The Blue Bill

Quarterly Journal of the Kingston Field Naturalists

ISSN 0382-5655

Volume 63, No. 4 December 2016

Contents President’s Page Alesxandra Simmons ..........99 Kingston Region Birds Autumn Season Mark Read.........................100 Fall Round-up Erwin Batalla ....................106 Odonata Sightings and Yearly List 2016 Carol Seymour ..................110 Kingston Butterfly Summary 2016 John Poland .......................113 Herp Adventures Bruce Ripley......................117 Purple Martins – A Tale of Two Islands Anders Bennick .................120 Teen Tree Field Trip E. Batalla / A. Robertson...122 Teen Bird Identification Damon Gee........................124 Bird Nerd Bonus James Barber......................125

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 15th of February/May/August/November) to the address above, or to the editor via e-mail to: jamesrdbarber@gmail.com. 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

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2016/2017 Officers President: Alexandra Simmons 613-542-2048 alerwin@xplornet.ca Honorary President Ron D. Weir 613-549-5274 weir-r@rmc.ca Vice-President: Speakers Past President: Kurt Hennige 613-876-1804 khennige@xplornet.com Treasurer: Larry McCurdy 613-389-6427 larrymcc@kingston.net Recording Janis Grant Secretary: 613-548-3668 janis.grant@ICloud.com Membership John Critchley Secretary: 613-634-5475 johnecritchley@bell.net

Nature Reserves Erwin Batalla 613-542-2048 alerwin@xplornet.ca Conservation Chris Hargreaves 613-389-8993 hargreavescp@sympatico.ca Blue Bill Editor James Barber 613-484-0594 jamesrdbarber@gmail.com Junior Naturalists Anne Robertson 613-389-6742 n8ture.anne@sympatico.ca Education Mark Read 613-217-1246 markdread@gmail.com Field Trips Gaye Beckwith 613-376-3716 beckwithb@sympatico.ca Bird Sightings Mark D. Read 613-217-1246 markdread@gmail.com Bird Records Ken Edwards 613-544-6457 rkfe@queensu.ca Newsletter Janet Elliott 613-547-2674 daphodilly@hotmail.com Website Mike Burrell 613-442-0020 mike.burrell.on@gmail.com Slideshow Gaye Beckwith 613-376-3716 beckwithb@sympatico.ca Ontario Nature Ken Robinson 613-766-4782 ken.robinson546@gmail.com Member-at-large Ken Robinson 613-766-4782 ken.robinson546@gmail.com Publicity Jackie Bartnick 613-531-3736 thegrump@kos.net Facebook, flickr Polly Aiken 343-363-1342 p_rutlege08@hotmail.com Archives Peter McIntyre 613-548-4738 klamp@cogeco.ca

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President’s Page Alexandra Simmons

On December 1st, the Kingston Field Naturalists lost a significant contributor. Joel Ellis led his first KFN field trip (to Amherst Island) in October 1982. A member at large in 1982, Joel was vice-president in 1983-4, and KFN President from 1984 to 1986. During Joel’s term, the KFN acquired the property on Amherst Island which is now the Martin Edwards Preserve. Thanks to KFN’s fundraising and the support of Wildlife Habitat Canada, the KFN was able to preserve 250 acres at the southeastern tip of Amherst Island, an important staging area during spring and fall migration of shorebirds and waterfowl, and the largest known breeding colony of Wilson’s phalarope east of Rainy River. Joel’s passion was birds, and he collected an exceptional amount of data on their local occurrence before the term “citizen science” became trendy. Ron Weir, in his book “Birds of the Kingston Region” offers “special thanks to Joel Ellis, who has been my faithful recorder on over 50 roadside Breeding Bird Surveys and over 15 surveys for the Red-shouldered Hawk and woodpeckers. Together, Joel and I have made over 300 visits to Prince Edward Point, Amherst and Wolfe Islands to census migrant birds.” Still in this domain, Joel was chair of Bird Records for several years after he was president, and continued to help the club by auditing its financial records from 1990-1996. Joel was a key member of many spring and fall bird round-ups, some of which he compiled and summarised for the Blue Bill. He was an enthusiastic competitor and had a wry sense of humour: it was Joel who coined the term “bird poker” for the post-round up tally, in which he often came out on the

winning team. For many years Joel and his wife Marian opened their home for the post round-up pot-luck in spring and fall. He will be truly missed. Most of us have a long way to go to equal Joel’s hours in the field; this time of year brings many such opportunities. The Christmas Bird Count has been taking place since 1900, including one in Toronto that first year. The counts take place on a single day between December 14 and January 5 in the same 24-km diameter circle each year. The KFN is proud to have many members both acting as organiser/compilers and as field observers in 10 different counts this year. Over a hundred years of data on wintering birds is combined with surveys such as the Breeding Bird Surveys to reveal changes in species numbers and distribution. If you doubt whether the time and work you put into this type of citizen science effort is worthwhile, there is ample evidence of its impact. It was data collected by the KFN at Prince Edward Point that led to its purchase by the Canadian Wildlife Service and its preservation as a National Wildlife Area. Similarly, KFN data describing bird kills at towers on the Lennox generating Station led to Ontario Hydro adopting a different lighting protocol which prevented further deaths. The large data sets from the Christmas Bird Counts and Breeding Bird surveys help biologists to develop strategies to protect birds and their habitat. So raise a glass to yourself this holiday season, and go for a walk after Christmas dinner and enter your sightings into eBird to continue the tradition!

