Preparing Backyards and Balconies for Birds This Winter?

Think Food. Feeders in the winter provide an extra energy source for birds that stay in the area during winter. Provide a number of feeder styles and types of feed (sunflower, thistle, unsalted peanuts, sliced fruit, seed scattered on stamped down snow) to attract many different birds to your yard. Feeders can also be easily attached to windows using suction cups. Place feeders where they are sheltered from predators and weather, and clean feeders regularly.

Small space? No problem! Some feeders are available with a suction cup attachment that can be stuck right to the window!

Don’t remove dead flower heads in the autumn. Don’t cut back old annual or perennial plants. The seed heads that are left in place on plants such as coneflowers, sunflowers and thistle will provide a lasting source of seed for finches and sparrows.

Don’t rake too much. Dead leaves left under trees and shrubs are ideal spots for sparrows to forage for insects throughout the colder months.

Provide cover. Birds need shelter from harsh conditions, and vegetation in your yard will help to furnish it. Don’t prune back dead vegetation like vines and stalks – these provide both valuable winter cover and nesting material for birds in the spring. Balconies have a special opportunity to attract nesting birds as they provide great shelter.

Add habitat in your backyard in the form of a brush pile, which may attract foraging birds and mammals, and even over-wintering reptiles, amphibians and insects.

Think ahead to next winter by planning for spring planting. Choose species that are native to your area. Good sources of winter food for birds include rosehips of wild roses, the berries of sumac and dogberry, the seeds of maples and birches, and perennials like black-eyed susans.

Nature Canada Photo of the Month Winners 2011

Looking back over the past year, we've had so many people share their love of nature by entering the Nature Canada Photo of the Month Contest. Every month, we let our Facebook fans select the winning photo. It hasn't always been easy - we've had a great number of fantastic photos submitted but only one winner every month!

We would like to celebrate these photos, and the love for nature that they represent, in a slideshow that you can watch and share with your friends and family. These beautiful photos are a great reminder of the wildlife we cherish and are working to protect for future generations. 

Enjoy!

Thank you to everyone who submitted photos and joined the Nature Canada Flickr Group. We hope to share more of your nature photography in the coming year.

Seasons greetings and best wishes for the new year!

Do you have a favourite lake or pond?

Ice formation, Stan Wojtaszek

With Fall well underway, Canadians are saying "see you soon" to lakes and ponds all across the country for yet another winter. Swimming, paddling, fishing and visits to the lakeside cottage have, among other things, been put on hold for awhile. But now is a great time to reflect on the many ways that lakes and ponds help us connect to nature throughout the year; how they are part of our experience of the 'true north, strong and free'. And I can't forget all the opportunities lakes offer for pond hockey, ice-fishing and skating during the winter months!

Canadians love their waterscapes, it's pretty much a fact. Saskatchewan-based author Allan Casey explores the almost intrinsic relationship Canadians have with lakes and other water bodies in his 2010 Governor General's Award-winning book Lakeland: Journeys into the Soul of Canada. Through a series of encounters with several of Canada's lesser-known but nonetheless well-loved lakes, Casey explains how lakes are an integral part of the Canadian experience. In the opening chapter he writes:

"Like a lot of Canadians, I have been drawn irresistibly to lakes my whole life. Access to pure lakes is fundamental to my quality of life in my home and native land. I love them all." (from p.2)

That excerpt resonates with me in many ways. I didn't grow up on a lake, nor did I grow up with a lakeside family cottage or taking annual paddling trips or attending summer camp. But I did grow up with fond memories of lots of time spent at lakes and ponds, giving me a great appreciation of them as accessible water bodies. For me lakes were not the ocean, which in my experience on the Bay of Fundy was an all-at-once powerful, beautiful and merciless body of water. Lakes were by no means innocuous in my mind, but they were more palpable, more enjoyable - they were more fun.

With my training in environmental science and biology, lakes came to mean even more to me and my experience as a Canadian. Lakes are so much more than just bodies of water or habitat for "fish". You can read all about lakes as habitat and how to promote healthier human and wildlife habitat along Canada's shorelines at The Living By Water Project. You may also be interested in a report our own Ted Cheskey recently co-authored, called Birds At Risk: The Importance of Canada's Boreal Wetlands and Waterways.

