Plugs for the Prairies: Hazel Bird Part 1

NCC’s Hazel Bird Nature Reserve is found within the Rice Lake Plains Natural Area, which is located in Central Ontario on the Oak Ridges Moraine. The Rice Lake Plains Natural Area contains some of the largest tracts of kame moraine forest, tallgrass prairie and savannah ecosystems in Ontario, including globally significant black oak savannah. The prairie and savannah ecosystems are of particular conservation concern as most of their representation in Ontario and North America has been lost. The Hazel Bird Nature Reserve  also provides significant habitat for species at risk including grassland birds and the Monarch butterfly.

You will be planting native tall grass prairie species to help restore and expand the tall grass prairie cover in the Rice Lake Plains. We will walk approximately 1.5 km over variable terrain to reach the planting site. Planting will involve bending and using trowels to dig holes for the seedlings.

In addition to contributing to the restoration of Ontario’s rare tall grass prairie habitat, you will get to tour the property and experience all that the Rice Lake Plains Natural Area has to offer.

Contact Val Deziel, Coordinator, Conservation Biology: Val.deziel@natureconservancy.ca