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Kingston Region Birds - Autumn Season: August 1 – November 30, 2016

Mark Read

The KFN reporting area is centred on MacDonald Park, Kingston and extends for a radial distance of 50km. An interactive map showing the KFN circle is available on the website. If errors are noted or significant observations omitted in the following report, please do contact me and I will update accordingly. We also encourage you to submit all sightings, so that a better understanding of our region’s birdlife can be achieved. Members already using eBird can very easily share their sightings with the username ‘Kingston FN’. Alternatively, please email, phone or post records directly to me (contact details are found inside the front cover). In total, 249 species of bird were recorded in our region during the reporting period; eight more than last year’s autumn total of 241. The vast majority of the following sightings were obtained from eBird – 44.0% of which were shared with the KFN account (compared to the 41.0% shared in the summer, and 55.9% in the spring). In total, 289 observers logged 2434 checklists, equating to just over 30,000 sightings. Just a handful of these checklists were received via phone/email/word of mouth, indicating the continuing popularity of eBird (www.ebird.ca). Just over 412,000 ‘individual birds’ were recorded, though many of these were, of course, birds counted/seen again on subsequent

days. A huge thank you goes out to every observer, without whom our understanding of bird distribution would be far more limited. Unfortunately, only observers with sightings in the current report are noted below. The autumn of 2016 continued dry and hot, meaning the water level in the lakes and rivers was very low. The pond at Martin Edwards Reserve, Amherst Island, dried up, providing good habitat for shorebirds. In September, many KFN members led field outings for a very successful OFO convention. This brought focus to the area highlighting, as if we need reminding, the diversity of habitats and species that we have. Here are the autumn highlights of 2016: Greater White-fronted Goose: A rare autumn sighting of this species was made on Wolfe Island on 25th November (MDR) when a single bird was located amongst several Snow Geese. Snow Goose: Being more common further east along the St. Lawrence, the 25 sightings this year was notable. The first bird was seen at Gananoque on 24th September (JET) with a high count of 58 on Wolfe Island on 25th November. Brant: The 5 sightings all fell within a week of each other (17th – 24th October). A high of 110 was noted at Millhaven on 17th (CJG). Cackling Goose: Since their separation from Canada Geese, this

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species has gained more attention. 11 records, including a high count of 9 at Millhaven on 6th November (JRB, MDR), were received. Trumpeter Swan: A high count of 28 was received from Bedford Mills on 5th November (MEC, LJN). Tundra Swan: The first returning birds (2) were again seen at Button Bay (Wolfe Island) on the early date of 7th October. The vast majority of birds seen along Lake Ontario’s shoreline are this species, though numbers of Mute Swans are increasing notably. A high count of 193 was seen at Brownville, NY on 25th November (WaF). Eurasian Wigeon: An eclipse male found on 24th September (DaW) in Cataraqui Bay was already attaining more colourful plumage when it was last seen on 2nd October (NiW). Presumably the same bird (based on plumage details) was seen on 5th October off Belle Island (NLB) and again on 13th (JET). Another male was seen at Martin Edwards Reserve, Amherst Island on 5th November (BDL et al.). Blue-winged Teal: Plenty of autumn sightings with a high of 95 at Perch River WMA, NY on 25th August. The last bird of the season was seen at the same location on 23rd October (both JSB). Canvasback: Several sightings at Cataraqui Bay with a high of 5 on 6th November (JPR). A single bird was also seen at Sillsville on 3rd November (BER). Redhead: The largest single flock of the season (4500) was seen at Button Bay, Wolfe Island on 29th October (MDR). Ring-necked Duck: This year’s high count of 350 was received from Belle Island, Kingston, where 350 were seen on 7th October (AEK).

King Eider: A great find for the region was a female bird seen at the Millhaven Ferry from 5th November onwards (JPR et al.). It was last seen there on 20th November (MAC). Harlequin Duck: A lone female was seen at Prince Edward Point on 27th November (RKFE). Surf Scoter: Just 11 records were received with a high count of 12 at Garden Island on 19th November (DVCW). This is away from the usual location of Prince Edward Point. Black Scoter: An uncommon bird with just 8 records, though the high count of 26 birds seen on 19th November at Westcott Beach SP, NY was of note (T&EW). Ruddy Duck: 18 records – the first of which was in Kingston’s Inner harbour on 18th September (KFN). A high of 118 was seen at Sillsville on 3rd November (BER). Red-throated Loon: Just 4 records of this species: 1, Prince Edward Point, 28th October (MDR); 1, Wolfe Island ferry, 5th November (MDR); 1, Prince Edward Point, 6th November (JRB, MDR); 4, Brownville, NY, 28th November (WaF). Pied-billed Grebe: A high count of 39 was noted at Belle Island, Kingston on 7th October (AEK). Horned Grebe: A very respectable count of 78 was tallied on the south shore of Amherst Island on 17th November (MWPR). Red-necked Grebe: 14 sightings this season with a high of 6 on Amherst Island on 3rd November (BDL). American White Pelican: A single bird was located at Black River Bay, NY on 28th November (WaF). Least Bittern: The last record of the season (1) came from Collins Creek on 1st September (PRM).

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Great Egret: The last record (4 birds) came from Perch River WMA, NY on 4th October (JSB). Osprey: A late bird was seen on Howe Island on 28th October (RMW). Golden Eagle: Six records this year (all single birds) with only 3 at the traditional location of Prince Edward Point. Others came from Horne’s Ferry, Wolfe Island on 6th November (JPR et al.), QUBS on 8th November (RoL), and Yarker on 27th November (BLB). Northern Goshawk: Four reports of 5 birds: 1 near the Howe Island ferry on 30th September (JET); 2 at Prince Edward Point on 24th October (JRB); 1 in Kingston on 6th November (JRB, MDR); and 1 Amherst Island on 17th November (MWPR). Red-shouldered Hawk: The last record of this species was of 5 birds at Prince Edward Point on 24th October (JRB). Broad-winged Hawk: No big movements of this species in our area. The last bird was seen at Prince Edward Point on 5th October (MDR). Sandhill Crane: The 29 records would indicate a good year for this species. A high count of 12 on 4th November was received from Crosby (SLD, CTH). American Golden Plover: No reports from the usual location of Wolfe Island this year, and just one from the states. All other sightings came from Martin Edwards Reserve, Amherst Island, where low water made conditions suitable. Birds were seen from 13th-25th September (both KJH) with a high of 3 on 17th (RKB, BAH). Killdeer: A high count of 162 birds was made at Reed’s Bay, Wolfe Island on 15th September (MDR). Ruddy Turnstone: Two birds were seen on Snake Island on 15th August (VPM) and 3 were present at Martin

