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Number 604 May 2014
REGULARS
Coming Events 25
Extracts from Outings Reports 14
For Reading 16
Keeping in Touch 21
Monthly Meetings Notice 3
Monthly Meeting Report 13
President’s Report 12
TFN Outings 4
Weather – This Time Last Year 24
FEATURES
Summer Skies 15
Toronto Wildflowers: Bellwort and Clintonia 17
Toronto Zoo and Freshwater Mussels 18
The Stinkhorns 19
Monarchs and Bumblebees 20
TFN Grant Reports 22
Nominating Committee Report 23
M E M B E R S H I P R E N E W A L 27
Showy lady`s slipper, Cypridpedium reginae, photographed by Lynn Pady near Brampton
TFN 604-2 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEMBERSHIP FEES $20 YOUTH (under 26)
$30 SENIOR SINGLE (65+)
$40 SINGLE, SENIOR FAMILY (2 adults, 65+)
$50 FAMILY (2 adults – same address, children included)
No HST. Tax receipts issued for donations. Send membership
fees and address changes to the TFN office.
President & Outings Margaret McRae
Past President Bob Kortright
Vice President &
Monthly Lectures
Nancy Dengler
Secretary-Treasurer Charles Crawford
Communications Alexander Cappell
Membership & Newsletter Judy Marshall
Newsletter Vivienne Denton
Monthly Lectures Lavinia Mohr
Nature Reserves & Outings Charles Bruce-
Thompson
Outreach Stephen Kamnitzer
Webmaster Lynn Miller
Anne Powell
Toronto Field Naturalist is published by the Toronto Field
Naturalists, a charitable, non-profit organization, the aims of
which are to stimulate public interest in natural history and
to encourage the preservation of our natural heritage. Issued
monthly September to December and February to May.
Views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those
of the editor or Toronto Field Naturalists. The Newsletter is
printed on 100% recycled paper.
ISSN 0820-636X IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER! We welcome contributions of original writing of observa-
tions on nature in and around Toronto (up to 500 words).
We also welcome reports, reviews, poems, sketches, paint-
ings and digital photographs. Please include “Newsletter”
in the subject line when sending by email, or on the enve-
lope if sent by mail.
Please re-name digital photographs with the subject and
your name (abbreviations ok); scale your photos to less than
200kB each. In the accompanying email include location,
date and any interesting story or other information associat-
ed with the photograph.
Deadline for submissions for September issue, July 31
NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Jenny Bull (co-editor), Vivienne Denton, Karin Fawthrop,
Nancy Fredenburg, Elisabeth Gladstone, Judy Marshall,
Ruth Munson, Toshi Oikawa, Wendy Rothwell (co-editor).
Printing and mailing: Perkins Services Inc.
Toronto Field Naturalists 1519-2 Carlton St, Toronto M5B 1J3
Tel: 416-593-2656
Web: www.torontofieldnaturalists.org
Email: [email protected]
This is the last issue of the newsletter before
the summer break. The next issue will be in
September.
The Editors would like to thank members of
the Editorial Committee for all their hard
work over the last year proof-reading the
newsletter – especially the Outings!
Thanks as well to members and others who
have contributed their words and pictures.
Please continue to send your nature
observations, opinions and adventures.
While you are out enjoying nature during the
summer, please remember to send us your
photos or drawings.
See you on the trail!
Jenny Bull and Wendy Rothwell
Bee on sunflower in High Park. Photo: Wendy Rothwell
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-3
TFN MEETING
Sunday, May 4, 2014
2:30 pm
Sand Dune Conservation Geoff Peach, co-founder of the
Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation,
will explore sand dune ecology and management
VISITORS WELCOME!
SOCIAL: 2:00 – 2:30 pm
Room 003, Northrop Frye Hall, 73 Queen's Park Cres East
Immediately southeast of Emmanuel College, south of the Museum subway station exit on the east side of Queen’s Park. Enter on either the west or north side of the building. The west entrance is wheelchair accessible.
For information: call 416-593-2656 up to noon on the Friday preceding the lecture.
TFN Lectures 2014 - 2015
Sept 7 Migration in a Changing World: A Bird’s Eye View of Geolocator Tracking
Bridget Stutchbury, Conservation Biology Professor, York U
Oct 5 Designing Toronto’s Open Spaces
James Brown & Kim Storey, Brown & Storey Architects
Nov 2 Origin of Modern Ecosystems
Jean-Bernard Caron, ROM Paleontologist
Dec 7 What is Happening with Monarch Butterflies?
Donald Davis, Citizen Scientist
Feb 1 Mosses, Moose’s & Mycorrhizas
Terry Carleton, Forest Ecology Professor, U of T
Mar 1 What the *#&! is a Bioblitz
Shawn Blackburn, Programs Coordinator, Toronto Zoo
Apr 12 Climate Change, Bees & Flowering Plants
James Thomson & Sheila Colla, Conservation Biologists, U of T
May 3 Toronto’s Urban Forests
Janet McKay, Executive Director, LEAF
TFN 604-4 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
TFN events are conducted by unpaid volunteers.
The club assumes no responsibility for injuries sustained by anyone participating in our activities.
Children and visitors are welcome at all TFN events. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
If you plan to bring children in a stroller, be aware that there may be steps or other unsuitable terrain.
Please do not bring pets.
To get to outings on time, check TTC routes and schedules (www.ttc.ca or 416-393-4636).
Outings go rain or shine: check the weather by calling 416-661-0123 so you will know what to wear.
Wear appropriate footwear for walking on trails which may be muddy, steep or uneven.
TFN OUTINGS
Sat May 3 10:00 am +
EDWARDS GARDENS, TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDENS – Spring Flowers – Nature Arts Leader: Audrey Campbell Meet near the parking lot entrance to Toronto Botanical Gardens. Bring what you need for sketching, writing or
photography. You may choose to sketch in the TBG area as there are steep stairs in Edwards Gardens. Bring or buy
lunch. Bring any work you wish to share with the group after lunch.
Sat May 3 1:30 pm
WILKET CREEK PARK – Trilliums and Spring Nature Leader: Mary Taylor Meet at the northwest corner of Eglinton Ave E and Leslie St. This area features an impressive population of white
trilliums and other spring wildflowers, and is also an interesting area for migrating birds.
Sun May 4 2:30 pm +
LECTURE – Sand Dunes Conservation Speaker: Geoff Peach, co-founder of the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation Room 003, Northrop Frye Hall, 73 Queen’s Park Cres E. See page 3.
Sun May 4 6:45 pm
EIGHTH ANNUAL JANE JACOBS WALK – Evening Ramble Leaders: Pleasance Crawford and Helen Juhola Meet at the north end of Glencairn subway station on the south side of Glencairn Ave. Walk includes neighbour-
hoods near Allen Rd, Ben Nobleman Park, Everden Rd and Cedarvale Park and Ravine. It ends at St Clair West
subway station. Duration 2 hours. Bring binoculars.
Tues May 6 2:00 pm
ROUGE PARK – Birds and Wildflowers Leader: Orval White Meet at the east end of the parking lot at the Glen Rouge Campground, 7450 Kingston Rd, 1 km east of Port Union
Rd and Sheppard Ave E for a 2-3 hour loop walk. Bring binoculars.
Sat May 10 9:30 am
EAST DON PARKLANDS – Spring Wildflower Walk Leader: Phil Goodwin Meet at the Second Cup on Steeles Ave E at Laureleaf Rd for a circular walk. Morning only.
Sun May 11 11:00 am +
HIGH PARK – Walk for Wildlife Leader: Roger Powley Meet at the entrance to High Park at Bloor St W and High Park Ave for a walk to encourage everyone to get out
and enjoy nature.
