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The Egret the Newsletter of the Essex County Field Naturalists’ Club
ECFNC Activities at a Glance ......... 1
ECFNC Contacts .............................. 2
28th
Annual Dinner .......................... 3
Annual Dinner Pictures .................... 4
Annual Dinner Thank-yous ............. 5
Annual Dinner Survey Response ..... 6
Hawk Festival .................................. 7
Balkwill Farm .................................. 8
Backyard Bird Count ....................... 9
Membership Form. ........................... 9
Activities and Excursions .............. 10
Annual Dinner Donations .............. 11
ECFNC Monthly Meetings Except for our outdoor meetings in July and
August and our annual dinner in November,
monthly members’ meeting are held the second
Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm at Ojibway
Nature Center, 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor,
519-966-5852.
Visit our Website at essexcountynature.com
Upcoming ECFNC
Activities
December 12 – Members Meeting –
Year in Review
January 9 – Members Meeting – Brett
Groves and Phragmites
February 13 – Members Meeting –
Chitra Gowda and Water Quality
March 13 – AGM – Annual General
Meeting
Volume 28, Number 23 December 2012
Inside this issue …
A great big Thank You to everyone
who submitted articles and photos to
the Egret this month. We always
appreciate your submissions and
couldn’t run this newsletter without
them!
ECFNC Annual Dinner. Photo: Linda Menard-Watt
The Egret December 2012
Page 2
The Essex County Field Naturalists’
Club was incorporated in March 1985.
We are a registered charitable
organization which promotes the
appreciation and conservation of our
natural heritage. ECFNC provides the
community opportunities to become
acquainted with and understand our
natural world through identification,
maintenance and preservation of the
natural areas within Essex County and
surrounding regions. ECFNC is
affiliated with Ontario
Nature/Federation of Ontario
Naturalists. The Egret is published
quarterly. To receive information on
the Essex County Field Naturalists’
Club or to submit articles, letters,
reports, etc., please write to:
Essex County Field Naturalists’
Club
Devonshire Mall P.O.
P. O. Box 23011
Windsor, Ontario N8X 5B5
President: Phil Roberts (519-776-8315)
Vice-President: Jesse Gardner Costa (519-564-3007)
Secretary: JoAnn Grondin (519-734-0056)
Treasurer: Cathy Lapain (519-776-6097)
Membership Secretary: Carl Maiolani (519-972-1399)
Directors: Dave Kraus (519-825-7491)
Linda Menard-Watt (519-734-1879)
Ron Muir (519-736-6507)
Sheeva Nakhaie ([email protected])
Gerry Waldron (519-736-1276)
Sarah Renaud ([email protected])
Sarah Baldo (519-300-0039)
Chairpersons/Liaisons:
Ontario Nature Liaison: JoAnn Grondin
ERCA Liaison: Phil Roberts
Bluebird Committee Chairman: Don Bissonnette
Essex County Stewardship Network Liaison: Linda
Menard-Watt
Ojibway Liaison: Karen Cedar
Citizens Environment Alliance Liaison: Phil Roberts
Windsor Essex County Environmental Committy: Phil
Roberts/ Jesse Gardner Costa
Canada South Land Trust Liaison: Tom Hurst
Detroit River Canadian Cleanup Liaison: Phil
Roberts/Ian Naisbitt
Committees:
Egret Editorial: Sheeva Nakhaie (chair), Betty
Learmouth, Karen Cedar, Jesse Gardner Costa
Field Trip: Sarah Baldo and Sarah Renaud (co chairs)
Heritage: JoAnn Grondin (coordinator), Dave Kraus,
Betty Learmouth, Jim McAllister, Bruno Sfalcin, Gerry
Waldron, Peg Wilkinson, Shirley Grondin, Cathy
Lapain
Little River Enhancement Group: Ian Naisbitt (chair),
Tom Henderson
Fish Book: Teresa Austrin (chair), Joe Parent, Dave
Kraus, Phil Roberts, Jesse Gardner Costa, Sheeva
Nakhaie
Website: Sarah Baldo, Sarah Renaud, Sheeva Nakhaie
(co chairs)
About the Club ECFNC Contacts
Information
ECFNC website
www.essexcountynature.com
Egret email
ECFNC fax # 519-839-4795
Ojibway Nature Centre
519-966-5852
Point Pelee National Park
519-322-5700
Essex Region Conservation Auth.