Since expanding my perspective on lakes, I've become an avid paddler (whenever I get the chance) and I love exploring lakes in search of birds, fish, crustaceans, freshwater molluscs, dragonflies and other invertebrates, submergent and emergent plants, solace, recharge... you name it. And now as a parent I have the opportunity to see lakes through my daughter's eyes. I look forward to our first paddling trip together, or the first time we skate on a wide open pond. We had lots of fun this summer exploring lakes in baby-steps (literally) and finding out how fun it is to get Mummy and Daddy wet.

Do I have a favourite lake in Canada? Absolutely! I love a waterscape called Frozen Ocean Lake in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia. I have fond memories of introducing good friends to open water paddling on that lake, and the back-country campsites are amazing! I also love Big Trout and Trout Lakes in Ontario's Algonquin Provincial Park. And I'm always glad to expand this list!

So, do you have a favourite lake or pond? If so then stay tuned to our blog. Why? Because we're starting Canada's first 'Love My Lake' Declaration - a list of people who want to declare that Canada's lakes are special to them. Check back soon for more details on how you can get involved!

An Arctic Experience to the "Place of Spirits" with Students on Ice

Students on Ice participants in Torngat National Park

What happens when you place 65 young people from all walks of life, 45 teachers, mentors, musicians and coaches on a floating classroom on the rugged coast of Labrador and Nunavut? You get a recipe for life shaping experiences. It was into this mixture that I was invited by Geoff Green, Executive Director of Students on Ice, to experience the Students on Ice (SOI) initiative – an international effort that aims to provide students from around the world with inspiring educational opportunities at the ends of the Earth and, in doing so, help them foster a new understanding and respect for the planet.

I intercepted the Students on Ice in the Torngat National Park on August 3rd, 10 days after they had set sail from Iceland. Our Twin Otter plane made a flyover of the bay, banked, then dipped and made its way onto a nearby runaway in hot pursuit of a lone Caribou which had taken refuge at the beginning of the tarmac. Within an hour of our landing, we joined the Students on Ice participants and made our way to the Torngat National Park base camp at Kangidluasuk – an orderly alignment of some 30 large canvass tents and a research trailer on a quiet beach overlooking the steely blue bay and glacier scarred landscape. The base camp was established by Parks Canada under the jurisdiction of the Nunatsiavut Government and its management is in the process of being transferred to the local Inuit representatives. At the base camp, we shared a wonderful dinner on the beach with the Inuit elders from the area who recounted stories of their time on this land. Many of the participants from Students on Ice were selected from Inuit communities across Canada’s north and it was beautiful to watch as, together with the Elders, they shared their rich culture with other youth from southern Canada, the US, Europe and Asia.

Over the next 3 days we nimbly made our way northward and as we did, we poked the ship into several breathtaking fiords that reach westward, penetrating deep into the Park. Nature Canada worked for several years with Parks Canada, and the people of Labrador to establish Torngat National Park in 2005. It’s one of Canada’s most remote National Parks occupying some 10,000 square km and extending nearly 1,000 km from Nain to the northern most tip of Labrador. The Park protects one of eastern North America’s greatest mountain ranges and its wildlife, including large populations of Polar Bears, Caribou, whales, seabirds and tundra Black Bears, and honors the Inuit whose settlements predate the first European Vikings and the Moravian Missionaries. Within the Park’s boundaries, two globally Important Bird Areas support large concentrations of Common Eider and several colonies of marine birds.

Each day was designed to expose young students to aspects of the north through different workshops including landscape painting, advocating on environmental issues, establishing an Arctic council, cataloguing plants, learning about the life history of birds, to name a few. These sessions were interspersed with excursions to picturesque glacial lakes, waterfalls and sacred Inuit burial grounds, as well as expeditions to climb mountains, search for Polar Bears and float alongside Minke Whales.

The Torngat Mountains and George River Caribou herds cross paths as they migrate to and from their calving grounds – we spotted several lone Caribou along the rocky shores. The inland bays and coastal waters were rich in bird species. We saw Common Loons, Black Guillemots, Glaucous Gulls, Peregrine Falcons, Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers, Northern Fulmars and Black-legged Kittiwakes. Northern redpolls were perhaps the most numerous passerine on most inland walks. And wildflowers, grasses and sedges abounded.

