President s Message · Meetings begin promptly at 8:00 pm September 24, 2012 – Dr Walter Momot – “Colonization of the Lakes and Rivers of the Region: A Focus on Sibley Peninsula”

Nature Northwest 1 August 2012

President’s Message Welcome back to a new fall season with the

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists. Usually you’d be

reading something by our president, Brian McLaren;

however, Brian is currently in Ecuador on an

academic sabbatical. We look forward to hearing

about his experiences when he returns next summer.

Until then, I am doing double-duty as TBFN’s

Nature Reserves Chairperson, and as the Club’s

Acting President. Please feel free to contact me with

questions or concerns.

If you are like me, you joined the naturalists because

of an interest in nature: the birds, plants, insects, and

mammals were what drew you in. Later, perhaps,

your concern for these things led to you to

environmental advocacy or conservation work;

however, these actions grew out of your original

fascination with nature. That is where we hope the

Club can help you.

This year we are offering a series of five “Back to

Basics Workshops” to help you develop your natural

history field skills. The workshops will appeal to

novice naturalists but will also offer greater depth on

specific topics to the more knowledgeable. Topics

will include Basic Butterfly Identification, Lichens,

Orchid Identification, Arctic-Alpine Plants of the

District and Birds (topic TBA). The evening

workshops will occur monthly at LU’s Biology Labs

over the course of the winter. They will be followed

up during the warmer months by trips to see the

species in the field. These workshops will be in

addition to the regular monthly indoor meetings held

at Lunan Hall. Look for the announcements of the

“Back to Basics Workshops” in the next newsletter

and on our website later this fall.

To be an effective voice in environmental matters

we need first to know what we are talking about. As

naturalists it is important that we can accurately

identify a Species at Risk, or an invasive plant, or an

imperiled habitat. We need to get out in the field and

know what is going on here in northern Ontario. I

challenge you all to strengthen your field skills

(while enjoying yourselves) at the winter workshop

series. See you there!

- Susan Bryan

Acting Club President and Nature Reserves Chair

ISSN 0836-4702

VOLUME 66

ISSUE 3


In This Issue: President’s Message ............................................................. 1

Upcoming General Meetings................................................ 3 Rare Bird Observations for 2012.......................................... 4 Pink Aliens Invade Whitefish Lake! .................................... 5 Pine Bay II Nature Reserve Field Trip ................................. 6 Greenwich Wind Farm and Dorion Fish Hatchery .............. 7

Fall Field Trips 2012 ............................................................ 8 A Sabbatical Year in Ecuador .............................................. 9 Bowman Island Nature Reserve Field Trip ........................ 12 Hey Junior Naturalists! Be a Beach Detective! .................. 14 Thunder Bay Field Naturalists --- Information for 2012 .... 15

Contributors

Barb Yurkoski Jeremy Bryan

Bill Greaves Marian Childs

Brian McLaren Mike Bryan

Brian Ratcliff Susan Bryan

Emily Kerton Susan Fagan

Frank Barclay

Editorial Policy

Nature Northwest is a quarterly publication

of the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists. Each

volume (ISSN 0836-4702) consists of four

issues published in February, May, August

and November. A subscription to Nature

Northwest is a benefit of membership.

Articles, notes, records, illustrations and

photographs of local and regional natural

history are welcome. Material accepted is

subject to editing and revision. Nature

Northwest is intended to be informative and

thought provoking. Articles may be edited

and reviewed by different members of the

TBFN Newsletter Committee. Views

expressed are not necessarily those of the

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists or the Editor.

Send events, stories, trip reviews, articles,

pictures and observations. Your ideas and

suggestions are welcome. Address all

submissions to:

[email protected]

Deadline for submissions is the first day of

the month in which the issue will be

produced.

February issue……….….……...February 1st

May issue…………….….…...……..May 1st

August issue………….….…...….August 1st

November issue………..…..…November 1st

From the Editor’s Desk…

Hello Naturalists,

The fall migration is upon us and I have yet to get out to

bird since the amazing Canyon Country Birding Festival.

For me, it’s been year one of a new vegetable garden;

which, complete with a rather large greenhouse, has kept

me outside but unable to find time to target the migration.

Although thanks to Brian Ratcliff, I was able to ensure the

Black-billed Cuckoo just around the corner at Mills Block

made my 2012 checklist. But yes, even as I write this note,

we just finished canning 20 L of pasta sauce and 10 L of

pickled cucumber relish, which I hope to enjoy into the cool

nights of Autumn. Hopefully Autumn is still a few weeks

away so my later maturing plants, such as my squashes and

watermelons, can fully ripen.

