Some of you may be thinking that because we’re not located in Nothern Ontario, we’re lacking in nature here at Centauri – well, nothing could be further from the truth! Our property includes a river, two ponds, a meadow, woodland and a marsh area, so wildlife abounds. On one pond, we have a pair of muskrats, and some of our photographers recently had a close encounter with them. The other pond is well stocked with fish, and therefore is a favourite haunt of a pair of herons. We regularly see dozens of Canada Geese sitting on the banks, as well as frogs and toads as big as a fist! In the morning, the field behind the dorms are full of red wing blackbirds – easily over a hundred of them, if you count their young. Meanwhile, on the roofs of the dorm buildings there are dozens of tree swallows. We have a red tailed hawk that regularly perches on the top of the trees, flocks of bright yellow goldfinches, and a silent cluster of deer that stand along the treeline at dawn. Last session, two mourning doves nested in the eaves of Brant. The campers got to watch them feed their babies. The little ones have flown the nest now, and the parents are busy preparing their nest for the next clutch.
So this may not be Northern Ontario, but we certainly have a lot of nature to appreciate!
Julie