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Welcome…

…to the Orillia Naturalists’ Club, where nature enthusiasts of all ages come together to explore, learn, and protect the natural wonders of our region. Whether you’re passionate about birdwatching, wildflowers, hiking, or conservation, our club offers a welcoming community for anyone with a love for the outdoors. Join us for engaging programs, guided nature walks, and special events as we connect with the beauty and diversity of our local environment. Together, we inspire appreciation and action for a healthier, more sustainable world. Come discover the wonders of nature with us!

january

07jan7:00 pm9:00 pmJanuary Meeting - Forests and Forest Health in Simcoe County

february

04feb7:00 pm9:00 pmFebruary Meeting - In the Footsteps of the Group of Seven

11feb10:00 am12:00 pmOuting: Snowshoe & Tracks in the Snow

Join us as a member for $20 or $30!

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RECENT ACTIVITIES

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Simcoe Nature Board

Find of the Month

orillianature

Wow, that was a lot and it's still coming! #orill

Wow, that was a lot and it's still coming!

#orillia #orillianature #snoworillia

Take part in a local Christmas Bird Count with one

Take part in a local Christmas Bird Count with one of these Naturalists' Clubs!

Last year in Orillia, overall 11,220 individual birds counted (slightly lower than last year). There were 68 species, which is a new record number of different species counted (last year 62). 53 species were not counted but on the list.

Midland: Saturday, December 14
Orillia: Saturday, December 21
Barrie: Saturday, December 21
Carden: January, TBD

🌟 Join the Christmas Bird Count on December 21!

🌟 Join the Christmas Bird Count on December 21! 🐦❄️

Calling all bird enthusiasts and nature lovers! The Orillia Naturalists’ Club invites you to take part in this year’s Christmas Bird Count—a festive and fun way to connect with nature while contributing to vital citizen science.

📅 Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024
🌍 How to Participate:
1️⃣ Join a Team: Help survey one of the designated areas with fellow birders.
2️⃣ Count from Home: Watch your bird feeder and report your sightings to your area’s team leader.

Whether you’re a seasoned birder or a curious beginner, your observations make a big difference! Let’s work together to track our local bird populations and enjoy the wonders of winter wildlife.

Spread the word and bring a friend! Let’s make this year’s count one to remember.

#ChristmasBirdCount #CitizenScience #BirdLovers #NatureConservation #Orillia

🌊🐢 Snapping Turtles: Ontario’s Ancient Gua

🌊🐢 Snapping Turtles: Ontario’s Ancient Guardians

We are recapping our November meeting, where we learned all about the Turtles on Ontario!

Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) are true survivors. They’ve been around for over 200 million years, outlasting dinosaurs and adapting to changing environments. As Ontario’s largest freshwater turtle, these prehistoric creatures are vital to wetland ecosystems, helping to keep them clean and balanced.

Unlike their name suggests, snapping turtles are not aggressive—they only snap when they feel threatened and can’t retreat into their shells for protection. They prefer calm, muddy waters and are often seen basking on logs or slowly cruising the shallows.

Unfortunately, snapping turtles face many challenges, including habitat destruction, road mortality, and slow reproductive rates. Females often lay their eggs in sandy or gravelly areas, like roadsides, making them vulnerable to predators and human activity.

You can help snapping turtles by driving cautiously near wetlands during nesting season, protecting natural wetland habitats, and leaving turtles in the wild where they belong. Together, we can ensure these ancient creatures continue to thrive in Ontario’s waters.

Visit our website to read the full recap including details on each turtle species. Photo by Don Scallen.

#SnappingTurtles #WetlandConservation #OntarioWildlife #ProtectNature

🌲🐢 Spotlight on Ontario’s Wood Turtle 🐢

🌲🐢 Spotlight on Ontario’s Wood Turtle 🐢🌲

Did you know that Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) are one of the most fascinating yet vulnerable species in Ontario? 🍁 These incredible creatures are known for their intelligence and unique behavior, such as "worm stomping"—a technique they use to lure earthworms to the surface for a snack!

Habitat: They thrive in forested areas near clean, slow-moving rivers and streams, but their habitats are disappearing.

Threats: Habitat loss, road mortality, and illegal collection have caused their populations to decline. They’re now listed as Endangered in Ontario.

Want to learn more about these amazing creatures? Visit our website for a full recap of our November meeting.

Photo by Don Scallen!

#OntarioTurtles #WoodTurtle #TurtleConservation #ProtectNature

Did you miss the November meeting on the Turtles o

Did you miss the November meeting on the Turtles of Ontario with speaker Don Scallen?

If so, we have put together a recap on our website including a *whole lot* of turtle facts.

Such as...a feature on the species pictured!

The eastern spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera spinifera), subspecies of the spiny softshell (A. spinifera), is Ontario’s only turtle with a flexible, leathery carapace (upper shell) and the only species in the province that can attain a size comparable to that of the snapping turtle. (Description from Ontario Nature)

ID: Eastern Spiny Softshell
Photo by Don Scallen

Turtle talk 🐢📣 We had Don Scallen present t

Turtle talk 🐢📣

We had Don Scallen present to us in November, and wow did we ever learn a lot!

We have put together a series of "Turtle Talks" to share some of the info we learned, so stay tuned for more.

We've also done a full recap of the presentation on our website.

What's next? Christmas Bird Count! Stay tuned for details via email as our new CBC coordinator Chase starts rounding up teams and participants 🦢🦉

#Orillia #orillianature #orillialakecountry #natureconservation #orillianaturalistsclub #turtle #turtletalk

Our thanks to everyone who joined us in person and

Our thanks to everyone who joined us in person and on Zoom on Wednesday. There was *alot* to learn about turtles. We will share some of what we learned over the next few weeks.

Thanks to Don Scallen for presenting, and asking people to make donations towards @scales_nature_park. Thanks to Jeff for attending a part of the event and for bringing a beautiful Blanding's Turtle with him.

UPDATE…on Wednesday evening we will not only be

UPDATE...on Wednesday evening we will not only be learning about the Turtles of Ontario from Don McAllen, we will also be *seeing* turtles. Jeff from @scales_nature_park will be joining us and is bringing some friends.

We will be accepting donations to support Scales, so please bring cash with you.

See you Wednesday, Nov 6 at 7pm at @orilliamuseum or on Zoom. The Zoom link has been sent to our email list.

#orillia #orillianature #orillialakecountry #OntarioTurtles #Turtles #Explore #FYP

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