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The
Blue Bill
Quarterly Journal of the Kingston Field Naturalists
ISSN 0382-5655
Volume 60, No. 3 September 2013
Contents
President’s Page Mark Andrew Conboy .........63
KFN Income Statement Larry McCurdy ...................65
KFN Balance Sheet Larry McCurdy ...................66
Kingston Region Birds Summer Season 1June-31July Mark Andrew Conboy .........67
Sights and Sounds of the Roadside Terry Sprague ......................69
The Great Canadian Bioblitz of 2013 Anne Robertson ...................71
Vertebrates .............................................74
Invertebrates .............................................77
Vascular Plants .............................................81
Non-vascular Plants and Fungi .............................................87
WinterFinch Forecast 2013-2014 Ron Pittaway .......................88
KFN Ramble to Property of Ed Fletcher Joe Benderavage ...................92
Ontario Endangered Species Act Conference Shirely French .....................93
The Blue Bill is the quarterly journal (published
March, June, September and December) of the Kingston Field Naturalists, P.O. Box 831, Kingston,
ON (Canada), K7L 4X6.
Website: http://www.kingstonfieldnaturalists.org
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
2013/2014 Officers
President: Gaye Beckwith
613-376-3716
Honorary President : Ron D. Weir
613-549-5274
Vice-President: Darren Rayner
613-888-9906
Past President: Gaye Beckwith
613-376-3716
Treasurer: Larry McCurdy
613-389-6427
Recording Janis Grant
Secretary: 613-548-3668
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 613-876-1804 [email protected] Bird Sightings Mark D. Read 613-217-1246 [email protected] Bird Records Ron Weir 613-549-5274 [email protected] Speakers Darren Rayner 613-888-9906 [email protected] Newsletter Janet Elliott 613-547-2674 [email protected] Publicity/Website Chris Grooms 613-386-7969 [email protected] Slideshow Gaye Beckwith 613-376-3716 [email protected] Ontario Nature Ken Robinson 613-766-4782 [email protected] Member-at-large John Cartwright 613-766-2896 [email protected] Member-at-large Ken Robinson 613-766-4782 [email protected] Member-at-large Rose-marie Burke 613-549-7583 [email protected] Archives Peter McIntyre 613-548-4738 [email protected]
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 63
President’s Page
Mark Andrew Conboy
This edition of the President’s Page
covers three topics: a celebration,
bicycles and birds, and a departure.
First, a celebration. On September 10,
the KFN paid tribute to one of its most
prominent members, the late Martin
Edwards. Martin's contributions to the
KFN and conservation at large were
significant. He was a KFN president, an
Honourary President, and president of
other nature organizations. He had one
of the most comprehensive life lists of
birds of any human being - ever. Only a
handful of people have seen more
species than Martin, who had tabulated
8,456 by the time of his passing. Some of
the birds Martin saw are now extinct; no
one will ever see them again.
Martin's extraordinary contributions to
conservation and accomplishments as a
birder are the reasons we decided to
rename the KFN's Amherst Island
property after him. The property
attracts more than its fair share of rare
birds, and many of us have had the
pleasure of expanding our life lists with
exciting vagrants that have shown up
there over the years. In late August Bud
Rowe, Mark Read, Erwin Batalla, Peter
Good, Lynn Bell and Gaye Beckwith
erected a beautiful new sign at the main
(south) entrance to the reserve. On
September 10 we formally dedicated the
property to Martin and renamed it the
Martin Edwards Reserve.
For the past few years I've been
changing my birding habits
substantially, so that now I do most of
my birding from my bicycle. I didn't get
into bicycle birding as a means of
reducing my carbon-footprint or
anything so noble, but rather because its
a fun and highly productive way to see
birds and other wildlife. I see and hear
way more birds from my bike than from
my car. I get a workout and goodness
knows a middle-aged guy with a taste
for dark beer needs the exercise. I never
have a parking issue, and I see a lot
more non-avian wildlife too.
Cycling is a good way to become
immersed in a landscape, but it also
means dealing with rain, snow, wind,
and the other elements. It means a wet
rear-end when roads and trails are
damp and entails some close calls with
traffic. All in all, the joy of zipping along
under your own power and ticking off
birds is worth the inconvenience.
Granted, birding by bicycle is a little
impractical if you're a rarity chaser -
who has the time or ambition to bike to
Point Pelee or Thunder Bay or even
Page 64 September 2013
Presqu'ile Provincial Park after every
rarity? But if you already live in or near
a birdy place, then hop on your bike and
hit the road!
I am lucky that I spent the last 3.5 years
living on the Frontenac Arch, one of the
most biologically rich parts of Ontario.
Queen's University Biological Station
(QUBS) and its environs support one of
the most diverse assemblages of
breeding birds in the province,
including sought-after species like
cerulean and golden-winged warblers.
Good numbers of migrants make their
way through, and rarities show up from
time to time, adding to the excitement.
Even the dead of winter can be
productive: open water at Chaffey's
Lock and other lock stations harbours
waterbirds and attracts raptors. With
hundreds of kilometres of quiet roads
and great biking trails (including the
Cataraqui Trail which is excellent for
birds and perhaps even better for
dragonflies, butterflies and reptiles), the
Greater QUBS Area, as I affectionally
call it, is a bicycle birder's mecca.
Our region is blessed with other good
bicycle birding locales: Lemoine Point
Conservation Area, Wolfe Island,
Amherst Island and Prince Edward
County are prime spots to bird by bike. I
put my bike in the car and drive to one
of the ferry docks, from which I set out
for a day on Wolfe or Amherst or even
an entire weekend in the County.
What kind of bike do you need? It
doesn't matter, just make it a reliable
one. As a young naturalist I worked at
Presqu'ile Provincial Park, and the sage
of Presqu'ile birding, Fred Helleiner,
rode all over the place on a rusty old
bike, his binoculars dangling from his
neck, his scope slung over his shoulder.
You'll still find him doing that today if
you visit the park. A rusty old bike can
get you as many birds as a $2500
carbon-fibre bike if you ride it in the
right places. With a little investment in
some saddlebags you can bring along
your scope, all the clothes and other
gear you might need and even a bottle
of wine to celebrate the day's big find.
Give it a try, you might never want to
bird from your car again.
Finally, I'd like to announce to those
who haven't yet heard that I will be
resigning from my position as KFN
president. A new job opportunity will
take me away from Kingston in
November, and so I must say goodbye.
I'm saddened to have to leave Kingston
and the KFN, but will happily look back
on my time as president and as a
member of the Executive. Past
president, Gaye Beckwith will step back
into the president's role in the interim,
and Darren Rayner will move from vice-
president to president at a future date.
Thanks to the members for your
participation and for making the KFN
one of the most successful and
productive naturalist clubs in the
province. A special thanks to the
Executive who do an extraordinary
amount of volunteer work all year long
to keep this club going. You are an
amazing and inspiring group!
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 67
Kingston Region Birds for the Summer Season: June 1-July 31, 2013
Mark Andrew Conboy
The summer birding season was a fairly
quiet one this year. There were no major
rarities among the 181 reported species.
There were a few species found outside
their normal season. Below are
highlights for the reporting period.
Brant: 12 off Main Duck Isl. (Martin)
8Jun; 1 at Amherst Isl. (Mackenzie, Read
& Conboy) 18Jul-Aug.
Trumpeter Swan: 1-2 at Chaffey’s Lock
(Conboy & North Leeds Birders) 5Jun-
21Jul; 1-2 at Perch River WMA, NY
(KFN) 29Jun-18Jul.
Lesser Scaup: 1-7 at Amherstview
Sewage Lagoons (KFN) 1Jun-21Jul.
Long-tailed Duck: 1 seen in the open
lake from a boat trip to Main Duck Isl.
(Martin) 8Jun.
Common Goldeneye: 1 at Amherst Isl.
(Hennige) 8Jun.
Red-throated Loon: 1 photographed at
Gananoque (Evers) 27Jun.
Least Bittern: 2 at Moscow Marsh
(Mackenzie & Read) 18Jun; 2 at Hay Bay
(Hennige) 18Jun; 1-2 at Perch River
WMA, NY (KFN) 29Jun-9Jul.
Great Egret: Widespread near Lake
Ontario for the reporting period (KFN).
Sandhill Crane: 1 chick and 2 adults
near Lower Rock Lake (Siegfried) 4Jun;
1 at Prince Edward Pt. (Hennige) 16Jun.
Whimbrel: 1 at Amherst Isl.
(Mackenzie, Read & Weir) 28Jul.
Ruddy Turnstone: 2 at Amherst Isl.
(Hennige) 8Jun.
White-rumped Sandpiper: 1 at Amherst
Isl. (Mackenzie & Read) 1Jun; 1 at
Amherst Isl. (Mackenzie & Read) 10Jun.
Dunlin: 2 at Amherst Isl. (Mackenzie &
Read) 1Jun.
Stilt Sandpiper: 2 at Amherst Isl.
(Mackenzie & Read) 18Jul.
Short-billed Dowitcher: 1 at Amherst
Isl. (Mackenzie & Read) 10Jun; 1 at
Amherstview Sewage Lagoons (Weir)
21Jul.
Great Black-backed Gull: 1 off Main
Duck Isl. (Martin) 8Jun.
Long-eared Owl: 1 at Sheffield
Conservation Area (Bird) 19Jun.
Peregrine Falcon: A pair was on
territory all summer in downtown
Kingston (KFN).
Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1 at Marshlands
CA(Read) 9Jun; 1 near Roslin (Sabourin)
16Jun.
Carolina Wren: Scattered records near
Lake Ontario (KFN).
Blue-winged Warbler: 1 at Main Duck
Isl. (Gilbert & Martin) 9Jun; 1 at
Page 68 September 2013
Wellesley Isl. SP (Dacol) 12Jun; 1 near
Perch River WMA, NY (Young) 16Jun; 1
at Limerick Cedars Preserve (Dashnau)
9Jul.
Mourning Warbler: 1 at Canoe Lake Rd.
(Blancher) 4Jun; 1 at Sand Gulley Rd.
(Grooms) 5Jun; 1 at Opinicon Rd. (Bell)
17Jun; 1 at Queen’s University
Biological Station (Conboy) 15Jul.
Prairie Warbler: 1-2 at Charleston Lake
PP (Robinson & Wood) 5Jun-9Jul; 2 at
Chaumont Barrens Preserve (Young)
14Jun; 6 at Limerick Cedars Preserve
(Dashnau) 9Jul.
