PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

What is in a name, a message, a “brand,” and the legal ramifications thereof?

Your board has been pondering the question and answers as part of an updating exercise. It is felt that

some freshening up of wording to, for example, the “Mission Statement” (aka the club Objectives, as

authorized by the Letters Patent), may serve the club better, as we move forward into a new era, with

new members, the digital age of our expanding website and new business cards as examples.

The current Club Objectives (indeed is this the same as the Club Mission Statement?) are as follows:

a) to promote interest in, and the study of, nature generally

b) to promote interest in, and the study of, all aspects of the environment

c) for the objects aforesaid, to carry on printing and publishing, and to sell and distribute literature

d) for the objectives aforesaid, to accept gifts, legacies, and bequests

I pose the following question to reader members: do not sections (a) and (b) essentially state the same

thing? We the board think so. Sections (c) and (d) are prescriptive, and quite appropriate.

What indeed, is a Mission Statement? One attempt is as follows, and seems reader-friendly (exact

reference not available):

A mission statement defines in a paragraph or so any entity’s reason for existence. It embodies its

philosophies, goals, ambitions and mores. Any entity that attempts to operate without a mission

statement runs the risk of wandering through the world without having the ability to verify that it is

on its intended course.

I would like you the reader to review the following draft from one of our experienced member/

mentors as a fresh and I believe relevant update: "Dedicated to the study, appreciation and

preservation of natural ecosystems and species in their indigenous environment. Sharing these values

enthusiastically by active support of research, presentations, publications, field trips and the

acquisition of properties to be left in their natural state in perpetuity to benefit generations to come."

(cont’d on page 3)

ISSN 0836-4702

AUGUST 2015

VOL 69 ISSUE 3

THUNDER BAY FIELD NATURALISTS

2

N ature Northwest is a quarterly

publication of the Thunder Bay Field

Naturalists. Each volume (ISSN 0836-

4702) consists of four issues published in

February, May, August and November. A

subscription to Nature Northwest is a

benefit of membership.

Articles, notes, records, illustrations and

photographs of local and regional natural

history are welcome. Material accepted is

subject to editing and revision. Nature

Northwest is intended to be informative and

thought-provoking. Articles may be edited

and reviewed by different members of the

TBFN Newsletter Committee. Views

expressed are not necessarily those of the

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists or the

Editor.

Send events, stories, trip reviews, articles,

pictures and observations. Your ideas and

suggestions are welcome. Address all

submissions to:

naturenorthwest@gmail.com

Deadline for submissions is the first day of

the month in which the issue will be

produced.

In This Issue:

General Meetings………………..……3

Bald Eagle Observations……………..4

TBFN History………………………...5

Pool 6 Field Trip……………………...6

A New Conservation Partner…………7

Northern Sharp-tailed Grouse………...8

Kam Valley Field Trip………………..9

Book Review: One River……………10

In Memorium:David Hussell………...11

Mink Mountain Field Trip…………...12

Grey Fox……………………………..14

Upcoming Field Trips...……………...15

Club Information……………...……..17

Contributors: Janet Anderson Susan Bryan Marian Childs Nick Escott Rob Foster Art Gunnell Connie Hartviksen David Legge

From the Editor’s Desk…

Our summer issue profiles a few of the many

opportunities we have to enjoy nature in

Northwestern Ontario: trek to a remote area to see

Northen Sharp-tailed Grouse perform their courting

dance; explore the diverse habitats in the Kam River

Valley; watch a Bald Eagle fish; discover a species

new to the area. Our region’s small population and

the wealth of nature are related, but mean that

resources for nature study specific to our area can

be hard to find. TBFN is trying to fill one gap by

updating the district’s checklist of vascular plants.

See page 7 to learn how you can help.

And get out there and make the most of the rest of

the summer.

- Barbara Yurkoski

3

UPCOMING GENERAL MEETINGS

The Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Club meets on the fourth Monday of September, October,

November, January, March and April at Lunan Hall, St. Paul's United Church, 349 Waverley Street,

Thunder Bay. Meetings begin promptly at 7:00 p.m.

Fall meetings details have not been finalized.

Watch the meetings page on the website for upcoming

announcements.