519-776-5209
The Egret December 2012
Page 3
Essex County Field Naturalists’ Club’s 28th
Annual Dinner By Betty Learmouth
Eighty-six Essex County Field Naturalists’ Club friends and members gathered on November
10, 2012 at the Fogolar Furlan Club. This special evening featured a fall dinner, presentation of
the Annual Achievement Award, a talk by Graeme Gibson, a fund raising silent auction and
door prize draw.
The evening began at 6:00 p.m. with doors open and the silent auction underway. Master of
Ceremonies for the evening was ECFNC Vice President
Jesse Gardner Costa.
An enjoyable family style dinner was served at 7:15 p.m.
which included an antipasto verde, a tossed green salad,
fresh rolls, cannelloni stuffed with ricotta cheese filling in
a tomato sauce, stuffed pork tenderloin with brandy sauce,
garden blend vegetables, and roasted red skinned potatoes.
Dessert included delicious cookies, squares, and pie,
baked by ECFNC members, as well as choices of fruit.
Following dinner, ECFNC President Phil Roberts
presented the Annual Individual Achievement Award to
the Club’s first President, Jim McAllister. Phil remarked that Jim invited Phil to be a member of
the ECFNC executive in its second year.
Our guest speaker, Graeme Gibson, was introduced by
ECFNC member Dave Kraus. In his introduction, Dave
told the audience that Graeme fell in love with Pelee
Island some twenty-five years ago. Some of his projects
on Pelee Island have included a wetland creation,
establishment of an organic farm demonstration site, and
assistance with the establishment of the Pelee Island Bird
Observatory some ten years ago
Graeme is the author of The Bedside Book of Beasts, and
recipient of the Order of Canada. Greame’s talk, entitled
Echoes of a Working Eden, addressed the damage done to
us by our abandonment of nature.
A 43 minute video of Graeme’s talk may be viewed on the
TV Ontario website. Look under Big Ideas series, then under Graeme Gibson on our Human
Connection to Nature or Echoes of a Working Eden. The site, with a video, was established
April 28, 2012.
Big Ideas is a showcase of contemporary intellectual culture. It features lectures about subjects
that shape our public debates, challenge our perceptions and contributes to our understanding of
an increasingly complex world. Academics, authors and other luminaries deliver thought
provoking lectures on topics ranging across all the essential fields of human endeavor.
Phil Roberts presenting the Annual
Individual Achievement Award to Jim
McAllister
Graeme Gibson giving his talk, Echoes
of a Working Eden, to the ECFNC
The Egret December 2012
Page 4
The evening concluded with a door prize draw and claims to the silent auction. Thank you to all
who made the evening an enjoyable event by either attending or volunteering.
Annual Dinner Pictures
All Photos by Linda Menard-Watt
The Egret December 2012
Page 5
ECFNC 28th
Annual Dinner, Saturday, November 10, 2012 By JoAnn Grondin, Heritage Committee Coordinator
Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank several people for their help with our
fabulous 28th Annual Dinner.
Set up: Shirley Grondin, Pauline Renaud, Carl Maiolani and JoAnn Grondin.
Desserts: Cathy Lapain, Shirley Grondin, Eleanor Sfalcin, Sandra Wilson, Peg Hurst, Theresa
Benoit, and JoAnn Grondin.
Reception Desk: Pauline Renaud and Kathy Lesperance.
Cashiers: Shirley Grondin, Bonnie Ross and Cathy Lapain.
For a spectacular MC job: Jesse Gardner Costa.
Guest Speaker : Mr. Graeme Gibson on “Echoes of a Working Eden.” Mr. Gibson gave a very
interesting presentation by exploring the ways we humans relate emotionally, imaginatively, and
physically to the natural world and the damage done to us when we abandon nature and how we
can heal, emotionally and physically, when we embrace nature.
Dave Kraus for introducing our guest speaker and Jesse Gardner Costa for thanking him.
