Curator's Corner - Nature in the City

On August 31st, we had the largest number of participating partners that we've EVER had in for a Curator's Corner, including:

• BIObus
• City of Toronto
• Ontario Nature
• The Ontario Road Ecology Group
• ROM Publications
• Rouge Park
• Toronto Zoo

Not only do we want to thank all our partners, but EVERYONE who came together with us to talk about and celebrate Nature in the City. Visitors who stopped by talked about turtles with Ontario Nature and the Ontario Road Ecology Group; worked out habitats for plants and animals with volunteers from Rouge Park; populated a map of Toronto with wildlife while listening to stories with the City of Toronto; and learned about genetic barcoding initiatives with BIObus. A great time was had by all!

Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area are home to an astonishing array of living things, many of which thrive right under our very noses in downtown Toronto. There are many others, though, whose habitats and communities are impacted negatively by human activites, and we need to be acutely aware of how to protect these organisms and their surroundings.

Of course, discussing such things in the Earth Rangers Studio was an excellent warm-up for the upcoming Ontario BioBlitz, which is sure to be an adventure!  Taking place Saturday, September 14th through Sunday, September 15th (that's NEXT WEEKEND) at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre in Rouge Park, this year's BioBlitz will see over 400  volunteers, including professional field naturalists, students, and the general public alike teaming up for an epic 24 hour survey of the biodiveristy that calls Rouge Park home.

Registration for volunteers may be closed, but spaces are still available for LOADS of hikes, workshops and children's activities. Come on out, enjoy the out-of-doors, and learn about Toronto's bounty of biodiversity! We'll see you there!