DEPARTMENTS 5 | This IssueHumanity’s legacy.By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth Watch Windsor to permanently protect Ojibway Shores Cormorant hunt Monitoring invasive wild boars Francis Cook receives the Order of Canada Restoring Junction Creek Featured Photography Bill McDonald ALUS expansion Bird-friendly hay Logging Threatens Black Bay Peninsula species 36 |Our Member GroupsOutdoor learning in Norfolk.By […]
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Author: ON Nature
Published quarterly by Ontario Nature, ON Nature brings readers closer to nature by exploring Ontario’s natural areas and wildlife and providing insight into current environmental issues.
This award-winning magazine features in-depth articles on the environment and conservation issues and stunning colour photography. Read about wilderness travel and destinations, natural history and up-to-date news on conservation battles.
Forestry Policy
Re: Closing the Loop on Forest Protection? I am a retired forester and a long-time member of Ontario Nature. Concerning your recent article in the 2019 Spring issue of the ON Nature magazine, my take is this: You say that licenced companies under the Forest Stewardship Council certification process – by the way, American companies […]
New Year, New Look
Re: Have you read the new issue of ON Nature? I have indeed read the latest issue of ON Nature. I like the format of longer and shorter articles. The images are attractive. I was especially interested in the Plant Predators article as I am waiting impatiently for cottage season. We are on a lake […]
ON Nature Magazine Spring 2019
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This IssueThe people spoke.By Caroline Schultz 7 | Earth Watch Monitoring Ontario’s snakes with a Long-term Monitoring Protocol Preventing Lyme Disease and being aware of ticks A new bat nature guide A legal challenge to piping plover habitat destruction Prescribed burn at Stone Road Alvar Nature Reserve on Pelee Island Swift Rapids […]
St. Joseph’s Donation
The Volunteer Services Department at St. Joseph’s Health Centre Toronto would like to thank Ontario Nature Magazine for your generous contribution of interesting reading material. We truly appreciate your support. In times of discomfort, your magazines really pulled through for patients who are in our hospital for long stays. We also distributed your magazines to […]
Single Use Plastic
Re: When Nature Calls I noticed in the picture on page 18 & 19 “When Nature Calls” in the Fall 2018 issue that it looks like the hiker is carrying a single-use plastic water bottle in her backpack. This may be getting picky, but it does not send the right message. I imagine it was […]
ON Nature Magazine Winter 2018
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This Issue A fine balance. By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth Watch Christmas Bird Counts; honouring Canada’s fallen soldiers; boreal outreach; federal safety net for species. 36 | Member Groups Celebrating a northern legacy. By Lisa Richardson 37 | Our Community Supporting the next generation of environmental leaders. By Danielle Duchin 38 […]
A Tale of Two Davids
Dear Editor, I am a long-standing member of Ontario Nature, and have been an active member and twice-President of Nature Barrie, one of the member organizations. I am very supportive and appreciative of the work our federation does. I also teach Conservation Biology to undergraduate students and I know from that experience that engaging people […]
Barn Swallows
Re: Nesting Instincts Dear ON Nature, We read with great interest the article on replacement nesting habitats for barn swallows. We were laughing out loud and shaking our heads at the arrogant hubris of those who would keep building structures that don’t work. Maybe they should have put up a sign (“Swallows Nest Here please”). […]
A Different Biodiversity
Re: A Different Kind of Biodiversity Dear Mike, I agree with your observations about the diversity of the membership of naturalist organizations. I have also seen the same membership bias and ageing effect in hiking clubs and hiking trail organizations. If you are involved in Ontario Nature in any of the southwestern Ontario clubs you […]
Environmental Education
Re: A Different Kind of Biodiversity The solution to getting ‘young, ethnically & culturally different people’ involved in the environmental movement is to educate them very young. Ontario Nature needs to take a look at the Ontario curriculum & then provide elementary teachers with resources that fit this curriculum. As a retired educator who is […]
ON Nature Magazine Fall 2018
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This Issue A dull roar. By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth Watch BioBlitz challenge; disappearing turtles; neonics fight continues; Picturing Protection photo contest winners. 36 | Member Groups Nature Network flourishes in the east. By Lisa Richardson 37 | Our Community Conservation heroes recognized. By Jaklynn Nimec 38 | Last Word Forestry […]
American ginseng