Congratulations to Jim McAllister, our Outstanding Achievement Award recipient. Thank you
to Phil Roberts for presenting this Award to Jim.
A special thank you to Pauline Renaud for drawing the names of the door prize winners.
The people who donated door prizes: I know that I don’t have all the names of the people who
donated door prizes, so rather than miss someone, I will thank everyone collectively.
For the donation of silent auction items: Essex Top Crop Sales Limited, Debbie Brummell;
Thomas Allen & Son Limited; Cathy Lapain; Vortex Canada; Carl Maiolani; Don Masse Sr.;
Vicki Trivett; Mary Celestino; John Loncke; Shirley Grondin; an Anonymous donor; Claire &
Jim McAllister; Betty Moore; Phil Roberts; Maria Madro-Potts and John Potts; Dave Kraus;
Vicki McKay; Bob Hall-Brooks and JoAnn Grondin.
Thank you to all who attended. And a special thank you to Betty Learmouth for her write-up of
the Annual Dinner for the Egret.
Unfortunately, over the years, we have had bid sheets and donated items disappear. This year
we are missing bid sheet no. 45, and Mushrooms & Toadstools, a book donated by the
McAllisters. The Friends of Ojibway Prairie is also missing a very large framed Bluebird
picture donated by the Estate of Muriel Kassismatis.
The Egret December 2012
Page 6
Responses from Annual Dinner Questionnaire By JoAnn Grondin
Sixty-nine responses were received out of 86 people attending. That means 80.23% survey
responses were received. This is an excellent response to a survey!!! Thank you.
1. Out of the 69 responses – 12 attending for the 1st time; 13 attending for 2 to 4 years; 13
attending for 5 to 7 years; 31 attending for 8 years or more.
2. Reasons for attending:
For the Guest Speaker – 37
For the Topic – 27
To socialize – 45
To support the Club – 57
Others – to volunteer; work related issues; the beer; chance to dress up; a reason to go
out
3. The current cost of $35.00 – About right – 58; too much – 1; not enough – 1 ($50.00 is
good, $100.00 is common)
Others – have a slightly reduced rate for couples; raise the price if you need to
4. What is important to you regarding the meal (please keep in mind I had to interpret some
of the answers):
Responses receiving the most votes – good food; 2nd
– having enough; 3rd
– having a
variety. Some others responses noted (not in any particular order) – served on time, hot,
a vegan choice, not too spicy, use of local food, lots of vegetables, served at the table,
buffet preferred, has to be worth the price, buns have to be soft, having a second main
dish, good service, wholesome food, food from all the food groups, reasonably priced,
sitting with friends, food allergies, not everyone eats pork.
5. What is important to you regarding the location (please keep in mind I had to interpret
some of the answers):
The Fogolar location received the most votes. Other responses in the top 5 – lots of
parking, easy to find, in the City, convenient location, lots of space inside (not crowded).
Some other responses – okay to try other places, such as Ciociaro or Caboto; no
ECFNC Annual Dinner. Photo: Linda Menard-Watt
The Egret December 2012
Page 7
preference where we go; didn’t want any surprises; cleanliness; free parking; to have a
bar.
6. Suggestions for future topics:
The 2 topics that received the most votes were: Climate change and insects
Some others (not listed in any particular order) - amphibians, Niagara Falls, birds,
humour in nature, spiders, fossils, past and future of the earth, murder mystery with a
nature theme, murder mystery with a bird theme, Detroit River Cleanup, endangered
species, water quality, geology, nature photographers, orchids of Ontario, organics,
bobcat or lynx in Ontario, sustainable practices, sustainable practices for birds, Lake St.
Clair, fire flies, Dawn Banning and the Boreal Forrest, fish species at risk, Niagara
escarpment, natural history of the Bruce Trail, bees, butterflies, worm/fish farming,
wineries in the area, Pelee Island, Science and Art, Lake Erie Water Snake, expert
birders, places, less environmental and more nature related, how to instill nature in
people, a dance.
Hawk Festival, 2012 by Shirley Grondin
What a wonderful weekend we had at Holiday Beach with our Kestrel Cafe. The weather sort of
cooperated and we had lots of visitors especially on Saturday!
