| Coming events |
The OFNC's Lectures and Excursions Committee plans an extensive program of monthly meetings, workshops, day trips, and longer excursions for the education and interest of our members.
Almost every weekend all year round, you can join a knowledgeable nature buff on an excursion to one of the many conservation areas in our region. Learn to identify some of the hundreds of birds that frequent our lakes, fields, and forests; wade through a marsh searching for amphibians; or take a leisurely stroll with fellow nature lovers.
Complete details of all the activities can be found in our quarterly newsletter Trail & Landscape, which is free to members. For further information, call the OFNC number (613 722-3050) or e-mail ofnc@ofnc.ca.
Check out the web site of the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists for more local events.
Monthly meetings are at the Canadian Museum of Nature, Victoria Memorial Museum Building (VMMB), McLeod Street between Elgin and O'Connor. The entrance to the museum is on McLeod Street. Go to the Discovery Zone Theatre on the 4th Floor. Everyone is welcome.
The VMMB is a heritage building and is undergoing preventative maintenance, renovation and emergency repair. The Museum will ensure a safe passage within the building and to and from the parking areas but makes no other warranties as to the esthetic appearance due to construction materials being on hand or structures being erected on the premises (i.e. scaffolding, temporary walls, temporary signage, etc.). There is usually a $5 parking charge in the Museum parking lot per vehicle.
Field trips to natural areas in our region and beyond take place all year round. These events are for OFNC members and guests of members, unless the notice indicates that participation is limited or that bus travel is involved. In these cases, OFNC members will have priority and guests may participate only if space permits. Guests should be aware that in all cases OFNC liability insurance applies to OFNC members only.
Car pooling on excusions is very much encouraged and that is why we usually try to meet at a convenient bus stop with a good place to leave a car unattended for a few hours. Please chip in for gas.
Sunday, 7 February, 8:30 a.m.
Snowshoeing in Barron Canyon in Algonquin Park
Leader: Jeff Skevington (if you have any questions call him at
613-832-1970)
Meeting place: Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre, northeast corner of the parking lot, Richmond Road at Assaly Road, near Pizza Pizza. We will leave promptly at 8:30. If you are from the west end of town and do not want to backtrack to Lincoln Fields, Jeff will stop to pick up additional participants at about 9:00 at the carpool drop off at the corner of County Road 29 and Highway 417 (last exit
before Arnprior).
This will be a full day outing to one of the most spectacular winter wonderlands in southern Ontario. The Barron Canyon is amazing to see in the summer, but in the winter it is an unparalleled experience. You will need snowshoes for this outing (they can be rented at most of the outfitters in town if you don't have your own). Don't worry if you haven't snowshoed before, it isn't that rigorous a trip. We will also explore a few other areas in the park during our visit. Winter finches, ravens and even eagles are possible. We will try some wolf howling too, you never know what we might see or hear. There is a two hour drive to get here so we will be in the field from about 10:30 am to 3:30 p.m. Bring a field lunch and expect to be home by 5:30 p.m.
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Tuesday, 9 February, 7 p.m. Microfungi contribute significantly to biodegradation and nutrient recycling in the forest. Because of their small size, they tend to be overlooked and neglected even though they are some of the most common entities in our natural environment. They come in an amazing variety and complexity of shapes and sizes and utilize some interesting and diverse methods to produce spores. This talk will emphasize their beauty and biodiversity of form and function. Our monthly meetings are open to the general public. |
Saturday, 13 February, 9 a.m.
to
noon
Winter birding outing
Leader: John Cartwright (613-789-6714)
We will likely be heading west from Ottawa, looking for waterbirds, winter finches, etc. at spots like Britannia, Shirleys Bay, and Riddell Road. If other places have been producing good birds, we may switch at the last minute and head elsewhere. Bring a snack and drink, appropriate footwear and binoculars. Bad weather will cancel this trip.
Sunday, 21 February, 9 a.m. to
3 p.m.
[Snow date Sunday,
28 February]
Animal tracking in Gatineau Park
Leader: Carolyn Callaghan, 819-459-2113 (coordinator Julia Cipriani, 613-563-4139)
Join Carolyn on an outing as we look for, and may see, some of the tracks of the following species: weasel, deer, wolf, mice, pine martin, porcupine, squirrel, moose, and otter. She will give a short talk at the beginning before we travel by convoy to the destination. Bring a lunch and a thermos with a hot drink, and suitable clothing for the weather. While snowshoes are recommended, warm boots are an acceptable alternative. If the snow is very deep, however, we recommend you use snowshoes. Please bring your animal tracks field guide(s) to enrich your knowledge.
Sunday, 28 February, 9 a.m.
Winter outing to Jack Pine Trail
Leaders: Dave Moore and Bev McBride
An easy outing for beginners on a trail that is maintained for walkers, even in winter. We should see several interesting species of birds as well as having the thrill of chickadees taking seeds right out of our hands. There may be other signs of winter activities. Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes and bring sunflower seeds or unsalted peanuts, and binoculars if you have them.