It is my great pleasure to be able to provide you with an

excellent newsletter that is full of summer field trip reports

that if you were unable to attend, will make you hope that

they are offered again in 2013. There are also updates from

Brian Ratcliff on the rare bird sightings of 2012, an invasive

species update from Susan Bryan, and from Brian McLaren,

a letter on the beginning of his yearlong sabbatical in

Ecuador. Also, remember to peruse the list of field trips for

the fall that Marian Childs has put together. There are many

that I have marked in my calendar. Also, check-out the list

of our fall program speakers for our general meetings.

With an incredible edition of the Nature Northwest waiting

to be read, I will sign-off and let you enjoy.

Cheers,

Bill

mailto:[email protected]


Upcoming General Meetings

The Thunder Bay Field Naturalists meet on the fourth Monday of September, October, November, January,

March and April at Lunan Hall, St. Paul’s United Church, at 349 Waverley Street, Thunder Bay.

Meetings begin promptly at 8:00 pm

September 24, 2012 – Dr Walter Momot – “Colonization of the Lakes and Rivers of the Region: A Focus

on Sibley Peninsula”

The Lakehead region has an under-recognized set of aquatic resources that Dr Momot, Professor Emeritus

of Lakehead University, will describe from his career experience. Dr Momot can speak on the ironies of

colonization and recolonization within the fauna of our lakes and rivers that are constant struggles for the

management agencies. He serves as our Club's representative on two Fisheries Management Zone councils.

October 22, 2012 – Shelley Vescio – “Invasive Species”

Shelley Vescio works with the City of Thunder Bay as the City’s Urban Forester. Many of the invasive alien

species that are found in southern Ontario are beginning to expand their ranges into northwestern Ontario.

These plants include Dog-strangling Vine, Garlic Mustard, Giant Hogweed, Round Goby, Eurasian Ruff

and the Emerald Ash Borer. Shelly will discuss the invasive species of northwestern Ontario and Thunder

Bay but will focus on the Emerald Ash Borer. The Emerald Ash Borer is an Asian insect that now threatens

the native ash trees of Ontario, including Green, White, and Black Ash.

November 26, 2012 – Dr. Chander Shahi – “Contrasts of Forestry in Canada and India”

Chander Shahi is the Chair of the Forest Management Program at Lakehead University. He will discuss the

natural history of India and its contrasts with forestry here in Canada.

This is also Bring and Buy Night - bring books, photos, maps, anything you'd like to donate to sell and bring

some cash to buy treasures from other members. Proceeds go to the club.

Lake Superior Bi-national Forum Award The Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Club was the recipient of a Lake Superior Bi-national Forum Award in

the Canadian Organization category for addressing the need to protect sensitive areas in Ontario through the

Nature Reserves program. Since the original nature reserve acquisition along the shores of the Nipigon

River in 1993, our program has expanded to include 13 properties of more than 1,000 hectares. Many of the

TBFN Nature Reserves include rare flora and fauna found in unique geological and ecological features.


Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) Photograph taken by Susan Fagan

Rare Bird Observations for 2012

The fifth edition of the checklist of the birds of

Thunder Bay District indicates that 362 species of

birds have been recorded up to December 31,

2010. While many of these species on this list are

common to our area, there have been many other

rare or unusual species that have also been

observed.

Thunder Bay District is ideal for seeing rare bird

species because it is located in the centre of

Canada and on the north shore of Lake Superior.

Prairie birds, southern birds, and even Atlantic

breeding birds, wander during migration or get

blown around during severe weather systems.

Many of them end up in our area.

It is one thing that a rare bird shows up locally,

but it takes a dedicated group of birders to get out

and check all the local birding hot spots for these

rare birds. We are fortunate to have a growing

birding community, a first class bird migration

monitoring station (Thunder Cape Bird

Observatory), and a social media site

(NWObirds). All these factors have contributed

significantly to rare species being recorded.

The first six months of 2012 have proven to be a

good year for rare bird reports in Thunder Bay

District. Below is a list of some of the rare birds

that have been reported. Thanks to everyone who

reported their sightings.

- Brian Ratcliff

Bird Records Chair

January

- Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Rocky Bay, Geraldton, Rossport)

- Spotted Towhee (Longlac from Nov-May)

- Northern Mockingbird (Manitouwadge, Marathon, Dorion)

- Varied Thrush (Shuniah)

April

- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Candy Mountain Road)

- Smith’s Longspur (Mission Island)

May

- Blue Grosbeak (Rocky Bay)

- Painted Bunting (Reflection Lake (south of

Rocky Bay))

- Franklin’s Gull (Wolf River, Pukaskwa

National Park)

- Summer Tanager (Longlac, Chippewa Park)

- Lark Sparrow (Dorion, Heron Bay)

- Eurasian Wigeon (Chippewa Park)

- Red-headed Woodpecker (Dorion)

- Western Meadowlark (Hurkett Cove)

June

- Red-headed Woodpecker (Stanley)

- Lesser Black-backed Gull (Pic River)

- Western Meadowlark (Raith, Pass Lake)


Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) Photograph taken by Mike Bryan

Pink Aliens Invade Whitefish Lake!