(cont’d from page 1)

I invite your comments on the above theme (the Board is anxious for your feedback), and also, for those

with legal background, advice/suggestions on the legal requirements. I understand the new Ontario Not-for

-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) is pending and may affect the mechanics of any change.

I have another possible change for consideration. Our (very attractive) business card gives an abridged

version at present, and a reprinting is pending: “Dedicated to the study of natural history, the wise use of

natural resources, the preservation of natural areas, and teaching the public to understand and protect

nature.” No real quibble with the essence, but we think the last phrase is a tad pompous.

Oh, and while I am at it, yet another layer of branding to consider; that is, a “motto.” Our mentor from

above suggests a short but pertinent “ TBFN-we care about nature” or words to that effect. Might this

suffice for the business card? Again your recommendations are welcome.

Recognizing the summer may not be the best time to debate these issues (we are enjoying our natural

splendour immensely as I write), your board is anxious to hear back from you: nay or yea!

Enjoy the articles in this issue.

- David Legge

4

Over the years Ken and I have spent many summer

hours quietly watching the patterns of behaviour of

this pair of Bald Eagles and their offspring. We often

see an adult pick up a fish and first carry it to this

log. I was never quite sure, but after processing these

pictures, I think I know why it makes this stop.

First of all, the initial dive and grab is exhausting for

the eagle, which often lifts a fish equal to its own

weight or maybe more. There have been times when

it couldn't manage and we have seen it flap its way

through the water to shore, then drag the fish up to

this old white pine log and dismember it into

manageable pieces. Sometimes there is still some life

left in the fish, so it gets hard to control.

We concluded that this log is a place where the eagle

doesn't have to do the initial lift all in one go. It

usually lands in profile, with the fish draped over the

log, and sits there for a time to get reenergized and to

make sure its meal is good and dead, not moving

around. Then it rotates itself around facing out and

lines the fish up 90 degrees to its talons. It grabs hold

with one foot, crouches down on the other foot and

gets ready to launch. It lifts both wings as high as it

can to get the maximum downward thrust to lift off

the log with the added weight. Once the eagle has

gained enough height, it uses both talons to properly

hold the fish and carry it all the way up to the nest.

Very interesting to watch.

- Connie Hartviksen

Bald Eagle Observations

The Entomological Society of Ontario welcomes

you to submit your photos of insects and other

arthropods for competition in the annual ESO Bug

Eye photo contest (http://www.entsocont.ca/bug-

eye-photo-contest.html), open to ESO members

and all Ontario residents, no entry fee. Winners to

be announced during the ESO Annual General

Meeting Sept. 18-20th at QUBS. Please see the

attached poster for more information.

Submit photos to esophotos@gmail.com

Submission deadline Aug. 28th

Winners announced Sept. 20th

Prizes:

Best photo: $50

Best photo of an Ontario insect: $50

Best photo by a junior entomologist under 13: 1st

$25, 2nd $20, 3rd $10

People's Choice award: $50

* * * * * *

Enter the Entomological Society of Ontario’s Photo Contest

5

TBFN came into existence on January 26, 1933,

through the efforts of Major Lionel S. Dear, who

was elected President and Colonel S.C. Young,

Secretary. The Port Arthur News-Chronicle, in an

issue dated January 27, 1933, announced the

group’s formation. The new club soon joined the

Federation of Ontario Naturalists (now known as

Ontario Nature).

However the troubles of the depression years

caused activities to lapse, until TBFN was

reorganized in 1937 under the presidency of

Glaude Garton. Membership grew to over 50

persons. Then World War II brought the club to a

virtual standstill.

In 1946 TBFN again revived, this time under the

leadership of Dr. Howard Quackenbush and Dr.

Albert Allen, who had been president from 1943 to

1946 and was again elected to that post from 1951

to 1953. Keith Denis, who was president from

1954 to 1955, was another guiding light in the post

-war years.

Early activities centred on the study of birds,

plants and various flora and fauna but steadily

moved to include environmental concerns and

nature conservancy. TBFN members realized that

large projects, even with only volunteer effort, still

required considerable financing. As a result, the

club applied to become accredited as a certified

charitable organization having authority to issue

income tax deductible receipts for certain

donations.

