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Sometimes The Best Medicine Is In Your Own Backyard

From Native Yardening:

I often hear people defend invasive plants by saying, “But it’s medicinal!”

And yes, that’s the reason some invasive species were brought to North America in the first place.

But because they evolved in different parts of the world, they don’t fit into the natural checks and balances of our native ecosystems and they’re able to overtake large areas.

If you’re someone who uses invasive species medicinally, I have good news.

If a species is invasive to your area, you don’t need to intentionally plant it in your yard. It’s already growing all around you. And you’re actually doing a favor to the environment by harvesting as much of it as you can.

And if you have a garden where you grow medicinal plants, you can use that space to grow ones that are native to where you live!

Now you have a wider range of plants to work with AND it’s eco-friendly.

Here are a few of the many medicinal plant species that are native to North America.

Plant medicine is sacred to many cultures. You don’t have to use plant medicine, but please be respectful of it.

Some of these plants have research in western literature backing up the benefits, others do not. They’ve all been traditionally used for these benefits. Do with that information what you will.

The listed benefits and species are not exhaustive. Research what part(s) of each plant are used and how to prepare them properly before consuming anything.

*Consult your doctor before consuming any new herbs or supplements, research drug interactions and side effects, and never consume a plant if you’re not 100% sure you’ve identified it correctly, none of this is medical advice.*

Species listed:

🌿 Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

🌿 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

🌿 Wild ginger (Asarum canadense)

🌿 Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

🌿 Bee balm (Monarda fistulosa)

🌿 Common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

🌿 Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

🌿 Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata)

🌿 American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

🌿 American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)

🌿 Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)

🌿 Pony beebalm (Monarda pectinata)

🌿 California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

🌿 American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

🌿 Osha root (Ligusticum porteri)

🌿 Narrow-leaf coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)

🌿 Parry’s agave (Agave parryi)

The color key for BONAP’s native range maps is included at the end of the slides

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IDNC Trip To The Archie Coulter Conservation Area

It was crispy cold on March 14, 2026, but it was a beautiful morning for a walk at Archie Coulter Conservation Area, following breakfast at Springwater’s Pancake and Maple Syrup Festival. The Nature Club then travelled to Aylmer Wildlife Management Area to view the tundra swans. The big influx from the day before had already moved on but there were still plenty to view. Thanks to the IDNC club members who came out!

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Support The Piping Plover Habitat at Wasaga Beach

From Ontario Nature:

Spring is arriving at Wasaga Beach, and with it comes an urgent moment for piping plovers.

Nearly 70% of Ontario’s piping plovers nest at Wasaga Beach, making this iconic shoreline one of the most important places in the province for the species’ survival. Weakening protections here could have serious consequences just as these small shorebirds return for nesting season.

Spread awareness by sharing this post and our blog to help educate others about piping plovers and the importance of keeping strong protections in place at Wasaga Beach.

Read our blog about the risk to piping plovers at Wasaga Beach.

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The Science Behind the Blue of the Blue Jay

From The Mill Pond, Dorchester, Ontario:

Blue jays are one of the most recognizable birds in Canada, especially in Ontario. Their vibrant blue feathers make them a favorite among birdwatchers and backyard nature lovers. But here’s a surprising fact: blue jays aren’t truly blue.

The Science Behind the Blue

At Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station (TTPBRS), our bird migration monitoring program helps reveal fascinating insights.

Despite their name and appearance, blue jays don’t have blue pigment in their feathers. Instead, their color comes from a phenomenon called structural coloration — a fascinating trick of physics.

Each feather contains microscopic grooves and ridges spaced precisely to reflect blue wavelengths. When light hits these structures, it bounces back as blue — not because of pigment, but because of how the light is manipulated. If you backlight a blue jay feather, it appears grayish brown, revealing the melanin underneath 💚

Info… @Torontoandregionconservationauthority

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The Thinning Sky: The Accelerating Silence of The North American Canopy

From Voices of the Wild Earth:

We are not just witnessing a fluctuation; we are witnessing a vanishing act where one in four birds has disappeared in a single human generation.

As the sun rises on March 2nd, the first “Vanguard” migrants—cranes, blackbirds, and meadowlarks—are making landfall in the United States. But the headlines from the Washington Post confirm a data-driven tragedy: North America’s birds are dying off at an ever-faster rate. The iridescent blue of the Indigo Bunting, currently preparing for its flight from the Caribbean, is becoming a rarer sight in our summer brushlands.

1️⃣ THE MYTH: “POPULATIONS NATURALLY FLUCTUATE”

There is a persistent cultural misconception that bird declines are merely part of a “natural cycle” of boom and bust. We assume that because we still see birds at our feeders, the ecosystem is intact.

The scientific reality is a net loss of 2.9 billion birds since 1970. This isn’t just a loss of rare species; it is the “thinning” of the common—the sparrows, the warblers, and the buntings that form the backbone of our biodiversity.

