Park, and I’d like to tell you why Pinery belongs in our provincial system.
Exploring remote forests, searching for rare species. Trekking through fields in hot, heavy gear to eradicate invasive ones. Using technology to monitor the ecosystems in parks and conservation reserves, and communicating conservation science to Ontario’s decision-makers.
Working as a biologist for Ontario Parks is sometimes action-packed and always rewarding.
Are you dreaming of spending your days working to protect and enhance ecological integrity in protected areas?
Well, here are five top tips from Ontario Parks ecologists to help make your dream a reality:
Continue reading So you want to be an Ontario Parks ecologist
Today’s blog post comes from bird researchers Alex Sutton and Koley Freeman, PhD candidates at the University of Guelph.
In the world of Canada Jays, winter means one thing: it’s breeding season!
Canada Jays are common in Algonquin Provincial Park. Continuing a 55 year-old tradition, a dedicated team of researchers is monitoring breeding pairs. This is the longest study of its kind in the world!
With each passing year, more is learned about the breeding behaviour and life history of these remarkable birds.
We’d like to highlight one of the greatest threats to Ontario’s natural soil systems – earthworms!
Yes, you read that correctly. Many of us have a hard time picturing earthworms as a destructive force. After all, who hasn’t been told that they’re natural composters, food for cheerfully bopping robins in the spring, and great recyclers in our gardens?
But there’s one important fact about earthworms that most people aren’t aware of: they’re not supposed to be here.
