Greg Noakes

Excited to say I heard my first Red-winged Blackbird of the year over the weekend.

I can't wait for spring !

Ontario Nature has exciting news to share! We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of 66 acres of vulnerable habitat, expanding our Sauble Dunes Nature Reserve on the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula.
Read more about Sauble Dunes North expansion here: ontarionature.org/news-release...
#OntarioNature

Wasaga Beach’s Piping Plovers have lost most provincial habitat protection, though they remain federally protected.
But Ontario Nature's Tony Morris notes "the federal government has often been reluctant to implement the Species at Risk Act effectively."
🔗 www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/federal-re...

“Piping Plover, not just at Wasaga Beach, but all over Ontario, rely on the continued success of nesting at Wasaga Beach,” said Sydney Shepherd, Ontario Piping Plover Program Coordinator with Birds Canada.

#Birds #Birding #PipingPlover #Plover #WasagaBeach #OnPoli #Ontario

Birds, Bylaws, & Blue Bins: January 2026 From a rare western visitor in Halton, to a landmark victory for pollinator gardens, we look at the latest on Highway 413, the Wasaga Beach land transfer, and a proposed Sandhill Crane hunting season.

Don't miss our latest issue!

We have bird sightings in Halton, a new nature photo essay, a court win for wild gardens, recycling changes, Highway 413 concerns, and the Wasaga Beach debate.

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/birds-byla...

#OnPoli #Ontario #Birds #Wildlife #Hwy413 #gardens #Halton

Birds, Bylaws, & Blue Bins: January 2026 From a rare western visitor in Halton, to a landmark victory for pollinator gardens, we look at the latest on Highway 413, the Wasaga Beach land transfer, and a proposed Sandhill Crane hunting season.

This year's first edition of my monthly newsletter is out!

Notably for birders, Canada is proposing a Sandhill Crane hunting season. Meanwhile, in Ontario, we experienced a few rare birds showing up across the province in January
www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/birds-byla...

#birds #birding #Ontario

Photographing Halton's urban nature A photo essay of a year spent documenting the nature of an urban park in Halton Hills that proved great images can be found anywhere.

Great nature photos don’t need remote wilderness. I spent a year photographing an urban park in Halton Hills and found warblers, swallows, frogs, and butterflies.

Check it out in this photo essay:
www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/photograph...

#Birds #UrbanNature #PhotoEssay #Wildlife #HaltonHills

“Keep removing them. Eventually, that tower will collapse.” Ontario Nature's Tony Morris, comparing biodiversity loss to pulling pieces from a game of Jenga, making Ontario more vulnerable to climate change.
Read the full article below 👇

Ford government failed to disclose environmental and Greenbelt risks of Highway 413, says Auditor General Ontario’s Auditor General found that the public consultation process for Highway 413 did not provide sufficient information to understand impacts on the Greenbelt and environment

Auditor General finds Ontarians weren’t told the full environmental and Greenbelt risks of Highway 413 before public consultations were cut out. Endangered species, lost farmland, and unanswered questions.

Read the full story: www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/auditor-ge...

#OnPoli #Hwy413 #DougFord

‘We’ve never surrendered the land’: Treaty 9 First Nations back in court By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com

Eleven Treaty 9 First Nations are back in court, challenging Ontario and Canada over far north resource development. Lawyers say the province is trying to shut down the case before evidence is heard.

Full Story: www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/weve-never...
#OnPoli #FirstNations #Treaty9 #RingOfFire

Powerful messages this morning as First Nations head to court to defend against a motion to strike a lawsuit against the Provincial Government arguing they've failed to uphold treaty rights and obligations.

Pictured: National Chief Cindy Woodhouse

#OnPoli #FirstNations #TreatyRights

Young people will speak up in court after leaders stayed silent about Ontario development bill By Sonal Gupta, a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter with Canada’s National Observer.

Ramon Kataquapit and Michel Koostachin of Attawapiskat First Nation are intervening in a lawsuit against Ontario's Bill 5 to stop fast-tracked land development in Treaty 9.

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/young-peop...

#OnPoli #Mining #Environment #TreatyRights #FirstNations #DougFord #Ontario #News

Before the Ontario Legislature took its winter break yesterday, it passed the Protect Ontario by Cutting Red Tape Act.

#onpoli #forestry #crownforest
#ontarioparks #bill46 #parks #alcohol

I'll be reporting from Queen's Park this week, as the Ontario Legislature enters its final week before the winter break.

Stay tuned!
(It's also very festively decorated!)

"In particular, since 2019, the Province has been taking actions that had rarely or never been taken since the EBR was enacted in 1994," said Ontario's Auditor General Tuesday.