2️⃣ THE SCIENTIFIC REALITY: THE ACCELERATING DECLINE

The latest decades of observations from across the continent reveal a disturbing trend:

Grassland Collapse: Meadowlarks and other grassland specialists have seen a 53% population decline, the steepest of any avian guild.

Neotropical Hazards: Migrants like the Indigo Bunting face a “double jeopardy”. They face habitat loss in the tropical forests where they spend the winter, and pesticide-heavy agricultural “deserts” in the North where they attempt to breed.

Trophic Mismatch: Rising temperatures are causing insects to hatch earlier, often before the long-distance migrants arrive, leaving parents unable to find the caterpillars needed to feed their young.

3️⃣ WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW (MARCH 2)

In the forests of Central America and the Caribbean, millions of songbirds are currently in the “Hyperphagia” stage.

The Weight Race: An Indigo Bunting is currently gorging on seeds and early fruit to deposit fat in its “furcular pit” (the hollow above the wishbone).

The Continental Dispersal: While the Buntings wait, the Eastern Meadowlark is already on its breeding grounds in the Southern US, establishing territories this very morning. Every fence post claimed today by a Meadowlark is a victory for a guild that is struggling to hold its ground.

4️⃣ WHY IT IS ECOLOGICALLY CATASTROPHIC

Birds are the “mobile links” of our ecosystems.

Pest Regulation: A single warbler or bunting consumes thousands of insects a month. Their decline leads to increased agricultural pests and the overuse of chemical pesticides.

Seed Dispersal: They are the primary architects of our forests, moving seeds and cross-pollinating plants over thousands of miles.

Sentinel Health: Their accelerating decline is an early-warning signal for a landscape that is losing its resilience.

5️⃣ GESTURES FOR TODAY: HEALING THE FLYWAY

We can mitigate the decline by changing the management of our “personal landscapes”:

Convert Your Lawn: This week, plan to replace a portion of your lawn with native grasses and meadow flowers. Meadowlarks and Buntings need “messy” edges, not sterile turf.

The Window Strike Sweep: As migration begins, more birds will hit windows. Install bird-safe decals or screens on your high-risk windows today.

Ditch the Pesticides: Every insect killed by a pesticide is a calorie stolen from a migrating bird. Let the birds be your pesticide.

6️⃣ CONCLUSION

The decline of North American birds is a silent emergency that demands an audible response. When we lose the Indigo Bunting or the Meadowlark, we don’t just lose a song; we lose a functional piece of the machinery that keeps our continent alive. This March, as the waves of migrants begin to surge, let’s ensure they find a landscape that is ready to welcome them back.

📚 SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES & DATA

Population Decline: The 3 Billion Birds study (Rosenberg et al., 2019) published in Science documents the loss of 29% of the North American avian population since 1970.

Grassland Metrics: Data from the USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) confirms that grassland birds are the most threatened guild in North America.

Migration Timing: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (BirdCast) radar data tracks the specific entry points of early-season migrants across the lower 48 states during early March.

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Nature In the City Event – March 3, 2026

From London Public Library:

Nature is closer than you think. 

Join the London Public Library for the final event in their Nature in the City series as local nature photographer Brian Lasenby explores the remarkable birdlife found in London. With more than 300 species recorded in the city, this talk highlights both the beauty of urban birds and the importance of protecting their habitats.

 March 3, 7-8:30 p.m.

 Wolf Performance Hall

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Nature Nearby Campaign Helps Grow Conservation Efforts

From Thames Talbot Land Trust:

Did you know that in southern Ontario, only around 1% of original grassland habitats remain due to stressors like human activity and climate change? Land that was largely covered in grasses, sedges, and wildflowers, and prevented soil erosion, stored carbon, and provided vital habitat for pollinators is now one of the rarest habitat types in southern Ontario.

With the Nature Nearby campaign, your support helps fund projects like meadow and prairie protection and restoration. TTLT currently protects around 195 acres of meadow habitat with plans to protect and restore another 48 acres (and counting) in the near future!

The addition of one of our newest nature reserves, MapleCross – Bass Woods, provides an additional 3 acres of rare meadow habitat. Though that may sound small, every little piece is important in creating a network of permanently protected habitats for all living beings!

Let’s grow conservation together, to ensure that nature is always nearby! Support nature today by donating at https://www.thamestalbotlandtrust.ca/donations ! 🌱

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Nature Canada Launches Online Auction

From Nature Canada:

Today’s the day! We’re launching our online auction, ‘Together for Nature’ and hope you’ll check out the amazing nature experiences and artwork chosen just for you!

The Auction runs from February 17th to March 3rd, 2026 to celebrate World Wildlife Day – a day to draw awareness of the need to protect and defend species at risk globally. What a great way to help protect species and nature across Canada by checking out and bidding on items found on our Together for Nature online auction page.

It’s a win-win, you can help nature and enjoy some amazing items and experiences at the same time!

Bid now! https://app.galabid.com/nc2026/items