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The
Blue Bill
Quarterly Journal of the Kingston Field Naturalists
ISSN 0382-5655
Volume 59, No. 4 December 2012
Contents President’s Page Gaye Beckwith ...................239
Kingston Area Birds Autumn Season 1Aug-30Nov 2012 Mark Andrew Conboy .......240
Kingston Butterfly Summary 2012 John Poland .......................244
Coffee & Conservation Shirley E. French ...............249
Fall Round-up 2012 Nov03-04 Ron D. Weir ......................251
Frontenac’s Gibson Lake Loop: A Must to Hike Terry Sprague ....................255
Odonate Sightings & Yearly List 2012 Kurt Hennige ....................257
KFN Outings Sep-Nov 2012 Jaansalu, Grooms .....................
Robertson, Benderavage ....260
Salamanders of the Kingston Region Matt Ellerbeck ...................265
Local Conservation Concerns Shirley E. French ...............266
Orthoptera in the Kingston Area Paul Mackenzie .................268
Checklist of Orthoptera for the Kingston Area Paul Mackenzie .................278
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
Send submissions to the Editor by the 15th
of the month prior to the month of publication (i.e. by the 15
th
of February/May/August/November) to the address above, or to the editor via e-mail to: [email protected] Please include contact phone
number.
Submissions should be in MS Word format or in “plain text” format (PC or MacIntosh) or unformatted in the body of an e-mail.
Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #047128
2012/2013 Officers
President: Gaye Beckwith
613-376-3716
Honorary President vacant
Vice-President: Mark Conboy
Past President: Janis Grant
613-548-3668
Treasurer: Larry McCurdy
613-389-6427
Recording John Cartwright
Secretary: 613-766-2896
Membership John Critchley
Secretary: 613-634-5475
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 613-386-1772 [email protected] Bird Sightings Mark Conboy [email protected] Bird Records Ron Weir 613-549-5274 [email protected] Speakers Gaye Beckwith 613-376-3716 [email protected] Newsletter Connie Gardiner 613-545-2354 [email protected] Publicity/Website Chris Grooms 613-386-7969 [email protected] Slideshow Gaye Beckwith 613-376-3716 [email protected] Ontario Nature Janis Grant 613-548-3668 [email protected] Member-at-large Darren Rayner 613-766-2210 [email protected]. Member-at-large Ken Robinson [email protected] Member-at-large Rose-marie Burke 613-549-7583 [email protected] Archives Peter McIntyre 613-548-4738 [email protected]
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 239
President’s Page
Gaye Beckwith
In September the KFN executive offered
members an opportunity to give
suggestions pertaining to the operation
of the club. A survey with 9 questions
was distributed in the newsletter and an
electronic version was made available
on the KFN website. Eighteen responses
have been received: 12 via the website
and 6 on paper. Below is a summary of
the key points of the respondents.
Members were asked to indicate the
number of years they have been with
the KFN and their age category. We had
a wide distribution in both of these
questions from new members to over 40
years and from young to old.
Interests was the next category surveyed.
To no one’s surprise, an interest in Birds
was listed by 82% of the respondents.
Our club, during its six-plus decades of
existence, has had a strong enthusiasm
for birding and been a provincial leader
for the protection of bird species. A
significant percentage of members chose
Conservation, and Butterflies/Insects as
high on their interest list. Field Trips,
Rambles and Hiking remain an important
aspect of the club, with Astronomy,
Botany, Geology, and Aquatic Life also
selected. Some indicated that our
Educational Workshops are important.
Respondents were positive towards
what the KFN is presently offering:
high quality of speakers, some
with challenging content
camaraderie with people from
many walks of life
working for environmental
causes
birding trips and information on
rare or good birds in the area
the diversity of interests of
members
appeal to youth
the depth of knowledge within
the club
reading about the club's
activities
a good healthy membership
knowledgeable group of people
willing to teach and share
information
strong support for local land
conservation initiatives (e.g.
acquisition & monitoring)
no pressure to participate
We also received a variety of
suggestions which will be considered by
the executive and implemented where
applicable:
more social interaction at the
meetings to ensure everyone
feels welcome
Page 240 December 2012
project voices in meetings to
ensure everyone hears questions
and answers
occasional trips further afield
attract more young members via
social media (Facebook, Twitter,
Blog etc.)
a succession plan for our junior
and teen program
help new members “break into”
the group
more events geared to working
people, (evenings, summer)
more information re natural
history and about invertebrates
and other lesser-known species
a permanent location to house
club records, and materials
fund-raising using the website.
Results indicated a willingness from
members to contribute their expertise to
the club by leading outdoor sessions,
presenting at a monthly meeting or
writing an article for the Blue Bill.
Others are willing to sit on the
executive, help with research and
conservation committees and to help
when needed. The Short-Eared Owl
Survey, the Bioblitz, membership
activities, Youth program, refreshments
at meetings, clean-ups, bird roundups
and Christmas Bird Counts are
examples of club activities which need
volunteers to make them successful.
Hopefully the responses are
representative of members’ feelings. The
executive appreciates the positive
feedback, a salute to the many people
who have built this club during the past
six decades. It’s up to the current and
future executives to continue with the
‘good things’ and to improve in the
areas that we can. At our last general
meeting, we stressed welcoming people
and will strive to ensure that we are
inclusive with all members.
Perhaps the greatest impact the club will
see in the future is the continued use of
technology to support us. Bird records
are now being added to eBird on the
internet, allowing the world to see
what’s being seen in the Kingston
Region. At a recent executive meeting,
several members used smart phones
and tablets to look up information to
answer or clarify queries.
Thank you to those members who filled
out the survey. You have given your
executive much ‘food for thought’,
which will help keep the KFN a vibrant
and significant organization.
Kingston Region Birds Autumn Season 1Aug to 30Nov 2012
Mark Andrew Conboy
The most exciting birding this autumn
came in late October and early
November as Hurricane Sandy sent a
host of interesting birds to the Great
Lakes region. Observers in our region
were lucky enough to locate a few good
species, but nothing like was seen
elsewhere on Lake Ontario and Lake
Erie. Winter finches began to move into
our region from the north and Cave
Swallows appeared from the south.
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 241
Here are the highlights from the autumn
season.
Snow Goose: Highest count and first
migrants were 5 at Bath (O’Toole) 6Oct.
The latest migrant was 1 at Bath
(Hennige) 6Nov. The only other sighting
was 1 at Wolfe Isl. (Hennige) 2Nov.
Brant: The only observations were of
450 off Patterson Park in Kingston
(Martin) 30Oct and 6 off the El Dorado
Beach Preserve (Shrimpton) 2Nov.
Trumpeter Swan: Widespread sightings
from north of the city and the islands
beginning 17Oct (Conboy), except for
one injured bird which over-summered
on Lake Opinicon (Conboy). The highest
count was 13 at Charleston Lake
Provincial Park (Robinson) 14Nov.
Tundra Swan: Highest count was 120 at
Prince Edward Pt. (Keen) 16Nov. The
first migrants were 10 at Amherst Isl.
(Grooms & Hennige) 3Nov.
American Black Duck/Mallard Hybrid:
1 at Patterson Park (Martin) 30Oct.
Canvasback: 3 at Wolfe Isl. (Hennige)
27Oct.
Red-throated Loon: 1 at Prince Edward
Pt. (Vandermeulen) 19Nov.
Golden Eagle: 1 at Henderson Bay
(Shrimpton) 2Nov; 1 at Amherst Isl.
(Hennige) 19Nov.
Sandhill Crane: 2 near Elgin (Burns)
10Aug; 1 at Queen’s University
Biological Stn. (Conboy) 7-9Sep; 4 at
Chaffey’s Lock Rd. (Conboy) 12Nov.
Upland Sandpiper: 2 at Amherst Isl.
(North Leeds Birders) 3Aug.
Ruddy Turnstone: 2 at Amherst Isl.
(North Leeds Birders) 3Aug; 4 at Salmon
Isl. (Mackenzie) 8Aug.
White-rumped Sandpiper: A fairly late
migrant was 1 at Amherst Isl. (O’Toole)
24Nov.
Baird’s Sandpiper: A handful of records
from Amherst Isl. and the Amherstview
Sewage Lagoons (KFN) 30Aug-13Sep.
Purple Sandpiper: 3 at Wolfe Isl.
(Martin) 1Nov.
Red-necked Phalarope: 1 at
Amherstview Sewage Lagoons
(Mackenzie) 28Aug.
Red Phalarope: 1 at Bath (Hennige)
13Oct.
Black-legged Kittiwake: 1 at Wolfe Isl.
(Martin); 1 at Bath (Hennige) 6Nov
Little Gull: 1 at Prince Edward Pt.
(Hennige) 16Nov; 1 near Waupoos
(Hoar) 18Nov.
Iceland Gull: 1 at Bath (Hennige) 6Nov.
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 1 at Amherst
Isl. (Conboy) 28Aug.
Glaucous Gull: 1 at Amherst Isl.
(Grooms & Hennige) 3Nov.
Page 242 December 2012
Jaeger sp.: 1 at Amherst Isl. (Hennige)
29Oct.
Red-headed Woodpecker: 1 at Prince
Edward Pt. (Blancher) 16Sep.
Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1 at Prince
Edward Pt. (Conboy) 28Aug; 1 at
Amherst Isl. (Hennige) 1Sep.
Cave Swallow: 3 at Prince Edward
County (Hennige) 5Nov.
Red-breasted Nuthatch: There was a
fairly strong flight into our region.
Northern Mockingbird: 1 at Amherst
Isl. (Hennige) 1Sep; 1 at Kingston (KFN)
21Nov.
Prairie Warbler: 1 at Amherst Isl.
(Hennige) 1Sep.
Clay-coloured Sparrow: 1 at Prince
Edward Pt. (Conboy) 28Aug.
Nelson’s Sparrow: 1 at Amherst Isl.
(Conboy) 28Aug.
Orchard Oriole: 1 at Prince Edward Pt.
(Conboy) 28Aug.
Pine Grosbeak: fairly widespread, but
limited sightings throughout the region
9Nov onward (KFN).
Red Crossbill: fairly widespread, but
limited sightings throughout the region
23Oct onward (KFN).
White-winged Crossbill: widespread
observations 28Oct onward (KFN).
Common Redpoll: widespread
observations 4Nov onward (KFN).
Hoary Redpoll: 1 at Amherstview
Sewage Lagoons (Hennige) 15Nov.
Evening Grosbeak: widespread
observations 18Oct onward (KFN).