Recently I received an interesting but ominous

photo from a cottager at Whitefish Lake, west of

Thunder Bay. The picture was of a showy pink

flower head on a long stalk. The cottager had

picked it where it was growing near his dock in

the emergent wetland at the shore of the lake and

reported there were lots more coming up. “What

is it?” he wanted to know.

Well, unfortunately I knew this plant all too well.

Years ago I had seen marshes north of Winnipeg

overrun by this beautiful plant. Native wetland

plants were replaced by fields of pink invaders.

The plant is Flowering Rush (Butomus

umbellatus), an Asian species first introduced as a

garden pond ornamental but now spreading, much

like Purple Loosestrife, through our wetland

communities. Flowering Rush is now established

in many locations in southern Ontario, but I had

not yet run into it in the northwest.

A short canoe trip on Whitefish Lake at the end of

July showed how extensive the problem already

has become. Thousands of plants are growing

near the cottages and resorts along the northwest

shore of the lake. We also found small amounts of

Flowering Rush growing on the opposite side of

the lake at Castle Creek Ponds Provincial Nature

Reserve.

The plant is about six feet tall and roots in the

muddy bottom or floats freely, growing in shallow

marshy waters. It spreads rapidly, mainly by

releasing free floating fragments of root bulbets

out into the lake. The pieces take root often miles

away or can be transported on boat trailer

wheels or motors to invade other lakes. Pulling up

the plant can eradicate small patches, but great

care to get the entire root and all of the floating

pieces and bulbets must be taken. Pulling may just

release more plant material into the lake. Frequent

mowing of the tops, or herbicide applications, are

sometimes tried as other methods of eradication,

particularly on large patches. Removed plant

material must be disposed of well away from

lakes or watercourses to prevent spread. Public

education measures are important to protect

additional wetlands. Obviously, prohibiting

importation of these foreign plants in the first

place would have been useful, but at this point it

is far too late as the infestation is already fairly

widespread and growing.

Of particular concern at Whitefish Lake are the

impacts this plant may have on the natural history.

This site is the largest Red-necked Grebe nest

location in the region. Presently there are

extensive Wild Rice beds and productive cattail

marshes where ducks breed or stop to feed in

migration. Duck hunting is popular. Changing the

marsh around the lake may have negative impacts

on the important sport fishery. Ultimately, tourism

by hunters, wildlife viewers and fishermen may

drop off if the environment deteriorates.

MNR’s Invasive Species section is already

investigating the reports of the "pink invasion" at

Whitefish Lake. We hope they have some useful

suggestions about how to handle this problem.

If you are aware of other locations for this species

in the region, please report these to the author and

to MNR.

- Susan Bryan

Acting President and Nature Reserves Chair


Auricled Twayblade (Listera auriculata) Photograph taken by Frank Barclay

Pine Bay II Nature Reserve Field Trip

On 30 June 2012, ten people joined Sue and Mike

Bryan at the Pine Bay II Nature Reserve for a

supervised hike. A brief outline of species of

interest was provided by Sue and the group began

the trek from Lloyd Johnson Drive to the Lake

Superior shore.

En route bird calls were identified by various

members of the group who possess this skill. The

forest floor to the knowledgeable eyes of the

guides yielded an array of common and

provincially rare plant species. Plants included:

Labrador Tea (Rhododendron tomentosum) in

bloom, Twinflower (Linnaea borealis), Heartleaf

Twayblade (Listera cordata), Spotted Coral Root

(Corallorhiza maculata) and Auricled Twayblade

(Listera auriculata). A bit of trivia: the Common

Twinflower bears the name of the 17th Century

father of taxonomy, Carl Linnaeus.

While enjoyment of a protected wildlife area was

one of the attractions of this excursion, the other

aspect was to monitor species listed in the Pine

Bay II manual, a requirement of the Field

Naturalists Club’s stewardship of this property.

During the shore lunch, a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus

leucocephalus) and a Peregrine Falcon (Falco

peregrinus) were observed “working” the

shoreline. In a side trip to the eagle nest no

activity was witnessed. (Note on 29 April 2012 an

eagle was observed at the nest but no activity has

been recorded since.)

Birders in the group identified the call of the

Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus). A brief

appearance of this bird was observed by a couple

of the hikers.

The Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) responded

to calls from the group with a three-bird flyover.

Their natural curiosity about the intruders was

apparent and, once satisfied, they returned into the

tree canopy.

The field trip, while enjoyable, was also very

productive from the stewardship aspect of the

Field Naturalists Club. All the targeted species

with the exception of the butterfly Jutta Arctic

(Oeneis jutta) were observed.