Orchard Oriole: 2 at Lemoine Pt. CA
(KFN) 1-30Jun; 1-2 Amherst Isl.
(Hennige & Read) 9-10Jun; 3 at Perch
River WMA (Young) 15Jun.
Pine Siskin: 1 at Main Duck Isl. (Gilbert
& Martin) 9Jun.
Observers: David Bell, Emily Bird, Peter
Blancher, Mark Conboy, Dalcio Dacol,
Gregg Dashnau, Brenda Evers, Barrie
Gilbert, Chris Grooms, Kurt Hennige,
Paul Mackenzie, Paul Martin, Mark
Read, North Leeds Birders, Chris
Robinson, Bryan Sabourin, Scott
Siegfried, Ron Weir, Ross Wood and
John Young. When KFN is cited, more
than three birders were involved in the
sighting.
Other species reported during the
summer season: Canada Goose, Mute
Swan, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American
Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard,
Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler,
Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser,
Common Merganser, Red-breasted
Merganser, Ring-necked Pheasant,
Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Common
Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested
Cormorant, American Bittern, Great
Blue Heron, Green Heron, Black-
crowned Night-Heron, Turkey Vulture,
Osprey, Northern Harrier, Sharp-
shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Bald
Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-
winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk,
Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Gallinule,
Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Spotted
Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater
Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Upland
Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper,
Least Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe,
American Woodcock, Wilson’s
Phalarope, Bonaparte’s Gull, Ring-billed
Gull, Herring Gull, Caspian Tern, Black
Tern, Common Tern, Rock Pigeon,
Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo,
Black-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Screech-
Owl, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl,
Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-
Poor-Will, Chimney Swift, Ruby-
throated Hummingbird, Belted
Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker,
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy
Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker,
Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker,
American Kestrel, Merlin, Eastern
Wood-Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Willow
Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Eastern
Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher,
Eastern Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike,
Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-headed
Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo,
Blue Jay, American Crow, Common
Raven, Northern Rough-winged
Swallow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow,
Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff
Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 69
breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted
Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren,
Winter Wren, Marsh Wren, Blue-grey
Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Veery,
Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush,
American Robin, Grey Catbird, Brown
Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar
Waxwing, Ovenbird, Northern
Waterthrush, Golden-winged Warbler,
Black-and-white Warbler, Nashville
Warbler, Common Yellowthroat,
American Redstart, Cerulean Warbler,
Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler,
Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler,
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll
Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler,
Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler,
Black-throated Blue Warbler, Canada
Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Chipping
Sparrow, Clay-coloured Sparrow,
Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow,
Grasshopper Sparrow, Song Sparrow,
Swamp Sparrow, White-throated
Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Scarlet
Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Rose-
breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting,
Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird,
Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle,
Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore
Oriole, Purple Finch, House Finch,
American Goldfinch and House
Sparrow.
Sights and Sounds of the Roadside
Terry Sprague
We strike out at 5:30 every morning, my
dog and me. It is still quite dark, but
there are hints of daylight appearing on
the eastern horizon behind us. My
L.E.D. headlamp illuminates the road
ahead of us; a fluorescent safety vest
provides visibility for early commuters
heading our way, all of whom dim their
lights for us. They are a friendly bunch;
one morning a hand and a hearty wave
stretched out through an open sunroof.
In the quiet moments between the two
or three cars I meet, there are other
sounds. It took a couple of weeks before
I realized that the three white-throated
sparrows were no longer serenading me
with their whistled notes. Neither was
the field sparrow. The sixty or so
bobolinks that occupied the four fields
of unharvested hay this summer have
disappeared. Even the eastern towhee
had quieted a bit. Now it is crows, blue
jays, and the occasional osprey. This
morning it was a raven, its croaking,
raucous notes drifting across the ash
and red cedar claimed fields from some
distant point.
Karate instructor Kenzo Dozono of
Belleville knows all about the offerings
of early morning; daybreak will usually
find him along the H. R. Frink Centre’s
marsh boardwalk, waiting, for both the
sun and that first Virginia rail to appear.
Early mornings are special, and those
who prefer to miss them are losing out
on the best of Nature.
As I walk along, there is the occasional
explosive call of a fox from deep within
the oaks and hickories. I now know it is
a fox as I have heard it for two or three
years, not really knowing for sure its
identity. So curious about the unusual
call was I one morning last year that I
Page 70 September 2013
actually went off in search of it, not
knowing for certain what might turn up
in my headlamp as I felt my way
through the dark woods. I was
beginning to question my decision, as
even seasoned naturalists tend to be a
bit leery of places they don’t yet
understand, and a dense woods in total
darkness is one of them. Then, in my
headlamp, I saw it: the fox skittering
along the edge of a fenceline separating
the woods from the open field.
Sounds change as the season advances.
These days, it is the chorus of crickets,
grasshoppers and other insects whose
voices and identity I am not sure of. It
has been a few years since I last heard
the raspy drawn out notes of a katydid.
I try to imagine what kind of
information these insects are
exchanging. Is my presence part of the
conversation or are they giving
directions to food?
The crickets have been singing all night
– the males are the songsters. They rub
their wings together dragging a small
peg on one wing across a row of ridges
on the other. Think of it as someone
dragging their fingernail down the teeth
of a comb, one tooth at a time. We don’t
hear these individual clicks, as they are
produced too quickly for our mediocre
ears to detect. What we hear is a chirp,
one we know well from crickets making
their way into our homes right now. The
sound would need to be slowed down
electronically to pick up the individual
notes that make up that chirp.
As the morning darkness gives way to
rising sun, it is not so much the sounds
as it is the sights taking form in the dim
light. The fog enshrouded silky nests of
fall webworms sparkle against the rising
sun. These are not tent caterpillars.
What we are seeing now occurs much
later in the season. Tent caterpillars
appear in early spring as the leaves are
emerging. Note their webbed nests, too.
The communal nests of fall webworms
are placed closer to the ends of
branches, while those of spring tent
caterpillars are concentrated farther
back, in the crotches of branches. Both
are notorious defoliators, but the
damage from fall webworm is more
cosmetic since it occurs toward the end
of the growing season when leaves have
all but ceased their functionality. You
may have seen the lozenge-shaped pupa
scattered about – hard structures and
rather pointed at one end, somewhat
like the chrysalis of a Monarch butterfly,
but reddish-brown in colour. The fall
webworm turns into a fall webworm
moth, about as nondescript as its name.
`
Spider Web Photo by Kenzo Dozono
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 71
As autumn advances and the leaves
begin to fall, other things take shape.
The abandoned nests of birds that I have
passed beneath or beside every
morning, not even realizing they were
present. Nesting birds are wisely
secretive during the critical breeding
season. There are cowbirds out there,
and predators. They can’t take a chance
on our intentions; I am viewed with
suspicion, so they remain hidden, or
direct my attention elsewhere with
distractions. In the fall, I am of no
interest to them.
Every walk is different and new things
emerge as the season advances. I have
already noted the absence of some early
morning songsters. The fisher is still
here, and I see him occasionally crossing
the road, opportunistically seeking out
any prey that may be foolishly off-
guard. One morning, much later, a
marked drop in temperature will signal
the end of the insects and their voices
will cease, replaced by the ‘check’ call-
notes of yellow-rumped warblers as
they clean up any remaining spiders in
the prickly ash.
The season progresses, almost on cue,
one aspect of the natural world that our
meddling hands are unable to stop.
Despite our bumbling attempts to
control nature, the leaves will still turn,
the blue of New England aster and the
graceful plumes of goldenrod will
continue to forge ahead, and November
will be upon us with its own special
attributes. To enjoy it, we just need to
leave our portable music devices and
earphones behind and pay attention to
the sights and music that are ours at no
charge, if we just take time to observe
and listen.
Terry Sprague is a professional naturalist,
free-lance writer and KFN member who
lives in Prince Edward County.
The Great Canadian BioBlitz of 2013
Anne Robertson
The purpose of a BioBlitz is to list as
many plant and animal species as
possible in a 24-hour period at a selected
site, giving a snapshot of its
biodiversity. This one-day inventory of
living things provides a baseline for
observing future changes that could
occur due to global warming or invasive
species. Amateur and professional
naturalists join forces to spot and
identify species and to educate each
other and the public about the diversity
of the location.
The 15th annual BioBlitz of the KFN was
held on the Depot Creek Nature
Reserve, a property of the Land
Conservancy for Kingston, Frontenac,
Lennox & Addington. The 72-acre
property has wetland, woodland and
open areas, providing habitat for a
variety of plants and animals. The
weather was perfect and relatively few
mosquitoes were encountered!
Participants parked at the road and
walked across the meadow to reach the
base tent, where registration and the
Page 72 September 2013
BBQ took place and the guided walks
began. Five groups camped on the
adjacent property of Kim Ondaatje, a
very helpful local resident.
Sixty-two field observers spread over
the property from 3pm June 14, to 3pm
June 15, collecting information on
everything from early-morning birds to
night-time moths and from woodland
slugs to wetland Red-bellied Leeches.
Participants included Kingston Field
Naturalists (about 35), professionals,
neighbours and youth. A party from
Deep River came to help us list species.
Guided walks were available to the
public on a variety of natural history
themes. Topics included live trap and
release of small mammals, bird
identification and snake hunting as well
as moth, butterfly, and dragonfly listing
and pond dipping.
An astronomy session proved to be of
great interest, although it did not add
species to our lists. This dark-sky site
enabled people to have spectacular
sightings with the telescope provided. A
delicious BBQ was held at noon on
Saturday and prizes were presented for
answering quiz questions. Volunteers
were thanked and the Land
Conservancy presented with a bat
roosting box for allowing us use of the
site. The box made by KFN member
Lynn Bell has been installed.
An exciting sighting was our only
Ontario lizard species: a Five-lined
Skink seen by many. The southern
Shield population of Skinks is listed as
being of Special Concern. (The
Carolinian population is Endangered).
A mature male skink was seen on the
property a few days prior to the Blitz; a
young or female specimen (with blue
tail) was seen later. Three of seven turtle
species in Eastern Ontario were seen.
Musk Turtle and Blanding’s Turtle are
Species At Risk; the Midland Painted
Turtle is not. Finding a Pike in the Cattle
Pond was a surprise, leading to
speculation as to how it got there.
