There are few sounds more haunting than the howl of a pack of wolves in the dead of night. It makes the hair on the back of our necks stand up!
But are these creatures really the “big bad wolves” we remember from bedtime stories?
I heard a strange sound last night – what was it?
Today’s post is from Mark D. Read, a senior interpreter at Murphys Point Provincial Park.
It’s a common question that park interpreters face almost daily during the summer and one that many folks already think they know the answer to:
Continue reading I heard a strange sound last night – what was it?
The superpowers of owls
Today’s post is from Alistair MacKenzie, our Natural Heritage Education & Resource Management Supervisor at Pinery Provincial Park.
I’ve been bird watching since the age of six. My dad was the main reason I began bird-watching, and he and I spent many hours in search of another species for our lists.
From the start, I was always fascinated by owls and to this day they are, hands-down, my favourite group of birds. You have to work hard to find owls given that they are usually solitary hunters and most do not roost together in communal groups. Many, but not all, are nocturnal and they are generally shy and reclusive.
From the Big Bang to beyond: the astronomical origins of the universe – part 1
This post kicks off a four-part photographic journey into the history of our universe! Read on to explore the key events that led to the formation of our provincial parks and the natural world we live in.
Have you ever stared up into a starry sky and wondered “how did it all begin?”
Today we will discuss the origins of the universe, the evolution of galaxies and globular clusters, and conclude with a history of the first stars and supernovae.
Stay tuned for Part II where we detail how stars are born and live out their lives, Part III with the formation of the planets and our solar system, and finally in Part IV, we will discuss the future of the Sun and larger stars.
So let’s get started with our origin story!
Continue reading From the Big Bang to beyond: the astronomical origins of the universe – part 1
Autumnal campfire fare
In today’s post, Chef Deb Rankine, a.k.a. The Fridge Whisperer, shares recipes for two hearty seasonal soups that are quick to make and eat like a meal.
After a day of paddling, exploring trails, or hiking through forests awash in fall colours, who wouldn’t relish bowlfuls of goodness that warm mind, body and soul?
Here are a couple of hearty soups that do just that!
A tale of star cross’d plovers
In today’s post, Marina Opitz, Discovery leader at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, regales us with shorebird drama of Shakespearean proportions. Thanks to Neal Mutiger for photographing our leading avian actors.
First, let us set the scene for our dramatic tale.
Picture an empty beach, orange sunrise gleaming across the waves, when two solitary plovers lock eyes from across the wrack line. It is love at first sight.
However, if we have learned anything from the immortal Bard, it is that not all romantic tales have a happy ending. And so we start on our path to eventual heartbreak…
Algonquin’s second fall colours peak: the golden encore
Today’s post comes from Ian Shanahan, a Discovery Leader at Algonquin Provincial Park.
“Algonquin’s blazing landscape” is a term used to describe the park during the peak of fall colours, when the mid-slope of most Algonquin hillsides along the Highway 60 corridor truly seem ablaze with the bright oranges and reds of Sugar and Red Maples.
Continue reading Algonquin’s second fall colours peak: the golden encore
Confessions of a struggling birder
Today’s blog comes from Carlin Thompson, a discovery leader at Sandbanks Provincial Park.
My name is Carlin, and I’m a struggling birder.
As an Ontario Parks Discovery leader, I am surrounded by colleagues with a passion for the natural world — which I share.
Many share a specialty in identifying birds — which I do not.
These are my confessions.
Campsite vacancy highlights: October 8-11
Gather friends and family around the picnic table this year and spend the long weekend out in nature surrounded by beautiful fall colours!
Scout out your ideal campsite on our reservation service (including pictures of most campsites!), or check out these featured campsites (available as of 3:00 p.m. on October 6, 2021):
How to plan a day hike on Killarney’s “The Crack” Trail
You’ve seen the Instagram snaps and magazine covers. You dream of the view from white quartzite mountain ridges, of gazing across the landscape that inspired the Group of Seven.
Pump the brakes a moment, though. Did you see that word “mountain”?
It’s not a metaphor.
The Crack is an extremely challenging hike in the LaCloche Mountain range at Killarney, a wilderness class park.
Proper preparation is paramount to getting up and down safely. Otherwise, hikers face a very real danger of getting lost, dehydrated, and/or seriously injured.
If you’re planning to hike The Crack, please fully review this post as part of your planning process for hiking this iconic trail:
Continue reading How to plan a day hike on Killarney’s “The Crack” Trail