By ANN BROKELMAN I’m only writing a short blurb this week, partially because I’ve been busy lately with grandmother duties, but mostly because I wanted more room to share a lot of photos! I’m sure you’ve all heard about the soaring real estate prices lately, but did you know that even the animals are feeling […]
By ANN BROKELMAN I have had some amazing encounters with raccoons this year; their behaviour was fascinating and their cuteness almost beyond words. These backyard bandits are quite the conundrum. I think most of us can admit that, while they are often incredibly irritating, they also look absolutely adorable, The other day, I received a […]
By ANN BROKELMAN Happy September, everyone. I hope you’re enjoying the heat, the mix of rain and sun, and the decreasing numbers of mosquitos. Have you been outside and noticed that odd, incessant, high-pitched hum in the background? Depending on how close you are to it, it might be as faint as the buzz coming […]
By ANN BROKELMAN We have now hit the dreaded summer heat waves. I know most people over the summer love the heat, but I love the chilly weather and wind. But for me it is a fun time to do some editing and cleaning up of old files plus enjoy the silky moths growing in […]
By ANN BROKELMAN What a great month May was for bird watching! Some of my favourite birds, such as Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Red-headed woodpeckers, flycatchers, and swallows, have all migrated back into town. Also, a personal perennial thrill is the arrival of all the spring babies, especially the ones that I find in my […]
By ANN BROKELMAN I’ve noticed, over the years, that a lot of people don’t realize that ravens are … common… in southern Ontario and that they make a fascinating bird watching. Often mistaken for, and subsequently written off as, their smaller crow cousins, Ravens are one of the most intelligent birds in the world and […]
By ANN BROKELMAN Hello Beach Metro Community News readers, today’s topic isn’t a happy one, but I think it’s necessary that we spend more time addressing the worsening avian flu situation. I’ve written before about what to do when you’ve found an injured bird: How to prepare a box to contain it, how to pick […]
By ANN BROKELMAN I’ve decided to take some time to write about a difficult, but necessary topic today: Window strikes. I’ve wanted to discuss this for some time, but I’ve always struggled to find the right words. Well, I’ve waited long enough. If these aren’t the right words, hopefully they are close enough to get […]
By ANN BROKELMAN What makes a great weekend perfect? Spending it with your nine-year-old granddaughter, who loves animals and photography as much as you do! Not only did my son’s eldest, Lara, join me for a sleepover and some birding, but we also got the opportunity to attend the release of a red fox and […]
By ANN BROKELMAN Well, the other day I was taking a stroll through a park near my house not looking for anything, but just adding to my kilometre total, I guess. The sun was shining, the paths were clear, and a lovely assortment of eastern grey squirrels were running about. By assortment, I don’t just […]
