Today was the first day of the global Great Backyard Bird Count. Time to get outside, count birds and post your finds to eBird. Help scientists track where birds are before migration.

Climate change and biodiversity loss aren't always easy to talk about. We asked communications experts from @davidsuzukifdn.bsky.social, @greenpeaceca.bsky.social, @sierraclubcanada.bsky.social and @ontarionature.bsky.social how to navigate these conversations. 🔗: ontarionature.org/how-to-talk-...

When species meet, do they always get along? Do they perhaps sometimes get along all too well? Trent's own Dr Joanna Freeland brings us into the weird world of plant hybrids + ecosystem action on March 10th. Same plant time (7:30 pm), same plant channel (Upstairs at the Publican) 🌿

Don McLeod was kind enough to share some of the tracks he saw around this house this morning. By 11 am all of these tracks were gone!

Dr. Obbard’s keynote address Bears I Have Known – What bears taught me when I was prepared to watch and listen at PFN’s 2026 AGM. 📅 March 25 📍 McDonnell Street Community Centre 🎤 Peterborough Field Naturalists AGM Seating for this must-attend event is limited. Registration opens soon. #PFNAGM2026

Heads up: iNaturalist will be offline for 1 hour beginning Wednesday, February 11 at 9pm Pacific Time (UTC-8). More details: forum.inaturalist.org/t/scheduled-...

Attention birders (and bird gossips): On Tues Feb 10th we'll be treated to a tell-all account of the domestic habits of the Alpine swift by the talented Dr Michela Dumas. Come by early for seats + drinks, upstairs at the Publican, anytime before 7:30pm 🪶

Petroglyphs Provincial Park always a great place for a wander. Make sure you remember to bring eats for the chickadees and nuthatches.

Rewild Your Backyard In this webinar, she will demonstrate how thoughtful plant choices and simple garden design tweaks can turn your space into a thriving nature reserve. Any questions please email Jocelyn at [email protected] lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/7njvp...

What birders can tell us about our connection to nature davidsuzuki.org/story/what-b...

World Wetland Day

📢 We're working with @environmentaldefence.ca @ecojusticecanada.bsky.social to call on the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature to recommend to the federal cabinet the issuance of an Emergency Order to protect Piping Plover habitat at Wasaga Beach. ontarionature.org/news-release...

MAJOR NEWS! We just launched an awesome new tool! The illustrated Birds of the World Phylogeny Explorer lets users trace any bird’s lineage, compare species relationships, and explore major evolutionary milestones with a click of a button. SHARE and EXPLORE! birdsoftheworld.org/bow/news/phy...

Northern Shrikes (and Loggerhead Shrikes) frequently regurgitate pellets, similar to owls, their gizzards compact indigestible parts This process involves the bird opening its bill and pointing its head down to expel the pellet. Of course this one ejected the pellet as soon as I stopped filming :)

📢Free webinar: Protect Our Conservation Authorities! The provincial government is undermining Conservation Authorities across Ontario. Learn why it matters for our communities and ecosystems, and how you can help push back. RSVP here: tinyurl.com/mca3dfyv Sign our petition here: tinyurl.com/muamjn9r

Woodpeckers are at my homemade suet all day. I made sure the feeders were full yesterday.

We are lucky enough to have a great population of these beauties who winter around the Rice Lake area. oebs.ca/about-bluebi...

Pam Martin was lucky enough to see some Opossum tracks in Lang.

We're developing a Jackson Park Management Plan to help guide the long-term protection, maintenance and stewardship 📅Wednesday, January 21, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at McDonnel Street Community Centre, 577 McDonnel St. 🌳Take the survey and learn more at connectptbo.ca/jackson-park

Our 2024 Slide Show night, Monthly Meeting is now available for viewing on YouTube youtu.be/aHdvvYEDczs

Our November 2025 Monthly Meeting: Birding in The Colombian Andes: 16 Days, 12 Sites, 437 Species, is now up on YouTube for your viewing pleasure. Our handle is @peterboroughfieldnaturalis8590 youtu.be/aSKggoUPyUc?...