Sun May 11 1:30 pm
AGGIE'S WILDFLOWER WALK – Nature Walk (Humber Heritage Committee) Leader: Madeleine McDowell Meet at Lambton House, 4066 Old Dundas St. Rediscover the world of Agnes Dunbar Moodie Fitzgibbon,
daughter of Susanna Moodie and illustrator of Canadian Wildflowers (published in 1867). All of Aggie's
specimens were from the Baby Point and Humber Valley area. Many of these flowers still survive in the
Magwood Sanctuary. Approximately 2 hours ending at Lambton House for tea and a talk about Agnes.
Thurs
May 15
8:00 am
HIGH PARK – Birds Leader: Wendy Rothwell
Meet at the park entrance at Bloor St W and High Park Ave. Bring binoculars. About 2 hours.
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-5
Sat
May 17
10:00 am
LESLIE STREET SPIT – Birds, Insects and Plants
Leader: Bob Kortright
Meet at the park entrance at Leslie St and Unwin Ave. Bring binoculars and lunch. A joint outing with the Toronto
Bruce Trail Club.
Sun
May 18
2:00 pm
LAVENDER AND BLACK CREEKS – Lost Rivers Walk Leaders: Richard Anderson and friends
Meet at the northwest corner of Weston Rd and Gunn's Rd. A joint outing with Toronto Green Community.
Mon
May 19
10:30 am
CROTHERS WOODS – Nature Walk Leader: Margaret McRae
Meet at the northeast corner of Beechwood Dr and O'Connor Dr for a circular walk to check out the spring wild-
flowers in Crothers Woods. Some dirt trails and steep hills. No washrooms available.
Tues
May 20
6:45 pm
TORONTO WATERFRONT AND GARDENS – Evening Ramble Leader: Peter Iveson
Meet at the northwest corner of Bathurst St and Queen's Quay beside the war memorial in Little Norway Park.
Walk will conclude at the Music Garden.
Thurs
May 22
10:00 am
OLD CITY OF TORONTO Leader: Linda McCaffrey
Meet at St Lawrence Hall, southwest corner of Jarvis St and King St E for a 2-hour circular walk to see the post-
industrial landscape, re-naturalized and reinvigorated; the Distillery District and Corktown Common. Coffee at the
Balzac coffee house.
Sat
May 24
10:00 am
MORNINGSIDE PARK – Nature Walk Leader: Blair Campbell
Meet at the first parking lot down the hill on the west side of Morningside Ave south of Ellesmere Rd. We will
walk along Highland Creek to end at Lawrence Ave E. Lunch optional.
Sun
May 25
1:30 pm
TODMORDEN MILLS WILDFLOWER PRESERVE – Nature Walk Leader: Paula Davies
Meet at the entrance to the Wildflower Preserve at Todmorden Mills, 67 Pottery Rd. Come early to tour the
historic site at Doors Open Toronto. We will look for signs of active spring wildlife.
Wed
May 28
6:45 pm
WARDEN WOODS – Evening Ramble Leader: Betty McCulloch
Meet at the park entrance on the southwest corner of St Clair Ave E and Warden Ave for a circular walk.
Thurs
May 29
10:30 am
CROTHERS WOODS – Physiography and Flora Leader: Ed Freeman
Meet at the southwest corner of Moore Ave and Bayview Ave to walk through Crothers Woods. Dirt trails and
some hills. Bring lunch. Walk will probably end at Loblaws Redway Rd.
Sat
May 31
10:00 am
WILKET CREEK – Basic Nature Photography Leader: Lynn Miller
Meet at the top of the road into Wilket Creek Park on Leslie St just north of Eglinton Ave E. Learn the basics of
digital nature photography as we look for native wildflowers. Bring your own camera.
2014 ONTARIO BIOBLITZ
May 23, 24 and 25
This year’s bioblitz will be in the Humber watershed.
If you would like to participate or learn more, go to:
www.ontariobioblitz.ca/
POLLINATORS of NATIVE PLANTS
by Heather Holm
published by Pollination Press, 320 pp
Learn to identify, attract and plant for pollinators and beneficial insects.
More information: www.PollinatorsNativePlants.com
TFN 604-6 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
Sun June 1 1:30 pm
CENTENNIAL PARK – Nature Walk Leader: Claire Bergeron Meet outside the LCBO at Burnhamthorpe Mall. From Islington subway station, take Burnhamthorpe bus #50 to Old
Burnhamthorpe Rd and cross street to mall. This is a circular walk.
Tues June 3 6:45 pm
GLENDON CAMPUS, YORK UNIVERSITY – Heritage and Trees – Evening Ramble Leader: Nancy Dengler Meet at the southeast corner of Lawrence Ave E and Bayview Ave for a circular walk on flat terrain, focussing on
Glendon's tree collection and human heritage.
Wed June 4 10:00 am
WILKET CREEK PARK – Trees Leader: Tom Atkinson Meet at the southwest corner of Lawrence Ave E and Leslie St (TTC #51 and #54 bus stop) for a 2 to 3-hour circular
walk returning to the Toronto Botanical Gardens, or linear exiting at Eglinton. Bring binoculars, camera and a sunny
disposition.
Thurs June 5 6:45 pm
CHERRY BEACH AND BEYOND – Evening Ramble Leader: Richard Partington Meet at the bus stop at Cherry St and Commissioners St for a circular walk. Bus from Pape subway station or from
King and York or King and Yonge Streets. Please check with TTC.
Sat June 7 10:30 am
TAYLOR CREEK – Nature Arts – Sketching at Pond and Picnic Leader: Gail Gregory
Meet at the entrance to Taylor Creek on the east side of Dawes Rd just past the west side entrance at the traffic lights
(#23 bus from Main subway station or parking on east side lot). We will take a short walk east to the pond and stay
until noon, then walk west to our backyard picnic. Please bring your own sandwich. Salad, fruit and juice will be
provided. Contact me if you have questions.
Sun June 8 1:30 pm
HUMBER MARSHES – Nature Walk Leader: James Eckenwalder, Associate Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto Meet at Old Mill subway station for an exploration of floodplain dynamics and riparian communities. Moderately
steep slope down to and back up from the floodplain and no convenient washrooms. We recommend long sleeves and
long pants.
Tues June 10 7:00 pm
WOODBINE PARK – Evening Ramble Leader: Linda McCaffrey Meet at the southwest corner of Queen St E and Woodbine Ave. We will make our way to the park through the
prestige subdivision that replaced Greenwood Racetrack. There is a lovely pond in this park. Last year a
delightful family of mute swans (parents and 3 cygnets) lived there. Hopefully they will return this year.
Thurs June 12 10:00 am
YORKVILLE – Heritage Walk Leader: Doug Paton Meet at Ramsden Park west of Rosedale subway station. Morning only.
Sat June 14 9:30 am
ROUGE CAMPGROUND – Birds and Flowers Leader: Jim and Petra Grass Meet at the Rouge Campground parking lot on Kingston Rd east of Port Union Rd. Bring binoculars. Morning only.
Sun June 15 2:00 pm
POETRY AND BUTTERFLIES ON LOST GARRISON CREEK – Lost rivers Leaders: Helen Mills and friends Meet at Dundas St W and Crawford St. A joint outing with Toronto Green Community.
Tues June 17 6:45 pm
GLEN STEWART RAVINE TO KEW GARDENS – Evening Ramble Leader: Bob Kortright Meet at the park entrance 60 m south of Kingston Rd on Beech Ave. Bring binoculars. Walk ends on Queen St E.
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-7
Thurs June 19 2:00 pm
MORNINGSIDE PARK – Nature Walk Leader: Orval White Meet by the washrooms west of the first parking lot. If the pedestrian bridge is closed, use the second parking lot
around the corner. Entrance to the park is on the west side of Morningside Ave south of Ellesmere Rd and north of
Kingston Rd. A 2 to 3 hour loop walk.