Other species observed during the
reporting period: Canada Goose, Mute
Swan, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American
Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard,
Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler,
Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal,
Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Greater
Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Surf Scoter, White-
winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Long-tailed
Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye,
Hooded Merganser, Common
Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser,
Ruddy Duck, Ring-necked Pheasant,
Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Common
Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe,
Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested
Cormorant, American Bittern, Great
Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron,
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Turkey
Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier,
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk,
Northern Goshawk, Bald Eagle, Red-
shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged
Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged
Hawk, Virginia Rail, Common
Gallinule, American Coot, Black-bellied
Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer,
Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper,
Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs,
Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper,
Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper,
Dunlin, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed
Dowitcher, Wilson’s Snipe, American
Woodcock, Wilson’s Phalarope,
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 243
Bonaparte’s Gull, Ring-billed Gull,
Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull,
Caspian Tern, Black Tern, Common
Tern, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove,
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-billed
Cuckoo, Eastern Screech-Owl, Great
Horned Owl, Snowy Owl, Barred Owl,
Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl,
Northern Saw-whet 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,
Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Wood-pewee,
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Alder
Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Least
Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great
Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird,
Northern Shrike, Yellow-throated Vireo,
Blue-headed Vireo, Warbling Vireo,
Philadelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo,
Blue Jay, American Crow, Common
Raven, Horned Lark, Northern Rough-
winged Swallow, Purple Martin, Tree
Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow,
Cliff Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee,
White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown
Creeper, House Wren, Winter Wren,
Marsh Wren, Carolina Wren, Blue-grey
Gnatcatcher, Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern
Bluebird, Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush,
Swainson’s Thrush, Hermit Thrush,
Wood Thrush, American Robin, Grey
Catbird, Brown Thrasher, European
Starling, American Pipit, Bohemian
Waxwing, Cedar Waxwing, Lapland
Longspur, Snow Bunting, Ovenbird,
Northern Waterthrush, Golden-winged
Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler,
Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned
Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Mourning
Warbler, Common Yellowthroat,
American Redstart, Cape May Warbler,
Cerulean Warbler, Northern Parula,
Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted
Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow
Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler,
Blackpoll Warbler, Black-throated Blue
Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler,
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated
Green Warbler, Canada Warbler,
Wilson’s Warbler, Eastern Towhee,
American Tree Sparrow, Chipping
Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Vesper
Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Fox
Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln’s
Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-
throated Sparrow, White-crowned
Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Scarlet
Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Rose-
breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting,
Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird,
Eastern Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird,
Common Grackle, Brown-headed
Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, Purple
Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin,
American Goldfinch and House
Sparrow.
Observers: Peter Blancher, Cody Burns,
Mark Conboy, Chris Grooms, Kurt
Hennige, Tyler Hoar, Christopher Keen,
Paul Mackenzie, Paul Martin, North
Leeds Birders, Paul O’Toole, Chris
Robinson, Antony Shrimpton, Josh
Vandermeulen. When three or more
observers were involved in a particular
sighting, the observer has been cited as
KFN.
Page 244 December 2012
Kingston Butterfly Summary for 2012
John Poland
I have been telling everyone what a
wonderful summer it was for butterflies,
but that is not strictly true. It was a
rather poor year for butterflies, but a
great year for butterfly enthusiasts.
Over ninety percent of the butterflies
found in the Kingston region are
residents; they overwinter here in one of
their life stages. The hot dry summer
was not conducive for reproduction; as
a result their numbers were much lower
than normal. This was very noticeable
for skippers that prefer moist conditions
and which are normally plentiful in
July; most skipper species were
observed but numbers were low. Of the
82 resident butterflies on the KFN list,
68 were seen this year, the lowest total
for resident butterflies for many years.
Among the butterflies not observed this
year were the Brown Elfin, Tawny
Crescent and Silver-bordered Fritillary.
The Wild Indigo Duskywing, new to the
Kingston area, was discovered at the
Lennox generating station this summer
as reported in the Blue Bill (Vol. 59 #3,
2012). Individuals have subsequently
been seen in Kingston, Howe Island and
Sandhurst Shores, and are most likely to
become permanent residents in our area
using Crown Vetch as their food plant.
The Giant Swallowtail continued to be
seen frequently and now appears to be
established in our area. In fact, it has
become one of the most observed
butterflies especially in residential areas.
The great excitement this summer in
Ontario and the Kingston area was the
large numbers of migrant butterflies
that were seen. Four butterflies new to
our area were observed.
In April I wrote an article for the Blue
Bill (Vol. 59 #2, 2012) on Kingston’s
migrant butterflies. This was prompted
by the huge influx of Red Admirals on
16April and subsequent days. At the
time I thought their numbers would be
high all summer. However, as with
resident butterflies, their numbers
dwindled during the hot dry summer.
There was concern that they may not
have survived cold weather in late
April, but migrating adults were still
around in good numbers in May. A
large migration of Question Marks and
American Ladies accompanied the Red
Admiral invasion. Numbers remained
high until mid-June. Orange Sulphurs
started appearing in late April and their
numbers remained high all summer.
Painted Ladies are rare in the Kingston
area and some years are not seen at all.
A few were seen during the Red
Admiral influx in late April, but in early
August, a massive migration occurred.
Unlike the Red Admiral invasion which
was mostly restricted to central and
eastern Ontario, the Painted Lady
migration stretched from Ontario
through Quebec. These beautiful
butterflies were still around in good
numbers in September. I do not know
whether they subsequently migrate
southward to the U. S., but recently an
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 245
article appeared from the U. K.
(Ecography 16October and The Guardian
19October 2012) where a similar
phenomenon occurred in the summer of
2009. Buddleia were saturated with
them – I wish they were easier to grow
in Kingston. A project run by
Conservation Butterfly involving more
than 10,000 people across the country
found that they did indeed go back. In
fact, radar at one location recorded an
invasion of 11 million and a departure
of 26 million. It was difficult to know
because the Painted Ladies departed
from 500 meters up. I learned from this
article that these butterflies travel up to
9000 miles from as far north as the
Arctic Circle to tropical Africa taking up
to 6 generations to complete the journey,
further than our Monarchs, but not all to
the same small location.
The other 3 migrant butterflies on the
KFN list are normally only rarely seen.
This year Buckeyes were seen
everywhere in large numbers from
August to October. Little Yellows, only
been recorded 7 times before in the
Kingston region, were seen on 6
occasions. Both of these butterflies were
seen at the Lemoine Point Conservation
Area. Grey Hairstreaks were also seen
more frequently.
Four new migrant butterflies were seen
this summer in our area, the first new
butterflies for five years. Because of the
long hot summer there were few
wildflowers around in late August and
September and those that were, notably
asters and goldenrod, are not popular
nectar sources for butterflies. Therefore
the best places to look for migrant
butterflies in late August and September
were gardens. The flowerbeds at
Churchill Park on Brock St. proved to be
one of the best locations in the Kingston
area as there were large beds of
colourful Zinneas and blue Salvias.
Fiery Skippers were seen there in late
August and were still around in early
October. Up to 30 of these fast moving
small skippers were seen at once. They
were also observed at several other
locations. The Sachem is similar skipper.
A female was seen at the Churchill
gardens on 7September and also on the
butterfly bush near the booking station
at Rockport on 2September.
Fiery Skipper John Poland
Pipevine Swallowtail Janet Elliott
Page 246 December 2012
A Pipevine Swallowtail was
photographed on a butterfly bush in a
nearby garden from 2-7August.
The final and rarest butterfly was a
White-M Hairstreak seen nectaring on
Boneset at Prince Edward Point in late
August.This butterfly had only been
observed north of the Point Pelee area
once before.
What will next year bring? - another
northward expansion for migrant
butterflies, better conditions for our
resident butterflies to flourish or even a
few northern strays?. I can’t wait until
Spring.
Reported Butterfly Sightings for 2012
Butterfly First Date Last Date Number of Broods
Pipevine Swallowtail 2 Aug 7 Aug 2
Black Swallowtail 6 May 13 Sep 2-3
Giant Swallowtail 18 May 5 Oct 2-3
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail 21 May 16 Jun 1
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 5 Jun 31 Aug 2
Mustard White 19 Apr 13 Jul 2
West Virginia White 13 Apr 12 May 1
Cabbage White 22 Mar 17 Oct 3+
Olympia Marble 2 May 12 May 1
Clouded Sulphur 6 May 22 Nov 3+
Orange Sulphur 26 May 22 Nov 3+
Little Yellow 18 Jun 11 Jul 1
Harvester 16 Aug 16 Aug 2
American Copper 5 May 19 Jul 2-3
Bronze Copper 14 Jun 8 Oct 2
White-M Hairstreak Bruce Ripley
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 247
Butterfly First Date Last Date Number of Broods
Bog Copper 13 Jul 13 Jul 1
Coral Hairstreak 11 Jul 23 Jul 1
Acadian Hairstreak 10 Jul 11 Jul 1
Hickory Hairstreak 11 Jul 11 Jul 1
Banded Hairstreak 10 Jul 10 Jul 1
Hoary Elfin 2 May 2 May 1
Henry’s Elfin 13 Apr 18 May 1
Eastern Pine Elfin 8 Apr 15 May 1
Juniper Hairstreak 21 May 21 May 1
White-M Hairstreak 16 Aug 25 Aug 1
Gray Hairstreak 11 May 13 Sep 2
Eastern Tailed Blue 6 May 4 Oct 3+
Spring Azure 7 Apr 20 May 1
Summer Azure 15 Jun 1 Oct 2
Silvery Blue 7 May 29 Jun 1
Great Spangled Fritillary 22 Jun 25 Sep 1
Aphrodite Fritillary 24 Aug 24 Aug 1
Meadow Fritillary 6 May 6 May 2
Harris Checkerspot 5 Jun 24 Aug 1
Northern Crescent 27 May 1 Oct 1
Pearl Crescent 11 May 9 Oct 2-3
Baltimore Checkerspot 22 Jun 22 Jun 1
Question Mark 16 Apr 22 Nov 2
Eastern Comma 13 Mar 18 Oct 2
Gray Comma 19 Mar 21 Oct 2
Compton’s Tortoiseshell 18 Mar 21 Mar 1
Mourning Cloak 13 Mar 22 Oct 1
Page 248 December 2012
Butterfly First Date Last Date Number of Broods
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell 16 Mar 5 Jun 2
American Lady 16 Apr 25 Sep 3+
Painted Lady 2 May 15 Nov 2
Common Buckeye 5 May 11 Nov 2
Red Admiral 16 Apr 12 Nov 2
White Admiral 5 Jun 12 Sep 2
Viceroy 30 May 1 Oct 2
Monarch 15 May 25 Oct 2-3
Hackberry Emperor 21 Jun 21 Jun 2
Northern Pearly Eye 22 Jun 31 Jul 1
Eyed Brown 15 Jun 23 Jul 1
Appalachian Brown 18 Jun 13 Jul 1
Little Wood Satyr 24 May 13 Jul 1
Common Ringlet 15 May 27 Sep 2
Common Wood Nymph 27 Jun 24 Aug 1
Chryxus Arctic 27 Apr 6 May 1
Silver Spotted Skipper 27 May 7 Aug 2
Northern Cloudywing 21 May 12 Jul 1
Dreamy Duskywing 11 May 5 Jun 1
Juvenal’s Duskywing 27 Apr 5 Jun 1
Columbine Duskywing 2 May 23 Jul 2
Wild Indigo Duskywing 4 Jul 17 Sep 3
Arctic Skipper 25 May 27 Jun 1
Least Skipper 3 Jun 11 Sep 2
European Skipper 9 Jun 4 Jul 1
Fiery Skipper 25 Aug 4 Oct 1
Leonard’s Skipper 18 Aug 18 Sep 1
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 249
Butterfly First Date Last Date Number of Broods
Indian Skipper 23 May 9 Jun 1
Peck’s Skipper 15 Jun 17 Sep 2
Tawny Edged Skipper 21 May 25 Sep 1-2
Crossline Skipper 22 Jun 10 Jul 1
Long Dash 5 Jun 26 Jun 1
Northern Broken Dash 23 Jun 19 Jul 1
Little Glassywing 22 Jun 18 Aug 2
Sachem 2 Sep 7 Sep 1
Delaware Skipper 24 Jun 12 Sep 1
Hobomok Skipper 19 May 24 Jun 1
Broad Winged Skipper 8 Jul 31 Jul 1
Dun Skipper 6 Jul 24 Aug 1
Common Roadside Skipper 11 May 9 Jul 2
Coffee and Conservation
Shirley E. French
Coffee consists of two species, Coffea
canephora (robusta) and Coffea arabica.