Bird sightings were representative of the
Lands Between, i.e. some Shield species
and some open field species such as
Meadowlark and Bobolink, aerial
insectivores and Species At Risk mostly
because of the habitat loss. Common
Nighthawk and Whip-poor-will were
heard, and a Bluebird was found
nesting in a natural cavity.
The young and not-so-young enjoyed
dipping in a beaver pond for small
animals to add to other invertebrates,
including species that entered live traps
left in the water overnight. Invertebrates
included Moustached Clubtail and Ashy
Clubtail dragonflies (new to KFN list) as
well as the rare Lilypad Clubtail and
Horned Clubtail. These Clubtails are
found near running water. A Leopard
Guided Walk Photo by Gaye Beckwith
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 73
Moth and a Baltimore Checkerspot were
nice finds as were nine species of Flower
Fly including Sericomyia lata.
Plants represented half of species seen,
and included trees and shrubs, grasses,
sedges and other flowering herbaceous
species. This is a big job; we are grateful
to those who found and identified them.
Several Butternut trees were seen and a
Bristly Greenbrier was a special
sighting. Some non-vascular plants
(which include mosses and lichens)
were recorded and a few Fungi named.
Nighttime activities allowed the
addition of species more active after
dark and included one bat observation
(with bat detector), owl calling and
moth identification. Overnight Whip-
poor-wills (a Species Of Concern) were
heard and the Bullfrog calls were
deafening! (The largest Bullfrog
weighed was 265grams!)
There were relatively few specimens of
invasive species, indicating the lack of
disturbance at this site. No Garlic
Mustard, European Buckthorn or Wild
Parsnip was recorded and the presence
of Dog-strangling Vine was minimal.
The final tally was 7 mammal species, 70
birds, 10 reptiles and amphibians, and
12 fish for a total of 99 vertebrates.
Thirty-one dragonflies and damselflies,
23 species of butterflies, 64 moth species
were among the total of 227 invertebrate
species, a third of the total species.
Seventeen ferns and allies were
recorded and the final tally of trees,
shrubs and herbaceous plants including
grasses and sedges is 345, half of the
species. A few non-vascular plants and
Fungi brought the total to a wonderful
691 species for this one day inventory of
the property, the second best tally for a
KFN BioBlitz.
Thanks to those who made this BioBlitz
possible, including the committee,
registration team, walk leaders, species
listers and tally compilers. We hope that
future generations will also have the
thrill of finding as much variety of life in
this area in one day.
The following tally has mostly been
organized with scientific names of
species in alphabetical order within
families organized in taxonomic order.
It was collated by several individuals
and names have been updated as far as
possible. Common names used are
taken from sources including NHIC
(Natural Heritage Information Centre)
and field guides. Alien plants are
indicated by *, and alternative common
names of plants included in brackets.
Moths are listed by Hodges number.
.
Sericomyia lata Photo by Kurt
Hennige
Page 74 September 2013
Vertebrates
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
MAMMALS
VESPERTILIONIDAE BATS
Bat sp.
LEPORIDAE RABBITS & HARES
Sylvilagus floridanus
mearnsii Eastern Cottontail
SCIURIDAE SQUIRRELS
Tamias striatus lysteri Chipmunk
Tamiasciurius
hudsonicus loquax Red Squirrel
Marmota monax
rufescens Woodchuck
MUSTELIDAE WEASELS
Mustela vison vison Mink
CERVIDAE DEER
Odocoileus viginianus
borealis White-tailed deer
BIRDS
GAVIIDAE LOONS
Gavia immer Common Loon
ARDEIDAE HERONS & BITTERNS
Botaurus lentiginosus American Bittern
Ardea herodius Great Blue Heron
ANATIDAE
SWANS, GEESE, &
DUCKS
Branta canadensis Canada Goose
Aix sponsa Wood Duck
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard
CATHARTIDAE VULTURES
Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
ACCIPITRIDAE
HAWKS FALCONS &
EAGLES
Pandion haliaetus Osprey
Buteo jamaicensis Red-tailed Hawk
TETRAONIDAE GROUSE
Bonasa umbellus Ruffed Grouse
SCOLOPACIDAE
WOODCOCK, SNIPE,
SANDPIPERS
Capella gallinago Wilson Snipe
Philohila minor American Woodcock
COLUMBIDAE DOVES
Zenaida macroura Mourning Dove
Columba livia Rock Pigeon
CUCULIDAE CUCKOOS
Coccyzus americanus Yellow-billed Cuckoo
STRIGIDAE OWLS
Strix varia Barred Owl
CAPRIMULGIDAE GOATSUCKERS
Chordeiles minor Common Nighthawk
Caprimulgus vociferus Whip-poor-will
TROCHILIDAE HUMMINGBIRDS
Archilochus colubris
Ruby-throated
Hummingbird
ALCEDINIDAE KINGFISHERS
Megaceryle alcyon Belted Kingfisher
PICIDAE WOODPECKERS
Sphyrapicus varius
Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker
Picoides pubescens Downy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus Hairy Woodpecker
Colaptes auratus Northern Flicker
Dryocopus pileatus Pileated Woodpecker
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 75
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
TYRANNIDAE FLYCATCHERS
Contopus virens Eastern Wood Pewee
Empidonax minimus Least Flycatcher
Sayornis phoebe Eastern Phoebe
Myiarchus crinitus
Great-crested
Flycatcher
Tyrannus tyrannus Eastern Kingbird
HIRUNDINIDAE SWALLOWS
Iridoprocne bicolor Tree Swallow
CORVIDAE JAYS AND CROWS
Cyanocitta cristata Blue Jay
Corvus brachyrhynchos American Crow
Corvus corax Common Raven
PARIDAE TITMICE
Parus atricapillus
Black-capped
Chickadee
SITTIDAE NUTHATCHES
Sitta carolinensis
White-breasted
Nuthatch
TROGLODYTIDAE WRENS
Troglodytes aedon House Wren
SYLVIINAE
KINGLETS &
GNATCATCHERS
Polioptila caerulea Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
TURDINAE
THRUSHES &
BLUEBIRDS
Sialia sialis Eastern Bluebird
Catharus fuscescens Veery
Turdus migratorius American Robin
MIMIDAE MIMICS
Dumetella carolinensis Gray Catbird
Toxostoma rufum Brown Thrasher
BOMBYCILLIDAE WAXWINGS
Bombycilla cedrorum Cedar Waxwing
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
STURNIDAE STARLINGS
Sturnus vulgaris European Starling
VIREONIDAE VIREOS
Vireo olivaceus Red-eyed Vireo
PARULINAE WOOD WARBLERS
Vermivora chrysoptera
Golden-winged
Warbler
Dendroica petechia Yellow Warbler
Dendroica pensylvanica
Chestnut-sided
Warbler
Dendroica virens
Black-throated Green
Warbler
Mniotilta varia
Black-and-White
Warbler
Setophaga ruticilla American Redstart
Seiurus aurocapillus Ovenbird
Geothlypis trichas Common Yellowthroat
THRAUPINAE TANAGERS
Piranga olivacea Scarlet Tanager
CARDINALINAE CARDINALS, ALLIES
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Rose-breasted
Grosbeak
Passerina cyanea Indigo Bunting
EMBERIZINAE
SPARROWS AND
BUNTINGS
Pipilo erythropthalmus Eastern Towhee
Spizella passerina Chipping Sparrow
Spizella pusilla Field Sparrow
Passerculus
sandwichensis Savannah Sparrow
Melospiza melodia Song Sparrow
Melospiza georgiana Swamp Sparrow
Page 76 September 2013
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
ICTERINAE
MEADOWLARKS &
BLACKBIRDS
Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink
Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird
Sturnella magna Eastern Meadowlark
Quiscalus quicula Common Grackle
Molothrus ater
Brown-headed
Cowbird
Icterus galbula Baltimore Oriole
FRINGILLIDAE FINCHES
Carduelis tristis American Goldfinch
REPTILES
KINOSTERNIDAE
MUSK AND MUD
TURTLES
Sternotherus odoratus Common Musk Turtle
EMYDIDAE
POND AND MARSH
TURTLES
Chrysemys picta Midland Painted Turtle
Emydoidea blandingi Blanding's Turtle
SCINCIDAE SKINKS
Eumeces fasciatus Five-lined Skink
COLUBRIDAE TYPICAL SNAKES
Thamnophis sirtalis Common Garter Snake
Nerodia sipedon Northern Water Snake
AMPHIBIANS
HYLIDAE TREEFROGS
Hyla versicolor Gray Treefrog
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
RANIDAE TRUE FROGS
Rana pipiens Northern Leopard Frog
Rana clamitans Green Frog
Rana catesbiana Bull Frog
FISH
FUNDULIDAE
Fundulus diaphanus Banded Killifish
CENTRARCHIDAE
Lepomis gibbosus Pumpkinseed
Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill
Ambloplites rupestris Rock Bass
PERCIDAE
Perca flavescens Yelow Perch
Etheostoma nigrum Johnny Darter
ICTALURIDAE
Ameiurus nebulosus Brown Bullhead
CYPRINIDAE
Pimephales promelas Fathead Minnow
Notropis cornutus Common Shiner
Semolitus atromaculatus Creek Chub
Chrosomus eos
Northern Redbelly
Dace
ESOCIDAE
Esox sp. Northern Pike
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 77
Invertebrates
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
INSECTA INSECTS
Ephemeroptera Mayflies
Caenis sp. Small Squaregills
Tricorythodes sp. Little Stout Crawlers
Odonata Dragon & Damselflies
Zygoptera Damselflies
Lestes inaequalis Elegant Spreadwing
Calopteryx maculata Powdered Dancer
Enallagma ebrium Marsh Bluet
Ischnura posita Fragile Forktail
Ischnura verticalis Eastern Forktail
Nehalennia irene Sedge Sprite
Lestidae family
Spreadwinged
damselfly nymph
Calopterygidae family
Green Spreadwing
damselfly nymph
Anisoptera Dragonflies
Aeshnidae Darners
Anax junius
Common Green
Darner
Basiaeschna janata Springtime Darner
Gomphidae Clubtails
Arigomphus cornutus* Horned Clubtail
Gomphus adelphus*Pr Moustached Clubtail
Gomphus exilis Lancet Clubtail
Gomphus lividus* Ashy Clubtail
Hagenius brevistylus Dragonhunter
Corduliieae Emeralds
Dorocordulia libera* Racket-tailed Emerald
Epitheca canis Beaverpond Baskettail
Epitheca cynosura Common Baskettail
Epitheca princeps Prince Baskettail
Libelluldeae Skimmers
Erythemis simplicicollis Common Pondhawk
Ladona (Libellula) julia
Chalk-fronted
Corporal
Leucorrhinia frigida* Frosted Whiteface
Leucorrhinia hudsonica* Hudsonian Whiteface
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Leucorrhinia intacta Dot-tailed Whiteface
Leucorrhinia proxima Belted Whiteface
Libellula incesta Slaty Skimmer
Libellula luctuosa Widow Skimmer
Libellula pulchella
Twelve-spotted
Skimmer
Libellula quadrimaculata Four-spotted Skimmer
Pachydiplax longipennis Blue Dasher
Plathemis (Libellulua)
lydia Common Whitetail
Plecoptera Stoneflies
Plecoptera sp. Stonefly nymph
Orthoptera
Grasshoppers,
Katydids and Crickets
Nemoblinae Ground Cricket
Acrididae
Short-horned
Grasshopper
Chortophaga
viridifasciata
Northern Green-
striped Grasshopper
Gomphocerinae sp.
