In today’s post, Learning & Education Specialist Rachelle Law recounts Team Ontario’s push to find as many birds as possible.
Every year, a team of expert birders from Ontario Parks prepare — binoculars in hand — to compete in a heated competition.
The goal: spot and record as many bird species as they can over one weekend, and win the coveted “golden” binoculars.
Continue reading The annual birding battle for the golden binoculars
Sarah Litterick is a Canadian nature nerd, fungi hunter, hiking enthusiast, beach bum, animal lover, and photographer. Sarah is currently upgrading her education with hopes of enrolling in the Wildlife Biology and Conservation program at the University of Guelph.
I’ll be honest: all my life I have had an intense aversion to insects, especially the stinging kind. I don’t know where this deep fear came from, but more than once, I have taken flight in a screaming dash because an insect came too close.
Nonetheless, in 2015, I joined the Friends of Pinery Park Board of Directors and was looking for ways I could get more involved in park projects.
That year, I signed up for their first-ever Bumble Bee Survey. The survey was a citizen science project and joint venture between the park and Wildlife Preservation Canada, along with many other supporters.
I honestly don’t know what made me say “yes” to this project, but I am glad I did.
Our “Forever Protected” series shares why each and every park belongs in Ontario Parks. In today’s post, Kathleen Houlahan Chayer tells us MacGregor Point’s story.
I worked as the Discovery Leader at MacGregor Point Provincial Park for four years, but it wasn’t really until I started working at Pinery (another park that I’m glad is forever protected) that I fully appreciated why MacGregor Point belongs in the Ontario Parks system.
Continue reading Forever protected: why MacGregor Point belongs
In our previous discussion on galaxies, we briefly described how we came to understand galaxies as unique oases of stars amidst the vast cosmic desert.
Now, we will embark on a journey to discover the origin and composition of galaxies and their diversity as well as a further understanding of our own galaxy — the “Milky Way.”
Continue reading The galaxies: a partially solved mystery – part 2
Today’s post comes from Charleston Lake’s Discovery staff.
Those who love frogs will not be disappointed at Charleston Lake Provincial Park. Larger frogs, like Bullfrogs, Green Frogs, and Leopard Frogs, are easily seen or heard around ponds and shorelines, wetlands and meadows.
But it’s a shame that another common park frog goes largely unrecognized and underappreciated.
Welcome to the Ontario Parks “Eyes on the Skies” series. This space (see what we did there?) will cover a wide range of astronomy topics with a focus on what can be seen from the pristine skies found in our provincial parks.
While spring “technically” begins in March, most of us living in cold climates tend to celebrate May as the true start to the season.
Here are our astronomical highlights for May, 2024:
In last month’s constellation post, we discussed the Bears and a Dragon.
In this month’s edition, we will talk about constellations that are ideal for warm weather observation.
Continue reading Featured constellations: Boötes the Herdsman, Virgo the Maiden and Libra the Scales
With the arrival of spring comes the familiar call of our provincial bird.
The sights and sounds of these iconic birds capture the hearts of all Ontarians.
Learn more about the Common Loon.
Throughout 2021, we’re sharing a free downloadable graphic for you to use as wallpaper for your favourite devices. We’ve specially sized these images for your computers, tablets, smartphones and Facebook covers.
Our parks have been keeping an eye out for feathered friends to show you what they’re up to this time of year.
Are you ready for the quack-tastic duck finds they made?
Today’s post comes from Katherine Muzyliwsky, a Natural Heritage Education Student at Neys Provincial Park.
Before Neys became a provincial park, it was known as Neys Camp 100. Instead of happy campers on vacation, the park held German prisoners of war during World War II.
After operating as a prisoner of war camp from 1941-1946, the buildings were dismantled in 1953. Since then, artifacts have showed up from discoveries in the park and from generous donations.