Arabica is higher quality coffee; robusta,
more bitter, is used as filler in cheaper
brands (www.coffeehabitat.com). Coffea
arabica is naturally an understory shrub
adapted to a shady habitat. Farmers try
to increase yields by growing sun-
tolerant hybrids of C. arabica. More
fertilizer and herbicides are needed.
Because plants grow faster, they age
more quickly: sun-grown coffee plants
produce well for 15 years; shade-grown
ones yield for twice as long.
Why did ~40% of Latin American coffee
plantations “technify” in the 1990’s?
According to Donald (2004), coffee leaf
rust arrived in Brazil in the 70’s and a
later outbreak occurred in Nicaragua.
The spread of the disease was not as bad
as initially predicted based on the
devastating historical rust outbreaks in
India and Sri Lanka in the late 1800’s. It
is likely the higher elevation and cooler
temperatures prevented the rust from
becoming an epidemic (Donald, 2004).
Nonetheless, the pressure was already
on to change to more technically-run
agrosystems of sun-grown coffee.
Before 1990, few papers were published
on bird studies in coffee plantations, but
from 1996 to 2004 each year there were
Page 250 December 2012
two to nine publications on the subject
(Komar, 2006). The consensus was that
diverse agroecosystems are less likely to
have an outbreak of pests because of a
greater diversity of consumers attracted
to the area (Armbrecht et al., 2004;
Perfecto et al., 2004). More species of
birds are thought to be attracted to
shade-coffee plantations than sun-
grown, and they may have more
species, especially migratory ones, than
local forest patches.
In Komar’s (2004) extensive critical
review, he states “none of these
assumptions have been tested by
rigorous studies that assess
conservation value specifically”. As an
example, he argues that even though
migratory birds are shown to be
abundant in shaded plantations, they
are also numerous in disturbed habitats
that include sun plantations. He asserts
that most migratory species are not
“threatened” so are therefore of “low
conservation importance”. The Cerulean
Warbler is a threatened species that
Komar acknowledges as being a more
frequent forager in shade-coffee
plantations (Jones et al., 2000).
Outcomes may not be the ones
intended. Groom et al. (2006) comments
that shade-grown organic coffee farms
are typically family businesses that have
free-roaming chickens feeding amongst
the coffee plants. The concern is the
potential for the transfer of avian
diseases from the poultry to wild bird
populations. Wild birds have little
resistance to the strains of infection that
they could contract from poultry.
Tropical regions are notable for the
diversity of both resident and migratory
birds, and an avian epidemic could be
devastating.
An impressive list of 92 species of North
American migratory birds has been
reported (~15 publications) to forage in
coffee plantations in Latin America
(Komar, 2004). For that reason alone I
think we should pay attention to how
coffee is grown. Should you buy
organically grown coffee? Should we be
concerned about the watersheds and the
health of the people living in the area?
To be just we also need to consider fair
trade issues. There is no doubt; our
collective market power can be a
conservation tool. Food for thought
while you sip your next cup of coffee.
Armbrecht, I., Perfecto, I., and Vandermeer,
J. (2004) Enigmatic Biodiversity Correlations:
Ant Diversity Responds to Diverse Resources.
Science 304: 284-286.
Donald, P. F. (2004) Biodiversity impacts of
some agricultural commodity production
systems. Conserv. Bio. 18: 17-37.
Groom, M. J., Meffe, G. K., and Carroll, C. R.
(2006) 3rd Ed. Principles of Conservation
Biology.
Jones, J., Ramoni-Perazzi, P., Carruthers, E.
H. and Robertson, R. J. (2000) Sociality and
foraging behavior of the Cerulean Warbler in
Venezuelan shade-coffee plantations. Condor
102: 958-962.
Komar, O. (2006) Ecology and conservation of
birds in coffee plantations: a critical review. Bird
Conservation International 16: 1-23.
Perfecto, I., Vandermeer, J. H., Lopez
Bautista, G., Ibarra Nunez, G., Greenberg,
R., Bichier, P. and Langridge, S. (2004)
Greater Predation in Shaded Coffee Farms: The
Role of Resident Neotropical Birds. Ecology
85(10): 2677-2681.
.
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 251
Fall Round-up 2012 Nov 03-04
Ron D. Weir
The 47th KFN Fall Round-up took place
between 1500h Saturday Nov03 and
1500h Sunday Nov04. Participants
numbered 38. During Saturday, sun and
scattered cloud made birding very
pleasant, with a fairly brisk north wind
and a temperature about 8oC. The night
remained clear but with strong
Northerly winds through Sunday with
temperatures varying from 4oC to 10oC.
A total of 132 species was realized,
above the 42-year 1970-2011 average of
120. The cumulative total stands at 242
species with the addition of Pomarine
Jaeger and Cave Swallow. Among the
noteworthy finds were Pacific Loon,
Cackling Goose, Golden Eagle, and nine
species of finches including Pine
Grosbeak, redpoll and both species of
crossbills.
The totals in the following table have
had known duplications removed; the
total individuals for a species may not
equal the sum of the contributions from
each party.
The composition of the parties and the
sites visited are given before the
summary table. Following the 24-hour
count, birders met at the home of
Marian and Joel Ellis for potluck supper.
As usual, Marian and Joel were
excellent hosts, and a warm thank you is
extended for their continued hospitality
and opening their home to us.
Party #1: Alex & Erwin Batalla, Betsy &
Gaye Beckwith, Hugh Evans, Rose-
Marie Burke, (American side within
Kingston circle, Amherstview sewage
lagoon, Elevator Bay & Lemoine’s Pt.,
Greater Cataraqui R.) (6).
Party #2: Kurt Hennige, John
Cartwright, Chris Grooms, Gary Ure
(Amherst Isl., Wolfe Isl., Dupont Lagoon
& Elevator Bay, Greater Cataraqui R.,
Amherst Sewage Lagoons, Cartwright
Pt.) (4).
Party #3: Sharon David (Howe Isl.) (1).
Party #4: Joel Ellis, Peter Good, Kathy
Innes, Paul Mackenzie, Bud Rowe, Ron
Weir (Prince Edward Pt., Kingston area,
Adolphustown, Sillsville, Wilton Creek
at Morven, Amherstview sewage
lagoon) (6).
Party #5: Gerald Paul (Little Cataraqui
Cr., Elevator Bay, Dupont lagoon) (1)
Party #6: Andrew Edwards, Ken
Edwards (Amherst Isl., Cataraqui R.,
Elevator Bay, Prince Edward Pt.) (2).
