Course Preparation
Location
Our workshops are held at the Ken Reid Conservation Area, 277 Kenrei Rd, Lindsay, ON K9V 4R2. If you’re using an older GPS, some have the road listed as Ken Reid Rd. We will be using the Field House facilities for daily meetings and training before heading into the field.
Outdoor sessions will occur at the conservation area and at local natural areas such as the Altberg Wildlife Sanctuary and the Carden Alvar.
Transportation
Participants will be responsible for their own transportation to field sites. To minimize our carbon footprint, we will organize carpooling on the first day of the course.
Parking
Parking at Ken Reid Conservation Area costs $20.00 /week/ vehicle. Upon arrival, you may purchase this from Kawartha Conservation.
Accommodations
Participants often stay at the Days Inn in Lindsay. Reservations may be made by calling (705) 328-0100.
Other nearby accommodations are:
Ramada by Wyndham (705) 702-4703
Howard Johnson by Wyndham (705) 324-0314
There are also many excellent B&Bs in the Lindsay area.
Clothing
Participants should come prepared to be outside for extended periods. Weather conditions in June range from very warm to quite cool. Please come prepared for all eventualities, as fieldwork may need to be conducted in inclement weather. Participants will be walking in forests and on even and potentially slippery ground. Hiking boots are recommended. Rubber boots are not necessary.
Gear
Participants will be outside each day and are required to bring their own field gear. Field gear such as binoculars, GPS, compass, knife, field notebook, clipboard, laptop computer (for classroom work), mosquito/tick repellant, sunscreen, water bottle.
Manuals, Field Guides and Useful Websites
Registrants will be sent PDF’s of protocols and course training materials.
Participants should come prepared to identify flora and fauna of central Ontario.
Field guides that we recommend:
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition (2008). Jon L. Dunn, Jonathan Alderfer.
OR
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America (2016). David Allen Sibley. (Second edition). Alfred A. Knoff Inc.
Mammals of the Great Lakes Region (2017). Allen Kurta. The University of Michigan Press. ISBN
Photo Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of the Great Lakes Region (2015). S.D. Gillingwater and A.S. McKenzie. St. Thomas Field Naturalist Club.
Free Apps
Merlin (bird identification)
Seek (part of the iNaturalist suite)
Mosses of the Northern Forest: A Photographic Guide Paperback (2020) by Jerry Jenkins
Northeast Ferns: A Field Guide to the Ferns and Fern Relatives of the Northeastern United States (2019) by S. Chade
Useful Websites
Free Apps
