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.
JANUARY IN REVIEW
Howdy everyone, happy New Year and welcome to the first issue of 2026!
To kick off the year, I’ve created a photo essay for you that documents my observations throughout 2025 at a single urban park in Halton Hills. You can see what I captured in this month’s photo essay, “Photographing Halton’s Urban Nature.”
Halton Region and other areas across Canada have seen unusual visitors this month, prompting reminders to keep your distance when watching birds.
We’re also talking about a recent court decision that affirmed your right to garden, following a significant court decision this month, along with some winter hiking tips from the Halton Hills chapter of the Toronto Bruce Trail Club.
Lastly, despite overwhelming public opposition, the sale of portions of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park continues to move forward. I’m hoping to provide an update on the sale and its potential impact on the Piping Plover soon.
Until the next one,
- Greg
An Unusual Visitor in Halton Region
A Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi), a gray bird with a distinctive white ring around its eye, typically found in western North America, was unexpectedly spotted this month in Halton Region.
The sighting occurred at Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area and marks the first time the species has been observed on a Conservation Halton property, according to Claire Atherton, a Monitoring Technician at Conservation Halton.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds species profile, the bird is not known to regularly inhabit Ontario, instead favouring the mountainous environments of western North America.
Atherton explained how the bird likely found itself in Halton, “Sometimes bad weather can push migrating birds off course, and they can end up far from their overwintering grounds. It’s possible that this individual was migrating and somehow got blown off course towards Ontario.”
As to why it was at Rattlesnake Point, Atherton suggested that the area’s forested habitat and availability of food, such as berries, may have made it an appealing stopover in an otherwise urban or agricultural landscape.
In its home territory, the Townsend’s Solitaire typically builds its nests along banks or slopes, such as road cuts or riverbanks, and resides in forests such as pine, fir, and spruce, according to the species profile.
Halton’s unique visitor is part of a growing trend of rare bird sightings in Canada: a European Robin, seen in the suburbs of Montreal, Quebec, this month, or a Taiga Flycatcher, which usually resides in Russia, spotted in Vancouver, British Columbia, in December 2025.
Ontario Court Rules in Favour of Naturalized Gardens, Citing Charter Rights
This month, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that sections of a long grass and weed bylaw enacted by the City of Mississauga violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, specifically freedom of expression as it relates to naturalized gardens.
The decision comes as the City of Burlington and local resident Karen Barnes are headed to court over similar circumstances, where Barnes is challenging fines totalling $400,000.
David Donnelly, an environmental lawyer who is representing Barnes, told Canada’s National Observer in a phone interview, “I would hope that Burlington would have the good sense to read this decision and then withdraw the charges against Miss Barnes.”
When contacted by The Field & Shutter Press for comment, the City of Burlington Communications team said it was aware of the recent court decision but did not anticipate any impact on its ongoing case or bylaws. The spokesperson added, “Though the topics may appear similar, Burlington’s by-law differs in its requirements and offers flexibility in supporting the creation and maintenance of naturalized areas.”
The City, however, did not provide details on these differences.
The Communications team also noted that the City supports naturalized gardens, highlighting a dedicated webpage to guide residents on planting and maintaining them.
According to the City, these gardens use less water, require less upkeep, and can help improve the urban forest. The team added, “The City supports residents planting different native and non-invasive plants that thrive together to create a natural habitat.”
Read the full report in this month’s article, “Ontario court victory lets gardens grow wild,” from the Local Journalism Initiative.
Environmental Risks of Highway 413 Weren’t Disclosed
In the Auditor General’s 2025 report on the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), the Office of the Auditor General found “continued examples of a disregard for the public's rights under the EBR legislation,” said a press release.
One such example is the Highway 413 project. While many critics have pointed out the possible environmental harms of constructing Ontario’s Highway 413 project, the Auditor General found that the Ford government failed to inform Ontarians about the environmental risks posed by its construction when posting to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO). Something they are legally obligated to do under the Environmental Bill of Rights.
You can read the full report in “Ford government failed to disclose environmental and Greenbelt risks of Highway 413, says Auditor General.”
The Field & Shutter Press continues to review the Auditor General's findings, and additional reporting is planned.
Blue Bin Bulletin
Across the province, January 1 marked the transition date for many regions and municipalities in Ontario to the new recycling program operated by Circular Materials, which included Halton Region.
Under the new system, responsibility for recycling has shifted from municipalities to the producers of recyclable materials.
For Halton Residents, the Region’s website confirms the recycling collection schedule will remain the same. Residents can continue placing recycling in blue bins or clear bags. The recycling service will continue to be operated by Miller Waste, the same company that previously operated it. You can contact them with questions about what you can recycle and missed collection dates.
Federal Government Proposing Sandhill Crane Hunting Season in Northern Ontario
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), through its Canadian Wildlife Service division, is proposing a new hunting season for Sandhill Cranes, a species popular among birders, in parts of Northern Ontario, including the Hudson and James Bay regions. If implemented, the season would open in September.
According to the proposal, the season would run for 14 days, with a daily bag limit of one crane and a possession limit of one crane. With a similar season being proposed in Quebec.
The federal government is currently accepting public feedback on the proposal. Those interested in learning more or submitting comments can visit the proposal page.
Ford government did not consider public feedback in Wasaga Beach sale
In 2025, the Ford government proposed selling portions of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park to the Town of Wasaga Beach to boost the Town’s tourism industry. The move, which raised alarms from Environmentalists, required the government to post a notice on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) to allow Ontarians to share their views on the proposed change.
The ERO proposal received over 14,000 responses, with approximately 98 percent opposing the proposed transfer, citing concerns such as environmental impacts, public access, and “perceived equity and socio-economic concerns,” according to the updated posting.
Despite receiving overwhelming opposition to the proposal, the Ford government did not consider the feedback, with an update on the posting reading, “We did not consider any changes to the proposal based on the feedback received, given the Town of Wasaga Beach’s commitments to keeping the beach public, not building on the beach, and protecting environmentally sensitive dunes.”
THE FIELD & SHUTTER PRESS
FEATURES & INVESTIGATIONS
Ford government failed to disclose environmental and Greenbelt risks of Highway 413, says Auditor General
In her 2025 annual report on the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), Ontario’s Auditor General, Shelley Spence, found that the Ford government failed to disclose Greenbelt and environmental risks when it exempted Highway 413 from public consultations.
CONSERVATION & WILDLIFE NEWS
Ontario court victory lets gardens grow wild
A Mississauga man’s legal victory over the city’s lawn bylaws sets an important precedent for Canadians looking to replace their grass lawns with pollinator and habitat gardens.
FIELD NOTES & PERSPECTIVES
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
NATURE KNOW-HOW
‘People just love it’: Winter hiking a popular pastime along trails in Halton Hills
While many residents might prefer to stay indoors during the colder months, the Halton Hills chapter of the Toronto Bruce Trail Club sees its largest turnout during winter.
IN OTHER NEWS
In the "In Other News" section, we’ll share interesting updates and discoveries from the past month. Expect highlights on photography, nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental topics.
An Important Fight for Press Freedoms in Canada
Published on: 13/JAN/2026
This month, an important court case is underway in BC. Although this isn’t a direct environmental story, it could affect how The Field & Shutter Press and other journalists report from the field during police enforcement actions. It’s an important case for press freedom, and your right to know. Click here to read more
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