Site is Loading, Please wait...
Skip to content
Nature NL
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Nature NL Remembers
    • In the News
    • Past Projects
  • Get involved
    • Memberships
    • Join Us
  • Donate
  • Wetland Photo Contest
  • What We Do
    • Awards & Scholarships
      • Nature NL Tuck-Walters Award
      • Nature NL The Wild Things Scholarship
    • Citizen Science
      • BioBlitz Events
      • Waterbird Monitoring
      • Insect Monitoring
      • Report Your Sightings
    • Nature Backpack Program
    • NatureHood NL
    • ENGO Conference
    • Public & Private Events
      • Indoor Events
      • Outdoor Events
      • Nature Nook
      • Members Only & Private Events
  • Resources & Publications
    • Publications
    • NatureNL Blog
    • Resources & Links
  • Our Shop
    • Shipping & Nature NL Products
    • Online Shop
  • 0
  • Toggle website search
0 Menu Close
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Nature NL Remembers
    • In the News
    • Past Projects
  • Get involved
    • Memberships
    • Join Us
  • Donate
  • Wetland Photo Contest
  • What We Do
    • Awards & Scholarships
      • Nature NL Tuck-Walters Award
      • Nature NL The Wild Things Scholarship
    • Citizen Science
      • BioBlitz Events
      • Waterbird Monitoring
      • Insect Monitoring
      • Report Your Sightings
    • Nature Backpack Program
    • NatureHood NL
    • ENGO Conference
    • Public & Private Events
      • Indoor Events
      • Outdoor Events
      • Nature Nook
      • Members Only & Private Events
  • Resources & Publications
    • Publications
    • NatureNL Blog
    • Resources & Links
  • Our Shop
    • Shipping & Nature NL Products
    • Online Shop
  • 0
  • Toggle website search

chick

Researcher Spotlight Series: Michelle Fitzsimmons

By Michelle Fitzsimmons, Memorial University Posted November 19, 2018 Editor’s Note: In our Research Spotlight Series we shine a light on exciting research in our province. In this post we…

Continue ReadingResearcher Spotlight Series: Michelle Fitzsimmons
Donate now

naturenl.ca

Happy Wetland Wednesday! Let's talk the American Happy Wetland Wednesday! 

Let's talk the American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) life cycle and their habitat! πŸ”„

After drifting from the ocean as tiny larvae, American eels (Anguilla rostrata) start their early stages of life in freshwater rivers, lakes, and streams. 

American Eels (Anguilla rostrata) grow to adulthood in freshwater. Eels live up to 20-30 years in freshwater, then make their way back to the Sargasso Sea, where they reproduce. 

How does freshwater habitats provide for eel's and other migratory freshwater species?

🐜Food (insects, fish, plants)

🏠Shelter from predators

πŸ›Resting areas for energy storage before their ocean journey

Freshwater systems are vital migratory corridors!

Dams, culverts, and barriers can block these critical pathways, stopping the eel’s life cycle entirely.

Healthy Water = Healthy Eels 🌍
Polluted or degraded freshwater habitats reduce eel survival and growth. Often Neighboring wetlands such as bogs, fens, or marshes help provide a buffer aiding keeping the freshwater ecosystem clean. 

Healthy freshwater ecosystems support not just eels, but entire food webs that sustain biodiversity.

You will find us at Quidi Vidi every morning checking for juvenile American Eel (elvers) 

In collaboration with @aquaticconservationinitiative and @islandroomspettyharbour we have been awarded funding through @fisheriesoceanscan Habitat Stewardship Program to complete a project focused on the development of an American Eel recruitment protocol for Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador and increase stewardship efforts of Aquatic species at risk until 2028!

Wetland Wednesdays are part of our 3 year Aquatic Restoration Ecosystem Fund Wetland project funded by @fisheriesoceanscan 

#WetlandWednesday #AmericanEel #FreshwaterHabitats #Wetlands #AERF
This past Sunday, we laced up our boots and headed This past Sunday, we laced up our boots and headed out for a family-friendly nature walk πŸŒΏπŸ‘£ A great day of exploring, learning, and spotting wildlife together! 🐦πŸͺ²πŸŒΌ

We learned about migratory birds, learned to use binoculars, talked about our birdwatching backpacks, and learned about moss, lichen, ferns, spruce trees, fir trees, pin cherries, mountain ash, spittle bugs, and more! We saw and heard lots of songbirds and enjoyed the beautiful summer weather! See you in July for a guided hike in Bonavista and August for a nature walk in Conception Bay South, keep an eye on our events for all the details!

#FamilyAdventure #NatureWalk #ExploreOutdoors #BioBlitz2025 #WildlifeWatch #GetOutside #FamilyFun #CitizenScience #NatureIsNeat
Join us today at the A.C. Hunter Library located 1 Join us today at the A.C. Hunter Library located 125 Allendale Rd. We will be here from 10 - 12 for the Summer Reading Club Launch Party! 

#summerreadingclub #publiclibrarysNL #achunterlibrary #exploreNL
🌿 Join the BioBlitz Newfoundland and Labrador 2 🌿 Join the BioBlitz Newfoundland and Labrador 2025! 🌿

Explore nature through hands-on science July 8–14! From night moth hunts and bird banding to insect discoveries and citizen science, there’s something for everyone. Learn from researchers, enjoy family-friendly guided walks, and connect with nature.

