september 2013, volume 60, no. 3 - kingston field naturalists

The

Blue Bill

Quarterly Journal of the Kingston Field Naturalists

ISSN 0382-5655

Volume 60, No. 3 September 2013

Contents

President’s Page Mark Andrew Conboy .........63

KFN Income Statement Larry McCurdy ...................65

KFN Balance Sheet Larry McCurdy ...................66

Kingston Region Birds Summer Season 1June-31July Mark Andrew Conboy .........67

Sights and Sounds of the Roadside Terry Sprague ......................69

The Great Canadian Bioblitz of 2013 Anne Robertson ...................71

Vertebrates .............................................74

Invertebrates .............................................77

Vascular Plants .............................................81

Non-vascular Plants and Fungi .............................................87

WinterFinch Forecast 2013-2014 Ron Pittaway .......................88

KFN Ramble to Property of Ed Fletcher Joe Benderavage ...................92

Ontario Endangered Species Act Conference Shirely French .....................93

The Blue Bill is the quarterly journal (published

March, June, September and December) of the Kingston Field Naturalists, P.O. Box 831, Kingston,

ON (Canada), K7L 4X6.

Website: http://www.kingstonfieldnaturalists.org

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2013/2014 Officers

President: Gaye Beckwith

613-376-3716

[email protected]

Honorary President : Ron D. Weir

613-549-5274

[email protected]

Vice-President: Darren Rayner

613-888-9906

[email protected]

Past President: Gaye Beckwith

613-376-3716

[email protected]

Treasurer: Larry McCurdy

613-389-6427

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Recording Janis Grant

Secretary: 613-548-3668

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Membership John Critchley

Secretary: 613-634-5475

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Nature Reserves Erwin Batalla 613-542-2048 [email protected] Conservation Chris Hargreaves 613-389-8993 [email protected] Blue Bill Editor Alex Simmons 613-542-2048 [email protected] Junior Naturalists Anne Robertson 613-389-6742 [email protected] Education Shirley French 613-548-8617 [email protected] Field Trips Kurt Hennige 613-876-1804 [email protected] Bird Sightings Mark D. Read 613-217-1246 [email protected] Bird Records Ron Weir 613-549-5274 [email protected] Speakers Darren Rayner 613-888-9906 [email protected] Newsletter Janet Elliott 613-547-2674 [email protected] Publicity/Website Chris Grooms 613-386-7969 [email protected] Slideshow Gaye Beckwith 613-376-3716 [email protected] Ontario Nature Ken Robinson 613-766-4782 [email protected] Member-at-large John Cartwright 613-766-2896 [email protected] Member-at-large Ken Robinson 613-766-4782 [email protected] Member-at-large Rose-marie Burke 613-549-7583 [email protected] Archives Peter McIntyre 613-548-4738 [email protected]

http://www.kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/

http://www.kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/

The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 63

President’s Page

Mark Andrew Conboy

This edition of the President’s Page

covers three topics: a celebration,

bicycles and birds, and a departure.

First, a celebration. On September 10,

the KFN paid tribute to one of its most

prominent members, the late Martin

Edwards. Martin's contributions to the

KFN and conservation at large were

significant. He was a KFN president, an

Honourary President, and president of

other nature organizations. He had one

of the most comprehensive life lists of

birds of any human being - ever. Only a

handful of people have seen more

species than Martin, who had tabulated

8,456 by the time of his passing. Some of

the birds Martin saw are now extinct; no

one will ever see them again.

Martin's extraordinary contributions to

conservation and accomplishments as a

birder are the reasons we decided to

rename the KFN's Amherst Island

property after him. The property

attracts more than its fair share of rare

birds, and many of us have had the

pleasure of expanding our life lists with

exciting vagrants that have shown up

there over the years. In late August Bud

Rowe, Mark Read, Erwin Batalla, Peter

Good, Lynn Bell and Gaye Beckwith

erected a beautiful new sign at the main

(south) entrance to the reserve. On

September 10 we formally dedicated the

property to Martin and renamed it the

Martin Edwards Reserve.

For the past few years I've been

changing my birding habits

substantially, so that now I do most of

my birding from my bicycle. I didn't get

into bicycle birding as a means of

reducing my carbon-footprint or

anything so noble, but rather because its

a fun and highly productive way to see

birds and other wildlife. I see and hear

way more birds from my bike than from

my car. I get a workout and goodness

knows a middle-aged guy with a taste

for dark beer needs the exercise. I never

have a parking issue, and I see a lot

more non-avian wildlife too.

Cycling is a good way to become

immersed in a landscape, but it also

means dealing with rain, snow, wind,

and the other elements. It means a wet

rear-end when roads and trails are

damp and entails some close calls with

traffic. All in all, the joy of zipping along

under your own power and ticking off

birds is worth the inconvenience.

Granted, birding by bicycle is a little

impractical if you're a rarity chaser -

who has the time or ambition to bike to

Point Pelee or Thunder Bay or even

September 2013

Presqu'ile Provincial Park after every

rarity? But if you already live in or near

a birdy place, then hop on your bike and

hit the road!

I am lucky that I spent the last 3.5 years

living on the Frontenac Arch, one of the

most biologically rich parts of Ontario.

Queen's University Biological Station

(QUBS) and its environs support one of

the most diverse assemblages of

breeding birds in the province,

including sought-after species like

cerulean and golden-winged warblers.

Good numbers of migrants make their

way through, and rarities show up from

time to time, adding to the excitement.

Even the dead of winter can be

productive: open water at Chaffey's

Lock and other lock stations harbours

waterbirds and attracts raptors. With

hundreds of kilometres of quiet roads

and great biking trails (including the

Cataraqui Trail which is excellent for

birds and perhaps even better for

dragonflies, butterflies and reptiles), the

Greater QUBS Area, as I affectionally

call it, is a bicycle birder's mecca.

Our region is blessed with other good

bicycle birding locales: Lemoine Point

Conservation Area, Wolfe Island,

Amherst Island and Prince Edward

County are prime spots to bird by bike. I

put my bike in the car and drive to one

of the ferry docks, from which I set out

for a day on Wolfe or Amherst or even

an entire weekend in the County.

What kind of bike do you need? It

doesn't matter, just make it a reliable

one. As a young naturalist I worked at

Presqu'ile Provincial Park, and the sage

of Presqu'ile birding, Fred Helleiner,

rode all over the place on a rusty old

bike, his binoculars dangling from his

neck, his scope slung over his shoulder.

You'll still find him doing that today if

you visit the park. A rusty old bike can

get you as many birds as a $2500

carbon-fibre bike if you ride it in the

right places. With a little investment in

some saddlebags you can bring along

your scope, all the clothes and other

gear you might need and even a bottle

of wine to celebrate the day's big find.

Give it a try, you might never want to

bird from your car again.

Finally, I'd like to announce to those

who haven't yet heard that I will be

resigning from my position as KFN

president. A new job opportunity will

take me away from Kingston in

November, and so I must say goodbye.

I'm saddened to have to leave Kingston

and the KFN, but will happily look back

on my time as president and as a

member of the Executive. Past

president, Gaye Beckwith will step back

into the president's role in the interim,

and Darren Rayner will move from vice-

president to president at a future date.

Thanks to the members for your

participation and for making the KFN

one of the most successful and

productive naturalist clubs in the

province. A special thanks to the

Executive who do an extraordinary

amount of volunteer work all year long

to keep this club going. You are an

amazing and inspiring group!

6 September 2013


Kingston Region Birds for the Summer Season: June 1-July 31, 2013

Mark Andrew Conboy

The summer birding season was a fairly

quiet one this year. There were no major

rarities among the 181 reported species.

There were a few species found outside

their normal season. Below are

highlights for the reporting period.

Brant: 12 off Main Duck Isl. (Martin)

8Jun; 1 at Amherst Isl. (Mackenzie, Read

& Conboy) 18Jul-Aug.

Trumpeter Swan: 1-2 at Chaffey’s Lock

(Conboy & North Leeds Birders) 5Jun-

21Jul; 1-2 at Perch River WMA, NY

(KFN) 29Jun-18Jul.

Lesser Scaup: 1-7 at Amherstview

Sewage Lagoons (KFN) 1Jun-21Jul.

Long-tailed Duck: 1 seen in the open

lake from a boat trip to Main Duck Isl.

(Martin) 8Jun.

Common Goldeneye: 1 at Amherst Isl.

(Hennige) 8Jun.

Red-throated Loon: 1 photographed at

Gananoque (Evers) 27Jun.

Least Bittern: 2 at Moscow Marsh

(Mackenzie & Read) 18Jun; 2 at Hay Bay

(Hennige) 18Jun; 1-2 at Perch River

WMA, NY (KFN) 29Jun-9Jul.

Great Egret: Widespread near Lake

Ontario for the reporting period (KFN).

Sandhill Crane: 1 chick and 2 adults

near Lower Rock Lake (Siegfried) 4Jun;

1 at Prince Edward Pt. (Hennige) 16Jun.

Whimbrel: 1 at Amherst Isl.

(Mackenzie, Read & Weir) 28Jul.

Ruddy Turnstone: 2 at Amherst Isl.

(Hennige) 8Jun.

White-rumped Sandpiper: 1 at Amherst

Isl. (Mackenzie & Read) 1Jun; 1 at

Amherst Isl. (Mackenzie & Read) 10Jun.

Dunlin: 2 at Amherst Isl. (Mackenzie &

Read) 1Jun.

Stilt Sandpiper: 2 at Amherst Isl.

(Mackenzie & Read) 18Jul.

Short-billed Dowitcher: 1 at Amherst

Isl. (Mackenzie & Read) 10Jun; 1 at

Amherstview Sewage Lagoons (Weir)

21Jul.

Great Black-backed Gull: 1 off Main

Duck Isl. (Martin) 8Jun.

Long-eared Owl: 1 at Sheffield

Conservation Area (Bird) 19Jun.

Peregrine Falcon: A pair was on

territory all summer in downtown

Kingston (KFN).

Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1 at Marshlands

CA(Read) 9Jun; 1 near Roslin (Sabourin)

16Jun.

Carolina Wren: Scattered records near

Lake Ontario (KFN).

Blue-winged Warbler: 1 at Main Duck

Isl. (Gilbert & Martin) 9Jun; 1 at

September 2013

Wellesley Isl. SP (Dacol) 12Jun; 1 near

Perch River WMA, NY (Young) 16Jun; 1

at Limerick Cedars Preserve (Dashnau)

9Jul.

