If you look for it, you will see it…and hear it. Nature in the city, that is.
Nature Guelph and the Guelph Public Library want to help as many locals as possible tune their senses to the sights and sounds of the natural world in our urban center.
Those sights and sounds are abundant, says John Prescott of Nature Guelph, who will help facilitate a series of workshops and walking tours for the upcoming Nature in the City, a four-part weekly series starting Saturday, April 8 at the main branch of the library.
The series is free, family-friendly, and is geared to nature-appreciation novices and newcomers to the city. This is the fourth year for the series.
“This is our way of reaching out to those who are sort of naïve to nature,” Prescott said. “It’s for those who are maybe new to Guelph, and maybe don’t know how or where to get started.”
Each of the four sessions starts with an overview of a subject. The first of the Saturday sessions is all about bird watching, with a walk to follow on Sunday. On April 15 there’s an introduction to native trees, and again a walk on Sunday. April 22 is all about reptiles and amphibians, and April 29 is focused on wildflowers of Guelph.
All library sessions run for one hour, from 1-2 p.m., and the Sunday walks are tentatively for 1 p.m. You can learn more at www.natureguelph.ca.
“For the one on bird watching, we will do a talk on birds and the next day we will take an hour walk, starting at the Covered Bridge, providing binoculars and just seeing what we can see,” Prescott said.
The longstanding Nature Guelph club has about 170 members, many of them nature experts.
“If you’re interested in birds, or don’t know anything about our trees, or what kinds of reptiles are around, this is for you,” Prescott added.
This part of Ontario is just entering the migration season, he said. If you keep your eyes on the sky right about now you might see a Merlin, tundra swans, a golden eagle, warblers, or a falcon.On the ground there’s raccoons, skunks, possum and lots and lots of squirrels.
“All the cardinals in Guelph are singing their heads off, and the robins are back,” Prescott added. “There is a lot going on. And if you are aware, you will see what’s out there, and you can connect with nature. The idea is really to get outside and enjoy nature.”
