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

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

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…)
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“Crown Jewels” of Bird World Visit Canatara

“Crown Jewels” of Bird World Visit Canatara

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…)
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Matching Wits With Raccoons

Matching Wits With Raccoons

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…)
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Praying Mantises: The Truth About Eating Their Mates

Praying Mantises: The Truth About Eating Their Mates

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…)
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Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

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,…
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There Are Many Locations to Watch Birds in Lambton

There Are Many Locations to Watch Birds in Lambton

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…)
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