Party #7: Robert & Dawn Scranton,
Harm & Madeline Vandersweep, Brian
Morin + 12 other from the Cornwall and
Area Birding Club (Amherst Isl.) (17)
Party #8: Miscellaneous: Hugues Bonin,
David Kelly
Page 252 December 2012
Species Party Number
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 TOT
Pacific Loon - - - 1 - - - - 1
Common Loon 50 25 76 4 - 35 10 - 200
Pied-billed Grebe 10 2 4 43 - 12 - - 71
Horned Grebe - 1 - 40 - 25 8 - 74
Red-necked Grebe - - - 4 - 1 1 - 7
Double-crested Cormorant 6 7 1 15 2 10 - - 41
Great Blue Heron 4 10 2 10 - 11 2 - 39
Turkey Vulture - - - 3 - 3 - 2 8
Cackling Goose - - - - - 1 - - 1
Canada Goose 2500 1600 345 4350 1800 3000 20 100 13715
Mute Swan 2 1 2 43 3 8 - - 59
Trumpeter Swan - - - - - - - 10 10
Tundra Swan 20 30 - - - 25 - - 75
Gadwall 20 50 25 55 85 150 - - 385
American Wigeon 70 20 240 655 - 17 - - 762
American Black Duck 10 65 15 8 19 40 6 - 163
Mallard 120 74 215 660 215 x 35 - 1,319
Northern Shoveler 10 15 - 45 - 90 - - 160
Northern Pintail 20 8 - 47 1 45 - - 121
Green-winged Teal 2 8 58 45 - 70 10 - 193
Canvasback - - - - 17 - - - 17
Redhead 1000 700 - 60 95 20 - - 1875
Ring-necked Duck 100 25 82 2130 185 200 2 - 2724
Greater Scaup 10 800 - 15550 450 200 200 - 17210
Lesser Scaup - 250 - 310 - 75 5 - 640
Surf Scoter 1 1 - - - - - - 2
White-winged Scoter - - - 175 - 300 - - 475
Black Scoter - - - 8 - 9 - - 9
Long-tailed Duck 11 3 - 76 - 75 - - 165
Bufflehead 55 110 75 60 38 x 45 - 383
Common Goldeneye 52 80 - 85 2 80 25 - 324
Hooded Merganser 50 12 3 138 17 25 - - 245
Common Merganser 2 60 178 35 38 45 2 - 360
Red-breasted Merganser 40 35 - 105 14 x 60 - 254
Ruddy Duck 5 13 - 35 - 21 - - 74
American Coot 100 16 - 20 3 25 - - 164
Bald Eagle - - 1a 1a2i - 1a 3i - 8
Northern Harrier - 7 2 1 - 5 10 - 25
Sharp-shinned Hawk - - - 1 - 1 - - 2
Northern Goshawk - - - - 2 - - - 2
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 253
Species Party Number
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 TOT
Red-shouldered Hawk - - - 1 1 - - - 2
Red-tailed Hawk 4 5 7 10 4 14 20 - 64
Rough-legged Hawk 2 1 - - - 6 10 - 19
Golden Eagle - - - 1i - 2i - - 3i
American Kestrel 2 7 - 1 - 1 4 1 16
Merlin 1 1 - - - 2 1 - 5
Peregrine Falcon - - - - - 1 - - 1
Ruffed Grouse - - 1 - - 1 - - 2
Wild Turkey 67 - - 11 - - 3 - 81
Black-bellied Plover 1 3 - - - 2 - - 6
Killdeer - 2 - - - 2 - - 4
Greater Yellowlegs - 1 - - - - - - 1
White-rumped Sandpiper - - - - - - 1 - 1
Dunlin 10 6 - - - 2 - - 18
Wilson’s Snipe - 2 - - - - - - 2
American Woodcock - 1 - - - - - - 1
Pomarine Jaeger - - - - - 1 - - 1
Bonaparte's Gull 40 30 - 55 - 40 20 - 185
Ring-billed Gull 30 45 25 375 275 x 50 - 800
Herring Gull 2 35 15 28 4 x 4 - 92
Glaucous Gull - 1 - - - - - - 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1 - 1 1 1 5 1 - 10
Rock Pigeon 12 30 - 5 - x 25 - 62
Mourning Dove 10 14 85 16 - x 25 - 150
Eastern Screech Owl - 1 - - - - - - 1
Great Horned Owl 1 1 - 2 - - - - 4
Barred Owl 1 1 - 5 - 2 - - 7
Long-eared Owl 1 - - - - - 1 - 2
Short-eared Owl - - - - - 1 - - 1
Northern Saw-whet Owl - - - - - - 1 - 1
Belted Kingfisher - 1 - 1 - - 1 - 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 - 2 1 - 1 1 - 6
Downy Woodpecker 2 - 12 4 - 5 4 - 27
Hairy Woodpecker 3 - 3 2 - 4 - - 12
Northern Flicker 1 - - 3 2 1 1 - 8
Pileated Woodpecker - - - - - - 3 - 3
Eastern Phoebe - - - - 1 - - - 1
Northern Shrike - - - 2 - 1 - - 3
Blue-headed Vireo - 1 - - - - - - 1
Blue Jay 10 6 35 26 10 x 12 - 89
Page 254 December 2012
Species Party Number
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 TOT
American Crow 18 9 8 130 36 x 5 - 206
Common Raven 2 2 - 4 1 4 2 - 15
Horned Lark - 1 - - - - - - 1
Northern Rough-winged
Swallow - - - 1 - - - - 1
Cave Swallow - - - 5 - - - -
Cave/Cliff Swallow - - - 4 - - - - 4
Black-capped Chickadee 14 26 28 50 - x 10 - 128
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 1 - 5 - 5 1 - 18
White-breasted Nuthatch 7 5 12 4 - 5 4 - 37
Brown Creeper - 2 2 1 - - - - 5
Carolina Wren - 1 - - - - - - 1
Winter Wren - 1 - 1 - 2 - - 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 3 5 10 - 12 8 - 40
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 2 - 2 - 5 1 - 11
Eastern Bluebird - - - - - 3 - - 3
Hermit Thrush - 7 - 7 - 4 1 - 19
American Robin 52 26 9 80 - 400 4 - 571
Gray Catbird - - - 1 - - - - 1
European Starling 5 121 25 45 90 x 45 - 321
American Pipit - 45 - - - - - - 45
Bohemian Waxwing - 2 - - - - - - 2
Cedar Waxwing 10 100 4 25 - 50 - - 189
Yellow-rumped Warbler - - - 11 - 5 1 - 17
Palm Warbler - - - - - 1 - - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 1 - - - - - - 1
Eastern Towhee - - - - - - 1 - 1
American Tree Sparrow 15 15 - 6 - x 15 - 51
Chipping Sparrow - - - 3 - 15 - - 18
Savannah Sparrow - 1 - - - - - - 1
Fox Sparrow 1 4 - 4 - 3 5 - 17
Song Sparrow 1 4 - 23 - x 1 - 10
Swamp Sparrow 1 1 - - - 1 - - 3
White-throated Sparrow 5 9 - 3 - 1 2 1 21
White-crowned Sparrow 1 3 - - - - 3 - 7
Dark-eyed Junco 40 55 32 56 - x 10 15 208
Lapland Longspur 1 2 - 55 - - - - 58
Snow Bunting 25 86 - - - 41 30 100 282
Northern Cardinal 3 1 2 6 - 3 1 - 16
Red-winged Blackbird 205 40 115 50 - 30 50 - 622
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 255
Species Party Number
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 TOT
Rusty Blackbird - 2 7 - - - - - 80
Common Grackle - 1 5 4 - 1 - - 11
Brown-headed Cowbird 2 2 - 2 - - - - 6
Pine Grosbeak - - - 1 - - - - 1
Purple Finch - 3 2 15 - 6 - - 26
House Finch 21 - 12 3 - 2 10 - 48
Red Crossbill - - - - - - 1 - 1
White-winged Crossbill - 15 - - - 17 10 - 42
Common Redpoll 1 - - 5 - 18 - - 24
Pine Siskin 10 65 18 65 - x 12 - 170
American Goldfinch 11 5 8 125 - x 5 - 154
Evening Grosbeak 20 1 - 60 - 6 - - 87
House Sparrow 1 18 1 - 4 12 14 - 50
TOTAL SPECIES 76 97 45 89 29 95 64 - 132
PARTICIPANTS 6 4 1 6 1 2 17 - 37
Frontenac’s Gibson Lake Loop: A Must to Hike
Terry Sprague
It was the Maclean Lumber Camp we
were now staring at, or at least what
remained of it. We were in a remote
section of Frontenac Provincial Park
where we had walked for six hours and
had not seen a soul. It was one of those
days that naturalists dream about – a
balmy November day, bright sunshine
and nary a stir from any of the few
remaining leaves stubbornly clinging to
the trees. There was silence, broken only
by a scattering of black ducks, disturbed
by the noise of us shuffling through
thick carpets of dead leaves.
This was the Gibson Lake Loop trail in
Frontenac Park’s northern side, accessed
by driving to the Kingsford Dam off
Canoe Lake Road, then walking two
kms. along another trail before reaching
where we wanted to begin our hike. But
we had been psyching ourselves up for
this hike for several months, and we
were well prepared for the 15 kms
ahead of us. This is pioneer country,
accented by humble attempts at
scratching a living from the granite rock,
and several mica mines. There was
logging, but after the industry suffered
losses from fires and harvesting, the
large scale logging and lumber industry
began to wane, and settlers turned to
open pit mining. The story of their
struggles can be seen all along this
portion of the Park. Earlier, we had
passed by the 1843 Mark’s Cabin
remains and nearby Crab Lake Mine.
A few ironwoods had fallen beside the
trail, no match for the strong winds that
travel down the precipitous ridges.
Mostly, the walking was pleasant, over
Page 256 December 2012
barren plateaus with spotty patches of
grass brown from the summer drought,
struggling to hold the sparse soil in
place. Oaks, elms and both yellow and
white birch stood like sentinels,
sometimes scant in numbers, other
times morphing into dense woodland
where we wondered how they managed
to survive at all in the thin soil.
Lunch was at a side trail to a lakeside
campsite where we listened to ravens
calling and the drumming of a distant
woodpecker. One along the trail turned
out to be a pileated woodpecker, and
two others showed themselves as hairy
woodpeckers. We didn’t need to be told
that a pileated was in the area, as we
saw several holes that these giant
woodpeckers had made in the snags.
Ducks took flight, most of them
unidentified due to the distance
although one closer flock banked as it
passed over the lake, revealing
themselves as black ducks. Two adult
bald eagles took advantage of the sun
and gave us superb looks at their
contrasting black and white colours.
There is a Frontenac Challenge in the
fall and participants are offered the
challenge of walking all 160 kms of trails
in a two month period. It is a
demanding endeavor, especially the
grueling 21km Slide Lake Trail. I did
one inner loop several years ago and
while it is reputed to be the most
breathtaking section of the park, it is
also the most difficult, involving lots of
crab walking on all fours and “bum
rocking” (the art of sitting on rocks
when descending, one stone at a time).
That one needs to be started at daybreak
if expected to finish before darkness
falls. One friend from Tweed has done it
for 17 consecutive years. With arthritis
in his feet, he is a prime example of
outdoor enthusiasts ignoring discomfort
and medical problems and just getting
out there, and doing it.
For those with me a week ago, our
Frontenac Challenge will be to walk all
of the trails, even if it takes us five years
for we want to savour the beauty and
serenity of the trail system and not
worry about deadlines. We will do the
Slide Lake Loop, but in the spirit of
Johnny Cash’s hit song, one piece at a
time. We may need to walk some of the
same trails several times to access
different portions of the trail, but we
will do it, me, my friends and
Ibuprofen, the breakfast of champions!
Or, we may decide to throw caution to
the wind and do the entire thing in one
sweep.
We are so fortunate to have this
magnificent park practically on our
doorstep, where we can immerse
ourselves in nature and history, if only
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 257
for a few hours, and think back to the
pioneers who helped shape this
wilderness area. They are no longer
around to tell their stories, but the
dedicated staff at the Park and
especially the Friends of Frontenac can
bring these stories to life. Books, like my
favourite, Their Enduring Spirit by
Christian Barber and Terry Fuchs are
also a big help.
The trails are always in super shape,
thanks to the efforts of the Friends. We
were commenting on our hike that we
didn’t see one speck of garbage. While
the Friends rightfully deserve credit, we
can also attribute the condition of the
trails to the park’s users who are of a
different mentality, that this park is
special, so let’s keep it that way.
Terry Sprague is a professional naturalist, free-lance writer and KFN member who lives in Prince Edward County.
Odonate Sightings & Yearly List 2012
Kurt Hennige
This List includes records for the
Kingston Checklist area and Charleston
Lake & Menzel Provincial Parks. Eighty
species were recorded this year. The
season started with a very early sighting
of a Common Green Darner on 19March
in Charleston Lake Provincial Park.
A new species was added to the
Kingston Checklist: a Red Saddlebags
(Tramea onusta) photographed on14July
at the Amherstview Sewage Lagoons by
Philina English, the first confirmed
record for this species. The drought of
2012 impacted common breeders and
lower numbers were observed. Recently
established species from further south
like Eastern Amberwing and Black
Saddlebags were noticed in new
locations and in higher numbers.
Species not recorded in the Kingston
area until 5 or 6 years ago but now seen
annually are: Emerald Spreadwing,
Aurora Damsel, Elfin Skimmer, Eastern
Amberwing, Sphagnum Sprite, Shadow
Darner, Swamp Darner, Horned
Clubtail, Rusty Snaketail, Eastern Least
Clubtail, Swift River Cruiser,
Beaverpond Baskettail, Ebony
Boghaunter, and Wandering Glider.
Contributors:P. English, M. Conboy, M.
Burrell, D. Edwards, J. Hall, B. Ripley, J.