Slant-faced
Grasshopper
Gryllus sp. Field Cricket
Blattodea Roaches
Periplaneta americana American Cockroach
Hemiptera True Bugs
Lygus lineolaris Tarnished Plant Bug
Perillus bioculatus Two-spotted Stinkbug
Acrosternum hilare Green Stinkbug
Lygaeus kalmi Small Milkweed Bug
Oncopeltus fasciatus Large Milkweed Bug
Cedusa sp. Derbid Planthopper
Corixidae family Water Boatman
Notonectidae family Backswimmer
Gerridae family Water Strider
Nepidae family Water Bug nymph
Paraprociphilus
tessellates Wooly Alder Aphid
Aphrophora cribrasta Pine Spittlebug
Page 78 September 2013
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Neuroptera
Dobsonflies,
Lacewings, Antlions
and Relatives
Chrysopidae sp. Green lacewing
Sub group Megaloptera Fishflies
Nigronia serricornis Dark Fishfly
Chauliodes rasticornis Spring Fishfly
Coleoptera Beetles and Weevils
Macrodactylus
subspinosus Rose Chafer
Chrysomela sp Leaf Beetle
Galerucini sp. Leaf Beetle
Agriotes sp. Click Beetle
Propylea
quatuordecimpunctata
Fourteen-spotted Lady
Beetle
Pyropyga sp. Firefly
Lucidota atra Black Firefly
Labidomera clivicollis Milkweed Leaf Beetle
Pedilus sp. Fire-coloured Beetle
Baridinae sp. Flower Weevil
Myrmex sp. Black Weevil
Tetraopes tetrophthalmus Red Milkweed Beetle
Donacia sp. Lilypad Beetle
Dytiscidae family
Predaceous Diving
Beetle
Gyrinidae family Whirligig Beetle
Hydrophilidae Water Scavenger Beetle
Mecoptera
Scorpion Flies and
Hanging Flies
Mecoptera sp. Scorpion Fly
Trichoptera Caddisflies
Misstacides Caddisfly
Macrostemum zebratum Zebra Caddisfly
Nectopsyche exquisita White Miller type
Lepidoptera
Butterflies, Moths and
Skippers
Anatrytone logan Delaware Skipper
Ancyloxypha numitor Least Skipper
Basilarchia archippus Viceroy
Basilarchia arthemis White Admiral
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Carterocephalus
palaemon Arctic Skipper
Coenonympha tullia Common Ringlet
Colias philodice Clouded Sulphur
Erynnis juvenalis Juvenal's Dusky Wing
Euphydryas phaeton Baltimore Checkerspot
Glaucopsyche lygdamus
coup Silvery Blue
Hesperia sassacus Indian Skipper
Hyllolycaena hyllus Bronze Copper
Megisto cymela Little Wood Satyr
Papilio cresphontes Giant Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
asterous Black Swallowtail
Phyciodes cocyta Northern Crescent
Poanes hobomok Hobomok Skipper
Polites themistocles Tawny Edged Skipper
Pterorous glaucus
canadensis
Canadian Tiger
Swallowtail
Thorybes pylades Northern Cloudy Wing
Thymelicus lineola European Skipper
Vanessa virginiensis
American Painted
Lady
Wallengrenia egeremet Northern Broken Dash
Moths arranged by Hodges number
Ennomos subsignaria Elm Spanworm
Psyche casta Common Bagworm
Bibarrambia alenella Bog Bibarrambia
Olethreutes glaciana Frosty Olethreutes
Eucosma tocullionana White Pine Cone Borer
Choristoneura rosaceana
Oblique-banded
Leafroller
Clepsis persicana White-triangle Clepsis
Scoparia biplagialis
Double-striped
Scoparia
Elophila gyralis Waterlily Borer
Parapoynx maculalis Pondweed Moth
Crambus saltuellus Pasture Grass-Veneer
Agriphila sp. Vagabond Sod Moth
big white one Plume Moth 1
smaller brown one Plume Moth 2
Macaria sp. Angle sp.
Iridopsis humaria Small Purplish Gray
Eufidonia notataria Powder Moth
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 79
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Hupagyrtis unipunctata One-spot Variant
Euchlaena irraria
Least Marked
Euchlaena
Phaeoura quernaria Oak Beauty
Campaea perlata Pale Beauty
Metarranthis sp. Metarranthis
Cepphis armataria Scallopwing
Probole sp. Probole
Plagodis serinaria Lemon Plagodis
Tetracis cachexiata White Slant-Line
Dichorda iridaria Showy Emerald
Chlorochlamy
chloroleucaria Blackberry Looper
Horisme intestinata Brown Bark Carpet
Eupithecia sp. Pug sp.
Heterophleps refusaria Three-Patch Bigwing
Actias luna Luna Moth
Nadata gibbosa
White-dotted
Prominent
Hyperaeschra georgica Georgian Prominent
Pheosia rimosa
Black-rimmed
Prominent
Narice bidentata
Double-toother
Prominent
Ellida caniplaga Linden Prominent
Heterocampa sp. Heterocampa sp.
Clemensia albata
Little White Lichen
Moth
Pyrrharctic isabella Isabella Tiger Moth
Spilosoma dubia Dubious Tiger Moth
Spilosoma virginica Virginia Tiger Moth
Hyphantria cunea Fall Webworm
Hypercompe scribonia Giant Leopard Moth
Lophocampa caryae Hickory Tussock Moth
Euchaetes egle
Milkweed Tussock
Moth
Ctenucha virginica Virginia Ctenucha
(Bomolocha) Hypena
manalis Flowing-line Snout
Zanclognatha sp. Fanfoot
Zale horrida Horrid Zale
Caenurgina sp. Forgage Looper type
Paileya ophthalmica Eyed Baileya
Homophoberia apicosa Black Wedge-spot
Leuconycta diphteroides Green Leuconycta
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Colocasia flavicornis Saddled Yellowhorn
Colocasia propinquilinea
Close-banded
Yellowhorn
Acronicta sp. Streaked Dagger type
Nedra ramosula Grey Half-spot
Balsa trigigella Three-lined Balsa
Elaphria alapallida Pale-winged Midget
Ochropleura implecta Flame-shouldered Dart
Condica videns
White-dotted
Groundling Moth
Chrysoteuchia topiarius
Topiary Grass-veneer
Moth
Malacosoma americanum
Eastern Tent
Caterpillar
Diptera True Flies
Vitisiella brevicauda Grape Gall Midge
Gymnopterus sp Long-legged Fly
Dolichopus sp. Long-legged Fly
Chrysops sp. Deer Fly
Sciomyzidae sp. Marsh Fly
Tachinidae sp. Parasitic Fly
Calliphoridae sp. Blow Fly
Empididae sp. Dance Fly
Muscidae sp. Muscid Fly
Microdon sp. Flower Fly
Toxomerus marginatus Flower Fly
Toxomerus geminatus Flower Fly
Eristalis sp. Flower Fly
Eristalis transversa Flower Fly
Sphaerophoria sp. Flower Fly
Syrphus grossularria Flower Fly
Sericomyia lata Flower Fly
Temnostoma alternus Flower Fly
Hemipenthes sp. Bee Fly
Scarophagidae sp. Flesh Fly
Atrichopogon sp. Biting Midge
Dioctria hyalipennis Robber Fly
Laphria thoracica Robber Fly
Rhagionidae Snipe Fly
Tipulidae sp 1 Crane Fly
Tipulidae sp 2 Crane Fly
Page 80 September 2013
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Hymenoptera
Ants, Bees, Sawflies
and Wasps
Xylocopa virginica Eastern Carpenter Bee
Ancistrocerus antilope Mason Wasp
Bombus imaptiens
Common Eastern
Bumblebee
Melandrena sp. Andrenid Bee
Andrena crataegi Andrenid Bee
Megachilidae sp. Leafcutter Bee
Myrmicinae sp. Crematogater Ant
Philanthinae Bee Wolf
Chalybio californicus Blue Mud Dauber
Tenthredinidae sp. Sawfly
Lasioglossura sp. Sweat Bee
Orussus sp. Parasitic Wood Wasp
Chalcidoidea sp. Chalcid Wasp
Ichneumonidae sp. Ichneumon Wasp
Netelia sp. Ichneumon Wasp
OTHER INVERTEBRATES
Phylum Arthropoda
Chilipoda Centipedes
Lithobiomorpho sp. Centipede
Diplapoda Millipedes
Narceus americanus Millipede
Arachnida Arachnids
Araneae Spiders
Dolomedes triton
Six-spotted Jumping
Spider
Eris millitaris Jumping Spider
Pisaurina sp. Nursery Web Spider
Acari Mites and Ticks
Vasates aceriscrumena Maple Spindlegall Mite
Eriophyes ulmi Elm finger Gall Mite
Eriophyes padi
Cherry Spindlegall
Mite
Acalitus fagerinea Beech Erineum Mite
Hydrachna sp. Red Water Mite
Acari sp (aquatic) Striped Leg Mite
Hydrachna sp. Brown Water Mite
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Crustacea
Isopoda Isopods
Porcello spinicornis Pillbug
Cladocera Water Fleas
Chydoridae family
Chydorid sp. Chydorid water flea
Daphniidae Family
Ceriodaphnia sp.