After departing Port Burwell, Killiniq Island on August 6th, we set sail across Ungava Bay and headed towards our final destination, Kuujjuak. In the afternoon, the students gathered one last time in the front hall of the ship to listen to leadership presentations and prepare for a final night of comedy, competitions, photography, singing and drama. It was clear when the curtain came down on the night, that the students had clearly been moved and Students on Ice had left an indelible mark on all those it had touched during the course of the fantastic voyage.

Students on Ice has done more to help shape young minds about the Arctic than perhaps any other initiative of its kind. By embracing Inuit knowledge and integrating their experience and understanding into the program, Students on Ice is breaking down the barriers between northern and southern cultures and is bravely paving the way for a new found understanding and respect for northern cultures and the Arctic environment.

The lessons learned from Students on Ice have profoundly impacted my understanding and appreciation for engaging young people in nature and these lessons learned come at an important time as Nature Canada looks for effective ways to continue engaging Canadians in a meaningful way in nature.

For more photos from Ian's trip and photos of Canada's National Parks, check out our Flickr album dedicated to these beautiful, wild spaces.

Should Kids Bring Electronics to Summer Camp?

Photo: L-lines via Flickr

Do you have a cellphone? An iPod? Chances are you do – and so do your children.

We live in a world that’s increasingly connected online through social media, instant messaging and email. Young people in particular live online in a way that their parents could never have imagined just five years ago.

With the emergence of Facebook, Twitter and a plethora of social media channels, adults and children alike are spending more time online and less time interacting with people face to face.

When it comes to connecting with nature, there’s a certain nostalgic view some of us carry around about how “in the good old days” spending time in nature meant watching the stars come out at night, fishing at dusk, and gathering around a campfire to tell stories. Camping and spending time outdoors was a departure from the daily grind. But with wireless coverage expanding further into cottage country and the wild spaces we hold so dear, more people are choosing to stay connected – all the time.

For parents who packed their kids off to camp this summer they had to make a decision their parents never had to make. Would they let their kids bring their electronic devices? Or would they firmly draw the line, asking their children to painfully detach themselves from their phone and iPod?

We asked our supporters what they thought in our July Quick Poll.

In answer to the question "Do you think children should be allowed to bring cellphones, ipods and other electronics to summer camp?", the overwhelming response from nearly 500 people was that parents should say no. Here's the breakdown of the numbers:

91.5 said no, they shouldn’t.
8.5 said yes, they should.

Many people elaborated on their choice by leaving a comment. I’ve listed a few below that illustrated the general sentiment about kids bringing electronics to camp.

“It takes away from the whole experience of being in away at camp. Instead of hiding in headphones or texting they get to interact with friends who are there with them. I speak from experience as a camper and a counselor!”

“The privilege of going to summer camp is so that children can be exposed to the wonders of nature. The songs of birds, different wildlife and of course, of getting along with each other on a more intimate basis. Phones should be for emergencies only.”

“They are in front of 'screens' and electronics all day. Today's children aren't familiar with nature and have little opportunity to surround themselves in natural environments. Electronic "diddlers" are hypnotic, distracting and addictive.”

Do you agree with these statements? Want to share your opinion? Join the conversation by adding your comments below.

Congratulations to the Winner of Canada's Ultimate Family Adventure!

Congratulations to Savannah from Holy Name School in Ontario whose name was selected from over 7,700 entries in our Grand Prize draw! Savannah and her family will be heading to Jasper National Park this summer for the ultimate family adventure.

Savannah and her family will travel in luxury aboard a VIA Rail train through the breathtaking scenery of Canada’s spectacular Rocky Mountains. Upon arriving at Jasper National Park, they will learn to camp and stay in a cottage tent for a good night’s sleep between four unique adventures including the Ice Explorer tour on the Athabasca Glacier, Miette Hot Springs, Palisades Stewardship Education Centre, and white water rafting. Savannah also wins a Parks Canada Discovery Pass so that her whole family can continue to discover the endless fun of Canada’s National Parks and National Historic Sites all year long.