Poland, K. Hennige, V. P. Mackenzie, L.
Nuttall, C. Robinson, C. & M. Seymour
Red Saddlebags by Philina English
Page 258 December 2012
1st for 2012 Species Latin Name Location
19March Common Green Darner Anax junius Chrlstn Lk PP
19April Hudsonian Whiteface Leucorrhinia hudsonica QUBS
5May Beaverpond Baskettail Tetragoneuria canis Third Depot Lk Rd
5May American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffii Third Depot Lk Rd
6May Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta Enterprise
9May Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata Bayview Bog
9May Eastern Forktail Ischnura verticalis Bayview Bog
10May Dusky Clubtail Gomphus spicatus Chrlstn Lk Burns Ln
11May Spiny Baskettail Epitheca spinigera QUBS
11May Springtime Darner Basiaeschna janata Frontenac PP
11May Chalk-fronted Corporal Ladona julia Frontenac PP
11May Boreal Bluet Enallagma boreale Frontenac PP
13May Northern/Vernale Bluet Enallagma cyathigerum Blue Mountain Road
14May Racket-tailed Emerald Dorocordulia libera QUBS
14May Harlequin Darner Gomphaeschna furcillata QUBS
15May Common Baskettail Epitheca cynosura QUBS
17May Taiga Bluet Coenagrion resolutum Menzel
17May Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia Menzel
17May Aurora Damsel Chromagrion conditum Menzel
17May Ebony Boghaunter Williamsonia fletcheri Menzel
17May Hagen's Bluet Enallagma hageni Menzel
19May Stream Cruiser Didymops transversa QUBS
23May Ebony Jewelwing Calopteryx maculata QUBS
24May Powdered Dancer Argia moesta Millhaven Creek
25May Belted Whiteface Leucorrhinia proxima Charleston Lake
25May Frosted Whiteface Leucorrhinia frigida Charleston Lake
25May Cyrano Darner Nasiaeschna pentacantha CLPP
26May Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis QUBS & Chrlstn Lk
26May Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa QUBS
26May Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella QUBS
26May Elegant Spreadwing Lestes inaequalis QUBS
26May Ambr-wngd Spreadwing Lestes eurinus QUBS
26May Calico Pennant Celithemis elisa QUBS
26May Lancet Clubtail Gomphus exilis QUBS
27May Fragile Forktail Ischnura posita CLPP boardwalk
27May Sedge Sprite Nehalennia irene CLPP boardwalk
29May Orange Bluet Enallagma signatum QUBS
30May Slaty Skimmer Libellula incesta CLPP Tllw Rock Bay Tr
31May Dragon Hunter Hagenius brevistylus QUBS
2June Halloween Pennant Celithemis eponina Chrlstn Lk Burns Ln
2June Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas Millhaven Creek
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 259
1st for 2012 Species Latin Name Location
3June Sphagnum Sprite Nehalennia gracilis CLPP, Blue Mtn (1st for
park)
5June Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis QUBS
5June Lilypad Clubtail Arigomphus furcifer QUBS
7June Rusty Snaketail Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis Salmon River
7June Elfin Skimmer Nannothemis bella 2nd Depot Lake
7June Rainbow Bluet Enallagma antennatum Salmon River
7June Eastern Least Clubtail Stylogomphus albistylus Salmon River
7June Horned Clubtail Arigomphus cornutus 2nd Depot lake
10June Prince Baskettail Epitheca princeps Charleston Lake
11June Fawn Darner Boyeria vinosa QUBS
14June Violet Dancer Argia fumipennis violacea Ch Lk PP
16June Northern Spreadwing Lestes disjunctus Ch Lk PP
16June Swamp Darner Epiaeschna heros Amherst Island
16June Stream Bluet Enallagma exsulans Amherst Island
16June Vesper Bluet Enallagma vesperum QUBS
16June Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum Amherst Island
16June Marsh Bluet Enallagma ebrium Amherst Island
17June River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis Napanee River
17June Swift River Cruiser Macromia illinoiensis Napanee River
19June Skimming Bluet Enallagma geminatum QUBS
22June Canada Darner Aeshna canadensis QUBS
22June Whitefaced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum QUBS
24June Green-striped Darner Aeshna verticalis QUBS
29June Black-shouldered Spinyleg Dromogomphus spinosus Red Horse Lake
29June Eastern Amberwing Perithemis tenera QUBS
3July Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile Amherstview S Lagoon
3July Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata Amherstview S Lagoon
10July Lance-tipped Darner Aeshna constricta Verona Hambly Lake
12July Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa QUBS
12July Lake Darner Aeshna eremita Lake Opinicon
13July Black-tipped Darner Aeshna tuberculifera QUBS
14July Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens Wolfe Island
14July Red Saddlebags Tramea anusta Amherstview S Lagoon
15July Mottled Darner Aeshna clepsydra QUBS
16June Swamp Spreadwing Lestes vigilax CLPP
21July Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum Frontnc PP Slide Lk Tr
30July Cherry-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum internum Bayview Bog
2August Sweetflag Spreadwing Lestes forcipatus Amherst Island
18August Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener Frontnc PP-Slide Lk Tr
Page 260 December 2012
KFN Outings Sep-Nov 2012
08Sept Teen Trip to Mitchell Creek
Michael Jaansalu
On September 8, Michael, William, Silas,
and Rowan accompanied Anne
Robertson on a field trip to Mitchell
Creek on the west side of Frontenac
Park. On the way there, we discussed
the edge of the Canadian Shield and
stopped to collect mica at the side of the
road. The weather was overcast
interspersed with thunderstorms, and it
was these storms that made us abandon
our initial plan of canoeing in favor of
going for a hike on the Nature
Conservancy of Canada’s Mitchell
Creek Property instead.
On our hike, after being delayed by a
thunderstorm, we used magnifiers on
fungus, a Hickory Tussock Moth
caterpillar, Large-toothed Aspen and
Red Oak leaves, some spiders, and a
snail. We walked through a Pine
plantation, heard a Blue Jay, picked
raindrops, found a bone in an American
Beech tree, observed lots of fallen trees
and branches, ate Basswood buds, and
discovered what happens when you get
stuck in a downpour in improper gear:
you get very wet quite quickly.
We then drove, wet and cold, to the
Helen Quilliam Sanctuary for lunch in
the car before going to Sydenham to
write in our notebooks and get ice
cream (we weren’t too cold for that).
Despite that, we got home early. It was a
satisfying, event-filled day even though
we abandoned the canoeing part.
29Sept Field Trip to Main Duck Isl.
Chris Grooms
Main Duck Island (St. Lawrence Islands
Nat. Pk.) is one of a crescent-shaped
island chain extending into Lk. Ontario
from Prince Edward Point, crossing the
US/Canada border and ending with
Stony Island off-shore from Robert G.
Wehle State Park. This arch of islands is
said to once have been the eastern shore
of the Lake and may form a stepping
stone flyway for migrating birds.
Main Duck Island has long been of
interest to naturalists; the KFN has
made numerous field trips there. In the
1970’s the KFN did several years of
banding focussed on migrating owls.
Through this history we know that the
Island is a migratory stopover for many
bird species. So it was with alarm and
concern for the birds that KFN received
the news that the Island environs are
being considered for an offshore wind
farm. In that light, KFN Conservation
Committee organized a field trip to
Main Duck Island on 29September2012.
We hope to make regular trips to keep a
club presence, maintain an interest in
Figure 1 Map showing Main Duck Island between
Prince Edward County and New York State
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 261
the Island in the naturalist community,
and to collect natural history data to
help defend birds and bats from the
effects of any potential wind farm.
At 8 a.m., 10 members of the KFN
departed Prince Edward County for
Main Duck on a boat chartered from
Ducks Dive. We had excellent weather,
with NNW winds and moderate wave
height. Everyone was enthusiastic and
happy with the trip. A list of bird
species observed follows.
Common Name Genus Species Comment
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Gadwall Anas strepera
American Black Duck Anas rubripes
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Common Merganser Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Common Loon Gavia immer
Dble-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Not seen on island
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Merlin Falco columbarius Not seen on island
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
Page 262 December 2012
Common Name Genus Species Comment
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
Brown Creeper Certhia americana
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
American Pipit Anthus rubescens
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina
Northern Parula Parula americana
Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
Blck-thrtd Green Warbler Dendroica virens
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
13 Oct Teen Trip to HQS
Anne Robertson
Just two Teens were able to join Erwin
and Anne to explore the SW corner of
the Helen Quilliam Sanctuary on
13October. The weather was fine and
relatively warm. The tree colours were
close to peak. It was an ideal time for a
good hike. On the way Michael spotted
an Eastern Bluebird on a nest box near
Sydenham, a late sighting. We saw a
dozen Wild Turkeys crossing the road
near Big Salmon Lake Road.
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 263
After consulting various maps, we left
the cars to walk on the Rideau Trail to
where it meets the Porcupine Trail
thence south, close to the east boundary
of the south lot of the Sanctuary, as far
as the view of Gould Lake. We found a
squatter’s camp which we recorded for
future checking. We then explored up a
new valley to a small (almost dry)
beaver pond in another wetland system
which extends from here NE back to the
road and SW to Gould Lake. This pond
is in the southwest portion (100 acres) of
the sanctuary.
En route we took GPS waypoints of
significant locations and photographs to
illustrate these. We made Michael the
American Basswood tree person (he
enjoys eating basswood buds) and we
made Samuel the American Beech tree
person. Samuel photographed his tree,
its leaves and buds as well as the
Beechdrops, a parasitic plant that grows
on Beech tree roots. We photographed
several beaver ponds and some fungi
and a spider. We eventually found an
old beaver dam near the now named
Destination Pond.
Here we looked at a sedge, Carex
lupulina. This sedge has a stigma that
curls (very small but very neat!).
Lunch was on a rocky outcrop near
Destination Pond where we wondered if
anyone else had ever been before us. We
returned by the same route for easier
walking but would like in the winter, on
the ice, to explore to Destination Pond
down the string of wetlands from the
road. On our way back, Erwin showed
how his GPS could keep us going in the
correct direction. We took the old
yellow trail to meet up with the present
route of the Porcupine Trail with a
detour to look at the Wood Duck pond.
Here 4 nest boxes have been installed; a
couple of predator guards are damaged.
We saw a pair of Hooded Mergansers
and a Great Blue Heron take off.
Back at the cars we wrote in our field
notebooks before returning home tired
but satisfied that we had explored an
unknown corner of this KFN property
and named a new pond.
Page 264 December 2012
20Nov Ramble to Collins Crk Trails
Joe Benderavage
Mud, mud, inglorious mud! At 9 a.m.
on a blustery November 20, Carol and
Murray Seymour led ten KFN hikers to
explore natural features along very
muddy trails in the vicinity of Collins
Creek. We encountered a farmer’s field
where butterflies congregate during
summertime, and we admired a
magnificent clump of birch trees.