Mourning Warbler: 1 at Canoe Lake Rd.

(Blancher) 4Jun; 1 at Sand Gulley Rd.

(Grooms) 5Jun; 1 at Opinicon Rd. (Bell)

17Jun; 1 at Queen’s University

Biological Station (Conboy) 15Jul.

Prairie Warbler: 1-2 at Charleston Lake

PP (Robinson & Wood) 5Jun-9Jul; 2 at

Chaumont Barrens Preserve (Young)

14Jun; 6 at Limerick Cedars Preserve

(Dashnau) 9Jul.

Orchard Oriole: 2 at Lemoine Pt. CA

(KFN) 1-30Jun; 1-2 Amherst Isl.

(Hennige & Read) 9-10Jun; 3 at Perch

River WMA (Young) 15Jun.

Pine Siskin: 1 at Main Duck Isl. (Gilbert

& Martin) 9Jun.

Observers: David Bell, Emily Bird, Peter

Blancher, Mark Conboy, Dalcio Dacol,

Gregg Dashnau, Brenda Evers, Barrie

Gilbert, Chris Grooms, Kurt Hennige,

Paul Mackenzie, Paul Martin, Mark

Read, North Leeds Birders, Chris

Robinson, Bryan Sabourin, Scott

Siegfried, Ron Weir, Ross Wood and

John Young. When KFN is cited, more

than three birders were involved in the

sighting.

Other species reported during the

summer season: Canada Goose, Mute

Swan, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American

Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard,

Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler,

Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser,

Common Merganser, Red-breasted

Merganser, Ring-necked Pheasant,

Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Common

Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested

Cormorant, American Bittern, Great

Blue Heron, Green Heron, Black-

crowned Night-Heron, Turkey Vulture,

Osprey, Northern Harrier, Sharp-

shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Bald

Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-

winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk,

Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Gallinule,

Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Spotted

Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater

Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Upland

Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper,

Least Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe,

American Woodcock, Wilson’s

Phalarope, Bonaparte’s Gull, Ring-billed

Gull, Herring Gull, Caspian Tern, Black

Tern, Common Tern, Rock Pigeon,

Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo,

Black-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Screech-

Owl, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl,

Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-

Poor-Will, Chimney Swift, Ruby-

throated Hummingbird, Belted

Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker,

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy

Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker,

Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker,

American Kestrel, Merlin, Eastern

Wood-Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Willow

Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Eastern

Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher,

Eastern Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike,

Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-headed

Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo,

Blue Jay, American Crow, Common

Raven, Northern Rough-winged

Swallow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow,

Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff

Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-


breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted

Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren,

Winter Wren, Marsh Wren, Blue-grey

Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Veery,

Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush,

American Robin, Grey Catbird, Brown

Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar

Waxwing, Ovenbird, Northern

Waterthrush, Golden-winged Warbler,

Black-and-white Warbler, Nashville

Warbler, Common Yellowthroat,

American Redstart, Cerulean Warbler,

Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler,

Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler,

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll

Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler,

Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler,

Black-throated Blue Warbler, Canada

Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Chipping

Sparrow, Clay-coloured Sparrow,

Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow,

Grasshopper Sparrow, Song Sparrow,

Swamp Sparrow, White-throated

Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Scarlet

Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Rose-

breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting,

Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird,

Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle,

Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore

Oriole, Purple Finch, House Finch,

American Goldfinch and House

Sparrow.

Sights and Sounds of the Roadside

Terry Sprague

We strike out at 5:30 every morning, my

dog and me. It is still quite dark, but

there are hints of daylight appearing on

the eastern horizon behind us. My

L.E.D. headlamp illuminates the road

ahead of us; a fluorescent safety vest

provides visibility for early commuters

heading our way, all of whom dim their

lights for us. They are a friendly bunch;

one morning a hand and a hearty wave

stretched out through an open sunroof.

In the quiet moments between the two

or three cars I meet, there are other

sounds. It took a couple of weeks before

I realized that the three white-throated

sparrows were no longer serenading me

with their whistled notes. Neither was

the field sparrow. The sixty or so

bobolinks that occupied the four fields

of unharvested hay this summer have

disappeared. Even the eastern towhee

had quieted a bit. Now it is crows, blue

jays, and the occasional osprey. This

morning it was a raven, its croaking,

raucous notes drifting across the ash

and red cedar claimed fields from some

distant point.

Karate instructor Kenzo Dozono of

Belleville knows all about the offerings

of early morning; daybreak will usually

find him along the H. R. Frink Centre’s

marsh boardwalk, waiting, for both the

sun and that first Virginia rail to appear.

Early mornings are special, and those

who prefer to miss them are losing out

on the best of Nature.

As I walk along, there is the occasional

explosive call of a fox from deep within

the oaks and hickories. I now know it is

a fox as I have heard it for two or three

years, not really knowing for sure its

identity. So curious about the unusual

call was I one morning last year that I

September 2013

actually went off in search of it, not

knowing for certain what might turn up

in my headlamp as I felt my way

through the dark woods. I was

beginning to question my decision, as

even seasoned naturalists tend to be a

bit leery of places they don’t yet

understand, and a dense woods in total

darkness is one of them. Then, in my

headlamp, I saw it: the fox skittering

along the edge of a fenceline separating

the woods from the open field.

Sounds change as the season advances.

These days, it is the chorus of crickets,

grasshoppers and other insects whose

voices and identity I am not sure of. It

has been a few years since I last heard

the raspy drawn out notes of a katydid.

I try to imagine what kind of

information these insects are

exchanging. Is my presence part of the

conversation or are they giving

directions to food?

The crickets have been singing all night

– the males are the songsters. They rub

their wings together dragging a small

peg on one wing across a row of ridges

on the other. Think of it as someone

dragging their fingernail down the teeth

of a comb, one tooth at a time. We don’t

hear these individual clicks, as they are

produced too quickly for our mediocre

ears to detect. What we hear is a chirp,

one we know well from crickets making

their way into our homes right now. The

sound would need to be slowed down

electronically to pick up the individual

notes that make up that chirp.

As the morning darkness gives way to

rising sun, it is not so much the sounds

as it is the sights taking form in the dim

light. The fog enshrouded silky nests of

fall webworms sparkle against the rising

sun. These are not tent caterpillars.

What we are seeing now occurs much

later in the season. Tent caterpillars

appear in early spring as the leaves are

emerging. Note their webbed nests, too.

The communal nests of fall webworms

are placed closer to the ends of

branches, while those of spring tent

caterpillars are concentrated farther

back, in the crotches of branches. Both

are notorious defoliators, but the

damage from fall webworm is more

cosmetic since it occurs toward the end

of the growing season when leaves have

all but ceased their functionality. You

may have seen the lozenge-shaped pupa

scattered about – hard structures and

rather pointed at one end, somewhat

like the chrysalis of a Monarch butterfly,

but reddish-brown in colour. The fall

webworm turns into a fall webworm

moth, about as nondescript as its name.

`

Spider Web Photo by Kenzo Dozono


As autumn advances and the leaves

begin to fall, other things take shape.

The abandoned nests of birds that I have

passed beneath or beside every

morning, not even realizing they were

present. Nesting birds are wisely

secretive during the critical breeding

season. There are cowbirds out there,

and predators. They can’t take a chance

on our intentions; I am viewed with

suspicion, so they remain hidden, or

direct my attention elsewhere with

distractions. In the fall, I am of no

interest to them.

Every walk is different and new things

emerge as the season advances. I have

already noted the absence of some early

morning songsters. The fisher is still

here, and I see him occasionally crossing

the road, opportunistically seeking out

any prey that may be foolishly off-

guard. One morning, much later, a

marked drop in temperature will signal

the end of the insects and their voices

will cease, replaced by the ‘check’ call-

notes of yellow-rumped warblers as

they clean up any remaining spiders in

the prickly ash.

The season progresses, almost on cue,

one aspect of the natural world that our

meddling hands are unable to stop.

Despite our bumbling attempts to

control nature, the leaves will still turn,

the blue of New England aster and the

graceful plumes of goldenrod will

continue to forge ahead, and November

will be upon us with its own special

attributes. To enjoy it, we just need to

leave our portable music devices and

earphones behind and pay attention to

the sights and music that are ours at no

charge, if we just take time to observe

and listen.

Terry Sprague is a professional naturalist,

free-lance writer and KFN member who

lives in Prince Edward County.

The Great Canadian BioBlitz of 2013

Anne Robertson

The purpose of a BioBlitz is to list as

many plant and animal species as

possible in a 24-hour period at a selected

site, giving a snapshot of its

biodiversity. This one-day inventory of

living things provides a baseline for

observing future changes that could

occur due to global warming or invasive

species. Amateur and professional

naturalists join forces to spot and

identify species and to educate each

other and the public about the diversity

of the location.

The 15th annual BioBlitz of the KFN was

held on the Depot Creek Nature

Reserve, a property of the Land

Conservancy for Kingston, Frontenac,

Lennox & Addington. The 72-acre

property has wetland, woodland and

open areas, providing habitat for a

variety of plants and animals. The

weather was perfect and relatively few

mosquitoes were encountered!

Participants parked at the road and

walked across the meadow to reach the

base tent, where registration and the

September 2013

BBQ took place and the guided walks

began. Five groups camped on the

adjacent property of Kim Ondaatje, a

very helpful local resident.

Sixty-two field observers spread over

the property from 3pm June 14, to 3pm

June 15, collecting information on

everything from early-morning birds to

night-time moths and from woodland

slugs to wetland Red-bellied Leeches.

Participants included Kingston Field

Naturalists (about 35), professionals,

neighbours and youth. A party from

Deep River came to help us list species.

Guided walks were available to the

public on a variety of natural history

themes. Topics included live trap and

release of small mammals, bird

identification and snake hunting as well

as moth, butterfly, and dragonfly listing

and pond dipping.

An astronomy session proved to be of

great interest, although it did not add

species to our lists. This dark-sky site

enabled people to have spectacular

sightings with the telescope provided. A

delicious BBQ was held at noon on

Saturday and prizes were presented for

answering quiz questions. Volunteers

were thanked and the Land

Conservancy presented with a bat

roosting box for allowing us use of the

site. The box made by KFN member

Lynn Bell has been installed.

An exciting sighting was our only

Ontario lizard species: a Five-lined

Skink seen by many. The southern

Shield population of Skinks is listed as

being of Special Concern. (The

Carolinian population is Endangered).

