From Ontario Nature:

In the past year, over 156 hectares of wetlands lost their provincially significant wetland designation and the strong provincial protection that designation imparts.

Help us save the Goulbourn Wetland Complex.

From Ontario Nature:

Did you know the proposed #Highway413 will cause irreversible environmental devastation? Please ask your MP to ensure it undergoes a federal environmental assessment.

Today’s club walk through beautiful Komoka Provincial Park netted some great bird sightings of soaring mature and juvenile bald eagles, red headed, downie and hairy woodpeckers, goldfinch, junco, field sparrows and a Cooper’s hawk hunting in the woods. Added bonus the bloodroot is getting ready to open. Thanks to those who came out this morning following last night’s wind storm!

From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology:

At this time of year you have a good chance of seeing unfamiliar birds as they move north during spring migration. Most birds have a long journey to get to their breeding grounds and they may stop for a day or two to rest along the way. Storms can also break their journeys. How do you identify a new bird? Our Question of the Week gives you a few helpful tips.

A message from Oxford County Trails President Dan Molinaro:

June 1st 2024 is International Trails Day and Oxford County Trails Council is well advanced with our own plans for this special day of local festivities. Branded as Take a Hike, Oxford! we will be offering no fewer than four locations in Oxford County where people can come to learn more about our wonderful trails network and participate in a wide variety of activities designed to bring nature, and our shared responsibility to protect it, deeper into our lives.

Combining knowledge, physical and mental health is vital to our wellbeing and we recognise this starts from an early age and can last a lifetime. So, the activities at our four public sites will feature fun for kids and parents while catering for those who wish to explore each trail, with or without a guide, and perhaps capture their experiences with their camera or other mobile device. We have teamed up with several Woodstock area partners to allow up-close and personal and handson experiences to encourage a broader understanding of local nature, our environment and the many related, local resources available to us.

The four locations we have selected are as follows: Herbert Milnes Park Woodlot  Patullo Avenue Woodstock – John Lawson Trail  Wonham St. South, Ingersoll – Hickson Street North 99 Loveys Street Hickson – Oxford Thames River Trail 454779 45th Line Beachville.

Each location will be open from 10am to 2pm, rain or shine and will feature sanitation and hydration facilities. Bring your own water bottle, snacks, bug spray, sun screen and outdoor foot ware. Free parking will be available. We would like to thank our event sponsors who have made this festival free of charge for visitors.

Help us promote this event.

A pdf can be downloaded and printed from HERE

Did you know Toronto alone claims about a million avian casualties each year? If you find an injured bird this spring, here’s how you can help them.

The latest Oxford County Trails Council newsletter has information on the “Take a Hike, Oxford!” June 1st Trails Festival and developments on the Oxford Thames River Trail. Read it here.

From Ontario Nature:

The conversation around protected areas is evolving in response to the challenge of protecting 30% of Canada’s lands and waters by 2030. What protected areas traditionally have been, and what they can be, encompass many forms.

Learn more.

From Oxford County’s Facebook Page:

The “Get Smart! Energy audits for greener homes” presentation is now available online.

Watch as Partner and Senior Energy Engineer at Walter-Fedy, Patrick Darby and South-West Oxford Mayor David Mayberry outline the steps for conducting an energy audit in your home at https://www.oxfordcounty.ca/en/news/the-get-smart-learn-from-local-smart-energy-experts-presentation-is-now-available-online.aspx

The hike at Herbert Milne’s Trail outside Woodstock on March 16, 2024, featured a beautiful walk on a groomed trail where club members saw 20 tundra swans flying overhead with numerous other bird sightings within the property… nuthatch, red bellied woodpecker, juvenile bald eagle, robins, sparrows…easy walking, highly recommended. Followed up with pancakes at Jakeman’s at Sweaburg and a walk in Trillium Woods. Great morning!