We also drew winners for 4 secondary prizes. Each of the following students won a $1,000 VIA Rail voucher and a Parks Canada Discovery Pass for their families:

• Joline from Mount Carmel-Blytheswood School in Ontario


• Sydney from Maple Grove School in Nova Scotia


• Felix from Cambie Secondary School in British Columbia


• Salem from Warren Elementary School in Manitoba

Thanks to everyone who entered our Canada’s Ultimate Family Adventure contest! We hope you enjoy using your My Parks Pass this year.

And if you’d still like a chance to win prizes – just for you – make sure to share your My Parks Pass experiences through photos and stories in the My Ultimate Parks Pass Experience contest all summer long.

Connect with Nature: Your Long Weekend Camping Checklist

What could be more Canadian than a long weekend camping trip? Take advantage of the upcoming holiday to relax, unwind and reconnect with nature. Whether you're going hiking, on a day trip, or staying overnight, planning is the key to a successful camping experience, so make sure to check the following items:

HIKING

Photo by Arlen Tees via Flickr

Before you go

1. Prepare your route and gather maps
2. Check whether there is an entry fee, if pets are allowed on the trails, etc
3. Leave your itinerary with a friend

Don't leave home without

1. Hiking boots or sturdy shoes
2. Backpack
3. Water bottle
4. Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat
5. Insect repellant
6. First aid kit
7. Compass
8. Rain gear
9. Plastic bags
10. Picnic lunch and/or snacks

Awesome Add-ons

1. Spare pair of socks
2. Camera
3. Binoculars
4. Flashlight
5. Whistle

DAY TRIP

Photo by Colleen Proppe via Flickr

Before you go

1. Prepare your route and gather maps
2. Ensure your vehicle is trip-ready
3. Leave your itinerary with a friend

Don't leave home without

1. Water
2. Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat
3. Insect repellant
4. First aid kit
5. Rain gear
6. Plastic bags
7. Food and drink cooler
8. Dishes and utensils
9. Camp stove and fuel
10. Outdoor activities (frisbee, football, soccer ball, etc.)

Awesome Add-ons

1. Camera
2. Flashlight
3. Camp chairs
4. Portable stereo
5. Swimwear and a towel

OVERNIGHT CAMPING

Photo by GREDELEGRE via Flickr

Before you go

1. Reserve your campsite and bring the confirmation number with you
2. Ensure your vehicle is trip-ready
3. Leave your itinerary with a friend

Don't leave home without

1. Tent
2. Sleeping bag and pillow
3. Water
4. Multi-tool
5. Rain gear
6. Plastic bags
7. Food and drink cooler
8. Camp stove and fuel
9. Flashlight
10. Toilet paper

Awesome Add-ons

1. Camera
2. Hammock
3. Folding table
4. Tarp
5. Canoe and paddles

For more ideas and comprehensive checklists, visit:
Parks Canada - Learn to Camp
Camping Canada
Canadian Parents - Family Camping Checklist
Canadian Tire - Camping Gear

Is there something that you always take with you on a camping trip? Let us know in the comments below. Enjoy your long weekend!

Give Nature a Break!

Sometimes, nature needs to be left alone in order to thrive and do its job well.

That's the message Carla Sbert, Nature Canada's manager of conservation programs and legal issues, shared with CBC Radio One's Ottawa morning show listeners on behalf of everyone who feels nature deserves a break.

Inspired by her daily commute to our office in downtown Ottawa, Carla asked the National Capital Commission to help Monarch butterflies by leaving fields standing through the summer. Here's Carla's story, which was read by the show's co-host, Stu:

I have been cycling to work from Gatineau to downtown Ottawa through Leamy Lake Park  for five years. Every summer I am pained to see beautiful fields along the bike path razed down in the middle of summer. This year that happened last week and early this week, even before Canada goldenrods started blooming and just a couple of weeks after the first milkweed did. This is so unnecessary. These fields are important for declining pollinators and birds, like bees, swallows and other insect eating birds and bats. They are important for monarch butterflies, too. I hope you’ve heard about the latest research showing the importance of milkweed for monarch butterflies and the role of milkweed loss in their decline. Please give nature a break and leave fields standing through the summer.

Do you want to help monarch butterflies in your backyard or garden? Check out Nature Canada's tips on how to plant a monarch butterfly friendly garden to get started!

If there's a natural space where you live that needs a break, share your story with us. Tell us what inspired you to protect it and what can be done to ensure it gets a break in the comments section below. And don't forget to advocate for this natural space just like Carla did!