A mature male skink was seen on the

property a few days prior to the Blitz; a

young or female specimen (with blue

tail) was seen later. Three of seven turtle

species in Eastern Ontario were seen.

Musk Turtle and Blanding’s Turtle are

Species At Risk; the Midland Painted

Turtle is not. Finding a Pike in the Cattle

Pond was a surprise, leading to

speculation as to how it got there.

Bird sightings were representative of the

Lands Between, i.e. some Shield species

and some open field species such as

Meadowlark and Bobolink, aerial

insectivores and Species At Risk mostly

because of the habitat loss. Common

Nighthawk and Whip-poor-will were

heard, and a Bluebird was found

nesting in a natural cavity.

The young and not-so-young enjoyed

dipping in a beaver pond for small

animals to add to other invertebrates,

including species that entered live traps

left in the water overnight. Invertebrates

included Moustached Clubtail and Ashy

Clubtail dragonflies (new to KFN list) as

well as the rare Lilypad Clubtail and

Horned Clubtail. These Clubtails are

found near running water. A Leopard

Guided Walk Photo by Gaye Beckwith


Moth and a Baltimore Checkerspot were

nice finds as were nine species of Flower

Fly including Sericomyia lata.

Plants represented half of species seen,

and included trees and shrubs, grasses,

sedges and other flowering herbaceous

species. This is a big job; we are grateful

to those who found and identified them.

Several Butternut trees were seen and a

Bristly Greenbrier was a special

sighting. Some non-vascular plants

(which include mosses and lichens)

were recorded and a few Fungi named.

Nighttime activities allowed the

addition of species more active after

dark and included one bat observation

(with bat detector), owl calling and

moth identification. Overnight Whip-

poor-wills (a Species Of Concern) were

heard and the Bullfrog calls were

deafening! (The largest Bullfrog

weighed was 265grams!)

There were relatively few specimens of

invasive species, indicating the lack of

disturbance at this site. No Garlic

Mustard, European Buckthorn or Wild

Parsnip was recorded and the presence

of Dog-strangling Vine was minimal.

The final tally was 7 mammal species, 70

birds, 10 reptiles and amphibians, and

12 fish for a total of 99 vertebrates.

Thirty-one dragonflies and damselflies,

23 species of butterflies, 64 moth species

were among the total of 227 invertebrate

species, a third of the total species.

Seventeen ferns and allies were

recorded and the final tally of trees,

shrubs and herbaceous plants including

grasses and sedges is 345, half of the

species. A few non-vascular plants and

Fungi brought the total to a wonderful

691 species for this one day inventory of

the property, the second best tally for a

KFN BioBlitz.

Thanks to those who made this BioBlitz

possible, including the committee,

registration team, walk leaders, species

listers and tally compilers. We hope that

future generations will also have the

thrill of finding as much variety of life in

this area in one day.

The following tally has mostly been

organized with scientific names of

species in alphabetical order within

families organized in taxonomic order.

It was collated by several individuals

and names have been updated as far as

possible. Common names used are

taken from sources including NHIC

(Natural Heritage Information Centre)

and field guides. Alien plants are

indicated by *, and alternative common

names of plants included in brackets.

Moths are listed by Hodges number.

.

Sericomyia lata Photo by Kurt

Hennige

September 2013

Vertebrates

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME

MAMMALS

VESPERTILIONIDAE BATS

Bat sp.

LEPORIDAE RABBITS & HARES

Sylvilagus floridanus

mearnsii Eastern Cottontail

SCIURIDAE SQUIRRELS

Tamias striatus lysteri Chipmunk

Tamiasciurius

hudsonicus loquax Red Squirrel

Marmota monax

rufescens Woodchuck

MUSTELIDAE WEASELS

Mustela vison vison Mink

CERVIDAE DEER

Odocoileus viginianus

borealis White-tailed deer

BIRDS

GAVIIDAE LOONS

Gavia immer Common Loon

ARDEIDAE HERONS & BITTERNS

Botaurus lentiginosus American Bittern

Ardea herodius Great Blue Heron

ANATIDAE

SWANS, GEESE, &

DUCKS

Branta canadensis Canada Goose

Aix sponsa Wood Duck

Anas platyrhynchos Mallard

CATHARTIDAE VULTURES

Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture


ACCIPITRIDAE

HAWKS FALCONS &

EAGLES

Pandion haliaetus Osprey

Buteo jamaicensis Red-tailed Hawk

TETRAONIDAE GROUSE

Bonasa umbellus Ruffed Grouse

SCOLOPACIDAE

WOODCOCK, SNIPE,

SANDPIPERS

Capella gallinago Wilson Snipe

Philohila minor American Woodcock

COLUMBIDAE DOVES

Zenaida macroura Mourning Dove

Columba livia Rock Pigeon

CUCULIDAE CUCKOOS

Coccyzus americanus Yellow-billed Cuckoo

STRIGIDAE OWLS

Strix varia Barred Owl

CAPRIMULGIDAE GOATSUCKERS

Chordeiles minor Common Nighthawk

Caprimulgus vociferus Whip-poor-will

TROCHILIDAE HUMMINGBIRDS

Archilochus colubris

Ruby-throated

Hummingbird

ALCEDINIDAE KINGFISHERS

Megaceryle alcyon Belted Kingfisher

PICIDAE WOODPECKERS

Sphyrapicus varius

Yellow-bellied

Sapsucker

Picoides pubescens Downy Woodpecker

Picoides villosus Hairy Woodpecker

Colaptes auratus Northern Flicker

Dryocopus pileatus Pileated Woodpecker



TYRANNIDAE FLYCATCHERS

Contopus virens Eastern Wood Pewee

Empidonax minimus Least Flycatcher

Sayornis phoebe Eastern Phoebe

Myiarchus crinitus

Great-crested

Flycatcher

Tyrannus tyrannus Eastern Kingbird

HIRUNDINIDAE SWALLOWS

Iridoprocne bicolor Tree Swallow

CORVIDAE JAYS AND CROWS

Cyanocitta cristata Blue Jay

Corvus brachyrhynchos American Crow

Corvus corax Common Raven

PARIDAE TITMICE

Parus atricapillus

Black-capped

Chickadee

SITTIDAE NUTHATCHES

Sitta carolinensis

White-breasted

Nuthatch

TROGLODYTIDAE WRENS

Troglodytes aedon House Wren

SYLVIINAE

KINGLETS &

GNATCATCHERS

Polioptila caerulea Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

TURDINAE

THRUSHES &

BLUEBIRDS

Sialia sialis Eastern Bluebird

Catharus fuscescens Veery

Turdus migratorius American Robin

MIMIDAE MIMICS

Dumetella carolinensis Gray Catbird

Toxostoma rufum Brown Thrasher

BOMBYCILLIDAE WAXWINGS

Bombycilla cedrorum Cedar Waxwing


STURNIDAE STARLINGS

Sturnus vulgaris European Starling

VIREONIDAE VIREOS

Vireo olivaceus Red-eyed Vireo

PARULINAE WOOD WARBLERS

Vermivora chrysoptera

Golden-winged

Warbler

Dendroica petechia Yellow Warbler

Dendroica pensylvanica

Chestnut-sided

Warbler

Dendroica virens

Black-throated Green

Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Black-and-White

Warbler

Setophaga ruticilla American Redstart

Seiurus aurocapillus Ovenbird

Geothlypis trichas Common Yellowthroat

THRAUPINAE TANAGERS

Piranga olivacea Scarlet Tanager

CARDINALINAE CARDINALS, ALLIES

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Rose-breasted

Grosbeak

Passerina cyanea Indigo Bunting

EMBERIZINAE

SPARROWS AND

BUNTINGS

Pipilo erythropthalmus Eastern Towhee

Spizella passerina Chipping Sparrow

Spizella pusilla Field Sparrow

Passerculus

sandwichensis Savannah Sparrow

Melospiza melodia Song Sparrow

Melospiza georgiana Swamp Sparrow

September 2013


ICTERINAE

MEADOWLARKS &

BLACKBIRDS

Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink

Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird

Sturnella magna Eastern Meadowlark

Quiscalus quicula Common Grackle

Molothrus ater

Brown-headed

Cowbird

Icterus galbula Baltimore Oriole

FRINGILLIDAE FINCHES

Carduelis tristis American Goldfinch

REPTILES

KINOSTERNIDAE

MUSK AND MUD

TURTLES

Sternotherus odoratus Common Musk Turtle

EMYDIDAE

POND AND MARSH

TURTLES

Chrysemys picta Midland Painted Turtle

Emydoidea blandingi Blanding's Turtle

SCINCIDAE SKINKS

Eumeces fasciatus Five-lined Skink

COLUBRIDAE TYPICAL SNAKES

Thamnophis sirtalis Common Garter Snake

Nerodia sipedon Northern Water Snake

AMPHIBIANS

HYLIDAE TREEFROGS

Hyla versicolor Gray Treefrog


RANIDAE TRUE FROGS

Rana pipiens Northern Leopard Frog

Rana clamitans Green Frog

Rana catesbiana Bull Frog

FISH

FUNDULIDAE

Fundulus diaphanus Banded Killifish

CENTRARCHIDAE

Lepomis gibbosus Pumpkinseed

Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill

Ambloplites rupestris Rock Bass

PERCIDAE

Perca flavescens Yelow Perch

Etheostoma nigrum Johnny Darter

ICTALURIDAE

Ameiurus nebulosus Brown Bullhead

CYPRINIDAE

Pimephales promelas Fathead Minnow

Notropis cornutus Common Shiner

Semolitus atromaculatus Creek Chub

Chrosomus eos

Northern Redbelly

Dace

ESOCIDAE

Esox sp. Northern Pike


Invertebrates


INSECTA INSECTS

Ephemeroptera Mayflies

Caenis sp. Small Squaregills

Tricorythodes sp. Little Stout Crawlers

Odonata Dragon & Damselflies

Zygoptera Damselflies

Lestes inaequalis Elegant Spreadwing

Calopteryx maculata Powdered Dancer

Enallagma ebrium Marsh Bluet

Ischnura posita Fragile Forktail

Ischnura verticalis Eastern Forktail

Nehalennia irene Sedge Sprite

Lestidae family

Spreadwinged

damselfly nymph

Calopterygidae family

Green Spreadwing

damselfly nymph

Anisoptera Dragonflies

Aeshnidae Darners

Anax junius

Common Green

Darner

Basiaeschna janata Springtime Darner

Gomphidae Clubtails

Arigomphus cornutus* Horned Clubtail

Gomphus adelphus*Pr Moustached Clubtail

Gomphus exilis Lancet Clubtail

Gomphus lividus* Ashy Clubtail

Hagenius brevistylus Dragonhunter

Corduliieae Emeralds

Dorocordulia libera* Racket-tailed Emerald

Epitheca canis Beaverpond Baskettail

Epitheca cynosura Common Baskettail

Epitheca princeps Prince Baskettail

Libelluldeae Skimmers

Erythemis simplicicollis Common Pondhawk

Ladona (Libellula) julia

Chalk-fronted

Corporal

Leucorrhinia frigida* Frosted Whiteface

Leucorrhinia hudsonica* Hudsonian Whiteface


Leucorrhinia intacta Dot-tailed Whiteface

Leucorrhinia proxima Belted Whiteface

Libellula incesta Slaty Skimmer

Libellula luctuosa Widow Skimmer

Libellula pulchella

Twelve-spotted

Skimmer

Libellula quadrimaculata Four-spotted Skimmer

Pachydiplax longipennis Blue Dasher

Plathemis (Libellulua)

lydia Common Whitetail

Plecoptera Stoneflies

Plecoptera sp. Stonefly nymph

Orthoptera

Grasshoppers,

Katydids and Crickets

Nemoblinae Ground Cricket

Acrididae

Short-horned

Grasshopper

Chortophaga

viridifasciata

Northern Green-

striped Grasshopper

Gomphocerinae sp.