Sat Jun 21 1:00 pm
L'AMOREAUX PARK – Plants and Nature Leader: Charles Chaffey Meet at the main entrance of L’Amoreaux Community Recreation Centre, 2000 McNicoll Ave (parking
available), which is 200 m west of Kennedy Rd (#43 Kennedy bus from Kennedy subway station or #42B Cummer
bus from Finch subway station). A 3-hour circular walk on flat, well-maintained trails.
Sun Jun 22 10:30 am
BURKE BROOK AND SUNNYBROOK PARK – Nature Ramble Leader: Ed Freeman Meet at Lawrence subway station (northeast corner of Yonge St and Lawrence Ave). We will walk by Burke Brook
to Sunnybrook Park on our way to the Ontario Science Centre. Bring water and lunch.
Tues June 24 10:00 am
EGLINTON FLATS – Nature and History Leader: Madeleine McDowell Meet on the northeast corner of Scarlett Rd and Eglinton Ave W for a circular walk. We will see Simcoe's campsite
and the site of Scarlett's Mill as well as plants, birds and butterflies. There is a restaurant near the end of the walk.
Wed June 25 6:45 pm
ROSETTA MCCLAIN GARDENS – Evening Ramble Leader: Karin Fawthrop Meet at the gardens (Kingston Rd east of Lakehurst Dr) in the parking lot near the washrooms for a circular walk.
Sat June 28 9:30 am
GLENDON RAVINE – Nature Walk Leader: Nancy Dengler Meet at the southeast corner of Lawrence Ave E and Bayview Ave. A circular walk through the Glendon ravine,
Sunnybrook Park and Burke Brook ravine. Stairs into ravine, steep slope coming out. 2–5 hrs. Bring drink and snack.
We hope to see Baltimore checkerspots.
Sun June 29 1:00 pm
LESLIE STREET SPIT – Butterflies, Birds and Plants Leader: Bob Kortright Meet at the entrance to the spit at the foot of Leslie St at Unwin Ave. Bring lunch, water and binoculars.
FOR ENJOYMENT OF OUTINGS
Wide brimmed hat for protection from sun
Long sleeves for protection from mosquitoes, poison ivy, thistles, nettles and ticks
Long pants for protection from mosquitoes, poison ivy, thistles and ticks (tuck your shirt into your pants)
Light-coloured clothing makes it easier to spot ticks
Long socks to help protect you from ticks (tuck your pant legs into the socks)
Hiking boots or running shoes
Rainwear
Sun glasses, sun screen and insect repellent
Binoculars and camera
Water or other beverage and a snack
TTC Ride Guide (free), map, notebook and pen
Bring your family and/or friends, but ... NO pets allowed
TFN 604-8 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
Wed
July 2
6:45 pm
EASTERN BEACHES – Evening Ramble Leader: Bob Kortright
Meet at the southeast corner of Coxwell Ave and Eastern Ave to look at birds, insects and plants. Bring
binoculars. Walk ends on Queen St E.
Thurs
July 3
2:00 pm
LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE, EAST POINT AND GREY ABBEY PARKS – Nature Walk Leader: Orval White
Meet at the east end of the parking lot at the Guild Inn, 201 Guildwood Pkwy for a 3-hour, 8-km loop walk along the
sandy Lake Ontario shoreline with jetsam, then back along the Scarborough Bluffs.
Sat
July 5
10:00 am
DRAWING WATERFOWL FROM LIFE – Nature Arts Leader: Joanne Doucette.
Meet at the southeast corner of Coxwell Ave and Eastern Ave (Woodbine Park). Bring pencils, sketch pad and erasers,
as well as a drink and lunch. This is an all-day workshop, ending approximately 3 pm. (Materials are not supplied.)
Sun
July 6
1:00 pm
ROUGE PARK – Nature Walk Leader: Vicki Bondy
Meet outside the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre (Pearse House), 1749 Meadowvale Rd for a 2-hour loop walk.
Tues
July 8
6:45 pm
EASTERN WATERFRONT TO CORKTOWN COMMON – Evening Ramble Leader: Phoebe Cleverley
Meet at the foot of Jarvis St on Queen's Quay, south side at Redpath Quay (Sherbourne bus), ending near a streetcar
stop on Queen St E.
Thurs
July 10
10:00 am
NORDHEIMER RAVINE – Heritage Walk Leader: Doug Paton
Meet at the park across the street from St Clair West subway station. We will end in Ramsden Park.
Sat
July 12
2:00 pm
DAVID DUNLOP OBSERVATORY – Nature Walk
Leader: John Bacher
Meet at Yonge St and Weldrick Rd in Richmond Hill. Take Richmond Hill Viva blue bus from Finch subway
station before 1:30 pm. Bring water and binoculars. Approximately half of the 150-acre David Dunlap Forest in
Richmond Hill remains threatened by urban development, the worst threat to forests in the greater Toronto region.
The Richmond Hill Naturalists are still struggling to rescue it from the bulldozer. Come to witness this important
ecosystem in the Don River headwaters.
Sun
July 13
1:30 pm
CHESTER SPRINGS MARSH AND RIVERDALE FARM – Nature Walk Leader: Margaret McRae
Meet at the entrance to the Dairy Queen on Broadview Ave at Pottery Rd for a circular walk, or end at Riverdale Farm
if you wish.
Tues
July 15
10:00 am
MORNINGSIDE PARK – Birds and Butterflies Leader: Carol Sellers
Meet at the first parking lot on the west side of Morningside Ave south of Ellesmere Rd for a 3-hour circular walk.
Bring lunch and binoculars.
Wed
July 16
6:30 pm
PROSPECT CEMETERY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD – Evening Ramble Leader: Alex Wellington
Meet at the northeast corner of St Clair Ave W and Caledonia Rd to view nature and trees. TTC #47 from
Lansdowne subway station or #512 from St Clair West subway station.
Sat
July 19
10:00 am
BEECHWOOD TO FORKS OF THE DON – Nature Walk Leader: Margaret McRae
Meet at the corner of Beechwood Dr and O'Connor Dr for a circular walk to the Forks of the Don. Some narrow dirt
trails. Bring lunch and water.
Sun July 20 2:00 pm
SMALL'S CREEK – Lost Rivers Leaders: Helen Mills, John Wilson and Friends of Small's Creek Ravines Meet at the southwest corner of East Lynn Ave and Danforth Ave, two blocks west of Woodbine Ave. A joint outing
with Toronto Green Community.
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-9
Tues July 22 10:00 am
LAMBTON PARK AND HUMBER – Nature & Heritage Leader: Madeleine McDowell Meet at Lambton House, 4066 Old Dundas St for a circular trip ending with tea at Lambton House. #55 Warren Park bus leaves Jane subway station at 9:45 am and stops at the door.
Thurs July 24 7:00 pm
ST JOHN'S NORWAY CEMETERY – Evening Ramble Leader: Linda McCaffrey Meet at the northeast corner of Kingston Rd and Woodbine Ave. Take the Woodbine bus from Woodbine subway
station. This lovely historic cemetery has many graves of key people in the settlement of east Toronto including the
Ashbridge family, a lost river, a crypt, lovely trees and birds. A member of the Kew Beach owl family hunted in this
area last summer.
Sat July 26 1:00 pm
DON VALLEY BRICKWORKS – Pollinators Leaders: Dave and Norma Barr Meet at the Brick Works, near the metal gates beside the low, curved brick wall just north of the main entrance off
Bayview Ave. This 2-hour walk is an introduction to the importance of pollination in nature and some of the common
insect pollinators active in an urbanized environment. As we observe them at work, we'll be talking about threats to
pollinators and some responses to those threats, how to identify and photograph pollinators, and how to use citizen
science to aid in pollinator monitoring.
Sun July 27 1:30 pm
TAYLOR CREEK PARK – Nature Walk Leader: Margaret McRae Meet outside the Victoria Park subway station for a circular walk.
