Nature conservation can seem a long and arduous journey. Current issues, from climate change to protecting north Atlantic right whales to micro-plastics in our oceans, can seem overwhelming.

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Having studied bats for more than a decade, I have been fortunate to be able talk to students in their classrooms while doing bat presentations, or to landowners while I trapped bats on their properties.

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On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…fun bird facts! To celebrate the holidays this year, here are some interesting tidbits about 12 different birds found in Canada, some of which are featured in the 12 Days of Christmas song:

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The Indigenous peoples of North America have long known of the health-giving properties of some cone-bearing (also called evergreen) trees. In Canada, First Nations peoples drank an herbal tea of evergreen needles to ward off scurvy, usually in winter when fresh fruits and vegetables were hard to come by.

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Forget about crocuses and birds — the first sure sign of spring on the prairies is when the insects start to fly around. Have you ever wondered what happens to the insects in the winter? A few, like the monarch, fly south with the birds, but the majority of Canada’s insects have to make do with our winters.

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Wondering what that bird is? Several apps make it easy to answer this question. By entering some data, uploading a photo of the bird or matching its birdsong you can confidently identify birds.

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In part one of our blog on protecting the last places on Earth, Dan Kraus and I explored some of the globally rare ecosystems found in Canada and how the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is protecting these important areas.

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With the constant ins and outs of fashion, it’s no wonder that more and more of our discarded clothing is ending up in landfills. According to CBC News, about 85 per cent of clothing we throw out ends up in landfills, rather than appropriately recycled or donated.

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In my first year of scouts, I went on a hike with my troop and discovered a strange-looking plant. One of the senior scouts told everyone that it was called staghorn sumac and that it was like “nature’s sour candy.”

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I really like telling stories about the crazy things that happen to me at work. I also like telling other people’s crazy stories that I haven’t even witnessed. Ask me about the adventures of my buddy Tyler.

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