Home - Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists Club

News & Informative updates about the MPFN, the Environment and Local Nature Stories

Our Mission

To study and
appreciate nature.
To protect and preserve wildlife
and the environment.
To stimulate public interest in,
and promote protection
and preservation of nature.

Who we are

The Midland Penetanguishene Field Naturalists Club (MPFNC) is one of the oldest affiliates of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. The objective of the Club is to promote public awareness of natural history, conservation and the environment. We feature lectures by expert naturalists on a range of fascinating topics at our monthly meetings. We also schedule outings (field trips) and nature study.

We meet on the 3rd Thursday of the month, 7:30 PM at the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre No meeting in December, July or August. Our June meeting is held at Tiny Marsh.

For a printable schedule of meetings & events click: 2022 Bookmark_Brochure 001

The MPFNC is involved in many projects in the area including the Christmas Bird Count as well as environmental and wildlife surveys, the Tiny Marsh BioBlitz and the Sweet Water Harvest at the Wye Marsh. The club also supports the Owl Foundation at the Christmas Bird Count Potluck Wrap-up at the Wye Marsh. This year we raised $440 for the Owl Foundation of Vineland through our famous Mystery Gift Not-So-Silent Auction.

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Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists

Our objectives are: (a) To study and appreciate nature (b) To protect and preserve wildlife and the environment (c) To stimulate public interest in, and promote protection and preservation of nature. We are a non-profit organization.

Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists

6 days ago

🌿 Join Us at Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre for a Community Engagement Event! 🌿We’re excited to invite you to a special event aimed at enhancing accessibility and mental health awareness in nature. Come share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas on how we can make our natural spaces more inclusive and supportive for everyone. Your feedback is invaluable as we work to create a more welcoming environment at Wye Marsh.📅 Date: September 18th 2024⏰ Time: drop-in from 5:00pm to 7:00pm📍 Location: Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre* Light refreshments will be provided *Let’s come together to build a stronger, more connected community. We look forward to hearing from you!#CommunityEngagement #Accessibility #MentalHealthAwareness #WyeMarsh ... See MoreSee Less

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Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists

6 days ago

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Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists

