Category Archives: Conservation

Nighthawks have returned to the Backlands! 5Jul2024

By The Bird Team: Joshua Barss Donham, Fulton Lavender, Cathy Smalley, Katie Studholme. Video by Joshua Barss Donham Joshua heard the Nighthawk for the first time this year at Osprey Ridge/Alabaster Way Trailhead on May 23; there have been many … Continue reading

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Common Nighthawk is HRM 2024 Bird of the Year 29Jun2024

It’s not common, it’s not a hawk, and it doesn’t hunt at night, but the Common Nighthawk IS “HRM 2024 Bird of the Year”! The announcement was made by Jess Lewis on Mainstreet NS in conversation with host Jeff Douglas … Continue reading

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Golden Heather now in bloom in the Backands 14Jun2024

Wrote  Joshua Barss Donham this am, with pics attached: “The Golden Heather is now in bloom transforming patches of unassuming scrubby vegetation into carpets of brilliant yellow. A particular patch that I’ve been keeping an eye on, thirty metres so … Continue reading

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Ground-nesting birds – let’s talk habitat 9Jun2024

By The Bird Team: Joshua Barss Donham, Fulton Lavender, Cathy Smalley, Katie Studholme. Photos by Joshua Barss Donham June 9, 2024 Over the past few months, we’ve been sharing about ground nesting birds that call the Backlands home. So far … Continue reading

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“Song bird season has truly begun” JBD 27May2024

Wrote JBD recently (May 27), with photos and videos attached… Click on images for larger versions “It has been such a pleasure to watch the return of warblers to the Backlands! The first warbler I crossed paths with in the … Continue reading

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Mosquito Season – even the frogs get bitten in the Backlands! 24May2024

Joshua Barss Donham made an intriguing post on a private FB site where naturalists share & discuss some of their observations. He gave us permission to post it on backlandscalition.ca. Joshua’s post was about the identity of a mosquito he … Continue reading

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Is Carolina Fanwort, an aggressive invasive aquatic plant, now in Williams Lake? 19May2024

UPDATE May 18, 2024: WLCC member Katharine Studholme conducted some follow-up investigation at one patch of new plants in Williams Lake, and is fairly certain it is NOT Carolina Fanwort “and may be a native milfoil.” We are sending identification … Continue reading

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“Municipality’s purchase of land near Shaw Wilderness Park” – HRM 10May2024

The Halifax Regional Municipality has purchased four parcels of land totaling approximately 46 hectares, located to the west of Shaw Wilderness Park, in Halifax. “The municipality intends to use most of this land to add to Shaw Wilderness Park, providing … Continue reading

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Ground-Nesting Birds 2024: more on the American Woodcock 9May2024

By The Bird Team: Joshua Barss Donham. Fulton Lavender, Cathy Smalley, Katie Studholme What’s the most wonderful thing about the American Woodcock: The fantastic camouflage? The comical shape? The explosive flight with sound effects? The nicknames? Or the sublime funky … Continue reading

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Learn Mi’kmaw with shalan joudry: Tree Names 9May2024

Learn Mi’kmaw with shalan joudry: Tree Names (YouTube Video) On Community Forests International YouTube Channel, Posted May 8. “We’re excited to share with you the second in a series of short language videos generously created and shared by L’nu storyteller, … Continue reading

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