Incorporation In the late 1970s, TBFN decided, presumably to be

able to apply for charitable status, that the club

should become a not for profit corporation under

the laws of Ontario. TBFN’s application was

approved on November 20, 1978. It is understood

that the law firm of Illingworth & Illingworth,

whose partners were then (and still are) club

members, undertook to handle the application at no

charge. The club became a corporation without

share capital with the Ontario Corporation number

of 398504 and the official name “Thunder Bay

Field Naturalists Club”. (The members are the

owners of the corporation.) The 11 signatories,

listed below, made up the first Board of Directors.

Douglas S. Asquith, President 1974-75

Beth L. Hunter, President 1976-78

Kenneth W. Gunby

Nick Hordy

Rosemary L. Large

Caroline S. Grant

Joan M. Crowe

Marguerite J. Stevenson

K. Joan Hebden

W. Keith Denis

Myra J. McCormick, President 1978-81

The club’s constitution is spelled out in its Letters

Patent which authorize TBFN to pursue the

following four goals:

To promote interest in and the study of nature

generally

To promote interest in and the study of all

aspects of the environment

For the objects aforesaid, to carry on printing

and publishing and to sell and distribute

literature

For the objects aforesaid, to accept donations,

gifts, legacies and bequests.

In order to maintain corporate status, all necessary

reports and documents must be submitted as

required. Records of the activities of the club must

be kept on file.

- compiled by Art Gunnell

A Short History of the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Club

FOREST FORAGING

During the week of August 20th, Ontario Nature

will be hosting a variety of workshops promoting

local forest foraging. Please visit the following

website to see information regarding topics and

how to register.

http://www.ontarionature.org/protect/habitat/

foraging.php

The dates are on the website, and we will update

the site as new workshops are booked.

6

With so many interesting developments, Marina

Park is a lovely place to walk and enjoy the

waterfront. However, few realize the hidden cost

of the changes to the shoreline and the destruction

of fish spawning habitat. When such changes

occur, something must be done to restore the

balance.

The Saskatchewan Pool 6 grain elevator, which

once proudly stood nearby, is now history. The

grain elevator was demolished in a planned

implosion, leaving a legacy of contamination, a

few blocks of concrete and rubble and

contaminated soil. Improvements are taking place

slowly. In 2013 an improved pond provided better

spawning and nursery habitat for fish. The existing

fish and turtles were removed before the pond was

completely pumped out, prior to excavation.

Removal of dump truck loads of contaminated soil

and debris widened the pond and increased its

maximum depth to five metres. Root bundles,

boulders and rocky and sandy substrates were

added to improve habitat diversity. The Thunder

Bay District Stewardship Council recently added

nest boxes, which also contributed to improving

the connection to Lake Superior. The perched

culvert at the pond outlet was replaced with a

larger one with a beaver cone. A vortex weir built

at its outlet now helps to retain water when lake

levels are low.

We came to see the results. What a lovely addition

o the marina area! Traditional habitat with lots of

cattails was left on the south side of the pond. Red

Osier Dogwood, birch, maples and White Pines

were planted on the north side. The existing

shallow pond was changed to encourage a new

spawning ground, with a sizable island in the

middle. Water plants such as the Common

Bladderwort were added.

Did this improvement work? Small fish are already

increasing in numbers. White suckers, brook

sticklebacks, mudminnows and fathead minnows

have recolonized the pond from Lake Superior. We

saw a Beaver and a Muskrat in the pond. Birds

were plentiful and included Canada Goose, Red-

wing Blackbird, Northern Flicker, American

Field Trip to the former Saskatchewan Pool 6 Grain Elevator Area

Robin, snipe, Solitary Sandpiper and heron, and

heard Chorus Frogs. At the nearby Northern Wood

Preservers marsh, we also observed Northern

Shoveller, Mallard, Goldeneye, Bufflehead,

Ringneck Duck, scaup and others.

The 18 field trip participants would like to thank Rob

Foster for leading this outing and completing the

project. If you didn’t make it out to the field trip,

don’t hesitate to make a visit to the pond. Park in the

southern most parking lot by the Wilson Street

roundabout and walk south along the road to the

pond.

- Marian Childs

Can you name these wildflowers?

Answer on page 8.