Wed July 30 6:45 pm
PORTLANDS – Weeds – Evening Ramble Leader: Joanne Doucette Meet at the TTC stop (bus 72C but check with TTC) on the southeast corner of Cherry St and Commissioners St. Route
is flat but much broken pavement, so wear appropriate footwear. Bring water. Walk ends at Queen St E and Carlaw Ave
about 8:45 pm.
Thurs July 31 9:00 am
JIM BAILLIE NATURE RESERVE – Nature Walk Leader: Charles Chaffey Please contact the leader by July 28 to arrange car pooling to the
Reserve north of Uxbridge. State your name, telephone number, whether you can offer rides and how many, or if you
need a ride and where you will be coming from in order to choose locations convenient for pickup. Bring lunch, water,
insect repellent and have footwear suitable for wet, muddy and uneven paths. We should arrive back in Toronto by 4 pm.
White-throated sparrow and blue skimmer dragonfly. Photos by June West
TFN 604-10 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
Sat
Aug 2
1:30 pm
RIVERDALE FARM – Nature Arts Leaders: Yoshie Nagata and Joe Bernaske
Meet at the farm entrance, 201 Winchester St. Bring what you need for sketching, photography or writing.
Mon
Aug 4
1:30 pm
CABBAGETOWN AND THE CEMETERIES – Heritage Leader: Janet Langdon
Meet at the southeast corner of Sumach and Winchester Sts. The walk ends on Parliament St. Some hills.
Wed
Aug 6
6:45 pm
HIGH PARK – Evening Ramble Leader: Wendy Rothwell
Meet at the park entrance on the south side of Bloor St W at High Park Ave for a circular walk.
Thurs
Aug 7
10:00 am
GUILDWOOD PARK – Trees and Nature Leader: Charles Bruce-Thompson
Meet at the parking lot at the Guild Inn entrance, 201 Guildwood Pkwy. Morningside bus #116. A chance to see the
effect of mass removal of ash trees due to emerald ash borer. Bring binoculars. Morning only.
Sat
Aug 9
10:30 am
CEDARVALE AND NORDHEIMER RAVINES – Nature Walk Leader: Kayoko Smith
Meet at Ben Nobleman Park, across from Eglinton West subway station, and end at Dupont subway station about
2:30-3 pm. First dropout is St Clair Ave W and Bathurst St near St Clair West subway station. Bring lunch.
Sun
Aug 10
1:30 pm
CENTRAL WATERFRONT PARKS – Nature Walk Leader: Richard Partington
Meet at the Princes’ Gates at the south end of Strachan Ave to wander through Coronation Park, Little Norway Park and
the Music Garden. If there is time we will visit Douglas Coupland’s canoe, north of the Gardiner.
Tues
Aug 12
6:30 pm
COTTONWOOD FLATS – Evening Ramble Leader: Scott Laver
Meet at the entrance to the Lower Don Trail at the bottom of Beechwood Dr next to the Police Dog Station. Walk or
drive down the hill from O'Connor Dr, under the DVP. Parking available on Beechwood. Bring binoculars, sturdy foot-
wear and water. A 90-minute circular walk along relatively flat paved and granular trails with no challenging terrain. An
interpretive nature walk of a previous industrial and snow dump site in the Don Valley. Discussion of current and future
restoration efforts in the area and identification of interesting natural heritage features.
Thurs
Aug 14
2:00 pm
MORNINGSIDE PARK – Nature Walk Leader: Orval White
Meet by the washrooms west of the first parking lot for a 2 to 3 hour loop walk. If the pedestrian bridge is closed use the
second parking lot around the corner. Entrance to the park is on the west side of Morningside Ave south of Ellesmere
Rd and north of Kingston Rd.
Sat
Aug 16
9:30 am
LESLIE STREET SPIT – Birds Leader: Betty McCulloch
Meet at the park entrance at the foot of Leslie St at Unwin Ave. Bring binoculars. Morning only.
Sun
Aug 17
2:00 pm
SKY AND WATER – Lost Rivers Leaders: Helen Mills and friends
Meet on the southwest corner of Dufferin St and Castlefield Ave. Including the story of an astronomical conservatory
on the drumlin at the height of land between the Don and Humber watersheds. A joint outing with Toronto Green
Community.
Tues
Aug 19
6:30 pm
CEDARVALE RAVINE – Evening Ramble Leader: Rachel Gottesman
Meet at the St Clair West subway station, Heath St exit, for a circular walk.
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-11
Thurs
Aug 21
1:00 pm
TREES AND ARCHITECTURE – Nature and Heritage Leader: Richard Partington
Meet at the northeast corner of College St and Queen's Park Cres. We will explore the adjacent area and note the
wealth of interest, arboreal and architectural, ending at Wellesley St and Queen’s Park Cres E.
Sat
Aug 23
10:00 am
ALONG THE LAKESHORE – Nature Walk Leader: Ed Freeman
Meet at Queen’s Quay Terminal building at the foot of York St next to the York St Slip. Bring lunch and water.
We will end at Humber Bay Park.
Sun
Aug 24
1:30 pm
LOWER HUMBER – Nature Walk Leader: Mary Taylor
Meet at Old Mill subway station. We will walk north ending near the TTC in the Lambton area.
Tues
Aug 26
10:00 am
MARITA PAYNE PARK – Birds and Butterflies Leader: Carol Sellers
Meet at the northwest corner of Dufferin St and Glen Shields Ave just north of Steeles Ave W for a 3-hour circular
walk. Bring lunch and binoculars.
Sat
Aug 30
10:00 am
SMALL'S CREEK – Nature Walk Leader: Linda McCaffrey
Meet at Woodbine subway station. We will trace the course of Small's Creek from its origin at East Lynn Park, along
winding east end streets and through the delightful ravines that remain, concluding our walk at the site of Small's
Pond, now Orchard Park. We may take a detour to Monarch Park and check out the historic Coxwell stables. Take
the Coxwell bus back to the subway or pick up the Queen streetcar.
Sun
Aug 31
11:00 am
HIGH PARK – Tales of the Familiar – Story Telling Leader: Joanne Doucette
Meet at the entrance to High Park (southwest corner of High Park Ave and Bloor St W) for a circular walk. Bring
lunch, binoculars, water and sun screen. Ends about 3 pm.
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium sp) and northern pearly-eye butterfly.
Photographs by Ken Sproule. See Ken’s website: toronto-wildlife.com
TFN 604-12 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
It has been a very busy time since the April report. Bruce
and I have been extremely busy putting together all the
walks for the summer season. We have a great variety of
leaders and destinations and we hope you will enjoy them.
I expect we will also be asked to lead a number of Outreach
walks for outside groups this summer and we welcome new
people to help with those. They are sometimes wanted in
areas we don't know well and we would welcome people
who can lead a walk in their own neighbourhood or places
we don't go often.
We have three bird festivals that the Outreach Committee is
attending in May, a tree festival in June and a butterfly
festival in August. Please advise Stephen Kamnitzer if you
would like to help with any of them. Please also advise me
if you are willing to phone members to remind them to
renew their memberships. This is usually done in late July
and early August.
Our board was concerned about the possible damage to
wildlife habitat on the waterfront if the Island Airport
extends the runway and increases the number of flights. We
supported NoJetsTO and I and several other TFN members
have lobbied councillors to oppose the expansion. Council-
lor Glenn De Baeremaeker proposed an amendment, which
was passed, directing: 1. that the Airport Master Plan and
Environmental Assessment include a review and analysis
of: a. The impact that expansion of the airport may have on
the bird populations in the Inner Harbour and Tommy
Thompson Park; and b. The potential danger that existing
bird populations and bird colonies may pose to air traffic
and air passengers and 2. That City Council also direct the
Deputy City Manager to consult organizations including
Bird Studies Canada, Animal Alliance of Canada, Toronto
and Region Conservation Authority and the Toronto Field
Naturalists during the preparation of the Airport Master Plan
and Environmental Assessment. So it looks like we will
have a continuing role to play and we welcome help from
our birders.
