The High Park Hawk Watch starts on September 1 and continues daily until November 30. Hawks generally fly when the winds are from the northwest. Keen birders monitor the weather report and come on good days. There is generally a…
Author: High Park Nature
Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly in High Park First sighting since 1896
Rare Butterfly seen in High Park This summer a rare butterfly species was seen briefly in High Park and caught on video by a Crystal Byrne, a regular park visitor and active steward of the black oak savannah. She was…
Cicada-killer Wasps make their home in High Park Meet our new resident: Sphecius speciosus
In recent years these large, boldly coloured wasps have taken up residence in High Park’s sandy soil. Despite their imposing size, they are not a threat to people. Males constantly patrol their underground nesting sites and may aggressively fly right…
High Park Off-Leash Area Improvement August - December 2025
The City of Toronto, in collaboration with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, will be commencing Phase 2 of the High Park Off-Leash Area Improvement Project August 2025. This project involves replacing and installing post-and-paddle fencing, removing gates and removing…
Monitoring Water Levels At Grenadier Pond
A measuring device has been installed at the pier – a metre stick to measure the water level of Grenadier Pond. The 1 metre level represents about 77 metres above sea level. The pond’s level fluctuates through the seasons. To…
Sakura – Cherry Trees in High Park How this Japanese tradition came to High Park.
High Park’s cherry trees are blooming! There is no vehicle or parking access to High Park during the cherry blossom peak bloom period. Only Wheel-Trans vehicles will be allowed during this period. For more information, including a map of locations, virtual…
Traditional and Prescribed Burn Thursday, April 17, 2025
A traditional and prescribed burn will take place in High Park on Thursday, April 17, 2025. This burn is part of an ongoing practice to manage and care for the land, specifically aimed at restoring the Black Oak Savannah ecosystem.…
Traditional and Prescribed Burn Spring 2025 Advance Notice
The City of Toronto in collaboration with Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle (ILSC) is once again preparing for the annual traditional and prescribed burn program this spring in High Park. Here is the advanced burn notice. The map on the notice…
High Park Christmas Bird Count 2024 December 15, 2024
by Sean Fraser Toronto’s 100th Christmas Bird Count took place on Sunday, December 15, 2024. The High Park sector recorded 50 species – a bit higher than the average of 45 species since 1990. No new species were added to…
Phragmites Removal Project at Grenadier Pond Fall 2024 update
Phragmites removal at Grenadier Pond is tentatively scheduled for September 16 to 20, 2024, weather dependent. The following information has been provided by Urban Forestry: Our goal for this project is to significantly reduce the Phragmites population size over the…
Algae warning at Grenadier Pond
Signs warning of blue-green algae have been posted at Grenadier Pond (sign first noticed on Sept. 1, 2024). Blue-green algae can rapidly increase to form a large mass or “bloom” when conditions are favourable. For more information on harmful algal…
HIGH PARK MOVEMENT STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE Summer/September 2024
The following highlights are based on the High Park Movement Strategy Implementation Update. You can subscribe directly for future updates here. Public Information Session September 10, 2024 The City is partnering with TRCA to undertake a road ecology study within…
Protecting Wildlife – A new role for volunteers 2024 Traditional and Prescribed Burn
People have asked about the safety of the animals in High Park during the traditional and prescribed burn. The prescribed burn in High Park is a low-intensity fire as is appropriate for savannahs and woodlands. Flames stay very low and…
High Park Movement Strategy Update February 2024 & July 2023
Response to Proposed Recreational Cycling Pilot Project – February 2024 The City is proposing to launch a recreational cycling pilot in High Park in Summer 2024. This pilot comes as a recommendation from the High Park Movement Strategy (HPMS), which…
First Occupants of Our New Purple Martin House 2023 Update
Contributed by David Creelman FALL UPDATE: In October, the old purple martin house on the south shore of Grenadier was replaced with a brand-new easy-to-maintain house. Another big thank-you to TRCA! Earlier this year, ‘The Martineers’, a small group of…
INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL CONTINUES DOG STRANGLING VINE MANAGEMENT, SUMMER 2023
Urban Forestry will continue with management of Dog Strangling Vine in High Park over the next 3-4 weeks this summer. Staff have been strategically and actively managing a small number of areas of vegetation within High Park for over 20…
PRIME NESTING TIME FOR TURTLES HELP PROTECT HIGH PARK'S TURTLES
High Park is home to two native, at-risk turtles—the common snapping turtle and the Midland painted turtle. A third, the invasive red-eared slider is native to Mexico and the southern US, usually a pet later released into the ponds. Nesting…
Spring Birds in High Park Migration is happening now!
May is a busy, exciting month for peak bird migration in High Park. In spring some 50 species of birds arrive to breed here while many others make an important stop-over on their journey to other breeding grounds. Prime viewing…
High Park: A Balancing Act Virtual Learning Session, recorded on April 27
High Park is known for many things, including its natural areas. A jewel in the city’s park system, it includes rare plants, animals, and habitats. Join City of Toronto’s Parks Program Officer, Jaclyn Scobie as we take a look at…
Movement Strategy Fails to Put Nature and Pedestrians First High Park Movement Strategy enters final phase
Focus on Protecting Nature When work on the City-led High Park Movement Strategy began in 2021, more than three-quarters of people surveyed sent a clear message : Enhancing and conserving the park’s ecological integrity should be a high priority in…