Edwards Reserve, Amherst Island on 17th September (RKB, BAH). Red Knot: A single bird was seen by many at Martin Edwards Reserve, Amherst Island, 24th-26th September (OFO). Stilt Sandpiper: A better year than last with many records, including a high of 5 at Martin Edwards Reserve, Amherst Island, on 25th August (BER). Purple Sandpiper: Two birds were seen at Martin Edwards Reserve, Amherst Island, on 5th November (BDL et al.). Baird’s Sandpiper: Favourable conditions attracted 7 birds to Martin Edwards Reserve, Amherst Island, on 29th August (BER). White-rumped Sandpiper: A 3-month spread on sightings was noted with the first on 15th August (BER), the last on 5th November (JRB, MDR) and the high of 2 on 6th September (KFN). All sightings came from Martin Edwards Reserve, Amherst Island. Buff-breasted Sandpiper: 1 was seen at Perch River WMA, NY on 25th August (JSB). Another was present at Martin Edwards Reserve, Amherst Island, 10th-13th September (JRB et al.). Long-billed Dowitcher: Four records – 1, Camden Lake, 9th September (KJH); 1 Prince Edward Point, 23rd September (OFO); and 1 Perch River WMA, 23rd September and 7th October (JSB). Little Gull: Just one record of an adult at Amherstview Sewage Lagoons on 24th September (OFO). Snowy Owl: The first record of the poor season to date came from Amherst Island on 18th November (JaS). Northern Saw-whet Owl: An impressive 724 birds were banded at Prince Edward Point this season,

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mainly during October. An incredible 167 were banded on the night of 10th October alone (PEPtBO). Common Nighthawk: The usual mass migration of this species in August brought a spectacular 200 birds through Verona on 27th (TAN). Red-headed Woodpecker: At least 3 birds (including a recently fledged individual) were seen in the Gananoque area on multiple dates (GeP, JET). Whether there were 1 or 2 pairs is unclear – the distance between locations was about 1.5 km. Gyrfalcon: A grey bird was seen and photographed at Frontenac Provincial Park on 19th November (AEK). Olive-sided Flycatcher: Four records: 1, Charleston Lake, 17th August (RiW); 1, Amherst Island, 16th August (VPM); 1, Crosby, 27th August (SLD, CTH); 1, Colebrook, 1st September (BrF). Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: Six records – 1, Sand Beach Wetlands CA, Amherst Island, 26th August (KJH); 1, Prince Edward Point, 27th August (RKB); 1 Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island, 29th August (MDR), 15th September (JRB, MDR), and 24th September (OFO); 1 Button Bay, Wolfe Island, 16th September (MDR). Loggerhead Shrike: The last sighting of the season came from the known breeding location of Napanee Plain IBA on 19th September (BLB). Northern Shrike: The first bird to return was seen on Amherst Island on 31st October (KJH, RMW). Tufted Titmouse: Up to 3 birds have been regular at a feeder at Millen Bay, NY (DanJM) since 21st September. One has also been present at another feeder, near Gananoque, since 20th November (JET).

Carolina Wren: A single bird has been seen on several occasions on Garden island (DVCW). Grey-cheeked Thrush: A good number of records, though noticeably concentrated between 15th and 28th September (many observers). A high of 3 was noted at Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island on 21st (JRB, MDR). Northern Mockingbird: Seven records: 1, Amherst Island , 3rd and 6th August (NLB); 1, 8th Line, Wolfe Island, 24th August (JaS, AlS); 1, Dexter, NY, 28th September (TaS); 1, Thousand Island Parkway, 19th October (MAJ); 1, Amherst Island, 22nd October (DiH); 1, Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island, 1st November (JPR); 1, Button Bay, Wolfe Island, several dates from 11th November onwards (MDR). Lapland Longspur: Just 3 records so far. Three birds on Amherst Island, 25th September (OFO); 1 at Button Bay, Wolfe Island on 4th November, and 3 at the same location on 15th (MDR). Orange-crowned Warbler: Several records this autumn with the first (2 birds - also the high count) seen at Millen Bay, NY on 17th September (DanJM). The last sighting was of a single bird at Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island on 14th October (MDR). Connecticut Warbler: A single bird was seen near Verona on 17th September (TAN). Mourning Warbler: Just a single record of a bird at Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island on 23rd August (MDR). Palm Warbler: For the second year running, an example of the eastern form (Yellow Palm Warbler) was photographed in the area – this one a very late bird seen at Button Bay, Wolfe Island on 4th November (MDR).

104 December 2016

Prairie Warbler: A single record from Clayton, NY on 4th September (StK). Henslow’s Sparrow: Just a single record of a bird at Perch River WMA, NY, on 7th August (AnS). Nelson’s Sparrow: There were multiple sightings of a single accommodating bird at Martin Edwards Reserve, Amherst Island, on 23rd-24th September (OFO). Clay-coloured Sparrow: Single birds were noted on Amherst Island on 31st August (NLB), 9th September (WTD, KaW), and Big Sandy Bay, Wolfe Island on 26th October (NLB). Orchard Oriole: There was just 1 sighting during the period – from Wolfe Island on 24th August (AlS). Red Crossbill: A single bird was seen near Crosby on 4th November (SLD, CTH). White-winged Crossbill: Three records – 1, Verona, 23rd October (TAN); 4, Crosby, 5th November (SLD, CTH); 1 Frontenac Provincial Park, 8th November (TAN). Evening Grosbeak: Several records were received from across the area though the most consistent location was near Crosby where a high count of 8 birds was seen on 26th November (SLD, CTH). Other species observed during the reporting period: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Ring-necked Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Black-

crowned Night-Heron, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Gallinule, American Coot, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Upland Sandpiper, Sanderling, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Snipe, American Woodcock, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Bonaparte’s Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Iceland Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Glaucous 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, Barred Owl, Long-eared Owl, 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, Alder Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Warbling 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, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Winter Wren, Marsh Wren, Blue-grey

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Gnatcatcher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Swainson’s Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Grey Catbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, American Pipit, Cedar Waxwing, Snow Bunting, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Golden-winged Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Canada Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, House

Finch, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow. Observers: Bonnie L. Bailey (BLB), James R. Barber (JRB), North Leeds Birders (NLB), R. Kyle Blaney (RKB), Jeff S. Bolsinger (JSB), Mark E. Chojnacki (MEC), Mark A. Conboy (MAC), Stephanie L. Davison (SLD), William T. Depew (WTD), R. Ken F. Edwards (RKFE), Bruce Ferry (BrF), Wayne Fidler (WaF), Chris J. Grooms (CJG), Brad A. Hamilton (BAH), Chris T. Heffernan (CTH), Kurt J. Hennige (KJH), Diane Holsinger (DiH), Michael A. Johnson (MAJ), Andrew E. Keaveney (AEK), Steve Kelling (StK), Bruce Di Labio (BDL), Roger Lupton (RoL), V. Paul Mackenzie (VPM), Paul R. Martin (PRM), Daniel J. Miller (DanJM), Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN), Todd A. Norris (TAN), Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO), Linda J. Nuttall (LJN), Gerard Philips (GeP), Mark D. Read (MDR), Bruce E. Ripley (BER), Jon Ruddy (JPR), Michael W. P. Runtz (MWPR), Janet Scott (JaS), Antony Shrimpton (AnS), Jamie Spence (JaS), Alex Stone (AlS), Taylor Sturm (TaS), James E. Thompson (JET), Riley Walsh (RiW), Nicole Watson (NiW), Kathy Webb (KaW), D.V. Chip Weseloh (DVCW), Tom & Eileen Wheeler (T&EW), Robert M. Worona (RMW), Dave Worthington (DaW).