Photos by Marian Childs

7

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Nature Reserves

program has received a generous donation from

Elua (pronounced e–loo-ah) a division of Global

Hydration, headquartered in Thunder Bay. Elua

provides solutions for clean safe drinking water

such as home water filtration systems, water

purifiers and tablets for outdoor enthusiasts, plus

a variety of products for personal use like

reusable water bottles and all-natural drink mixes

to help people kick the bottled water habit. TBFN

will use the donation to help with purchase of our

next nature reserve.

The partnership between Elua and TBFN Nature

Reserves is a natural one. Elua supports the right

to clean drinking water around the world. It also

promotes environmental protection, ensuring

clean water for generations to come. Supporting

the local efforts of TBFN to protect wetlands,

Lake Superior shoreline and pristine natural areas

aligns well with the company’s ideals. Elua is a

member of 1% for the Planet, a growing global

movement of companies that donate 1% of their

sales to approved environmental organizations

such as TBFN. There is a lot of interesting

information about the company, its products, and

its global actions to provide safe drinking water

on their website:

http://elua.com/our-philosophy/#work

You can also connect on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/EluaWater

https://plus.google.com/+EluaWater

https://twitter.com/eluawater

https://www.pinterest.com/

eluawater/

Please give Elua a “thumbs

up” or tweet a thank you

from TBFN if you visit

these sites.

HELP TBFN CREATE A UNIQUE RESOURCE!

In partnership with local experts, TBFN is creating an up-to-date plant checklist for Thunder Bay

District. This is a crucial tool for studying local nature and identifying regionally rare plants,

Arctic-Alpine disjuncts and other important species. TBFN also uses the checklist to confirm the

value of our nature reserves and to assess the value of potential acquisitions. The current list was

last updated in 2003. The new one will be available to the public to download from our web site

and will be for sale in print format at the Lakehead University Bookstore.

The Gosling Foundation (Goslingfoundation.org) has offered to match contributions to this

project, dollar for dollar, up to $2000. If you can contribute to help us reach this goal, go to the

TBFN web site. Specify that the donation is for Nature Reserves. (You do not have to purchase a

membership at the time you make a donation, but we need your contact information to send a

charitable receipt.) Or mail your donation to TBFN Nature Reserves, P.O. Box 10037, Thunder

Bay, Ontario, P7B 6T6. Thank you!

Elua—A New TBFN Conservation Partner

8

As noted in the May issue, TBFN’s Black Bay

nature reserve provides breeding habitat for the

Northern Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus

phasianellus). In this issue, we provide some of

Nick Escott’s observations about this northern

subspecies that is found in only a few locations in

Thunder Bay District.

T. phasianellus breeds in boreal fens across

northern Canada and in Alaska. In our district, it

is a local and uncommon breeder. It is darker than

the Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus

campestris), with other subtle plumage

differences. Its name comes from two long square

-tipped feathers that give the appearance of a tail.

Nick suggests that local populations may date

back hundreds or even thousands of years,

augmented by iruptions from farther north, which

have been documented since 1865. Sharp-tailed

grouse generally stay close to their fens, feeding

on Dwarf Birch buds and catkins. Each spring a

group of males performs the courting ritual on the

lek, or dancing ground. The males stick to their

places in the lek, with the most dominant male in

the centre of the group. The females are attracted

to the dancers, and try to get into the centre,

where they usually mate with the dominant male,

or one close to him.

Because the birds’ habitat, surrounded by Black

Spruce bogs, is relatively inaccessible and lacking

in desirable natural resources, they have been safe

from human disturbance. However the disjunct

populations in our area are more vulnerable, since

they are closer to populated areas. The lek on the

Black Bay Peninsula, which was mentioned in the

May issue, is on TBFN’s 65-hectare nature

reserve, but the surrounding area is not protected.

The possible construction of a permanent logging

road to the edge of the wetland is an ongoing

threat. (See Volume 68, Issue #2, p. 7, 2014.)

For more on Sharp-tailed Grouse in Thunder Bay

District, see Nick Escott’s article, “The Sharp-

tailed Grouse in Thunder Bay District” in Ontario

Birds, volume 21, no. 1, 2003.

* * * * * * * *

A correction to the May article:

The land at Everard Fen was given by the

Government of Canada to the widow or remaining

relatives of a deceased veteran of the Fenian

Raids, which occurred following the war of 1812.

