Events in 2010
IT'S SUMMER TIME
Past Events
Bat Walk in Jackson Park
Saturday, June 19th, 9:00 pm
Meet Paul Elliott in the parking lot where Fairbairn Street meet Parkhill West. We will use ultrasonic bat detectors to try find local bat species on the wing and watch them catching insects over the pond. Bring a flashlight for your comfort if you wish. The walking is fairly level but sensible footwear is a good idea when out and about after dark! Accompanied children are very welcome.
Ontario's Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Guided Field Day
Sunday, June 13th
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Location: Camp Kawartha Environment Centre
2025 Pioneer Rd (in the Trent Nature Area)
Many naturalists will be familiar with the Atlas of Breeding Birds of Ontario. But did you also know that there is an Atlas of Ontario?s Reptiles and Amphibians?
Join us to learn how to identify and search for amphibians & reptiles, and how to report your observations to the atlas. Atlas Coordinator Joe Crowley will give a slide show from 9am to 10am, then we will carpool to field sites to search for salamanders, snakes, turtles, frogs - and Ontario's only lizard the 5-lined skink! Please bring a bagged lunch and plenty of water.
Questions? Contact Gina Varrin at gina@theorem.ca.
PFN Monthly Meeting: Where have all the Red-headed Woodpeckers gone?
Wednesday, June 9th, 7:00 pm, Library
Red-headed Woodpeckers are oft identified by their striking coloring and pugnacious nature. As of late they are recognized for a more infamous reason, their inexplicable and sudden disappearance from the parks and woodlands of Ontario. Barbara Frei, a doctoral candidate from McGill University, will speak about her search for the disappearing Red-headed Woodpecker, factors that may be leading to their declines and the interesting lives of these beautiful birds. Whether you are a conservationist, a local landowner or just a bird lover (or all three!), this talk should amuse and educate you about a local wildlife gem.
Royal Botanic Garden outing
Sunday, June 6th, 8:00 am
A chance to admire the ornamental collections and explore the natural areas and trails that abound at the Royal Botanic Gardens, near Hamilton. This is an all-day trip so you may wish to bring refreshments with you, although there are cafes at the gardens. We will car pool from the Sobey's parking lot by Tim Horton's on Landsdowne Street West at 8am. We expect to be back in Peterborough by 7pm. There is an admission charge for entry to the gardens ($12.50 adults/$9.50 Seniors & Students/ $7.25 Children 5-12 years) but we have around twenty of coupons offering 50% the regular admission price (first come, first served).
Don't forget to bring binoculars for spotting bird life and a contribution towards gas. For information on the gardens, visit: http://www.rbg.ca/
PFN Monthly Meeting:
"Oceans? There are no oceans in Peterborough"
Wednesday, May 12th, 7:30 pm
Location: Peterborough Public Library
Did you know that Fisheries and Oceans Canada has an office in Peterborough? Tracy Allison a Fish Habitat Biologist/Species at Risk biologist will speak about who DFO is, what they do, and different types of impacts on fish habitat due to development that DFO sees regularly in the Kawartha Lakes. General mitigation measures that are commonly used to minimize disturbance on fish and fish habitat will also be briefly discussed. So whether you have a cottage, are interested in larger developments (such as hydroelectric), or just love our lakes it should be an interesting and informative presentation.
Nature in the City: Jackson's Park
also part of JANE'S WALK
Sunday, May 2nd, 8:00 am for ~ 1.5 hours
Meeting Place: Jackson's Park parking lot at the intersection of Parkhill Rd. and Monaghan Rd.
We’ll start by listening for Pine Warblers in the tall White Pines next to the parking lot. Then we’ll make our way down the ravine slope to the trails of Jackson’s Park, listening for other birds, looking for wildflowers and enjoying the spring weather. Along the way we’ll talk about our favourite natural areas in Peterborough, the functions they provide and how we can maintain them in the future. Bring your Bins! (That's binoculars in cool bird talk.)