As a relative new kid on the block as far as

knowledge of plants and animals, the author

would like to thank Sue and Mike Bryan and all

the other participants of the hike for sharing their

knowledge in an ideal setting. A person can feel

very small surrounded by such diversity as

evidenced every step of the way on this excursion.

- Frank Barclay

Volunteer steward for Pine Bay II Nature Reserve


Field trip members at the Fish Culture Station Photograph taken by Frank Barclay

Greenwich Wind Farm and Dorion Fish Hatchery

August 10th

saw 23 early risers head out to the

Ouimet Canyon area to learn about the area wind

farm. Evan Witak, the field site coordinator talked

about the site and took us up to one of the

operating towers where we could see quite a few

of the towers and how they fit into the landscape.

We learned how they worked and a bit about the

effect on the environment, people and animals.

We also learned about the effect of the

environment on the towers themselves and the

challenges our cold weather presents. We were

told winter cold and a windy day can increase

noise levels at the Operations Building to the

sound of a freight train. In this area, cold weather

is not only the best season for production of wind

power, but also the season for mechanical

problems. While these are cold weathers wind

turbines, they are only guaranteed to -28C.

Technicians have to climb inside the wind

turbines to do any technical repairs and

inspections.

The turbines are connected to one another via

buried transmission lines along the road.

Eventually they are connected to the regular

hydroelectric grid going towards Thunder Bay

and Marathon. Most of the roads in this area are

upgraded bush roads on crown land and are

accessible to the public.

Visually the site was appealing on the whole.

Distant towers stood out above the trees in both

curved and straight rows. The area around each

site, while bleak, is contained to the size of a

reasonably sized parking lot necessary for

building the towers and providing parking space

for workers and visitors. In time, nature may take

its course and provide some relief from the barren

rock at these locations.

Bird and bat mortally is being monitored, so we

will have to wait for the results of that ongoing

study. Turbines can be shut down, which may be a

saving grace during migration season for those

individual turbines that cause problems at certain

times of the year.

Our day was sunny with a cooling breeze. Output

of the wind turbine was low at only about 10%

capacity, which reduced the noise level to a soft

whoosh from the blades (about the standard noise

of a refrigeration unit). It was an enjoyable tour

and certainly increased our knowledge of wind

farms and respect for the effort made by

Renewable Energy Systems Canada and Enbridge

to make this wind park as environmentally

friendly as possible.

After lunch we had arranged a tour of the Dorion

Fish Culture Station, which has been rebuilt in

2008. The fish tanks are completely enclosed with

an automatic feeding system, a spring fed water

system, which also supplies some winter heat, and

a lighting system that mimics natural daylight.

While the fish are not spawning at the moment,

there was still a lot to see including large Lake

Trout, which they keep until they are 15.

A big thank you goes out to Evan Witak and

Susan Fagan from the Greenwich Wind Farm, to

the Dorion Fish Culture Station’s hatchery

technicians, who gave us a wonderful welcome

and an informative tour. We would also like to

thank Ed Chambers, municipal councilor for

Dorion, who joined us on the tour and gave us a

big welcome.

- Marian Childs

Field Trips and Programs Coordinator


Fall Field Trips 2012

Please phone or email the trip leader to confirm your attendance as trips may be postponed or even

cancelled due to weather or sudden emergencies on the part of the trip leader. This will avoid having you

waiting and wondering if you are in the right place at the right time. You should also check the website at

www.tbfn.net. We will try to keep the website up to date.

Thunder Bay Observatory – Thursday, August 23rd We will meet at the Athletic Club on Arthur Street parking lot at 7:15 pm, drive to the Observatory on Klages

Road for a talk and then a view of the heavens through a large telescope. Date and time to be confirmed due to

weather. Cloud date is Friday, August 24th

. There will be a small charge for this event. Contact Marian Childs

577-1324 to confirm.

Sudbury Meteor Impact at Thunder Bay – Saturday, September 15th A tour by Bill Addison and Greg Brumpton showing the impact of the Sudbury meteor in various places in the

Thunder Bay area. Meet at Hillcrest Park at 9:00 am. This is usually a full day, so bring a lunch and dress for the

weather. Easy walking (1 km). Contact Bill Addison 473-9297 to confirm.

Fungus Finds – Saturday, September 22nd Join mycologist Dr. Len Hutchison to learn about local mushrooms, toadstools, and other fungi. Meet by

Centennial Park bridge at 1:00 pm for this 1-1 ½ hour hike looking for fungi. Contact his office 343-8508 to

confirm.

Glacial History of the Thunder Bay Area – Saturday, September 29th A day trip exploring the geomorphology of the border area around Thunder Bay with the possibility of going to

Cook County in the USA. Meet at 9:00 am at the Athletic Club on Arthur Street. Bring a lunch. Contact Brian

Phillips 344-3770 to confirm.

