Free Environmental Education for your Kids
Hosted by Earth Rangers

Report a Plant or Animal Species Online
Hosted by Grand River Conservation Authority

Checklists for the Grand River watershed have been compiled for two groups of species (birds and herpetofauna) and can be viewed by clicking the links below. These checklists include species known to be present and species that occurred historically only. If you enjoy nature and would like to report species that you see within our watershed, please do so online at www.iNaturalist.org and look for the project called "Grand River Conservation Authority!"


Enter the Water Docs Colouring Challenge
Hosted by Water Docs

Looking for a fun activity to do as a family while we’re all staying at home? Water Docs wants to brighten up the “walls” of their website with your artwork, so they've created a beautiful colouring sheet you can download here! They’ll be accepting entries throughout the month of April. #ActionForWater.


Nature's Always Open. Check out these 10 Nature Activities to Help Get Your Family Through the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Spring Awakenings: Plants, Birds and Bugs

• ThThe first flower you notice will probably be yellow, as Coltsfoot, an introduced species, will bloom along lowland margins, followed by the native Marsh Marigold.
• Skunk Cabbage will also bloom along those margins, often melting away any late snowfall from around its flowers through a process called thermogenesis. 
• Wild Leek is one of the first herbs to sprout new leaves in the spring, sometimes dusted by late snow on the forest floor. 
• Aspen and Speckled Alder catkins will be added to those of the willows, and those aromatic Balsam Poplar buds may be opening. 
• Around the schoolyard, look for early growth from planted bulbs such as crocuses and snow drops, and ‘weeds’ like Birdseye Speedwell.
• While out exploring local habitats for spring flowers keep your eyes peeled for an early plant that is entirely unwelcome!   Garlic Mustard is a very plain invasive species compared to other “show off” plants like Purple Loosestrife so it is often overlooked during the first year of its biennial life cycle.
• Returning Tree Swallows may be found swooping low over open water (video). Since they are largely insect eaters, this means that aquatic insects may be beginning to rise and ‘hatch’ into their adult forms. 
• The swallows are likely eating midges, several species of small, dark flies that look like mosquitoes with large, feathery antennae.  Look for clouds of them hovering over trees, shrubs, or other objects near water.  These are males.
• A sugar bush late in the month is a good place to find spring insects that are attracted to the sweet sap.  Bees, ladybugs, tortoiseshell butterflies (closed), flies and moths can all be found. 
• Look for returning Turkey Vultures, American Woodcocks, Belted Kingfishers , Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes, Northern Flickers and Golden-crowned Kinglets, among many others. 
• Wolves, Coyotes, Red Foxes and Gray Squirrels are beginning to give birth.
• The Spring equinox occurred on the 19th or 20th. Both Mercury and Venus were farthest from the sun on the 24th, but are visible about 12 hours apart and on opposite sides of the sky.