Submitted by John Dickson
The following is an excerpt from the Owen Sound Field Naturalists (OSFN)October 2025 column. To learn more about OSFN please visit www.osfn.ca
Kudos to Mike Campbell and his team, supporters and cyclists at the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere for staging the 7th Annual Gravel Gran Fondo on Sunday October 5. A cycling event from Lighthouse to Lighthouse (from Lion’s Head to Cabot Head), this very successful event is in support of their cause – Protecting the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere. All funds raised by the Fondo will go to the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association (a charitable non-profit organization) to undertake environmental projects on the Bruce. Check out www.bpba.ca for more information.
Coincidentally, just this morning I was speaking to someone who cycled it last year, and had a memorable sighting, observing a healthy young Black Bear stretched out on a limb of an apple tree, enjoying a feed of apples from a former orchard along one section of the route, while cyclists pedalled by. The weather also cooperated for a great ride and a wonderful experience too. Bravo!
Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory An excerpt from this week’s blog
Posted by Stéphane Menu, September 26, 2025
The past week, September 20-26, marked a radical change from all the previous weeks of this fall season: there were very, very, very few birds captured in our nets. So few that the week total is actually the lowest ever in 24 fall seasons for the week, with only 63 birds banded, five less than the previous lowest totals (in 2017 and 2018). It is such a contrast from the week before (September 13-19), when the banding total came within a few feathers of breaking the record for that week (249 birds in 2024, 246 in 2025!): the higher the climb, the harder they fall!
Exciting News from OSFN’s Stewardship Director Jeannine Kralt
Congratulations to OSFN on being awarded the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s (BTC) prestigious Calypso Award, presented by BTC staff member Rhiannon to OSFN representative Barbara Palmer at the Peninsula Bruce Trail Club’s (PBTC) annual Hiking Festival this weekend, with comments by PBTC/OSFN member Marg Glendon.
From BTC CEO Michael McDonald: “I am pleased to inform you that the Owen Sound Field Naturalists have been selected as this year’s recipients of the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s Calypso Orchid Environmental Award.
Each year we present the Calypso Orchid Environmental Award to an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to the restoration and preservation of the Bruce Trail conservation corridor or significantly enhanced the education of users or potential users of the Trail. The Owen Sound Field Naturalists are a perfect fit.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy would like to recognize and celebrate OSFN’s outstanding dedication to nurturing the appreciation and conservation of our natural world. In particular OSFN’s educational activities, Young Naturalist program and newly revised guidebooks are stellar examples of how OSFN promotes understanding and inspires action for the protection of nature.
Through the Calypso Orchid Environmental Award 2025, the Bruce Trail Conservancy honours OSFN’s tremendous volunteer efforts to increase public awareness on environmental issues affecting the Niagara Escarpment, boost understanding and appreciation of Escarpment biodiversity, and contribute to the preservation of the Bruce Trail’s conservation corridor. Congratulations Owen Sound Field Naturalists!”
Congratulations OSFN members, past and present, for your contributions that have led to this award!