Evening Amphibian ID Session
Wednesday, April 28th, 7:00 pm
Riverview Park & Zoo Orientation Centre, Rain or Shine
Although most of us are familiar with the cheerful call of the spring peeper, many don't realize that submitting their observations of frog calls or salamander sightings can help scientists track the distribution and status of amphibians.
Join us to learn more about the Ontario Amphibian and Reptile Atlas, and how easy it is to contribute observations to this citizen science project. If the weather is favourable we will carpool to some nearby wetlands to listen for different frog species and look for salamanders. If the weather is not-so-good we will have an indoor presentation on identifying Ontario amphibians by sight and sound.
Need a ride to the zoo? Meet at the Chamber of Commerce building (the old train station at 175 George Street North) by 6:40pm sharp and RSVP to Gina at info@kawarthaturtle.org to ensure a spot in a carpool.
Earth Week 2010 Nature Walk on the Lakefield Trail
Sunday, April 24th, 10:00 am
The Lakefield Trail Stewardship Committee invites everyone to get active and celebrate Earth Week 2010 on the Lakefield Trail, Sunday April 25th with a guided hike, and a presentation by the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre. Meet at the Marshland Centre, Hague Blvd., Lakefield at 10 am. The Lakefield Trail Stewardship Committee will be serving up back bacon on a bun to raise funds for needed Trail maintenance. Bring your mug for drinking water.
Call 652-0747 for more information.
PFN Monthly Meeting: "Why did the frog cross the road?"
Wednesday, April 14th, 7:30 pm
Location: Peterborough Public Library
Christina M. Fridgen, a Ph.D Candidate at Trent University, will give a presentation covering amphibian calls and local issues influencing amphibian population health including road crossing, spread of virus and chytrid fungus and pesticide use.
The Return of Waterfowl at Presqu’ile Provincial Park
Sunday, March 21st
Jerry Ball will lead us on a trip to Presqu’ile for some early spring birding, which should include opportunities for viewing the 1000’s of ducks, geese and swans that use Presqu’ile as a resting spot on their return to their breeding grounds. Bring a lunch, binoculars and scope if you have one. Meet at the Country Style at the junction of Old Keene Road and Highway 7. Entry fee per vehicle. Contact Jerry Ball (705) 745-3272 for more information.
Wednesday, March 10th
PFN Monthly Meeting: "Ontario's Rare Vascular Plants"
7:30 p.m. Ptbo Public Library
Mike Oldham, senior botanist and herpetologist with the MNR’s Natural Heritage Information Centre will speak about rare vascular plants in Ontario. The talk will include information about how rarity is assessed and how these rare plants are protected in the province.
Wednesday, February 10th
PFN Monthly Meeting: "Antarctica First Journey"
7:30 p.m. Ptbo Public Library
Geoff Carpentier, a former longtime member of the PFN, has recently written a resource guide titled "Antarctica - First Journey". He is a veteran expedition guide and will tell us about the wildlife and the many, varied and interesting sites to be seen in Antarctica. Jeff will have copies of his guide for sale.
Friday, January 22nd
70th PFN Annual General Meeting
Location: Bakers Hill Centre, map
Join us for the PFN’s Annual General Meeting – a tradition you won’t want to miss. Keep up to date on club business, elect the next executive, enter the raffle for fabulous prizes, enjoy a delicious meal and stay for an entertaining presentation.
- 5:30pm Social hour begins
- 6:00pm Dinner
- 7:00pm Meeting
- 7:30pm Raffle
- 8:00pm Guest Speaker
Tickets are $25 per person, which includes admission and large dinner (vegetarian option available). To reserve your tickets, call Don & Emily Pettypiece at 750-1145
Guest Speaker: John Etches
"Whales in the Desert: The Wadi El Hitan World Heritage Site, Fayoum Depression, Egypt"
Fossils of ancient whales found in the Sahara Desert have helped unlock the
secrets of whale’s evolution from land to sea. Geologist and environmental educator, John Etches, will guide you through this fascinating story and spectacular landscape via his work developing the educational experiences for the site with the United Nations Development Program.