Ceriodaphnia water
flea
Phylum Rotifera Wheel animals
Brachionus sp.
Keratella sp.
Phylum Mollusca Molluscs
Gastropoda Snails
Pulmonate Snail
Orb shell (operculum
absent)
Prosobranch Snail (Gilled
Snails)
Gilled snail (cone shell
and operculum)
Bivalvia Clams, Mussels
Sphaeriidae family Pea or Fingernail Clam
Elliptio complanata
Eastern Elliptio/ Fresh
Water Clam
Phylum Annelida Segmented Worms
Hirudnea Leeches
Helobdella sp. Leech
Haemopsis sp. Horse Leech
Tubifex sp. Sludge Worm
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 81
Vascular Plants
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
LYCOPODIACEAE CLUBMOSS FAMILY
Diphasiastrum digitatum Fan Clubmoss
Diphasiastrum tristachyum Ground Cedar
Lycopodium clavatum Running Pine
Lycopodium obscurum Ground-pine
EQUISETACEAE HORSETAIL FAMILY
Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail
Equisetum hyemale Common Scouring-rush
Equisetum sylvaticum Woodland Horsetail
OPHIOGLOSSACEAE
ADDERS-TONGUE
FAMILY
Botrychium virginianum Rattlesnake Fern
OSMUNDACEAE
FLOWERING FERN
FAMILY
Osmunda regalis Royal Fern
POLYPODIACEAE FERN FAMILY
Athyrium filix-femina Lady Fern
Dryopteris goldiana Goldie's Wood Fern
Dryopteris intermedia Evergreen Wood Fern
Dryopteris marginalis Marginal Shield Fern
Dryopteris spinulosa Spinulose Wood Fern
Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive Fern
Polypodium virginianum Rock Polypody
Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Fern
Thelypteris palustris Marsh Fern
TAXACEAE YEW FAMILY
Taxus canadensis Canada Yew
PINACEAE PINE FAMILY
Picea glauca White Spruce
Pinus strobus White Pine
Tsuga canadensis Eastern Hemlock
CUPRESSACEAE CYPRESS FAMILY
Juniperus communis Common Juniper
Juniperus virginiana Eastern Red Cedar
Thuja occidentalis Eastern White Cedar
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
TYPHACEAE CATTAIL FAMILY
Typha angustifolia Narrow-leaved Cattail
Typha latifolia Broad-leaved Cattail
SPARGANIACEAE BUR-REED FAMILY
Sparganium sp. Bur-reed sp.
Sparganium eurycarpum Giant Bur-reed
NAJADACEAE NAIAD FAMILY
Najas flexilis Bushy Naiad
POTAMOGETONACEAE PONDWEED FAMILY
Potamogeton pectinatus Sago Pondweed
ALISMATACEAE
WATER-PLANTAIN
FAMILY
Alisma plantago-aquatica Water Plantain
Sagittaria latifolia Broad-leaved Arrowhead
Sagittaria rigida
Sessile-friuted
Arrowhead
HYDROCHARITACEAE FROG'S-BIT FAMILY
Elodea canadensis Canada Water-weed
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae* Frog's-bit
GRAMINEAE GRASS FAMILY
Bromus inermis* Smooth Brome
Calamagrostis canadensis Canada Bluejoint
Dactylis glomerata* Orchard Grass
Danthonia spicata Poverty Oat-Grass
Glyceria striata Fowl Manna Grass
Oryzopsis asperifolia
White-grained Mountain-
Rice
Panicum virgatum Old Switch Panic Grass
Phalaris arundinacea Reed Canary Grass
Phleum pratense* Timothy
Poa compressa* Canada Blue Grass
Poa palustris Fowl Bluegrass
Poa pratensis Kentucky Blue-Grass
Schedonorus pratensis Meadow Fescue
Schizachne purpurascens Purple Oat Grass
Page 82 September 2013
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
CYPERACEAE SEDGE FAMILY
Carex aquatilis Grant's Sedge
Carex arctata Black Sedge
Carex bebbii Bebb's Sedge
Carex blanda Woodland Sedge
Carex cansecens White Sedge
Carex communis Beech Sedge
Carex crinita Fringed Sedge
Carex echinata Prickly Sedge
Carex gracillima Graceful Sedge
Carex granularis Meadow Sedge
Carex hystericina Pocupine Sedge
Carex intumescens Bladder Sedge
Carex lacustris Lake Sedge
Carex lupulina Hop Sedge
Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex plantaginea Plantain-leaved Sedge
Carex platyphylla Broad-leaved Sedge
Carex rosea Rosy Sedge
Carex scoparia Pointed Broomsedge
Carex stipata Stalk-grain Sedge
Carex stricta Tussock Sedge
Carex tenera
Wedge-fruited Oval
Sedge
Carex vulpinoidea Fox Sedge
Eleocharis smallii Creeping Spike-rush
Scirpus atrovirens Blue-stemmed Bulrush
Scirpus cyperinus Wool Grass
Scirpus fluviatilis Bulrush
Scirpus pendulus Pendulous Bulrush
ARACEAE ARUM FAMILY
Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the -pulpit
Calla palustris Water Arum
LEMNACEAE DUCKWEED FAMILY
Lemna minor Common Duckweed
Spirodela polyrhiza Larger Duckweed
Wolffia columbiana Watermeal
ERIOCAULACEAE PIPEWORT FAMILY
Eriocaulon septangulare Pipewort
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
PONTEDERIACEAE
PICKEREL-WEED
FAMILY
Pontederia cordata Pickerel-weed
Heteranthera dubia Mud Plantain
JUNCAEAE RUSH FAMILY
Juncus effusus Soft Rush
Juncus filiformis Rush
Juncus tenuis Path Rush
LILIACEAE LILY FAMILY
Erythronium americanum Trout-lily, Yellow
Maianthemuem canadense Canada Mayflower
Maianthemum racemosum False Soloman's Seal
Polygonatum biflorum Smooth Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum pubescens Hairy Solomon's Seal
Smilax herbacea Carrion flower
Smilax tamnoides Bristly Greenbriar
Trillium erectum Red Trillium
Trillium grandiflorum White Trillium
Uvularia grandiflora Large-flowered Bellwort
IRIDACEAE IRIS FAMILY
Iris versicolor Blue Flag
Sisyrinchium mucronatum Blue-eyed Grass
ORCHIDACEAE ORCHID FAMILY
Epipactis helleborine* Helleborine
SALICACEAE WILLOW FAMILY
Populus tremuloides Aspen Poplar
Salix amygdaloides Peach-leaved Willow
Salix bebbiana Beaked Willow
Salix discolor Pussy Willow
Salix lucida Shining Willow
Salix petiolaris Slender Willow
MYRICACEAE BAYBERRY FAMILY
Myrica gale Sweet Gale
JUGLANDACEAE WALNUT FAMILY
Carya cordiformis Bitternut Hickory
Carya ovata Shagbark Hickory
Juglans cinerea Butternut
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 83
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
BETULACEAE BIRCH FAMILY
Alnus incana Speckled Alder
Betula lutea Yellow Birch
Betula papyrifera White Birch
Carpinus caroliniana Blue Beech
Corylus cornuta Beaked Hazelnut
FAGACEAE BEECH FAMILY
Fagus grandifolia American Beech
Quercus rubra Red Oak
Quercus macrocarpa Bur Oak
Quercus alba White Oak
ULMACEAE ELM FAMILY
Ulmus rubra Red Elm
Ulmus thomasi Rock Elm
Ulmus americana White Elm
URTICACEAE NETTLE FAMILY
Boehmeria cylindrica False Nettle
Urtica dioica* Stinging Nettle
SANTALACEAE
SANDALWOOD
FAMILY
Comandra umbellata Bastard-Toadflax
POLYGONACEAE BUCKWHEAT FAMILY
Polygonum amphibium Water Smartweed
Polygonum persicaria Lady's thumb
Polygonum scandens
Climbing False
Buckwheat
Rumex orbiculaius Great Water Dock
Rumex acetosella* Sheep Sorrel
Rumex crispus* Curled Dock
Rumex verticillatus Water Dock
CHENOPODIACEAE GOOSEFOOT FAMILY
Chenopodium album* Lamb's-Quarters
CARYOPHYLLACEAE PINK FAMILY
Arenaria serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved Sandwort
Cerastium vulgatum Mouse-ear Chickweed
Dianthus armeria* Deptford Pink
Moehringia lateriflora Grove Sandwort
Stellaria graminea Lesser Stitchwort
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Stellaria longifolia Long-leaved Chickweed
CERATOPHYLLACEAE HORNWORT FAMILY
Ceratophyllum demersum Common Coontail
NYMPHAEACEAE WATER-LILY FAMILY
Brasenia schreberi Water-shield
Nuphar variegatum Bullhead Lily
Nymphaea odorata
Fragrant White Water
Lily
RANUNCULACEAE CROWFOOT FAMILY
Actaea rubra Red Baneberry
Anemone canadensis Canada Anemone
Anemone cylindrica Long-fruited Anemone
Anemone quinquefolia Wood Anemone
Anemone virginiana
Riverbank Anemone
(Thimbleweed)
Aquilegia canadensis Columbine
Clematis virginiana Virgin's-bower
Hepatica acutiloba Sharp-lobed Hepatica
Ranunculus abortivus Kidney-leaved Buttercup
Ranunculus acris* Tall Buttercup
Thalictrum dasycarpum Purple Meadow-rue
Thalictrum dioicum Early Meadow-rue
Thalictrum pubescens Tall Meadow-rue
FUMARIACEAE FUMITORY FAMILY
Corydalis sempervirens Pale Corydalis
CRUCIFERAE MUSTARD FAMILY
Alyssum alyssoides Yellow Alyssum
Arabis glabra Tower Mustard
Arabis laevigata Smooth Rock Cress
Capsella bursa-pastoris* Shepherd's-purse
Erysimum cheiranthodes* Wormseed Mustard
Lepidium virginicum* Wild Peppergrass
Lepidium campestre Field Peppergrass
Lepidium densiflorum
Dense-flower Pepper-
grass
Rorippa palustris Marsh Yellow Cress
Thlaspi arvense* Field Penny-cress
SAXIFRAGACEAE SAXIFRAGE FAMILY
Mitella diphylla Bishop's-cap (Mitrewort)
Page 84 September 2013
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Mitella nuda Naked Mitrewort
GROSSULARIACEAE GOOSEBERRY FAMILY
Ribes americanum Black Currant
Ribes cynosbati PricklyGooseberry
Ribes hirtellum
Wild Gooseberry
(Smooth Gooseberry)
Ribes lacustre Swamp Gooseberry
ROSACEAE ROSE FAMILY
