World Water Day: The Importance of the World’s Water

Every year on March 22, we celebrate World Water Day (WWD). This is a day that acknowledges the importance of fresh water and raises awareness of the need to take action towards protecting this vital and limited resource. Water is life; people, animals, and plants alike all depend upon water to function—its protection impacts us Read More

Clear Skies, Safe Flights: Let’s Give Birds a Collision-Free Tomorrow!

Annually, a staggering 25 million birds lose their lives in Canada due to unnecessary collisions with buildings, predominantly during daylight hours when birds mistakenly perceive glass as a continuation of their surroundings. This preventable tragedy can be mitigated by applying visual treatments to windows. While some municipalities already mandate these changes, a longer-term goal is Read More

Can a walk in the park fight climate change?

Rainy January days are a worry; they remind us that our winters are warming. Climate is a common conversation theme, and we all feel the urge to move beyond worry to action. When we explore ways to lighten our personal carbon footprints, our travel choices are key. Air travel especially, is an outsized contributor to Read More

“Then & Now” Photography Project

The “Then & Now” project was created to celebrate our 100th anniversary by selecting photos from our slide archives of places that have special meaning and significance to TFN. We would then set out to take current photos in the same locations, ideally we wanted to match the original as much as possible if current Read More

Public shoreline parkland or private spa?

The future of Ontario Place hangs in the balance. The natural habitat of Ontario Place was a chief casualty of the grand New Deal announced between the City of Toronto and the provincial government on November 27, 2023. As part of the deal to help the city resolve its critical budget shortfalls, the city agreed Read More

Good news on Earl Bales Trail Link!

Thanks to all who responded to TFN’s recent action request and emailed their councillor supporting the Earl Bales Trail Link! On Nov 8, City Council unanimously directed City staff to explore the best trail route between Earl Bales Park and York Mills subway station. Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff are to consult with the City’s Read More

What TFN does in a year!

Interested in learning what TFN accomplishes in a year? Check out this video, presented at our Annual General Meeting on November 5th, 2023! Read More

“Then & Now” Photo Exhibition

Nature changes over time. Photographer members of the Toronto Field Naturalists (TFN) have been documenting these changes since the 1950s. In celebration of its 100th anniversary as a volunteer-run charity devoted to the conservation of Toronto’s natural areas, TFN presents historic photos curated from its archives paired with images taken in 2023 in the same locales by TFN’s current photographers. The Read More

New Episodes of Toronto Nature Now

Please check out the latest episodes of our Toronto Nature Now radio show in partnership with CJRU: Episode 166: Spring Ephemeral Plants Jonathan explains what (spring) epheremal plants are, some examples, how they come to be and some little (sometimes blue) friends who help reproduce them. Listen here Episode 167: Wildlife at Ontario Place Francesca Read More

Toronto Field Naturalists wishes to acknowledge this Land through which we walk. For thousands of years, the Land has been shared by the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe. Toronto is situated on the Land within the Toronto Purchase, Treaty 13, the traditional and treaty Lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is also part of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum, a covenant agreement between Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Wendat peoples and allied nations to peaceably share the land and all its resources. Today, the Land is home to peoples of numerous nations. We are all grateful to have the opportunity to continue to care for and share the beauty of this Land.