Parry Sound        Nature Club

January 19th, 7:00pm EST

 

At a Crossroads: When Wildlife Meets Railways 

Railways are a common feature across the landscape, however, their impact on wildlife is still poorly understood. We know that roads are responsible for the declines of many wildlife populations, particularly for reptiles and amphibians. Could railways be putting pressure on these vulnerable species as well?

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Kyle Vincent’s research focuses on weaving Indigenous Knowledge  and Western science to investigate how railways impact wildlife along the eastern coast of Georgian Bay. He is investigating which wildlife use the railway and die as a result, where hotspots of mortality exist along the railway, and which environmental factors contribute to those hotspots.

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Kyle is a second year Biology MSc student at Laurentian University, co-supervised by Dr. Jacqueline Litzgus and Dr. Jesse Popp; working in partnership with Shawanaga First Nation and Magnetawan First Nation.

February 16th, 7:00pm EST

 

Explore Wabakimi Provincial Park

Wabakimi is the second largest park in the Ontario Parks system at just under 900,000 hectares, larger even than the province of Prince Edward Island. This huge sweep of Canadian Shield encompasses over 2,000 kilometers of canoe routes and contains upwards of 10,000 lakes. Join Evan McCaul, Assistant Park Superintendent, to learn more about the interesting natural and cultural features of this landscape.

March 16th, 7:00pm EST

 

Bundle Up! Turtles in the Winter

 

Have you ever wondered how Ontario’s turtles spend the winter? The Georgian Bay Biosphere, located along the eastern shores of Georgian Bay, is home to six native species of turtle in Ontario. The wetlands across this unique landscape offer a refuge from harsh winter conditions, allowing turtles to successfully overwinter for up to half of the year.

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Join Hope Freeman in this presentation as she dives into some of the challenges turtles face over the winter season and how different wetlands may provide better protection.

April 20th, 7:00pm EST

 

From Fireplace to Pancakes: ASHMuskoka

 

What is ecological osteoporosis? Many of Ontario’s forests, including much of the Georgian Bay shoreline, still suffer decades of acid rain in the form of widespread calcium decline. The Friends of the Muskoka Watershed launched a community project to collect calcium-rich woodstove ash from 100s of residents because distribution in the forest can benefit and restore soil and forest health. Side benefits of ash additions are likely significant increases in carbon capture and increased sap flow in sugar maple. Join us for an update on how calcium can move from your fireplace to your pancakes, while restoring forest health and fostering a nature-based solution to climate change.