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Author: naturenl

This author has written 238 articles

Forgetting the environment

The Telegram - Letter to the Editor by Nature NL's John Jacobs. Have a read: http://www.thetelegram.com/Opinion/Letters-to-the-editor/2012-03-23/article-2937474/Forgetting-the-environment/1

Continue ReadingForgetting the environment

New Issue of The Osprey

The first issue of Volume 43 of The Osprey is now available to members on the "Osprey" tab above. Not a member? Join here: MEMBERSHIP FORM Congrats to new Co-Editors,…

Continue ReadingNew Issue of The Osprey

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Nature Newfoundland & Labrador's Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday March 15, at 7:30pm, MUN Science Building, SN 2067.   Everyone interested in Nature in Newfoundland and Labrador is…

Continue ReadingANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Call for Submissions to The Osprey

  The Osprey and Nature NL would like to extend an invitation to authors for submissions for the Spring 2012 issue.   Articles, stories, research, information or opinions regarding nature…

Continue ReadingCall for Submissions to The Osprey

Stop Wasting Our Lakes!

New website from Nature Canada www.stopwastingourlakes.ca Lakes are important to all Canadians in some way. Lakes provide important habitats for wildlife, including fish, bird, plants, insects, and bigger creatures like…

Continue ReadingStop Wasting Our Lakes!

Nature Newfoundland and Labrador is sponsoring a Newfoundland and Labrador Breeding Bird Atlas Workshop

Where: SN 2067, Science Building, Memorial University of Newfoundland When: Feb 23, 2012 at 7:30 pm   Breeding Bird Atlases are 5-year projects to document the distribution, abundance and status…

Continue ReadingNature Newfoundland and Labrador is sponsoring a Newfoundland and Labrador Breeding Bird Atlas Workshop

The Gulls of Quidi Vidi Lake

Ken Knowles, retired MUN Professor of Music, musician, photographer, and birding guide, spends almost every day from December to March trying to sort out the bewildering variety of gulls at…

Continue ReadingThe Gulls of Quidi Vidi Lake

Forestry Recommissioned

Here is an interesting link from the UK on the state of forests: http://www.plantlife.org.uk/about_us/news_press/forestry_recommissioned/ With the Independent Panel on Forestry’s first statement just weeks away, Plantlife shifts the focus from…

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Join a warm winter viewing of travel to Costa Rica

What: Todd Boland and Julie Huntington share with you their visits to  nature reserves, turtle beaches, rough roads and hot springs and travels with teens. Learn why Costa Rica is…

Continue ReadingJoin a warm winter viewing of travel to Costa Rica

Register now for Audubon Camp in Maine birding programs!

For over 75 years the National Audubon Society has offered residential birding programs for adults, teens and families at the historic Audubon Camp in Maine on Hog Island.   Pete Dunne,…

Continue ReadingRegister now for Audubon Camp in Maine birding programs!
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naturenl.ca