A highlight was an area of exposed
limestone, extensively fissured, bearing
fossil remains of round Crinoids that
look like plants, but are animals. The
limestone was so well covered by fallen
leaves from nearby Oak trees that some
of us stumbled into the covered fissures.
We marvelled at coil formations from
Squid-like animals, and other creatures
of the Ordovician period. Especially
evident among them was a fossil group
named Orthocone Nautiloids. Fossils
from this period are over 450 million
years old. Some were curved or coil-like,
while others had ice-cream-cone shapes.
We saw some long, linear forms and
some with structures resembling
intermittently alternating windows,
through which a strand of tissue
probably excreted water from the
creature’s inner chamber.
As we advanced along the trail, we
came upon a magnificent, fine-grained
rock, a metre wide and as high, with a
uniform greenish cast. It was described
as an ‘erratic’, meaning that it was
unlike local rock, having come from
afar, likely transported from the
Canadian Shield by a glacier. It
probably formed in a volcanic
environment, and when it was still
semi-solid, it gained its unique texture
under pressure. The rock contains a
white intrusion, probably of quartz,and
the larger matrix rock may be olivine.
We studied the hairy basal leaves of
Mullein, used by women as a natural
make-up for reddening the cheeks. We
found Hop Hornbeam and Poplar;
Prickly Ash was discovered,
unwittingly, by a hiker who happened
to lean against it. We examined the red
buds of a Basswood tree, which some of
us tasted, but found uninteresting.
Delicate Fairy Cup lichen were spotted.
And Tooth fungus with little “fangs”.
Lichens abound in the area, with many
types of mosses growing on rocks.
At the path’s edge we noticed Dog-
strangling Vine, Wild Parsnip,
Bittersweet, Grey Dogwood, Zig-zag
Goldenrod, and a female colony of
Staghorn Sumac. We were amazed to
see what appeared to be White
Honeysuckle still in flower on this late
November day. Nearer the flowing
water of Collins Creek, some tree trunks
bore Bracket fungi, and Virginia
Waterleaf was seen. A shelf-like flat
rock in midstream, high and dry, served
as a marker of the high volume of water
that flows in April and May. We
admired a female Downy Woodpecker
on a tree trunk and heard and saw
Raven pursued by Crows.
Thanks to our assiduous leaders, we
arrived back at the starting point at
exactly noon, as planned, in spite of
some unexpected twists and turns.
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 265
Salamanders of the Kingston Region
Matt Ellerbeck, Salamander Advocate & Conservationist
Ontario has an abundance of
biodiversity, including a group of
secretive animals, the salamanders.
Twelve salamander species are found
across the province; several occur in the
Kingston, area. The most common is the
diminutive Red-Backed Salamander
(Plethodon cinereus), which has an orange
to red stripe down its back. They also
occur in almost uniformly dark blue or
purplish coloration, known as ''Lead-
backed'' Salamanders, shown here.
Individuals with yellow and white
stripes, and even almost solid red forms,
occasionally occur. Some estimates state
that in pristine habitat as many as 1,000
Red-backs can be found per acre!
Also found in the area are the beautiful
Yellow-Spotted (Ambystoma maculatum)
and Blue-Spotted (Ambystoma laterale)
Salamander. Both have dark
background colors (black to dark blue)
with spots of bright yellow and blue
over the body. Markings are variable
and unique to individual salamanders.
Both species are part of the same family,
the Ambystomatidae, commonly known
as mole salamanders. These are larger
then the streamlined Red-Backs. Mole
salamanders are stoutly built, and quite
abundant, but rarely seen, as they spend
much of their time deep in subterranean
habitats, especially the Yellow-Spotted
Salamander, shown below, which may
only emerge after heavy rains.
A more aquatic species of salamander in
the area is the Eastern Newt
(Notophthalmus viridescens). Newt is a
name given to salamanders in the family
Salamandridae, many of which are
primarily aquatic. After the larval stage,
Eastern Newts enter the ''Red Eft'' stage
which is terrestrial. During this stage
newts are solid orange with brilliant red
spots. After 3 years they darken to
greenish-gray with a yellow underside.
They retain red spots, but less of them.
The tail becomes flattened and they
return to the water.
The largest salamander species found in
the area is also an aquatic form: the
Mudpuppy. The name comes from the
false belief that these salamanders bark
if they feel threatened. They reach a
maximum size of around 18 inches.
Page 266 December 2012
Mudpuppies differ from other
salamander species as they do not lose
their external gills and metamorphose
into a terrestrial form. They retain gills
and essentially stay in their larval stage
for their whole life. This is known as
pedomorphosis or neoteny. Along with
gills, mudpuppies can absorb oxygen
through the skin and occasionally
surface for air, as they do possess lungs.
Most of their respiration, however, does
occur through the external gills.
Given that six forms of salamander can
be found in the area, one may ask why
they are rarely seen. These amphibians
prefer to remain hidden under debris or
in fossorial habitats, only coming out
seasonally to mate or breed, or at night
after heavy rains - not usually time
people are hiking or visiting woodlands.
Whether we see them or not,
salamanders are there and we can do
several things to help them. The first is
is not wearing insect repellents or
sunscreens when visiting woodlands,
forests, and wetlands. (An alternative is
to wear lightweight and light colored
long-sleeve shirts, a hat for sun
protectionto and natural ore
environmentally friendly oils as insect
repellents).
If a salamander is encountered on land
or water admire it by observation only.
Salamanders have very absorbent skin
and the oils and salts from human
hands can harm them. If worn, insect
repellents, sunblock, and lotions can be
absorbed. The skin damage could result
in secondary infections, and bone and
muscle injuries can result from
struggling. For these reasons
salamanders should never be handled.
Taking measures to protect salamanders
is important as some species face the
threat of extinction, and several in
Ontario are listed as Species At Risk by
the Committee on the Status of
Endangered Wildlife in Canada
(COSEWIC).
Further information can be found at
www.savethesalamanders.com
Local Conservation Concerns
Shirley E. French
This fall, I have been auditing
Conservation Biology (422) given by
Dr. Paul Martin at Queen’s University.
The students were assigned a major
project in which they were to select a
topic concerning conservation in the
Kingston region. An important
component of their project was to bring
science to the community and inform
the public about a conservation issue.
The students’ outreach approach varied
from going to schools, making
brochures, talking to people in their
target group, to setting up a website. I
have summarized the presentations in
the table that follows. These are topics
the students have selected as important.
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 267
Student Topic Summary of Conservation Issue
Loons &
Cottaging
Important to inform cottagers on the biology of loons to ensure good
boating habits (even canoeists), fishing practices, and keeping
shorelines natural.
Energy
Alternatives
The pros and cons of various energy sources from natural gas to
nuclear power, hydroelectricity to wind energy.
Cottage
Shoreline
Development
Minimizing habitat alterations, the importance of dead woody debris,
macrophytes, and other habitat features used by wildlife. The potential
negative effects of adding sand, removing plants (such as trees that
help stabilize the shore) and offering solutions and alternatives.
Conservation &
Seafood
Researched the most popular fish species consumed in Kingston and
provided information about sustainable fishing practices, what to avoid
(e.g. Halibut caught by trawling as opposed to line fishing). They
investigated five large local grocery stores to see which ones supported
sustainable fishing practices.
Homeowner’s
Guide, Eco-
friendly
Their target group is young people starting out in a new apartment or
house. Information about inefficient usage of energy and water. What
to look for in appliances that are more eco-friendly. Making informed
decisions about the products you buy and use.
Bumblebees Their role in pollination. Threats to their survival (monoculture e.g.
corn; pesticides, herbicides, pathogens, invasive species) and what is
needed for bees to flourish. They thoroughly covered the issues on their
website. http://beependent.wordpress.com/learn-more/
Catch & Release
Fishing
How to handle fish when they are being caught to minimize stress to
them. Information about the type of hook to use, how to release the
fish, etc.
Polar Bears How climate change is impacting the polar bears and how we can
contribute to reducing our carbon usage.
Bird
Conservation
(kindergarten to
grade 1)
They targeted a young age group, conveying their message about bird
conservation through a puppet show (e.g. inform kids that cats are a
danger to birds). In a fun way show kids what they can do to attract
birds to their yard and provide them with a safe environment.
Invasive Bird
Species (grade
6)
Targeting children about the issue of invasive species, in this case birds.
They designed a game that demonstrated how an invasive species can
have an advantage over a native species and how that can threaten
their survival.
The
Moovement-
More
Sustainable
Choices
What one needs to consider when buying beef. The benefits of grass-fed
cattle (e.g. less methane produced) vs grain-fed. The benefits of buying
local food but also eating less red meat because of the contribution to
greenhouse gases and a loss of biodiversity. Where to shop for locally
raised beef and organic beef in Kingston.
Page 268 December 2012
Student Topic Summary of Conservation Issue
Golf &
Pesticides
They cover pesticide effects on frogs and turtles (eggs are most
susceptible), offer solutions and want to implement a Green Golf
Certificate in Kingston based on their sustainable golf green solutions.
A very informative website:
http://igarcha.wix.com/sustainablegolf#!about/cjg9
Organic Wastes Target audience is university and college students. It is about reducing
food waste, and “helping you compost today for a better tomorrow”.
http://foodsmart.weebly.com/index.html
Eco-friendly
Personal Care
These students selected five chemicals found in household products
that can be detrimental to human health, can end up in our water
systems and wildlife. They have a list of eco-friendly alternatives. The
chemicals of concern are triclosan, triclocarbon, parabens, synthetic
musk, and sodium fluoride. https://www.facebook.com/LessIsBest
Other topics of concern (I was not able to attend these presentations): Eco-friendly Home
& Garden; Firewood & Invasives; Small Animals and Highways
Orthoptera in the Kingston Area
Paul Mackenzie
Many members of the KFN are keen field observers and well-informed on various
aspects of our flora and fauna. Birds have been a special interest of many. Others study
bats, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, dragonflies, vascular plants, trees, ferns,
mushrooms and the list could go on. The more we are aware of, the more we appreciate
nature, which is all around us and in us.
The insect order Orthoptera comprises grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Are they a
manageable group that could be identified during field trips? There are about 24,000
species worldwide, but only about 72 species in our area compared to about 377 species
of birds. Many are identifiable in the field, but some groups require careful examination.
Identification by naked eye or binoculars or from photos, or even by sound, is possible
for some. Others can be identified if caught and examined with a hand lens. This article
is an introduction to local Orthoptera, and mentions the most commonly encountered
species. Consulting the references is highly recommended. A checklist of local species
follows this article.
First a little about observing, catching and handling these animals. Diversity is highest
in late summer and early fall. In spring and early summer there are many immature
forms, which are more difficult than adults. Some species prefer wetland grasses, some
dry fields or sandy areas; some live on the ground and some at the tops of trees. Some
are nocturnal. In some places grasshoppers flush in dozens as you walk. Some hide
behind the stems of long grass or shrubs, and may drop to the ground when disturbed.
