Are you interested in birds? Would you like to contribute to a study about the various birds that nest in Manitoba? Then consider joining the project called the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas. Now in its third year, this is a five-year project that aims to record the distribution and abundance of all the birds that
Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas
MANITOBA PARKS: After the flood
For some Manitobans, last summer’s flood is just a memory. But for farmers and property owners along the Assiniboine River, Lake Manitoba and some other regions, the effects of the flood are still very evident — and this applies to several of our provincial parks, as well. Some parks remain closed for the foreseeable future,
Narcisse Snake Pits
I’m not one who normally likes snakes. They don’t exactly scare me, but I admit that I’ve been known to shriek if startled by one slithering past in the grass. But last spring my husband and I visited the Narcisse Snake Pits, in Manitoba’s Interlake region, about 130 km north of Winnipeg, and it’s certainly
Early not always best
Will our mild winter bring the migrating songbirds back sooner than usual? Perhaps — but it’s difficult to predict how birds will react. Snowstorms in North and South Dakota may keep them from flying back to Manitoba, or an early thaw there may result in their arrival earlier than usual here. But whether they return
Changing bird habits
As an avid birdwatcher, I am always interested to learn about the birds that other people see. In winter, besides checking my own birdfeeders, and keeping a lookout whenever I drive or walk somewhere, I frequently check a local website called “birding on the Net” that gives details of birds seen by others — and
It’s snowman weather!
For many, the arrival of snow is something to dread, perhaps something to escape by going south for the winter. For others, it means an end to the somewhat dreary browns of late fall. Children, particularly, often anticipate and welcome the first few snowfalls. For me, early winter has long been “snowman weather.” As a
Winter Entertainment For Readers
FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR If you re looking for a new activity this winter, consider joining a book club. Both rural and urban regions now have this type of club, and if your district doesn t, perhaps you could start one. A few notices or advertising will probably bring out several like-minded people who would love to
Another Flood Casualty
This summer has been a bust for several Manitoba provincial parks as some were unable to open due to the devastating floods. Others, such as Spruce Woods Provincial Park, opened on a very limited scale, but I hadn t realized the extent of the damage there until just recently when my husband and I spent
“KickAss” In Small-Town Manitoba
It’s not very often that city people will take a two-hour drive out to the country for the purpose of shopping. Some might call it “the middle of nowhere,” but people flock there, including some Winnipeg shoppers. Their destination? The KickAss Country Store, located in the village of Plumas. If you’re an experienced quilter you
The Big Fills — Part Of Manitoba’s History
A few weeks ago, my husband and I spent an interesting morning checking out a section of the Canadian National Railway west of the village of Firdale. It’s not an easy place to reach – several miles driving on country roads, and then a hike of nearly a mile through a pasture and/or along the
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
