Species of the Month, October 2021: Norfolk Road Asters
by Mary Gartshore
A few years back a photographer called me and asked: “Are asters flowering yet down there in Norfolk?” Norfolk is blessed with many species of asters but I will focus on those visible on roadsides.
Asters include
Species of the Month, September 2021: Fascinating Fungus
by Inga Hinnerichsen
The good, the bad and the ugly…
and the weird and the wonderful, too
Enter the mysterious world of fungi, or at least, get a tiny scratch at the surface of this huge Kingdom. There are at least an
Species of the Month, August 2021: Singing Insects
by Mary Gartshore
With a flashlight, camera and patience you can enjoy the spectacle of singing insects in Norfolk County’s natural areas.
As the chorus of frogs and birds begins to wind down, singing insects begin to command the night airwaves. Singing
July 06, 2021
Norfolk County, Ontario
Wallace Hammond, a lifelong resident of Woodhouse Township, is concerned about the loss of the wetlands that he remembers as a boy. In conversation with Peter Carson, the President of Long Point Basin Land Trust (LPBLT), Mr. Hammond said, “We hear about the importance
Peter Carson, current President and one of the five founding members, reflects on the past 25 years since Long Point Basin Land Trust was incorporated on August 27, 1996. The Spring 2021 ViewPoint edition celebrates the many achievements accomplished and looks forward to meeting the challenges of the future.
The BLT Birders team for 2021 consisted of Audrey Heagy and David Okines. This was their second Birdathon in support of the LPBLT and again took place under a stay-at-home order.
For this year’s effort, Audrey decided that rather than try to maximize the number of species seen they
Species of the Month, May 2021: Bats
by Mary Gartshore
Bats are the only mammal species that can fly.
According to the fossil record, bats have been capable of flight for about 52 million years. Bats belong to the mammalian order Chiroptera with over 1400 recognized species – the second-largest
Species of the Month, April 2021: Yellow-Spotted Salamanders
by Mary Gartshore
Salamanders dance but don’t sing.
Four species of large mole salamanders occur in the Carolinian Zone of Ontario. These are Small-mouthed Salamander on Pelee Island and Blue-spotted, Jefferson and Yellow-spotted Salamanders on the mainland including Norfolk County. Cross-breeding and
Species of the month, February 2021:
Pignut Hickory, Carya glabra
by Mary Gartshore
Canada’s four hickory species occur in Norfolk County: Bitternut, Shagbark, Pignut and
Shellbark. The uncommon Pignut or Red Hickory (Carya glabra) often goes unnoticed in our landscape but can occur as a majestic lawn tree with the
Species of the month, December 2020:
Mustard Sallow, Pyreferra hesperidago
by Mary Gartshore
The Mustard Sallow (Pyreferra hesperidago) is one of several moths that are active during late fall, winter and early spring. On warm nights (15 C and above) they forage on sap and rotten fruit. They use these