Spring Garden Walk
2024-12-22 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Detroit)

Greenhouse Integrated Pest Management
2025-01-08 19:00 - 21:00
Greenhouse Integrated Pest Management
– Joanna Dawson

OFO Field Trip: Winter Birds of the Detroit River
2025-01-11 09:00 - 15:00
OFO Field Trip
Winter Birds of the Detroit River: Windsor
Now open to all ECFNC Members!
Saturday, January 11
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Leaders: Jeremy Hatt, Kory Renaud
Trip Description: Meet 9:00 a.m. at Lakeview Park Marina in Windsor. Winter is an excellent time of year to observe waterfowl, gulls and birds of prey that use the open water of the Detroit River. We will start the day at the marina, visit the Little River Corridor, and continue downriver to its end at Ojibway Park. Be sure to dress for the weather and pack some snacks; bring a scope if you have one.
Great news! This event is now open to all club members.
Join in for part or all of this walk. Hope to see you there!

Spring Garden Walk
2025-01-19 10:00 - 11:00
Winter is here! Let’s see what winter in Spring Garden looks like.

Join us in the Spring Garden Natural Area of the Ojibway Prairie Complex as we monitor changes in the natural world on a monthly basis as the year progresses.

Meet at the Titcombe Parking Lot off Malden Rd.

Wheatley Winter Walk
2025-02-08 10:00 - 12:00
Join ECFNC members on February 8th at 10:00am for a winter walk through Wheatley Provincial Park. We will meet at the parking lot at the entrance to the park at the south end of Klondyke Road. We will walk the main road, which is paved and level, but be prepared for winter conditions.

Entry is free in the winter, so this is a great opportunity to explore the park!

Wonderful Wildlife (..birds) of Peru
2025-02-12 19:00 - 21:00
Wonderful Wildlife (..birds) of Peru
– Cameron Chevalier and Jeremy Hatt

Jeremy Hatt and Cameron Chevalier invite you to join them in their passion for wildlife and birds when they share their knowledge and photos of a recent trip to Peru.

Spring Garden Monthly Walk
2025-02-16 10:00 - 11:00

Annual General Meeting + Bats!
2025-03-12 19:00 - 21:00
Annual General Meeting followed by a presentation on bats and bat boxes

Monthly Walk
2025-03-16 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-04-20 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-15 10:00 - 12:00

Introduction to Turtle Conservation Committee
2025-03-26 19:00 - 21:00
Join us on March 26th, 2025 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Ojibway Nature Centre, located at 5200 Matchett Road Windsor, Ontario N9C 4E8 for an introduction to the committee. Learn about past, current and future projects undertaken by the Turtle Conservation Committee. This pop-up event will include a presentation about the committee, turtle identification, threats and more!

For further details or to get involved email:
Alexander Campbell, Turtle Conservation Committee – Chair / Lead Project Biologist Xandercampbell777@gmail.com

Nature Conservancy of Canada
2025-04-09 19:00 - 21:00
Nature Conservancy of Canada with Kristyn Richardson,
Program Director, Southwestern Ontario
Wednesday April 9, 2025
7:00-9:00PM
An overview of the Nature Conservancy of Canada – who we are, what we do, and our work in Essex County.

Highlights include recent restoration projects, new acquisitions, and upcoming projects such as the restoration of the Hillman Sand Hills property near Point Pelee

National Wildlife Week - Jack Miner
2025-04-12 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-14 10:00 - 17:00
Join us at Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary for National Wildlife week.
Visit us at our booth April 12-13.

Natural Pathways
2025-04-13 10:00 - 12:00
Are you ready to explore a hidden forest in Essex? Come join the Essex Field Naturalists’ Club for a guided hike with Ontario Parks Naturalist and Interpreter, Harrison Priebe. It will be a morning filled with spotting some special forest friends and growing your connection with the land. This exclusive guided hike will take place at Natural Pathways Forest and Nature School (1431 Gore Rd, Harrow) on April 13th from 10:00AM to 12:00PM.

Please note: trails include some uneven terrain and mud; boots or hiking shoes are encouraged. The guided hike will cover approximately 2kms.

Phragmites Fighting/Earth Day at Bryerswood
2025-04-26 10:00 - 14:00
Free event for Earth Day brought to you by Bryerswood Youth Camp.

Come and see us at our booth!

Event features pollinator garden planting, Kids games and crafts, used household battery collection, earth friendly displays, electric vehicles and solar displays.

While you are there why not help with the phrag fight?
Volunteers are needed to cut down the phragmites on site. This is follow up work that continues at this site, on land.
Email Aileen if interested petrozzi2@gmail.com

Nature Neighbours Field Trip
2025-04-26 13:00 - 15:00
In partnership with Syndenham Field Naturalists and West Elgin Nature Club we are excited to announce the next adventure in the Nature Neighbours series of events!

For those who have been curious about what is out there in our neigbouring areas we are partnering with our friends to bring you the opportunity to explore a not so far away natural area you may otherwise overlook.

West Elgin Nature Club is proud to show off the John E.Pearce Provincial Park. It features the following:

Great birding opportunities in this 68 hectare park.
The Backus Page House Museum is situated onsite in a restored 1850s Georgian style house, which represents the history and culture of rural Victorian society.
A trail with fifteen interpretive stops that leads through a century old hardwood forest.
Visitors can look out high atop the 33 metre cliff overlooking Lake Erie or picnic in the quiet shade of the forest canopy.
A stunning example of a wetland restoration featuring 3 wetlands, viewing platform and trail.

