Huntsville Nature Club
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Hall, 1 High Street P1H 1P2 Huntsville, ON, Canada

President David LeGros will be giving a talk on Snapping Turtles of Algonquin Park on Thursday, April 22 at 7pm to celebrate Earth Day. Please visit the link below to register for the zoom link through Cortney at the Huntsville Public Library. Hope to see you there!

After what felt like a long winter, everyone is keen to get out and enjoy some nice weather. The recent warm temperatures and rain mean that amphibians are migrating to breeding ponds or other habitats. Just after dark on rainy nights, many will be on the move, some crossing roads where they are at risk of getting killed by drivers. If you encounter any, snap a photo and consider submitting the observation to iNaturalist.ca

Join our club's president as he leads a virtual Walk in the Woods for the library...

The Great Backyard Bird Count is just over a week away! Member Cortney LeGros is hosting an Introduction to eBird workshop through the Huntsville Public Library on Saturday, February 13 at 10am. It's a great way to learn how to use this awesome citizen science app. Visit huntsvillelibrary.ca to register for this free workshop.

You never know who will show up at your feeder! This Fisher stopped in for some suet. These are large weasels are capable predators but are not above an easy meal at a feeder or carrion. They are fairly common in central Ontario but we rarely get a good look at one. Check out the silver hair on the face and shoulders - key characteristics of the Fisher.

Flights of winter finches have been delighting people across southern Ontario this winter. These Common Redpolls have been around for a few weeks. These birds summer in the north of Canada, and this is "south" for them. We usually see redpolls every year, but numbers are variable due food abundance further North. Report your bird sightings at ebird.org or birdscanada.org

With all the nice weather this past week, the reptiles were on the move! The Eastern Garter Snake was carefully moved across the highway. It wasn't happy about the "road-side assistance" but it was better than the alternative. Keep an eye out for slow moving wildlife.

A little bit of sun in the hardwood forest goes a long way! These spring wildflowers take full advantage of the time between thaw and full leaf-out of the trees over head - the need the sun before they get shaded out. They grow, flower and go to seed, and quickly die-backall before summer even starts. Pictured are Trout Lily, Spring Beauty and Dutchman's Breeches. Have you seen any spring wildflowers?

Need a nature activity? Try Birds Canada's Bird Bingo! https://bit.ly/2XiScyI You can do it from self-iolation!

We have decided to cancel all upcoming Huntsville Nature Club meetings, until next September. In these challenging times, please enjoy nature in ways that respect social distancing and other public health measures. Maybe its a good time to go through old photos and submit them to iNaturalist. Keep a nature journal of what you can see close to home, or brush up on a new group of organisms (spiders, lichens, and mosses are all close by!). This Compton Tortoishell emerged earl...ier this week and delighted isolated naturalists by landing on the window frame. Stay safe!

At our next club meeting on Tuesday, February 25, Peter Mills will present Searching for Emeralds, a talk about the remarkable life history of these rare and beautiful dragonflies. Their aquatic larvae develop in varied environments, including crayfish burrows in alkaline fens, patterned fens on the muskeg, and cold, deep, oligotrophic lakes. Peter is a long-time seasonal Park Naturalist in Algonquin Park, and is currently the Acting Assistant Park Biologist there. The club meets at the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church at 1 High St. at 7 pm. Guests are always welcome. Pictured: A Brush-tipped Emerald, the most commonly encountered Emerald in Algonquin Park and the surrounding area. Photo by Peter Mills.

At our next club meeting on Tuesday, January 28, well-known author and photographer, Michael Runtz, will present a seasonal overview of Algonquin Park’s natural history. Michael has worked as a naturalist in provincial and national parks, hosted the international television series Wild by Nature, and written and/or photographically illustrated 13 natural history books. Michael teaches Natural History and Ornithology at Carleton University. The club meets at the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church at 1 High St. at 7 pm. Guests are always welcome.

Find out how long-time Algonquin Park naturalist Ron Pittaway forecasts winter finches!

Very interesting findings. To increase the number of Monarch eggs on milkweed, the study suggests mowing or trimming one third of the plants in mid-June and another one third in mid-July. Let's try this next summer and observe the results!

At our next club meeting on Tuesday, October 29, Becky Pollock and Tianna Burke, from the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve (GBBR) will present an overview of the UNESCO designation, major community projects and a focus on recent Species at Risk work, including reptiles, monarchs and bats. The club meets at the St. Andrews Church at 1 High St. at 7 pm. Guests are always welcome. Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve (GBBR)

Join us tomorrow for our first meeting of the season! Club member Barbara Burton as she speaks about her Safari Travels through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana.7pm at St. Andrews Church at 1 High Street. See you there!