Agrimonia gryposepala Agrimony
Amelanchier arborea Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier sanguinea
Round-leaved
Serviceberry
Crataegus sp. Hawthorn
Fragaria vesca Wood Strawberry
Fragaria virginiana Common Strawberry
Geum canadense White Avens
Malus sp. * Apple
Potentilla argentea* Silvery Cinquefoil
Potentilla inclinata Intermdiate Cinquefoil
Potentilla norvegica Rough Cinquefoil
Potentilla palustris Marsh Cinquefoil
Potentilla recta* Sulphur Cinquefoil
Potentilla simplex Common Cinquefoil
Prunus pensylvanica Pin Cherry
Prunus serotina Black Cherry
Prunus virginiana Choke Cherry
Rubus allegheniensis Common Blackberry
Rubus idaeus Wild Red Raspberry
Rubus occidentalis Black Raspberry
Rubus odoratus
Purple Flowering
Raspberry
Rubus pubescens Dwarf Raspberry
Spiraea alba Meadowsweet
Spiraea tomentosa Steeple-bush
Waldsteinia fragarioides Barren Strawberry
FABACEAE BEAN FAMILY
Lotus corniculatus* Bird's-foot Trefoil
Medicaga sativa* Alfalfa
Medicago lupulina* Black Medic
Melilotus alba* White Sweet Clover
Trifolium campestre Low Hop Clover
Trifolium hybridum* Alsike Clover
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Trifolium pratense* Red Clover
Trifolium repens* White Clover
Vicia tetrasperma* Slender Vetch
Vicia cracca* Cow Vetch
GERANIACEAE GERANIUM FAMILY
Geranium robertianum Herb-robert
Geranium bicknelii Bicknell's Crane's Bill
OXALIDACEAE
WOOD-SORREL
FAMILY
Oxalis acetosella Wood-sorrel
Oxalis europea
European Yellow Wood-
sorrel
RUTACEAE RUE FAMILY
Zanthoxylum americanum Prickly-Ash
ANACARDIACEAE CASHEW FAMILY
Toxicodendron radicans Poison Ivy
Rhus typhina Staghorn Sumac
AQUIFOLIACEAE HOLLY FAMILY
Ilex verticillata Winterberry
CELASTRACEAE STAFF-TREE FAMILY
Celastrus scandens Climbing Bittersweet
ACERACEAE MAPLE FAMILY
Acer nigrum Black Maple
Acer rubrum Red Maple
Acer saccharinum Silver Maple
Acer saccharum Sugar Maple
BALSAMINACEAE
TOUCH-ME-NOT
FAMILY
Impatiens capensis Spotted Jewelweed
VITACEAE GRAPE FAMILY
Parthenocissus vitacea Virginia Creeper
Vitis riparia Riverbank Grape
TILIACEAE LINDEN FAMILY
Tilia americana Basswood
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 85
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
HYPERICACEAE
ST.JOHN'S-WORT
FAMILY
Hypericum perforatum* Spotted St.John's-wort
Hypericum punctatum Common St.John's-wort
Triadenum virginicum Marsh St.John's-wort
VIOLACEAE VIOLET FAMILY
Viola canadensis Canada Violet
Viola cucullata Marsh Blue Violet
Viola pubescens Yellow Violet
Viola sororia Woolly Blue Violet
LYTHRACEAE LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY
Decodon verticillatus Water Willow
Lythrum salicaria* Purple Loosestrife
ONAGRACEAE
EVENING-PRIMROSE
FAMILY
Circaea lutetiana Enchanter's Nightshade
Oenothera biennis
Common Evening
Primrose
HALORAGACEAE
WATER-MILFOIL
FAMILY
Proserpinaca palustris Mermaid Weed
ARALIACEAE GINSENG FAMILY
Aralia nudicaulis Wild Sarsaparilla
UMBELLIFERAE PARSLEY FAMILY
Cicuta bulbifera Bulbous Water Hemlock
Cicuta maculata Northern Water Hemlock
Daucus carota* Wild Carrot
Osmorrhiza claytoni Hairy Sweet Cicely
Sanicula marilandica Black Snakeroot
Sium suave Water Parsnip
CORNACEAE DOGWOOD FAMILY
Cornus alternifolia
Alternate-leaved
Dogwood
Cornus obliqua Silky Dogwood
Cornus candensis Bunchberry
Cornus racemosa Grey Dogwood
Cornus rugosa Round-leaved Dogwood
Cornus stolonifera Red-osier Dogwood
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
ERICACEAE HEATH FAMILY
Pyrola elliptica Shinleaf
PRIMULACEAE PRIMROSE FAMILY
Lysimachia ciliata Fringed Loosestrife
Lysimachia thyrsiflora Yellow Loosestrife
Trientalis borealis Starflower
OLEACEAE OLIVE FAMILY
Fraxinus americana White Ash
Fraxinus nigra Black Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Red Ash
var. subintegerrima Green Ash
APOCYNACEAE DOGBANE FAMILY
Apocynum
androsaemifolium Spreading Dogbane
ASCLEPIADACEAE MILKWEED FAMILY
Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed
Cynanchum rossicum Dog Strangling Vine
CONVOLVULACEAE
MORNING-GLORY
FAMILY
Convolvulus sepium Hedge Bindweed
Cuscuta gronovii Swamp Dodder
BORAGINACEAE BORAGE FAMILY
Echium vulgare* Viper's Bugloss
VERBENACEAE VERVAIN FAMILY
Verbena hastata Blue Vervain
LABIATAE MINT FAMILY
Leonurus cardiaca* Motherwort
Lycopus americanus
Cut-leaved Water-
horehound
Lycopus uniflorus
Tuberous Water-
horehound (Bugleweed)
Lycopus virginicus Virginia Bugleweed
Mentha arvensis Field Mint
Mentha spicata Spearmint
Nepeta cataria* Catnip
Origanum vulgare* Wild Majoram
Page 86 September 2013
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
Prunella vulgaris* Heal-all
SOLANAEAE NIGHTSHADE FAMILY
Solanum dulcamara* Bittersweet Nightshade
SCROPHULARIACEAE FIGWORT FAMILY
Linaria vulgaris*
Yellow Toadflax (Butter
and Eggs)
Verbascum thapsus* Common Mullein
Veronica arvensis Corn Speedwell
Veronica scutellata Marsh Speedwell
OROBANCHACEAE BROOM-RAPE FAMILY
Epifagus virginiana Beech-drops
PHRYMACEAE LOPSEED FAMILY
Phryma leptostachya Lopseed
PLANTAGINACEAE PLANTAIN FAMILY
Plantago major* Broad-leaved Plantain
Plantago rugelii* Rugel's Plantain
RUBIACEAE MADDER FAMILY
Cephalanthus occidentalis Buttonbush
Galium asprellum Rough Bedstraw
Galium circaezans Wild Licorice
Galium palustre Marsh Bedstraw
Galium trifidum Small Bedstraw
Galium triflorum Fragrant Bedstraw
Galium aparine Cleavers
Galium mollugo* Wild Madder
Mitchella repens Partidgeberry
CAPRIFOLIACEAE HONEYSUCKLE
Diervilla lonicera Bush Honeysuckle
Lonicera dioica Wild Honeysuckle
Lonicera tatarica* Tartarian Honeysuckle
Sambucus canadensis Common Elderberry
Sambucus racemosa Red-berried Elder
Viburnum acerifolium Maple-leaved Viburnum
Viburnum lentago Nannyberry
Viburnum rafinesquianum Downy Arrow-wood
COMPOSITAE COMPOSITE FAMILY
Achillea millefolium Yarrow
Ambrosia artemisiifolia Common Ragweed
Anaphalis margaritacea Pearly Everlasting
Antennaria neglecta Field Pussy-toes
Arctium minus* Common Burdock
Aster lanceolatus Panicled Aster
Aster umbellatus Flat-topped White Aster
Bidens frondosa Devil's Beggarticks
Carduus acanthoides* Plumeless Thistle
Chrysanthemum
leucanthemum* Ox-eye Daisy
Cirsium arvense* Canada Thistle
Cirsium vulgare* Bull Thistle
Conyza canadensis Horseweed
Erigeron annuus Annual (Daisy) Fleabane
Erigeron philadelphicus Philadelphia Fleabane
Eupatorium maculatum Spotted Joe-pye-weed
Eupatorium perfoliatum Boneset
Eurybia macrophyllus Large-leaved Aster
Euthamia graminifolia Grass-leaved Goldenrod
Hieracium aurantiacum* Orange Hawkweed
Hieracium caespitosum Field Hawkweed
Hieracium gronovii Hairy Hawkweed
Hieracium pilosella* Mouse-ear Hawkweed
Hieracium piloselloides* Smooth Hawkweed
Hieracium praealtum King Devil
Inula helenium* Elecampane
Lactuca canadensis Canada (Wild) Lettuce
Lapsana communis* Nipplewort
Prenanthes alba White-lettuce
Prenanthes altissima Tall White-Lettuce
Solidago caesia
Blue-stemmed
Goldenrod
Solidago canadensis Canada Goldenrod
Solidago flexicaulis Zigzag Goldenrod
Solidago juncea Early Goldenrod
Solidago nemoralis Gray Goldenrod
Solidago rugosa Rough Goldenrod
Symphyotrichum
cordifolius Heart-leaved Aster
Symphyotrichum
novae-angliae New England Aster
Taraxacum officinale* Common Dandelion
Tragopogon dubius Goat's-beard
Tragopogon pratensis* Meadow Goat's-beard
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 87
Non-Vascular Plants and Fungi
SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME
BRYOPHYTES MOSSES
Brachythecium sp Brachythecium Moss
Thuidium sp Thuidium Moss
Polytrichum sp Haircap Moss
Ptilium sp Plume Moss
Sphagnum sp Peat Moss
Dicranum sp Dicranium Moss
Leucobryum glaucum Leucobryum Moss
BRYOPHYTES LIVERWORTS
Liverwort
LICHEN
Cladina sp Reindeer Lichen
Physica or Parmelia sp
Umbelicaria sp Rock Tripe
FUNGI
Arthuriomyces peckianus Orange Berry Rust
Cerina unicolor Mossy Maze
Ganoderma applanatum Artist's Conk
Ganoderma tsugae Hemlock varnish shelf
Gumnosporangium
globosum Hawthorn Rust
Gymnosporangium
juniperi-virginianae Cedar-apple Rust
Polyporus sqamosus Dryad's saddle
Taphrina caerulescens Oak Leaf Blister
Xylaria polymorpha Deadman's fingers
Moustache Clubtail by David Bree
Topiary Grass Veneer Moth by
Oliver Reichl
Page 88 September 2013
Winter Finch Forecast 2013-2014
Ron Pittaway, Ontario Field Ornithologists reprinted with permission
GENERAL FORECAST
This is not an irruption (flight) year for
winter finches, but there will be some
southward movement of most species
into their normal winter ranges.