Slant-faced

Grasshopper

Gryllus sp. Field Cricket

Blattodea Roaches

Periplaneta americana American Cockroach

Hemiptera True Bugs

Lygus lineolaris Tarnished Plant Bug

Perillus bioculatus Two-spotted Stinkbug

Acrosternum hilare Green Stinkbug

Lygaeus kalmi Small Milkweed Bug

Oncopeltus fasciatus Large Milkweed Bug

Cedusa sp. Derbid Planthopper

Corixidae family Water Boatman

Notonectidae family Backswimmer

Gerridae family Water Strider

Nepidae family Water Bug nymph

Paraprociphilus

tessellates Wooly Alder Aphid

Aphrophora cribrasta Pine Spittlebug

September 2013


Neuroptera

Dobsonflies,

Lacewings, Antlions

and Relatives

Chrysopidae sp. Green lacewing

Sub group Megaloptera Fishflies

Nigronia serricornis Dark Fishfly

Chauliodes rasticornis Spring Fishfly

Coleoptera Beetles and Weevils

Macrodactylus

subspinosus Rose Chafer

Chrysomela sp Leaf Beetle

Galerucini sp. Leaf Beetle

Agriotes sp. Click Beetle

Propylea

quatuordecimpunctata

Fourteen-spotted Lady

Beetle

Pyropyga sp. Firefly

Lucidota atra Black Firefly

Labidomera clivicollis Milkweed Leaf Beetle

Pedilus sp. Fire-coloured Beetle

Baridinae sp. Flower Weevil

Myrmex sp. Black Weevil

Tetraopes tetrophthalmus Red Milkweed Beetle

Donacia sp. Lilypad Beetle

Dytiscidae family

Predaceous Diving

Beetle

Gyrinidae family Whirligig Beetle

Hydrophilidae Water Scavenger Beetle

Mecoptera

Scorpion Flies and

Hanging Flies

Mecoptera sp. Scorpion Fly

Trichoptera Caddisflies

Misstacides Caddisfly

Macrostemum zebratum Zebra Caddisfly

Nectopsyche exquisita White Miller type

Lepidoptera

Butterflies, Moths and

Skippers

Anatrytone logan Delaware Skipper

Ancyloxypha numitor Least Skipper

Basilarchia archippus Viceroy

Basilarchia arthemis White Admiral


Carterocephalus

palaemon Arctic Skipper

Coenonympha tullia Common Ringlet

Colias philodice Clouded Sulphur

Erynnis juvenalis Juvenal's Dusky Wing

Euphydryas phaeton Baltimore Checkerspot

Glaucopsyche lygdamus

coup Silvery Blue

Hesperia sassacus Indian Skipper

Hyllolycaena hyllus Bronze Copper

Megisto cymela Little Wood Satyr

Papilio cresphontes Giant Swallowtail

Papilio polyxenes

asterous Black Swallowtail

Phyciodes cocyta Northern Crescent

Poanes hobomok Hobomok Skipper

Polites themistocles Tawny Edged Skipper

Pterorous glaucus

canadensis

Canadian Tiger

Swallowtail

Thorybes pylades Northern Cloudy Wing

Thymelicus lineola European Skipper

Vanessa virginiensis

American Painted

Lady

Wallengrenia egeremet Northern Broken Dash

Moths arranged by Hodges number

Ennomos subsignaria Elm Spanworm

Psyche casta Common Bagworm

Bibarrambia alenella Bog Bibarrambia

Olethreutes glaciana Frosty Olethreutes

Eucosma tocullionana White Pine Cone Borer

Choristoneura rosaceana

Oblique-banded

Leafroller

Clepsis persicana White-triangle Clepsis

Scoparia biplagialis

Double-striped

Scoparia

Elophila gyralis Waterlily Borer

Parapoynx maculalis Pondweed Moth

Crambus saltuellus Pasture Grass-Veneer

Agriphila sp. Vagabond Sod Moth

big white one Plume Moth 1

smaller brown one Plume Moth 2

Macaria sp. Angle sp.

Iridopsis humaria Small Purplish Gray

Eufidonia notataria Powder Moth



Hupagyrtis unipunctata One-spot Variant

Euchlaena irraria

Least Marked

Euchlaena

Phaeoura quernaria Oak Beauty

Campaea perlata Pale Beauty

Metarranthis sp. Metarranthis

Cepphis armataria Scallopwing

Probole sp. Probole

Plagodis serinaria Lemon Plagodis

Tetracis cachexiata White Slant-Line

Dichorda iridaria Showy Emerald

Chlorochlamy

chloroleucaria Blackberry Looper

Horisme intestinata Brown Bark Carpet

Eupithecia sp. Pug sp.

Heterophleps refusaria Three-Patch Bigwing

Actias luna Luna Moth

Nadata gibbosa

White-dotted

Prominent

Hyperaeschra georgica Georgian Prominent

Pheosia rimosa

Black-rimmed

Prominent

Narice bidentata

Double-toother

Prominent

Ellida caniplaga Linden Prominent

Heterocampa sp. Heterocampa sp.

Clemensia albata

Little White Lichen

Moth

Pyrrharctic isabella Isabella Tiger Moth

Spilosoma dubia Dubious Tiger Moth

Spilosoma virginica Virginia Tiger Moth

Hyphantria cunea Fall Webworm

Hypercompe scribonia Giant Leopard Moth

Lophocampa caryae Hickory Tussock Moth

Euchaetes egle

Milkweed Tussock

Moth

Ctenucha virginica Virginia Ctenucha

(Bomolocha) Hypena

manalis Flowing-line Snout

Zanclognatha sp. Fanfoot

Zale horrida Horrid Zale

Caenurgina sp. Forgage Looper type

Paileya ophthalmica Eyed Baileya

Homophoberia apicosa Black Wedge-spot

Leuconycta diphteroides Green Leuconycta


Colocasia flavicornis Saddled Yellowhorn

Colocasia propinquilinea

Close-banded

Yellowhorn

Acronicta sp. Streaked Dagger type

Nedra ramosula Grey Half-spot

Balsa trigigella Three-lined Balsa

Elaphria alapallida Pale-winged Midget

Ochropleura implecta Flame-shouldered Dart

Condica videns

White-dotted

Groundling Moth

Chrysoteuchia topiarius

Topiary Grass-veneer

Moth

Malacosoma americanum

Eastern Tent

Caterpillar

Diptera True Flies

Vitisiella brevicauda Grape Gall Midge

Gymnopterus sp Long-legged Fly

Dolichopus sp. Long-legged Fly

Chrysops sp. Deer Fly

Sciomyzidae sp. Marsh Fly

Tachinidae sp. Parasitic Fly

Calliphoridae sp. Blow Fly

Empididae sp. Dance Fly

Muscidae sp. Muscid Fly

Microdon sp. Flower Fly

Toxomerus marginatus Flower Fly

Toxomerus geminatus Flower Fly

Eristalis sp. Flower Fly

Eristalis transversa Flower Fly

Sphaerophoria sp. Flower Fly

Syrphus grossularria Flower Fly

Sericomyia lata Flower Fly

Temnostoma alternus Flower Fly

Hemipenthes sp. Bee Fly

Scarophagidae sp. Flesh Fly

Atrichopogon sp. Biting Midge

Dioctria hyalipennis Robber Fly

Laphria thoracica Robber Fly

Rhagionidae Snipe Fly

Tipulidae sp 1 Crane Fly

Tipulidae sp 2 Crane Fly

September 2013


Hymenoptera

Ants, Bees, Sawflies

and Wasps

Xylocopa virginica Eastern Carpenter Bee

Ancistrocerus antilope Mason Wasp

Bombus imaptiens

Common Eastern

Bumblebee

Melandrena sp. Andrenid Bee

Andrena crataegi Andrenid Bee

Megachilidae sp. Leafcutter Bee

Myrmicinae sp. Crematogater Ant

Philanthinae Bee Wolf

Chalybio californicus Blue Mud Dauber

Tenthredinidae sp. Sawfly

Lasioglossura sp. Sweat Bee

Orussus sp. Parasitic Wood Wasp

Chalcidoidea sp. Chalcid Wasp

Ichneumonidae sp. Ichneumon Wasp

Netelia sp. Ichneumon Wasp

OTHER INVERTEBRATES

Phylum Arthropoda

Chilipoda Centipedes

Lithobiomorpho sp. Centipede

Diplapoda Millipedes

Narceus americanus Millipede

Arachnida Arachnids

Araneae Spiders

Dolomedes triton

Six-spotted Jumping

Spider

Eris millitaris Jumping Spider

Pisaurina sp. Nursery Web Spider

Acari Mites and Ticks

Vasates aceriscrumena Maple Spindlegall Mite

Eriophyes ulmi Elm finger Gall Mite

Eriophyes padi

Cherry Spindlegall

Mite

Acalitus fagerinea Beech Erineum Mite

Hydrachna sp. Red Water Mite

Acari sp (aquatic) Striped Leg Mite

Hydrachna sp. Brown Water Mite


Crustacea

Isopoda Isopods

Porcello spinicornis Pillbug

Cladocera Water Fleas

Chydoridae family

Chydorid sp. Chydorid water flea

Daphniidae Family

Ceriodaphnia sp.