Reminder that we have moved the guided walk to tom Reminder that we have moved the guided walk to tomorrow Sunday November 23rd!  We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Happy #BirdFactFriday Since you’re all rightly Happy #BirdFactFriday  Since you’re all rightly obsessed (we are too 😉) with the quirky local names we’ve given birds here in Newfoundland and Labrador, we’re keeping the series going!  Welcome to Part 3 of Unique Bird Names of Newfoundland and Labrador.  More fun nicknames, more local charm, and more reasons to love our feathered neighbors! 🐦  Did you know here in Newfoundland and Labrador, we have our own bird lingo? Just like our local sayings and everyday expressions, many bird species here have unique common names that you likely won’t hear anywhere else!
Some species even share the same local name! While they are related, they’re actually two different birds altogether! No wonder bird identification can be tricky business around here.  Stay tuned as we dive into some of these fun local names together!  This media is part of our Birding Without Barriers program, supported by NatureHood, a Nature Canada initiative.  #BirdsOfNL #NLNature #Birding #BirdWatchers #ExploreNL #WildlifeWednesday #NatureLovers #AtlanticCanada #BirdNerd #NatureFacts #BirdEducation #ConservationCanada
It's #WetlandWednesday ‼ 💧 This week were ar It's #WetlandWednesday ‼ 💧  This week were are reviewing the importance of wetlands as fire buffers.  Wetlands work quietly and automatically during a wildfire emergency. They are nature’s living firebreaks that are saturated wet soils, peat, cool air, and lush vegetation forming natural barriers that flames struggle to cross. In this photo, you can actually see where the wetland created a protective buffer during the fire.  Wetlands have many roles during a wildfire emergency. They provide refuge for wildlife, offer a critical water source for firefighters, and support regeneration and recovery long after a fire has passed in addition to being a natural fire buffer.  While this image highlights the power of wetlands as natural fire buffers, it also shows how human activity can slowly damage these fragile spaces. Heavy quad use has compacted the wetland in this area, squeezing out air pockets, reducing water absorption, and causing water to run off quickly. That runoff carries surface soil into nearby water bodies, leading to sedimentation and degrading habitat. When quad damage occurs you can quickly see the negative impacts especially during abnormally dry summers.  These damages reduce the ability to properly store water leading to wetlands becoming too dry or the opposite where quad damage can cut off natural drainage systems causing flood.  When a wetland is damaged or lost, its buffering abilities disappear with it. Wetlands don’t bounce back quickly, recovery can take decades, and in some cases, may never occur without human intervention.  Protecting wetlands means protecting water, wildlife, and natural resilience. These quiet ecosystems work hard every single day. 🌿💧  This media is supported by Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund (AERF) made possible by @fisheriesoceanscan  in efforts of restoration and conservation of aquatic ecosystems in partnership with @aquaticconservationinitiative  Photo by: Alexis Cole  #Wetlands #Wildfireprotection #Healthyecocystems #ExploreNL #Savethewetlands
Have you checked out our online store? Whether y Have you checked out our online store?  Whether you’re shopping for someone special or treating yourself, our store has something for every nature admirer. 🌿  Most items are  handmade by our dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers!  Every purchase becomes a direct donation that helps us continue offering free public programming!  You can purchase Bird Friendly Coffee in collaboration with AVIA here: 
https://www.cafebirdfriendly.org/products/in-support-of-nature-newfoundland-and-labrador  Check out our shop: https://naturenl.ca/shop-woo/  #NatureShop #SupportLocal #SupportNature #NatureNL
Happy #BirdFactFriday Did you know here in Newfou Happy #BirdFactFriday  Did you know here in Newfoundland and Labrador, we have our own bird lingo? Just like our local sayings and everyday expressions, many bird species here have unique common names that you likely won’t hear anywhere else!  Some species even share the same local name! While they are related, they’re actually two different birds altogether! No wonder bird identification can be tricky business around here. 😉  Stay tuned as we dive into some of these fun local names together!
This media is part of our Birding Without Barriers program, supported by NatureHood, a Nature Canada initiative.  #BirdsOfNL #NLNature #Birding #BirdWatchers #ExploreNL #WildlifeWednesday #NatureLovers #AtlanticCanada #BirdNerd #NatureFacts #BirdEducation #ConservationCanada
Happy #WetLandWednesday Last week we talked wetla Happy #WetLandWednesday  Last week we talked wetlands and how they are like natures nursery for unique species, such as evergreen shrubs that rely on wetland habitats as a home.
