Field Notes: Spring Wildflowers, Returning Birds, and Volunteer Opportunities
John Dickson shares the latest from the Owen Sound Field Naturalists — work bees at the hospital, a Mother's Day tree planting at Keefer Falls, and signs of Spring.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
Spring has been busy. Earlier this month, OSFN welcomed photographer Peter Rasberry for "Gaia's Gifts," an evening exploring the natural world through his lens, and partnered again with Sarah McComb-Turbitt on "The OSFN Collection" — 15 new wildlife paintings drawn from local reference photographs across Grey and Bruce Counties.
On Mother's Day weekend, the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy gathered volunteers at Keefer Falls to plant young trees on a property long stewarded by the McArthur family. Here’s what else the Owen Sound Field Naturalists have to share.
Signs of Spring: Wildflowers, Trees, and Returning Birds
There are so many more signs of Spring these days. Finally, most of the well-known early wildflowers are blooming. Just a couple of weeks ago, while I was enjoying some trail running, I noticed a patch of trilliums that included both white and red flowers.
I also found a sample of fiddleheads and a larger area densely packed with two different yellow flowers — the taller Large-flowered Bellwort towering over the shorter Trout Lilies (also known as Adder’s Tongues, Dog-toothed Violets and Fawn Lilies). I had never seen these together in the same spot before.
Trees are leafing out just in time to give the newly arriving birds more shelter for nesting. Last week, while many local birders were at Point Pelee and/or Pelee Island, there were still many of us here with the Bruce Birding Club enjoying the arrival of Baltimore Orioles, Palm Warblers, Northern Parulas, Blue-headed Vireos and more, at what we have dubbed ‘Pelee North,’ a birding hotspot on the south side of Kincardine.
And I expect I will soon be watching the amazing displays of Chimney Swifts right here in Owen Sound.
NeighbourWoods North Spring Work Bees
A message from Lloyd Lewis at NeighbourWoods North:
“Hello Tree and Nature Lovers, NeighbourWoods North is welcoming all volunteers to help us with our Spring Tree/Plant work at the Owen Sound Hospital.
We are meeting on Saturday mornings on May 9, 16, 30 and June 6th from 9:30 to 11 a.m., followed by coffee and cake, resting on your own upside down bucket :-)
It’s all very satisfying work, knowing YOU are making an impact. We hope to see some of you.”
Shawna Macivor added these helpful details: NeighbourWoods North work bees will take place every Saturday in Spring 2026 until June 6th. Helpers should bring their own garden tools and meet at the shed to the north west of the Emergency drive near the hydro wires. More information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/NeighbourwoodsNorth
Young Naturalists Explore the Mooi Reserve
Marsha Courtney tells of the OSFN Young Naturalists’ (YN) recent activities:
“Our Young Naturalist Group under the OSFN had a lovely hike in the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) Mooi reserve led by Amy Darrell.
She put together a bingo for things that we might see and although we did not see the barred owls or the porcupine the kids had a pretty awesome bushwack through the woods to the Spey River.
Such a gorgeous day and the weather was perfect for a change.”
YN Coordinator Amanda Eriksen added: “Thanks to Amy Darrell of the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy for hosting us!”
Closing Thought
To close, a Nature quote from Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald. As a writer, “I choose to think that my subject is love, and most specifically love for the glittering world of non-human life around us...To rejoice in the complexity of things.”
Thank you to sponsors of The Owen Sound Current Writers’ Fund, who make these community contributions possible. Contributions from the community do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of The Owen Sound Current and its editor or publisher.
 | A guest post by
|