106 December 2016

Fall Round-up Nov 5,6, 2016 Erwin Batalla

The 51st KFN Fall Round-up took place between 1500h Saturday Nov05 and 1500h Sunday Nov06. Participants numbered 14. On Saturday, the temperature was 3 C at 3 pm with some wind. The temperature dropped to -4 C on Sunday morning but rose quickly to 4 C with clear sky and very light wind during the day. A total of 107 species were observed, below the 44-year average of 120. No new species were added to the cumulative list. The King Eider which had been discovered by Jon Ruddy on the morning of the Saturday was noteworthy. That bird subsequently spent a few days at the Amherst Island Ferry terminal in Millhaven. Also, nine Cackling Goose and four Canvasback were unusual. Thirty-one species of waterfowl, eleven species of raptors including a Golden Eagle and a Northern Goshawk and only two species of owls were recorded. Also, thirty-six species of passerines including an Eastern Phoebe and a Carolina Wren on Garden Island were observed. Party #2 was the only one to report Belted Kingfisher and Red-breasted Nuthatch. The following table shows the number of individuals of each species observed by the parties when that information was made available. The composition of the parties and some of the sites visited are given

below. Following the 24-hour count, birders met at the home of Janis and Allan Grant for a potluck supper. They were excellent hosts and a warm thank you is extended for their hospitality. Party #1: Mark Read and James Barber (Amherst Island, Kingston, Prince Edward Point, Hay Bay) Party #2: Paul Mackenzie, Kathy Innes, Peter Good, Lynn Bell and Janis Grant (Kingston, Prince Edward Point, Hay Bay) Party #3: Erwin Batalla, Gaye and Betsy Beckwith, Alexandra Simmons, Hugh Evans and Jane Revell (Elevator Bay, Cartwright Point, Inner Harbour, Wolfe Island) Party #4: Chip Weseloh (Garden island) Sightings obtained from eBird and from Private Communications are shown in the last two columns in the table below. Contributors from eBird are: DD, Derek Dunnett; CH, Chris Heffernan; DM, Daniel Miller; TN, Todd Norris; MR, Martin Roncetti; AS, Anthony Shrimpton; JS, Jacek Staszak; JT, Jim Thompson. Also, Mark Chojnacki and Linda Nuttall reported Trumpeter Swans and a very late Yellow-bellied Sapsucker near their home in Bedford Mills.

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108 December 2016

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The Blue Bill Volume 62, No. 4 Page 109

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110 December 2016

Odonata Sightings & Yearly List for 2016 Carol Seymour

Strange season this year; unusually mild winter with only one real snowfall, a mostly cool spring with few warm days and lower than average precipitation. So already less than ideal for odonata emergence. On top of this, summer was hot and dry with record-breaking drought conditions. Water levels of ponds, creeks and lakes were down. Emergent growth around the edges of these water bodies were sparse, offering few platforms for odonata nymphs to emerge into their adult forms. Generally, numbers were down all over. It was especially noticeable in damselflies, meadowhawks, darners and skimmers. There were a few species that flew against the odds, so to speak. While visiting Verona, we kayaked on Hambly Lake and up Hardwood Creek. Even though the water levels were down, we observed hundreds of teneral Four-spotted Skimmers, Prince Baskettails and Eastern Pondhawks. We also had a surprising number of early Fawn Darners hovering over our kayaks waiting for our paddles to stir up insects for them. We often see only 1 or 2 Wandering Gliders each season. This year, we were surprised to observe 12 flying in various unexpected locations. Since Gliders, (our only world circumnavigating dragonfly) often oviposit in ditches, temporary ponds or puddles following a rainstorm, they can be seen flying over parking lots, along downtown streets or as I observed one day while visiting my vegetable garden at King and Day's Rd, zipping around over John Poland's Butterfly Garden, which has a small fish pond. Although some dragonflies came out in large numbers early in the season, due to the drought they disappeared

more quickly than usual, plus fewer species emerged later in the summer. There were very few meadowhawks this year and although we were still seeing Autumn Meadowhawks flying on November 19th, they were scant in numbers. We did notice, surprisingly, Common Green Darners in Kingston proper and at Prince Edward Pt. well into November (they are usually gone by late October). The Bioblitz, held at Menzel Reserve Provincial Park this year was very successful, giving us a higher than usual total count of 31 species of Odonata.

The Blue Bill Volume 62, No. 4 Page 111

Our one rare sighting happened on the K&P Trail between Sydenham Rd. and McIvor Rd. While eating lunch at the edge of a wetland, I noticed about 10 blue and black damselflies flitting around a break in the cattails. I did a

double-take when I saw the unfamiliar pattern on the last few segments on the abdomens. I have to admit that after I checked my guide book for its identity, I broke out into my “Wow, look what I found dragonfly dance.” I had discovered a small colony of Azure Bluets, which are rarely seen in our area. No matter the effects of the drought on the general odonata numbers this year, the discovery of these rare pond bluets not only made my day but my whole odonata season. In spite of the drought, we had a respectable 76 sightings for the 2016 season. Contributors: C & M Seymour, Bruce Ripley, Paul MacKenzie, Gaye Beckwith, Kurt Hennige, John Poland, Anne Robertson.