7 days ago

The latest Nature column from David Hawke: Fall fairs a common thread of our rural heritageFall fairs are 'fun and country and a bit of city all rolled into one show,' says columnist David Hawke, who urges readers to enjoy a fall fair this autumnPhoto caption: Gwen Kaye sits atop Wendy at the 1947 Bracebridge Fall Fair. If you have a chance, check out a local fall fair, urges columnist. David Hawke Hey neighbour, it's time to toughen up, put on that stiff upper lip, and hold yer head high. It's Fall Fair time, and the competition is, as usual, fierce.No more "howdy-do's" and "hi-how-are-ya's." It's community against community, family against family, nose to nose, toe to toe, calf to calf.Where else can civilized folk acknowledge that primordial instinct to one-up the neighbours without violence or bloodshed, but rather with points! First place points, second place points, even participation points ... they all add up to show just who's the best this year.Agricultural fall fairs have been held in our area for 170 years and longer, and remain the biggest annual event at which to meet and compete. “Ol' Charlie down the road may be a great neighbour, but by golly this year our wheat sheaf is going to show the judges who knows how to grow grain!”As with so many residents of this county, both my parents came from rural backgrounds. Come time for the Orillia, Ramona or Severn Bridge Fall Fairs, the names of Hawke, Ayers and James were prominently scattered throughout the categories of livestock, quilting, houseplants and harvested vegetables. Up north in Bracebridge, the name Kaye meant fine horses were on parade for the judges.While my dad (in his younger days) was showing his Hereford calf as part of the 4-H Club competition in Orillia, my mom (in her younger days) was demonstrating either her flair for Highland dancing or horse riding in the Bracebridge Fall Fair. Although they didn't know each other back then, it is a common thread of their rural heritage.Within our collection of family keepsakes are silver trophies and colourful ribbons from the 1920s and 1930s of competitions won, or nearly won, as neighbours vied for the nod of the judges' hat.My recollections of the Orillia Fall Fair are from the 1960s and '70s when it was held at the Lion’s Oval Community Centre. We used to go and look at fancy tractors nobody could afford (I mean, really, who had $8,000 to spend on a tractor?!), get a gob of cotton candy to eat, tour the midway (all eight booths!), and take a wander past the livestock pens.Pigeons were my first venture into agriculture competition. I raised them as a hobby, in a big shack in the backyard. They weren't much, but they were mine, and I got pleasure in raising and showing them. One of the big pigeon shows was held at the Orillia Fall Fair and, being so close, one is more or less obliged to enter.One of the musty concrete hockey change rooms had been converted into a show place for birds. Whether the pigeons were brought in stuffed within cardboard boxes or each resting within the custom confines of a carrying case, they were all placed in rows of wire mesh cages until the judge had time for them. Owner’s names were quickly covered up by folding the entry card, but I knew the competition was from such breeders as Lightfoot, Leask, Koskitello, Walsh and Hopkins. The breeds included ice, lahores, rollers, tumblers, madonas and homers, each a marvel of pigeon breeding.I can't remember a schedule being posted, or anyone really seeming to know what was happening when or where, but one by one my birds were taken from their cages and brought before a big, cigar-chewing judge. Dust was in the air, the smoke was thick, small feathers drifted by, men and boys crowded close to the judging pen. It was all so totally awesome for a 12-year old like me.And, I don't know how exactly, but every now and then my birds won a prize! Sometimes a ribbon, sometimes a rosette, and once a trophy. "Oh yeah, who da Man with pigeons? Oh yeah!" The glory usually lasted until the next variety of birds were brought in, but for a moment there…If you can attend a fall fair, do so! It's fun and country and a bit of city all rolled into one show. But don't let the cute faces of the children showing their calves, sheep or swine fool ya. Oh, they're having a great time for sure, but watch the moms and dads — that's where the real drama's taking place.Ol' great grandad might have been a champion once upon a time with a fine lookin' Holstein calf in the annals of yesteryear, and it's the high hope that this year, just maybe, Junior, out there in the judging ring with his calf, will bring the trophy and honour back to the family name. And this is only the beginning. Be sure to check out the flower show. Ever seen a contestant upset (and I mean really upset) that her prize worthy presentation of cut flowers was judged ‘out of class’ because the rules called for three blooms, and her vase contained three blooms and a bud, and when a bud shows colour it's classed as a bloom? Sorry, not eligible.High drama. Emotional upsets. Check it out. And don’t forget to buy a cotton candy cone! ... See MoreSee Less

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Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists

