Winter is fickle. One day, a sudden front moves in and coats everything in frosty white. The next day, the sunshine feels warm, the birds are singing, and one gets hopeful for spring. Birding in winter can feel the same way–one day, birds seem to be everywhere and the next, the landscape is silent and … More Waterfowl viewing along the winter lakeshore
Although Spring’s explosion of greenery after a long winter, the return of songbirds, and the promise of new life makes it my favourite season, the transition into Autumn runs a very close second. From August through November, growth cycles may be winding down, leaves are falling, and many birds desert us for the warmer … More Changing Seasons in the Park: Summer to Fall
This was definitely the Year of the Dickcissel in Ontario, an irruption year for a grasslands species that is one of the rarest breeding birds in Ontario. Many of the birds that have been spotted in the last month or so are attempting to breed, an encouraging sign. Dickcissels (Spiza americana) are songbirds that resemble … More Dickcissel Irruption in Ontario
During a visit to my favourite local patch (Col. Samuel Smith Park in the west end of Toronto) yesterday, I came across a small Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) sunning itself on a sunken log not far from the platform overlooking the pond. I have seen adult Map Turtles in the park before, usually on the … More Species Profile: Northern Map Turtle
This is the excerpt for your very first post. … More Direct from the Artist