OSFN Programs
Please note that all Programs, and schedules are subject to change. To avoid disappointment, please check with this site for updates and changes to dates, speakers, locations, etc. We thank you for your understanding in these matters.
Download our 2024/25 Schedule (pdf, 208kb)
go to Program & Event Archives
Around the Bay Waterfowl Outing
Join Fred for the annual waterfowl tour around Owen Sound Bay. With winter approaching, waterfowl are on the move. Target species are loons, grebes, scoters and flotillas of diving ducks. Meet at Harry Lumley Bayshore Arena south parking lot at 10:00 AM for this 4 hour outing. Dress appropriately for a waterfront environment. Bring lunch, … Continue reading Around the Bay Waterfowl Outing
The Secret Lives of Bats
Join world-renowned bat specialist Professor Brock Fenton (UWO) as he explores the secret lives of bats. His talk will include basic bat biology, echolocation, conservation (including white-nosed syndrome among Ontario's bats), and the relationship between bats and people. Professor Fenton will also share observations that he and his research teams have made both in Canada … Continue reading The Secret Lives of Bats
Christmas Bird Counts
Watch the Hart's Tongue Herald and the OSFN e-Herald for dates and information for this year's Christmas Bird Counts in Owen Sound, Wiarton, Meaford, Hanover/Walkerton and Saugeen Shores.
Members’ Night hosted by Jim Ansell
A potpourri of OSFN members' slides, displays, art, collections and compositions focusing on the natural world. A limit of 10 slides and 10 minutes of presentation. Register your presentation with Jim Ansell at (519) 376-2775 or by e-mail, jansell@sympatico.ca.
Snow Shoe Outing in Harrison Park
Join our new program director, Andy Koshan, on a snowshoe hike to experience the joys of winter. With a little luck, it will be a sunny, clear, clod day. We'll follow up with a hot chocolate at the Harrison Park Inn. Meet at the Inn at 1:00 PM.
India: Temples, Tigers and Peacocks
As one considers the most populous nation in the world, conjured images of India rarely turn to diverse landscapes and fascinating wildlife. It is an ancient land teeming with people and intriguing cultures, but it also possesses a wonderful array of wild creatures and spectacular birds. Peter Middleton will take us on a tour to … Continue reading India: Temples, Tigers and Peacocks
Friends of Oliphant Coastal Environments (FOOCE)
Donna Stewart, the Chair of FOOCE, will talk about this relatively young but extremely active and successful volunteer conservation group. FOOCE's vision is "to preserve the unique fen, alvar and Beach/grassland ecosystems of the Oliphant mainland community and adjacent Fishing Islands". Her presentation will tell us of surveys, findings and achievements that the group has … Continue reading Friends of Oliphant Coastal Environments (FOOCE)
Signs of Winter Life
Trapper Verle Barfoot will lead us on a search for signs of winter wildlife in the Glen Conservation Area near Copper Kettle. This trip will take place either Feb. 12 or Feb. 19 depending on the conditions. Bring snowshoes or skis and meet at the Glenn Parking area at 10:00 AM . Bring binoculars, a … Continue reading Signs of Winter Life
From the Andromeda Galaxy to a Spider’s Eye
Wiarton-area potter, Steve Irvine, is also a noted photographer, photographing everything from stars to macro views of nature. His photos have appeared in National Geographic, Natural History, Science and several astronomy magazines. Steve will show us some of his best nature photos, including some taken with the ceramic pinhole cameras that he makes.
Hot Spathes and Hidden Holes
Or should we call it skunk cabbages and sinkholes. It's early spring and in the Beaverdale Bog north of Markdale. The bog forms the upper reaches of the Saugeen River Watershed. Water from the bog also escapes down sinkholes into the Beaver Valley. We will visit a couple of GSCA properties in the bog, watching … Continue reading Hot Spathes and Hidden Holes
On the Reefs in the Philippines
Local teachers, Deane Atherton and Dawn Hollyer spent April/May 2011 in the Philippines, where they worked as volunteers on a survey of reef life. The job involved two intensive weeks of training in which they learned to recognize 50 genera of fish, followed by 6 weeks of reef surveys around the Philippines. Deane will tell … Continue reading On the Reefs in the Philippines
A Visit to Spring’s Ephemeral Ponds
In early spring, ephemeral ponds appear on the forest floor as the ice and snow melt away. We'll join the Young Naturalists for this outing to the Hibou Conservation Area to look for the invertebrates found in ephemeral ponds. Dress warmly and wear rubber boots. Meet in the parking lot of the first Hibou entrance … Continue reading A Visit to Spring’s Ephemeral Ponds
OSFN Indoor Meetings are normally held on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Bayshore Community Centre, 1900 3rd Ave E Owen Sound. There are no Indoor Meetings in July and August. Please see the individual event listings below for more details.
We invite speakers with a wide range of expertise from Grey/Bruce and other parts of the province. These evenings are open to the public. The auditorium is open by 6:30. The meeting gets under way at 7:00, and may include brief announcements by other organizations as well as OSFN club activities, club business, social time, nature sightings and reports.
The club also offers a full schedule of outdoor activities during the year. Through these outings, members learn more about the birds, plants, mammals and geology of this part of Ontario. We also keep a protective eye on our precious natural areas.