Ojibway Prairie Complex Makes the New York Times

The Ojibway Prairie Complex in Windsor is one of Ontario’s best remaining examples of tallgrass prairie ecosystems and a real gem for biodiversity. Currently slated to become Canada’s second national urban park, it was the subject of a pair of recent articles published by the New York Times highlighting the initiative’s important approach to First Nations co-management as well as the industrial infrastructure that surrounds the last piece of undeveloped shoreline on the Detroit River. You can read “Amid Heavy Industry, Canada’s Newest (and Tiniest) National Park” and “A New National Park that Rests on Indigenous and Industrial History” using a free New York Times account.

Article and photos submitted by Mike Fisher, Friends of Ojibway Prairie

Get Volunteers for Your Fall Activities!

Have you checked out our volunteer posting newsletter yet? We send this regularly to more than 2,700 people looking for opportunities to volunteer with nature. Nature Network member groups are invited to send us their postings for volunteer needs to be included in the newsletter. Send us volunteer postings through this form by September 25 to be included in the October newsletter. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please do so through the webpage.

Expanded Community Outreach

Last season, the Huron Fringe Field Naturalists took advantage of opportunities to share our love of nature and some expertise with the wider community.

We started with donations of books to area public schools. Six schools received a copy of “Nature’s Best Hope (Young Readers Edition)” and “Outside You Notice”, a primary grade book celebrating the wonder experienced in time spent outside.

The club organized the City Nature Challenge in April and was invited to Kincardine Tourism’s open house in June. We engaged with young people at the Kincardine Forest School and the Bruce County Public Library’s summer program on topics including wildflowers, invasive and native plants, birds and rocks. We look forward to more engagement this year.

Article submitted by Christine Roberts of the Huron Fringe Field Naturalists, Photo by Steve Pepper

Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Hike in Hamilton

Join Ontario Nature to learn how you can contribute to reptile and amphibian conservation in Hamilton, through an in-person guided hike at McMaster Forest Nature Preserve on September 22. At this event, you will learn about reptile and amphibian ecology, habitat, and conservation, including two Ontario Nature community science projects. You will search for reptiles and amphibians, gain hands-on training in snake monitoring, learn how to use iNaturalist, and view printed copies of the recently published Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas. This event is generously supported by the City of Hamilton City Enrichment Fund.

Senior’s Day of Climate Action

Seniors for Climate is mobilizing on October 1st, Canada’s National Seniors Day, to bring attention to the worsening climate emergency. We’re citizens with a goal to build a Canada-wide community of seniors to create a liveable future, and we've already mobilized more than 50 groups across Canada to act. To learn more, you can visit our website at seniorsforclimate.org to find a group near you and take a look at our interactive map tracking every October 1st action planned across Canada. We need to come together to lead faster and better climate action, because later is too late!

Interesting Links and Opportunities 

• The Government of Ontario significantly weakens vital environmental safeguards, posing a grave threat to Ontario’s natural heritage, farmland and wetlands
• Check out our recently digitized collection of bird song recordings
• Register for the Invasive Species Council webinar on detecting Asian carp in the great lakes on September 19
• Read the CBC article about logging as one of the highest carbon emitters in Canada

Events 

See our events calendar for a complete listing of events organized by Ontario Nature and Nature Network groups.

To submit your public events to our online calendar, email them to noahc@ontarionature.org and allow up to a week for posting. Please send only events that are open to the public and no more than three per month.