Connect with Nature: Celebrate Canada

Photo by the National Capital Commission
(via Flickr)

From coast to coast to coast, we are celebrating 144 years of being a nation. In many ways, we are defined by the landscape: tundra to the north, mountains in the west, rolling plains meeting up with the striking features of the Canadian Shield, to ocean-swept tidal beaches in the east. What better way to mark Canada Day than by getting outside and enjoying everything that nature has to offer?

Most communities offer outdoor festivities of one kind or another, so find out what’s going on in your neighbourhood and gather outside for a great birthday celebration. If you’d prefer something a bit quieter, take a walk and appreciate the natural spaces you can find, even in an urban landscape. Or choose to get away from it all with a backcountry camping trip.

Across the country, Parks Canada is opening their doors on July 1 with free admission to national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas. Plus, if you’re coming to Ottawa for the country’s biggest party, official activities will feature the centennial of Parks Canada, the oldest national parks service in the world.

Through forests, lakes, rivers and mountains, Canada was forged from the wilderness. Take the time to reconnect with nature as the best birthday gift you can give your country.

Happy Canada Day from the Nature Canada Team!

6 Hot Home Tips for Cool Summer Living

by Fantastijes

A late start to the summer means that we've only recently dusted our standing fans, planted our vegetable gardens, and started planning our weekend getaways.

But what about all the time that we'll be spending indoors when the thermostat is pushing 30? With a little planning, you can easily keep your home cool and your energy bills down.

If you're looking to beat the heat naturally, stay cool while keeping these green tips in mind:

Create a stir. Circulating air keeps you cooler, and fans use 90% less energy than air conditioners. If you can, set up a cross-current with window fans.

Get with the program. On days when air conditioning is an absolute necessity, set the thermostat to 25C and leave it there. If you'll be away from home for more than four hours, turn the a/c off and program it to turn on an hour before you return.

Invest in low-E. Windows with low-E films keep out the summer heat. As a bonus, they'll also keep heat inside during the winter. Make sure all windows are properly sealed to avoid drafts.

Reflect on your roof. If you're planning on updating your roof, choose light-coloured materials to redirect the sun's heat away from your home. Alternatively, install a radiant barrier inside your roof to accomplish some of the same goals.

Go green – from the top down. Consider a green roof that will not only cool your home, but can provide habitat for wildlife if you plant native, drought-tolerant species. Environment Canada research shows that a typical one-storey building with about 10 cm of grass and growth medium on its roof cuts its cooling needs by 25%.

Don't forget the garden. Plant shrubs and trees that will shield your house from the sun and keep it cooler while attracting beneficial birds, insects, and other nature neighbours.

As an added incentive, following these green tips for staying cool and you'll be contributing to the global effort to fight climate change. Much of the energy that we use during the summer goes into trying to stay cool and comfortable indoors. By 2030, global energy demand is expected to be two thirds higher than it is today. Reducing our household energy consumption makes sense for the planet and the pocketbook.

Connect with Nature: Get Out and Garden

Tastes like Spring by Larissa Sayer (via Flickr)

What will you be doing this weekend? Opening up the cottage? Visiting a national park? How about staying closer to home and getting out into the garden?

The May long weekend traditionally marks the start of gardening season in most parts of Canada. The danger of frost has passed and the soil has had a chance to dry out from the winter melt and spring rain. Where to start with 3 days of gardening bliss ahead?

First, decide what type of improvements you’d like to make to your garden this year: traditional, wildflower, vegetable or maybe a mix. If this is your first time gardening, remember to start small – there will always be room for changes in future years!

Garden entry by Andrea_44 (via Flickr)

Next, there’s probably some tidying up to do in the yard. Make sure to clean up any debris that has ended up in the garden over the winter, as well as any dead plants that didn’t get removed last fall. You’ll probably want to aerate the soil as well, breaking it up with a hoe or other garden tool so that air and water can bring nutrients back into it.

After all that preparation, it’s finally time to plant things! Make sure you’ve chosen plants that are suited for your region and that you follow the directions for the amount of sunlight, water and nutrients each one needs.

No matter what kind of garden you choose, an easy way to make it greener is to install a rain barrel. And if you’re in a small space that doesn’t allow for a large garden, why not try your hand at container gardening instead?

