
Photo by Steven Potter
On Saturday May 23, SONSI members went on a hike at the Royal Botanical Gardens lead by Phil Careless (Ecologist at Ontario Parks). We started our walk along Captain Cootes Trail by the Arboretum, where Phil taught us to identify the many birds present by their appearance as well as their vocalizations. The trail continued down to the edge of the Cootes Paradise Marsh. Using nets and plastic cups, we scooped up several snails, insect larvae, and tadpoles so that we could take a closer look at the amazing variety of creatures inhabiting the water. The hike ended with a walk through the RBG’s lilac gardens.
Many thanks to Phil for leading the hike and sharing his knowledge!