A small auditorium in the basement of an East York library was the venue for a winter showing of images of Toronto wildlife.

The Toronto Field Naturalists (TFN) held its annual “Nature Image Show” on Jan. 31 in the auditorium of the S. Walter Stewart library, where members were encouraged to present some of their own personal photography of Toronto’s wildlife.

The TFN is a non-profit organization that aims to promote public interest in the preservation of Toronto’s natural habitats.

“Will anyone who has digital images on a USB drive please come up?” one of the event coordinators said as the auditorium began to fill up.

The pictures were presented on a large canvas with an overhead projector. Members who took the photos were able to speak in front of the audience and share the experiences they had taking them.

The subject of the photos ranged from animals, to flowers, to large open scenic shots of Toronto’s natural habitats.

Theresa Moore has been a member of the TFN for 20 years and was a contributor to the digital photo gallery. She thinks it’s a good way to connect with people who have a similar passion for nature and photography. She also believes that it is a good way to increase interest in preserving Toronto wildlife.

“I think it’s a good way to connect with other people who have a like interest in nature photography, and in a non-competitive environment,” Moore said.

All of the pictures shown were taken in Toronto’s parks and ravines. Wildlife areas in the city that were put on display include Taylor Creek Park, Cedar Ridge, German Mills and High Park. These are all examples of Toronto’s natural habitats that the TFN is aiming to preserve.

“We’re all here with the same goal and passion, which is that we love nature and we want to share that with other people,” Moore said.

The TFN was established in 1923, and continues to increase awareness and interest in the preservation of Toronto’s natural wildlife to this day.