Thanks to the many volunteers who made our presence possible. We would not exist without
you!! Volunteers include Janet Tuite, Vivie Gagnon, Rob and Shirley Dunlop, Carl Maiolani,
JoAnn Grondin, Andy Garlatti, Walter Matte, Jamie Frennette, Linda Menard-Watt and Pauline
Renaud. Bakers of our famous muffins and cookies include JoAnn Grondin, Cathy Lapain,
Clare McAllister and myself. You are all so generous with your time and this is very much
appreciated. On behalf of the ECFNC, again a big thank you!!
Photos: Shirley Grondin
The Egret December 2012
Page 8
Fall Observations on the Balkwill Farm Bill Balkwll
During the week of October 22, 2012, a Northern Mockingbird was seen on two occasions,
feeding on juniper berries and the fruit of a yew. On November 8, 2012, the Northern
Mockingbird was spotted perched on a water hydrant behind the house.
On October 28, 2012, while riding on the combine harvesting corn, I noticed a Red-tailed Hawk
perched in a nearby tree. When the last round of that field was made several Cottontails ran out
ahead of the combine.
After combining the head lands (end of the field) we returned to the end next to the finished
field. At that time, I noticed the Red-tailed Hawk was eating something in a nearby wheat field.
As we turned at the end, an immature Bald Eagle was swooping down from behind the hawk.
Unfortunately the combine turned around, cutting off my view, so I did not see what happened.
I saw a pair of coyotes in the corn field. At first I thought the coyotes were deer. They appeared
confused by the mowing, disappearing into the corn field.
Gardening can be interesting as there are many different insect species, some good and some
not. The ground dwelling bees and wasps are most interesting, ranging from very small to the
large cicada killers.
One bee that looks like a small honey bee burrows into the subsoil. During the summer months
it collects pollen. In the late fall it piles earth in a two inch mound, sealing the entrance.
A more interesting species is the Thread-waisted Wasp. These wasps prey on worms, mostly
army or cutworms, which they drag incredible distances.
In October I was hoeing in the flower garden when I noticed a Thread-waisted Wasp dragging a
cutworm. As I watched, it stopped short in front of a large rhubarb leaf and started to dig. It
uncovered a small tunnel. It chased the fly away and then made two trips down the tunnel to
clean it, then chased the fly away again.
The wasp then dragged the worm down the tunnel. Upon emerging it persecuted the fly some
more, than dropped some pebbles of sand to block the tunnel, then added dirt. It then placed a
larger pebble in the centre where the mouth of the tunnel had been. The wasp chased the fly
again then alighted on a weed facing where the tunnel had been. It then flew to a rhubarb leaf
and then another rhubarb leaf, then back to the weed. It made this circle again, then flew a few
circles above and left. The fly also left.
An Eastern Phoebe was in the back yard on November 11, 2012 and still around on November
15 at the woodland by the pond which has been dry since June.
The Egret December 2012
Page 9
Get Involved: The Great Backyard Bird Count http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/whycount.html
The 2013 GBBC will take place Friday, February 15, through Monday, February 18.
Please join us for the 16th annual count!
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual 4-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages
in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are.
Everyone is welcome--from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes
on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and
easy—and it helps the birds. Participants tally the number of individual birds of each species
they see during their count period. They enter these numbers on the GBBC website.
Beginning in 2013, each participant must set up a free GBBC account to submit their
checklists. You’ll only need to do this once to participate in all future GBBC events. As the
count progresses, anyone with Internet access can explore what is being reported from their own
towns or from anywhere in the world. Participants may also send in photographs of the birds
they see for the GBBC photo contest. A selection of images is posted in the online photo
gallery.