Ceriodaphnia water

flea

Phylum Rotifera Wheel animals

Brachionus sp.

Keratella sp.

Phylum Mollusca Molluscs

Gastropoda Snails

Pulmonate Snail

Orb shell (operculum

absent)

Prosobranch Snail (Gilled

Snails)

Gilled snail (cone shell

and operculum)

Bivalvia Clams, Mussels

Sphaeriidae family Pea or Fingernail Clam

Elliptio complanata

Eastern Elliptio/ Fresh

Water Clam

Phylum Annelida Segmented Worms

Hirudnea Leeches

Helobdella sp. Leech

Haemopsis sp. Horse Leech

Tubifex sp. Sludge Worm


Vascular Plants


LYCOPODIACEAE CLUBMOSS FAMILY

Diphasiastrum digitatum Fan Clubmoss

Diphasiastrum tristachyum Ground Cedar

Lycopodium clavatum Running Pine

Lycopodium obscurum Ground-pine

EQUISETACEAE HORSETAIL FAMILY

Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail

Equisetum hyemale Common Scouring-rush

Equisetum sylvaticum Woodland Horsetail

OPHIOGLOSSACEAE

ADDERS-TONGUE

FAMILY

Botrychium virginianum Rattlesnake Fern

OSMUNDACEAE

FLOWERING FERN

FAMILY

Osmunda regalis Royal Fern

POLYPODIACEAE FERN FAMILY

Athyrium filix-femina Lady Fern

Dryopteris goldiana Goldie's Wood Fern

Dryopteris intermedia Evergreen Wood Fern

Dryopteris marginalis Marginal Shield Fern

Dryopteris spinulosa Spinulose Wood Fern

Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern

Polypodium virginianum Rock Polypody

Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Fern

Thelypteris palustris Marsh Fern

TAXACEAE YEW FAMILY

Taxus canadensis Canada Yew

PINACEAE PINE FAMILY

Picea glauca White Spruce

Pinus strobus White Pine

Tsuga canadensis Eastern Hemlock

CUPRESSACEAE CYPRESS FAMILY

Juniperus communis Common Juniper

Juniperus virginiana Eastern Red Cedar

Thuja occidentalis Eastern White Cedar


TYPHACEAE CATTAIL FAMILY

Typha angustifolia Narrow-leaved Cattail

Typha latifolia Broad-leaved Cattail

SPARGANIACEAE BUR-REED FAMILY

Sparganium sp. Bur-reed sp.

Sparganium eurycarpum Giant Bur-reed

NAJADACEAE NAIAD FAMILY

Najas flexilis Bushy Naiad

POTAMOGETONACEAE PONDWEED FAMILY

Potamogeton pectinatus Sago Pondweed

ALISMATACEAE

WATER-PLANTAIN

FAMILY

Alisma plantago-aquatica Water Plantain

Sagittaria latifolia Broad-leaved Arrowhead

Sagittaria rigida

Sessile-friuted

Arrowhead

HYDROCHARITACEAE FROG'S-BIT FAMILY

Elodea canadensis Canada Water-weed

Hydrocharis morsus-ranae* Frog's-bit

GRAMINEAE GRASS FAMILY

Bromus inermis* Smooth Brome

Calamagrostis canadensis Canada Bluejoint

Dactylis glomerata* Orchard Grass

Danthonia spicata Poverty Oat-Grass

Glyceria striata Fowl Manna Grass

Oryzopsis asperifolia

White-grained Mountain-

Rice

Panicum virgatum Old Switch Panic Grass

Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary Grass

Phleum pratense* Timothy

Poa compressa* Canada Blue Grass

Poa palustris Fowl Bluegrass

Poa pratensis Kentucky Blue-Grass

Schedonorus pratensis Meadow Fescue

Schizachne purpurascens Purple Oat Grass

September 2013


CYPERACEAE SEDGE FAMILY

Carex aquatilis Grant's Sedge

Carex arctata Black Sedge

Carex bebbii Bebb's Sedge

Carex blanda Woodland Sedge

Carex cansecens White Sedge

Carex communis Beech Sedge

Carex crinita Fringed Sedge

Carex echinata Prickly Sedge

Carex gracillima Graceful Sedge

Carex granularis Meadow Sedge

Carex hystericina Pocupine Sedge

Carex intumescens Bladder Sedge

Carex lacustris Lake Sedge

Carex lupulina Hop Sedge

Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania Sedge

Carex plantaginea Plantain-leaved Sedge

Carex platyphylla Broad-leaved Sedge

Carex rosea Rosy Sedge

Carex scoparia Pointed Broomsedge

Carex stipata Stalk-grain Sedge

Carex stricta Tussock Sedge

Carex tenera

Wedge-fruited Oval

Sedge

Carex vulpinoidea Fox Sedge

Eleocharis smallii Creeping Spike-rush

Scirpus atrovirens Blue-stemmed Bulrush

Scirpus cyperinus Wool Grass

Scirpus fluviatilis Bulrush

Scirpus pendulus Pendulous Bulrush

ARACEAE ARUM FAMILY

Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the -pulpit

Calla palustris Water Arum

LEMNACEAE DUCKWEED FAMILY

Lemna minor Common Duckweed

Spirodela polyrhiza Larger Duckweed

Wolffia columbiana Watermeal

ERIOCAULACEAE PIPEWORT FAMILY

Eriocaulon septangulare Pipewort


PONTEDERIACEAE

PICKEREL-WEED

FAMILY

Pontederia cordata Pickerel-weed

Heteranthera dubia Mud Plantain

JUNCAEAE RUSH FAMILY

Juncus effusus Soft Rush

Juncus filiformis Rush

Juncus tenuis Path Rush

LILIACEAE LILY FAMILY

Erythronium americanum Trout-lily, Yellow

Maianthemuem canadense Canada Mayflower

Maianthemum racemosum False Soloman's Seal

Polygonatum biflorum Smooth Solomon's Seal

Polygonatum pubescens Hairy Solomon's Seal

Smilax herbacea Carrion flower

Smilax tamnoides Bristly Greenbriar

Trillium erectum Red Trillium

Trillium grandiflorum White Trillium

Uvularia grandiflora Large-flowered Bellwort

IRIDACEAE IRIS FAMILY

Iris versicolor Blue Flag

Sisyrinchium mucronatum Blue-eyed Grass

ORCHIDACEAE ORCHID FAMILY

Epipactis helleborine* Helleborine

SALICACEAE WILLOW FAMILY

Populus tremuloides Aspen Poplar

Salix amygdaloides Peach-leaved Willow

Salix bebbiana Beaked Willow

Salix discolor Pussy Willow

Salix lucida Shining Willow

Salix petiolaris Slender Willow

MYRICACEAE BAYBERRY FAMILY

Myrica gale Sweet Gale

JUGLANDACEAE WALNUT FAMILY

Carya cordiformis Bitternut Hickory

Carya ovata Shagbark Hickory

Juglans cinerea Butternut



BETULACEAE BIRCH FAMILY

Alnus incana Speckled Alder

Betula lutea Yellow Birch

Betula papyrifera White Birch

Carpinus caroliniana Blue Beech

Corylus cornuta Beaked Hazelnut

FAGACEAE BEECH FAMILY

Fagus grandifolia American Beech

Quercus rubra Red Oak

Quercus macrocarpa Bur Oak

Quercus alba White Oak

ULMACEAE ELM FAMILY

Ulmus rubra Red Elm

Ulmus thomasi Rock Elm

Ulmus americana White Elm

URTICACEAE NETTLE FAMILY

Boehmeria cylindrica False Nettle

Urtica dioica* Stinging Nettle

SANTALACEAE

SANDALWOOD

FAMILY

Comandra umbellata Bastard-Toadflax

POLYGONACEAE BUCKWHEAT FAMILY

Polygonum amphibium Water Smartweed

Polygonum persicaria Lady's thumb

Polygonum scandens

Climbing False

Buckwheat

Rumex orbiculaius Great Water Dock

Rumex acetosella* Sheep Sorrel

Rumex crispus* Curled Dock

Rumex verticillatus Water Dock

CHENOPODIACEAE GOOSEFOOT FAMILY

Chenopodium album* Lamb's-Quarters

CARYOPHYLLACEAE PINK FAMILY

Arenaria serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved Sandwort

Cerastium vulgatum Mouse-ear Chickweed

Dianthus armeria* Deptford Pink

Moehringia lateriflora Grove Sandwort

Stellaria graminea Lesser Stitchwort


Stellaria longifolia Long-leaved Chickweed

CERATOPHYLLACEAE HORNWORT FAMILY

Ceratophyllum demersum Common Coontail

NYMPHAEACEAE WATER-LILY FAMILY

Brasenia schreberi Water-shield

Nuphar variegatum Bullhead Lily

Nymphaea odorata

Fragrant White Water

Lily

RANUNCULACEAE CROWFOOT FAMILY

Actaea rubra Red Baneberry

Anemone canadensis Canada Anemone

Anemone cylindrica Long-fruited Anemone

Anemone quinquefolia Wood Anemone

Anemone virginiana

Riverbank Anemone

(Thimbleweed)

Aquilegia canadensis Columbine

Clematis virginiana Virgin's-bower

Hepatica acutiloba Sharp-lobed Hepatica

Ranunculus abortivus Kidney-leaved Buttercup

Ranunculus acris* Tall Buttercup

Thalictrum dasycarpum Purple Meadow-rue

Thalictrum dioicum Early Meadow-rue

Thalictrum pubescens Tall Meadow-rue

FUMARIACEAE FUMITORY FAMILY

Corydalis sempervirens Pale Corydalis

CRUCIFERAE MUSTARD FAMILY

Alyssum alyssoides Yellow Alyssum

Arabis glabra Tower Mustard

Arabis laevigata Smooth Rock Cress

Capsella bursa-pastoris* Shepherd's-purse

Erysimum cheiranthodes* Wormseed Mustard

Lepidium virginicum* Wild Peppergrass

Lepidium campestre Field Peppergrass

Lepidium densiflorum

Dense-flower Pepper-

grass

Rorippa palustris Marsh Yellow Cress

Thlaspi arvense* Field Penny-cress

SAXIFRAGACEAE SAXIFRAGE FAMILY

Mitella diphylla Bishop's-cap (Mitrewort)

