Greg Shchepanek

Spring has Sprung with Snakes  Eastern Garter Snake ( Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis ) Bill Mason Centre, Dunrobin, Ontario, Canada. Surprising all the snakes I saw this weekend they were in the leaves and in the water at times. Went to the Bill Mason Centre which is an educational centre for students with trails throughout marshes and mixed woods. I went looking for Wood Frogs mating, heard a few but they were well camouflaged in the vegetation of the marsh. So my main subject turned out to be snakes. I was with my father and we spent sometime exploring the trails noting a good variety of bird calls and seeing the warblers that have returned to the area. But like I said only the snakes were posing for the cameras.  Getting fire tongue photos is always a favourite of mine and I believe this female was not shy in showing hers. It was Garter Snake galore and they were not shy to go for a swim in the cold water, the sun was warm but the wind was quite blusterous. My father fell ...

 Adoption on NatureServe.org Ghost Tiger Beetle ( Ellipsoptera lepida ) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Conservation Status: imperiled (N2N3) in Canada (NatureServe) I recently discovered that I can adopt a species on the NatureServe Explorer website and I was able to choose my most prized and favourite little species the  Ghost Tiger Beetle . On the site you can choose almost anything under the  Adopt a Species  initiative and even request a special adoption which is what I did and chose to honour my father with a gift a species. The initiative is probably not on your radar and I wanted to let you know what a wonderful option it is as a gift idea. Just imagine that your favourite species out there can be help and supported through this action. The staff of NatureServe were so helpful and committed during the adoption process and they also featured one of my photographs, the one featured above. I may continue to adopt the ghost because in Canada they are imperiled but ov...