Essex County Field Naturalists’ Club
Membership Form – Due January 1, 2011
Individual membership $20.00 / year ________ Family membership $25.00 / year _________
Student (full-time) $10.00 / year ________ Sustaining membership $30.00 / year __________
Tax Receipt Eligible: Life membership $500.00 / year ________ Donation _____________
Publications: Wildflowers of the Canadian Erie Islands by Mary Celestino $15 ______
Fishes of Essex County and Surrounding Waters By Lynda D. Corkum $25 _____
www.fishesofessexcounty.com
Name _____________________________________
Street _____________________________________ City _____________________________
Province _____ Postal Code ________________ Phone Number ______________________
E-mail ___________________________________ I wish to receive the Egret by email.
Please contact me to volunteer at ECFNC events!
Make cheques payable to: Essex County Field Naturalists’ Club
Devonshire Mall P.O., P. O. Box 23011, Windsor, Ontario N8X 5B5
Thank you!
The Egret December 2012
Page 10
Activities and Excursions! For further information concerning the ECFNC excursions, visit www.essexcountynature.com,
or contact Sarah Renaud ([email protected]) or Sarah Baldo (519-300-0039). Let us
know your ideas for upcoming excursions. Consider volunteering as an excursion leader.
December 6 - Canada South Land Trust Fund Raising Event - Loma Alta presentation by
Todd Pepper - If you were a participant during last yearʼs Christmas Bird Count (CBC), you
will have received the latest issue of American Birds (Volume 66) which features Christmas
Bird Counts from North America, Central America and South America. For the latest issue of
American Birds, Dusti Becker has written an account of the Loma Alta 2011 Christmas Bird
Count in Ecuador,during which Dusti hoped her volunteer group from Life Net Nature would
set a new CBC record for Loma Alta. One of six volunteer birders was Todd Pepper who spent
two weeks banding, counting hummingbirds at feeders and doing transects in both montane
tropical forest and the drier scrub forests in the lowlands of Ecuador. Copies of Dusti Beckerʼs
article entitled “Star Trekker” will be available at Toddʼs presentation. Toddʼs presentation is
planned for Thursday, December 6, 2012 in Room C of the Essex Civic Centre, beginning at
7:30 p.m. Your donation of $20.00 is welcome. Refreshments to be served following Toddʼs
talk. Please call 519-944-0825 to indicate you will be attending.
December 12, 7:30 p.m. – ECFNC Member’s Meeting – Join club members at Ojibway
Nature Centre to view favourite vacation pictures and share delicious desserts. Some of our
members travel to very exotic places and their presentations are quite spectacular. Everyone is
welcome and encouraged to share photos and bring desserts!
Christmas Bird Count Dates
Saturday, December 15, 2012 – Cedar Creek - Contact Paul Pratt at Ojibway Nature Centre
Sunday, December 16, 2012 – Rondeau - Contact Paul Pratt at Ojibway Nature Centr
Monday, December 17, 2012 - Point Pelee – Contact Sarah Rupert at Point Pelee National Park
Saturday, December 22, 2012 – Lake Shore – Contact June Hurley at 519-979-8126
Saturday, December 22, 2012 – Rockwood – Conact Ron Muir
Thursday, December 27, 2012 – Holiday Beach – Contact Betty Learmouth at 519-944-0825
Tuesday, January 1, 2013 – Detroit River - Contact Paul Pratt at Ojibway Nature Centre
Christmas Bird Count Reminder: Please Donate – Because fees are no longer being charged
to participate in the Christmas Bird Count, donations are urgently needed to fund program
coordination and data analysis. Please select this link to support this critically important
program.
January 9 – Members Meeting – Brett Groves and Phragmites
February 13 – Members Meeting – Chitra Gowda and Water Quality
March 13 – AGM – Annual General Meeting
The Egret December 2012
Page 11
No. Article/Name Donated by
1 Birdscapes Upside Down Gold Finch Feeder and 1 bag of finch feed
Essex Topcrop Sales Limited, Debbie Brummell
2 Perky-Pet Squirrel-be-Gone 3 bird feeder and 1 bag of bird seed
Essex Topcrop Sales Limited, Debbie Brummell
3 The Nature Principle by Richard Louv Thomas Allen & Son Limited
4 All Things Reconsidered by Roger Tory Peterson Thomas Allen & Son Limited
5 Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America Thomas Allen & Son Limited