According to the original patent held by the land

registry office in Thunder Bay, the Canadian

Government granted to Charles Wilson of

Seaforth 160 acres of bog in Northern Ontario in

1913. The property passed through several

generations of descendants before finally being

donated (with help from Nature Canada and the

Nature Conservancy of Canada) to TBFN in May

2000.

Northern Sharp-tailed Grouse

Photo by Nick Escott

ANSWER TO PLANT QUIZ:

We’ve all heard about Purple Loosestrife and how this invasive plant takes over and replaces native

species. These are two other varieties of loosestrife found on our Kam Valley Reserve. The Fringed

Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata) is on the left and the Swamp Loosestrife (Lysimachia terrestris) is

on the right. – Marian Childs

9

This 30 acre TBFN reserve is a rich floodplain

at the confluence of the Whitefish and

Kaministiquia Rivers. Seven intrepid members,

led by Sue Bryan, traversed several distinct

habitats, which required an exciting ford of the

Whitefish. (See photo: Barb Yurkoski is assisted

by Sue Bryan, whilst Bruce Childs calmly looks

on, having completed his journey).

The group viewed distinctive flora at: the forest

walk from the car park; the open flood plain on

the islands and shoreline of the Whitefish River;

the thickets of shrubs/vines on the Whitefish

Kam Valley Nature Reserve Field Trip, August 8, 2015

River banks; the elm/ash hardwood swamp; and

finally, the muddy shore of the Kam River.

In the swamp area Sue identified the regionally

rare Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictoides).

Note the berries are not quite blue yet.

This trip was yet another example of both a great

learning and TBFN fellowship experience.

- report and photos by David Legge

Nature

in Rainy River

Marian Childs recently visited

the Cranberry Peatlands, west of

Fort Frances. She reports that

the Rainy River Field

Naturalists have added 11

interpretive signs to their

boardwalk there. The sign

pictured here was sponsored by

club members Dale and Phyllis

Callaghan.

10

One River is an absorbing account of

two generations of scientific explorers.

For fifteen months, in 1974-1975,

Timothy Plowman and student Wade

Davis journeyed into the Amazon rain

forest. Plowman was inspired by

charismatic educator Harvard professor

Richard Evans Schultes (1915-2001) to

expand on the fieldwork done by

Schultes from 1941-1953. This work

ranged from his search for the long lost

sacred plants of the Aztec to his study

of the peoples living in the Northwest

Amazon of Columbia. Schultes literally stumbled

upon the rare and legendary Blue Orchid (Aganisia

cyanea) found in the wild on only four previous

occasions.

During these 12 years he mapped uncharted rivers

and lived among two dozen native tribes, while

collecting some 20,000 botanical specimens,

including 300 species new to science. Schultes was

not only the world’s leading authority on plant

hallucinogens and the medical plants of the

Amazon, he was a living link to a time when the

rain forest stood vast and inviolate across the South

American continent. While searching for the

identity of curare, he got involved in one of the most

vital quests of the last century – the hunt for new

sources of wild rubber.

In 1743, Frenchman Charles-Marie de La

Condamine was the first European to note the value

of wild rubber. By the beginning the 20th century,

the wealth derived from this discovery rivaled that

of our present day technology giants. Virtually

overnight, a forgotten land of jungle and rivers

became the destination of an army of officials,

merchants and those of unlimited ambition who, in

the name of profit, enslaved the Amazon’s native

peoples in harvesting the white blood of the forest.

Driven initially by the insatiable need for rubber in

the fledgling automobile industry and then World

War Two, under the aegis of the US government’s

Rubber Development Corporation, Schultes lived

with and accepted the consul of the Indians whose

lives were intimately affected by “the weeping

trees”. This resulted in his developing high

yield and resistant strains of the plant. It all

came to a crushing halt in 1945, with the

advent of synthetic rubber.

The book traces the history of Schultes’

fascination with the Amazon and all things

botanical from the time when, he was a

child recovering from illness. His father

read to him from 19th century explorer

Richard Spruce’s seminal book, Notes of a

Botanist on the Amazon and Andes.

When studying Spruce’s collections at the

herbarium at Kew, Schultes found many

specimens of the rubber plant. Not only did this

confirm rubber, genus Hevea, had been very much

on Spruce’s mind, it is thought this was the

motivation that drove Schultes to pick up where his

mentor left off. With the exception of Schultes

himself, no one did more to further the botanical

knowledge of Hevea than Spruce.