In April, Charles Bruce-Thompson is attending several
meetings with Toronto Parks about their trails. Todmorden
Mills is planning a restoration of the houses on the property
to represent different eras. The Terry House will be changed
from the 1790's to the early 1940's and the Helliwell House
to the 1890's. On Tuesday, May 27, they will be presenting
the plans and the reasons for the changes to the East York
Historical Society. You are welcome to attend that meeting
at the S Walter Stewart Library at 7:30 pm. There will be an
outdoor art exhibit there this summer as the houses will be
closed for the restoration work. They expect to re-open in
the fall as they get a lot of visits from school classes.
The Ministry of Natural Resources assures me that the
approval of our application to raise butterflies should be
complete by May 1 when we are scheduled to begin. We
have 13 people registered and are happy to have more. The
application process has been delayed because they are
changing the process and it hasn't been finalized yet. I will
communicate with all the registrants once the application is
approved and will send all the information you will need.
We have been working on putting together a web page on
dogs off leash in natural areas. I have collected about 300
photos of dogs off leash. We would like to get community
groups involved in watching the parks and reporting the
dogs off leash and hope to get the co-operation of city
officials in protecting the parks. I would like to hear from
people who might be interested in participating in this effort
in their own neighbourhoods. It was suggested we could put
information on flyers in pet stores and clinics etc. to try to
convince dog owners to keep their dogs on leash. Please
contact me if you are willing to help in any way.
Have an eventful and happy summer and I hope you will
join some of our walks or outreach events.
Please remember to renew your membership by June 30.
Margaret McRae
Photo Contest!
Have a great photo? Why not share it? This spring the Toronto Chapter of the Society for
Conservation Biology is hosting their first Nature & Wildlife Photography Contest with amazing prizes
(including a TFN membership)!
Residents across the GTA are encouraged to get outside and explore with their camera. Contestants
can submit photos in three categories, Flora, Fauna and Landscape, from April 14 to May 14.
Even if you’re not a shutterbug you can vote and share your favourite entries with friends online.
Visit www.scbtorontophotos.com to learn more.
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-13
MONTHLY MEETING REPORT
The Reluctant Twitcher Sunday, April 6, Richard Pope
Longstanding member of the Toronto Ornithological Club,
Richard Pope, regaled a surprisingly large crowd for a
warm spring day with humorous readings from his 2009
book The Reluctant Twitcher: A Quite Truthful Account of
My Big Birding Year.
“Who am I to do a Big Year? People hate pretension.”
“I wonder what makes Pope think he should do a Big
Year.” “Who cares what Pope sees?” “Pope’s a geek.”
“Who the hell is Pope?”
If you are a casual birder, things are different when you
are doing your Big Year. You feel exposed. The joy of
birding is replaced by worrying about misidentification.
One or two mistakes on the Internet and you’re dead meat.
Doing a Big Year requires rules. Pope’s was to see 300
birds in Ontario. He agrees with the American Birding
Association that counting birds heard but not seen can cut
down on harassment of birds. It’s also a lot easier on the
neck. But he needed to see his birds because song identifi-
cation can be tricky if your hearing isn't the best. And peo-
ple hear bird song differently, complicating identification.
“One day I’m out with a novice and he says, ‘What made
that weedly queedly?’ ‘What weedly queedly?’ I ask.
‘There, that weedly queedly,’ he says. ‘Oh, that. That’s a
Blue Jay,’ I say. ‘I had no idea what you meant. It’s not
saying weedly queedly, but queedly weedly.’ ‘It’s clearly
saying weedly queedly,’ he says. ‘Queedly weedly’
‘Weedly frigging queedly’. ’’ Only the arrival of some
other birders forestalls fisticuffs.
So Pope commits to seeing his 300 birds, thus becoming a
purist and a nutter. But this also has pitfalls when your
eyesight isn’t what it used to be.
He still needed two more jaegers late in the season, so he
headed early one fall day to Van Wagner’s Beach. “For a
long time, I see nothing... Suddenly, I see it. A big dark
morph. Pomarine Jaeger. Funny no one else has seen it
yet. I call it. ‘Big dark Pommie, coming in from the north,
quite far out.’ I keep up the directions, as is expected.
‘Floating in about ten o’clock, up fairly high, a scope
frame above the horizon, peeling off, starting to dive down
toward the water in a slow floating arc, quite low now.’ It
seems odd that no one else has seen it yet… ‘Right down
on the water now, hovering, starting to go back up just the
way it came, higher and higher, peeling left.’ It is at this
moment I have a disheartening revelation. . . It’s a bloody
floater. For the younger set (the under-eighties), floaters
are those things that lazily drift across your eyes in larger
sizes and ever increasing numbers as you age.”
In the end, he got his jaegers and 302 birds. And produced
a witty and beautifully illustrated book that will surely be
thoroughly enjoyed by all who search for wild things.
Lavinia Mohr
Among the images shown following Richard’s readings were this female pine grosbeak (photo by Sam Barone), left, and Barrow's goldeneye (photo by Jean Iron), above.
TFN 604-14 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
EXTRACTS FROM LEADERS’ OUTINGS REPORTS
Trees, Prospect Cemetery, Feb 20. Leader: Jack
Radecki. We observed the arboretum trees, pioneer trees
and the heritage bur oak. Birds noted included: black-
capped chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, downy
woodpecker, northern cardinal and red-tailed hawk.
Winter Tree Identification, Crothers Woods, Feb 22.
Leader: Stephen Smith. Trees identified included:
sugar maple, butternut, green ash, nannyberry, shagbark
hickory, bitternut hickory, hemlock, white pine, white
elm, black cherry, red oak, white oak, bur oak, choke
cherry, common buckthorn, alternate dogwood, and
balsam poplar. We saw a hairy woodpecker on a dying
ash tree.
Nature Arts, Ashbridges Creek, Mar 1. Leader:
Joanne Doucette. We hoped it would be warm enough
to do some drawing, but the wind chill made taking gloves
or mitts off impossible and it was too icy under foot to go
off the paths, so I talked about the history of the route and
the effects of the late ice storm on the old growth red and
white oaks in Monarch Park, the remnant of the
Ashbridge's woodlot, a favourite for naturalists before the
area was developed around World War I. We looked for
traces of the old ravine system and the ponds along the
way, as well as the changes that the brick industry had
inflicted on the landscape. Since over half the land
surface in this area was brickyard, this is easy to do. A
recent condo development excavated into the ground on
the south side of Gerrard Street. The digging stopped
when they hit the buried remnants of Ashbridges Creek
and an ever-deepening pond has grown in the open hole.
We may have ducks in the spring! We could hear the
creek running at utility covers. Just as we ended the walk,
Bob Kortright pointed out a large bird flying towards us
from the north east. At first we thought it was a great blue
heron, but as it neared us it proved to be a bald eagle.
Ed.: Though the walk lacked the planned sketching and art focus due to the cold, Joanne plans to lead a workshop on how to draw waterfowl on July 5. Members who want to find out more about Ashbridges Creek or drawing birds can contact Joanne at
Birds, Colonel Sam Smith Park, Mar 4. Leader: Anne
Powell. We had good views of waterfowl along the east
shore of the park where we saw white-winged scoters and
a red-necked grebe as well as the other usual winter
beauties. The inner bays were frozen and we avoided the
south shore where gusting winds made walking
unpleasant. We were serenaded on the eastern point with
a symphony of tinkling ice - a special treat on a cold
winter day at the lakefront. Our walk concluded with
Charles Bruce-Thompson spotting a coyote.
Birds, West Don Valley, Mar 8. Leader: Ken Sproule.
We observed red-breasted merganser, chickadee, cardinal,
robin, downy woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch, crow
and red-tailed hawk. A large section of the north E.T.
Seton parking lot was being used as a temporary dump for
fallen branches from the December ice storm. Trucks were
still arriving.