7 days ago

The latest article from Naturalist Bob Bowles:An adventure to walk where few have to search for a watershed divideThe railroad between Craighurst and Martinville is narrow with swamp, marsh and fen habitat on both sides for more than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) with no room to escape if a train approachesby Bob BowlesPhoto caption: C.P.R. railway tracks through Copeland Forest showing cattail marsh on the right, swamp to the left, and watershed divide crossing the tracks in the far distance. Bob BowlesThe Canadian Pacific Railway built a rail line north to Craighurst Station on Highway 93 in 1906 and extended it north to Mactier in 1907 to connect Allandale Station to Sudbury.The line north of the old Craighurst station runs through Copeland Forest and wetlands for just over three miles (4.8 kilometres) between Craighurst and Martinville on Line 3 of Oro-Medonte.The railroad between Craighurst and Martinville is narrow with swamp, marsh and fen habitat on both sides for more than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) with no room to escape off the track if a train approaches, so an area not often explored.The line crosses the watershed divide between the headwaters of Matheson Creek in the Nottawasaga Valley Watershed since Mathewson Creek flows into Willow Creek, which flows into the Nottawasaga River and the headwaters of the Coldwater River in the Severn Sound Watershed.I spent many hours exploring the Copeland Forest this summer but saw no way to explore this area between the two watersheds since the CPR line is busy with a train on the tracks every three to four hours.A window of opportunity opened this August when the labour negotiations broke down with strike action and then a lockout by the railway before the government ordered them to binding arbitration. Train service was shut down from Friday, Aug. 23 to early Monday, Aug. 26 when train services resumed.I watched on Friday to ensure no trains were using the tracks then walked the tracks through the wetlands for over three miles each way on Saturday, Aug. 24.I started at the old Craighurst station on Highway 93 (0.0 km) and walked north to sign post Mile 74 (.14 km) and north between two cornfields with a rough crossing for farm machinery (.48 km), then a second similar crossing at the north side of the cornfields (1.06 km), and then to the first creek crossing (.90 km) with water flowing from the headwater of Matheson Creek west into the creek, a second stream crossing (1.06 km) draining west to Matheson Creek, then north past a communication hut (1.98 km) with detection switches.There were uplands on both sides of the tracks, which were level, but dropping in elevation ahead of me into the swamp. A cattail marsh to my right and swamp to my left (1.46 km) and a Craighurst sign on my left (1.76 km), then sign post Mile 75 on my right.I continued past a large pond on the right draining left through a culvert (1.86 km) and a second one (2.46 km), plus a steel culvert (3.24 km) — all draining the headwaters into Matheson Creek to the west. Past signpost Mile 76 (3.36 km), where I could see tall deciduous trees ahead marking the watershed divide. Cattail marsh still on my right and swamp on my left then deciduous trees, sugar maple, red oak, etc. marking watershed divide (3.86 km) on both sides. Rails now declining in elevation into the Coldwater River watershed at wired fence post (4.23 km.).I mark the high point on my GPS but continue north past No. 765 hut with antennas pointing in both directions to the drain from the Ducks Unlimited Pond (4.89 km) to sign post Mile 77 (5.06 km) and can see Martinville ahead and the Line 3 crossing.I have all the information needed so I turn around and walk the tracks back to Craighust station taking photos of the features I observed on my way north earlier in the day.I was hoping to find some rare and exciting plants along the tracks like Western Heath Aster, Symphyotrichum falcatum rarely found along railway tracks in northern Ontario or Bog Aster in the marsh and fen areas but did not find any rare plants.However, I counted and photographed more than 40 Bog Goldenrod plants. I had found Bog Goldenrod growing near but not in Copeland Forest in early August near Craighurst then six plants along the Orchid Trail in Copeland Forest in mid-August pleased me but now it seems that this plant, not on previous surveys, was growing in large numbers in the marsh and open swamp habitats in the Matheson Creek headwaters.That marsh habitat along the railway tracks stretched for 2.40 km giving lots of habitat for wetland plants, but, sadly, too much vegetation for a canoe and not enough support to walk on, which I found out the hard way by stepping off the railway to look at a plant and sinking up to my knees in water.It was an exciting adventure but not one that I will be able to do again now for several years, if at all.Bob Bowles is an award-winning writer, artist, photographer and naturalist, founder, and co-ordinator of the Ontario master naturalist certificate program at Lakehead University. ... See MoreSee Less

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Midland-Penetanguishene Field Naturalists

1 week ago

Time flies, and another summer is winding down. Your M-T-M volunteer board is always pleasantly surprised when we compile a few of the season's accomplishments. A lot happens over the course of a summer!Board secretary Bob Codd regularly highlights some of those accomplishments in a newsletter to members, and we're happy to share this, our Fall 2024 newsletter, with you today! • We have a new three-year strategic plan. Read all about it! • David Hawke has graciously taken on the role of MTM archivist, and has dusted off some historic gems. • Bob Codd offers a close-up look at the Trotter Dyke - a virtual tour! • 50 bluebird boxes were erected, and then monitored throughout the year. Find out what was in them! • The Matchedash Conservation Area will have some new signs posted. Catch a sneak peek! • Our friends at Georgian Bay Forever are hard at work removing Phragmites at Matchedash - and you can help! • There's a new brochure for visitors to Tiny Marsh! • Winter is Coming, and David Cowl reminds us of some of the annual signs of the season. There is something for everyone packed into this newsletter. Read on, here!www.mtmconservation.org/about-mtm ... See MoreSee Less

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Box 393, Midland ON L4R 4L1

E-mail: [email protected]

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