Fallen trees and woody debris that settle along your shoreline, partially or fully in the water, provide crucial habitat for fish, birds, and reptiles like turtles!
➡️ Turtles need these habitat features to bask in the sun because as reptiles, they receive energy from the sun’s warm temperatures.
➡️ Waterfowl like ducks and herons use partially emerged logs as resting spots, as well as a place to look for food.
➡️ Fish use woody debris as a shelter from predators, a place to lay their eggs, and to find invertebrates to eat.
#Wildlife #Wetland #Turtle #Conservation #Canada
On this International Day of Light, we want to talk about a lesser-known issue: Light Pollution 🌖
While the advancements in lighting have brightened our nights, it comes at a cost to the environment, wildlife, and even our health. Change is possible! By being more conscious about our lighting choices and demanding better regulations, we can restore our beautiful night skies and ensure a harmonious balance between urban illumination and natural darkness.
Take action using our light pollution education toolkit https://watersheds.ca/light. By using these resources, you can ensure that future generations inherit healthy ecosystems and thriving wildlife. Website link in bio!
#internationaldayoflight #lightpollution #darksky #conservation #wildlife #Canada
Canada is home to incredible wildlife, but many species are at risk of disappearing 🇨🇦
From the Barn Owl and Woodland Caribou to the Beluga Whale and Monarch Butterfly, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change continue to threaten biodiversity across the country.
Protecting endangered species means protecting the ecosystems we all depend on. Every action toward conservation matters! Learn more about how Watersheds Canada is protecting freshwater ecosystems: https://watersheds.ca/💧 Website link in bio!
#EndangeredSpecies #CanadaNature #WildlifeConservation #Biodiversity #ProtectWildlife #SpeciesAtRisk #Water #Freshwater
Thank you to HANSAmed Limited for their continued generosity and support!
HANSAmed Limited is a pharmaceutical and medical device company that serves the needs of dental offices and their staff. Their Lighthouse Drug Disposal Service safely disposes of expired drugs, helping ensure they don't end up in our lakes, rivers, and streams. Each year, proceeds from the program are donated to Watersheds Canada in support of freshwater conservation efforts.
Thanks to this initiative, $6,800 was raised this past year! We’re incredibly grateful to HANSAmed for their ongoing dedication to protecting Canada’s freshwater!
@hansamed
Learn fun fish facts in our 'Freshwater Fish Habitat Crossword Puzzle'! 🐟
Looking for more nature-based activities for kids? Download our free curriculum-linked resources: https://watersheds.ca/our-work/nature-discovery-programming/education-resources/. Website link in bio!
#explorenature #fish #natureactivities #kidsactivities #outdooreducation #wildlife #conservation
Take a few minutes and relax with one of our colouring sheets!
Drawn by Sudbury area artist, Debra Lynn Ireland - Debra Lynn Ireland - Animal Artist , these colouring sheets highlight different wildlife species that benefit from Watersheds Canada's habitat restoration programs.
Download yours at: www.watersheds.ca/our-work/nature-discovery-programming/education-resources. Website link in bio!
Have waterfront property in Horton Township? Want to improve your shoreline while supporting wildlife and protecting your river?
Join Watersheds Canada for a Design Your Shoreline Workshop where you'll: • Learn the benefits of a naturalized shoreline • Create your own shoreline planting plan • Explore the Natural Edge Native Plant Database • Ask questions during a live Q&A with our team • Receive 50 free plants to take home to plant along your shoreline
📅 Saturday, May 30
⏰ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
📍 Horton Community Centre 1005 Castleford Rd, Renfrew, ON
Space is limited! Register today: /forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5paglFKRaKBNkZTHaLZy1yVaSyV9_jALTChqathEr3b5WZA/viewform. Link in bio!
Species spotlight: Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
The Eastern Hemlock, or Canadian hemlock, is a medium to large-sized conifer tree, reaching 30 m tall, preferring moist to wet conditions. This hemlock produces flat needles, smaller on the upper side of its branches, and small oval-shaped cones 2cm long. Both its needles and cones are the smallest in the hemlock family (Tsuga) and one of the smallest among all conifers (Pinophyta)! The Eastern hemlock has shallow, wide-spreading roots, making it an ideal species to help control erosion, especially in dry conditions.
To learn more about the Eastern Hemlock, visit: https://naturaledge.watersheds.ca/plants/eastern-hemlock/. Website link in bio!
Happy World Migratory Bird Day! 🦢
Canada is a breeding bird hotspot, home to millions of migrating birds that return to our lakes and forests with the warmer weather to nest and reproduce.
Today we’re celebrating the incredible journey of the Snow Goose!
Every year, these magnificent white birds fly thousands of kilometres between their Arctic breeding grounds and southern wintering habitats, stopping along wetlands, lakes, and fields across Canada to rest and refuel. During migration, massive flocks can fill the sky, providing a strong demonstration of just how interconnected ecosystems are.
Protecting wetlands and migratory stopover habitats helps ensure birds like the Snow Goose can continue their remarkable journeys for generations to come.
Interested in learning more about protecting birds and their habitat? Check out our e-library resources about birds: https://library.watersheds.ca/search/?q=bird. E-library link in bio!
#WorldMigratoryBirdDay #SnowGoose #BirdMigration #Conservation #CanadaWildlife #ProtectWetlands #WMBD2026 #Wildlife #Birding
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our mural making station at the @evergreen_brick_works Conference this week in Toronto, ON!
Together, people across sectors, geography, and backgrounds shared a moment of creating together. We shared about our favourite nature moments, the importance of nature in public spaces, and how we can thrive together with our wildlife and plant neighbours.
We're looking forward to seeing the next place where this mural station ends up!
Did you know that Trilliums are slow-growing plants?
Trillium seeds normally take at least two years to fully germinate, with the plant itself taking approximately seven to ten years to reach flowering size.
After the plant produces its first flower, it will bloom annually in early spring, with the bloom lasting for around three weeks.
Help trilliums thrive by leaving leaf litter in your yard. Trilliums are a woodland species that benefit from leaf litter because it provides the perfect ground temperature and moisture.
Pictured: Great White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Thanks to funding from Crabtree Foundation, and Peterborough K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation, Watersheds Canada was recently able to deliver in-school programming at two Ottawa, ON elementary schools. Students either learned about native fish species and their habitat needs, or the importance of native plants for shoreline and river health!
