Zooming in on plant & animal life at #TommyThompsonPark!🔎 What might this be? Hint: It is an introduced plant🌿 species, originally from Europe. The average #plant produces 3300 seeds which birds enjoy snacking on.🐦 Any guesses? Answer to come! #nature #TheSpitUpClose #quiz

#TheSpitUpClose Challenge Answer: Teasel; Dipsacus follunum!🌿 Named by how it collects rainwater along its stem💧 & people using the dried flower-head to comb wool🐑. Dipascus - "to thirst"; fullonum - 'fuller' who cleans wool. Congrats Dr. Yulia Ryzhik on the correct answer! #TTPflora

No hints for this #TheSpitCloseUp challenge! Can you guess what #TommyThompsonPark flora or fauna we've zoomed in on here?🔎 Answer to come! #nature #TheSpitUpClose

#DYK? The Tommy Thompson Park wetland was created to help restore fish and #wildlife habitat in the Toronto #AreaofConcern. Do you have a project that could help protect the #GreatLakes? Apply for funding by Jan. 11! ow.ly/7kfp30mRgkr

#SVQ le milieu humide Tommy Thompson Park a été créé pour restaurer l’habitat du poisson et de la #faune du secteur préoccupant de Toronto. Une idée de projet pour protéger les #GrandsLacs? Présentez une demande de financement d’ici le 11 janvier! ow.ly/wARX30mRgsy

#TheSpitCloseUp Challenge Answer: Eastern Garter Snake!🐍 #Toronto's native #snakes spend the winter underground in hibernacula. There could be hundreds together in one hibernaculum! It's great fun to see them emerge from the ground in the spring! #TTPfauna #nature #reptiles

We've been zooming in on plant and animal life all week at #TommyThompsonPark.🔎 For a tougher #TheSpitCloseUp challenge, try this one! Random wild guesses encouraged! #whatisthis #nature

#TheSpitCloseUp Challenge answer: Staghorn Sumac! Specifically, the stem of the plant.🌿 This one was the toughest of the bunch! 🤔 Thanks to all who played along! Who knew the sumac stem would look so much like animal fur?! #TTPfauna #nature #zoom📷

Happy new year!

All set for Winter #Bird Count for Kids this morning! Can't wait! #cbc4kids #getthemoutside #wildlifemonitoring #science

Packed house at this morning's Winter #Bird Count for Kids! So much fun! We saw 21 different species (and hundreds of individuals!). Loving the new young bird enthusiasts in the group! #redtailedhawk #redhead #mockingbird #cbc4kids #kids #birding

Who said winter was gray and dull? SO many colours to be found in nature! Tommy Thompson Park #urbannature #coloursinnature #natureart #TorontoNature #NatureTO #TOparks #parkTO #getoutside #exploring

Yesterday's Sunset and Skyline from Leslie Street Spit / Tommy Thompson Park #TommyThompsonPark #LeslieStreetSpit #Sunset #Toronto #Ontario #Canada #LakeOntario #Clouds #Cloudy #City #Skyline Tommy Thompson Park

Broaden your knowledge on one of the most populous #birds of #Toronto!

Do you have a favourite greenspace/park in #Toronto? Vote on yours in the #WorldCupofTorontoParks! Better yet, get outside & explore the parks before casting your vote! Each match includes 3 parks - vote on Twitter through @MVTimandra. #justforfun #nature

Don't let the cold stop you from getting outside & breathing in scenes like this beautiful "field" of broken ice! As you layer up for winter, remember the 3 W's: wicking, warming, & weathering. That's what you want your #winter layers to do for you! ❄️🧥 #getoutside #Toronto #ice

Having trouble identifying the finches you've seen recently? This quick visual guide can to give you a hand! Thanks to Ed McAskill for putting it together and sharing! #birding #malebirds #speciesID #finch #winterbirding

A field staff position at #TommyThompsonPark has been posted. A great opportunity to use and grow your knowledge of #Toronto's flora/fauna, including colonial waterbirds! apply.trca.ca/opportunity/fi… #restoration #wildlifemanagement #nature