December 20th
Peterborough Christmas Bird Count
Birders wishing to participate in the annual Peterborough Christmas Bird Count should contact Tony Bigg by phone at 705-652-7541 or by e-mail at tanddbigg at sympatico.ca
December 9th
PFN Monthly Meeting: Member’s Slide Night
7:30 p.m. at the Library
It’s time again for our December regular meeting. We will once again be asking members to come with nature-related slides presentations and stories to share with fellow club members. To make things even sweeter, please bring along some
holiday baking to enhance the festivities.
Note: if you are interested in making an informal slide presentation and/or talk, please contact Roger Jones at 742-0132.
December 5th
Bird watching trip to the Niagara Region
Sunday, 6:00 a.m.
Join a full-day’s outing to the Niagara region for some winter bird watching. Participants will meet at Tim Horton's on Lansdowne St. in the Canadian Tire Plaza at 6:00 a.m. Bring binoculars, lunch (we will also make stops at convenient Tim Horton's) and be sure to dress warmly. Leader: Tony Bigg.
November 11th
PFN MOnthly meeting: "A New Reptile Atlas for Ontario"
7:30 Library is closed! Meeting will be west down the street at Trinity United Church, between Rubidge and Reid St.
Speaker: Joe Crowley, Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas program coordinator, Ontario Nature.
Joe will provide a brief summary of reptiles at risk in Ontario, discuss the new atlas program and how to get involved, and explain how to search for and identify local reptiles and amphibians. The Kawartha Turtle and Trauma Centre will also provide an update on their work and activities.
October 28th
Peterborough Horticultural Society's hosts their monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 28th at the Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer Street N. at 7:30 PM. Doors open at 7 for socializing and refreshments. This month's guest speaker will be Anna Leggatt talking about rock garden construction.
October 18th
Birding at Presqu'Ile Provincial Park
8:00 a.m. at Country Style
Jerry Ball will lead us on an all day trip to Presqu’ile for some fall birding. Bring a lunch, binoculars and rubber boots (may or may not need them). Meet at the Country Style at the junction of Old Keene Road and Highway 7.
October 17th
Peterborough Museum will be holding an event for children on a Halloween theme, with talks about bats and owls. Please contact the museum for details.
October 14th
PFN MOnthly meeting: "Vampire Bats: the True Story"
7:30 at the Library
Speaker: Paul Elliott, PFN and Trent University. People’s view of vampire bats is clouded by myth and legend. These animals are fascinating in their own right, so, just in time for Halloween, come and learn something of their remarkable behaviour and why they excite medical scientists. The truth is almost stranger than fiction.
September 29 to October 2nd
Fabulous Fall Fungi: Spend 21⁄2 days learning about mushrooms and other fungi with naturalist and fungal aficionado Richard Aaron. All levels welcome, from beginner to advanced. The emphasis will be on developing hands-on identification skills, enriched by discussions on ecology, natural history, and uses. Dates: Sept 29 to Oct 2, 2009. Cost: $295; covers tuition, meals, accommodation, use of lab space & microscopes. Location: Queen’s University Biological Station.
For details & to register: www.queensu.ca/biology/qubs/events/fungi.html. Richard can be reached at: natureteacher1@gmail.com.
September 23rd
Peterborough Horticultural Society's hosts their monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 23rd at the Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer Street N. at 7:30 PM. Doors open at 7 for socializing and refreshments. Guest speaker, Martin Galloway, a teacher at Seneca & York University, as well as former presenter/writer on the Canadian television series Harrowsmith Country Life and The Secret World of Gardens will talking about "Bugs in the Garden".
Sunday, September 13th
Urban Forest Workshop: Tree Pests & Diseases
Ecology Park, 2:00 to 3:30PM
Shawn Bloom of Ethic Tree Creations will be hosting a workshop at the Ecology Park talking about tree pests and diseases. You’re invited to come with your tree questions, and any samples of tree pests (in a plastic bag, of course) you may have.
The workshop is absolutely free and will be taking place from 2:00 to 3:30 in the afternoon. The park is located next door to Peterborough Utilities and we ask that you park in the Beavermead parking lot just down the street. For more info, call Chris Gooderham, Our Urban Forest, Peterborough Green-Up at 745-3238 x211.
