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EnglishWhat is the Macnamara Field Naturalists' Club website?
Updated
mfnc.ca is the website of the Macnamara Field Naturalists' Club, a naturalists' organization formed in 1984 by a group of Ottawa Valley naturalists who wanted to share their knowledge and love of nature. The site serves as the club's public hub for local natural history: it documents the Macnamara Trail in Arnprior, lists meetings and field trips, publishes wildlife sightings, and archives club publications. It is aimed at anyone interested in exploring, documenting, and enjoying the natural history of the Ottawa Valley area.
Who the club is
The club takes its name and inspiration from Charles Macnamara (1881–1944), a naturalist and photographer who lived in Arnprior. According to the site, the club follows in his footsteps by exploring, documenting, and enjoying the natural history of the region.
What you'll find on the site
The main sections, based on the site's navigation and homepage content:
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| About Us | Executive and volunteers, Code of Ethics |
| Trail | Macnamara Nature Trail and the Macnamara Trail Guide |
| Events | Annual Banquet & Silent Auction, upcoming events, past meetings, past field trips, AGM 2026 documents |
| Sightings | Monthly sighting reports (e.g., December 2024 back through December 2023), an "Add Sighting (Beta)" submission page, and the Christmas Bird Count |
| Publications | Club Bulletins, The Lady's Slipper, articles and posts |
| About the Trail | Geology and field guides |
| Club Committees | Introductions to the Conservation Committee and Trail Committee |
| Contact Us | Contact information |
| Membership / Join Us | Membership information and a call to join |
The Macnamara Trail
The trail in Arnprior is described as the club's largest project and "a window into the past and present natural world of the region." Its boardwalks, viewing platforms, and benches are designed to let visitors explore without disturbing the area's wild character. A newer 1.5 km extension improves observation of the wetland by Goodwin Bay. The site also hosts a trail guide, geology material, and field guides, and includes a call to help extend the trail.
Events and sightings
Club meetings feature expert speakers, and field trips run throughout the year covering topics from geology to migrating birds to rare orchids. The sightings pages function as a running local record, organized by month, with a beta tool for submitting your own observations.
Why the site exists
The stated purpose is to share knowledge and experience: the club welcomes visitors and invites people to join, and the site makes its trail, events, and wildlife records publicly accessible. If you want to walk the Macnamara Trail, attend a meeting or field trip, or browse local sightings and bulletins, mfnc.ca is the starting point.