Odonata First Sightings 2016 Species Latin Name Location Beaverpond Baskettail Epitheca canis Cataraqui Trail at MacGillivray Rd. American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffi Cataraqui Trail at MacGillivray Rd. Hudsonian Whiteface Leucorrhinia hudsonica Depot Lakes Chalk-fronted Corporal Ladona julia Rock Dunder Boreal Bluet Enallagma boreale Rock Dunder Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia inacta Rock Dunder Common Green Darner Anax junius Rock Dunder Dusky Clubtail Gomphus spicatus Rock Dunder Eastern Forktail Ischnura verticalis Cataraqui River Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia Frontenac Park Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata Frontenac Park Racket-tailed Emerald Dorocordulia libera Frontenac Park Steam Cruiser Didymops transversa Frontenac Park Lancet Clubtail Gomphus exilis Frontenac Park Elfin Skimmer Nannothemis bella Helen Quilliam Sanctuary Taiga Bluet Coenagrion resolutum Belle Isle Park, Kingston Mustached Clubtail Gomphus adelphus Depot Creek Nature Reserve Cyrano Darner Nasiaeschna pentacantha Depot Creek Nature Reserve Lilypad Clutail Arigomphus furcifer Depot Creek Nature Reserve Springtime Darner Basiaeschna janata Depot Creek Nature Reserve Harlequin Darner Comphaeschna furcillata Menzel Nature Reserve Frosted Whiteface Leucorrhinia frigida Fishing Lake Rd. near Elbow Lake Common Baskettail Epitheca cynosura Wetland pond in Kingston

112 December 2016

Sedge Sprite Nehalinnia irene Wetland pond in Kingston Hagen's Bluet Enallagma hageni Wetland pond in Kingston Unicorn Clubtail Arigomphus villosipes Wetland pond in Kingston Carolina Saddlebags Tramea carolina Wetland pond in Kingston Fragile Forktail Ischnura posita Rideau Trail above Bath Rd. Kingston Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis Skycroft Trail/Cataraqui Trail Blue Dasher Pachydyplax longipennis Rideau Trail, Opinicon Rd. Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa Wetland pond in Kingston Marsh Bluet Enallagma ebrium Wetland pond in Kingston Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens Lakeside Community Garden, Kingston Slaty Skimmer Libellula incesta Cedarwoods Lane, Verona Horned Clubtail Arigomphus cornutus Cedarwoods Lane, Verona Belted Whiteface Leucorrhinia proxima K&P Trail, Verona Canada Darner Aeshna canadensis K&P Trail, Verona Orange Bluet Enallagma signatum Hambly Lake, Verona Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella Hambly Lake, Verona Prince Baskettail Epitheca princeps Hambly Lake, Verona Vesper Bluet Enallagma vesperum Hardwood Creek, Verona Fawn Darner Boyeria vinosa Hardwood Creek, Verona Ebony Jewelwing Calopteryx maculata Depot Creek Nature Reserve Calico Pennant Celithemis elisa Depot Creek Nature Reserve Powdered Dancer Argia moesta Depot Creek Nature Reserve Spiny Baskettail Epitheca spinigera Menzel Nature Reserve Aurora Damsel Chromagrion conditum Menzel Nature Reserve Swamp Spreadwing Lestes vigilax Wetland pond in Kingston Slender Spreadwing Lestes rectangularis Rideau Trail above Bath Rd. Kingston Violet Dancer Argia fumipennis violacea Bayview Bog Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile Bayview Bog Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata Bayview Bog Halloween Pennant Celithemis eponina Depot Creek Nature Reserve Black-shouldered Spinyleg Dromogomphus spinosus Forest Mills, Salmon River Eastern Least Clubtail Stylogomphus albistylus Forest Mills, Salmon River Swift River Cruiser Macromia illinoiensis Forest Mills, Salmon River Eastern Amberwing Perithemis tenera Wetland pond in Kingston Dragonhunter Hagenius brevistylus Cataraqui Trail at MacGillivray Rd. Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum Echo Lake Rd. Band-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum semicinctum Echo Lake Rd. Stream Bluet Enallagma exsulans Lemoine Pt., Kingston Black-tipped Darner Aeshna tuberculifera Marble Rock Conservation Area Skimming Bluet Enallagma geminatum Marble Rock Conservation Area Whitefaced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum Marble Rock Conservation Area Azure Bluet Enallagma aspersum K&P Trail, Kingston Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum K&P Trail, Kingston Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener K&P Trail, Kingston Kennedy's Emerald Somatochlora kennedyi Kurt Henige's backyard Northern Spreadwing Lestes disjunctus Amherst Island Cherry-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum internum Bayview Bog Lance-tipped Darner Aeshna constricta Bayview Bog Green-striped Darner Aeshna verticalis Odessa

The Blue Bill Volume 62, No. 4 Page 113

Kingston Butterfly Summary for 2016 John Poland

So what did 2016 bring for the butterfly enthusiasts? I thought in July and August that the long dry hot summer would be the first item to mention but I am not sure that it had any major direct effect on butterfly sightings this year. The main talking point of the year was numbers. Over the past decade the number of butterflies observed in the Kingston 50km area was between 74-79. This year 85 were reported! I expect we are getting better at finding the rarer species but sometimes it is just a case of being at the right place at the right time. Here are the highlights. A new butterfly for our area, a Variegated Fritillary, was photographed in a garden at Sandhurst Shores.

This southern species has occasionally been seen on the north shore of Lake Ontario at Presqu’ile and Sandbanks P.P.s but never as far east as Kingston. An Early Hairstreak was collected just north of Frontenac Park in early May. This elusive butterfly has only been reported once before in 1979 by a group of KFN members on a field trip at Helen Quilliam sanctuary. Its food plant is the beech tree and it is suspected of being not as rare as the sightings suggest but

rather of being unseen in the top of the beech trees. A new site for the Silver Bordered Fritillary was found in August south of Tamworth.

This species has only been observed twice in the last 6 years. Compton’s Tortoiseshell is a species that is generally only seen in April or early May as it overwinters as an adult butterfly and is not observed every year.

114 December 2016

The species has two broods but is rarely seen in summer. This year there was an eruption in June and on one occasion 11 were seen in the space of a couple of hours and they were around for several weeks. The Harvester is another rare butterfly with only one location where it is generally observed each year. Amazingly they were seen along the Rideau trail within the city this summer. There was no great southern migration this fall but Buckeyes were seen on three separate occasions at the KFN property on Amherst Island and the Prince Edward Point observatory; the last buckeye was reported 4 years ago. It was a great year for Hairstreaks. The season for lepidopterists was good and

long. The first butterflies, a Mourning Cloak and three Eastern Commas were photographed on 31 March and the last, Clouded and Orange Sulphurs and a Cabbage White on 18 November. If you want to start recording butterflies you should be able to identify over 50 in a given year. To get to 60 you will need to find some good sites, to get to 70 you will probably need to go on some trips with a knowledgeable lepidopterist but to get to 80 you will need to pick the right year, travel quite a bit and have a load of luck. The author personally observed 81 species this year, a new record; the Kingston checklist on the website lists 96 butterflies.

