From Winter Trails to Spring Plans: A Snapshot of Nature and Community in Grey-Bruce from OSFN
See what's happening with the Owen Sound Field Naturalists, and learn about upcoming events such as the Grey Bruce Woodlot Conference and Huron Fringe Birding Festival 2026.
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
Before our most recent winter blast, the past few weeks had been terrific for me to be active outside, mainly skiing on area trails, and within forests on top of the firm snow, as well as beside frozen shorelines.
The sunshine was a bonus, with high pressure and clear skies for many days in the past four to six weeks.
The recent milder Springlike weather has lured me outside for some running too, catching sight of Crows harassing Red-tailed Hawks, as well as Wild Turkeys and even a Northern Shrike, while the willow trees have been glowing ever more brightly.
Introducing the OSFN Collection
In March, Sarah McComb-Turbitt launched “Introducing the OSFN Collection,” a collaborative project highlighting local wildlife in Ontario.
As a signature member of Artists for Conservation, Sarah is challenging herself to paint as many local species as possible throughout March 2026. So far, coyote, barn owl, and dwarf lake iris have been selected, with turtles featured next.
Fauna, flora, and fungi are all possibilities — and the public is invited to participate.
Community members can suggest species or submit photos by emailing sarah@smccombturbitt.com — two species are featured daily for voting across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn, with results tallied across platforms.
More information and examples of Sarah’s work can be found at:
Fine Art by Sarah McComb-Turbitt
A portion of proceeds supports OSFN:
15% of original artworks
35% of limited-edition prints
50% of artwork cards
Young Naturalists: Wildlife Art Session
On February 22, Amanda Eriksen and the Young Naturalists spent time with Sarah McComb-Turbitt (artist, marine biologist, and naturalist), who guided them in painting wildlife.
Amanda Eriksen shared: “We had a great time painting wildlife with Sarah McComb-Turbitt! Thanks for your leadership!”
Marsha Courtney added: “They all did so well and sure had fun. Thanks to Sarah McComb for hosting the Young Naturalist group.”
OSFN Tracking Tutorial Recap
Pearl Bumstead shared this report following the OSFN Tracking Tutorial, “Who Made Those Tracks and Why?”, held February 21 with Jeff Kinchen:
“A small group set out on a trek in search of tracks, and Jeff led us to plenty.
The day was overcast with a bit of snow in the air, but evidence of a lot of wildlife was present — skunk, deer, rabbit, and fisher, just to name a few.Jeff was very knowledgeable, filling us in about the habits and nature of various species that live in the woods on family property near the Bognor Marsh on Concession 4.
At the end of our trek, Pam Kinchen treated us all to some yummy goodies and hot tea. Thanks so much to Jeff and Pam, and to John Dickson for organizing yet another fabulous outing.”
2026 Grey Bruce Woodlot Conference
The 33rd Annual Grey Bruce Woodlot Conference will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Elmwood Community Centre (38 Concession Road 10, Elmwood).
The conference runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with speakers beginning at 9 a.m. Topics include:
Tree planting and biodiversity impacts
Spotted lanternfly
Transitioning plantations to mixedwood forests
Grassland restoration
Wild turkeys
To learn more about the speaker lineup, visit gbwc.blog.
To register, email info@gbwc.blog with your name and address. Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door. The ticket price includes lunch.
Upcoming Chainsaw Courses
The Bruce Grey Woodlands Association (BGWA) has organized several chainsaw workshops and courses over the next couple of months:
Chainsaw Safety Course – March 21
Chainsaw Certification Course – April 11–12
Women’s Only Chainsaw Safety Course – April 18
Chainsaw Maintenance Course – April 25
These courses are also listed on the BGWA website. Spaces are still available. For more information or to register, please email president@bgwa.ca
Huron Fringe Birding Festival 2026
Spring is just around the corner, and preparations are underway for the 28th Huron Fringe Birding Festival, taking place May 22–25 and May 28–31, 2026.
Online registration opened at 6 a.m. on March 13. Participants are encouraged to visit the website in advance to set up an account and plan their events, as registration can be busy.
It is advisable to select preferred events ahead of time.
More information:
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.
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It's a pleasure to read about the past and upcoming events-- it gives me hope that the Field Gnats are hopeful too.