By Fiona Reid and Don Scallen –

January
Food for Feathered Friends!

• Consider adding peanuts or suet for extra fat at this time of year
• A heated bird bath can be very important in midwinter

February
Turn down the Heat! Prowl for an Owl!

• Save money and reduce consumption of non-renewable energy supplies by turning down heat at night or when out
• Owls nest really early so now is a good time to go out at dusk and listen for them, or imitate them and see if you get a response

March
If you build it they will come! Homes for Birds, Bats, and Bees

• Order a new bird house or bat house. Check out new domiciles for bumble bees
• Make your own house if you are handy
• Bees and wasps like soft wood: drill holes of varying thicknesses in a 6 x 6 or larger log and hang this on an outer wall or barn

April
Salamander Season!

• Join HNPNC on a salamander walk at Silver Creek to learn about these amazing animals
• Hunt for frogs in local ponds
• Head to Willow Park in Norval on a sunny day later in the month to look for emerging snakes around the rocks of the hibernacula or beside their small pond
• Woodcocks may be back and on territory so go for a woodcock prowl at dusk

May
Help our Pollinators by going Native!

• Join HNPNC in converting a stretch of the river bank by the St Alban’s church into a home for pollinators and a bank for nesting turtles
• Help remove non-natives and plant natives
• If you have a large lawn, why not convert a section into a native plant garden?

June
Dig it, Dig it Good!

• Put in a pond in your back yard – nature will come to you (details coming in March newsletter)
• No space? A dripping hose can attract birds, or a small fountain will lure in dragonflies
• Turtles love ponds, and this month they will also be out looking for nest sites. Report your turtle sightings to the Toronto Zoo’s Turtle Tally Program
• Do some pond-dipping to see the huge array of small creatures that live in a healthy pond

July
Out with the Invaders!

• Now is the time to pull out dog-strangling vine and other invasive species before they set seed and spread further
• Start a local initiative to remove Norway Maples and plant native trees
• Talk to a neighbour about planting native trees and shrubs to provide food for declining birds (caterpillars far prefer native plants and they in turn feed birds)

August
Have a Wild Night out!

• Join HNPNC on a moth night, or paint sticky goop (beer, banana and sugar) on trees near your own home to see what moths you can attract
• Come on a Monday evening walk
• Watch bats forage over water near the cottage

September
Help Migrants Journey in Safety

• Put up weighted threads outside large windows to reduce reflection and bird collisions (check out www.flap.org/ for more information)
• Keep cats inside when thrushes and warblers are passing through backyard habitats
• Plant asters and other late-blooming natives for traveling Monarchs

October
Fall into Nature!

• Take a trip with our club to see migrating hawks
• Look for fall warblers and sparrows
• Take a child for a walk in nature; it is a great time of year to see animals of all sizes on the move

November
Buy a new Field Guide and get on Track!

• It’s slowing down out in the forest, so why not get some new nature books to study for next year and check off what you have seen to date
• Get out after the first snowfall to look for animal tracks, and bring a book to identify them

December
Have an Eco-friendly Holiday!

• Use recyclable wrapping (bags, newspaper, scraps of cloth)
• Decorate the tree with popcorn and cranberries to put out for birds later
• Minimize use of colored lights
• Give nature-inspired gifts – for the friends who have everything, consider buying an acre of rainforest
• Take part in the Christmas Bird Count and tell your friends all about it