Over the past decade, Birds Canada and other conservation organizations have been collecting valuable data on Chimney Swift populations. Thanks to dedicated volunteers across Ontario and the Maritimes, this growing dataset provides important insight into which chimneys are being used, how often they are occupied, and how many Chimney Swifts are present during both the breeding season and migration…
Activities
Recap: Outings to Matchedash & Minesing
Two outings in May had the Orillia Naturalists’ Club members getting out and exploring places farther from home. First, they ventured to Matchedash Bay, where they climbed the rock that was dropped by a glacier, and then carpooled to a property off of Quarry Road. They walked beside a marsh looking for birds, butterflies and…
Recap: Sights & Sounds of Spring #2
Our numbers were up to 19 on this chilly but sunny evening. Ron and Sharon were gracious hosts and we all admired their gardens where many flowers were blooming. Native flowers we saw were Blood Root, Trilliums almost in bloom, Trout Lily leaves and the highlight of our trip, a Skunk Cabbage. Here is a synopsis of…
Recap: Sights & Sounds #2
We were lucky to have another glorious day for our second Sights and Sounds of spring. 18 members of the Orillia Naturalists’ Club showed up at the beginning of the Uhthoff Trail starting at Wilson Pt Rd. We saw: Coltsfoot Turkey Vulture a Hawk species Ringed Neck Gull Canada Goose American Crows Red Winged…
Recap: April 13 Sights & Sounds
Our first Sights and Sounds of Spring took us to Woodland Drive, the two creeks and parts of the Rail Trail. We were blessed with some sun and no rain between 6:30 and 8 pm after a day full of rain. Everyone was anxious to get out and enjoy the beginning of spring as we…
Recap: In the Footsteps of the Group of Seven
44 people joined us on Zoom for “In The Footsteps of the Group of Seven” with Jim and Sue Waddington. The Waddingtons have made the research for this book into a side career that has occupied them throughout their marriage – some 40+ years. We could tell that it was truly a labour of love…
Recap: Forests & Forest Health
30 people joined us on Zoom for Forests & Forest Health with guest speaker Allison Winmill from Lallemand Plant Care. She began by explaining that Ontario has four main forest regions: Boreal Forests (northern conifers like spruce, fir and pine) Great Lakes-St. Lawrence (mixed pines, hemlock, maple, oak) Deciduous forest (hardwoods like maple, beech, oak…
Recap: November Meeting
At the Orillia Naturalists’ Club’s November meeting, longtime naturalist and educator David Hawke led an engaging discussion on Environmental Ethics: How Can Everyone Be Right? Through stories, photography, and thought-provoking questions, David invited participants to reflect on how our personal, organizational, and societal ethics shape the choices we make about the environment. Environmental ethics is…
Recap: Tree Museum
Many thanks to Don for leading us at the Tree Museum in Gravenhurst. This was the back up date, as it rained on the original date. And the weather turned out beautifully this time! The Tree Museum near Gravenhurst is a unique outdoor art installation where sculpture and nature coexist in perfect harmony. The winding…
Recap: World of Mushrooms
On September 27, 18 participants joined us at the Adams Nature Reserve near Washago for an exploration into the fascinating world of mushrooms. We are especially grateful to Barb Ryckman, who led the group and generously shared her expertise in mushroom identification. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi, and while their variety of colours,…
Recap: Impacts on Wetlands in the Lake Couchiching Region
Matt Thomson of Mariposa Ecological Initiative led a small group to the last remaining crown land on Lake Couchiching. This beautiful 144-acre property has a lovely walking trail along the waterfront where we identified many birds (blue heron, kingfisher, black-capped chickadee, American Redstart, Black-and-White Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Trumpeter Swans, Hairy Woodpecker and a Barred…
Eastern Bluebird Report 2025
A huge thank you goes out to Kim Kouri, Mike Elchyshyn, Barb and Warren Ryckman, and Allan Thompson for their weekly monitoring of the 43 nest boxes on the Dr. Ray Kiff Memorial Trail. A special thanks also goes out to Betty & Kevin Jones, who have faithfully shared bluebird numbers from their farm over…