Reported Butterfly Sightings for 2016

Butterfly First Date Last Date Overwintering Stage

Black Swallowtail 8May 5 September chrysalis Giant Swallowtail 25 May 6 October chrysalis

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail 17 May 10 June chrysalis Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 13 June 1 September chrysalis

Mustard White 3 May 31 June chrysalis West Virginia White 10 May 17 May chrysalis

Cabbage White 15 April 18 November chrysalis Olympia Marble 30 April 17 May chrysalis

Clouded Sulphur 5 May 18 November chrysalis

Orange Sulphur 17 July 18 November migratory

Harvester 30 July 6 August unknown

American Copper 29 May 28 July unknown

Bronze Copper 10 June 29 July egg

Bog Copper 6 July 9 July egg

Coral Hairstreak 4 July 9 July egg

Acadian Hairstreak 4 July 12 July egg

Edwards Hairstreak 4 July 4 July egg

Banded Hairstreak 23 June 21 July egg

The Blue Bill Volume 62, No. 4 Page 115

Butterfly First Date Last Date Overwintering Stage Hickory Hairstreak 31 June 7 July egg

Striped Hairstreak 2 July 4 July egg

Hoary Elfin 5 May 5 May chrysalis

Henry’s Elfin 5 May 17 May chrysalis

Eastern Pine Elfin 30 April 17 May chrysalis

Juniper Hairstreak 1 August 1 August chrysalis

Gray Hairstreak 2 July 15 September chrysalis

Early Hairstreak 12 May 12 May chrysalis

Eastern Tailed Blue 17 May 19 October caterpillar fully grown

Spring Azure 21April 10 June chrysalis

Summer Azure 29 June 19 September chrysalis

Silvery Blue 9 May 22 June chrysalis

Great Spangled Fritillary 23 June 19 September caterpillar newly hatched

Aphrodite Fritillary 31 June 9 July caterpillar first instar

Variegated Fritillary 9 August 9 August migratory

Silver Bordered Fritillary 12 August 12 August caterpillar half grown

Meadow Fritillary 17 May 18 September caterpillar

Harris Checkerspot 23 June 31 June caterpillar

Northern Crescent 25 May 21 September caterpillar

Pearl Crescent 5 May 19 October caterpillar

Baltimore Checkerspot 13 June 4 July caterpillar

Question Mark 21 June 30 August migratory

Eastern Comma 30 March 4 October butterfly

Gray Comma 17 May 20 August butterfly

Mourning Cloak 30 March 6 October butterfly

Compton’s Tortoiseshell 19 April 4 July butterfly

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell 12 July 12 July butterfly

American Lady 18 May 25 October migratory

Painted Lady 15 August 21 September migratory

116 December 2016

Butterfly First Date Last Date Overwintering Stage Red Admiral 10 May 24 October migratory

Common Buckeye 18 September 2 November migratory

White Admiral 6 June 23 August caterpillar partly grown

Viceroy 9 June 21 September caterpillar half grown

Monarch 6 June 18 November migratory

Hackberry Emperor 26 June 6 July caterpillar mature

Northern Pearly Eye 21 June 29 July caterpillar

Eyed Brown 24 June 3 August caterpillar half grown

Appalachian Brown 7 July 7 July caterpillar half grown

Little Wood Satyr 1 June 3 July caterpillar

Common Ringlet 25 May 4 September caterpillar

Common Wood Nymph 5 July 30 August caterpillar newly hatched

Chryxus Arctic 12 May 16 May caterpillar

Silver Spotted Skipper 18 June 17 August chrysalis

Northern Cloudywing 25 May 4 July caterpillar mature

Dreamy Duskywing 17 May 25 May caterpillar mature

Juvenal’s Duskywing 10 May 3 June caterpillar mature

Columbine Duskywing 30 April 12 July caterpillar mature

Wild Indigo Duskywing 18 May 15 September caterpillar mature

Arctic Skipper 1 June 10 June caterpillar mature

Least Skipper 10 June 22 September caterpillar mature

European Skipper 20 June 4 July egg

Leonard’s Skipper 12 August 15 August caterpillar early instar

Indian Skipper 3 June 10 June caterpillar

Peck’s Skipper 26 June 19 July caterpillar partly grown

Tawny Edged Skipper 26 May 18 September chrysalis

Crossline Skipper 4 July 9 July caterpillar mature

Long Dash 13 June 9 July caterpillar partly grown

Northern Broken Dash 29 June 12 July caterpillar

The Blue Bill Volume 62, No. 4 Page 117

Butterfly First Date Last Date Overwintering Stage Little Glassywing 31 June 9 July caterpillar

Delaware Skipper 4 July 12 July caterpillar or chrysalis

Mulberry Wing 9 July 9 July unknown

Hobomok Skipper 25 May 26 June caterpillar

Broad Winged Skipper 9 July 3 August caterpillar

Two Spotted Skipper 4 July 4 July caterpillar

Dion Skipper 9 July 9 July caterpillar partly grown

Dun Skipper 7 July 15 August caterpillar

Common Roadside Skipper 17 May 25 May caterpillar

Contributors: Gaye Beckwith, David Edwards, John Hall, Paul McKenzie, John Poland, Bruce Ripley, Anne Robertson, Chris Schmidt, Carol & Murray Seymour

Herp Adventures Bruce Ripley

My trips and goals for 2016 included a visit to Pelee Island to photograph a Blue Racer snake, central Ontario to find a Wood Turtle, southwestern U.S. to see a Texas Horned Lizard and a few new species of rattlesnakes and northern Florida to find a Timber Rattlesnake.

Pelee Island is now the only place in Ontario to see a Blue Racer.

Unfortunately the last week of April was unseasonably cold, but sometimes you can use the cooler weather to your advantage as you just have to find warm sheltered spots and you might be rewarded, as was the case with finding a Blue Racer sunning itself on a sheltered bank. Blue Racers are large, alert , fast-moving snakes that will vigourously defend themselves when feeling threatened. Despite their species name (Coluber constrictor foxii) the Blue Racer is not a constrictor. It is listed as "Endangered" in Ontario.

