Our Mission
Foster awareness, appreciation, and protection of nature in North Durham: Townships of Brock, Scugog, and Uxbridge.
What We Do
We provide educational opportunities and foster awareness of nature, particularly the flora and fauna, as well as earth sciences and astronomy.
We lead and facilitate field trips to learn and experience nature. We promote the protection of nature, biological diversity and sustainability within North Durham.
We carry out projects in co-operation with other community groups, to conserve and protect the environment within North Durham.
Next Meeting
May 27, 2025 - Ants: From Central America to Ontario with Rob Willson
7pm at Scugog Memorial Public Library
Trips to Central America can and should be full of awe-inspiring ant observations. The tropics are blessed with an amazing diversity of ant species. But who knew we had Amazon Ants raiding the nests and kidnapping the young of other ant species right here in Ontario. Come and hear about the fascinating natural history and behaviours of some of these tropical ant species, as well as some ants that just might be in your backyard!
Rob Willson lives in the Georgian Bay area of Ontario and is the owner of Ecophylla Consulting, a firm that specializes in ecological and geospatial assessment of the natural environment. Rob is interested in all aspects of natural history but particularly enjoys observing animal behaviour in natural settings. Although his professional work has primarily involved endangered reptiles, amphibians, and birds, Rob has a particular interest in ants and other invertebrates.
For more on our upcoming meetings, check out our Talks Page.
Next Outing
May 3, 2025 - Early Spring Ephemerals with Mark Dorriesfield (1pm)
In the spring before the trees have leafed out and shaded the forest floor, ephemeral wildflowers brighten the ground in our deciduous forests to make use of the spring sunlight while they can get it. Join Mark for an afternoon walk to search for and enjoy some of these spring beauties.
Registration is required: to sign up for the walk or for more information fill out this form.
For more information on our upcoming walks, check out our Walks Page.
Announcements and News
Funding for Youth Nature Camps
North Durham Nature has funds available to support local North Durham youth in their teen years to participate in nature camps. Here are the programs and application deadlines:
- Ontario Field Ornithologists - Young Birders Camp (Deadline March 23, 2025) http://www.ofo.ca/content/young-birders/camp
- Birds Canada - Young Ornithologist Workshop (Deadline April 30, 2025) https://www.birdscanada.org/discov.../training-and-workshops
- Ontario Nature - Youth Summit (Deadline August 2025) https://ontarionature.org/events/youth-summit/
If you know a family that might be interested, please pass along the flyer linked here.
Uxbridge, Ontario - November 18, 2024 -- Nature Canada has made it official: Uxbridge Township is now one of the country’s “Bird Friendly” cities
Canada’s oldest national nature conservation society announced the Township’s certification, recognizing the efforts made by the Bird Team, Municipal Staff and Council and the local community to preserve and protect Uxbridge’s bird population.
“We’re not a bird-watching group,” Bird Team leader Carly Davenport explained. “We focus on birds because they're a good overall indicator of ecosystem health. When we see birds declining at this rate, it’s our warning that urgent conservation action is needed.”
She cited the case of grassland birds. Some of them breed in Uxbridge Township and are listed as threatened in Ontario.
“Our work extends beyond just protecting birds to benefit the environmental health of our community. It makes Uxbridge a more sustainable place to live.”
The team formed in January and, since then, has put in roughly 100 hours toward earning this designation. Certification feels great, but seeing biodiversity thrive in our community is the ultimate goal.
Learn more about Nature Canada’s Bird Friendly Cities program here:
To get involved with Bird Friendly Uxbridge, reach out to them on Instagram, Facebook (@birdfriendlyuxbridge) or find Carly at the next North Durham Nature meeting. Thank you to everyone who helped out and contributed!
Volunteer Opportunities
Need a ride to in-person NDN meetings? Can you be a volunteer driver to help others get to in-person meetings?
In order to make our club more accessible for those that don't or no longer drive, we would like to invite people to contact us to sign up--EITHER as a volunteer driver or to inquire about getting a lift. To make the system flexible and accommodate everyone's busy and unpredictable schedules (and weather conditions!), we would not expect a regular commitment but are willing to organize such arrangements on a month-by-month basis. Contacting us well in advance of the meeting date will ensure a greater chance of facilitation, and we will do our best to match riders and drivers.
Our club services the Townships of Brock, Scugog, and Uxbridge so if you live in these regions and are interested, please email the NDN admin team at northdurhamnature2@gmail.com.
Please be a Nature Walk volunteer!
Are you interested in helping out with one of our Walks in Nature, either by leading or assisting with a walk on a topic you are comfortable with? We would love to have you! In addition, we are always looking for new locations and/or nature topics to explore in North Durham so if you have experience or ideas to share, please contact Derek: ndnature7@gmail.com. Thanks!
Lafarge Regan Pit Birdhouse Project Moves to Goodwood
After 10 years the Uxbridge Regan Gravel pit habitat has become a forest and is no longer suitable for the targeted cavity nesting bluebirds and swallows. A new location was needed and identified by Lafarge's area manager Chris Galway. Green Durham Association (GDA) (many joint NDN members) have stepped up and moved the bird houses to Lafarge’s Goodwood open field property. This new private location has no active gravel operation and is open field and meadow. GDA has indicated they will monitor its success as Derek is stepping back from the action.
“We will maintain our ties to Lafarge Regan Pit and keep an eye on Bank Swallows and sparrows which nest there each summer” Derek says. If you are interested in helping out with the Goodwood Project contact Ranald McKay ----ranald.mckay@gmail.com
Canadian Bat Box Project
This project is over but the bat box guidelines have been revised.
Click here to download the latest designs
Native Planting at the Uxbridge Countryside Preserve
North Durham Nature members Derek Connelly James Kamstra, Mark Humphrey and trail volunteer Norine Blyth planted 70 native grasses and 25 wildflowers in the Uxbridge Countryside Preserve Sunday morning. This restoration will help compete with the invading exotics. Autumn Olive shrubs, a recent invasive from Asia, were found growing in one planting area. Anyone interested in helping maintain these natural areas can contact Derek Connelly at ndnature7@gmail.com
North Durham Nature Newsletter is now Online!
Looking for some interesting, local nature content, but you've already finished January's installment of NDN's Newsletter? Well you're in luck! Old copies of our newsletter are now downloadable from our website for your reading pleasure.
Click here to check out seven years of content starting with our very first newsletter back in January 2014, or find the link under the "Friends and Links" tab up in the navigation bar.
Not a club member yet, but like what you see? Become a member to receive our most recent newsletters straight to your email.
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