It was Richard Schultes’ “transcendent knowledge

of plants” that compelled Davis and Plowman to

follow in his footsteps and attempt to reveal the

secrets of the Divine Leaf of Immortality, coca, a

benign stimulant central to Amerindian culture and

religion. Plowman discovered that long before its

refinement into cocaine challenged drug

enforcement agencies worldwide, coca was essential

in the diets of Andean peoples and was used with no

evidence of toxicity for at least 2000 years. Modern

studies further suggest coca helps regulate glucose

metabolism, possibly enhancing the body’s ability

to digest carbohydrates at high elevations. Coca

contains higher than average amounts of calcium,

phosphorous, iron, Vitamin A and riboflavin in that

100 grams of the leaves satisfy the Recommended

Dietary Allowance for these nutrients as well as for

Vitamin E. The levels of calcium alone show coca

to have been an essential element in the traditional

diet, which typically lacked dairy products before

the Spanish Conquest. Davis and Plowman contend

the real issue regarding the debate over the

pharmacology of coca and the harmful effect of

cocaine is one of cultural identity.

(cont’d on page 11)

Davis, Wade, One River: Explorations and Discoveries in the Amazon Rain

Forest. New York: Simon & Schuster (1996) ISBN 0-684-80886-2

11

David Hussell was instrumental in establishing

our Thunder Cape Bird Observatory (TCBO) at

the tip of the Sibley Peninsula. Originally from

England, he came to Canada with a keen

interest in birding and bird banding. In 1959 he

was one of the founders of the Long Point Bird

Observatory (LPBO), on Lake Erie. He was the

first Executive Director of LPBO, which went

on to become the headquarters for Bird Studies

Canada. He also founded the Baillie Birdathon,

in which many of our TBFN members

participate.

David joined Ontario’s Ministry of Natural

Resources as a Research Scientist in the 1980s

and is widely regarded as a founding father of

bird migration monitoring in North America. In

the late 1980s, the Ontario government decided

that the MNR needed to monitor the birds

breeding in our vast northern forests. David

thought that we needed a monitoring station

along the north shore of Lake Superior, since

there was none between Manitoba and

Whitefish Point, Michigan (near Sault Ste.

Marie).

I don’t remember when I first met David. I

think it was in 1984 at a Hawk Migration

Association of North America meeting. In 1991,

he contacted me to come and check out sites

around Thunder Bay that would be suitable for

a migration monitoring station. He came with

birder/bander Dave Shepherd, and after they

looked at a couple of possible sites around the

city, such as Mission Island, the three of us,

along with Al Harris and Bill Climie, trekked

out to Thunder Cape on July 14 1991. Despite

its remoteness, David selected this spot as the

preferred site, and the Thunder Cape Bird

Observatory was born.

David continued to come out to the Cape for a

week or two every fall, sometimes with his wife

Erica Dunn and son, to advise on and modify

the monitoring protocol he had designed for

TCBO. I was amazed at his stamina as he

walked all the way in and out from Silver Islet

with a big backpack, right up until his final

visit, in the fall of 2008.

(cont’d from page 10)

For any inquisitive reader captivated by the

remarkable narrative of One River, Davis

suggests a number of references that provide

launching points. In consulting with Richard

Schultes before the writing of his book, Davis is

able to reveal to his reader the stunning capacity

Schultes had for botany. The brilliance of his

data collection provided essential information in

reconstructing chronologies, localities, types of

plants found and the people who coloured his

journey over the course of this part of his life.

Wade Davis is a native of BC, a licensed river

guide who holds degrees from Harvard

University including a PhD in ethnobotany.

David Suzuki describes him as 'a rare

combination of scientist, scholar, poet and

passionate defender of all of life's diversity.'

What can be said about his excellent One River

that has not already been praised? I can only

urge anyone interested in botany, history and the

curious and adventuresome nature of the human

spirit to read this book.

- Review by Janet Anderson

Over the years David has also been a generous

financial supporter of TCBO, knowing that, as a

volunteer organization, we need financial support to

keep the project running. The Thunder Cape Bird

Observatory has now become a mainstay of the

Canadian Migration Monitoring Network, thanks to

the foresight, perseverance, and support of David

Hussell. He will be missed.

