Species of the Month

Species of the Month: American Witch Hazel
One of Ontario’s most beautiful native shrubs is American Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). Witch Hazel shrubs are widespread in Norfolk County, commonly found in the understories of moist upland forests and Oak Woodland-Savannas. Witch Hazels obtained their name due to their superficial similarity

Sustaining Melodies: The Louisiana Waterthrush in Ontario
In the verdant heartlands of Ontario, a tiny yet tenacious bird is weaving its enchanting melodies into the tapestry of our ecosystems – the Louisiana Waterthrush (*Parkesia motacilla*). This dainty warbler, more accustomed to the bayous of the American South, has found a

 
Mudpuppies– Necturus maculosus
Mudpuppies get their name from the ‘barking’ noise they are rumored to make. Their captivating appearance lends them an almost otherworldly allure. Sporting a color palette that ranges from gray to rusty brown, embellished with distinct dark blue markings along their dorsal side, these creatures

 
The Cicada Killer Wasps (Sphecius speciosus) name tells the story of a gruesome hunt. Emerging in mid- July, females capture unsuspecting Cicada’s, inject them with paralyzing venom, and bring them to their lairs for their young to feed on. This nature horror story may elicit extreme fear in many

 
Tiger Beetles (family Cicindelidae) are a fiercely named group of beetles, as both the larvae and adults are extremely predatory. While many beetles are rather slow and lumbering, Tiger beetles are fast runners with large eyes and oversized menacing mandibles that they use to catch and kill prey. The

 
 
The uncommon but relatively widespread Blanding’s Turtle is a medium-sized turtle with a bright yellow throat and an obvious domed shell. The dark domed upper shell is speckled with numerous faint yellow markings and the black and yellow under-shell is hinged, allowing it to partially close. Blanding’s Turtle

Restoring Lands, One Seed At A Time – A Spotlight on New Jersey Tea, Wild Lupine, Butterfly Milkweed
By Emily Ratch, Stewardship and Outreach Technician
Over the past 6 months, some of the LPBLT nature reserves have undergone major restoration efforts, including logging of monoculture pine plantations, prescribed burns to

Species of the Month – Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
By Brianne Curry, Outreach and Fund Development Manager 
Although not uncommon across North America, the Black Oak (Quercus velutina) is relatively uncommon in Ontario. Here in Southwestern Ontario, we are actually in the northernmost range of the species. Most of the

The brumating Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
By Emily Ratch, Stewardship & Outreach Technician
Winter is a very deceptive season. At a glance, it seems like not much is happening in the natural world; it’s almost like nature is put on pause. But behind the scenes, life is still thriving –

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)
By David Agro, Director
Read Sandhill Crane Part 1 (published in January 2022) here! 
With early winter comes one of Long Point’s better spectacles, the arrival of the cranes. Just yesterday I was stopped along Front Road watching some 2000 cranes as they flew across the