Wetlands, Wildlife

The unfolding of nature lights up our days every year

Some of the spectacular things spring brings in Ontario

May 28, 2021

Hodges Pond is a restored near-urban wetland, one in a long list of stewardship projects that are reclaiming the natural heritage of Oxford County. © DUC/Phil Holst

SPRING BRINGS GREEN THINGS

Every year gets a little greener at Hodges Pond just south of Woodstock, Ont. The restored former millpond supports the recovery of a small tributary of the Thames River, which ultimately flows into Lake St. Clair and then Lake Erie. That’s the long reach of restoration at work on the landscape!

This picture of Hodges Pond has been colour-adjusted to show how the vegetation has popped up early in the season in this thriving new habitat. Looks messy, doesn’t it? But the wildlife like it like that.

We have a big green sign on the south side of Hwy 401 in Woodstock, too, where you can see a community habitat project taking shape beside the highway.

Spring wildflowers: (Top, L-R) red and white trilliums, spring beauty, marsh marigold and trout lily © DUC

SPRING BRINGS FLOWERS

When field season begins, our biologists are happy to head out to work in the wetlands and forests of Ontario. We asked DUC staff to share pictures of their favourite spring blooms.

Wild flowers in spring make wild bees happy too. Did you know that eight wild bee species are identified for protection in the list of Canada’s species at risk? There are many things you can do to help them.

Print or download this poster for some real ways to help wild bees in your daily life
Help bees find food and shelter with a beautiful native plant garden

Blanding's turtles look like walking army helmets and can be found in southern, central and eastern Ontario. © DUC/Kyle Borrowman

SPRING BRINGS TURTLES

Can you relate to this turtle basking in the spring sunshine? We spotted this handsome Blanding’s turtle enjoying the recently restored habitat on Howe Island near Kingston. Turtles may be slow but they travel surprisingly long distances between habitats to find a mate or a place to nest. Give slow-moving turtles some space when your paths cross on trails, roads or waterways.

Print or download this poster for some real ways to help wild turtles in your daily life

Atocas Bay is protected so nesting waterfowl can find places to raise their families. © DUC/Kyle Borrowman

SPRING BRINGS LOVE

Sunny skies above Atocas Bay on the Ottawa River bring perfect weather for nesting waterfowl pairs to refuel after their long migration journey. It’s the season of love and we startled this pair of blue-winged teals from their protein-packed picnic in the country. Small ponds provide the invertebrates that teal hens crave when getting ready to nest. Soon, the hen will settle in with her eggs and there will be ducklings.

Atocas Bay contains a 2,000-acre (780-hectare) property purchased in the early 2000s by DUC and its partners. Through major wetland restoration efforts, DUC brought more than 200 wetland basins back to life.

Read this story to learn how DUC saved Atocas Bay for future generations
Read this story about a single donor who punched way above her weight in conservation impact

A male green frog swimming in really cold spring water. Brrrr. © DUC/David McLachlin

SPRING BRINGS FROGS

The sunset symphonies at the pond start early in spring. The first callers are wood frogs and spring peepers.

Can you hear the different creatures calling in this early spring evening chorus?

Watch and listen to the evening chorus >>

Wetland Hero Parker Lavigne loves being outdoors! © Jennifer Lavigne

SPRING BRINGS MAPLE SYRUP

Urban sap tapping, you say? This spring brought out the homesteader in many of us. Even tapping one tree can be enough for a small batch boiled up in your own kitchen.

Parker’s journey to Wetland Hero took place last year when, like many kids, he found himself learning from home. Read about this inspiring Wetland Hero >>