Don Scallen
Don Scallen enjoys sharing his love of nature through his writing and presentations. Check out his blog "Notes from the Wild".
Vernal Pools
Mar 20, 2017These fleeting spring wetlands are factories of biodiversity. Unusual winters threaten vernal pools, as do hot, dry summers.
8 Ways to Kick Your Grass Habit
Mar 20, 2017Inspiring tales from those who broke free from the rule of lawn.
The Hollywood Finch
Feb 27, 2017The house finch, perhaps more than any other bird species, is a confirmed urbanite, eating the bird seed we provide and cozying up to us at nesting time – hanging flower baskets are favourite nest sites.
Bald Eagles
Feb 2, 2017Luther Marsh is likely the best prospective nesting real estate for bald eagles in the Headwaters region.
Starlings – Birds We Love to Hate
Jan 4, 2017Starlings were introduced to New York City from Europe in the 1890s, there are now more than over 200 million of them in North America.
Mastodon Food
Nov 28, 2016Mastodons fed largely on the twigs and branches of trees but undoubtedly enjoyed fruit as well.
Blue Jays
Oct 25, 2016Blue jays are villains – winged brigands with a penchant for raiding the nests of other birds to devour eggs and nestlings.
Herons and Egrets
Sep 27, 2016Herons, egrets and bitterns are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae.
In Defence of Meadows
Sep 16, 2016Too often belittled as “idle” land awaiting development – or “rescued” by reforestation – meadows deserve the same protection and respect as our woodlands and wetlands.
True Bugs Suck
Aug 25, 2016To an entomologist, “true bugs” are insects that suck. No insult intended – they really do suck.
Fox Scat: the scoop on poop
Jun 30, 2016On a Bruce Trail hike I came across a small mound of freshly deposited fox scat.
Caddisflies
May 30, 2016French artist Hubert Duprat capitalized on this in the 1980s by supplying caddisflies with flecks of gold and tiny precious stones.
Muskrats
Mar 28, 2016Muskrats are largely herbivorous – chomping cattail roots and shoots is a favourite pastime.
A Foraged Feast
Mar 21, 2016Skip the supermarket, find the ingredients for gourmet dining in forest, field and stream.
Wild Leek Soup
Mar 21, 2016Please harvest wild leeks sustainably, taking only 5 to 15 per cent of a given population a year.