#ONPoli #Ontario #AuditorGeneral #Environment #DougFord #Hwy413 #OntarioPlace

Does Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights have teeth? | The Narwhal The Doug Ford government has picked away at the law that enshrines the public’s power in decision-making that affects Ontario’s environment. Here’s what’s left

Ontarios Auditor General released their yearly report on the operation of Ontarios Environmental Bill of Rights. Finding that the Ford Government is "eroding Ontarians' EBR rights" per the report.

That's why I asked this question in my article in @thenarwhal.ca

thenarwhal.ca/environmenta...

This month's edition of my newsletter is packed with information and a photo essay this month.

Take a read!

#Substack #journalism #newsletter #halton #ontario #dougford #onpoli #climate #environment #conservation #bill60 #grassynarrows

Meet Ontario's Red Squirrels From stashing cones to sounding alarms, these fiery little mammals are busy preparing for the long Canadian winter.

This article is one of my more photography-heavy articles, featuring photos of Ontario’s adorable red squirrels. Although they share a name, they’re a completely different species from the ones found in Europe!

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/meet-ontar...

#wildlife #mammals #wildlifephotography

I really wanted this new logo to capture elements of Halton.

You'll see the Niagara Escarpment, an agricultural field, and a Turkey Vulture soaring over it all.

All things that I think represent Halton!

#halton #haltonregion #haltonhills #oakville #burlington #conservation #environment #nature

Why Trees Could Be Halton Hills’ Best Defence Against a Changing Climate Amid rising heat and smoky summers, local experts say planting trees is one of the simplest, most effective tools residents have to protect their community from a changing climate.

If you’ve spent time in a large urban area, you’ve probably felt the effects of an urban heat island.

Come find out about heat islands and the importance of trees as a climate adaptation strategy, in my latest article!

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/why-trees-...

#climatechange #heatisland #trees

If you read the ERO posting for this, you'll also notice the government is asking for feedback on the map, rather than on the actual plan to shrink conservation authorities.

#OnPoli #dougford #ontario

‘Death knell for watersheds’: Ford set to shrink conservation authorities, plunge Ontario into chaos By Anushka Yadav, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Pointer

“Death knell for watersheds.” Doug Ford’s plan to shrink Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into seven could erase decades of flood protection & local expertise.

Full Story:
www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/death-knel...

#Ontario #Environment #Watersheds #DougFord #ONPoli

The latest edition of my newsletter is out, packed full of stories and a photo essay!

#photoessay #newsletter #onpoli #ontario #dougford #ringoffire #firstnations #photography #wildlife #turkey #conservation #haltonhills #halton #haltonregion #fallcolors #fallcolours

Did you know Ontario has an Environmental Bill of Rights?

If you didn't you're not alone, the Ford government has been neglecting its legal duty to educate the public.

Learn about the bill and what remains in this article by Greg in @thenarwhal.ca

#Environment #conservation #onpoli #DougFord

Halton in Full Colour A photographic journey through the golden hues and crimson canopies of autumns past across the Halton Region.

Interested in fall photography?

Come check out my latest photo essay, exploring some of my favorite fall photos from around Halton Region!

#photography #fall #naturephotography #HaltonHills #HaltonRegion #Ontario #Nature #Wildlife #Landscapephotography
#PhotoEssay #Substack #Autumn

I am beyond happy and proud to say my work has been published by The Narwhal today.

I really enjoyed working on this article!

I'm talking Turkey today about a little known conservation success story in Ontario!

If you didn't know turkeys almost disappeared from Ontario, you're not alone!

Check out the full story!

#Ontario #Canada #Conservation #Birds #Wildlife #LongForm #SubStack #Nature #Turkey

New Seasons, Drawing the Line & Exhibitions: September 2025 Rallying for the Climate and Renewing Our Vows to Photography.

New Edition Out Now! 📢

In the September issue of The Field & Shutter Press, we cover
'Draw the Line' a climate rally protesting Bill C5. Plus, leaked texts hint at cuts to water protection agencies.

Read it here:
www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/new-season...

#ClimateAction #Halton #Ontario #BillC5

Halton Hills Residents 'Draw the Line' at Local Climate Rally Event in Georgetown among national movement calling for urgent climate action

Georgetown's "Draw the Line" rally brought together a coalition of activists, from climate groups to student leaders, to demand an end to new fossil fuel projects. We were there to report on the local voices pushing for change:

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/halton-hil...

#HaltonHills #Ontario

Parks & Risks: PC plans for three provincial parks could set ‘dangerous precedent’ By Anushka Yadav, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Pointer

A proposed PC plan to cut protected sections of Wasaga Beach & French River provincial parks could set a "dangerous precedent" in Ontario.

Full story:

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/parks-and-...

#onpoli #cdnpoli #OntarioParks #Conservation #Environment #WasagaBeach #Journalism #Ontario #DougFord