Ontario’s cone crops (except white pine)
and deciduous seed/berry crops are
generally above average to excellent.
Very good to bumper spruce cone crops
extend across Canada’s boreal forest
from Yukon (bumper) east to Atlantic
Canada, with rare exceptions. Cone
crops are good to excellent (poor on
white pine) in central Ontario and
Laurentian Mountains in southern
Quebec with heavy crops extending east
through the Adirondack Mountains of
New York and northern New England
States. Birch, alder and mountain-ash
berry crops are good to excellent across
the boreal forest.
Most reporters said that finches were
thinly dispersed in their areas with few
concentrations noted, except for
southern Yukon which had abundant
Pine Siskins this past summer. Finches
this winter should be widespread given
the almost continent-wide extent of the
seed crops. Limited movements
southward to traditional wintering areas
such as Algonquin Park are expected.
See individual species forecasts below
for details on each species. Three
irruptive non-finch passerines whose
movements are linked to finches are also
discussed. Please note that the forecast
applies mainly to Ontario and the
Northeast.
FINCH TREES
The key trees affecting finch movements
in the Northeast are spruces, pines,
hemlock, birches and mountain-ashes.
Other trees normally play minor roles
unless their crops are bumper. This year
many tree species have spotty or patchy
crops with some trees being heavy with
cones or fruit while nearby trees of the
same species have few or no cones or
seeds. A similar patchy distribution is
evident on a larger scale, with stands
heavy with cones or seeds versus stands
in the next township or county that have
scanty crops.
INDIVIDUAL FINCH FORECASTS
PINE GROSBEAK
Most Pine Grosbeaks will remain in the
north this winter because
mountain‐ash berry crops are very
good to bumper across the boreal forest
from Alaska to the island of
Newfoundland. European mountain-
ash, crabapple and buckthorn have
heavy berry crops in southern Ontario
and elsewhere so if grosbeaks wander
south they will have plenty of food.
They prefer sunflower seeds at feeders,
often feeding on spilled seeds on the
ground.
PURPLE FINCH
In most years Purple Finches migrate
south of Ontario in the fall, but this
winter some should remain in the north
where tree seed crops are abundant.
They will likely visit sunflower seed
feeders and be attracted to heavy berry
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 89
crops on mountain-ashes, eating the
seeds not the flesh. Similar to the
Evening Grosbeak decline, Purple Finch
numbers dropped significantly after
1980 as major spruce budworm
outbreaks ended.
RED CROSSBILL
Small numbers are being reported in
Algonquin Park and northern Ontario
usually in pine stands. Red Pine cone
crops are fair to good in many areas, but
White Pine crops are poor with a few
exceptions such as around Temagami
just south of the boreal zone. Expect to
see a scattering of Red Crossbills where
pine, spruce and ornamental conifers
have good crops. Red Crossbills
comprise at least 10 “types” in North
America. Each type probably represents
a separate or recently evolving species.
The types are usually impossible to
identify without recordings of their
flight calls. Matt Young (may6 at
cornell.edu) of The Cornell Lab of
Ornithology will identify types for you
from recordings and this will help his
research. Most Type 3 crossbills from
last winter’s irruption have apparently
returned to their core range in the
Pacific Northwest. Matt says it is
important to monitor the distribution of
types in more “normal years” such as
this winter. This crossbill rarely goes to
feeders.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL
Spruce cone crops are generally good to
excellent from the Yukon east across the
boreal forest to the island of
Newfoundland. Large crops extend
south into the northern states. White-
winged Crossbills should be widely
dispersed this winter given the
enormity of the cone crops. Expect to
see this crossbill in Ontario’s Algonquin
Park, New York’s Adirondack
Mountains and in the northern New
England States. This crossbill usually
feeds on native conifers with small soft
cones such as white, red and black
spruces and hemlock. It normally avoids
the larger harder cones of pines. This
crossbill rarely goes to feeders.
COMMON REDPOLL
Most redpolls should stay in the north
this winter because birch, alder and
conifer seed crops are generally good
across the boreal forest. Some redpolls
should get south to usual southern parts
of their winter range such as the
Atlantic Provinces and Ontario’s
Algonquin Park (Latitude 45.5), where
redpolls have been recorded on 33 of 39
Algonquin Christmas Bird Counts. The
rare “Greater” Common Redpoll
(subspecies rostrata) from Baffin Island
and Greenland is not expected in the
south this winter. For reference photos
of “Greater” Common Redpolls see link
#4 below.
HOARY REDPOLL
The rare Hoary Redpoll is usually found
in flocks of Common Redpolls. It is not
expected in the south this winter
because this is not an irruption year for
redpolls. The “Southern” Hoary Redpoll
(exilipes) is the usual subspecies seen.
“Hornemann’s” Hoary Redpoll
(hornemanni) is a great rarity south of
the tundra even during irruption years.
PINE SISKIN: Siskins will winter across
the north because conifer crops (except
white pine) are excellent. They should
Page 90 September 2013
be attracted to heavy cone crops in
southern Quebec’s Laurentian
Mountains, New York’s Adirondacks
and northern New England. Watch for
siskins on spruce and hemlock. They
prefer nyger seeds at feeders.
EVENING GROSBEAK
This big “eye-catching” golden grosbeak
should visit sunflower seed feeders
again this winter in Ontario and the
Northeast. Numbers are increasing due
to expanding spruce budworm
outbreaks in northern forests. However,
spraying to control budworms, if not
already occurring in some provinces,
will limit an increase in grosbeaks.
Breeding success is higher in areas with
budworm outbreaks because the
abundant larvae are eaten by adults and
fed to young. Evening Grosbeak
populations peaked during the 1940s to
1980s when massive budworm
outbreaks stretched across Canada. The
last Algonquin Christmas Bird Count
with very high numbers was the winter
of 1984/85 when 1474 Evening
Grosbeaks were found on the count
(Birds of Algonquin, Tozer 2012).
THREE IRRUPTIVE PASSERINES Movements of the following three
passerines are often linked to the boreal
finches.
BLUE JAY
Blue Jays move south in varying
numbers every fall beginning in mid-
September. This year expect a small to
moderate flight along the north
shorelines of Lakes Ontario and Erie
because the acorn, beechnut, hazelnut
and many soft mast crops are good to
excellent across central Ontario and
elsewhere. Interestingly, I found a Blue
Jay feather stuck on a hazelnut north of
Toronto on 11 August 2013. Good
numbers of Blue Jays should visit
feeders this winter in Ontario because
many northern birds will not migrate
south this fall.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
No movement of Red-breasted
Nuthatches this year reliably predicts
that spruce cone crops are heavy in the
boreal forest. This indicates a non-
irruption year for finches, especially
Pine Siskins and White-winged
Crossbills which similarly specialize on
conifer seeds, especially white spruce
seeds. Some more southerly nuthatch
populations may be permanent
residents. We have Red-breasted
Nuthatches year-round at our suet,
sunflower and peanut feeders in
Toronto and they annually bring their
young to the feeders.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING
Most Bohemians will remain in the
boreal forest this winter because
mountain‐ash berry crops are very
good to bumper from Alaska to
Newfoundland and Labrador. When
feeding on mountain-ash berries,
Bohemians and Pine Grosbeaks often
occur together. The superficial
resemblance of Bohemian Waxwings to
female Pine Grosbeaks is striking and
may be functional. If some Bohemians
move south they will be attracted to
abundant berries on European
mountain‐ash, small ornamental
crabapples and buckthorn. Some are
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 91
likely to occur in traditional areas such
as Ottawa and Peterborough.
WHERE TO SEE FINCHES
Ontario’s Algonquin Park is a winter
adventure about 3.5 hour drive north of
Toronto. Cone crops are much better in
the park this year than last winter so a
good scattering of finches should be
seen. Feeders at the Visitor Centre (km
43) should have Evening Grosbeaks,
siskins and perhaps redpolls and Pine
Grosbeak. The Visitor Centre and
restaurant are open weekends in winter.
Arrangements can be made to view
feeders on weekdays by calling
613‐637‐2828.
The nearby Spruce Bog Trail at km 42.5
and Opeongo Road (side road) are the
best spots for finches, Gray Jay, Boreal
Chickadee, Spruce Grouse and
Black‐backed Woodpecker. At the
bookstore be sure to get the “Birds of
Algonquin Park” (2012) by retired park
naturalist Ron Tozer. This is one of the
finest regional bird books ever
published. 474 pages. $49.95 CDN.
Proceeds go to The Friends of
Algonquin Park.
If you cannot get to Algonquin, a trip to
Quebec’s southern Laurentians north of
Montreal or to New York’s Adirondacks
should produce a good number of
finches.