Trees, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Mar 15. Leader: D.
Andrew White. We noted green ash, European ash, white
birch, white ash, dawn redwood, Douglas-fir, white fir,
ginkgo, shagbark hickory, shell-bark hickory, hop-horn-
beam, horsechestnut, Japanese maple, red maple, sugar
maple, sycamore maple, Tatar maple, red oak, white oak,
persimmon, Austrian pine, Corsican pine, Japanese red
pine (Pinus densiflora), Scots pine, white pine, London
plane, Japanese sophora, Norway spruce and white spruce.
Birds, Humber Bay Park East, Mar 19. Leader: Wendy
Rothwell. I enjoyed this group of young enthusiastic
naturalists, all relatively new to the TFN. It's exciting
when a birder sees something for the first time – a
northern mockingbird, an American wigeon or a pair of
mallards displaying and mating.
Leslie Street Spit, Mar 22. Leader: Stephen Kamnitzer.
Despite a gloomy weather forecast we had a very produc-
tive day. We saw 30 species of birds while exploring the
spit. We covered most of it in 5 hours. Lunch was at the
seldom-visited southeast tip where we saw a snowy owl.
After that we went over to the lighthouse where there were
significant amounts of recently-dumped construction
debris. There was very good waterfowl viewing from the
path between Cells One and Two. There were many red-
Continued on next page.
Hop-hornbeam catkins. Photo by Baye Hunter. From canadiantreetours.org
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-15
Continued from previous page.
American widgeon at Humber Bay Park, Mar 19, photographed by Wendy Rothwell
breasted mergansers and long-tails on the outer shores of
the spit. We saw a long-eared owl just south of the red
painted metal bridge, pointed out to us by some other
bird watchers. They said that it had been in the same tree
for at least 3 days. As well as the many waterfowl, birds
of interest included a killdeer, a short-eared owl, a
goldfinch and many red-winged blackbirds. We also saw
4 mink and a beaver.
Birds, Toronto Island, Mar 25. Leader: Anne Powell.
Ice lined the shores of the Inner Harbour and Wards Island
Beach, and the Eastern Gap was still iced in. Waterfowl
observed included long-tailed ducks, common goldeneye,
white-winged scoter, bufflehead, common merganser and
red-breasted merganser. Returning migrants observed
were red-winged blackbirds, common grackle and brown-
headed cowbirds.
SUMMER SKIES
By Aggrey Sambay, York University Astronomical Observatory
With the arrival of the Vernal Equinox on March 20, days are becoming longer and the nights shorter. I suggest we make
the most of these condensed evening hours to explore the night sky. Amateur telescopes, binoculars, and even the naked
eye have made it possible for us to explain what we see around us in the simplest way possible while enjoying the night's
celestial events.
May 10 Saturn will hover in the Eastern sky shortly after sunset at its closest distance to Earth, with its face fully
illuminated by the Sun.
May 24 An outburst of debris related to comet 209P/LINEAR is being predicted and it is very likely that this will be
the strongest meteor shower display of 2014 seemingly emanating from the constellation Camelopardalis. With between
100 and 400 meteors per hour, this shower of shooting stars is definitely something worth watching. Look northwards
about half way from the horizon to the zenith (straight up) and be sure to get comfortable and have no lights in your
immediate field of view. Dress warmly!
June 3 Beginning at 2:08 pm, which is (unfortunately) daytime here, Jupiter will experience a rare triple shadow transit
lasting 95 minutes. Those lucky enough to be online to catch this event will see the shadows of three of Jupiter’s largest
satellites move across the cloud tops of the planet. Try www.skyandtelescope.com or www.nasa.gov/.
July 12 Mercury will reach its greatest elongation (W 21 degrees) and will be relatively bright in the dawn skies
(eastern horizon).
July 12-20 Mercury will lie within 7 degrees (east) of the very bright planet Venus.
July 24 Jupiter will move into conjunction with the Sun, having been gradually vanishing into the evening twilight
since early July.
August 12 The peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
August 29 An hour before sunrise in the lower part of the east-northeast sky, Venus and Jupiter will appear strikingly
close together, making these planets an eye-catching sight.
York University has public viewing every Wednesday throughout the year. If you are not able to come to the
campus observatory, log on to our Online Public Viewing page (yorkobservatory.com) any Monday evening.
You are also welcome to email us at [email protected] to book a tour of our facility. Also, don't forget to
check out the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Toronto website (www.rascto.ca) and the David Dunlap
Observatory website (www.theddo.ca) for a wealth of other astronomical events.
TFN 604-16 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
FOR READING
The Birds of Thickson’s Woods Annotated Checklist
Phill Holder and Margaret Bain
Documenting the 313 species of birds seen so far in the reserve, with full colour photographs of each species, their status, and the specific dates of rarities seen.
Phill Holder says: “When the Holder family arrived in Toronto in 1982, Thickson’s Woods gave us our introduction to birding in Canada. Thirty years ago a fund-raising board was organized to buy the woods and save them in perpetuity. Later the meadow to the north was included. Thickson’s Woods has become an important oasis for migrating and breeding birds – the only mature stand of white pines on the north shore of Lake Ontario.
“This new publication marks the 30th anniversary of “Saving the Woods” and is dedicated to our son Matt who passed away suddenly in 2011. Matt loved birding the woods and, in his memory, all proceeds for the sale of this book will go towards the Matt Holder Environmental Education Fund.”
For more information, email
The Once and Future Great Lakes Country: An Ecological History by John L. Riley, McGill-Queens University Press, 2013
John Riley has produced a great epic on one of the world’s
most under-appreciated and abused bio-region. It is
astonishing that this land of such lost wonders as the
passenger pigeon, slaughtered and burnt out of its habitat
by the folly of Euro-American blindness and cupidity, has
not received such a comprehensive treatment until now.
To write on the history of the Great Lakes region since the
last ice age is a daunting challenge. To Riley’s credit, his
most moving account of this saga is on the land where he
had the wisdom to anchor himself. This is Mono Town-
ship, which he describes as “the high country between
Lake Ontario and Lake Huron, near the midpoint of the
Niagara Escarpment.”
Riley sets his own ecological restoration efforts in Mono
in the context of a community that has been healing itself
since it hit a rock bottom of ninety percent deforestation in
1910. At that time, he chronicles, “The wind began to
carve blowouts and raise dunes in over-used fields.”
Aided by the work of provincial tree nurseries, Mono was
able to recover through massive tree planting. In response,
he finds “Erosion was stopped on thousands of acres, and
forest now covers more than a third of Mono. The soils
are healing, wildlife is returning, and the streams are
running clear again.”
Riley played his own role in the recovery of Mono. He
describes how his land had been plagued by an infestation
of “cemetery spurge, a sure sign of over-grazing.” He and
his partner “eased up on the cattle, planting nitrogen-fixers
to build up the soil, and grew windrows to hold the snow
and water the ground. The spurge is now gone and the
fields are a haven for grassland birds.” In addition to
replenishing the grasslands, Riley protected the forest on
his land which had previously been assaulted by grazing
cattle. He fenced out cattle and buffered his forest with
tree plantings. As a result the “springs now flow as a
stream again and downstream there are beaver,” while the
“bush is now on the mend and has the feel of the wild.”
Riley shows how the pattern of ruin and recovery he
witnessed in Mono is part of the epic story of the entire
Great Lakes region in the past century. While his scope is
quite breathtaking, it is marred somewhat by quibbles
about how the conservationists of the past administered
their healings. While mistakes were made, instead of
careful analysis, sometimes ridicule oversimplifies the
challenges of past restoration efforts.
Riley’s worst mocking of the restoration efforts of the past
comes from a quotation gathered from the elitist confines
of the “invitation only” Brodie Club - an organization the
same age as the Toronto Field Naturalists, but without its
outreach. From this closed circle immune from peer
reviewed debate, Riley mocks Edmund Zavitz’s
reforestation as the work of the “cult of the little pine.”
