09/01/2026
SEPTEMBER 🍂🍁
September is a month of transition in South Georgian Bay. 🍂
Summer is winding down, but nature is still busy — leaves are beginning to change, fungi are emerging, birds are migrating, and plants are producing seeds and fruit.
This month, slow down on your walks and take a closer look at the seasonal changes happening around you.
Here’s what to watch for in nature this September. 👀🌿
FALL COLOUR 🍁
Why do leaves change colour? 🍂
As autumn approaches and days become shorter, trees begin breaking down chlorophyll — the pigment responsible for their green colour. As the green fades, yellow and orange pigments already present in the leaf become visible.
Some trees also produce anthocyanins, which create red and purple colours.
Temperature, moisture and other environmental conditions can influence when colour appears and how vibrant it becomes.
🍁 Take a look at the canopy this month — which trees are changing first?
FUNGI 🍄
That mushroom you spot on the forest floor is only part of the organism.
A mushroom is the fruiting body of a fungus — a structure produced to release spores. Most of the fungus may remain hidden underground, in soil or within decaying wood as a network called mycelium.
Fungi are essential to healthy forests, helping break down organic matter and recycle nutrients.
🍄 After the next rainy day, look closely at the forest floor — you might be surprised by what you find.
FALL MIGRATION 🐦
September is a busy month for birds moving through Ontario.
Migration takes a lot of energy, so birds need places to stop, feed and rest along the way. Forests, wetlands, shorelines and other natural areas can provide these important resources.
South Georgian Bay’s forests, wetlands and shoreline habitats make the region an important place to watch migration.
🐦 Look up and listen closely — some of the birds you see this month may only be passing through.
SEEDS & FRUIT 🌰
By September, many plants are producing and dispersing seeds and fruit — helping create the next generation of plants while providing food for wildlife.
Acorns are one familiar example. They’re an important food source for species including squirrels, d