They may not be as easy as you expect to catch with a net, unless they perch near the top
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 269
of a plant or on relatively open ground. Some can be approached slowly and
photographed or caught by hand. Some grasshoppers spit out a dark sticky “tobacco
juice” as a defense. They have strong hind legs and can escape quickly given a chance,
and if they are caught by a leg, the detached leg may be all you are left holding. The
body may be held between fingers and thumb so they cannot get a purchase with the
hind legs, but can be seen from several angles. They may try to bite, but are generally
harmless against the fingers although the largest ones can pinch human skin.
Next a little anatomy. Like many insects the adult’s body is comprised of head, thorax
and abdomen, with 6 legs and two pairs of wings (if present) attached to the thorax. The
exoskeleton covering the top and sides of the thorax is called the pronotum. I had
imagined that those with short wings or no wings were nymphs, but the adults of some
species have short wings or no wings, and some species have short and long-winged
forms. When present, the forewings act as covers for the wider folded hind-wings. The
genitalia at the end of the abdomen include ovipositors in females and cerci and furcula in
male grasshoppers. Body length measurements are not standardized. From the front of
the head to the tip of the abdomen is used if the wings are shorter than the abdomen,
and to the tip of the wings if they are longer than the abdomen. Some authors include
the ovipositor which can extend far beyond the tip of the abdomen.
And now a little taxonomy. The Orthoptera are divided into two suborders: Ensifera
(katydids and crickets), are “long-horned” with antennae longer than the body.
Caelifera (grasshoppers) are “short-horned” with antennae shorter than the body.
Ensifera in our area are in three families, the Crickets (about 11 species), the Katydids
(about 15 species), and the hump-backed Camel Crickets which are nocturnal, and rarely
seen. Crickets have 3-segmented tarsi and Katydids have 4-segmented tarsi, but you
don’t need to count the joints, as you will recognize our common crickets as dark and
ground-dwelling (except for the pale delicate Tree Crickets) and Katydids as attractive
green (or brown) insects on foliage.
Caelifera (grasshoppers) of the Kingston area are also in three families. Most are Short-
horned Grasshoppers (Family Acrididae), one is a Sand Cricket (Family Tridactylidae) and
several are Pygmy Grasshoppers (Family Tetrigidae).
Now a little cultural diversion. In China, Japan and parts of south-east Asia for
hundreds of years pet crickets have been kept in the palaces of Emperors and in private
homes. Competitions are held for their singing ability and poems are written about
them. The songs of the tiny Golden Bell Cricket are highly regarded. Others are kept for
cricket fighting competitions, with betting on the outcome. Individuals only live and
sing for a few months, but are cared for tenderly. Cricket cages sold in markets may be
small enough to carry in a pocket, or large elaborate bamboo cages. Cages may have
Plexiglas tops through which to watch the cricket and a plugged hole in the side for
Page 270 December 2012
adding food (fruit or commercial cricket food). Grasshoppers and crickets are eaten in
parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America. They are sold in markets in south-east Asia.
They are a good source of animal protein. Plagues of locusts are described in the Bible,
and are still a major problem in some African countries. Franklin’s Gulls are
remembered in Utah for helping Mormon farmers by eating locusts during a plague in
1844. Rocky Mountain Locusts devoured western crops in 1874-75 but that locust is now
extinct, and few specimens were preserved despite their abundance.
Sound Production Calling songs are produced by stridulation, that is, by rubbing body
parts against each other. Often this is the hind femur against the fore-wing or the fore-
wing against the hind-wing. These body parts have rough files for sound production.
Another method of sound production used by Band-winged Grasshoppers is crepitation
or wing-snapping while displaying the wings in flight. Parts of some Orthoptera songs
are above the human hearing range. A male can make more than one type of song; There
are calling songs and courtship songs, and females sometimes reply. In our area the
Snowy Tree Cricket is known as the thermometer cricket due to the effect of temperature
on its rate of song: to find the temperature in Fahrenheit, count the number of chirps in
13 seconds and add 41.
Identification Good ID keys are available on the net at BugGuide.net and Singing
Insects of North America which has sound recordings of some species. Many species in
our area are in reference 1 below. Reference 8 is exhaustive and requires more expertise.
Family Gryllidae - Crickets. Let’s start with ordinary-looking crickets that live mostly
on the ground. Crickets are divided into blackish Field Crickets, smaller Ground
Crickets, and delicate pale Tree Crickets. The blackish ones seen on the ground are Field
Crickets if they are over 14 mm long and Ground Crickets if less than 14 mm long.
Field Crickets (Grillinae) include the Spring Field Cricket and the Fall Field Cricket
which look and sound the same but have different life cycles. The Spring Field Cricket
overwinters as a juvenile and matures in spring. The Fall Field Cricket overwinters as
eggs; adults appear in summer when the Spring Field Cricket adults are dying out. Both
chirp at a rate of 2-3 per second. The House Cricket is Straw-coloured with dark brown
markings. It is introduced and likely does not have wild populations established in
Ontario but is available commercially as food for reptiles and amphibians.
Ground Crickets (Nemobinae) look like small Field Crickets. We have 5 species in range.
Two are common in lawns. Allard’s Ground Cricket is black and has a continuous
trilling song, whereas the Striped Ground Cricket has alternating light and dark stripes
longitudinally on the head and sings in chirps at 3-5 per second. The Gray Ground
Cricket and the Carolina Ground Cricket are similar. A hand lens is required to key
them out by features of ovipositor or tibial spurs.
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 271
Fall Field Cricket (nymph) Ground Cricket
Gryllus pennsylvanicus Allonemobius species
Photos by Paul Mackenzie
Tree Crickets (Oecanthinae) are a fascinating group. They sing at night. The song is
lower pitched than other crickets. They are found on leaves of shrubs, trees or even
grass. In fact the Four-spotted Tree Cricket is often found within 30 cm of the ground.
They are less than 20 mm long, pale greenish with delicate wings, narrow heads, and
slim femurs compared to katydids. There are 4 species here and they are keyed out by
the pattern of dark spots at the base of the antennae, which requires a hand lens or very
sharp eyes. However, the Black-horned one can be recognized by black legs and
antennae, and the arboreal Snowy Tree Cricket is quite pale. I found a Narrow-winged
Tree Cricket at knee height on grasses at Kingston Mills. A photo shows the diagnostic J-
curved black spots at the base of the antennae. This species, known to occur in
southwestern Ontario, was reported from Presqu’ile by David Bree. Narrow-winged Tree Cricket Black-horned Tree Cricket at Lost Bay Reserve
Oecanthus niveus (”EE-CAN-THUS”) Oecanthus nigricornis
Photos by Paul Mackenzie
Family Tettigoniidae. Our Katydids can be divided into four subfamilies. Most of our
katydids are bright green although brown forms do occur.
Meadow Katydids (Subfamily Conocephalinae) are unobtrusive in grass and shrubbery.
The long antennae and, in females, the long ovipositors are obvious. Identification to
species may not be possible in some females, but the shape of the cerci, which can be
seen with a hand lens, is species-specific in males. However, body size narrows local
choices. We have two under 30 mm long (not including the long ovipositors). The
smallest has wings shorter than the abdomen and is called the Short-winged Meadow
Page 272 December 2012
Katydid. It is 12-16 mm long. The Slender Meadow Katydid is 18-28 mm and has wings
extending past the tip of the abdomen. Short-winged Meadow Katydid Slender Meadow Katydid
Conocephalus brevipennis Conocephalus fasciatus
Photo Paul Mackenzie, Abbey Dawn marsh Photo by Dennis Doucet c permission
Two Meadow Katydids over 30 mm long are in range, the Common Meadow Katydid
(male has green cerci with a curved tooth shorter than the shaft beyond the tooth) and
the Gladiator Meadow Katydid (male has brown cerci with a long curved tooth). Common Meadow Katydid Gladiator Meadow Katydid
Orchelimum vulgare Orchelimum gladiator
Photos c permission by Jim McCormac, Ohio
Coneheads (Subfamily Copiphorinae) have projections on the forehead. Only one
species is clearly in range, the Sword-Bearing Conehead, which has the front of the head
elongated to a cone-shaped point with a black tip which is visible to the naked eye. In
the female, the tip of the sword-like ovipositor is up to or beyond the wing-tip. Female Sword-bearing Conehead
Neoconocephalus ensiger View of cone
Photo by Carl Strang c permission by Kenneth E. Barnett c permission
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 273
False Katydids (Subfamily Phaneopterinae) are over 3cm long, and up to 7 species are
in range. All Katydids detect sound on the fore tibiae, but this group has a wide
tympanic opening there which is grossly visible, while in other subfamilies this is a
narrow slit. Identification to species is possible by song and in some by size and shape of
wings, but many require examination of the shape of dorsal process of the male genitals
for definitive ID. See the list of False Katydid species in the appendix.
Tympanic opening in tibia of a False Katydid. Texas Katydid on Bedford Road
Photos by Paul Mackenzie
Shield-back Katydids (Subfamily Tettigoniinae). One species, Roesel’s Bush-cricket,
(Metrioptera roeselii) looks a bit like a grasshopper, but the long antennae are a give-
away. Introduced from Europe to Montreal in 1950, it has spread. Long and short
winged forms. Short-winged form of Roesel’s Bush-Cricket Long-winged Form of Metrioptera roeselii
Photo c permission by Brandon Woo Photo c permission by Dennis Doucet
Short-horned Grasshoppers Family Acrididae. Most local grasshoppers belong to one of
four subfamilies of this family. I imagined that locusts were bigger, but the terms locust
and grasshopper seem interchangeable in common names.
Band-winged Grasshoppers (Subfamily Oedipodinae). Fourteen species may be here,
but only 5 have been confirmed. Most of have colours in the spread underwing which
show in flight. Some species do flight displays making a clicking noise with the wings
(stridulation). To confuse the band-winged concept, they include the Clear-winged
Grasshopper, and the Sedge Grasshoppers which have unbanded wings.
Page 274 December 2012
Everyone will have noticed the Carolina Locust (Dissosteria carolina), a large common
grasshopper which flushes from the ground showing a black wing spectrum with a
wide yellow border. No other species in our area has this pattern. Once they land, their
cryptic sandy colours make then almost invisible
Carolina Locust : Dissosteria carolina Wings in flight
Photo by Paul Mackenzie in HQS Photo c permission by Deeana Brown
Several have the wing colours reversed, with a wide yellow inner band and a darker
band outside. This pattern is seen on Boll’s Grasshopper, a woodland species, and
Marbled Grasshopper which inhabits sand dunes.
Spur-throated Grasshoppers (Melanoplinae). These grasshoppers look like typical small
grasshoppers. They have a protuberance at the throat which is visible from below
between the forelegs. It can be small.
Spur on throat Australian species with spur
Photo source unknown by permission Arthur Chapman
Genus Booneacris: The two in the checklist should be looked for in bog habitats. They
are wingless.