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Tuesday, 9 March, 7 p.m. Join Roy as he tells us his role in a long-term study of Nova Scotia mammals organized by Oxford University. He will explain how the mammals are studied, using traps, signs and, of course, poo! He will give you an insight into the amazing changes brought about by the Europeans, and some thoughts on the impact of climate. He took some time to look for birds and flowers too. Come and hear the sad tale of Manky Maude. Our monthly meetings are open to the general public. |
Wednesday, 10 March, 7 p.m.
Biodiversity in your backyard: gardening to maximize diversity
(A Museum of Nature talk on the theme of the International Year of Biodiversity)
Speaker: Jeff Skevington
Location: Canadian Museum of Nature (VMMB), Metcalfe and McLeod Streets
Are you tired of mowing your lawn? What can you do during the International Year of Biodiversity? This is one of those great examples of how local decisions can have a huge impact on diversity. Wildlife corridors are a concept usually associated with attempts to interconnect large, disparate forest regions. However, corridors are also relevant on a much smaller scale. Everyone who stops spraying and starts to garden with wildlife in mind is contributing another link in urban wildlife corridors. During this talk, Jeff will explore several aspects of naturalized gardens. He will give ideas of how to achieve a naturalized garden, provide a case study of moving from a monoculture of grass to a diverse urban landscape, discuss some of the plants and sources of plants for such gardens, and introduce us to some of the magnificent mini-beasts that occur in such naturalized settings.
Saturday, 27 March, 1 to 4 p.m.
Geology at 60 miles an hour and rockhounds' show and tell
Leader: Geof Burbidge
Meet: Fletcher Wildlife Garden Interpretive Centre, off Prince of Wales Drive
For all of you who have ever wondered about (or even noticed) the rock walls that sometimes flash by you while driving our highways, Geof Burbidge will give tips on how to tell if those rocks are igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic. Lots of examples will be provided, both photographic and real. No previous skill required! And bring up to five of your own mystery rocks or minerals—you know, the ones that have been holding down the corner of the patio or unpaid bills on the corner of the desk. Geof will attempt to identify them (any stories about their origin much appreciated). If you've got a magnifying glass and a pocket knife, bring those along too.
Sunday, 11 April, 8 a.m.
Spring waterfowl east of Ottawa
Leader: Mark Gawn
Join us as we head to the flooded fields east of Ottawa for an all-day outing. If water levels are high we will spend most of our day in the fields between the Milton Road area and Bourget. If water levels are low, we will get inventive, going to lagoons if they are not frozen, or birding along the river if that area holds the most promise. With luck we will see most species of spring ducks and geese as well as Sandhill Cranes. Note: early April is a dynamic time of year for birds. If other areas are "hot," the leader may choose to go somewhere else.
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Tuesday, 13 April, 7 p.m. Soil is integral to human well-being; it is the surface we live on and the basis for all life on dry land. Soil is also the critical transition between the Earth's ecosystems; processes occurring in the top few centimetres of Earth's surface can impact the aquatic and marine ecosystems. Healthy soils are teeming with life; the biological complexity within a few cubic centimetres of forest soil rivals that of a coral reef. There is general agreement among ecologists that the diverse species living in soil provide essential ecosystem services, including carbon and nutrient cycling, enhancement of plant growth, mitigation of diseases, biological control, and development of soil structure. Oribatid mites are an important component of this diversity. This talk will illustrate the latest knowledge on the biological complexity of oribatid mites and their ecology. It will focus on their extensive defense mechanisms, their reproductive strategies, and their diversity in soil habitats in forest, grasslands and arctic systems in Canada. It will show why they are among the charismatic microfauna. Our monthly meetings are open to the general public. |
Saturday, 17 April, 7:30 p.m.
OFNC Soirée
Meet: St. Basil's Church, off Maitland, just north of the Queensway
This is our party evening when we shall be honouring important members of our Club, hosting an art and photography contest, and highlighting activities of the Macoun Field Club. Refreshments will be served.
Thursday, 13 May to Sunday 16 May 2010
Point Pelee National Park
Our Club's next trip to Pointe Pelee will take place during the spring migration of 2010. The cost is $450 for accommodation for three nights at the Comfort Inn in Leamington, based on double occupancy, and includes breakfasts, bus transportation and taxes. A down payment of $100 will secure your place on this trip; book early to avoid disappointment. Call the Club number 613 722 3050; mail your cheque to OFNC, Box 35069, Westgate P.O. As we did last time, we plan to shop for, and serve, two buffet lunches and will be asking for $14 per person, on the bus, for those wishing to participate. People bringing your own lunches are invited to join us for drinks, fruits and snacks at $4 each. Dinners will be at several local restaurants.
See photos from the OFNC's 2007 trip to Point Pelee
