I observed this butterfly on March 31. It came out on a fine spring day and caught some rays after a long winter's nap. This is only one of the creatures that calls the Souris Valley grounds home. I found it on the walking path by Tatagwa View Extended Care Home. These grounds are home to a wide variety of birds and animals. Some of these are ducks, geese, woodpeckers, foxes, deer and even the occasional moose. The grounds are an excellent place to go for walks, nature hikes, or just a place to relax with nature in the middle of a busy day.
The painted turtle uses the treed area, just north of the creek, for a hatchery as they lay their eggs in the dark soil.
The river itself is an excellent fishing area as jack use this portion to lay eggs, and walleye and perch also frequent the area. For the more adventurous, who care to look, there are several areas on this stretch of river where the fish actually winter.
To learn more about this and other nature notes, join the Weyburn Nature Society. The group meets on the third Wednesday of every month in the basement of the Weyburn Presbyterian Church, located at 136 Second Street. The next meeting is on June 20 at 7:30 p.m. Come and share stories and enjoy the fellowship of like-minded people.