Most (15) of our species are in the large genus Melanoplus. There is variation within a
species in the amount of brown and green on the body. Many species require a hand
lens or good marcrophotos to see the diagnostic genital shape features of males. Females
are often not separable in the field.
The Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum) is a common member of this
group in fields and roadsides. The tibia is red and the underside of abdomen is yellow.
The male’s abdomen looks swollen at the tip compared to the narrower abdominal tip of
a female.
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 275
Red-legged Grasshopper male Male sub-genital plate
Photos by Paul Mackenzie
The Red-legged is not the only one with red tibia. The Migratory Grasshopper
(Melanoplus sanguinipes) looks similar when the tibia is red although the abdomen is
not yellow below. Look at the male sub-genital plate. Note in the Migratory
Grasshopper the small cleft in the middle of its sub-genital plate (at tip of abdomen). It
also has a wider blunter end of the cercus, which is the pale structure to the side.
Migratory Grassshopper Male sub-genital plate
Photos by K. S. Matz with permission
The Two-striped Grasshopper (Melanoplus bivitattus) is easy to recognize in the field. It
is larger than the ones above, and has prominent pale stripes forming a V on the wing
edges from above.
Two-Striped Grasshopper
Photo by Paul Mackenzie on Abbey Dawn Rd.
The Pine Tree Spur-throated Grasshopper (Melanoplus punctulatus) lives in forest and
is less well known. It perches on tree trunks but is well camouflaged by black and white
barring which extends to the femurs.
Page 276 December 2012
The Appendix lists other spur-throated grasshoppers that should be looked for here.
Slant-faced Grasshoppers (Subfamily Gomphocerinae) do not have spur throats and the
face is flatter and more slanted as seen from the side.
The Marsh Meadow Grasshopper (Pseudochorthippus curtipennis) is small, males 12-
20mm and females 20-35mm. Tips of femora are black. The Sprinkled Broad-winged
Grasshopper (Chloealtis conspersa) is similar in size. Males have more black on the
sides of the pronotum. In both species the wings are longer in males than females.
Marsh Meadow Grasshopper Sprinkled Broad-winged Grasshopper
Pseudochorthippus curtipennis Chloealtis conspersa
Photo by PM on Abbey Dawn Rd Photo c permission by Brandon Woo
Several other slant-faced species are listed in the checklist.
Pygmy Grasshoppers Family Tetrigidae. As the name suggests these are small, about 9-
14 mm long and I have yet to see one. BugGuide says “To see these you have to reorient
to looking for something really small. They are active, hard to follow with the eye, and
very well camouflaged.” They are squat shaped and come in many colour phases. They
are often near water. Some jump or fly into the water to escape and then swim to shore.
A good macrophotograph of the dorsum and one from the side are needed to accurately
id the species. Here are illustrations of three species which could occur here. The Black-
sided Pygmy has been found at QUBS.
Ornate Pygmy G. Obscure Pygmy G. Black-sided Pygmy G.
Two photos with permission by IIona Loser, Wisconsin photo permit by Brandon Woo
Summary: Perhaps anyone taking the trouble to read this account will be more likely to
look closely at these interesting insects. I encourage members to keep a record of the
dates and locations of species identified so that more local data can be collected.
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 277
````Acknowledgements: Thanks to Steve Paiero for suggestions and for additions and
corrections to the checklist. Thanks to David Bree, Mark Conboy, Owen Lonsdale and
Bruce Ripley for providing material and advice for this article, to the photographers who
gave permission to use their photos and to Alex Simmons the Editor of Blue Bill.
References and resources
1. Field Guide to Grasshoppers, Katydids and Crickets of the United States
by John Capinera, Ralph Scott, Thomas Walker, Cornell Press 2004
2. List of Orthopteroids at Queen’s University Biological Station
Steve M. Paiero and Mark Conboy. Updated December 2010. Unpublished
3. An annotated list of the Crickets and Grasshoppers of Prince Edward
County, Ontario by Fred Urqhuart. 1941
Available at
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/title/52197#page/27/mode/1up
4. Checklist of Orthoptera of Ontario compiled and forwarded by David Bree.
Unpublished.
5. Vickery, Vernon R. and Kevan, Keith D. 1985 The Insects and Arachnids of
Canada Part 14: The Grasshoppers, Crickets and Related Insects of Canada
and Adjacent Regions. Research Branch Agricultural Canada Publication
1777.
6. Singing Insects of North America. A useful website on Crickets and
Katydids by Walker and Moore with range maps, photos, song recordings.
7. BugGuide.net. A good interactive website with lots of information and
photos.
8. Eades, D. C.; Otte, D.; Cigliano M. M.; Braun, H. Orthoptera Species File
Online. Version 2.0/4.1. Worldwide coverage and many keys.
Page 278 December 2012
Checklist of Orthoptera for the Kingston area
Paul Mackenzie
Here are 72 species whose range includes the Kingston area. No systematic survey has
been done. Species marked* were listed in QUBS area by Steve Paiero and Mark Conboy
Common names are unofficial ones from references, internet sites and NHIC.
SUBORDER ENSIFERA: CRICKETS & KATYDIDS - antennae longer than the body
FAMILY GRYLLIDAE (Crickets)
Subfamily Gryllinae: Field Crickets
Acheta domesticus House Cricket (not wild here)
*Gryllus pennsylvanicus Fall Field Cricket
*Gryllus veletis Spring Field Cricket
Subfamily Nemobiinae: Ground crickets
Allonemobius allardi Allard’s Ground Cricket
*Allonemobius fasciatus Striped (Pale) Ground Cricket
Allonemobius griseus Gray Ground Cricket
*Eunemobius carolinus Carolina Ground Cricket
Neonemobius palustris Sphagnum Ground cricket (restricted to sphagnum
bogs; known from Ottawa and could be here)
Subfamily Oecanthinae: Tree Crickets
*Oecanthus nigricornis Black-horned Tree Cricket
*Oecanthus fultoni Snowy Tree Cricket
*Oecanthus quadripunctatus Four-spotted Tree Cricket
Oecanthus niveus Narrow-winged Tree Cricket (found by David Bree
at Presqu’ile and at Kingston Mills by Paul Mackenzie)
FAMILY TETTIGONIIDAE (Katydids and allies)
Subfamily Conocephalinae: Meadow Katydids
*Conocephalus brevipennis Short-winged Meadow Katydid
*Conocephalus fasciatus Slender Meadow Katydid
Conocephalus nigroplerum* Black-sided Meadow Katydid
Conocephalus attenuatus* Long-tailed Meadow Katydid
*Neoconocephalus ensiger Sword-bearing Conehead
Orchelimum gladiator Gladiator Meadow Katydid
Orchelimum vulgare Common Meadow Katydid
The Blue Bill Volume 59, No. 4 Page 279
Subfamily Phaneopterinae: False Katydids
*Amblycorypha oblongifolia Oblong-winged Katydid
*Scudderia curvicauda Curve-tailed Katydid
Scudderia furcata Fork-tailed Bush Katydid
*Scudderia pistillata Broad-winged Katydid
Scudderia septentrionalis Northern Bush Katydid
Scudderia texensis Texas Bush Katydid
Subfamily Tettigoniinae: Predaceous / Shield-back Katydids
*Metrioptera roeselii Roesel’s Katydid
Subfamily Meconematinae
Meconema thalassinum* Drumming Katydid or Oak Bush Cricket
(introduced species that appears to be spreading along the lake shores)
FAMILY RAPHIDIPHORIDAE (Camel Crickets)
*Ceuthophilus guttulosus Thomas Camel Cricket
*Ceuthophilus meridionalis Striped Camel Cricket
SUBORDER CAELIFERA: GRASSHOPPERS - antennae shorter than the body
FAMILY ACRIDAE (Short-horned Grasshoppers)
Subfamily Oedipodinae: Band-winged Grasshoppers
Arphia pseudonietana North-west Red-winged Grasshopper
Arphia sulphurea Sulphur-winged Grasshopper
Camnula pellucida Clear-winged Grasshopper
*Chortophaga viridifasciata Northern Green-striped Grasshopper
*Dissosteria carolina Carolina Locust
*Encoptolophus sordidus Clouded Grasshopper
Pardalophora apiculata Coral-winged Grasshopper
*Spharagemon bolli Boll’s Grasshopper
Spharagemon collare Mottled Sand Grasshopper
*Spharagemon marmorata Marbled Grasshopper
Stethophyma gracile Northern Sedge Locust
Stethophyma lineatum Striped Sedge Grasshopper
Trimerotropis maritima Seaside Grasshopper
Trimerotropis verruculata Crackling Forest Grasshopper
Subfamily Gomphocerinae: Slant-faced Grasshoppers
*Chloealtis conspersa Sprinkled Broad-winged Grasshopper
Chloealtis abdominalis Thomas’s Broad-winged Grasshopper
*Pseudochorthippus curtipennis Marsh Meadow Grasshopper
Orphulella pelidna Spotted-wing Grasshopper
Page 280 December 2012
Orphulella speciosa Pasture Locust
Subfamily Melanoplinae: Spur-throated Grasshoppers
Booneacris glacialis Wingless Mountain Grassshopper
Booneacris variegata Variegated Wingless Grasshopper
*Melanoplus bivitattus Two-striped Grasshopper
Melanoplus borealis Northern Spur-throated Grasshopper
Melanoplus bruneri Bruner’s Spur-throated Grasshopper
Melanoplus confusus Little Pasture Spur-throated Grasshopper
Melanoplus dawsoni Dawson’s Spur-throated Grasshopper
Melanoplus fasciatus Huckleberry Spur-throated Grasshopper
*Melanoplus femurrubrum Red-legged Grasshopper
Melanoplus huroni Huron Short-winged Grasshopper
Melanoplus islandicus Forest Locust
Melanoplus keeleri luridus Keeler’s Spur-throated Grasshopper
Melanoplus mancus Smith’s Short-winged Grasshopper
*Melanoplus punctulatus Pine Tree Spur-throated Grasshopper
*Melanoplus sanguinipes Migratory Grasshopper
Melanoplus stonei Stone’s Grasshopper
Melanoplus viridipes Green-legged Grasshopper
FAMILY TRIDACTLYIDAE (Sand Crickets)
Neotridactylus apicalis* Larger Sand Cricket
FAMILY TETREGIDAE (Pygmy Grasshoppers)
Subfamily Tetriginae: Grouse Locusts
Paratettix cuculatus Hooded Grouse Locust
Tetrix arenosa angusta Obscure Grouse Locust
Tetrix brunerii Brunner’s Grouse Locust
*Tetrix ornata ornata Ornate Grouse Locust
Tetrix subulata Slender/Awl-shaped Grouse Locust
Subfamily Batrachideinae: Pygmy Grasshoppers
Tettigidea lateralis Black-sided Pygmy Grasshopper