September 12th
Prairie Day at the Alderville First Nation Black Oak Savannah.
Featuring:
- Washboard Hank
- The Funky Mamas
- Jim Bob and The Sweetgrass Band
- Sciensational Sssnakes
- Kids' Jumping Castle
- Prairie Tours
- Bird Banding Demos
- Monarch Butterfly Presentation
- Tradisional Native Foods
- Tepee Set-Up
- And more!
September 9th
PFN Monthly Meeting: “Alfred Russell Wallace: a naturalist between worlds.”
7:30 p.m. Peterborough Public Library
*Note the meeting is 7:30, NOT 7:00, as published in Orchid
Speaker: Dr. Chris Willson, MNR
Best known for jointly discovering natural selection with Charles Darwin, Wallace's work in the Amazon and Indonesia established the foundations for biogeography. A self-made man in an age of entlemen naturalists, his many contributions to the natural and social sciences profoundly influenced the scientific and social landscape of Victorian times.
June 21st
Trip to Ganaraska Forest
Car pool from Sobey's parking lot on Lansdowne Street West at 7:30 a.m. or follow the following directions:
Follow County Road 10 south from Millbrook to the 10th Line, just south of the Peterborough / Northumberland County boundary.
Alternately: Follow Highway 28, south from Peterborough to County Rd. 9 (Ganaraska Rd.). Follow County Rd. 9 west to Coutny Rd. 10. Head north on County Rd. 10 to the 10th Line.
We will meet at the corner of County Rd. 10 and the 10th Line at 8:15 and then travel to the parking location from there.
Please ensure that there are no valuables left in your car during the outing as there are no secure parking areas in the Ganaraska Forest.
Leader: Ben Walters, Trent University
We will explore the unopened road allowance of the 10th Line which has yielded Yellowthraoted Vireo, Hooded Warbler and Red-bellied Woodpecker as well as many other forest birds. We will then walk through some trails in the Ganaraska's east forest to make a loop back to the vehicles. The walk will not be difficult and will be on trails although there is one large hill. The focus of the outing will be on birds but there are also many butteflies, plants and dragonflies to be observed.
June 14th
Trent University Nature Areas Bioblitz
8:00 a.m. Meet along Pioneer Rd, opposite the entrance to Peter Gzowski road 
Join PFN members for a bioblitz adventure at the Trent University Nature Areas. We will be identifying breeding birds, plants and other natural things in the natural areas adjacent to the ecology centre under construction by Camp Kawartha and its partners. There is an existing inventory (Ben-Oliel, Jones and Marsh, 1989), so the challenge to us will be to add new species to the list. This inventory will, we hope, inspire naturalists visiting the centre to learn more about the flora and fauna of the area and perhaps add their own observations. The main group will meet along Pioneer Road, opposite the entrance to Peter Gzowski College at 8:00 am. A sub-group will be meeting at 5:30 am for breeding bird surveys (contact Mike McMurtry at 748-5353, michael.mcmurtry@sympatico.ca, if interested in the early group). Click here for a map of the Trent campus.
Please park on the right hand side of the shoulder of the road without blocking the entrance to the site. We expect to be active until about noon. Bring your binoculars, field guides and notebook. All levels and ages of naturalists welcome.
June 10th
PFN Monthly Meeting: “Turtles of the Trent-Severn: Research on a Species-At-Risk”
7:30 p.m. Peterborough Public Library
Speaker: Amanda Bennett (MSc. Candidate, Laurentian University)
Seven of the eight species of turtles in Ontario are considered to be at risk of extinction. Of these, six occur on the Trent-Severn Waterway (TSW). My research concerns whether the locks and dams on the TSW are fragmenting Northern Map Turtle habitat, and what that means for the persistence of these populations.
June 6
Bat Watching in Jackson park
8:45 p.m. Meet at Jackson Pond, north of parking lot
Meet Paul Elliott in the parking lot where Fairbairn Street meet parkhill West. We will use ultrasonic bat detectors to find local bat species on the wing and watch them catching insects over the pond. Bring a flashlight if you wish. Accompanied children are welcome.
