The songbirds are returning and bringing spring with them!
Catch a bird-banding demonstration, take in a nature photography workshop, or sign on for a bird-themed hike with our park naturalists.
If you love songbirds, you won’t want to miss the Ontario Parks spring birding festivals:
This installment of our 2017 blog series IBAs in provincial parks — brought to you by Ontario IBA Coordinator Amanda Bichel of Bird Studies Canada —focuses on the spring migrations at two of our southwestern parks.
On my recent trip to Rondeau Provincial Park / IBA for the Wings of Spring festival and the Port Franks Forested Dunes IBA (close to Pinery Provincial Park), one thing was clear…
…tundra swans make a big impression.
Continue reading IBAs of Ontario Parks: tundra swans and spring songbirds
Ontario Parks is recognizing iconic Canadian species this year to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Today’s post comes from Assistant Zone Ecologist Pilar Manorome.
Spring is probably my favourite season as it brings new life to our parks in the form of migrating birds and emerging spring ephemerals, giving our forests’ their long awaited pops of vibrant colours and contrast. One of our visitors’ favourite sights is Ontario’s provincial flower, the White Trillium, as their blooms blanket the forest floor.
Most people know of the White Trillium — also referred to as Wake Robin or Large-leaved Trillium — as Ontario’s provincial flower. This is the flower featured on many of our provincial documents, from health cards to driver’s licenses.
Here are the top five fun facts about this iconic Ontario species:
Continue reading Ontario’s trilliums and where to enjoy them
Is your family looking for a fun way to take flight this March Break? Check out Rondeau Provincial Park’s “Wing of Spring.”
This bird-themed spring series runs March 11-19, 2017, and features different feathery activities every day!
During the winter months, many of us get less “Vitamin N” than usual.
Yet contact with nature has been found to lower blood pressure, strengthen immune system, help prevent disease, and reduce stress levels.
Outdoor time is thought to have important contributions to children’s cognitive, emotional, social, and educational development. Likewise, as exposure to nature rises, children’s stress levels decrease and their self-worth increases.
Keen to spend time in nature with your family this March Break?
Six of our most popular parks are hosting Family Day events — is your family spending time in nature this winter?
Big plans for Thanksgiving Weekend?
Why not cook your turkey in a park, or dress up for the many Halloween events?
Fall is the perfect season for a quick weekend getaway, and we’ve got some great campsites available all across the province. This is our last vacancy post of the 2016 season.
Scout out your ideal campsite on our Campsite Browsing/Reservation tool (including pictures of most campsites!), or check out these featured campsites (available as of noon, Oct. 6):
Today’s post was written by seasonal student Heather Van Den Diepstraten from Rondeau Provincial Park.
It’s not just students and birds on the move this fall.
As the cold weather approaches, reptiles are trekking across Rondeau Provincial Park in search of hibernacula (places in which wildlife overwinter). Researchers for Wildlife Preservation Canada are busy tracking the movements of snakes, turtles, and skinks within the park as they find suitable habitat for their hibernation.
Continue reading Slithering into fall: hibernation for Ontario’s reptiles
September is the perfect month for camping! Bugs are gone, temperatures are still summer-y, and the crowds have cleared.
Planning a weekend getaway?
Scout out your ideal campsite on our Campsite Browsing/Reservation tool (including pictures of most campsites!), or check out these featured campsites (available as of noon, Sept. 8):
Continue reading Campsite vacancy highlights: September 9-11
As summer fades, we love hearing from our seasonal students. Today’s post is from Michael Berry, a naturalist at Rondeau Provincial Park.
Two years ago when I applied to be a Natural Heritage Education Assistant at Rondeau Provincial Park, I didn’t really know what to expect. I had visited Rondeau a handful of times as a child, but never imagined I would have the opportunity to work there.
Fast forward to present day where being a park naturalist has changed my life forever!
Why you might ask?
Here are a few of my favourite things about being a park naturalist:
