The goals of our ecological stewardship program at ruthven park…

  • Study

    To develop a greater understanding of the interdependence between humans and nature through our own and partnered ecological research projects.

  • Protect

    To preserve native species and their biological communities through our ongoing conservation efforts.

  • Educate

    To enlighten guests to the wonder of our natural environment and the importance of the biodiversity within and beyond Ruthven Park.

“understanding of the natural world is a source of not only great curiosity, but great fulfilment."

-Sir David Attenborough

Current ecological stewardship projects: 

  • Bird banding 

  • Wetland studies 

  • Invasive species removal 

  • Tree surveys  

  • Habitat restoration 

  • Species census collection

Get Involved

Spotlight on Butterfly Meadow

In our ongoing stewardship efforts at Ruthven Park we are consistently working to combat non-native, predatory, and invasive species. Several methods are used including: manual pulling, chemical treatment, prescribed burning, and mowing. Most recently we embarked on the last option with the assistance of Alex’s Eves and Siding. We tasked Alex with using his forestry mulching equipment to clear our Butterfly Meadow area and he was certainly up for the task.

Meadows are a stage of natural succession and if left alone will eventually turn back into forested areas. Mowing like this can be used to help manage the takeover of woody stemmed plants, such as Dogwood and Black Walnut. Thus, to preserve the meadow as it stands, management like mowing or burning must be done. Mowing removes the predatory species and encourages the native species to come up instead.

This process is a cyclical one with mowing occurring approximately every two years.

We are very grateful for the work that Alex put in and we are eagerly anticipating the return of the beautiful native wildflowers this spring!

This project was made possible by funding received from the Grand River Conservation Foundation. Thank you!

Species of the Month

February’s article written by Michael Berry, Education and Ecological Coordinator at Ruthven Park National Historic Site

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Have you ever been driving on country roads that are very familiar to you? While driving familiar routes, drivers often look for familiar landmarks to know how close they are to their destination. Are these landmarks non-natural features like farm equipment, houses, or the fancy gates on the golf course that is closed for the season? Are they natural features like trees, dirt piles, or the same bird on the telephone wire that is there every morning?

I drive the same route to work each day and have for several years now, so it has become a pastime for me to look for the same animals in the same spots each morning and afternoon. Red-tailed Hawks are some of my most frequently seen species flying over farm fields or sitting on the same telephone poles trying to stay insulated in the chilling winds each day. Have you ever wondered about what the Red-tailed Hawk is doing while perched? What makes them unique compared to the other birds of prey in Ontario?

Red-tailed Hawks are one of the most prevalent Hawks to be seen in Southwestern Ontario. As a short distance migrant, they spend the whole of the year in relatively the same spot across Canada and the United States. Some individuals that live in the northern parts of Canada and Alaska will migrate short distances south for breeding season in the springtime. They are noticeably distinguished due to their “belly band” of darker feathers that stretches across their breast from wing to wing and, as an adult, their reddish-brown tail.

In the winter, these hawks spend their days riding thermal waves around farm fields in search of meals of small rodents including moles, voles, mice and shrews. In the summer, their diet can consist of slightly larger mammals, birds and reptiles. They have also been known to consume carrion on roads. Nests are frequently built near their perching sites in tree stands. Even though this species stands quite tall and looks very regal on its perch it does not weigh that much. The larger females only weigh around 3 pounds. On the contrary, at the time of hatching nestlings weigh only 2 ounces!

When soaring they are often heard from quite a distance as well due to their characteristic screech sound. This sound is often used in television and film when a Bald Eagle appears on screen due to its regal sound. In actuality, Bald Eagles tend to have a squawk similar to that of several Gull species.

Next time you are out on country roads take a look for this beautiful bird!