Meet us there to enjoy with what nature has to offer.

Are you interested in carpooling?
Contact member.sec.ecnc@gmail.com or come speak to us at the next meeting to discuss carpool options

Birding with Pride
2025-05-03 08:30 - 12:00
Hosted by Ontario Field Ornithologists
Saturday, May 3
Point Pelee National Park

This event run by the Ontario Field Ornithologists during the Festival of Birds provides a chance for members of the community to socialize and attend guided bird hikes from Northwest Beach. Stay tuned for more details.

World Migratory Bird Day Why Do Birds Sing? - Dr. Daniel Mennill
2025-05-07 18:30 - 21:00
Pelee Wings/PIBO bird talk
Suggested donation $20
6:30PM Tea and treates, 7PM talk

World Migratory Bird Day Migration Patterns: The Journey of a Bird Obsessed Human
2025-05-08 19:00 - 21:00
Gill Holmes is a Wildlife Technician with the Canadian Wildlife Service in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and has spent 15 years working within avian ecology and research across government, private and academic institutions. They have worked and visited a diverse array of ecosystems from the prairies of Mississippi to the Arctic tundra of Nunavut and as far as the Kimberly in Western Australia. After all these years working in the field, they have many stories to tell, and through the research they’ve assisted with and the places they have visited, they will weave together a story of what it means to be a human being who migrates to be with the birds.

Please join Pelee Island Bird Observatory on May 8th to celebrate Global Migratory Bird Day with a webinar hosted by Gill Holmes, where they will recount the experiences they’ve had as a field technician with a deep dive into the birds and research projects they’ve assisted with thus far in their career.

Breeding Bird Atlas - Paul Pratt
2025-05-14 19:00 - 21:00
Learn about the final year of the breeding bird atlas project

Evening Walk with Dave Kraus
2025-05-24 18:00 - 20:00
Saturday May 24, 2025 starting around 6pm at David Kraus’ property at 1515 Mersea Rd 7, Leamington. Park along the grass farm lane to the right from the gravel driveway before reaching the barn. Bring rubber boots.

We will walk around the property birding and looking at spring wildflowers and the many other native plant species in the forested areas, meadows, tall grass prairie, wetlands and swamps. The property also has habitat enhancements such as a variety of bird nesting boxes, bat boxes, snake nesting structures, and snake hibernacula.

When dusk approaches, we will listen to frogs (Spring Peepers, Chorus Frogs, etc.) and toads calling, possibly owls, woodcock, and coyotes. We will also look for the resident bats circling for insects and learn how a bat detector to determines their species. Dress for the weather.

Hopefully Carl will arrange beautiful weather for us !!!

Wildflowers with Graham Brown
2025-06-11 19:00 - 21:00
Save the Date – more info to come!

Evening Walk for Betty Learmouth
2025-06-12 18:30 - 20:30
Late spring is the perfect time to take advantage of the longer days and spend more time outdoors.

Recently a tree was planted at Holiday Beach Conservation Area in honour of Betty Learmouth. Enjoy an evening walk through the park as we take the opportunity to visit that tree in tribute to Betty’s legacy.

Pride Walk at Ojibway
2025-06-15 08:30 - 12:00
Meet 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Ojibway Park in Windsor to join OFO and the Essex County Field Naturalists’ Club (ECFNC) for a Pride Month Nature and Birding Walk. This second annual walk is a celebration of the LGBTQ2S+ community, but all members of the community are welcome. We start by exploring the trails of Ojibway Park before crossing the street to follow the Titcombe path between the Tallgrass Heritage Prairie Heritage Park and the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve.

As a cooperative effort of OFO and the ECFNC, we invite all who are interested in the outing and encourage newer or first-time birders and nature enthusiasts to come along. Creating a respectful, welcoming and accessible environment is our first priority as we enjoy observing the breeding birds of Ojibway and their environs. It is a great opportunity to observe the late spring flowers and insects too!

Hawk Trail Walk 'n Wine
2025-06-28 13:00 - 16:00
Cooper’s Hawk Winery
1425 Iler Rd, Harrow, ON

What wine pairs well with a nature hike?
How about one of the fine selections from Cooper’s Hawk Winery!

Join us for an afternoon walk around the Hawk Trail located right on the vineyard property. This 1.5 km easy stroll explores trees, wildflowers and birds. When the walk is done relax on the patio for a glass or a flight of wine.

Walk is free, wine is available for a fee.

Jr Egrets - Bugs and Blooms
2025-07-19 09:00 - 12:00
See Junior Egrets page for further details

Monthly Walk
2025-07-20 10:00 - 12:00
Who doesn’t love options?
If you’re planning on joining us this Sunday, please be aware of the following things: We’ll be exploring Tallgrass Prairie Heritage Park and/or the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve (y’all get to decide what you’re feeling up to that day) We’ll be meeting at the Titcombe Rd Parking lot off of Matchett Rd. across from the Ojibway Nature Centre (Not Malden… unless you want to start your own mini walk) So maybe you got distracted by the rare wildflowers of Tallgrass Prairie or you find yourself flabergasted at what west & southwestern Ontario looked like thousands of years ago in the Nature Reserve, or you managed to not yell out “Oooh! This is a (insert name of bird, plant or insect here)” every step you take and find time to do both… and that’s why: we love options!
Nature is changing, come see what changes every month at Tallgrass Prairie Heritage Park & Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve!