September 2013


Mitella nuda Naked Mitrewort

GROSSULARIACEAE GOOSEBERRY FAMILY

Ribes americanum Black Currant

Ribes cynosbati PricklyGooseberry

Ribes hirtellum

Wild Gooseberry

(Smooth Gooseberry)

Ribes lacustre Swamp Gooseberry

ROSACEAE ROSE FAMILY

Agrimonia gryposepala Agrimony

Amelanchier arborea Downy Serviceberry

Amelanchier sanguinea

Round-leaved

Serviceberry

Crataegus sp. Hawthorn

Fragaria vesca Wood Strawberry

Fragaria virginiana Common Strawberry

Geum canadense White Avens

Malus sp. * Apple

Potentilla argentea* Silvery Cinquefoil

Potentilla inclinata Intermdiate Cinquefoil

Potentilla norvegica Rough Cinquefoil

Potentilla palustris Marsh Cinquefoil

Potentilla recta* Sulphur Cinquefoil

Potentilla simplex Common Cinquefoil

Prunus pensylvanica Pin Cherry

Prunus serotina Black Cherry

Prunus virginiana Choke Cherry

Rubus allegheniensis Common Blackberry

Rubus idaeus Wild Red Raspberry

Rubus occidentalis Black Raspberry

Rubus odoratus

Purple Flowering

Raspberry

Rubus pubescens Dwarf Raspberry

Spiraea alba Meadowsweet

Spiraea tomentosa Steeple-bush

Waldsteinia fragarioides Barren Strawberry

FABACEAE BEAN FAMILY

Lotus corniculatus* Bird's-foot Trefoil

Medicaga sativa* Alfalfa

Medicago lupulina* Black Medic

Melilotus alba* White Sweet Clover

Trifolium campestre Low Hop Clover

Trifolium hybridum* Alsike Clover


Trifolium pratense* Red Clover

Trifolium repens* White Clover

Vicia tetrasperma* Slender Vetch

Vicia cracca* Cow Vetch

GERANIACEAE GERANIUM FAMILY

Geranium robertianum Herb-robert

Geranium bicknelii Bicknell's Crane's Bill

OXALIDACEAE

WOOD-SORREL

FAMILY

Oxalis acetosella Wood-sorrel

Oxalis europea

European Yellow Wood-

sorrel

RUTACEAE RUE FAMILY

Zanthoxylum americanum Prickly-Ash

ANACARDIACEAE CASHEW FAMILY

Toxicodendron radicans Poison Ivy

Rhus typhina Staghorn Sumac

AQUIFOLIACEAE HOLLY FAMILY

Ilex verticillata Winterberry

CELASTRACEAE STAFF-TREE FAMILY

Celastrus scandens Climbing Bittersweet

ACERACEAE MAPLE FAMILY

Acer nigrum Black Maple

Acer rubrum Red Maple

Acer saccharinum Silver Maple

Acer saccharum Sugar Maple

BALSAMINACEAE

TOUCH-ME-NOT

FAMILY

Impatiens capensis Spotted Jewelweed

VITACEAE GRAPE FAMILY

Parthenocissus vitacea Virginia Creeper

Vitis riparia Riverbank Grape

TILIACEAE LINDEN FAMILY

Tilia americana Basswood



HYPERICACEAE

ST.JOHN'S-WORT

FAMILY

Hypericum perforatum* Spotted St.John's-wort

Hypericum punctatum Common St.John's-wort

Triadenum virginicum Marsh St.John's-wort

VIOLACEAE VIOLET FAMILY

Viola canadensis Canada Violet

Viola cucullata Marsh Blue Violet

Viola pubescens Yellow Violet

Viola sororia Woolly Blue Violet

LYTHRACEAE LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY

Decodon verticillatus Water Willow

Lythrum salicaria* Purple Loosestrife

ONAGRACEAE

EVENING-PRIMROSE

FAMILY

Circaea lutetiana Enchanter's Nightshade

Oenothera biennis

Common Evening

Primrose

HALORAGACEAE

WATER-MILFOIL

FAMILY

Proserpinaca palustris Mermaid Weed

ARALIACEAE GINSENG FAMILY

Aralia nudicaulis Wild Sarsaparilla

UMBELLIFERAE PARSLEY FAMILY

Cicuta bulbifera Bulbous Water Hemlock

Cicuta maculata Northern Water Hemlock

Daucus carota* Wild Carrot

Osmorrhiza claytoni Hairy Sweet Cicely

Sanicula marilandica Black Snakeroot

Sium suave Water Parsnip

CORNACEAE DOGWOOD FAMILY

Cornus alternifolia

Alternate-leaved

Dogwood

Cornus obliqua Silky Dogwood

Cornus candensis Bunchberry

Cornus racemosa Grey Dogwood

Cornus rugosa Round-leaved Dogwood

Cornus stolonifera Red-osier Dogwood


ERICACEAE HEATH FAMILY

Pyrola elliptica Shinleaf

PRIMULACEAE PRIMROSE FAMILY

Lysimachia ciliata Fringed Loosestrife

Lysimachia thyrsiflora Yellow Loosestrife

Trientalis borealis Starflower

OLEACEAE OLIVE FAMILY

Fraxinus americana White Ash

Fraxinus nigra Black Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica Red Ash

var. subintegerrima Green Ash

APOCYNACEAE DOGBANE FAMILY

Apocynum

androsaemifolium Spreading Dogbane

ASCLEPIADACEAE MILKWEED FAMILY

Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed

Cynanchum rossicum Dog Strangling Vine

CONVOLVULACEAE

MORNING-GLORY

FAMILY

Convolvulus sepium Hedge Bindweed

Cuscuta gronovii Swamp Dodder

BORAGINACEAE BORAGE FAMILY

Echium vulgare* Viper's Bugloss

VERBENACEAE VERVAIN FAMILY

Verbena hastata Blue Vervain

LABIATAE MINT FAMILY

Leonurus cardiaca* Motherwort

Lycopus americanus

Cut-leaved Water-

horehound

Lycopus uniflorus

Tuberous Water-

horehound (Bugleweed)

Lycopus virginicus Virginia Bugleweed

Mentha arvensis Field Mint

Mentha spicata Spearmint

Nepeta cataria* Catnip

Origanum vulgare* Wild Majoram

September 2013


Prunella vulgaris* Heal-all

SOLANAEAE NIGHTSHADE FAMILY

Solanum dulcamara* Bittersweet Nightshade

SCROPHULARIACEAE FIGWORT FAMILY

Linaria vulgaris*

Yellow Toadflax (Butter

and Eggs)

Verbascum thapsus* Common Mullein

Veronica arvensis Corn Speedwell

Veronica scutellata Marsh Speedwell

OROBANCHACEAE BROOM-RAPE FAMILY

Epifagus virginiana Beech-drops

PHRYMACEAE LOPSEED FAMILY

Phryma leptostachya Lopseed

PLANTAGINACEAE PLANTAIN FAMILY

Plantago major* Broad-leaved Plantain

Plantago rugelii* Rugel's Plantain

RUBIACEAE MADDER FAMILY

Cephalanthus occidentalis Buttonbush

Galium asprellum Rough Bedstraw

Galium circaezans Wild Licorice

Galium palustre Marsh Bedstraw

Galium trifidum Small Bedstraw

Galium triflorum Fragrant Bedstraw

Galium aparine Cleavers

Galium mollugo* Wild Madder

Mitchella repens Partidgeberry

CAPRIFOLIACEAE HONEYSUCKLE

Diervilla lonicera Bush Honeysuckle

Lonicera dioica Wild Honeysuckle

Lonicera tatarica* Tartarian Honeysuckle

Sambucus canadensis Common Elderberry

Sambucus racemosa Red-berried Elder

Viburnum acerifolium Maple-leaved Viburnum

Viburnum lentago Nannyberry

Viburnum rafinesquianum Downy Arrow-wood

COMPOSITAE COMPOSITE FAMILY

Achillea millefolium Yarrow

Ambrosia artemisiifolia Common Ragweed

Anaphalis margaritacea Pearly Everlasting

Antennaria neglecta Field Pussy-toes

Arctium minus* Common Burdock

Aster lanceolatus Panicled Aster

Aster umbellatus Flat-topped White Aster

Bidens frondosa Devil's Beggarticks

Carduus acanthoides* Plumeless Thistle

Chrysanthemum

leucanthemum* Ox-eye Daisy

Cirsium arvense* Canada Thistle

Cirsium vulgare* Bull Thistle

Conyza canadensis Horseweed

Erigeron annuus Annual (Daisy) Fleabane

Erigeron philadelphicus Philadelphia Fleabane

Eupatorium maculatum Spotted Joe-pye-weed

Eupatorium perfoliatum Boneset

Eurybia macrophyllus Large-leaved Aster

Euthamia graminifolia Grass-leaved Goldenrod

Hieracium aurantiacum* Orange Hawkweed

Hieracium caespitosum Field Hawkweed

Hieracium gronovii Hairy Hawkweed

Hieracium pilosella* Mouse-ear Hawkweed

Hieracium piloselloides* Smooth Hawkweed

Hieracium praealtum King Devil

Inula helenium* Elecampane

Lactuca canadensis Canada (Wild) Lettuce

Lapsana communis* Nipplewort

Prenanthes alba White-lettuce

Prenanthes altissima Tall White-Lettuce

Solidago caesia

Blue-stemmed

Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis Canada Goldenrod

Solidago flexicaulis Zigzag Goldenrod

Solidago juncea Early Goldenrod

Solidago nemoralis Gray Goldenrod

Solidago rugosa Rough Goldenrod

Symphyotrichum

cordifolius Heart-leaved Aster

Symphyotrichum

novae-angliae New England Aster

Taraxacum officinale* Common Dandelion

Tragopogon dubius Goat's-beard

Tragopogon pratensis* Meadow Goat's-beard


Non-Vascular Plants and Fungi


BRYOPHYTES MOSSES

Brachythecium sp Brachythecium Moss

Thuidium sp Thuidium Moss

Polytrichum sp Haircap Moss

Ptilium sp Plume Moss

Sphagnum sp Peat Moss

Dicranum sp Dicranium Moss

Leucobryum glaucum Leucobryum Moss

BRYOPHYTES LIVERWORTS

Liverwort

LICHEN

Cladina sp Reindeer Lichen

Physica or Parmelia sp

Umbelicaria sp Rock Tripe

FUNGI

Arthuriomyces peckianus Orange Berry Rust

Cerina unicolor Mossy Maze

Ganoderma applanatum Artist's Conk

Ganoderma tsugae Hemlock varnish shelf

Gumnosporangium

globosum Hawthorn Rust

Gymnosporangium

juniperi-virginianae Cedar-apple Rust

Polyporus sqamosus Dryad's saddle

Taphrina caerulescens Oak Leaf Blister

Xylaria polymorpha Deadman's fingers

Moustache Clubtail by David Bree

Topiary Grass Veneer Moth by

Oliver Reichl

September 2013

Winter Finch Forecast 2013-2014

Ron Pittaway, Ontario Field Ornithologists reprinted with permission

GENERAL FORECAST

This is not an irruption (flight) year for

winter finches, but there will be some

southward movement of most species

into their normal winter ranges.