May 31
Sunday Morning Bird Walk With Jerry Ball
7:00 a.m. Sobey's parking lot
Guided by Jerry Ball, we will head out to the Carden Plain, an unusual alvar habitat that supports an abundance of rare grassland birds. The Carden Plain is a popular destination for bird, butterfly, and plant watchers alike. At only 65 km from Peterborough, it offers globally rare alvar habitat supporting an abundance of grassland birds, including the endangered Loggerhead Shrike and the rare Golden-wing Warbler plus Osprey, Black Terns, Sedge Wrens, Yellow Rails, Upland Sandpipers, Blues Birds, Eastern Towhees, and Brown Thrashers. This is an all day trip, please bring a lunch, water and your binoculars! Meet at Sobey’s parking lot on Lansdowne Street at 7am on May 31st.
May 24
Sunday Morning Bird Walk With John Bottomley
8:00 a.m. Peterborough Zoo parking lot
Meet at the zoo parking lot and we'll carpool to secret location from there.
May 13th
PFN Monthly Meeting: “Development of Terrestrial vegetation Inventories for Northern National Parks – A Pilot in Torngat Mountains National Park, northern Labrador"
7:00 p.m. Peterborough Public Library
Speaker: Sam Brinker (Botanist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources) Torngat Mountains National Park, located in northern Labrador, is Canada’s newest national park in the national park system established in 2005. Learn how Parks Canada is assessing climate change in Canadian arctic tundra ecosystems through an arctic-wide International Polar Year (IPY) project, and follow a photo-documentary of researchers conducting vegetation mapping and botanical surveys of two major watersheds within the parkpark.
April 8
PFN Monthly Meeting: "A Land of Contrarities: The Role of Fire in the Ecology of Australia"
7:30 p.m. Peterborough Public Library
Speaker: John Bottomley
John will speak to us about the way in which Australian habitats have adapted to increasing aridity caused by the northward drift of the continent following the break-up of Gondwanaland. This northward drift has resulted in a set of habitats that require periodic burning to maintain their productivity. The presentation will look at the manner in which fire plays an essential role in maintaining environmental health and will include spectacular photos of Australian fires.
March 11
PFN Monthly Meeting, "Our Feathered Friends"
6:30 p.m. Peterborough Museum (NOT at the Library)
Joint event with Peterborough Museum and Archives.
Speaker: Mike Cadman from Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator
Note: March meeting will be held at the Museum instead of the library. The event will start at 6:30 to give you a chance to visit the Museum’s exhibit prior to Mike’s presentation. For information contact the Museum at 743-5180.
Past Other Events
April 2nd
Carbon Footprints... Leading Back to Trent
Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada
March 14-15, & March 21-22
Presqu'ile Provincial Park Waterfowl Viewing Weekends
10 am – 4 pm
Presqu’ile will once again be hosting waterfowl viewing weekends, where nature enthusiasts can come and appreciate one of the great natural spectacles on earth – the return of migrating waterfowl to their staging areas along the lower Great Lakes. Presqu’ile is well situated to experience this phenomenon with close viewing and a good variety of species. Seeing 20 different species of waterfowl in a day is not unusual and 25+ species are usually tallied during the season. During viewing weekends, volunteers with scopes are situated at key areas to help visitors find and ID the different species.
The Nature Centre, featuring “ducky” displays and children’s activities is open 10am to 3pm and the Lighthouse Centre with hot drinks and snacks and the friends Gift Store is open 10am to 4pm. A Bushnell representative is usually on hand one weekend to answer your questions and show you the latest in optical equipment.
If you want to come learn about ducks this is a great opportunity. If you are interested in
coming out and helping with duck ID or in one of Visitor Centres I would be more than
happy to hear from you. For more information on the event or on volunteering please
contact David Bree at 613 475-4324 ext 225 or david.bree@ontario.ca.
For more information or to register call (705) 748-9153.