Waterfowl Viewing Day at Mission Marsh – Saturday, October 13th Birding from the viewing mound. Volunteers with spotting scopes very welcome. For more information contact

the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority at 344-5857.

Silver Islet Migrants – Saturday, October 20th Search out migrating fall warblers and other birds at Silver Islet. Meet by the Landmark Inn at County Fair Plaza

at 8:00 am. It is an all-day affair so please bring a lunch. Contact Bert Harding 630-4735 if you have any

questions.

Fall Roundup – Saturday, November 3rd Join Nick Escott for this driving tour of waterfront locations to search for late migrants. Meet at 8:00 am at

Mission Marsh. Call Nick Escott 345-7122 to confirm.

Leaders and Speakers The Club is always looking for field trip leaders and speakers for the meeting. If you have a passion and/or

knowledge about a specific area of nature or a special place that would be of interest to club members,

think about sharing either as a speaker or field trip leader, or if you know someone who would make a

good leader for a field trip, please contact Marian Childs 577-1324.

http://www.tbfn.net/


A pastoral scene on the paramo Photograph taken by Brian McLaren

A Sabbatical Year in Ecuador

This ‘letter from abroad’ satisfies several requests

for news on my work in Ecuador. I will follow up

in one year with a second letter identifying later

reflections on these thoughts.

I think we return to a place to reconnect to its

people and to re-experience something of its

natural beauty, which of course also applies to

home, and answers why I keep coming back to

Ecuador. Having agreed to spend a sabbatical year

hosted by a regional university, I continue to learn

about this country, where over 13 million live,

mostly in the sierra, having agreed to spend a

sabbatical year hosted by a regional university.

My thoughts will be largely insights on the people

I know and work with, and on their relationships

to the plants and animals that are part of their

culture. As my knowledge of this subject builds, I

may later recognize mistakes made in writing this

piece, or generalizations that are easily made but

do not fully describe a situation. As you think

about my writing, you might want to reflect on

your own views about nature. How and why do

you make the choices you do to experience the

natural world? Why do your neighbours make

similar or different choices? How does culture

play a role? Gender? Age? Education? Religion?

Disposable income? These are questions I will ask

in a general way as I use this sabbatical year to

reflect on my own career.

Living in one of the older cities in the central part

of the country, Riobamba, I am surrounded by

many people who hold onto a more traditional

means of living, reflecting to some extent the

Puruhua indigenous culture. How close the

reflection is can be difficult to measure. Trade in

domestic animals as a basis for food and income

seems nearly universal, crossing all boundaries in

society here; it is also a core of the agrarian

society lived by the Puruhua. Nearly every

university in Ecuador has a program in animal

science, or zootécnica, and it is one of the most

popular, including lessons on breeding and

handling, butchering and marketing; carving an

existence, an economy and a culture directly from

the natural world is one of the oldest ways of

knowing nature anywhere. Here, traditional foods

are potatoes, sugar cane, honey, bananas and

trout. Mammals as food, other than guinea pigs,

skunks and rabbits, were mostly known only as

exotics from the Amazon basin; that is, until

importation, beginning with the set brought by the

Spanish during the Conquest, meant cheaper and

therefore more popular alternatives: chicken, beef,

pork, mutton. Today, as in the early days of the

hacienda, a growing popularity of commercial

enterprise based on modern means of increasing

animal production means two classes of

zootécnica. One takes pride in profit, the other

lives in poverty.

Some take on a traditional lifestyle by choice, I

think, to send a political message to their

governments or to set an example of their culture

for their children. Many have no choice. When it

is cold at night – August is a month with frequent

frosts – it is good to have planned for enough

firewood to heat a home, if a family’s income

doesn’t allow for investment in a city dwelling. If

it is more feasible to collect native plants known

to cure typical ailments than to plan a trip to a

pharmacy, indigenous knowledge of the forest or

the grassland may mean a difference between life

and death for someone in the family. I do not

think most tourists want to see first-hand the

reality of daily life in a smoke-filled home with a


Typical home with open fire heating and cooking Photograph taken by Brian McLaren

sick child left behind by modern medical care. I

can show you, though, for the cost of a 40¢ bus

ride, provided you first make the investment in a

$1,400 plane fare.

In the Andean grassland or páramo, when means

arrived to change the ecosystem, those living an

indigenous culture, but not by choice, did not say

‘no,’ I want to hang onto what I know and what I

fear. Human ‘improvements’ like irrigation canals

were already part of the traditional way of carving

a living out of the Andean foothills. New changes

coming with foreigners were accepted, so long as

the profit could be seen in the favour of

indigenous people too. It was the Spanish kings

who brought new domestic animals as gifts, if

those who raised them were willing to pay taxes.