References
#1. Finch Facts, Seed Crops and
Irruptions
http://www.jeaniron.ca/2012/winterfinc
hes.htm
#2. Last year’s Winter Finch Forecast
2012-2013
http://www.jeaniron.ca/2012/finchforeca
st2012.htm
#3. Previous forecasts back to 1999-2000
http://www.neilyworld.com/neilyworld/
pittaway-old.htm
#4. “Greater” Common Redpolls –
Reference Photos
http://www.jeaniron.ca/Trips/arctic2013/
pa7.htm
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I thank staff of the Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources and the many birders
whose reports allow me to make annual
forecasts: Dennis Barry (Durham Region
and Kawartha Lakes), Angus Baptiste
(Grand Lake Victoria, Quebec), Eleanor
Beagan (Prince Edward Island), Owen
Clarkin (Gatineau Park, Quebec), Joan
Collins (Adirondacks, New York),
Pascal Cote (Tadoussac Bird
Observatory, Quebec), Bruce Di Labio
(Eastern Ontario), Carolle Eady
(Dryden, Ontario), Cameron Eckert
(Southern Yukon), Bruce Falls (Brodie
Club, Toronto), Walter Fisher (Rosetta
McClain Gardens Raptor Watch,
Toronto), Sylvia Frisch (Central Yukon),
Marcel Gahbauer (Alberta and
Northwest Territories), Michel Gosselin
(Canadian Museum of Nature), David
Govatski (New Hampshire and
northern Vermont), Leo Heyens
(Kenora, Ontario), Tyler Hoar (Northern
Ontario & Quebec Laurentians), Peter
Hynard (Minden), Jean Iron (James Bay
and Northeastern Ontario), Ken
Knowles (St. John’s, Newfoundland and
Labrador), Stuart Mackenzie (James
Page 92 September 2013
Bay), Scott McPherson (Nipissing,
Ontario), Brian Naylor (Nipissing,
Ontario), Justin Peter (Gatineau Park,
Quebec), Harvey & Brenda Schmidt
(Creighton, Saskatchewan), Dawn
Sherman (Algonquin Park), Ian Sturdee
(James Bay), Ron Tozer (Algonquin
Park), Declan Troy (Alaska), Mike
Turner (Haliburton Highlands), John
Woodcock (Thunder Cape Bird
Observatory, Ontario) and Kirk Zufelt
(Sault Ste Marie, Ontario). I particularly
thank Matt Young of The Cornell Lab of
Ornithology for information about seed
crops and advice about Red Crossbills.
Jean Iron made helpful comments and
proofed the forecast.
Ramble to the Property of Ed Fletcher
Joe Benderavage
On June 4, eleven Ramblers met at the
bottom of Sydenham Rd. for a trip
north, to the property of Ed Fletcher.
Upon our arrival, Mr. Fletcher told us
about his property, including the fact
that Coyotes, Fishers and Deer were in
the area.
The terrain includes sections of
Limestone and of Granite. Mr. Fletcher
showed us mounds of interesting rock
specimens collected and given to him by
a friend. He pointed out stands of
mature Jack Pines that he planted as
seedlings. They bear straight needles in
pairs.
Among bird sightings that day was a
Red-tail Hawk being mobbed by several
smaller birds. We heard bird calls of
Common Yellowthroat, Towhee, and
Chipping Sparrow. Identification by
sight and sound was made of a
Grasshopper Sparrow, a Red-eyed Vireo
and a Gray Catbird.
Insect sightings included a
Hummingbird Moth, a Promethia Moth,
Spring/Summer Azures, a Giant
Swallowtail and Tiger Swallowtail
Butterflies. A Spittlebug on Hawkweed
was noted, and a cricket was heard.
Red-backed Salamanders were found in
the forest; they are the only salamanders
found on land.
We noticed Poison Ivy plants in flower,
Prickly Ash, Downy Arrowwood, Wild
Madder, and a Black Cherry tree, with
tiny hairs on the undersides of its
leaves. Dactylis grass and False
Solomon’s Seal were identified as was
Johnny-go-to-bed-at-noon (genus
Tragopoyan). The alternate branching of
a tree and the convergence of its leaf
veins at the leaf tip helped identify it as
a Dogwood tree. Chokecherry, Sumac,
Trembling Aspen, Wild Yellow Irises,
Elecampane (Inula Helenium), Highbush
Cranberry and Common Fleabane were
seen. Other Flora included Wild Blue
Phlox, Sweet Cecily, and Hemlock trees.
We noticed some trees in an advanced
state of decay with bark and trunk
excavated by Woodpeckers. Wild
Ginger, with its maroon flower which is
pollinated by ground beetles, was found
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 93
Ontario Endangered Species Act Conference (OESAC), April 8/9th
Shirley French
Tom Hilditch, the founder of Savanta,
an environmental consulting firm, and
others wanted to bring together groups
concerned with conservation of Species
at Risk in Ontario and those who work
complying with its regulations. So the
first Ontario Endangered Species Act
Conference (OESAC) was organized for
April 2013 in Toronto. For conservation
to be successful, all stakeholders need to
come to the table and work together.
The ESA was introduced in 2007, a
much needed plan to help the recovery
and protection of species deemed at
risk. The Committee on the Status of
Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO),
which was in existence before the ESA,
was given legal recognition. COSSARO
develops a priority list of species that
they feel warrant special attention based
on scientific expertise, the species list
assessed by COSEWIC (Committee on
the Status of Endangered Wildlife in
Canada), community knowledge, and
aboriginal traditional knowledge. The
Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is
the government body responsible for
implementing the Endangered Species
Act (ESA), but they also “promote
economic opportunities in the resource
sector” (www.mnr.gov.on.ca).
How can I sum up the opinions
expressed at the conference? The invited
speakers provided a diverse overview of
opinions and many offered solutions
based on their experience with the ESA.
Gord Miller (the Environmental
Commissioner of Ontario), stated in his
opening remarks that it is not the ESA
legislation that needs to be changed, but
the way in which the act is
implemented. Here’s an attempt to
summarize some of the challenges
encountered with the ESA.
Speaker Summary of comments: A critical review of the ESA.
Dr. J. Bogart (U. of
Guelph)
A lot of lead time to obtain permits. Studies take time and
people-hours to get a good scientific understanding.
Joe Vaccarro, Ont.
Homebuilders
Can take 10 years or more to get their project started, part of that
time is due to the slow process to obtain permits.
Kim Barrett, Senior
Ecologists,
Conservation Halton
MNR needs more staff for faster reviews; the MNR should be
able to focus more on SAR recovery than on the process of
‘permitting’.
Julie Cayley, Ducks
Unlimited
In the process of restoring habitat, if you then attract a SAR you
are required to follow-up with further flora/fauna studies and
that requires staff and resources.
Moreen Miller, ON
Stone Sand & Gravel
ESA legislation and regulations need streamlining.
Inconsistencies in the MNR.
Megan Hazell,
Wildlife Biologist at
AMEC
Consistency is needed, ie. follow-up with monitoring.
Standardize data collection.
Get away from species-specific approach by scaling up to
Page 94 September 2013
`ecosystem-based approach.
Need to assess the effectiveness of strategies to better inform
future efforts.
MNR website needs to inform of mitigation measures that have
been shown to work, better access to some of the data.
Permit process needs streamlining.
Ron Reid, Carden
Program
Coordinator
Loss of independent management for cow-calf farmers; concern
about over-regulation of farms with respect to SAR, bobolinks
and eastern meadowlark for example. Farmers can be lured to
grow corn for ethanol for better profits. Abandoned farms
become unsuitable wooded habitat for these bird species.
Dena Lewis, Toronto
Regional
Conservation
Authority
Their lands overlap with urbanized Toronto so they have an
overwhelming number of requests for permits. She strongly feels
there is a need for streamlining the ESA process. She went as far
as to say that they are “prisoners of the process”.
Dan Kraus, Nature
Conservancy
Canada
They look to conserve lands where the size, condition and the
“landscape context” is the best for the native species of concern
(i. e. they would not be interested in 10 acres of land in the
Toronto area).
They have concerns about “biodiversity banking” where part of a
large project can be used by a company as “offset credits” later
on. He sees a need for clarification on exactly what is not
available as an offset.
Anna Baggio,
CPAWS
Caribou need landscapes on a large scale. To meet the
requirements of the ESA, caribou need permanent protection for
their ranges. They advocate using existing roads rather than
allowing Hydro One to open up areas between Nipigon and
Pickle Lake for a new transmission line in northern Ontario.
A number of outstanding examples of
successful and ongoing attempts at
habitat recovery and land stewardship
were given, from restoration of tall-
grass prairie on Ojibway lands, to
conserving snake hibernacula while
building the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray
Parkway; from efforts to help the Piping
Plover successfully fledge chicks on
Wasaga Beach to examples of the
Anishnabek people balancing
economics and conservation on the
eastern end of Manitoulin Island (54,000
hectares).
Dave Ireland, the ROM’s (Royal Ontario
Museum) Managing Director in the
biodiversity sector, brought a global
perspective to the conference. He
conveyed the excitement of the research
that the ROM conducts in different parts
of the world, and the biodiversity in
their own Rouge Park (the eastern end
of Toronto, 47 km2 in size) where 1500
species were recorded at a recent
Bioblitz (Rouge Park is featured in
July/Aug 2013, Canadian Geographic).
The Blue Bill Volume 60, No. 3 Page 95
Was the conference worthwhile for the
KFN? I learned more about the ESA and
how it functions. Hopefully some of that
information will be of use here in the
future. I had KFN brochures at the
conference table, to show the work we
do on species at risk such as, bobolinks
and meadowlark surveys orchestrated
by Kurt Hennige, Chris Grooms and
others restoring habitat for Chimney
Swifts, and KFN’s annual Bioblitz
directed by Anne Robertson. At the
conference about 10% of the people (of
roughly 200 in attendance) took a KFN
brochure outlining our SAR concerns
and projects.
All of the talks from OESAC are
available on YouTube. If you are so
inclined you can check out the videos
yourself and get all of the points made.
Should the KFN attend the next
OESAC? The KFN executive will discuss
what was gained by my attendance.
There is one comment that I would like
to make with regards to proposed
changes to the ESA. In November 2012
the Ministry of Natural Resources
(MNR) held meetings to discuss the
effectiveness of ESA legislation and
regulations. Recognizing the need to
streamline and become more efficient,
MNR’s panel has come up with 29
recommendations (I’m not sure if one of
them is the need for more government
funding).
The recommendations of the review
panel, consisting primarily of people
from industry, have given many groups
cause for concern (Ray Ford, Ontario
Nature, summer 2012). Anne Bell of ON
(Ontario Nature), who was one of the
guest speakers at OESAC, is especially
concerned that the proposed changes
would be a “swing towards industry
self-regulation”.
As Dr. Peter Hodson (Queen’s
University Environmental Studies) said
in a recent talk that he gave as a retiring
professor, when environmental
catastrophes happen, because of
companies legal responsibilities,
scientists are often not allowed in to
study what works, and what failed. The
same can be said about the proposed
changes to the ESA, if we allow industry
to be exempt from ESA requirements,
we will be courting potential disasters.