Bird migration is one of nature’s most fascinating, inspiring and yet, mysterious phenomena. This workshop will be an overview of many topics around bird migration, including which species migrate, why, where they go and how they get there. We will also discuss how weather affects migration, review some resources for following migration and maybe learn a few of the flight calls given by nocturnal migrants.
*** This workshop has been moved from January 22 to March 12, 2013. ***
Last year, “Peg City Car Co-op” introduced carsharing as an option to a number of Winnipeg neighbourhoods. Perhaps you’ve heard of the car co-op, or carsharing, but aren’t really sure how it works. Join us to learn how Peg City helps its members to live “car-lite”, yet still have access to a vehicle when needed. And how, best of all, members pay for a car only when they use one!
This identification workshop will focus on the regularly occurring warblers of Manitoba, with brief mention of accidental species. Given the time of year, the visual identification section will focus on the breeding plumages (to get you ready for spring migration). We will also practise identifying warblers by their song. In both cases, we will use the approach of comparing similar species (either similar plumages or similar songs).
Learn about Manitoba’s 39 species and varieties of native orchids: what they look like and where to find them. The workshop will cover basic orchid morphology and will provide detailed descriptions with photographs of all species, as well as typical habitats, flowering times and some good orchid-hunting locations.
Michele Piercey-Normore, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba
Lichens are ubiquitous, growing in most habitats of the world on both natural and manmade surfaces. They have a number of valuable ecological and economic functions. Lichens are named and classified according to the fungal partner which associates with a photosynthetic partner in a symbiotic relationship. Common macro-lichens are relatively easy to identify to genus. With a little more effort, many of the more difficult ones can be identified to species.
There are close to a hundred species of dragonflies in Manitoba. Would you like to learn more about them? With the help of Powerpoint slides, prepared specimens and a species list handout, Marjorie will help you to understand this fascinating group of insects.
Jay Anderson, Retired Environment Canada Meteorologist
The atmosphere is a magical place where light, moisture, clouds and aerosols come to play – a classroom in which physics and art are on display. Auroras, haloes, rainbows, sundogs and glories are familiar to us all, but do you really know what you are seeing? How about the green flash or the belt of Venus? What are sun pillars and how do they form? Why are shadows on a dewy grass lawn surrounded by a bright halo? Why is a rainbow brighter inside the arc and darker outside and what makes double rainbows? When is the best time to see aurorae? Come and find out.
Dr. Bill Preston, Retired Curator of Reptiles, Amphibians and Fishes at the Manitoba Museum
This presentation will include some of the more interesting aspects of about 60 ant species found in Manitoba as well as in other areas. Ant biology and ant behaviour will be included, as well as methods of ant study.
Dr. David Punter, Retired Professor of Botany at the University of Manitoba
Morels are the mushrooms that appear in the spring while most other fungi can be found in late August and September. Participants in this workshop will begin learning to identify mushrooms in time for the morel season. A field trip will be offered in the late summer.
Richard Staniforth, Retired Professor of Botany at the University of Winnipeg
A workshop to sort out the differences between Manitoba tree species in the winter. Specimens are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own twigs, too. We will include all of the native species of conifer and hardwood trees, and also some of the more common planted exotics, as time permits. Regrettably, Manitoba shrubs are too numerous to include in this workshop.
Jennifer West, Astronomy Instructor at the University of Manitoba
In this workshop, I will present an overview of the kinds of objects that make up our universe: asteroids, planets, stars, galaxies and beyond. I will also try to give participants a sense of the enormous distances involved. The scale of our universe is truly mind-boggling!
Kim Monson, Geography Department at the University of Winnipeg
Ever look down when you’re out walking and wonder, “What is that rock, where did it come from, how did it get there???” If you have, this workshop is for you. With the aid of rock and mineral specimens, maps and test kits, you will learn how to identify many of Manitoba’s common rocks and minerals. Bring your favourite rock or mineral along and figure out what it is.
The great thing about growing perennial plants is that they come back year after year in the garden. The main disadvantage of perennials is that the blooming periods are restricted to only part of the gardening season and can vary from as little as one week to several months. The challenge, then, is to select a combination of perennials that will bloom at different times throughout the season creating a progression of different flowers.
Do you enjoy watching birds, but think identification of sparrows (“little brown jobs”) is for someone else? Come and learn to be that someone! Ward will help you sort out the important field marks for successful identification.