Easy to miss but 6 Blue Jays gave away its hiding spot. Eastern Screech Owl

Its 2026 and The Conservation Café is back! Please join us on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 to hear a presentation by Dr. Mary-Claire Buell, from Trent’s School of Environment and Department of Forensic Science TIME: 7:30 pm PLACE: Upstairs at The Publican, 294 Charlotte Street

From Don McLeod, these are photos of Eastern Cottontail tracks. There was a cool effect where the tracks remained as white patches of compressed snow surrounded by the darker driveway after blowing the loose snow away. Sadly these tracks were ephemeral and they melted away by an hour later.

Feeders are busy with all the snow. #birds #nature #peterboroughontario

Happy New Year!!!!

In the late 1800s, the Christmas “Side Hunt” was a holiday tradition: teams would head outdoors with guns, competing to see who could collect the most birds and small mammals. The Peterborough count, which took place on December 14th is in its 74th year.

Origins of the Christmas Bird Count On Christmas Day, 1900, E. Fannie Jones stepped into Toronto’s winter cold to participate in North America’s very first Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Bundled in wool and brave against the northwest wind, she spent five hours recording the city’s winter birds.

The PFN wishes you a very happy Holiday Season and a wondrous New Year.

The Trailblazers Who Redefined Natural Science in Cda.When nature clubs and science institutions used to limit women to hospitality and note-taking, a remarkable group of Cdn women chose to lead anyway. They didn’t just break barriers—they redefined who belonged in the world of natural science.

Did you miss our December Monthly Meeting? Well it’s now up on YouTube, take a look and enjoy. A long-time annual tradition in the PFN is the members’ slide show night. Five PFN members (Terry Moodie, Ken McKeen, Shaelagh Kirkey, Sharon Hill and Haley Culin) youtu.be/fm6tk02vwuY?...

White-breasted Nuthatch visits #AppleClips

Join me in opposing changes to the mandate, resourcing and independence of conservation authorities that make it harder for them to fulfill their crucial role. ontarionature.good.do/conservation...

Who inspired your love of nature? For 85 years, women—mothers, mentors, scientists, volunteers—have helped shape the PFN and keep nature education thriving in our community.

We had some great presentations at our Annual Members Slide Show Night. Hope you were able to attend in person or on Zoom.

Enjoy the beauty #nature #peterboroughontario #birds #PFN85 @cityptbo @ptbocounty

KLT’s Passport to Nature: Meet the Mottled Duskywing Butterfly kawarthalandtrust.org/event/klts-p...

“Women Can Focus on the Science”: A New Era of Leadership From the 1940s to today, women have been central to our club’s scientific, educational, and conservation work. Their leadership continues to inspire the next generation of naturalists. Read their stories in Women of the PFN in Dec issue

Ontario’s decision to abandon climate targets isn’t going unnoticed, voices at Queen’s Park are pushing back loud and clear. 🔗: https://thepointer.com/article/2025-11-20/ottawa-s-deprioritization-of-climate-being-heard-loud-and-clear-at-queen-s-park-ontario-abandons-climate-targets

Winter Wonderland

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean birds don’t need water! If you’re thinking of putting away your bird bath, think again. We’ve rounded up a few ways you can help out the thirsty birds without causing any harm.

From Whimbrels and hawks, to colourful characters like the Scarlet Tanager or the iconic Blue Jay - Toronto has plenty to offer! On the Warblers Podcast, we learn more about the diversity of Toronto's birds and the joys of the thriving birding community.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid can kill hemlock trees in as little as 4 years. Ontario Nature staff are tackling HWA at Harold Mitchell Nature Reserve to protect one of the last mature Eastern Hemlock forests in the Niagara Region. ontarionature.org/management-o... Thank you to @NiagaraCF for their support.

85 Years of Women Leading the PFN For 85 years, women have shaped the Peterborough Field Naturalists—often quietly, often against the odds, and always with impact. Read the full story on how women helped build—and continue to build—the PFN in your December issue of The Orchid.

Renew your membership today, don't miss out on The Orchid, members meetings and joining outings. peterboroughnature.org/membership/

The Conservation Café is returning on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. presenter is Dr. Paul Smith from Environment and Climate Change Canada, who will speak on: Epic Journeys, Fragile Futures: The Conservation Crisis for Arctic Shorebirds 7:30 pm Upstairs at The Publican, 294 Charlotte Street