With an appropriate scientific name (Glyptemys insculpta) the beautiful Wood Turtle with their sculptured shell and orange-yellow markings are often habitat specific.

118 December 2016

Wood Turtles have been observed stamping their feet on the ground possibly to simulate rain drops or to mimic a digging mole to bring earthworms to the surface. After two days of searching over a very large area I was lucky to find one. Loss, degradation and fragmentation of habitat, poaching and road mortality pose significant threats to this species. The Wood Turtle is listed as "Endangered" in Ontario.

Though the heat was intense, the trip to New Mexico and Arizona in July was a success and this was in part due to a Biology Professor who spent three days with me combing the countryside. One of the highlights was several Texas Horned Lizards.

Texas Horned Lizards are capable of squirting a stream of blood from their

ocular sinuses, located just below their eyes, up to a distance of a metre to ward off predators. They also tilt their bodies forward during a rain to let water trickle down to their mouth. Six species of rattlesnakes were observed including a Mojave Rattlesnake which many consider to be the most dangerous of all the rattlers. Also observed were Sidewinder, Western-diamondback, Black-tailed, Prairie and Tiger Rattlesnake. The real highlight was a Sonoran Coral Snake.

These small, delicate and strikingly coloured snakes are related to cobras, kraits and mambas and can potentially be very dangerous. The Sonoran Desert Toad is a large species which is known for the practice of "Toad Sucking" or "Toad Licking".

The paratoid glands of these toads produces bufotenine which when (illegally) dried and smoked produces

The Blue Bill Volume 62, No. 4 Page 119

hallucinations. To actually suck or lick a Sonoran Desert Toad can cause serious harm. Toadilly ridiculous!

Crotalum meaning "bell or rattle" and horridus for "dreadful", the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) was once a resident in southern Ontario but is now listed as "Extirpated". The last confirmed report of a Timber Rattlesnake from Ontario was in 1941. I only had one sighting of a Timber which was barely clipped by the car ahead of me and likely did not survive.

A comical moment happened while photographing a Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake in Florida. After obtaining several photos I attempted to shoo it off the road by waving my camera strap. It made a strike and latched on to the strap. I stood up with the rattler dangling from the strap. After a few shakes it released and made its way into the woods. True story - Believe it or not!

To help protect Ontario's Reptiles & Amphibians, report your Ontario herp sightings at: https://www.ontarionature.org/protect/species/herpetofaunal_atlas.php

Bruce Ripley is an Interprovincial Red Seal Chef who is a passionate nature observer who first joined the KFN in 1971.

References:

Ontario Nature.org

Brooks, Strickland, Rutter, Reptiles & Amphibians of Algonquin Park

Conant, Collins, Reptiles & Amphibians East/Central N.A.

Brennan, Holycross, Amphibians & Reptiles in Arizona

120 December 2016

Purple Martins – A Tale of Two Islands Anders Bennick

Many people on Amherst Island enjoy the company provided by purple martins. Putting up houses for purple martins not only assures the presence of these delightful and sociable birds, but it also provides housing for a species that is in serious decline. Raising houses for these birds in April is an annual ritual for me, and in turn I am rewarded with their never ending song and elegant aerial display that go on to the middle of August, when they all take their leave and fly south for the winter; but where exactly do they go? While it was known that purple martins wintered in Brazil, it was not until a few years ago that their route to and from their roosting site in the Amazon region was established. To fly this distance of about 7000 km takes 6 weeks in the fall, but incredibly only 3 weeks in the spring, meaning that the birds fly at least 300km per day. Tracing the birds became possible with the invention of a geolocator, which is so small that it can be carried as a backpack by the birds. From the geolocator records, the time of sunrise and sunset each day can be determined, and this in turn allows determination of the approximate daily location of the bird and the mapping of their migration route. A disadvantage of the geolocator is that it cannot pinpoint exactly where the bird is. Such information is needed if you want to know the precise location and nature of the roosting site, whether there are other roosting sites and which birds roost together. About two years ago I wrote in “The Blue Bill” about my participation in a continent wide study of purple martins that involves centres in Alberta, Minnesota, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida and Ontario. One of the aims of this

study is to trace the migration route of the birds and determine the exact location of their roosting sites in Brazil. It is hoped that this information will help to understand the decline in the purple martin population, and determine what remedies can be applied to halt this decline. In the early summer of 2014 a team organized by Nature Canada, York University and Kingston Field Naturalists arrived at our house and outfitted 12 birds with geolocators and another 20 birds with GPS (global positioning system) devices. The data obtained are stored in the devices, necessitating the recapture of the birds when they return to our colony the following year, so that the stored data can be retrieved. The advantage of the GPS units is that they can pinpoint the location of the bird within a few metres, but the disadvantage is that a maximum of only 10 data points can be obtained. The GPS units were programmed to record every 15 days starting on October 30. So now we waited with baited breath all fall, winter and spring for the return of the purple martins. Knowing that we could expect the birds to arrive by mid April, my son Peter helped me putting up our six purple martin houses on April 11. It had been a cold and long winter, there was still snow on the ground and the lake was frozen; but as we were raising the last house, we looked back at the house we had just put up, and to our amazement there was a purple martin sitting and waiting for the tardy landlords to get the apartments ready for rental (Fig 1).

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With all the snow and cold weather I was concerned that there would be nothing for the birds to eat. I voiced my concern to Megan Macintosh, coordinator of the study for Ontario, and she told me, tongue in cheek I am sure, that some landlords threw scrambled eggs up in the air! I was not prepared to do that, so instead I made a raised feeder and placed some freeze-dried mealyworms on it. I have no idea if the martins ate them, but they must have found something to eat, for soon more and more birds appeared and once again we were enjoying their company. The next question was if any of them were carrying the recording devices, but thanks to the observations of Kurt Hennige of the Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN), two of the birds could be seen carrying a GPS and another two had the geolocators. Several unsuccessful attempts to recapture these birds were made by KFN in June, partly due to the fact that the nestlings were older than expected and some had already fledged. At this stage, adults rarely enter the nest box,

making capture difficult. Never the less in July two researchers from York University were able to retrieve two GPS devices. With the data obtained from these devices, as well as others retrieved from birds recaptured at other study locations in Alberta, Minnesota, Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida, it was now possible for the researchers to analyze the data and draw conclusions on the location and nature of the roosting sites. This has now been accomplished and resulted in an article that is about to be published in “Journal of Avian Biology” (1). From the data a remarkable result appeared. It turned out that purple martins from Texas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Florida and Ontario, being separated by 400-2300 kilometers in the summer, all roosted together in the middle of December on the tip of a tiny island in the Madeira River, a major tributary in the Amazon River basin, near the town of Humaitá (Fig 2).

