Quinte Conservation Envirominute Podcast

Feeding wild birds is a common past-time in winter. Some people think that birds will die if they neglect their bird feeder. Studies have shown, however, that birds spend only 20 per cent of their time at feeders. Find out more in this week's podcast.

More and more we live in a disposable society. Sometimes it can cost more to repair an item than replace it. Hosting a Repair Café can help keep items out of our landfills. Find out more in this week's podcast.

Portland Conservation Area is located on the east side of Highway 38 just 2 kilometers south of Verona. It offers almost 23 hectares for picnics and relaxation. Find out more about this Conservation Area in this week's podcast.

Old, unused or improperly maintained wells can be a hazard to our health and safety. They can be a direct path for contaminants on the land to reach our source of drinking water. Find out more in this week's podcast.

Quinte Conservation owns and operates 36 dams and water control structures. Water levels in lakes and rivers are lowered each fall to provide additional storage space for spring melt waters. Find out more in this week's podcast.

Conservation Areas are great places to take your dog for a walk. But keep in mind that dogs need to be on a leash. Even if your dog is friendly and well trained, it is important that all dogs are kept on a leash for public safety. Find out more in this week's podcast.

Birding is a great activity for all ages. It’s also an excellent way to explore our local Conservation Areas and gain an appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors. Find out how to get started in this week's podcast.

Nearly three million people in Ontario use and depend on groundwater every day. Groundwater supplies us with drinking water and water for agricultural and industrial uses. Find out more about this important resources in this week's podcast.

Quinte Conservation staff are often out in the field doing many types of monitoring and sampling so we can check on the health of our watersheds. One of the ways we check for healthy waterways is electrofishing. Find out more in this week's podcast.

Algae blooms can be a real problem in our local lakes. The rapid growth of naturally occurring algae can make water unsafe for people, pets, fish and wildlife. Find out how you can help prevent algae blooms in this week's podcast.

Giant hogweed sightings are becoming more common in our area. It’s important to be able to identify this invasive species as the sap can cause dangerous burns on skin or temporary blindness. Find out more in this week's podcast.

Camping is a great way to get outdoors and active with your family. Listen to this week's podcast for tips to make sure you have an enjoyable camping trip.

Wild parsnip is an invasive plant native to Europe and Asia. It was likely brought to North America by European settlers, who grew it for its edible root. Find out more about this invasive and harmful plant in this week's podcast.

The summer offers a great chance to get outdoors and walk at our local conservation areas. Sometimes, though, it is very hot and humid. Learn some ways to beat the heat when walking and hiking outdoors this summer in this week's podcast.

Summertime is a peak season for water use. Activities such as lawn watering means demand for water is 50 – 80 percent higher in the summer than it is the rest of the year. In this week's podcast learn some ways you can help reduce outdoor water usage this summer.

Most of the policies in the Quinte Region Source Protection Plan apply to two kinds of vulnerable areas, Wellhead Protection Areas and Intake Protection Zones. Find out more about these vulnerable areas in this week's podcast.

Are you the type of person that mosquitos just love? Maybe you know someone who seems to never get bitten. There are lots of myths about mosquitos and how to avoid those irritating bites.Are you the type of person that mosquitos just love? Maybe you know someone who seems to never get bitten. There are lots of myths about mosquitos and how to avoid those irritating bites. Find out more in this week's podcast.

At this time of year people often encounter wildlife. Most often they see young birds or animals that they think might be abandoned. With the best of intentions, children and adults alike may take in young animals to save them and give them a home. Find out why this may not be the best idea in this week's podcast.

The name “dog-strangling vine” refers to two invasive plants - black swallowwort and pale swallowwort. In recent years these perennial vines have spread rapidly throughout central and southern Ontario. Find out more about this invasive species in this week's podcast.