- Nick Escott

(This “in memorium” includes excerpts from:

“Pioneers of Thunder Cape”, Thunder Cape News,

10(1) February 2003, and “A Tribute to Dr. David

Hussell (1934 –2015)”, Birdwatch Canada #72,

Summer 2015)

In Memoriam - Dr. David J. T. Hussell (1934 – 2015)

12

As usual, our Mink Mountain field trip on June

13th was delightful. Somehow, between the

mountain and the trip home, the group managed

to spot 56 species, about the same as last year.

We couldn’t identify as many ducks and geese: 5

compared to 8 last year. Highlight of the outing

was finding an egg beside the trail, tentatively

identified as a Turkey Vulture’s egg.

Repeat sightings:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Ring-necked Duck

Common Golden-eye

Common Merganser

Ruffed Grouse

Great Blue Heron

Turkey Vulture

American Kestrel

Herring Gull

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Alder Flycatcher

Red-eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

American Crow

Common Raven

Tree Swallow

Black-capped Chickade

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Winter Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Veery

American Robin

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Bobolink

Brown-headed Cowbird

American Goldfinch

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

American Redstart

Ovenbird

Common Yellowthroat

Birds seen which were not identified last

year:

American Bittern

Northern Harrier

Broad-winged Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Spotted Sandpiper

Virginia Rail

Great Crested Flycatcher

Philadelphia Vireo

Eastern Bluebird

Yellow Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Return to Mink Mountain

Name this plant

This is a plant

quiz without an

answer. Mike

Carter

photographed

this interesting

plant recently.

Can anyone

identify it? If so,

the answer will

be printed in the

next issue

Photo by Marian Childs

13

Membership Application/Renewal Form

Name:_________________________________ (Email) ___________________________________

Address:_______________________________ (Postal Code) ______________________________

Phone: (home) __________________________ (work/cell) _______________________________

I prefer to receive Nature Northwest by (circle one): Post mail ($5 fee) /Email (0$ fee) / Both ($5 fee)

□ Family $30 □ Single $25 □ Senior (65+) $20 □ Student $20

□ Life $350 □ Corresponding (non-voting)$16 □ Thunder Cape Bird Observatory $10

Donation of $ to (circle 1) (TBFN) (TCBO) (Jr. Nats) (Nature Reserves) (Tax receipt issued for donation)

Juniors: Name(s) + Age(s)

__________________________________________________________________

Are you willing to share knowledge in a particular area as a speaker or field trip leader or co-leader? If yes,

in what area?

_____________________________________________________________________________

Please add $5 to your renewal fee if you want to receive Nature Northwest through the mail. For example,

please pay $35 for a family membership). Your TBFN and TCBO memberships expire on December 31st.

To ensure a May Newsletter, please register by February using this form, or print the form from the TBFN

website (www.tbfn.net) and mail to TBFN at PO Box 10037 Thunder Bay ON P7B 6T6. You can also pay using

Paypal on the TBFN website: www.tbfn.net

All membership information is confidential and as such the Club will not sell or distribute this information

Ontario Nature-TBFN Northern Regional Conference

Friday and Saturday, September 18-20

The field trips and presentations accompanying business meetings are open to all members. Most of the

activity is centered at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.

Preliminary highlights

Friday afternoon: tour of Greenwich Wind farm (Dor ion area) and Ouimet canyon.

Saturday: field tr ips with Mark Smyk (geologist), Dr . Len Hutchison (mycologist), Ryan LeBlanc,

and Will Stolz (Ontario Nature).There will be visits to the Tee Harbour area, the Lookout, and

presentations at the Tea Room, Silver Islet and Karen’s Kountry Kitchen.

Final details to follow; space limitations may apply at some events.

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Bats at Pine Bay - Saturday August 22nd

An outing to learn about area bats and monitor them around sunset at our Pine Bay reserve. Meet at the

Movati Athletic Club Saturday evening. Contact Steve Kingston 475-1761 (w) or Marian Childs 577-1324

to confirm meeting time.

Wolf River Watershed Silviculture - Saturday, August 29th

A visit to several locations along the Wolf River Canyon to see the results of intense forest management

done from 1980 to 2000. Meet at the Landmark Inn parking lot at 9 a.m. Contact Mac Squires

forestry44@hotmail.com to confirm.