It can be easy to spend a lot of time in the garden, but remember not to overdo it. Take a break to enjoy the early spring flowers, or walk around the block and admire other people’s gardens.

What plans do you have for your garden this year? Let us know in the comments below.

Creating a New Nature Reserve: Malcolm Bluff Shores

Last week, Nature Canada joined Ontario Nature to celebrate the purchase of an important piece of forested land on the coast of Ontario's Bruce Peninsula. Ian Davidson, Nature Canada's executive director, and Mara Kerry, Nature Canada's director of conservation, traveled to Wiarton, Ontario for the celebration.

Thanks to the generosity of Hugo Germeraad, a nature advocate, naturalist and long-time member of Nature Canada, a stunning stretch of Bruce Peninsula is now protected forever. This was made possible when Hugo Germeraad bequeathed a gift in his Will for the acquisition of a nature reserve.

Located some 40 kilometres north of Owen Sound, amidst one of the largest unprotected expanses of woodland on the Niagara Escarpment, this biodiversity hotspot includes Georgian Bay shoreline, wetlands, woodlands, uplands, escarpment and cliff face. A 4-kilometer section of the Bruce Trail crosses along the top of the property’s terraced bluffs, and the views are breathtaking. Nature Canada has allocated the funds to our sister organization Ontario Nature to purchase a 233-hectare parcel – the largest of three spectacular adjoining properties that together constitute the Malcolm Bluff Shores Nature Reserve.

“This very generous bequest from Hugo Germeraad will help permanently secure habitat of exceptional importance for Canadian biodiversity, including part of a major flyway for migratory songbirds and raptors heading to and from their northern breeding grounds,” says Nature Canada Executive Director Ian Davidson. “Species at risk who live on this land, including the Eastern Ribbon Snake and the Peregrine Falcon, will be protected. We are deeply grateful to the family for their thoughtful gift to nature.”

Hugo Germeraad is remembered by his family as a man “completely in harmony with nature.” Local wild birds would eat right out of his hand. He provided nesting places for migratory song birds, birds of prey – and he was an avid birdwatcher, involved with many local naturalist clubs and a member of Nature Canada since the 1970s.

Connect with Nature: It's Festival Season!

Tulips from the 2005 Canadian Tulip Festival.
Photo by Robin Dawes (via Flickr).

While there's something to love in every season in Canada, late spring holds a special treat - the start of so many outdoor festivals across the country! The nicer weather means that we can celebrate everything from music to food to art to the environment, all outdoors in beautiful spaces.

Whether you're going to a specific nature-focused event (such as the 2011 Nature Trust of BC Wild Festival for Youth) or something a bit more general, like the Canadian Tulip Festival starting in Ottawa this weekend, these are great opportunities to get outside throughout the spring and summer and just enjoy being in nature. The music sounds richer, the food tastes sweeter and the colours look brighter when they're experienced with nature.

If you're not sure what might be going on near you, you can start your search by checking out this list of environmental fairs and festivals.

What festivals are you planning to attend this season? Let us know in the comments.

Live Lightly in May - Make Every Day Earth Day!

Photo: tkeneipp

Today marks the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Why not celebrate by making these small changes every day for the month of May:

• Watch less TV
• Buy fewer things
• Eat more vegetables, grains, and fruits while eating less meat
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Ride the bus or your bike to work or school
• Use less water in and around your home

Tells us about your act of green in the comments – and ask your friends and family what they’re doing!

Earth Day is also the first day of advanced voting for the federal election. As you go to the polls, choose the party that will protect and conserve nature on behalf of all Canadians. Not sure who to vote for? We’ve put together 7 Questions for your candidates and a list of 4 things the government must do to effectively protect nature.

Advanced voting takes place on Friday, April 22, Saturday, April 23 and Monday, April 25. Find your local advance polling stations here.

Tell Canada’s leaders where you stand – vote for nature in 2011!

All Eyes Are On Nature!

Cast Your Vote for Nature on May 2, 2011!

Canadians expect their government to protect nature. We live in a time when the planet's health is in peril, a time when strong leadership and decisive action are required to address the urgent threats of climate change, habitat loss, and species extinctions.

