Trails - Nature continued

Nature on the Trails

Getting out on the trails is a great way to relax and see the natural world in an easy manner.  Your trip sightings will vary depending on the time of day and the time of year it is.

Over the farmers fields the falcons and the hawks hunt for their dinner.  During the very early and the very late hours some lucky people have seen the owls hunting from the barns.  Northern Shrikes are also often seen.  In the bushes Kinglets and Warblers of all sorts are heard and hard to find but provide a joyous backdrop to a day’s outing.  In the swampy lands waterfowl and herons abound.  On the Uhtoff Trail the Wood Ducks can be seen in the trees.  Where the farmer’s field flood, the shorebirds abound.

The plant life also varies from area to area with rare Trilliums mingling with wild Geraniums.  The swamps will bloom in the spring to form colourful vistas.  Later the fields will be alive with different grasses and sedges blooming.  Everything from Dandelions to Indian Pipes to Orchids can be found by careful searching.

Don’t forget to enjoy our six and our legged friends, insects and spiders.  Some of them will not be enjoyable but they will serve as dinner for the Reptiles and the Amphibians in the area.

Please enjoy all our natural friends but do not forget to just take pictures and leave as few footprints as possible.

To join a naturalist outing on any of our trails please go to www.ontarionature.org and click on Nature Network; Huronia to find a listing of all naturalist groups in Simcoe County.  There are general naturalists’ clubs in the area, such as the Brereton Field Naturalists in Barrie, the Carden Field Naturalists in Lake Dalrymple, the Midland-Penetang Field Naturalists, the Orillia Naturalists Club and the York-Simcoe Naturalists in Bradford.  There are also more specific clubs such the Couchiching Conservancy in Orillia, the Friends of the Minesing Wetland, the Friends of the Wye Marsh, the MTM (Matchedash Bay, Tiny Marsh, Marl Lake) Conservation Association, Nature League in the Blue Mountains, Collingwood, and the Twin Lakes Conservation Club in Orillia.  Most individual club websites can be accessed from this point.  The Brereton Club also maintains a Bird Hotline:  705 739- 8585 where interesting bird sightings (and our club outings) are updated for all to hear.

Happy findings!

Nature photo's courtesy of Bob Bowles, well-known local naturalist

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