6 Ontario Nature Guide by Krista Kagume Cathy Lapain
7 a year in the garden by Stephen Bradley Cathy Lapain
8 Creating a Garden of Senses by Jenny Hendy Cathy Lapain
9 Larry the Loon by Judith McMurray Cathy Lapain
10 Vortex Viper 8 x 28 Binoculars Vortex Canada
11 Vortex Harness Strap Vortex Canada
12 2 Free Basic Personal 2012 Canadian Tax Returns Carl Maiolani
13 2 Free Basic Personal 2012 Canadian Tax Returns Carl Maiolani
14 Picture a Tree (Book) Cathy Lapain
15 A Very Busy Sticker Book Cathy Lapain
16 Bat House Don Masse Sr.
17 Paw Paw Growers Manual for Ontario Vicki Trivett
18 Paw Paw Growers Manual for Ontario Vicki Trivett
19 Wildfowers of the Canadian Erie Islands Mary Celestino
20 Painting "Ojibway" by artist Rose Alcock John Loncke
21 Hand Knitted Afghan - Won a First prize at the Harrow Fair Shirley Grondin
22 Roots Duffle Bag JoAnn Grondin
23 National Geographic Photography Field Guide (Slightly used) Anonymous
24 Plain Talk About Drinking Water (Slightly used) Anonymous
25 Gardening with Colour (Slightly used) Anonymous
26 The Complete Book of Herbs (Slightly used) Anonymous
27 Cooking with Flowers (Slightly used) Anonymous
28 The Healing Herbs (Slightly used) Anonymous
29 The Complete Book of Shrubs (Slightly used) Anonymous
30 The Garden (Slightly used) Anonymous
31 The Kitchen Garden (Slightly used) Anonymous
32 Frontiers of the Invisible - Incredibly Hidden (Slightly used) Anonymous
33 500 Butterflies from Around the World JoAnn Grondin
34 Nature Photography JoAnn Grondin
35 Careless in Red by Elizabeth George JoAnn Grondin
36 This Body of Death by Elizabeth George JoAnn Grondin
The Egret December 2012
Page 12
37 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Railways JoAnn Grondin
38 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer JoAnn Grondin
39 Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte JoAnn Grondin
40 Cats in Love JoAnn Grondin
41 Weather - A Visual Guide JoAnn Grondin
42 A Great Fleet of Ships JoAnn Grondin
43 Spiders - The Ultimate Predators JoAnn Grondin
44 Natue Encyclopedia JoAnn Grondin
45 Oxford New Concise World Atlas JoAnn Grondin
46 Mushrooms & Toadstools (Slightly used) Claire and Jim McAllister
47 the Mushroom Hunter's Field Guide (Slightly used) Claire and Jim McAllister
48 Field Guide to the Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa (Slightly used) Claire and Jim McAllister
49 Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants (Slightly used) Claire and Jim McAllister
50 Basket of Jams Shirley Grondin
51 Basket of Jams Shirley Grondin
52 Birdfeeder/Bird Bath and 1 bag of seed Cathy Lapain
53 Ten Jars of Jam Betty Moore
54 Humming Bird Feeder Phil Roberts
55 Humming Bird Feeder Phil Roberts
56 Brass Bird Feeder Phil Roberts
57 Signed Red Tailed Hawk Ink Drawing Phil Roberts
58 Signed Red Tailed Hawk Ink Drawing Phil Roberts
59 Birds of Ontario Field Guide Maria Madro-Potts & John Potts
60 Easy Roses for North American Gardens Maria Madro-Potts & John Potts
61 Peacock Broach Maria Madro-Potts & John Potts
62 Two Butterfly Broaches Maria Madro-Potts & John Potts
63 Signed and Numbered Wildlife Habitat Canada prints Dave Kraus
64 Signed and Numbered Wildlife Habitat Canada prints Dave Kraus
65 Signed and Numbered Wildlife Habitat Canada prints Dave Kraus
66 Small Framed Butterfly Print Vicki McKay
67 Bone China Plate Carl Maiolani
68 Identify Yourself (book) Bob Hall-Brooks
69 Bowls, book and bottle of Root Beer Schnapps Bob Hall-Brooks
70 Bear Cookie Jar Unknown