To effectively protect nature for future generations, the Government of Canada has to do four things:

1. Protect Wildlife
2. Preserve Natural Areas
3. Prevent Environmental Disasters
4. Lead Canadian Conservation

Visit Vote for Nature 2011 to find out more about what the government should do on these four issues. We've also put together a list of 7 Questions for Your Candidates.

Tell Canada’s leaders where you stand – vote for nature in 2011!


Music for All Eyes Are On Nature is courtesy of Pitx.

Greening the Lower Mainland

Pull ivy at Campbell Valley Park, Langley BC

Want to tackle environmental issues and have fun? If you live in BC’s Lower Mainland, the Lower Mainland Green Team might be the group for you!

They get together once a month to help an environmental group, non-profit organization, charity or city tackle an environmental issue that needs co-operation and teamwork. Gloves and tools will be supplied as well as refreshments! Some of their activities include:

• Pulling invasive plants that are overtaking native flora
• Planting of native plants/trees
• Restoring areas along a stream, river, marsh or shoreline
• Beach/River/lake clean up
• Harvesting organic fruits/veggies
• Trail building/maintenance
• Restoration of wildlife sites

For more information, check out their website: http://www.meetup.com/The-Lower-Mainland-Green-Team or email the Team at lowermainlandgreenteam@yahoo.ca

Connect with Nature: Visit a Natural History Museum

On my trip to the Museum of Nature,
I got to see frogs from around
the world. Photo by J. Desilets.

If the winter weather is too cold or snowy for you to get outside and explore nature, it's the perfect time to head to your local natural history museum! Natural history museums showcase Canada's rich and diverse natural history from coast to coast to coast. They preserve the past so that we can gain insights into the possible future. And they allow us to discover aspects of Canadian nature that we might not otherwise have a chance to see.

A giant sea turtle skeleton swims through
the air at the museum. Photo by J. Desilets.

I've been lucky enough to visit the newly renovated Museum of Nature in Ottawa twice in the past six months. The historical building has four floors (plus a basement!) full of natural history treasures from Canada. Separated by theme, each gallery tells a story about nature in Canada; whether your interest is birds, marine life, mammals, insects or geology you're sure to find something interesting in their many displays and interactive exhibits. My favourite gallery is still the dinosaurs, since new discoveries are still being made that help us learn about how animals evolved.

Plan your next trip to a museum near you! (If you're not sure where to start, try the Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada.)

Our top tips for museum visits:

The RBC Blue Water gallery at the museum
features a live tank of starfish and other
sea life. Photo by J. Lim.

• Leave yourself plenty of time to explore the museum. Depending on the size of the exhibits and your specific interests, you want the chance to see everything without feeling rushed. At the Museum of Nature, we budgeted about an hour per floor (30 minutes per gallery).
• Wear comfortable shoes. If you'll be walking around for even a couple of hours, you don't want to have to stop because your feet are sore. If you're planning a family trip with younger children, make sure to space out energy-intensive activities with some quieter periods for rest.
• Know the museum guidelines about outside food and drink. Most museums will have designated areas where you can sit and eat your lunch or a snack. Make sure to find these on your map and plan your route accordingly.
• Bring your camera. Many museums will allow you to take pictures of the exhibits. Since so many of the experiences are interactive, you will be able to bring home some great memories!
• On a budget? Check to see if there are periods of discounted or free entry to your local natural history museum. In Ottawa, it's also possible to borrow a museum pass from the public library (that's how I was able to go).

Remember to share your own natural history museum experiences with us in the comments below!

Connect with Nature: Get Outside and Get Active

Skating on the Rideau Canal. Photo by Xiaozhuli via Flickr

According to a recent Statistics Canada study,

"just 15 per cent of adults are meeting the latest proposed guidelines in Canada for averaging 2 1/2 hours per week of moderate to vigorous activity. For children, just seven per cent are achieving the benchmark of at least one hour of activity per day."

Spending time outside is an easy way to increase your physical health. Even as the cold and snow of winter have a firm grip on most of the country, there are many fun activities to do in nature.

Skiing, snowboarding, skating and sledding immediately come to mind as favourite winter sports, and we can't forget about hockey! But you don't need much equipment to enjoy everything that nature has to offer this season. What about something as simple as a winter wildlife walk or building a snowman in your yard? Just make sure you dress appropriately for the activity you are doing and the weather forecast for your area.