Keep an eye out because there is more to come!

πŸ“ Great Northern Peninsula, Events at Pistolet Bay Park, Raleigh, Anchor Point, L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, and more!
(See list of evets in poster for location details.) 

πŸ“§ For more info contact: bioblitzNL@gov.nl.ca

Let’s discover biodiversity together! 🐦🐞🌸

Partners:
Limestone Landscapes
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 
Nature Newfoundland and Labrador 
Wilder Institute
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Parks Canada
Stewardship Association of Municipalities
Intervale Associates

#Biodiversity #LimestoneBarrens #BioBlitz #PublicEvents #CitizenScience #BioBlitzNewfoundlandAndLabrador2025
Happy #WetlandWednesday! We are so grateful for ou Happy #WetlandWednesday! We are so grateful for our wetlands! 

Wetland spaces are among the most diverse ecosystems. Wetlands provide wildlife habitats and sources of fresh water, help reduce climate change impacts by storing carbon, and mitigate extreme weather events such as drought and floods. These are just a few of many reasons why we love wetlands and why the protection of wetlands is so important.

Let us know what your favorite wetland spaces are in your community in the comments πŸ˜€ 

Follow along for our 3 year Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund project funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ 

#WetlandWednesday #WetlandAppreciation #NewfoundlandandLabrador #AERF
Join Nature NL for a bug walk! This event is part Join Nature NL for a bug walk! This event is part of the third year in our Insect Monitoring Program titled β€œMaking a Buzz about Bugs”!
This family-friendly bug walk will take place at the Memorial University Botanical Garden on Saturday Saturday July 5th from 10am - 12pm πŸ›
Explore the @mun_botanical_garden with insect and spider experts Sean McCann and Catherine Scott! Learn about bugs and where to find them, the relationships they have with plants and other animals, and more. πŸ¦‹

#MUN #insects #bugs #buzzaboutbugs #WHC #NatureNL
Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day and National Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day and National Indigenous History Month! πŸŒ²πŸ¦…

Nature NL recognizes the cultural significance Indigenous communities play in conservation and why cultural awareness of our natural spaces are so important.  Recently we had a public talk hosted by Jodie Ashini. Jodie spoke about Innu history,  keeping the past alive for our future generations, the importance of indigenous led archaeology, social wellness and the cultural awareness roles and how they play in natural spaces.

One of the things Jodie shared with us was when she was working at a archaeology site, there were significant indigenous artifacts found. Without having indigenous members on site these artifacts would have likely been misidentified resulting in loss of cultural significance. Before the artifact's were identified by the indigenous community there were at lot of speculations to what these artifacts were. 

Thank you for sharing your experience's and stories with us Jodie! If you missed this talk and would like a recording please reach out to us at naturenl@naturenl.ca 

#NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay #NationalIndigenousHistoryMonth #ProtectTheLands
What a wonderful day with the Avalon East Wellness What a wonderful day with the Avalon East Wellness Coalition! We had the opportunity to share how nature supports and enhances both physical and mental well-being. It was also inspiring to hear from other incredible organizations working to promote physical literacy. Thank you for having us!

#Physicalliteracy #getactive #nature #mentalhealth #natureisforeveryone #newfoundland #explorenl
Happy Wetland Wednesday! Here is a peek of what we Happy Wetland Wednesday! Here is a peek of what we have been doing lately! πŸ‘€

In collaboration with @aquaticconservationinitiative and @islandroomspettyharbour we have been awarded funding through @fisheriesoceanscan Habitat Stewardship Program to complete a project focused on the development of an American Eel recruitment protocol for Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador and increase stewardship efforts of Aquatic species at risk until 2028!

Eels rely on fresh water and salt water ecosystems. Eels spend their immature lives in fresh water and, upon reaching sexual maturity, migrate to the sea, eventually to spawn in salt water. In the spring, the juvenile eels (elvers) migrate from the ocean to fresh water.

You will find us at Quidi Vidi every morning checking for juvenile American Eel (elvers) 

More to come - Aquatic Conservation Initiative, Nature NL, and Fishing for Success!

#DFO #NewfoundlandAndLabrador #AmericanEel #SARA #wetlandwednesday #SpeciesAtRisk #BandedKillifish #Conservation #Elver #GlassEel #AERF
Did you know this week from June 16th - 22nd is Wo Did you know this week from June 16th - 22nd is World Pollinator Week? πŸ¦‹πŸ

Here in Newfoundland and Labrador we have many types of pollinator species. Pollinators are crucial for the reproduction of most flowering plant species. 

We have many insect guides here at Nature NL developed by knowledgeable volunteers. These guides are double sided and can help you identify some pollinator's and other insect types that can be found in your own back yard or neighboring park!

These guides are $5 each. if you would like to purchase one please visit our website shop:  https://naturenl.ca/product/some-common-garden-insects-of-nl/
or email us at naturenl@naturenl.ca

#NatureNL #WorldPollinatorWeek #NatureGuides #UrbanNature
Follow NatureNL

Copyright 2025 - Nature NL
Γ—
Γ—

Cart