It was the English mountaineer of the 18th

century who brought the hobby to shoot on

horseback with rifles the condors and wolves

(Andean foxes), these predators of small animals,

somehow also perceived as threats to the

persistence of small livestock farms. So happy to

watch then – rifles are still beyond reach for most

families – locals today recognize the condor as a

symbol on the nation’s crest, as the subject of a

rehabilitation program sponsored only by the rich

from abroad, and as a bird about which little of its

natural habits is known. Today, if a wolf, or more

likely a stray dog, is hit by a car on the highway,

in many cases deliberately, the heroic stories of

one more menace conquered continue through the

next day in a pastoral community.

It is in this environment about eight years ago that

some of my work was steered to helping the

national government with its donated stock of

Vicuñas, a request by biologists hired to work

with little means in a nature reserve that is home

to about 4,000 Vicuñas and is bordered by 55

indigenous settlements. Five countries signed an

agreement to bring back Vicuñas, which were

hunted to near extinction as a result of

international trafficking of its highly-valued

natural fibre through the 1960s – just listen to

Gloria Swanson play a rich suitor shopping for

her beau in a clothing store in Sunset Boulevard,

if you want some evidence of past and blind North

American acceptance of this trade. On small

nature reserves in Peru, the newly-protected

Vicuña became superabundant by the 1980s to the

point that the páramo was threatened. Ecuador’s

government was only too happy to take surplus

animals then, sold perhaps on being recognized

internationally as part of a recovery effort, or by

the opportunity on some future date to bring

tourists willing to buy again what once sold on

Sunset Boulevard.

The Vicuña became the first animal many

indigenous people in Ecuador recognized as state-

owned, a concept ingrained for generations for

most of us of European origin, but missed on

those who saw animal introductions previously

only as gifts, gifts so long as they worked to care

for them. Perhaps I am welcome in the university

to help build a culture of care for wild animals,

something we in North America built only slowly

over the past century. Changes often happen faster

here.

Until just a couple of years ago, I bought the tag-

line used by government – and those who fear

government – that the Vicuña would easily

become a source of revenue for those interested in

taking on a culture of capturing it and shearing it.

This time, the proposed commerce is not a more

efficient one than the one based on the chickens,

cows, pigs and sheep that replaced the rabbits and

skunks; even those tourists with dollars to pay to


A park warden holding a Vicuña Photograph taken by Brian McLaren

view the Vicuña do not stop long, as the habitat is

cold and often rainy, even snowy; those who

profit as guides are few in number. The majority

in the foothills are quick to point to the potential

for a Vicuña overpopulation similar to what Peru

experienced to do damage to the already only

marginally productive pasture lands that were

once a government grant to place people with no

land out of imminent starvation. The gift horse of

the Vicuña may be something of Indian trading to

locals, as government watches the free-ranging

animals’ numbers grow and encourages less

pasturing by the relocated people to prevent

continued destruction of the páramo. A new set of

25-year agreements to that effect came to locals

last November with government money in

exchange for the lands once granted for pasture; it

is called sociopáramo and is a ‘partnership’

similar to the sociobosque previously invented for

forest dwellers in Ecuador. International outcry

has pointed out that these partnerships are really

one-sided, as they allow rights for government to

make profit from the lands in exchange for only

relatively modest payments to those who settled

them.

So I learn of survival and what it means. The

luxury to watch a species recover comes only with

a satisfaction that food will come the next month

to feed a family. Trade allows that luxury, but

who gets the opportunity to trade is not a fair

choice. Currently, and for nearly a century, oil

companies are on the top here in Ecuador, as

elsewhere. A government now less and less

willing to invest in the Vicuña – two biologists

were laid off from the reserve staff in part on

charges that they had illicit gains from associating

with me – has now sent me on a personal quest:

Do I become a partner with an oil company in

studying and managing rainforest land purchased

to help support waste disposal, the pursuit of some

of those biologists laid off of the Vicuña project?

The answer is tied to my ability and yours to opt

for that oil-expensive trip, for example to the

Galapagos or to my sabbatical-year destination;

Ecuadorians do these kinds of trips one-way only,

and often illegally, to look for work. The answer

is also tied to the potential within Ecuador to use a

semi-protected area held by international oil

interests to teach young people about

conservation. Oil companies hold large pieces of

land, normally fenced off – but for how long? I

also see the contrasting situation in which

teaching of the natural world used to be done by

parents but perhaps more on matters of survival

you and I would rather not see or maybe even

hear about. I have been teaching Canadian

university students about the significance of Aldo

Leopold, the great North American naturalist,

writing a tribute he called On a Monument to a

Pigeon. He reflected on how far society had come

by the 1930s to be able to erect a statue to

commemorate the passing of the last passenger

pigeon, now extinct due to changes brought about

by humans; we are the only species that can

lament the loss of another and therein lies hope,

wrote Leopold. I now understand that he wrote

from the perspective of a very privileged segment

of the American population. There are no statues

honouring pigeons in Ecuador. On the other hand,

several children here have asked me if I had heard

the story of Old George’s passing, the last of a

species of giant land tortoises on the Galapagos,

which occurred just a few weeks before my

arrival.

