Parry Sound Nature Club
Parry Sound Nature Club Events
Regular presentations are the third Wednesday of each month. Special events are held year round.
Stay up to date on events through the Parry Sound Nature Club Facebook page!
January 21st, 7:00pm
Living Responsibly with Bears: Trends, Challenges, and Management in Ontario
Mary St. Centre, 24 Mary St, Parry Sound
Presented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Black bears are an iconic part of Ontario’s wilderness, but their future is being shaped by human actions, climate change, and shifting forest health. This presentation offers an engaging look at black bear management in the province, weaving together long-term strategies with emerging challenges. New research shows striking regional differences, what’s driving these trends? Whether you’re a cottager, outdoor enthusiast, or simply curious about wildlife, this session will equip you with tools for coexisting responsibly with bears, an understanding of their population dynamics, and insights into how climate change and forest health are shaping their future.
February 18th, 7:00pm
Ecosystem Gardening: Gardening with Native Plants to Create Habitat and a Sense of Place
Mary St. Centre, 24 Mary St, Parry Sound
Gardening with native plants doesn’t mean your garden will look untended and messy. You can create a garden that suits your style, supports wildlife and reflects the character of our special place. Anne Bossart will share her native plant and gardening knowledge and the story of the unique gardening journey that led to her appreciation and understanding of the interconnected ecosystems that support wildlife through the seasons.
March 18th, 7:00pm
Bark, Beetles, and Blight: What’s Happening in Local Forests?
Mary St. Centre, 24 Mary St, Parry Sound
Explore the current state of forest health in the region, highlighting pests and diseases that pose the greatest risks to native trees and forest habitats. From emerald ash borer and hemlock woolly adelgid to fungal diseases and climate-driven stressors, this talk offers a clear overview of the challenges facing our forests today. Join us to deepen your understanding of forest ecology, gain practical knowledge, and leave with a renewed appreciation for healthy forests.
April 15th, 7:00pm
Boats, Waves, and the Shore: Learning How They Connect
Mary St. Centre, 24 Mary St, Parry Sound
Vessel-generated wakes are increasingly recognized as a growing physical and ecological disturbance on inland lakes. Join us to learn the results of a recent local study as well as the findings of other studies. The energy and impact of wakes often exceed those of wind waves, such that recreational boating represents a new source of high energy long period waves. This work will be shared by Dr. Chris Houser, the Dean of Science and a Professor at the University of Waterloo and coastal geomorphologist.
May 20th, 7:00pm
Swift Night Out
Mary St. Centre, 24 Mary St, Parry Sound
Come out to witness one of springtime’s most captivating aerial displays and learn how you can contribute to important community science! Join Gabriel Evans-Cook, an Aerial Insectivore Biologist at Birds Canada, for an evening of Chimney Swift conversation and conservation. You’ll learn about the life history of Chimney Swifts, the causes behind their population declines, and how you can help support their recovery. As dusk falls, we’ll gather near a known roosting site to (hopefully!) watch dozens of swifts swirl and dive into a chimney for the night, a spectacle you won’t want to miss!
June 17th, 7:00pm
Soaring Across Borders: Broad-winged Hawk Banding Research
Mary St. Centre, 24 Mary St, Parry Sound
Charlotte England and Malcolm Wilson have spent the past several years leading a field project tracking Broad-winged Hawks during their spring return migration in Ontario. Since 2017, they’ve banded more than 694 broadwings including across Muskoka and Parry Sound regions! This contributes key data to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s international Broad-winged Project. Their work has uncovered migration patterns, site fidelity, and the challenges of studying a surprisingly elusive raptor. In this presentation, they’ll share their field experiences, findings, and why this research matters for the future of the species.
.jpeg)
September 16th, 7:00pm
A Lifelong Journey in Reptile Conservation: Snakes of Mnidoo-gamii with Steve Marks
Mary St. Centre, 24 Mary St, Parry Sound
Steve Marks has been teaching people about reptiles since he first got over his fear of snakes. He is a volunteer for many projects, mostly reptile oriented, and has helped build the success of a few conservation organizations over the years. He’s invested energy in the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, spent a decade as President of the Ontario Herpetological Society, 8 years as Vice President of Essex County Nature, Canadian Herpetological Society, and has volunteered with various Ontario Nature projects. For Steve, 2025 marked 31 years of volunteer spotted turtle surveys, and 20 years of volunteer surveys for Parks Canada. Steve has been involved with Scales Nature Park, since 1994, and currently resides there… mostly outside, and has been named their Herpetologist Emeritus, inspiring and mentoring young biologists. Steve will be speaking with us about the amazing snakes of Mnidoo-gamii.
October 21st, 7:00pm
Falconry in Ontario's Near North: Tradition Meets Nature
Mary St. Centre, 24 Mary St, Parry Sound
Discover the ancient art of falconry in the Parry Sound area. A practice that bridges human history and today's wild landscapes. This presentation will explore the fascinating relationship between falconers and raptors, blending tradition, adventure, and conservation. Learn how majestic birds of prey soar through our skies, and uncover the role falconry plays in modern wildlife stewardship. Enjoy an educational journey into a world where nature and heritage take flight.
November 18th, 7:00pm
It Takes a Village: Learning from a Community Turtle Project
Mary St. Centre, 24 Mary St, Parry Sound
Join Heather Van Den Diepstraten as she shares what the Moose Deer Point First Nation community has learned about the turtles we live alongside. Maternal habits, the fate of incubated hatchlings, and the power of working together.
December Date TBD
34th Parry Sound Christmas Bird Count
Join us for this longstanding and important tradition of tracking bird numbers and species. All skill levels welcome and any amount of time you can dedicate! We are looking for:
1) People to bird by car in various locations
2) People to bird buy foot in walkable areas (public trails, parks, etc).
3) People to watch their home feeders! See image to determine if you are in the count area.
To get an idea of who is coming and how to designate routes, please register with us and/or simply to receive more information! Please email Parry Sound Nature Club to sign up.