The tragic consequences of not appreciating more
seriously the conservation achievements of the past
emerge in Riley’s account of ecological restoration in
response to the construction of Hamilton’s Red Hill Creek
expressway. In his uncritical praise of this work, Riley
omits how there was soil collapse in parts of the Red Hill
valley creating barren badlands, conditions where no
plants will grow. What is worse is that this disaster came
about on lands which were reforested successfully by
Edmund Zavitz from barren rock conditions. While
originally in coniferous plantings, as intended, the valley
had evolved eighty years later into a healthy mixed forest.
Review by John Bacher
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-17
TORONTO WILDFLOWERS: BELLWORT AND CLINTONIA
Many species once considered members of the lily family
(Liliaceae) have, after molecular studies, been assigned to
other families. According to The ROM Field Guide to
Wildflowers of Ontario, 2004, this places some Ontario
species in six other families while bellworts (Uvularia) and
Clintonia remain in Liliaceae. The Flora of North
America (FNA) also lists Uvularia in the Liliaceae while
the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN)
states the genus belongs to the Colchicaceae, a small
family (about 18 genera, 225 species) better known for
“autumn crocus” (which are not crocus). Both FNA and
VASCAN place Clintonia in the Liliaceae.
Large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) is up to
50cm tall with yellow drooping flowers as much as 5cm
long, generally single but also found in terminal pairs.
Locally uncommon but widespread, it is found in Toronto
in the spring in many forested areas from Etobicoke Creek
to the Rouge. In eastern Ontario it occurs south from
Georgian Bay. It also occurs immediately north and west
of Lake Superior. Its
Canadian range is
from Quebec to
Manitoba and it is
found in the US in
most eastern and
central states.
Bluebead lily
(Clintonia borealis), a
slightly smaller plant,
has flower stems up
to 40cm tall bearing
clusters of three or
more yellow-green
nodding flowers
about 1.7cm long.
Although
uncommon here it
is widespread,
occurring from the
Humber to the
Rouge and in High
Park, in forested
areas, in late spring. The ROM Field Guide described its
habitat as boreal forest in the north and coniferous swamps
in the south but the local habitat appears to be deciduous-
coniferous forests. It has been reported throughout most of
Ontario except the northwest. It also occurs from
Newfoundland to Manitoba and in most of the eastern
United States.
See if you can spot these two species as you enjoy our
natural areas in the late spring.
Peter Money
Left: Large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) Right: Bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis)
Photos by Peter Money
TFN 604-18 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
TORONTO ZOO AND FRESHWATER MUSSELS
By Mary-Kate Whibbs, Maude E.M. Tremblay, and Cynthia Lee, Great Lakes Program, Toronto Zoo
Native freshwater mussels in the Family Unionidae are
found around the world, but are thought to be most diverse
in North America (Williams et al. 1993). These mussels
are also highly imperilled, which is distressing considering
their important role as ecosystem indicators (Williams et
al. 1993). Although extensive surveys have been
conducted in southwestern Ontario, the inland waters of
the Lake Ontario drainage basin remain a relatively
understudied region. These surveys are crucial because
they contribute to our knowledge of these important
indicator species.
Very little of the Rouge River watershed had been
formally surveyed for unionid mussels, despite the
presence of at least one species at risk (SAR), eastern
pondmussel (Ligumia nasuta), where the river meets Lake
Ontario (DFO, 2013). Eastern pondmussel was assessed
by COSEWIC as Endangered, and subsequently listed
under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Fourteen
of the 41 species of unionid mussel in Ontario have a
status of Endangered or Threatened under SARA, which
provides them with legal protection that makes it illegal to
kill, harm, harass, or capture individuals of the species.
Many species, including eastern pondmussel, are also
listed under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Freshwater mussels are at risk for many reasons, including
low water quality, threats from invasive species (e.g.,
zebra mussels), and loss of their host fishes, which they
depend on to complete their complex parasitic life cycle
(DFO, 2013).
The Toronto Zoo’s Great Lakes Program team began
conducting freshwater mussel surveys in the Rouge River
and Duffin’s Creek in 2013 with the goal of cataloguing
the species in the inland watersheds of the Lake Ontario
basin.
A total of four species (including empty shells and live
animals) were found in the Rouge River: cylindrical
papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus), creek heelsplitter
(Lasmigona compressa), giant floater (Pyganodon
grandis), and creeper (Strophitus undulatus). All of these
are known to occur within this watershed and are
considered common in this region. After preliminary
investigation, no mussels were found at any of the six sites
searched in Duffin’s Creek. This presents a pronounced
contrast to the Sydenham River in Southwestern Ontario,
which boasts 34 species of freshwater mussel (Staton et al.
2003).
Continued on next page
Rouge River
Giant floater (Pyganodon grandis) Cylindrical papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus)
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-19
MUSSELS continued
In the Rouge River, density ranged from 0-0.9 mussels/
m2. These densities are low compared to other areas;
particularly the diverse and abundant mussel fauna of the
Mississippi River drainage, where densities can be as high
as 118 mussels/m2 (Whitney et al.1996).
Invasive dreissenid (zebra or quagga) mussels were not
observed during sampling in either waterbody. This is not
surprising, given that invasive dreissenid mussels are
generally transported with the current (Mackie 1991) and
therefore tend to be less common in rivers, but it is good
news, given the devastating effects that dreissenid mussels
can have on native mussels.
In addition to increasing our knowledge of our aquatic
environments, the results of these surveys have been
incorporated into the Toronto Zoo’s bilingual Great Lakes
Outreach program, in which local aquatic species at risk
are highlighted to raise awareness of key Great Lakes
issues in schools. For more information on the Toronto
Zoo’s Great Lakes Program, please send an email to:
Sources:
DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) 2013. Draft Recovery strategy and action plan for the Eastern Pondmussel (Ligumia nasuta) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. vi + 54 pp.
Mackie, G.L., 1991. Biology of the exotic zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, in relation to native bivalves and its potential impact in Lake St. Clair. Hydrobiologia 219: 251-268.
Staton, S.K., A. Dextrase, J.L. Metcalfe-Smith, J. Di Maio, M. Nelson, J. Parish, B. Kilgour, and E. Holm, 2003. Status and trends of Ontario’s Sydenham River ecosystem in relation to aquatic species at risk. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 88: 283-310.
Whitney, S.D., K.D. Blodgett, R.E. Sparks, 1996. A comprehensive evaluation of three mussel beds in Reach 15 of the Upper Mississippi River. Center for Aquatic Ecology, Illinois Natural History Survey, August 1996.
Williams, J.D., M.L. Warren Jr., K.S. Cummings, J.L. Harris, and R.J. Neves. Conservation status of freshwater mussels of the United States and Canada. Fisheries 18(9): 6-22.
Beware the stinkhorns! Their aroma is putrid. There are
several stinkhorns on Toronto's trails. In the summer the
phallic-shaped netted stinkhorn (Dictophora duplicata)
emerges, usually in the morning, from a tennis ball-sized
egg that soon splits allowing the mushroom to grow
inches in hours revealing the net-shaped veil that hangs
from the top of the stem. The head is covered with an
olive-green stinky slime that contains the spores The
flies love it and come from afar to consume it before fly-
ing off and dispersing the spores wherever they wander.
They leave behind an ivory, odorless head.
There is also a rosy-pink stinkhorn shaped like a large
pitted crayon with the slime covering the top quarter. It
is called Mutinus caninus or M. elegans or M. ravenelii,
depending on which field guide you prefer.
Enjoy the stinkhorn experience. When you are trying to
identify them, make sure it is fun, not frustrating.