Re: Root of Temptation There are many documented benefits to American ginseng, it is not necessary to discredit its proper medicinal use with the term “purported”. Of course poaching is not ok. Harald Dienes, Ontario
North French River
The article, River of Life, in the Spring 2018 issue, did a great disservice to the readers, setting a new low in biased journalism. Long on emotion and bereft of facts, the article gave the reader no information on which to judge possible development in the North French River watershed. It starts with the bias […]
ON Nature Magazine Summer 2018
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This Issue Wild at heart. By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth Watch Indigenous solar project; Bee City expansion; monitoring mudpuppies; protecting Ojibway Shores. 36 | Member Groups Bird safety group turns 25. By Noah Cole 37 | Our Community Protecting nature for future generations. By Kirsten Dahl 38 | Last Word A […]
Fixing the Nest
Re: Nesting Instincts I read with great interest the article “Nesting Instincts” in your recent Spring 2018 ON Nature magazine about the barn swallows. The new structures built to replace existing barns/bridges/etc. have been erected with ready to occupy nesting cups. As the article states, instinct would lead swallows to build where and how they […]
Monarch Butterfly Update
RE: Tracking Monarch Habitat I signed up for milkweed watch as encouraged on page 6 of your Spring 2018 issue. 2017 seemed to be a very good year for Monarch butterflies here. And as I have done for many years, I scattered the seeds as best I could on the property. – Phelps Goodman Monarch […]
ON Nature Magazine Spring 2018
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This IssueSpecial places.By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth WatchTracking milkweed; vote for nature; counting Christmas birds;protect the places we love. 36 | Member GroupsA founding Ontario Nature group honoured in London.By Lisa Richardson 37 | Our CommunityA founding Ontario Nature group honoured in London.By Vanessa Lupton 38 | Last WordReigniting Ontario’s commitment […]
Phragmites Control
What to do about phragmites is difficult and controversial, so we hoped to sparked a dialogue. We have received some thoughtful responses to Brad Badelt’s feature article “Killer weed.” Here are several letters from readers who care deeply about the environment, but hold different perspectives on phragmites. Where do you stand? John, In 1993 I […]
Coyotes Conjecture
Re: Coyotes’s bad rap A little while ago, I read the article about coyotes in our midst. I have ambiguous feelings towards the measures recommended to discourage coyotes: fruit tree and fruit removal, bird feeder removal, etc. We know coyotes will always be there, as we know they adapt. So, if they can survive near us, why […]
ON Nature Magazine Winter 2017
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This Issue Fostering community conservation. By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth Watch Great Lakes grasshopper; engaging northern citizen scientists; another successful summit; a new wetland guide; Master Naturalists program expands. 36 | Our Member Groups Habitat corridors protect Hamilton’s pollinators. By Lisa Richardson 37 | Our Community A legacy of dedication to […]
Energy East Cancellation
We should not be happy that Energy East was cancelled. We will use the same amount of oil either way, except now we will support some foreign dictators with terrible environmental controls in their country, have the risk of tanker accidents and possibly killing whales, rail road accidents, etc. New pipeline technology has made the […]
Wind Power Cancellation
Re: Another win for the county The celebratory tone in this article is not appropriate. Granted, turbines shouldn’t be placed in Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. But cancellation of wind projects is also cause for concern. Wind is crucial in addressing climate change and as environmentalists we need to be careful that, in critiquing a […]
ON Nature Magazine Autumn 2017
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This Issue Public defenders. By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth Watch Ratsnake research; our special pollinator spaces; bike trail benefits; south shore success; honouring conservation heroes; collaborating with Indigenous communities. 36 | Member Groups A win for the Nottawasaga River. By Lisa Richardson 37 | Our Community Conservation heroes feted. By Kirsten […]
Cambridge Pollinator Preserve
Hello fellow Pollinators, Having read articles in the spring (Pollinator campaign targets schools) and summer issues (Stratford joins Bee City program) of ON Nature magazine about pollination – I would like to take the opportunity to advise that the Ancient Mariners Canoe Club in Cambridge, Ontario have developed over the past several years a 1-hectare […]
ON Nature Magazine Summer 2017
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This Issue If there is a will, there is a way. By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth Watch Snapping turtle win; boreal outreach; the case against pesticides; surveying salamanders; photo contest finalists. 36 | Our Member Groups Our strength in numbers. By Lisa Richardson 37 | Our Community A friend of nature: […]
