Hamilton Naturalists' Club

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Hamilton Naturalists' Club

Protecting nature since 1919! HNC is dedicated to the study, appreciation & conservation of nature.

06/03/2026

🦋 Have you created a garden that supports pollinators, birds, and wildlife? Apply for the Monarch Awards!

Your garden is doing more than looking beautiful—it is creating habitat, increasing biodiversity, and helping nature thrive right here in Hamilton.

The Monarch Awards recognize and celebrate gardeners at every stage of their journey, from those just getting started with native plants to those who have created thriving ecological habitats. Whether you've added a few native species or transformed your entire front yard, your efforts matter and deserve recognition.

Successful applicants may receive a garden visit from the Monarch Awards Team and will receive written feedback highlighting the strengths of their garden and opportunities for future growth. Award levels range from Starting the Journey to the Monarch level, recognizing progress as well as achievement.

🌻 Every native plant added, every pollinator welcomed, and every pesticide-free gardening choice helps build a healthier, more biodiverse community.

📅 Applications are open now.

Apply today and let us celebrate the difference your garden is making for nature!

Apply for the Monarch Awards
Green Venture Royal Botanical Gardens Canada

06/01/2026

What’s happening in June? 🌿
▪️ Invasive Species Removals at Sheelah Dunn Dooley Nature Sanctuary & Bruleville Nature Park (Tuesdays)
▪️ Invasive Species Removals at Captain Cornelius Park (Thursdays)
▪️ Pests & Diseases Affecting Hamilton's Forests at McMaster Forest (June 6)
▪️ Bugs & Blooms Act 1 (June 6)
▪️ Open Streets Hamilton (June 7)
▪️ Moth Night at Dundas Valley Conservation Area (June 12)
▪️ Bee Sweet Nature Co Pollinator Festival (June 13)
▪️ Children's Garden Party (June 20)
▪️ Guided Fungi Hike (June 20)
▪️ Exploring Nature with iNaturalist 101 (June 23)
▪️ Members-only Visitor Day at the SDDNS Banding Station (June 27)

Follow us on social media for event details or check out the calendar on our website for a full list of events!

05/31/2026

🎉 We’re partnering with Open Streets Hamilton!

On Sunday, June 7 from 10am-4pm, King Street East (John St → Gage Ave) will transform into a 3.6 km car-free space for walking, biking, rolling, and community fun.

Find us at the Wellington Street Hub with our Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) partners. Along the route you’ll also find:

▪️ Activation Hubs with games, music & activities
▪️ A food court at The Kitchen Collective
▪️ Community programming at Ferguson Station & Barnesdale’s Mini Hub
▪️ Local businesses open with pop-ups & sales

It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s all about community. Learn more at hamilton.ca/openstreets

05/30/2026

Moth Nights 🌙

Join us for two upcoming outings with Marcus Buck to learn about the fascinating world of moths! Marcus will demonstrate the use of light traps to observe and photograph moths (and other nocturnal insects).

RSVP at hamiltonnature.org/event

Dundas Valley Trail Centre
📅 Friday June 12, 2026 | 8:30 PM - 12:00 AM
📍 650 Governors Road, Dundas

Summit Bog
📅 Friday July 10, 2026 | 9:00 PM - 12:00 AM
📍 525 Highway 52, Hamilton

05/29/2026

Join us tomorrow at Bruleville Nature Park for a community tree and shrub planting event! Volunteers of all ages welcome. Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear. A limited amount of gloves and shovels will be provided - bring your own if possible.

RSVP to [email protected]

🗓️ Saturday May 30, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
📍 265 Limeridge Road East -meet at the north side of the forest on Skylark Dr
🚌 Free street parking. Transit accessible - transit subsidy available upon request.

Accessibility Note: This event takes place on forest trails with uneven ground, tree roots, rocks, and possible mud. Surfaces are not paved and may be slippery. No washrooms on site.

Trees & shrubs generously provided by the City of Hamilton.

05/28/2026

If you build it, they will come! 🐸 The wetland at our Sheelah Dunn Dooley Nature Sanctuary was installed in Fall 2024 and the amphibians quickly moved in the following spring. This week Green Frogs were calling across the ponds and a number of different swallow species hunted insects over the open water.

05/26/2026

Falcon Update 🚀

Last week the falcon chicks were weighed, sexed, and banded. There are two females, Corktown (red) and Saltfleet (white), and two males, Vincent (blue) and Dalewood (yellow). Check out the banding video: https://buff.ly/nY7RbFl

Volunteers Needed! The chicks will take their first flights in early June and volunteers are critical to their wellbeing during the first flights. Volunteers watch the chicks from the ground, report on their movements, and alert the rescue team if an issue occurs. Email [email protected] to get started.

05/25/2026

Come volunteer with us Tuesday and Thursday mornings throughout the summer!

We'll be focused on remove invasive shrubs like Common Buckthorn, with occasional other tasks. No experience is needed - bring your enthusiasm and we'll provide the gloves and equipment.

RSVP to [email protected] for directions and parking information.

📅 Tuesdays, June - August | 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
📍 Sheelah Dunn Dooley Nature Sanctuary (Burlington, ON)

📅 Tuesdays, June - August | 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
📍 Bruleville Nature Park (Hamilton, ON)

📅 Thursdays, June - August | 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
📍 Captain Cornelius Park (Hamilton, ON)

05/24/2026

Bugs & Blooms 🌼🦋

Join lead gardener Jean Jacobs and Noah Stegman of Nature at McMaster for an engaging exploration of seasonal native flowers and the pollinators that depend on them.

Together, we'll visit the York Blvd pollinator gardens, a vibrant space featuring a mix of full sun, partial sun, and shaded raised beds, all set against a striking mural backdrop. There will be a colouring station for children.

RSVP at hamiltonnature.org/event

📅 Saturdays June 6, 2026 & August 22, 2026 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
📍 York Blvd Pollinator Gardens (397 York Blvd, Hamilton)
🚗 Limited street parking, consider public transit or carpooling.

05/23/2026

It's , so take a minute to learn when a turtle needs your help! 🐢

In the coming weeks turtle activity will ramp up significantly as they migrate between sites and female turtles nest on land. Some of the turtles you encounter might be in a dangerous situation and need a helping hand, especially on roads or multi-use pathways. Learn how to help a turtle in need:

1️⃣ Turtle On Land / In Water
If the turtle is not injured and in a natural area safe from hazards, leave it alone! Make sure to give them lots of space so they aren't stressed out by people or pets.

2️⃣ Turtle On Road
If you spot an uninjured turtle on the road or busy pathway you can stop (only if safe!) and move it across in the direction it was heading. Snapping Turtles will try to snap as a defense (they can't fit into their shells and are scared) so keep your hands at the back of the shell or use a shovel or car mat to gently push or drag them to safety.

3️⃣ Turtle Laying Eggs
Female turtles dig holes in the ground to lay their eggs, so they will appear to stay in one place for a long period of time with their rear end in the dirt before walking back to the water. Give the moms-to-be lots of space when nesting so they don't become stressed. You can alert the landowner to the nest, or if you've found one on your own private property you can install a nest cover to help protect the eggs. Never share the location of a turtle nest online - eggs being poached is a real problem.

4️⃣ Injured Turtle
Turtles are extremely resilient and can survive incredible injuries, but they need to get to a wildlife rehabilitator ASAP. If you find an injured turtle you should place it in a dry box with air holes (no food or water), note the exact location you found it, and contact the nearest wildlife rehabber or call the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre at 705-741-5000.

Address

P. O. Box 89052
Hamilton, ON
L8S4R5

Website

http://www.hamiltonnature.org/

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