Category Archive for ‘News’

Ted leads Nature Canada’s domestic and international bird conservation initiatives and the Nature Caretakers program. Earlier this year, Nature Canada’s Ted Cheskey took a trip to Moose Factory near James Bay where he met with several members of the  Moose Cree First Nation (MCFN) about officially nominating the James Bay coastal zone within the MCRN homelands as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site. We spoke with him about his trip and the work he has been doing on this project. Tell us a little about your trip to James Bay. Ted Cheskey: It was really quite exciting, even starting with the plane ride! I was leaving from the Pierre Elliot Trudeau airport in Montreal on a flight scheduled… read more →

This blog is written by guest blogger Pete Poovanna. It was Friday evening mid-summer in Vancouver. As most of my friends headed to weekend downtown parties, I decided to take my camera to the sea wall of English bay under the majestic Lions Gate Bridge. To many locals, the Lions Gate Bridge feels part of the fabric of the city and over the years the Lions Gate Bridge has become a landmark of Vancouver. The summer air cooled under the bridge and it was getting gloomy, a very different feeling to the bridge deck, with its tremendous views of downtown. A Great Blue Heron lands along the English Bay as the sun sets over the majestic Lions Gate Bridge. I’m a big fan of herons, I think… read more →

This guest blog book review was written by Sofia Osborne.  The skull of Moby Doll, the subject of Mark Leiren-Young’s new book “The Killer Whale Who Changed the World,” was housed in the museum where I worked this summer. I also saw Moby’s relatives practically every day. J-Pod, a group of Southern Resident Orcas, would come by my post on Saturna Island’s East Point close enough to touch. Moby Doll was harpooned off the coast of Saturna Island, but surprisingly he lived. He was then dragged to a Vancouver dry dock where he spent the rest of his short life under the watchful eye of the Vancouver Aquarium director. Scientists learned a lot about Killer Whales by studying Moby, and… read more →

Feeding birds can be a rewarding experience, and a great way to connect with nature. But are you really helping your feathered friends? Here’s the truth about some common bird feeding myths: Myth: Feeding birds prevents them from migrating. Fact: Birds migrate in response to factors such as length of daylight and weather, not because of food availability. In fact, birds need more food during long migrations, so your feeder may be a welcome stop for species you don’t normally see in your area. Myth: Birds become dependent on feeders. Fact: Most birds use many sources of food and do not rely on just one. If your feeder happens to go empty, most birds will find food elsewhere, although you’ll… read more →

Nature Canada was delighted to recognize Her Honour, the Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia as our newest Women for Nature member for her life-long commitment to nature.  Earlier this month, she graciously spoke about the importance of engaging youth voices for nature at the Child and Nature international conference in Vancouver. She is visiting 150 schools in British Columbia this year to encourage young people “to become involved in our democracy in order to contribute to the goal of: Healthy People in Healthy Communities on Healthy Land.”  To do so, Her Honour encouraged having “respectful relationships with all who share this land and with the land which supports us all, and a responsibility to leave our… read more →

This blog was written by writing intern Amanda Simard. This month’s calendar photo features a mother Grizzly Bear and her cub in the Khutze Inlet, BC. How much do you know about the Grizzly Bear? Here are 5 facts about the mammal you may not have known! Grizzly Bear Description Common name: Grizzly Bear Scientific name: Ursus arctos horribilis Habitat: Grizzlies are adaptable and their habitat ranges from dense forests to subalpine meadows, open plains and arctic tundra. Lifespan: 20 to 30 years in the wild Size: height between 1.5 and 2.5 m; weight between 100 and 270 kg Description: Grizzlies are typically dark brown, though their fur can range from light cream to black and is often white tipped.… read more →

This month’s Nature Canada calendar captures what may well be our planet’s most critical plant/animal interaction – a bee foraging for nectar and transporting pollen. Approximately 80% of flowering plants depend on pollinators to transfer pollen for fertilization between plants thereby facilitating fruit and seed production. Bees are the most important group of pollinators. Let’s take a closer look at these complex and fascinating insects. Where do they live? Bees, like ants and wasps, belong to the order Hymenoptera, a very successful order in terms of numbers of species and worldwide distribution. There are about 1,000 bee species in Canada; they can be found right across the country, excluding the highest altitudes and polar regions. In Canada, as elsewhere, where… read more →

Did you know there are about 450 species of birds found in Canada? Of those, three are (or were) actually named after our country. Here is some basic information about these “Canada birds!” Canada Jay The Gray Jay was known as the “Canada Jay” until The American Ornithologists’ Union 5th edition, published in 1957. It is also known as “Whiskey Jack”—an English variation on its Algonquin name “Wisakajack,” which refers to a forest trickster spirit found in Algonquian mythology. In French, it continues to go by the name “Mésangeai du Canada.” We love the name Mésangeai because it combines the concept of two families of birds into one – the Jays (les Geais) and the Chickadees (les Mésanges) into one bird. … read more →

This post was written by guest blogger Rebecca Kennedy. Variations of the English saying “April showers bring May flowers” date back as far back as 1660. With its longer days and warmer temperatures, spring across much of Canada typically means snowmelt and increased rainfall. Take pleasure in the new season with these ideas. Observe worms. After a rain shower, you have probably noticed earthworms on sidewalks or in the grass. Why do they surface when it rains? Contrary to a commonly held opinion, it is not to prevent themselves from drowning. Many scientists think that worms come above ground after rainfall to migrate (as they can move greater distances above than within soil) or to escape predators (as the vibration of raindrops on… read more →

NatureHood is a national program of Nature Canada, with a goal of connecting people of all ages to nature in their neighbourhoods – aka their NatureHoods! Through strong partnerships with our grassroots naturalist clubs and organizations across Canada, NatureHood promotes nature awareness and exposes a new generation of nature lovers. In October of 2016, the Young Naturalists Club of Nova Scotia built a pollinator hotel for the Common Roots Urban Farm with the help of the Halifax Builders Cooperative. A pollinator hotel is a structure meant to house solitary pollinators. This not only attracts them to the area the hotel is in, but also provides them with somewhere to live which helps them survive the winter. In the Halifax area,… read more →