The summer populations of hummingbirds
(Mi’kmaq: militaw) should be well established in our Biosphere by now.
Did you know that we only have one
species, the Ruby-throated variety? The Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere is near the
northern...
Why do some plants have medicinal value for humans?
Plants produce multitudes of chemicals. Some of these chemicals are of primary importance in their metabolic processes and some are secondary. The bulk of chemicals...
As the climate warms, our Biosphere is changing.
Our new normal may mean a good habitat for species that
used to be confined to more southerly environments. This is the case with the
striped bass, and...
I have been told that Bras d’Or cod (Mi’kmaq: peju) are
“wormy.” The Mi’kmaw term for worm is “weti” but there isn’t a term that is
specific for the cod parasitic worm.
I know exactly what...
During this year’s Bras d’Or Watch field day on July
14, participants noted flocks of swallows (Mi’kmaq: pukwales) at all five
sites. These charismatic acrobats were quite numerous and entertaining.
Their apparent abundance is of interest...
Now that winter has eased its grip, the cold-blooded
creatures are starting to make an appearance in the Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere.
The Mi’kmaw word for May is Squoljuiku’s which
translates to “frog croaking time.” Frogs...
We don’t know as much about the owls (Mi’kmaq:
ku’ku’kwes) of the Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere as we do about other birds.
I expect that may be due to the fact that observers are
not out...
Mi’kmaq designs featured red, yellow, black and white
long before colonists brought packaged dyes to Cape Breton.
So, where did the colours come from? Red (mekwe’k), in
particular, is a notoriously difficult dye colour to get...
One of the questions that I am asked most often is: “Are
there more jellyfish (Mi’kmaq: sasap) in the Bras d’Or estuary now than there
used to be?”
I have a lot of trouble answering that...