Because of the precision of the GPS data it was clear that these birds roosted within 30 metres of each other. The birds do not stay put in one place during the winter, but move around to other roosting sites in the Amazon

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region, many of them located on small vegetated islands in rivers, perhaps because there are fewer predators at such sites. So the purple martins in our colony share a love of island life with their landlord and other Humans on Amherst Island to such an extent that they move from one island in Canada to another in Brazil. Based on results of this study, as well as other available data, the authors estimate that the roosting site near Humaitá may be

visited by 36% of the global population of purple martins or more than 2.5 million adult birds; if confirmed, this would be an extraordinary finding. It is satisfying to know where the birds from Amherst Island spend their winters, and who knows, may be one day I will visit them in Brazil. Meanwhile I will be busy repairing and disinfecting their apartments in time for the return next spring.

1. K.C. Fraser, A. Shave, A. Savage, A. Ritchie, K. Bell, J. Siegrist, J.D. Ray, K., Applegate, M. Pearman (2016). Determining fine-scale migratory connectivity and habitat selection for a migratory songbird by using new GPS technology. Journal of Avian Biology, In Press.

Teen Tree Trip Erwin Batalla and Anne Robertson

The Helen Quilliam Sanctuary (HQS) has a Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP) allowing us to pay lower taxes for managing the forest. The report this year will include the survey done by the Teen Naturalists on October 15, 2016, for which they received volunteer hours.

It was a glorious day with tree colours at their peak, sunny and about 13C. Four Teens (Ronan, Marisol, Euan and Daniel) met Erwin and Anne at 9:00am. At the Helen Quilliam Sanctuary we walked the Porcupine trail learning to identify some trees on the way to the site of three plots. Each 10x10 metre plot was GPS located, and marked with survey tape. In teams of two teens, every tree was identified to species and diameter measured at breast height (DBH) either with tree calipers or with a tape, then marked with chalk to show it had been recorded. Below is a summary of the results listing all the species and grouping trees by size in three categories: smaller than 10cm, 10 to 30cm and over 30cm DBH The first plot was at the end of the Porcupine Trail near Gould Lake. At that location, 41 trunks were measured. The trunks consisted of: 35 Blue Beech

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(85%) and the rest (15%) were: 2 Hop Hornbeam, 1 White Ash, 1 Basswood, 1 Sugar Maple and 1 Yellow Birch. At the second plot, approximately 100 meters west and upstream from the first plot, 56 trunks were measured. They consisted of 34 Blue Beech (60%), 11 Red Maple (20%) and the rest (20%) were: 4 Sugar Maple, 3 Basswood, 2 Hop

Hornbeam and 2 White Ash. At the third plot, 100 metres further west and upstream, 58 trunks were measured. They consisted of 28 White Pine (49%), 12 Hop Hornbeam (20%), 11 Red Maple (19%) and the rest (12%) were: 4 Blue Beech, 1 Red Oak, 1 White Ash and 1 White Oak.

The distribution of sizes for all the tree species is given in the table below. Tree species < 10 cm 10-30cm >30 cm Blue Beech 71 2 Hop Hornbeam 15 1 Red Maple 10 11 1 Red Oak 1 White Ash 2 2 White Pine 23 5 Basswood 2 2 Sugar Maple 4 1 Yellow Birch 1 White Oak 1 It is interesting to note the variation between the plots as we went up the hill. Blue Beech predominated at the bottom and White Pine at the top. More Red Maple and Hop Hornbeam were found at the top with the only Red Oak and White Oak. The only Yellow Birch was at the bottom. There was a good variety of hardwoods. The predominant lower storey species, by number, was always Blue Beech or Hop Hornbeam. Red and Sugar Maple and White Ash

were the largest trees. White Pine was the only softwood species. We ate lunch overlooking Gould Lake and observed the Langmuir spirals on the lake as the wind made long lines of foam on the water. On the way back we looked at a number of interesting natural features including a Garter Snake. A Raven, a Downy Woodpecker and a Chickadee were noted. Field notebooks were filled in before returning to Kingston at 3:00pm.

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Teen Bird Identification Damon Gee

November 12 was a beautiful day, yet the Teen Naturalists Damon, Ronan, Daniel, and Austin were inside sorting dead birds at McArthur Hall. We arrived at about 9:00, and helped Anne and Diane bring the boxes of birds inside. After Mark arrived, the cooler was opened and we started identifying all the birds from Anne's freezer. Mark was a big help with this. Each species has a 4-letter code that we put on a tag tied to the bird's leg. However, it wasn't all birds. We also found 2 moles, an ermine, and Anne's missing rhubarb! Next, we took a short break outside before heading back in to sort last year's birds. We read their codes, and Diane printed labels that had each bird's order, family, common name, and scientific name. We stuck the labels on the bird's bags and put them in the correct boxes. Unfortunately, Mark had to leave after this was done. Now there was only one step left... counting the birds. Everyone grabbed a box and listed how many of

each species there was on a piece of paper taped to the box. When that was done, we glued the heads back on any broken birds. Once we were finished, we sat down and had lunch, and Diane brought out some M&Ms from her office. Finally, we guessed the totals for birds and species — there were 467 birds and 123 species. Daniel and Damon guessed closest. After loading everything back into Anne's car, we all had to leave. Hopefully next year there will be even more dead birds to sort! This bird collection of skins and mounted specimens belongs to the Kingston Field Naturalists under a permit from the Canadian Wildlife Service. Each year the annual reckoning of species takes place combined with the Teen identification workshop. The birds are used in schools and displays for educational purposes.

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Bird Nerd Bonus James Barber

1. What is this species? 2. Are these male or female? 3. Is this a diving or dabbling species? 4. Does this species breed in Ontario? 5. When is the best time of year to see this species in Ontario 6. Where is the best place in the Kingston area to see this species