What are you doing this winter to get outside and get active? Let us know about your favourite winter activities in the comments.

Book Review - Sanctuary: The Story of Mary Majka

This book review was written by Nature Canada board member Joan Czapalay. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the story of this inspiring conservationist, Joan!

Sanctuary: The Story of Mary Majka

Author: Deborah Carr
Trade Paperback : 260 pages
Publisher : Goose Lane Editions Fredericton, New Brunswick. (2010)
Language: English
List Price: $19.95
ISBN-10: 0864926243
ISBN-13: 978-086492624

Read this book for entertainment, for inspiration and for truth about what it means to be fully human. Travel with the author Deborah Carr on Mary's life journey thus far, told mainly in Mary's own words and with the use of photographs which are shared with the reader throughout the book. These pictures carry the threads of Mary's memories as a beloved child of privilege to a girlhood of poverty in pre-war Poland, to separation from mother and brother after the loss of a beloved father, to prison and enforced labour in Austria, to the University of Innsbruck to study medicine, and then marriage to Mike and immigration to Canada.

The text, which is carried forward by conversations rather than interviews between Mary and the author, invite us (as the pictures do) into Mary's home and into her private life in a way that no other biography has done for me. We see Mary's parents, her homes, her children, places and projects as the story unfolds.

The author writes beautifully, as in the passage where Mary speaks of the loss of her dear father whom she still mourns, "She stares out the clouded window, glass stained with time and moisture. A thin pane separates here from there. For a moment she watches the weather and the water, perhaps seeking insight, perception. And truth."

Deborah Carr seems to have come as close as another can in finding Mary's truth. An unswerving commitment to conservation of nature and of heritage and a love of people are Mary's trademarks. Mary especially knows the importance of connecting children with nature. When Mary and Mike were raising their two sons Chris and Marc in rural New Brunswick, a young naturalist, David Christie, became part of their family. David later told the author that Mary "was there when I needed her". And Mary could say the same for David. He was co-founder of the St. John Naturalist Club, and a student of science. They became, and still are, a team for conservation and preservation causes. They and other naturalist friends founded the New Brunswick Naturalists, and were active in Nature Canada. The Mary's Point Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve officially opened in August of 1987 thanks to their efforts and in 1989 an interpretive centre was opened.

Obtaining funding has always been a source of difficulty for all conservation causes. Yet Mary and David working together have been able to preserve so much and to educate so many about the importance of the natural world, the inter-relationship of all life forms and the value of our human history.

This is not just a "feel good" book. Part of the truth is that Mary sometimes went ahead with what she perceived as right without considering others. Deborah does not skirt the issues which arose and does not make Mary out to be a saint. Mary Majka is too intense for many people, but history will honour her.

Mary's lifetime love of nature and love of people, especially children and youth, has been translated into action. She told Deborah that after the death of her father "Nature was my support". All who have felt the healing power of the woods and trees, the beach and rocky shore can attest to this. Few of us put our love of nature into action, but this book could change that.

After Mike's death just a few years ago there would be need to find that healing power again. Mike is a background figure in Sanctuary but so important in helping Mary achieve her dreams. He too shared her great love of nature and sense of place. If we are given the right people in our lives when we need them, perhaps we are placed in the right spot.Mary was made for Mary's Point and the upper Bay of Fundy.

Mary and David publish an annual holiday letter with pictures of Chris and Marc, and more recently Nishka, and others in Mary's extended family. I am privileged to have been welcomed to Calidris, the cottage near the beach, and to have been welcomed to the Big House be part of that family. And I have been inspired by Mary's life so well and intensely lived and well told.

November Photo of the Month: Red Fox

This beautiful photo that captures the energy and mystery of the Red Fox was sent in by JW Mills. Thanks for sharing it with us, JW!

The Red Fox is one of Canada's most wide-spread mammals and can be found in every province and territory.

Most foxes will keep a territory between four and eight square kilometres around their den site. However, young foxes travel widely in the fall in search of new territories; some have been reported as far as 250 km from their birth sites.

Do you love this photo? Put it on your desktop!

And why not share your photo with us for the chance to be featured as Nature Canada's photo of the month.