Winter as a Butterfly

For butterflies and skippers, surviving winter demands a period of dormancy known as hibernal diapause. This multi-step process suspends development or reproduction at the onset of cold weather, and is initiated by a hormonal response to changing environmental conditions, particularly the length of day and temperature. These same conditions trigger the end of diapause the following spring, as daylight lengthens and warmer temperatures return. At such time, development and reproductive processes return to normal.

Fall Supper Hiking Series

Get out and enjoy the wonderful weather and natural beauty of autumn in Manitoba, then sit down to a traditional fall supper! Trip leader, Rose Kuzina is once again offering her fall supper hiking series for Nature Manitoba members. There are four dates/locations to choose from. Choose a hike below for more info about a hike and how to register. Fall suppers usually cost $12-$15, which you are responsible to pay. Please note this series is for NM members only. More info on our affordable membership is here.

Winnipeg’s Lake Winnipeg

by: Katrina Froese, Education Coordinator, FortWhyte Alive

Birding Vacation in Manitoba

In June 2017 Rosemary Royle and her husband Peter made the trip to Manitoba from Wales, UK. Their birding trip was from June 1st to 21st, 2017, and Rosemary was kind enough to write this thorough report for us to share.

Prairie Day 2017

Celebrations on The Great Trail

On August 26th, 2017 people across Canada will be hitting the trails to celebrate The Great Trail - a 24,000 kilometer multi-use recreation trail created by Trans Canada Trail and their partners. There are 14 events to choose from in Manitoba! See a listing of Manitoba events below and check out The Great Trail for more info and updates. All events take place on August 26, 2017.

Canadian Insects

New Parks for MB

Pallister government adds two new provincial parks - Winnipeg Free Press

Photo: Cormorant Island in Lake Winnipegosis, part of the new Grand Island Provincial Park - by Roger Turenne

Remembering Kim Monson

BELOW: Kim in the 1990s in one of the caves she and Jack discovered in Manitoba's Interlake.

Writen by: Roger Turenne

For three decades, Kim Monson was an influential, passionate and totally dedicated volunteer with Nature Manitoba. She was a trip leader, workshop and Discovery Evening presenter, board member, president, researcher, environmental advocate, mentor, role model and friend.

Butterfly List 2016

Butterfly Summary 2016

By Richard Staniforth

PHOTOGRAPHING AN INDIAN SKIPPER - BY RICHARD STANIFORTH

Planting for Pollinators

by: Debbie Sayer

Reading a disturbing article on the plight of North American bees coincided with the arrival of seed catalogs and the annual dream of growing a fabulous flower garden. These events served to open an avenue of thought … what could a well intentioned, slightly lazy city gardener without a particularly green thumb contribute to help local pollinators?

It turns out plenty!

Duck Bows and Real Estate

By Diana McMillan

I have been enjoying watching the antics of a pair of wood ducks that frequent my little section of the Seine River. Believe it or not, they like to sit high in trees eating acorns! Watching them land with their web feet in the canopy some 30 or 40 feet up, is quite a sight.

Winter Cycling Trip to Mantario Cabin

When a group of skiers from the Manitoba chapter of the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) booked a trip out to the Mantario cabin this February, they thought their ski trip out would be similar to every other year. But when warm weather melted the top few inches on the lakes and the temperature quickly dropped, some of the skiers decided to swap their skis for bicycles.

We assumed the lakes would be sheets of pure ice,” said Claire Dionne, who was on the trip. “So the decision was to get to the lake, and give it a try.”

Tiger Beetles in Manitoba

In Manitoba, tiger beetle fauna is most abundant and diverse in sandy habitats. These habitats include sand dunes, borrow pits, roadside blow-outs and forest edges. Other tiger beetles are attracted to clay soil or salt flats and some prefer living near wetlands.

Articles & Announcements