Ontario Nature advises drivers to be on alert for wildlife crossing the road as warmer spring weather approaches. Spring has high rates of road mortality involving reptiles as they hatch, mate, nest or seek food or warmth. Read more on the Ontario Nature website.

There’s a new issue of The Trail Times from Oxford County Trails Council. Read about the OCTC’s new president, progress on the pollinator gardens, flood remediation and more. Check it out at http://oxfordcountytrailscouncil.com/trailsnewslettersspr…

From Ontario Nature:

In keeping with many recent law and policy changes that facilitate sprawl development, the provincial government is now proposing to replace the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 (PPS) and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (Growth Plan) with a new Provincial Planning Statement (ERO #019-6813).

The government is abandoning its long-standing policy commitment to promote compact, transit-friendly development and prevent sprawl. Instead, the new policy thrust is to allow scattered residential lots and subdivisions anytime and anywhere, including on prime agricultural land.

The government’s underlying premise, that more land is needed for housing development outside existing settlement boundaries, is demonstrably false.

Please join Ontario Nature in opposing these changes. Ask the Government of Ontario to retain all PPS and Growth Plan policies designed to curb sprawl and protect farmland and natural areas.

The deadline for public comment through the Environmental Registry of Ontario is June 5, 2023.

Learn more at:

https://ontarionature.good.do/no-sprawl/email/

Ontario Nature’s Protect Places Campaign team has been working to permanently protect designated conservation lands (DCLs) that have been set aside by Forest Stewardship Council certified forestry companies. Permanently protecting these DCLs can contribute to the federal target of protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030. Watch the video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MXulvRU3Hc

Our planet’s natural environment is under unprecedented stress. We need systemic change to address the most pressing environmental issues we face today, but there are still many ways that we, as individuals can contribute to restoring a healthy planet by reducing our environmental footprint. Ontario Nature provides some tips.

There are now two ways to see Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s report cards on the environmental conditions in each of the 28 watersheds in the Upper Thames River watershed with a focus on surface water quality and forest conditions.

What is a wetland? What are the different types of wetlands? Find out the answers to this and other questions in a fascinating article from Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.

From Ontario Nature:

Under the guise of improving efficiency and reducing administrative burden, the Government of Ontario is proposing alarming amendments to the Mining Act that would significantly weaken existing environmental protection and rehabilitation requirements (ERO# 019-6715).

Please join Ontario Nature in opposing the proposed amendments to the Mining Act and ask that they be withdrawn.

Visit the Ontario Nature for more information and to sign the Action Alert.

From Nature Canada

Meet Anna’s Hummingbird, a Cold-Dwelling, Not-So-Fair-Weather Feathered Friend

What’s smaller than a ping pong ball, lighter than a nickel, and emerald-pink-shimmery all over? Anna’s Hummingbird! This bird was named after the 19th-century Italian duchess Anna Massena.

Read more at https://naturecanada.ca/news/blog/meet-annas-hummingbird/

The Cornell Lab of Orinthology has released the numbers from the 2023 Great Backyard Bird Count. Half a million bird enthusiasts shared sightings from almost every corner of the world.

The Great Backyard Bird Count in a Snapshot

• 7,538 species of birds identified
• 202 participating countries
• 390,652 eBird checklists
• 372,905 Merlin Bird IDs
• 151,479 photos added to Macaulay Library
• 555,291 estimated global participants

The full report can be found here.

Next year’s Great Backyard Bird Count is scheduled for February 16-19, 2024.