Muriel’s First Signs of Spring – 2nd Evening Walk- April 11, 2017 There is probably nothing that signals the true arrival of Spring more than the very loud chorus of Spring Peepers ( a very tiny tree frog with a very loud voice, and an X on its back).As we walked toward the ponds west…
Activities
Golden-winged Warblers by Emily Rondel
Wednesday, April 5, 2017 7:30 p.m. at the Orillia Museum of Art and History Topic: “A golden Opportunist?: the Golden-winged Warbler in Ontario” At the recent meeting of the Orillia Naturalist Club guest Emily Rondel, currently Toronto Project Coordinator of Bird Studies Canada, spoke to the members about her research into the life of the…
Signs of Spring - Muriels First Walk
We always need to go prepared for April weather. It rained off and on through the day but not much as we walked. The ice is still hugging the ponds and lakes and water birds wait in anticipation of more than streams to meet their swimming and feeding needs. A lovely Great Blue Heron posed…
Measuring ecological integrity in Bruce Peninsula National Park - March 22, 2017
We welcomed Tricia Stinnissen, who is a Resource Management Officer at Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park, as guest speaker at its March 22 meeting. (She is pictured above with her proud father.) Tricia grew up in Orillia and began working in the conservation field in 2009, where she got her…
FACEBOOK TRAINING SESSION
March 10/17: Arni Stinnissen led a Facebook training session at Grants Woods . Lots of questions and enthusiasm. Maybe no new converts, but even those that just looked on learned a lot. Thanks Arni. The meeting room at Grant’s Wood ( Couchiching Conservancy) worked well, with lots of electrical outlets.
Georgian Bay Islands National Park - March 5, 2017
Ethan Meleg presented a slide show featuring the Georgian Bay Islands National Park. Ethan is a photographer, naturalist, birdwatcher, and currently a Park Naturalist for that park. Ethan described the Georgian Bay Islands National Park as a 63 island archipelago totaling 13.5 square kilometers, making it the smallest of the National Parks in Canada. The…
Snowshoe Hike Alexander- Hope Smith Reserve - February 18, 2017
Barb Ryckman sent us this report – she is notorious for choosing bad weather for her trips. What a beautiful sunny day! 11 people met and made our way to the Couchiching Conservancey property, the Alexander Hope-Smith property, near Washago. Our 11 comprised members of the Orillia Naturalists and guests from the Ganaraska hiking club. Carol…
Ron Tozer: Algonquin Park before 1950: Birds, Habitats and Observers - Feb. 1, 2017
Sharon and Denis thank Ron Tozer Ron Tozer, an icon of Ontario’s birding community, and an excellent speaker, was at our monthly meeting. He was Park Naturalist for 25 years in Algonquin Park, beginning full time in 1972. An avid birder, he has been keeping records of the arrivals, nesting and departures of all 280…
Orillia Christmas Bird Count 2016
Sue Deadman, scanning the mill pond above Marchmount. For 55 years the Orillia Naturalists’ Club has organized the Orillia Christmas bird count. The results are reported to Bird Studies Canada and become part of the North American records, so trends can be seen. There are about 10 people who have participated in the count for…
Fall Visit - Carthew Bay Nature Reserve
On Wednesday, November 9, 2016, an eight member work party from the Orillia Naturalists’ Club met David Hawke at the Lakeshore Road entrance to the Carthew Bay Nature Reserve to establish a trail through the property. Present were Arni and Dianne Stinnissen, Muriel and Alec Sinclair, Omer and Mary E Mick, Bill Sherwood and Heather Ewing.…
“Arizona’s Second Spring – a Naturalist’s Journey into the Monsoon Season”
An animated Lev Frid On Nov. 2, 2016, the Orillia Naturalists’ Club regular monthly program featured Lev Frid, a young Russian-born (but Canadian raised) naturalist, who is extensively traveled, especially through the Americas. Lev has worked every summer for 8 years for the MNR as a park naturalist at Algonquin Provincial Park, and is also…
Guest speaker: Peter Mills -The Quest to Create a Field Guide - Wed Oct. 5, 2016
Craig Barrett, Membership ( the newest member of the executive): Carol Strickland ,secretary: Peter Mills and Arni Stinnissen , Vice President Peter was born and raised in Barrie, and has worked professionally as a naturalist in Algonquin Park over the past 9 years. He has a Biology degree from Trent University. Because of his close…