- Brian McLaren

TBFN President on Sabbatical


The view from Paradise Island Photograph taken by Barb Yurkoski

Otters (Lontra canadensis) in Lake Superior Photograph taken by Jeremy Bryan

Bowman Island Nature Reserve Field Trip

In July TBFN members took part in a field trip to

our newest nature reserve on Bowman Island.

This is one of our most remote reserves. It lies in

the open water of Lake Superior, 50 kilometres

from the Nipigon marina. TBFN bought the land

to prevent the building of cottages and to help

ensure protection of this ecologically significant

and beautiful area.

The objective of the trip was to explore the island

and record findings for use in a baseline report

and management plan. To travel there the ten

participants boarded the Anica Lee, captained by

Gary Lange of Bowman Island Charters. We

followed the Nipigon River to Nipigon Bay, past

Burnt Island, through Blind Channel between

Fluor and St. Ignace Islands, turning east at St.

Ignace into an archipelago that includes both

Bowman Island and another of our reserves,

Paradise Island.

Along the way we saw gulls, Double-crested

Cormorants, American White Pelicans, Red-

breasted and Common Mergansers, Common

Loons, Bald Eagles, Common Goldeneyes and a

Barn Swallow. Half of the group returned to

Nipigon the same day; the rest remained for four

nights to continue the inventory of the island.

Once ashore on Bowman, we began our

exploration with the raised and ridged cobble

beaches. These beaches, which rise from the shore

to a high point in the middle of the island, are of

scientific and natural history interest because each

ridge marks a former storm on the lake. Gradual

lowering of Lake Superior over the past 3000 to

4000 years has left the berms of gravel exposed

far above the present lake level. Along the shore

waves keep the cobbles clear of vegetation.

Inland, where the waves no longer reach, the old

beach ridges are covered with blankets of lichen-

heath dotted with trees, and in some areas with

thick forest.

Pukaskwa pits are another interesting feature of

the island. They are not on our reserve but we saw

large ones on Crown land nearby. The pits, which

are found on other islands in the area and in

Pukaskwa Park, are holes dug in the ground by

the people who lived in the area up to 4000 years

ago. Little is known about these people, or why

they built the pits, though archaeologists have

guessed that they might have been used for food

storage, constructed as hunting blinds, or have

religious significance.

Next the group fanned out to look for interesting

plants, birds and butterflies. The plants of most

interest are Arctic Alpine disjuncts which

normally grow further north. They’re found in


Pearlwort (Sagina nodosa) Photograph taken by Barb Yurkoski

Northern Club Moss (Lycopodium sp.) Photograph taken by Barb Yurkoski

rocky areas where they’ve survived from the time

of the glaciers because the harsh winds and cold

temperatures of Lake Superior keep other plants

from moving in. We climbed up large rocks and

small cliffs to find Crowberry, Butterwort,

Pearlwort, Fragrant Cliff Fern, Cow-wheat,

Bird’s-eye Primrose, Wormwood and Northern

Club Moss.

Once the day trippers left, the remaining five

participants continued to explore the reserves on

Bowman and Paradise Islands. We came prepared

for cold weather on this remote island where

Arctic Alpine disjuncts grow. As it turned out, the

five days were so warm that we often sought relief

in the icy water, with only a little hesitation. In

addition to inventory work, we recorded the GPS

coordinates of the properties by following a

government surveyor’s cutline to find the stakes

that had been put in place last year. We also

placed small signs on the cobble beaches of the

reserves on both islands to inform kayakers and

other visitors about the ban on camping, fires,

hunting, fishing and motorized vehicles.

For me, highlights of the trip included a closeup

view of a Bald Eagle perched low in a tree right

beside our canoe and an encounter with three

otters who swam over to see us. I also watched a

Moose cow and her calf swim from St. Ignace to

Bowman Island, heard wolves howling on St.

Ignace Island in the middle of the night and

watched four loons perform, skimming back and

forth across the water, laughing and standing up to

flap their wings. And I won’t soon forget our

refreshing swim in a cove on Paradise Island,

where the view is so beautiful that you expect to

see palm trees on the small islets offshore.

Over the five days we recorded 35 mostly

common species of birds. Highlights included a

family of Gray Jays with young, several Boreal

Chickadees and White-winged Crossbills.

This firsthand look at TBFN’s conservation work

was a boost for the nature reserves committee

members. The area is still close to pristine, but

encroachment has begun. Had TBFN not bought

those lots, eventually there would have been

cottages there. In small numbers people can still

be part of a wilderness environment, but we must

be mindful that with all our technology we no

longer fit into nature the way early people did.

Nature reserves are a way to protect some of the

ecologically significant areas that remain.