Bird Banding on McKellar Island – September 12th – cancelled if serious rain This is an open house at John Woodcock’s mist netting site to view fall migrants and get a close look at the

work he is doing. He and other volunteers will be there from 7:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. There is a short hike

over level terrain to the observatory from the roadside parking on Baffin Street. Visitors can tag along as

nets are checked every half hour, see how the captured birds are banded, documented and released. Also

on-going daily, is a census of all birds seen or heard and visitors’ observations are most welcome.

McKellar Island Bird Observatory www.facebook.com/mckellar. Phone 807-709-6870

Fungus Finds - Sunday, September 13th Join mycologist Dr. Len Hutchison to learn about local mushrooms, toadstools, and other fungi. Meet by

the Centennial Park bridge at 1 p.m. for this 1– 1/2 hr field trip. Contact his office 343-8508 to confirm.

Glacial History of the Thunder Bay Area - Saturday, September 26th

A day trip exploring the geomorphology of the border area around Thunder Bay. Meet at 9:00 am at the

Motivi Athletic Club on Arthur Street. Bring a lunch. Confirm by calling Brian Philips 344-3770.

Silver Islet Migrants - Saturday, October 3rd - 8:00 am Search out migrating fall warblers and other birds on the Sibley Penninsula. Meet by the Landmark Inn at

County Fair Plaza at 8:00 a.m. This is an all day affair, so please bring a lunch. Contact Bert Harding 630-

4735 if you have any questions.

UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS

Grey Fox Breeding Confirmed

near Thunder Bay!

This recent photo of a lactating female confirms

breeding of a pair of grey foxes near Thunder

Bay. This threatened species (Urocyon

cineroargentus) is near the northern limit of its

range at Thunder Bay. In addition to historical

records, there have been some recent sightings from

several locations near Thunder Bay in the past few

years, including up to four individuals visiting a

bird feeder during winter months. With luck, this

smaller relative of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) will

continue to call the area home.

- Rob Foster

Photo by Paul Higgins

15

TBFN Board of Directors 2015 Contacts

President & Ontario Nature Rep David Legge 983-2155

Past President Brian McLaren

Vice President Marian Childs 577-1324

Secretary Kathy Sakamoto 577-1959

Treasurer Karolyn Hoard 475-5116

Vice President, Field Trips, Junior Naturalists Marian Childs 577-1324

Advocacy, MNR LCC Dog River Mattawin Forest Rob Macey 624-7024

Inventory and Sales John Pentick 577-4540

Junior Naturalists Emese Boyko 631-4011

Membership Chair Christina Stricker 683-6696

Publicity and Promotion Bruce Thacker 344-2279

Thunder Cape Bird Observatory Ted Armstrong 577-3997

TBFN Standing Committees & Support

Newsletter Editor Barbara Yurkoski 613-692-0916

Webmaster Rob Foster 346-4950

Thunder Cape Bird Observatory Allan Gilbert 768-8582

Bird Records Committee Chair, Project Peregrine Chair Brian Ratcliff 768-8408

Bluebird Committee Chair Susan Robinson 344-1739

Nature Reserves Committee Chair Sue Bryan 345-6446

TBFN Reps on Community Committees

MNR LCC Spruce River Forest Brian Moore 344-2986

MNR LCC Dog Lake/Mattawan River Forests Rob Macey

MNR LCC Lakehead Forest Gerry Stricker 683-6696

Public Advisory Committee to the Thunder Bay Remedial Action Plan Jean Hall Armstrong 577-3997

Thunder Bay District Stewardship Council Jean Hall Armstrong 577-3997

MNR Fisheries Management Zone 9 Advisory Council Walter Momot

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists --- Information for 2015

The Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study of natural

history, the wise use of resources, the preservation of natural areas, and teaching the public to

understand and protect nature.

Mailing Address/Phone:

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Website: www.tbfn.net

P.O. Box 10037

Thunder Bay, ON P7B6T6

Meeting Dates:

4th Monday of September, October, November, January, March, and April, 7 p.m.

Annual Dinner meeting is held 4th Sunday of February

16

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists PO Box 10037 Thunder Bay ON P7B 6T6

Publications Agreement No 41362520

Photo by Larry Graham Pictograph at TBFN’s Nipigon River reserve