COVID-19 update: Our monthly meetings are returning to in-person as of January 2023. Unfortunately, at this time, we will not be able to broadcast the meeting remotely, due to technical issues.

Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month (from September to April except December). Meetings start at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of the pot luck dinner.

MEETINGS (2022/23):

Monday, September 19, 2022
Members’ Night
If you would like to share stories and photos from your summer, please plan for a short (up to 8 minute) presentation. Please send images and indication of your willingness to speak to Joyce LeChasseur at lechasseurjo@gmail.com or contact Don Morrison at 905-808-9497.

Monday, October 17, 2022
Our Great Lakes
Guest speaker: Michelle Anne Olsen
Our Great Lakes support a diverse array of plants and animals, with rich ecosystems that are unique in the world. The lakes provide us with drinking water, food and recreational opportunities. This presentation will focus on some of the species at risk and our role as individuals to protect this sensitive ecosystem. Michelle Anne Olsen is Project Lead for the Great Lakes Program at the Toronto Zoo.

Monday, November 21, 2022
Eat Prey Love
Guest speaker: Catherine Scott, PhD
Join us to hear about the secret life of spiders in Ontario and beyond. Catherine Scott is an arachnologist and behavioural ecologist focusing on spiders at McGill University.

Monday, January 16, 2023
Arctic Birds
Guest speaker: Jean Iron
Arctic birds have a special attraction for birders and nature lovers. Many are amongst our most sought-after species. In this presentation, Jean will take us north to the Arctic to look at birds whose exceptional endurance and lifestyle are determined by the relentless forces of nature. Physical adaptations of Arctic birds, their colour schemes, populations, and impressive migrations, will be highlighted with photos.

Monday, February 20, 2023
Seldom Seen
Guest speaker: Don Scallen
All around us creatures are conducting their lives largely unseen. We are aware of birds and the larger mammals but there is a host of animals active underwater or after dark that are seldom observed. Others use camouflage to conceal their presence. Don will share images and stories about fish, caterpillars, salamanders, and other animals that slip under the radar.

Don Scallen is a writer, naturalist, and educator. He is a regular contributor to In The Hills magazine and has recently published the book Nature Where We Live.

Monday, March 20, 2023
A Summer with Loons
Guest speaker: Mark Peck
Six years ago, Mark Peck became a cottage owner in the Haliburton Highlands, just south of Algonquin Park. Coincidentally, the cottage lake happened to come with a pair of loons and, like many cottagers, he became obsessed. Please join him in exploring the incredible life history of one of Ontario’s most iconic birds and learn a little bit more about the challenges facing the Common Loon today.

Mark Peck is the Collections technician in the bird department at Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and the Director of the Environmental Visual Communications Program, a joint graduate program with the ROM and Fleming College. During his career he has been involved in ornithological research, collections management, gallery development and programming. In addition, he is a contributing author and/or photographer to Niagara Birds, The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, The Extraordinary Beauty of Birds: Design Pattern and Details, and most recently, The Birds of Nunavut. He is also the Program Director of the Toronto Ornithological Club, an enthusiastic contributor to several volunteer citizen science programs, and the proud father of two wonderful daughters.

Monday, April 17, 2023
An Old Bird Book
Guest speaker: Peter Thoem
At an estate auction, many years ago, Peter bought a box of miscellaneous books. Among them were 1906 field guides by Chester A. Reed: Bird Guide – Land Birds East of the Rockies and Bird Guide – Water and Game Birds East of the Rockies. The books contain many handwritten notes on sightings, abundance and occurrence dates, most between 1905 and 1940. One of the books is in very frail condition and includes a list of warblers seen in the company of W.E Saunders near London on May 18th 1907. This 40 – 50-minute presentation is a selection of about 50 illustrated and annotated pages that should be of particular interest to Ontario birders. For example: Orchard Oriole, Prothonotary Warbler and Whooping Crane – all with handwritten notes on sightings.

Peter has been a naturalist all of his life He grew up on the south coast of England and emigrated to Canada in 1972. Since retirement in 2010 he has dedicated a lot of his time to projects related to wildlife and natural areas. He volunteers on numerous projects at Royal Botanical Gardens including spearheading a multi-year bird population study. He has volunteered endless hours and days at four bird observatories (Long Point, Bruce Peninsula, Ruthven Park, and Chokpak in Kazakhstan) and on mammal population studies in Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, the United Arab Republic, and The Azores.

Monday, September 18, 2023 — NEW DATE
AGM and Members’ Night
Annual General Meeting plus presentations and displays by members.