Ontario’s cone crops (except white pine)

and deciduous seed/berry crops are

generally above average to excellent.

Very good to bumper spruce cone crops

extend across Canada’s boreal forest

from Yukon (bumper) east to Atlantic

Canada, with rare exceptions. Cone

crops are good to excellent (poor on

white pine) in central Ontario and

Laurentian Mountains in southern

Quebec with heavy crops extending east

through the Adirondack Mountains of

New York and northern New England

States. Birch, alder and mountain-ash

berry crops are good to excellent across

the boreal forest.

Most reporters said that finches were

thinly dispersed in their areas with few

concentrations noted, except for

southern Yukon which had abundant

Pine Siskins this past summer. Finches

this winter should be widespread given

the almost continent-wide extent of the

seed crops. Limited movements

southward to traditional wintering areas

such as Algonquin Park are expected.

See individual species forecasts below

for details on each species. Three

irruptive non-finch passerines whose

movements are linked to finches are also

discussed. Please note that the forecast

applies mainly to Ontario and the

Northeast.

FINCH TREES

The key trees affecting finch movements

in the Northeast are spruces, pines,

hemlock, birches and mountain-ashes.

Other trees normally play minor roles

unless their crops are bumper. This year

many tree species have spotty or patchy

crops with some trees being heavy with

cones or fruit while nearby trees of the

same species have few or no cones or

seeds. A similar patchy distribution is

evident on a larger scale, with stands

heavy with cones or seeds versus stands

in the next township or county that have

scanty crops.

INDIVIDUAL FINCH FORECASTS

PINE GROSBEAK

Most Pine Grosbeaks will remain in the

north this winter because

mountain‐ash berry crops are very

good to bumper across the boreal forest

from Alaska to the island of

Newfoundland. European mountain-

ash, crabapple and buckthorn have

heavy berry crops in southern Ontario

and elsewhere so if grosbeaks wander

south they will have plenty of food.

They prefer sunflower seeds at feeders,

often feeding on spilled seeds on the

ground.

PURPLE FINCH

In most years Purple Finches migrate

south of Ontario in the fall, but this

winter some should remain in the north

where tree seed crops are abundant.

They will likely visit sunflower seed

feeders and be attracted to heavy berry


crops on mountain-ashes, eating the

seeds not the flesh. Similar to the

Evening Grosbeak decline, Purple Finch

numbers dropped significantly after

1980 as major spruce budworm

outbreaks ended.

RED CROSSBILL

Small numbers are being reported in

Algonquin Park and northern Ontario

usually in pine stands. Red Pine cone

crops are fair to good in many areas, but

White Pine crops are poor with a few

exceptions such as around Temagami

just south of the boreal zone. Expect to

see a scattering of Red Crossbills where

pine, spruce and ornamental conifers

have good crops. Red Crossbills

comprise at least 10 “types” in North

America. Each type probably represents

a separate or recently evolving species.

The types are usually impossible to

identify without recordings of their

flight calls. Matt Young (may6 at

cornell.edu) of The Cornell Lab of

Ornithology will identify types for you

from recordings and this will help his

research. Most Type 3 crossbills from

last winter’s irruption have apparently

returned to their core range in the

Pacific Northwest. Matt says it is

important to monitor the distribution of

types in more “normal years” such as

this winter. This crossbill rarely goes to

feeders.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL

Spruce cone crops are generally good to

excellent from the Yukon east across the

boreal forest to the island of

Newfoundland. Large crops extend

south into the northern states. White-

winged Crossbills should be widely

dispersed this winter given the

enormity of the cone crops. Expect to

see this crossbill in Ontario’s Algonquin

Park, New York’s Adirondack

Mountains and in the northern New

England States. This crossbill usually

feeds on native conifers with small soft

cones such as white, red and black

spruces and hemlock. It normally avoids

the larger harder cones of pines. This

crossbill rarely goes to feeders.

COMMON REDPOLL

Most redpolls should stay in the north

this winter because birch, alder and

conifer seed crops are generally good

across the boreal forest. Some redpolls

should get south to usual southern parts

of their winter range such as the

Atlantic Provinces and Ontario’s

Algonquin Park (Latitude 45.5), where

redpolls have been recorded on 33 of 39

Algonquin Christmas Bird Counts. The

rare “Greater” Common Redpoll

(subspecies rostrata) from Baffin Island

and Greenland is not expected in the

south this winter. For reference photos

of “Greater” Common Redpolls see link

#4 below.

HOARY REDPOLL

The rare Hoary Redpoll is usually found

in flocks of Common Redpolls. It is not

expected in the south this winter

because this is not an irruption year for

redpolls. The “Southern” Hoary Redpoll

(exilipes) is the usual subspecies seen.

“Hornemann’s” Hoary Redpoll

(hornemanni) is a great rarity south of

the tundra even during irruption years.

PINE SISKIN: Siskins will winter across

the north because conifer crops (except

white pine) are excellent. They should

September 2013

be attracted to heavy cone crops in

southern Quebec’s Laurentian

Mountains, New York’s Adirondacks

and northern New England. Watch for

siskins on spruce and hemlock. They

prefer nyger seeds at feeders.

EVENING GROSBEAK

This big “eye-catching” golden grosbeak

should visit sunflower seed feeders

again this winter in Ontario and the

Northeast. Numbers are increasing due

to expanding spruce budworm

outbreaks in northern forests. However,

spraying to control budworms, if not

already occurring in some provinces,

will limit an increase in grosbeaks.

Breeding success is higher in areas with

budworm outbreaks because the

abundant larvae are eaten by adults and

fed to young. Evening Grosbeak

populations peaked during the 1940s to

1980s when massive budworm

outbreaks stretched across Canada. The

last Algonquin Christmas Bird Count

with very high numbers was the winter

of 1984/85 when 1474 Evening

Grosbeaks were found on the count

(Birds of Algonquin, Tozer 2012).

THREE IRRUPTIVE PASSERINES Movements of the following three

passerines are often linked to the boreal

finches.

BLUE JAY

Blue Jays move south in varying

numbers every fall beginning in mid-

September. This year expect a small to

moderate flight along the north

shorelines of Lakes Ontario and Erie

because the acorn, beechnut, hazelnut

and many soft mast crops are good to

excellent across central Ontario and

elsewhere. Interestingly, I found a Blue

Jay feather stuck on a hazelnut north of

Toronto on 11 August 2013. Good

numbers of Blue Jays should visit

feeders this winter in Ontario because

many northern birds will not migrate

south this fall.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH

No movement of Red-breasted

Nuthatches this year reliably predicts

that spruce cone crops are heavy in the

boreal forest. This indicates a non-

irruption year for finches, especially

Pine Siskins and White-winged

Crossbills which similarly specialize on

conifer seeds, especially white spruce

seeds. Some more southerly nuthatch

populations may be permanent

residents. We have Red-breasted

Nuthatches year-round at our suet,

sunflower and peanut feeders in

Toronto and they annually bring their

young to the feeders.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING

Most Bohemians will remain in the

boreal forest this winter because

mountain‐ash berry crops are very

good to bumper from Alaska to

Newfoundland and Labrador. When

feeding on mountain-ash berries,

Bohemians and Pine Grosbeaks often

occur together. The superficial

resemblance of Bohemian Waxwings to

female Pine Grosbeaks is striking and

may be functional. If some Bohemians

move south they will be attracted to

abundant berries on European

mountain‐ash, small ornamental

crabapples and buckthorn. Some are


likely to occur in traditional areas such

as Ottawa and Peterborough.

WHERE TO SEE FINCHES

Ontario’s Algonquin Park is a winter

adventure about 3.5 hour drive north of

Toronto. Cone crops are much better in

the park this year than last winter so a

good scattering of finches should be

seen. Feeders at the Visitor Centre (km

43) should have Evening Grosbeaks,

siskins and perhaps redpolls and Pine

Grosbeak. The Visitor Centre and

restaurant are open weekends in winter.

Arrangements can be made to view

feeders on weekdays by calling

613‐637‐2828.

The nearby Spruce Bog Trail at km 42.5

and Opeongo Road (side road) are the

best spots for finches, Gray Jay, Boreal

Chickadee, Spruce Grouse and

Black‐backed Woodpecker. At the

bookstore be sure to get the “Birds of

Algonquin Park” (2012) by retired park

naturalist Ron Tozer. This is one of the

finest regional bird books ever

published. 474 pages. $49.95 CDN.

Proceeds go to The Friends of

Algonquin Park.

If you cannot get to Algonquin, a trip to

Quebec’s southern Laurentians north of

Montreal or to New York’s Adirondacks

should produce a good number of

finches.