ON Nature Magazine Spring 2017
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This IssueA time of rejuvenation.By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth WatchA guide to spiders, counting reptile roadkill, reducing bird strikes, partnership for pollinators, Indigenous perspectives on conservation offsets. 35 | Our Member GroupsA golden jubilee.By Lisa Richardson 36 | Our CommunitySydenham River joins Ontario Nature’s nature reserve system.By Portia Mohlmann 38 | […]
Second Reply to Dr. Foster
Re: “Letters – a rebuttal to a Randy Eshenroder’s May 17th sea lamprey letter”, Re: “Letters – Reply to Dr. Foster RE: sea lampreys“, Re: “Rethinking sea lamprey control” (Earth Watch, Spring 2016) This is my second reply to Dr. Foster concerning his proposal to experimentally cut back on sea lamprey control in Lake Superior […]
ON Nature Magazine Winter 2016
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This Issue When the going gets tough… By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth Watch Protecting Rouge Park; northern partners; summer outreach; Youth Summit success; trashing Oxford County; Ostrander Point victory. 36 | Our Community Chasing trout. 37 | Our Member Groups Protecting tallgrass prairie. By Lisa Richardson 38 | Last Word To […]
A Guide to Some of Ontario’s Spiders
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Forks of the Credit
In the fall 2016 issue of ON Nature magazine (“Protecting Grassland in Forks of the Credit”), we erroneously stated that Ontario Parks is planning to convert a portion of Forks of the Credit Provincial Park’s (FCPP) grassland into forest. In fact, Ontario Parks has not said that they will actively reforest any part of FCPP. […]
Too Much Tourism?
Dear Editor, In a day and age where money basically runs society it’s surprising just how many people can afford to travel. Thanks partly to online “deal finders” and the low Canadian dollar, visitors have all the more incentive to stay north of the border this summer season. But is this an issue? It is […]
ON Nature Magazine Fall 2016
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This Issue Nature’s bond. By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth Watch Protecting grasslands; softshell turtle refuge; hog-nosed havens; pollinator protection; advancing citizen science; from wasteland to reserve; snapping turtle sorrows; Anne Bell reflects. 36 | Our Member Groups Celebrating 25 years of rainforest conservation. By Lisa Richardson 37 | Our Community Ontario […]
Little Brown Bats
In the sidebar of the feature “Don’t hate be ‘case I’m bountiful,” (Page 21, Summer 2016) we misrepresented the diet of little brown bats. Many thanks to Harry Brightwell of Stratford for alerting us about the error. “The suggestion that the little brown bat ‘is a voracious mosquito gobbler’ is propagating the myth that little […]
Sea lamprey Rebuttal
Re: “Letters – Reply to Dr. Foster RE: sea lampreys” I have enormous respect for Randy Eshenroder’s fisheries expertise and experience, and I am not surprised by his views. I am sure they are shared by many of his colleagues at the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, not to mention a good number of other fisheries […]
ON Nature Magazine Summer 2016
DEPARTMENTS 5 | This Issue Call of the wild. By Caroline Schultz 6 | Earth Watch Gains for a greener future; the health benefits of nature; counting salamanders; counting the Sydenham River Nature Reserve. 37 | Our Member Groups Membership has its rewards. 38 | Last Word Bolstering our environmental rights. By Anne Bell FEATURES […]
Reply RE: Sea Lampreys
Re: “Rethinking sea lamprey control” (Earth Watch, Spring 2016) In the Spring 2016 issue, Dr. Foster reviewed tradeoffs between maintaining suppression (control) of sea lamprey in the Great Lakes and alleviating its impacts on non-target organisms, suggesting the time had come to consider allowing sea lamprey to “reach a point of natural equilibrium.” Dr. Foster’s […]
Guild Woods
Re: “City approves 68 new environmentally protected areas“(Toronto Star, November 2015) I represent a group called APESA: Alliance to Protect Environmentally Significant Areas. We are based in Scarborough, specifically Guildwood. I have just read an article published by Ontario Nature – in November of last year, I believe – regarding the designation of ESAs in […]
Leapfrog Development
Re: “Urban sprawl leaps over the Greenbelt” (Earth Watch, Spring 2016) I have just read “Urban Sprawl Leaps Over The Greenbelt” in the current (Spring 2016) issue of ON Nature. It is alarming. Midhurst is close to Barrie where I live and development is spreading in all directions from what were the boundaries of the […]
Bird and Hay
Re: “The cutting edge” (Feature, Spring 2016) With regard to the photo on the title page of the article “Cutting Edge” in the Spring 2016 edition of ON Nature: I am a farmer, and I can recognized good — and bad — haying practices when I see them. The aforementioned photo illustrates a number of […]