My veins bubble with anticipation this time of year. Yes, there’s an on-going back and forth between winter and spring. And we don’t know exactly when we’ll experience the last snowfall. But we do know that spring will eventually prevail. And so much comes along with the arrival of spring: kayaking, bicycling, gardening, more birds, wildflowers, pollinators and more!

I do my best to enjoy whatever each day brings in terms of a Nearby Nature experience. But I know those experiences will be more varied once spring rolls around.

News Feed

Why Wildflowers? – Northern Wildflowers

I appreciate the clear explanation of the many benefits of wildflowers outlined in this recent newsletter article from Northern Wildflowers. With on-going news coverage of anticipated drought conditions in Alberta this year, I expect outdoor watering restrictions starting this spring. Choosing wildflowers for the soil and light conditions in your yard can dramatically reduce the need for watering and fertilizing. Plus wildflowers are self-seeding!

I planted a range of appropriate-for-my-yard wildflower seeds last fall so they could overwinter as needed for germination. I choose one of my raised garden beds as my wildflower nursery, as it’s fenced off and will save the sprouts from deer, squirrels and rabbits. I look forward to watching them pop up soon and then transplanting them to our front yard flower bed once they are reasonably well established.

Counting butterflies for calm, connection, and conservation | Finding Nature

One of my favorite Nearby Nature research-oriented sites, Finding Nature, recently published a study of the benefits of taking part in citizen science projects.

“The time we spend helping nature by contributing to the monitoring of its health and vitality, is time that also helps our own health and vitality. Conservation and regenerative activities are perhaps as important for humans as they are for nature.”

Check the “Coming Up” section at the bottom of this post for an upcoming citizen science opportunity.

Policy for a New Relationship with Nature | Finding Nature

Also from the Finding Nature website, a recently released policy briefing. I’ve requested a copy of the briefing document and will provide more details in a future Nearby Nature blog post. The high-level pitch?

“Research shows that individuals with a stronger connection to nature are more likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviours and connecting with nature promotes greater well-being. Nature connection should be a pillar of a sustainable future.”

The frantic pace of modern life is damaging our sense of time, but nature can help us heal – new study out of Finland

Ever catch yourself muttering that there’s never enough time? Or find yourself constantly reliving the past or anticipating the future? According to author Ricardo Correia, an associate professor at University of Turku in Finland, spending time in nature can help re-set your relationship with time.

For one thing, spending time in nature can expand your perception of temporal duration. I experience this myself, just today. While hiking, I needed to make a call at 11 am. About 10:40, I set a timer on my phone to go off at 10:58. And I kept thinking there must be something wrong with the timer, as I’d surely been walking for way more than 18 minutes since I’d set the alarm. But no! That was just my expanded perception of temporal duration!

For another, spending time in nature can help you be more focused on the present, rather than dwelling on the past or always looking to the future.

Cultivating my Nature Connection

Mr GeoK and I finally got around to exploring Canmore’s 2024 Art Walk in the Woods. It’s on-going until March 30, 2024. Here are a few of the pieces:

My Nearby Nature Projects

Birding and Bird Feeders

Birdfeeders are permitted in Canmore until the end of March. This winter, we’ve enjoyed a much wider variety of visitors to our sunflower and suet block feeders, when compared to last year. Visitors this month included Grey Jays and Pine Grosbeaks, as well as the usual woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, Clark’s nutcrackers and magpies:

We also spotted a bald eagle in early March (no photo), a couple of dozen Mallard duck pairs at Sulphur Pond (also no photo), and a blue jay in flight while walking Canmore’s trails:

Urban Wildlife

I’ve seen a coyote three different times over the past couple of weeks. One was across the Bow River from us while walking on the Bow River West pathway in Canmore:

Another ran across the path about 5 meters in front of me while I was walking to a public library branch in west Calgary. And then one wandered through our backyard, through our side yard and out to the street!

We’ve also seen deer in Calgary and Canmore, including this bold one who came within a meter of our back deck:

Coming Up

Mark your calendars for an international citizen science opportunity coming up in April. This year’s City Nature Challenge takes place April 26-29. Observations can be logged via iNaturalist, which I covered in previous editions of Nearby Nature Project. I’m planning to participate. Are you? You don’t have to reside in a city to participate. Just head outside anytime between April 26th and 29th and log your nearby nature observations (flora and fauna) via iNaturalist.