References

#1. Finch Facts, Seed Crops and

Irruptions

http://www.jeaniron.ca/2012/winterfinc

hes.htm

#2. Last year’s Winter Finch Forecast

2012-2013

http://www.jeaniron.ca/2012/finchforeca

st2012.htm

#3. Previous forecasts back to 1999-2000

http://www.neilyworld.com/neilyworld/

pittaway-old.htm

#4. “Greater” Common Redpolls –

Reference Photos

http://www.jeaniron.ca/Trips/arctic2013/

pa7.htm

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank staff of the Ontario Ministry of

Natural Resources and the many birders

whose reports allow me to make annual

forecasts: Dennis Barry (Durham Region

and Kawartha Lakes), Angus Baptiste

(Grand Lake Victoria, Quebec), Eleanor

Beagan (Prince Edward Island), Owen

Clarkin (Gatineau Park, Quebec), Joan

Collins (Adirondacks, New York),

Pascal Cote (Tadoussac Bird

Observatory, Quebec), Bruce Di Labio

(Eastern Ontario), Carolle Eady

(Dryden, Ontario), Cameron Eckert

(Southern Yukon), Bruce Falls (Brodie

Club, Toronto), Walter Fisher (Rosetta

McClain Gardens Raptor Watch,

Toronto), Sylvia Frisch (Central Yukon),

Marcel Gahbauer (Alberta and

Northwest Territories), Michel Gosselin

(Canadian Museum of Nature), David

Govatski (New Hampshire and

northern Vermont), Leo Heyens

(Kenora, Ontario), Tyler Hoar (Northern

Ontario & Quebec Laurentians), Peter

Hynard (Minden), Jean Iron (James Bay

and Northeastern Ontario), Ken

Knowles (St. John’s, Newfoundland and

Labrador), Stuart Mackenzie (James

http://www.jeaniron.ca/2012/winterfinches.htm

http://www.jeaniron.ca/2012/winterfinches.htm

http://www.jeaniron.ca/2012/finchforecast2012.htm

http://www.jeaniron.ca/2012/finchforecast2012.htm

http://www.neilyworld.com/neilyworld/pittaway-old.htm

http://www.neilyworld.com/neilyworld/pittaway-old.htm

http://www.jeaniron.ca/Trips/arctic2013/pa7.htm

http://www.jeaniron.ca/Trips/arctic2013/pa7.htm

September 2013

Bay), Scott McPherson (Nipissing,

Ontario), Brian Naylor (Nipissing,

Ontario), Justin Peter (Gatineau Park,

Quebec), Harvey & Brenda Schmidt

(Creighton, Saskatchewan), Dawn

Sherman (Algonquin Park), Ian Sturdee

(James Bay), Ron Tozer (Algonquin

Park), Declan Troy (Alaska), Mike

Turner (Haliburton Highlands), John

Woodcock (Thunder Cape Bird

Observatory, Ontario) and Kirk Zufelt

(Sault Ste Marie, Ontario). I particularly

thank Matt Young of The Cornell Lab of

Ornithology for information about seed

crops and advice about Red Crossbills.

Jean Iron made helpful comments and

proofed the forecast.

Ramble to the Property of Ed Fletcher

Joe Benderavage

On June 4, eleven Ramblers met at the

bottom of Sydenham Rd. for a trip

north, to the property of Ed Fletcher.

Upon our arrival, Mr. Fletcher told us

about his property, including the fact

that Coyotes, Fishers and Deer were in

the area.

The terrain includes sections of

Limestone and of Granite. Mr. Fletcher

showed us mounds of interesting rock

specimens collected and given to him by

a friend. He pointed out stands of

mature Jack Pines that he planted as

seedlings. They bear straight needles in

pairs.

Among bird sightings that day was a

Red-tail Hawk being mobbed by several

smaller birds. We heard bird calls of

Common Yellowthroat, Towhee, and

Chipping Sparrow. Identification by

sight and sound was made of a

Grasshopper Sparrow, a Red-eyed Vireo

and a Gray Catbird.

Insect sightings included a

Hummingbird Moth, a Promethia Moth,

Spring/Summer Azures, a Giant

Swallowtail and Tiger Swallowtail

Butterflies. A Spittlebug on Hawkweed

was noted, and a cricket was heard.

Red-backed Salamanders were found in

the forest; they are the only salamanders

found on land.

We noticed Poison Ivy plants in flower,

Prickly Ash, Downy Arrowwood, Wild

Madder, and a Black Cherry tree, with

tiny hairs on the undersides of its

leaves. Dactylis grass and False

Solomon’s Seal were identified as was

Johnny-go-to-bed-at-noon (genus

Tragopoyan). The alternate branching of

a tree and the convergence of its leaf

veins at the leaf tip helped identify it as

a Dogwood tree. Chokecherry, Sumac,

Trembling Aspen, Wild Yellow Irises,

Elecampane (Inula Helenium), Highbush

Cranberry and Common Fleabane were

seen. Other Flora included Wild Blue

Phlox, Sweet Cecily, and Hemlock trees.

We noticed some trees in an advanced

state of decay with bark and trunk

excavated by Woodpeckers. Wild

Ginger, with its maroon flower which is

pollinated by ground beetles, was found


Ontario Endangered Species Act Conference (OESAC), April 8/9th

Shirley French

Tom Hilditch, the founder of Savanta,

an environmental consulting firm, and

others wanted to bring together groups

concerned with conservation of Species

at Risk in Ontario and those who work

complying with its regulations. So the

first Ontario Endangered Species Act

Conference (OESAC) was organized for

April 2013 in Toronto. For conservation

to be successful, all stakeholders need to

come to the table and work together.

The ESA was introduced in 2007, a

much needed plan to help the recovery

and protection of species deemed at

risk. The Committee on the Status of

Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO),

which was in existence before the ESA,

was given legal recognition. COSSARO

develops a priority list of species that

they feel warrant special attention based

on scientific expertise, the species list

assessed by COSEWIC (Committee on

the Status of Endangered Wildlife in

Canada), community knowledge, and

aboriginal traditional knowledge. The

Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is

the government body responsible for

implementing the Endangered Species

Act (ESA), but they also “promote

economic opportunities in the resource

sector” (www.mnr.gov.on.ca).

How can I sum up the opinions

expressed at the conference? The invited

speakers provided a diverse overview of

opinions and many offered solutions

based on their experience with the ESA.

Gord Miller (the Environmental

Commissioner of Ontario), stated in his

opening remarks that it is not the ESA

legislation that needs to be changed, but

the way in which the act is

implemented. Here’s an attempt to

summarize some of the challenges

encountered with the ESA.

Speaker Summary of comments: A critical review of the ESA.

Dr. J. Bogart (U. of

Guelph)

A lot of lead time to obtain permits. Studies take time and

people-hours to get a good scientific understanding.

Joe Vaccarro, Ont.

Homebuilders

Can take 10 years or more to get their project started, part of that

time is due to the slow process to obtain permits.

Kim Barrett, Senior

Ecologists,

Conservation Halton

MNR needs more staff for faster reviews; the MNR should be

able to focus more on SAR recovery than on the process of

‘permitting’.

Julie Cayley, Ducks

Unlimited

In the process of restoring habitat, if you then attract a SAR you

are required to follow-up with further flora/fauna studies and

that requires staff and resources.

Moreen Miller, ON

Stone Sand & Gravel

ESA legislation and regulations need streamlining.

Inconsistencies in the MNR.

Megan Hazell,

Wildlife Biologist at

AMEC

Consistency is needed, ie. follow-up with monitoring.

Standardize data collection.

Get away from species-specific approach by scaling up to

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/

September 2013

`ecosystem-based approach.

Need to assess the effectiveness of strategies to better inform

future efforts.

MNR website needs to inform of mitigation measures that have

been shown to work, better access to some of the data.

Permit process needs streamlining.

Ron Reid, Carden

Program

Coordinator

Loss of independent management for cow-calf farmers; concern

about over-regulation of farms with respect to SAR, bobolinks

and eastern meadowlark for example. Farmers can be lured to

grow corn for ethanol for better profits. Abandoned farms

become unsuitable wooded habitat for these bird species.

Dena Lewis, Toronto

Regional

Conservation

Authority

Their lands overlap with urbanized Toronto so they have an

overwhelming number of requests for permits. She strongly feels

there is a need for streamlining the ESA process. She went as far

as to say that they are “prisoners of the process”.

Dan Kraus, Nature

Conservancy

Canada

They look to conserve lands where the size, condition and the

“landscape context” is the best for the native species of concern

(i. e. they would not be interested in 10 acres of land in the

Toronto area).

They have concerns about “biodiversity banking” where part of a

large project can be used by a company as “offset credits” later

on. He sees a need for clarification on exactly what is not

available as an offset.

Anna Baggio,

CPAWS

Caribou need landscapes on a large scale. To meet the

requirements of the ESA, caribou need permanent protection for

their ranges. They advocate using existing roads rather than

allowing Hydro One to open up areas between Nipigon and

Pickle Lake for a new transmission line in northern Ontario.

A number of outstanding examples of

successful and ongoing attempts at

habitat recovery and land stewardship

were given, from restoration of tall-

grass prairie on Ojibway lands, to

conserving snake hibernacula while

building the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray

Parkway; from efforts to help the Piping

Plover successfully fledge chicks on

Wasaga Beach to examples of the

Anishnabek people balancing

economics and conservation on the

eastern end of Manitoulin Island (54,000

hectares).

Dave Ireland, the ROM’s (Royal Ontario

Museum) Managing Director in the

biodiversity sector, brought a global

perspective to the conference. He

conveyed the excitement of the research

that the ROM conducts in different parts

of the world, and the biodiversity in

their own Rouge Park (the eastern end

of Toronto, 47 km2 in size) where 1500

species were recorded at a recent

Bioblitz (Rouge Park is featured in

July/Aug 2013, Canadian Geographic).


Was the conference worthwhile for the

KFN? I learned more about the ESA and

how it functions. Hopefully some of that

information will be of use here in the

future. I had KFN brochures at the

conference table, to show the work we

do on species at risk such as, bobolinks

and meadowlark surveys orchestrated

by Kurt Hennige, Chris Grooms and

others restoring habitat for Chimney

Swifts, and KFN’s annual Bioblitz

directed by Anne Robertson. At the

conference about 10% of the people (of

roughly 200 in attendance) took a KFN

brochure outlining our SAR concerns

and projects.

All of the talks from OESAC are

available on YouTube. If you are so

inclined you can check out the videos

yourself and get all of the points made.

Should the KFN attend the next

OESAC? The KFN executive will discuss

what was gained by my attendance.

There is one comment that I would like

to make with regards to proposed

changes to the ESA. In November 2012

the Ministry of Natural Resources

(MNR) held meetings to discuss the

effectiveness of ESA legislation and

regulations. Recognizing the need to

streamline and become more efficient,

MNR’s panel has come up with 29

recommendations (I’m not sure if one of

them is the need for more government

funding).

The recommendations of the review

panel, consisting primarily of people

from industry, have given many groups

cause for concern (Ray Ford, Ontario

Nature, summer 2012). Anne Bell of ON

(Ontario Nature), who was one of the

guest speakers at OESAC, is especially

concerned that the proposed changes

would be a “swing towards industry

self-regulation”.

As Dr. Peter Hodson (Queen’s

University Environmental Studies) said

in a recent talk that he gave as a retiring

professor, when environmental

catastrophes happen, because of

companies legal responsibilities,

scientists are often not allowed in to

study what works, and what failed. The

same can be said about the proposed

changes to the ESA, if we allow industry

to be exempt from ESA requirements,

we will be courting potential disasters.

september 2013, volume 60, no. 3 - kingston field naturalists

Documents