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Don Scallen

Don Scallen enjoys sharing his love of nature through his writing and presentations. Check out his blog "Notes from the Wild".

How to Spot Salamander Eggs

Apr 2, 2025

Look closely in the crystal clear streams and ponds around Caledon and you can likely spot Jefferson salamander eggs, neatly aligned along supports like twigs.

Macro Nature Photography Captures the Secret Lives of Little Things

Mar 12, 2025

A close-up look at some of the small critters that inhabit Headwaters and how their lives intersect with ours in crucial ways.

When 200-Pound Beavers Roamed Southern Ontario

Mar 11, 2025

Huge skulls from more than 10,000 years ago reveal a time when beavers as big as bears called this area home.

The Allure of Owls

Feb 10, 2025

Owls generate great excitement among birders, and they tug, irresistibly, at our heart strings with those big, expressive eyes.

Fossil Trees

Jan 7, 2025

Trees like ginkgos and dawn redwoods are called “living fossils” due to their ancient origins that date back to the days of the dinosaurs.

The Value of Silence

Dec 5, 2024

Resisting the urge to chatter may help humans catch glimpses of elusive animals.

Two in the Bush

Nov 25, 2024

The Christmas Bird Count provides a snapshot of overwintering local birds and an opportunity for birders, experienced and inexperienced, to enjoy some holiday camaraderie.

Stayin’ Alive

Nov 11, 2024

Using venom, camouflage and jump scare tactics, snakes find many ways to survive and escape danger.

Fall Critters

Oct 9, 2024

While humans peacefully slumber the forest comes alive with tiny creatures busy preparing for the cold.

Praying Mantids

Sep 12, 2024

There’s no need to fear these alien-looking creatures … unless you’re a butterfly or wasp.

Life in the Milkweed Patch

Aug 8, 2024

A milkweed patch thrums with life, full of moths, spiders, butterflies, amphibians and more.

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Jul 5, 2024

Underwater video taken at local conservation areas capture the male Pumpkinseed sunfish in action

Roadside Attractions

Jun 14, 2024

Each year our roadside verges erupt in a bloom of wildflowers, only to be leveled by municipal mowers. Is there a better way to manage these habitats?

A Marooned Grebe

Jun 6, 2024

Without a proper ‘runway’, horned grebes are unable to achieve lift-off, effectively leaving them stranded if they happen to land in small watering holes.

Calvin, the Navigator

May 7, 2024

This well-known salamander’s unexplained navigational super-power rivals the precision of our best GPS systems.

In Praise of Holes

Apr 8, 2024

In nature, hole digging is replete with meaning, helping countless animals survive.

A Magnificent Obsession

Mar 16, 2024

Collecting and nurturing remarkable trees has been a 30-year passion for Caledon’s Gary Haslett.

It’s Baby Season at the Wildlife Centre

Mar 16, 2024

The spring rush of young, orphaned or injured animals marks the start of another busy year at Procyon Wildlife and Rehabilitation Centre.