We highlighted how evergreen shrubs, like the pictured Leatherleaf, depend on these habitats year-round. It’s a great reminder to think outside the box of what we usually picture when we think of evergreens.  This week we want to share a little bit about how specialized adaptations of evergreens make wetlands perfect homes.  🌿 Physical Adaptations  Thick, Waxy Cuticle - Leaves are coated in a waxy layer that reduces water loss through evaporation. ( A great feature for drought during very dry summers and cold dry winters.)  Needle-like or Leathery Leaves - Smaller surface area minimizes water loss and damage from snow or wind.  Sunken Stomata - Pores for gas exchange are recessed below the leaf surface, reducing water loss.  Flexible Branches - Bend easily under snow without breaking.  Evergreen Pigments - Retain chlorophyll and sometimes have protective pigments (like carotenoids) that prevent damage from cold or sun exposure.  ❄️ Physiological Adaptations  Produce sugars and proteins - Preventing ice crystals from forming inside cells.  Slow Metabolism - Reduces the need for nutrients and water during unfavorable conditions (like winter).  Year-round Photosynthesis - Can photosynthesize on warm winter days.  Efficient Nutrient Use - Conserve nutrients by not shedding leaves annually; beneficial in poor soils.  🌱 Ecological Adaptations  Low Light Tolerant - Many evergreen shrubs and trees can photosynthesize under shaded or cloudy conditions.  Longevity - Leaves last several years, maximizing energy.  Soil and Habitat Specialization - Some species thrive in acidic, nutrient-poor soils (e.g., bogs, wetlands, conifer forests).  What is your favorite evergreen?  This media is supported by Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund (AERF) made possible by @fisheriesoceanscan  in efforts of restoration and conservation of aquatic ecosystems in partnership with @aquaticconservationinitiative  Photo by: Alexis Cole  #evergreens #Wetlands
Today we pause in gratitude and remembrance. As na Today we pause in gratitude and remembrance. As nature stands still in quiet reflection, so do we. Honoring the courage, sacrifice, and peace so many gave everything for.  #LestWeForget
Happy #BirdFactFriday Did you know here in Newfou Happy #BirdFactFriday  Did you know here in Newfoundland and Labrador, we have our own bird lingo? Just like our local sayings and everyday expressions, many bird species here have unique common names that you likely won’t hear anywhere else!  Some species even share the same local name! While they are related, they’re actually two different birds altogether! No wonder bird identification can be tricky business around here. 😉  Stay tuned as we dive into some of these fun local names together!  This media is part of our Birding Without Barriers program, supported by NatureHood, a @naturecanada_ initiative.  #BirdsOfNL #NLNature #Birding #BirdWatchers #ExploreNL #WildlifeWednesday #NatureLovers #AtlanticCanada #BirdNerd #NatureFacts #BirdEducation #ConservationCanada
Yesterday we visited the Marjorie Mews Library for Yesterday we visited the Marjorie Mews Library for a hands-on fossil and mineral adventure! 🦕  We explored real fossils and minerals, dug for fluorite and labradorite, and even made our own fossil impressions to take home. We love any excuse for a bit of messy play and lots of learning!  Thank you for having us @Marjorie Mews Public Library  #geosciences #Fossils #Earthsciences #messyplay #natureNL
We’re in mid-fall, slowly creeping into winter. We’re in mid-fall, slowly creeping into winter. Some wetland plants will partially decompose and become peat, while others have special adaptations that allow them to stay evergreen through the harsh fall and winter conditions.  When we think of evergreens, many of us picture towering Spruce and Fir trees. But wetlands are home to a variety of smaller evergreen shrubs that stay vibrant and green throughout the year. Some of these species include Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), named for its tough, leathery leaves; Common Labrador Tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum); Large Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon); and Sheep Laurel (Kalmia angustifolia). These resilient plants remain green year-round however there are many other species residing in wetlands with these features as well.  Evergreens don’t take a break for winter! Their waxy, tough leaves help them hold onto water and stay green year-round, even through snow and frost.  Next Wednesday we will go into more depth into the science behind how evergreens are able to remain green year round and how it helps these species live in harsh conditions.  This media is supported by Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund (AERF) made possible by @FisheriesOceansCAN in efforts of restoration and conservation of aquatic ecosystems in partnership with @aquaticconservationinitiative  Photo by: Gabby Riefesel  #NatureNL #ACI #Wetlandwednesday #Freshwater #WetlandsofNL
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