- Barb Yurkoski

Newsletter Committee


YOU WILL NEED: Sheet of dark construction paper

Small container

Magnifying glass

White vinegar

Magnet

Hey Junior Naturalists! Be a Beach Detective!

Have you been spending time on the

beach this summer? Sand can tell you

a lot about your surroundings. Try

this activity by being a beach detective

and searching for clues in the sand!

WHAT TO DO:

1. Put a spoonful of sand on the dark paper. Use the magnifying glass to look closely at the

different shapes, sizes, and colours of the sand grains. If there are rocks (large or small)

nearby, compare some of the sand grains to those rocks. Do they look similar?

2. Put the magnet close to the sand. Does the magnet pick up any of the sand grains?

3. Add a pinch of sand to the container. Add a bit of vinegar and watch for tiny bubbles.

4. Compare the grains of sand at the top edge of the beach with those grains closest to the

water’s edge. Where do you find the larger grains of sand?

How does this work?

The action of wind and water wears large rocks down into tiny grains of sand. Most of the sand grains you find

on a beach should be similar in colour to rocks nearby.

Sand grains attracted to the magnet contain iron. Magnetite is one mineral that contains iron.

Sand grains that were once part of living animals give off tiny bubbles of gas when vinegar is added. These

grains are pieces of shell and bone.

Wind and waves sort sand on the beach. Wind can pick up light sand and blow it up the beach. Lighter grains

also stay in the water longer than heavier grains and ride the waves high up the beach. Larger, heavier grains

are usually found closer to the water’s edge.


Thunder Bay Field Naturalists --- Information for 2012

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

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

understand and protect nature.

Directors:

President ......................................... Brian McLaren ................. 344-6242

Vice President ................................. Rob Foster ........................ 346-4950

Treasurer ......................................... Mary Davies ...................................

Secretary ......................................... Irene Mitchell................... 345-2733

Newsletter Editor ............................ Bill Greaves ..................... 983-3661

Field Trips and Programs ................ Marian Childs .................. 577-1324

Publicity and ON Nature Rep ......... Ryan LeBlanc .................. 768-7973

Nature Reserves and Youth Rep ..... Evan McCaul ..................................

Director at Large ............................. Aaron Nicholson .............................

Director at Large ............................. Myra McCormick ............ 628-6432

Director at Large ............................. Jim Cameron ...................................

Program Volunteers:

Membership Chair .......................... Sharon Gilbert .................................

Nature Reserves Chair .................... Susan Bryan ....................................

Projects:

Thunder Cape Bird Observatory ..... Allan Gilbert ...................................

TCBO Cell Phone ................................................ 1-807-251-3673

Project Peregrine ............................. Brian Ratcliff ................... 768-8408

Bluebird Recovery .......................... Susan Robinson ..............................

Bird Records ................................... Brian Ratcliff ................... 768-8408

Webmaster ...................................... Rob Foster ........................ 346-4950

Annual Membership Fees:

Family ............................................................ $30

Student ............................................................ $20

Corresponding................................................. $16

Single .............................................................. $25

Senior (65+) .................................................... $20

Life Member ................................................. $350

Mailing Address/Phone:

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists

P.O. Box 10037

Thunder Bay, ON P7B6T6

Cell Phone: No Longer Available

Website:

www.tbfn.net

Meeting Dates:

4th Monday of September, October,

November, January, March, and April

Annual Dinner meeting is held 4th

Sunday

of February

Membership Application/Renewal Form

Name:___________________________________ (Email)________________________________________

Address:_________________________________ (Postal Code)___________________________________

Phone: (home) _____________________________ (work/cell)____________________________________

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

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

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

F Donation of $ to (circle one) (TBFN) (TCBO) (Jr. Nat’s) (Nature Reserves) (Tax receipt issued for donation)

Juniors: Name(s) + Age(s) __________________________________________________________________

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

what area? _____________________________________________________________________________

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

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

Newsletter, please register by February using this form, or printing the form from the TBFN website

(www.tbfn.net) and mail to above address.

All membership information is considered to be confidential, and as such the Club will not sell or distribute such information.




Getting a tour of the Greenwich Wind Farm Photograph taken by Frank Barclay

The Greenwich

Wind Farm is

located near

Dorion. The

wind farm can

generate

approximately

100 MW of

power and was

officially opened

in 2012. The

wind farm has 43

working wind

turbines and

spans an area of

17,000 ha. An

August 10th

field

trip had 23

members come

out to see the

wind park in

operation. See

the field trip

report on page 7.

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Publication Agreement No. 41362520

P.O. Box 10037

Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B6T6

Documents

President s Message · Meetings begin promptly at 8:00 pm September 24, 2012 – Dr Walter Momot – “Colonization of the Lakes and Rivers of the Region: A Focus on Sibley Peninsula”