Blog – Page 24 – Lambton Wildlife

12 Jul 2016

Acrobatic Squirrels Defy All Obstacles

The most frequent visitor to my bird feeder isn't exactly a bird. Squirrels love birdseed and unless your feeder is suspended from the Goodyear Blimp, you will have a squirrel or two hanging around. For a long time I was determined to out-smart them and devised a number of “squirrel-proof” feeders. Unfortunately, nothing I've invented so far has taken more than 30 minutes for the squirrels to master. (By the way, the term 'squirrel-proof' is not listed in any dictionary or science book.) Very soon I noticed the score was squirrels 6, me 0. (more…)

06 Jul 2016

By Lambton Wildlife Inc

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is Nature’s Colourful Helicopter

Nature Noteshummingbird, migration, Ruby-throated

There are 15 species of hummingbirds living north of Mexico but only the Ruby-throated Hummingbird can be seen in Lambton County. Only three to three-and-half inches long and weighing about as much as a penny, they can flap their wings more than 50 times per second, producing a humming sound. They can fly forwards, backwards or straight up or down and can hover to feed from flowers. They accomplish all this by tilting their wings in much the same way as helicopter rotor blades are tilted to change direction. (more…)

04 Jul 2016

By Lambton Wildlife Inc

Composting: It’s Natural

Nature Notescompost, matter, organic, soil

The air is getting colder and we can see and smell fall just around the corner. With the change of season, the plants that grew so well over the spring and summer are now starting to make preparations against winter's cold breath. The trees are dropping their leaves: the 'factories' that produced new growth, another ring on the tree. The flowers are using their last energy to ripen the seeds for next year's plants. We see the lush summer, the green landscape, slowly change to the rich fall shades of red, yellow and brown. (more…)

02 Jul 2016

By Lambton Wildlife Inc

Beauty on a Wing: Up To 80 Species of Butterflies Fly Into Lambton

Nature Notesbutterfly, hibernate, Ipperwash, metamorphosis, migrate, Pinery

Butterflies belong to the order "lepidoptera". Their suborder is rhoplocera and within it are two superfamilies-papilionoidea (true butterflies) and hesperioidea (skippers). Worldwide there are about 14,500 species of butterflies. In North America, north of the Rio Grande, there are 717 species. In Lambton County, there are 75 to 80 species. The life cycle of a butterfly is amazing. It consists of four stages of development: egg, caterpillar, and adult. The process of changing from one form to another is called "metamorphosis". (more…)

29 Jun 2016

By Lambton Wildlife Inc

“Crown Jewels” of Bird World Visit Canatara

Nature Notesbirds, Canatara Park, Lake Chipican, migration, Sarnia, Tarzanland

Spring has arrived and many of our flights of fancy have turned to the skies and the colorful migrants which are slowly making their way north through Sarnia. When many people think of spring birding, journeys to the legendary Long Point and Point Pelee often come to mind. Although these places are brilliant for birding, you do not have to travel so far to see the wonders of spring migration. In fact, you don't even have to leave the city. Canatara Park is a terrific spot to watch birds. (more…)

27 Jun 2016

By Lambton Wildlife Inc

Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer

Nature Notesair, ozone, pollution, quality

Lazy, hazy days of summer often mean ozone pollution. It's summer, and the days are hot and hazy. These conditions are ideal for the formation of ozone in the atmosphere. Unlike most other air pollutants, ozone is actually made by the action of sunlight on hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, and oxygen in the atmosphere. (more…)

24 Jun 2016

By Lambton Wildlife Inc

Matching Wits With Raccoons

Nature Notesattic, live, pest, raccoon, trap

Raccoons are fascinating creatures. People are amazed by their clever antics, agility and cunning. This warm fuzzy feeling quickly evaporates when they move into your attic. The first hint that there's something up there generally comes at 3 a.m. when you wake up suddenly to the sound of thumps, scratches, rattles and bangs just above your bedroom ceiling. A quick check outside at dawn's first light will probably reveal a pushed-up piece of siding or perhaps a hole in the roof where you used to have a ventilator. Raccoons are amazingly strong. (more…)

22 Jun 2016

By Lambton Wildlife Inc

Praying Mantises: The Truth About Eating Their Mates

Nature Notespraying mantis, spiders

Do female praying mantises really eat their partner while mating? This is one of the most fascinating claims in the often bizarre world of insects. It goes like this: During mating, the female praying mantis starts to eat her partner, beginning at the head and working her way down. Losing his head does not stop the male as reflexes allow him to finish his life purpose before the rest of his body is consumed. (more…)

20 Jun 2016

By Lambton Wildlife Inc

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Nature Notesbirds, botany, fungi, Mandaumin Woods, trail

Lambton Wildlife's 25-acre Mandaumin Woods is waiting for you. It is located 14.5 kilometres east of Sarnia on Mandaumin Sideroad, 1.6 kilometres south of Confederation Street on the west side of the road - (It's the square piece of forest on the left side of Mandaumin Road in the Google Map below). The woodlot is a wonderful place to take a quiet walk, birdwatch, or botanize. Over 44 species of birds have been seen in or from the woodlot, from the lowly starling to the beautiful scarlet tanager. The greatest numbers are usually seen during the spring migration. As well,…

18 Jun 2016

By Lambton Wildlife Inc

There Are Many Locations to Watch Birds in Lambton

Nature Notesbinoculars, birding, Canatara Park, Lambton County, Tarzanland

What is the fastest-growing leisure activity? Canoeing? Tennis? Shuffleboard? No, the fastest-growing hobby is bird watching (or 'birding' as we who are hooked prefer to call it). Most often, interest in birding begins with putting seeds out for the winter birds. Once you recognize that several species come to your feeder, you buy a book to help identify them. (more…)