Article and photos by Harvey Meland
THE STINKHORNS
Top left: Netted stinkhorn fruitbody and egg (bottom);
Top right: Rosy-pink stinkhorn
TFN 604-20 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
Help monarchs by planting milkweed Throughout April, the David Suzuki Foundation will be
selling milkweed plants in Toronto for $5 each. Plants will
be available for pick-up at Christie Pits on May 25. Or,
make a donation of $25 and 5 milkweed plants will be
planted along the route of the buried Garrison Creek. For
information go to www.davidsuzuki.org/gotmilkweed or
phone 647-456-9752 or email [email protected].
Monarch breeding habitat in Ontario Read more at Ontario Nature : ontarionature.org
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is proposing that
milkweed be removed from the Schedule of Noxious Weeds
and that dog-strangling vine be added. Milkweed provides
an important habitat and a larval food source for the
monarch butterfly, which is experiencing an alarming
decline in numbers. Dog-strangling vine is an invasive plant
that can be difficult to control once established. It is also a
hazard to monarch butterfly populations because, though
monarch butterflies are attracted to it, any eggs they lay on
the plant will not survive.
Monarch habitat along migration route Read more at Monarch Watch: monarchwatch.org/
To restore habitats for monarchs, pollinators, and other
wildlife, Monarch Watch is initiating a nationwide
landscape restoration program called “Bring Back The
Monarchs.” The goals of this program are to restore 20
milkweed species, used by monarch caterpillars as food, to
their native ranges throughout the United States and to
encourage the planting of nectar-producing native flowers
that support adult monarchs and other pollinators. This
program is an outgrowth of the Monarch Waystation
Program started by Monarch Watch in 2005. There are now
over 5,000 certified Monarch Waystations – mostly habitats
created in home gardens, schoolyards, parks, and
commercial landscaping.
2014 migration Read more at Journey North: www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/
As we go to press in mid-April, the first monarchs to leave
Mexico have travelled 1200 miles to Oklahoma. The
migration follows the growth of milkweed. Check out the
weekly updates of the butterflies’ journey and the
emergence of milkweed on maps at the Journey North
website: www.learner.org/north/monarch.
What is Happening with Monarch Butterflies? Hear Donald Davis speak at the TFN Dec 7 monthly
meeting (see page 3).
Monarch Butterfly Updates The Buzz about Bumble Bees
By Sheila Colla
The decline of bees is increasingly recognized and an
important environmental, agricultural and now even
political issue. As a result, interest in these fuzzy
creatures has grown considerably in the past few
years. Here are exciting new initiatives, research and
tools now available to help us understand the status of
our native bumble bees:
The Bumble Bees of North America: An Identification Guide Princeton University Press, 200+ pages
Identify both females and males using the most up-to-date taxonomic and molecular research. The guide also compiles ecological and distribution information for each species. If you always wanted to learn how to confidently identify the bumble bees in your backyard, this book should help you. Available on Amazon.ca.
Bumble Bee Watch Wildlife Preservation Canada has teamed up with the Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation, the Montreal Insectarium and the University of Ottawa to launch www.BumbleBeeWatch.org. This new citizen science initiative will help people like you contribute to scientific research on the ecology and conservation of native bumble bees. The site will also allow more people to help us locate rare populations for species such as the Endangered Rusty-patched Bumble Bee.
In 2014, Wildlife Preservation Canada and the Thomson lab at University of Toronto will team up to continue work on native bumble bees. We will be investigating threats to native bees such as pesticide use, introduced disease and climate change. Stay tuned!
Ed: Sheila Colla and James Thomson will be presenting the TFN monthly lecture next April.
Monarch caterpillar chomping on milkweed.
Photo by Ken Sproule
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-21
Here is a photo of one of the fascinating and enigmatic
ravens that seem to be nesting at TTP – first time in
decades so the nest is being ‘staked out’ and records are
being kept. Exciting!!
Lynn Pady
……………………………………………………………
I am in love with salamanders! I have quite a few in my
garden, had a live one in the basement in the fall, and
have had a couple of ‘found’ dry ones in the crawl space,
which are now in my display case. They appear to be
common in my east end garden, and I suspect my water-
ing system helps them a lot. I found two between stacked
plastic containers in which I was holding a couple of
small plants in the watering zone. I left the salamanders
alone and want to think how to make more safe havens
for them this summer.
I even had the luck to see a baby red back. About three
years ago a box shape had been dug 10 inches into the
ground to hold the workings for the watering system.
When it was being checked in 2013 I asked the young
man to go carefully when he lifted the cover. We saw the
adult and the perfect copy in miniature, the baby. I did
not know they happened and could not believe my eyes!
Then I re-read the article in the March 2013 issue about
Salamanders in and around Toronto, status in 1982 and
paid attention to the fact that they do not have a larval
stage. They were declared uncommon/rare and mostly
seen in the west end. I wonder if anyone has done a
follow up study or could write an article on their current
status. Maybe they are doing well in more areas now!
Anne Leon See www.torontozoo.com/Adoptapond and Ontario Nature’s website for more info on salamanders
The media reported recently on the closing of a road in Burlington from the end of March to mid-April so that Jefferson salamanders can cross during their migration back to the vernal pools where they were born. Conser-vation Halton reports that last year mortality of these endangered salamanders was reduced to 0 and there was “lots of breeding.”
I am very concerned over the article published in the
April TFN newsletter advocating the harvesting of wild
mushrooms, including at Point Pelee. Southern Ontario
in general and Toronto in particular have so little
remaining natural habitat and so many people visiting
those areas that they are under severe pressure. Such
harvesting and the trampling it would entail are
unsustainable. Furthermore it is illegal to pick anything
in City of Toronto parks or in national parks such as
Point Pelee and Rouge. The following quotation from the
Rouge Park website (rougepark.com/explore/protect.php)
explains the ecological impact of picking mushrooms.
“Removing plants or mushrooms from the Park is also
prohibited. Many people do not realize that stopping to
collect some of their favorite wildflowers or edible
mushrooms while exploring the Park can have a significant
negative effect on the ecological processes that occur in
the area. Every species, from deer to mushrooms, has an
important role to play in the ecosystem. For example, fungi
act to decompose dead plant and animal matter returning
important nutrients to the soil. This in turn allows new
plant growth to flourish. If we harvest a species quicker
than it can be replenished, that species could become
seriously depleted or even extinct, causing these ecological
processes to be altered.”
As one of the TFN's stated aims is “to encourage the
preservation of our natural heritage,” I believe TFN
should encourage people to stay on trails, leave nothing
but footprints and take nothing but pictures, regardless of
how tasty some wild foods might be.
Marilynn Murphy
…………………………………………………………… NEWS FROM MADELEINE McDOWELL
Two hundred enthusiastic people with lanterns and
candles attended Green 13’s 6th annual Earth Hour walk
on March 29. Madeleine led this walk along the Humber
from Lambton House recounting the river’s historic and
ecological importance. (Madeleine will be leading TFN
outings on May 11 and June 27.
Madeleine also reported, “There seems to be a return of
the bald eagle to the Humber. Two people on separate
occasions recently described sighting an eagle over the
Valley, north of Baby Point. One said that it was close
enough to see the great yellow beak emerging from the
white head feathers. This is exciting news. The last
eagle's nest at Baby Point was in the fifties.”
…………………………………………………………… ROSEMARY GAYMER
We have heard that Rosemary Gaymer, TFN president
from 1972-74, died recently. As well as being a long-
time member of TFN, Rosemary was a member of South
Peel Naturalists Club. A celebration of her life was held
on April 11.
KEEPING IN TOUCH
TFN 604-22 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
High Park Happenings
By Jon Hayes, Family Programs Coordinator,
High Park Nature Centre
Spring is slowly unfolding in High Park this year. As we
notice the first signs of spring (salamanders, red-winged
blackbirds, garter snakes and mourning cloak butterflies),
we can’t help but reflect on that wicked winter we just
emerged from. We faced many challenges: slippery ice,
deep snow, whipping winds and frigid temperatures. The
High Park Rangers (aged 12 - 16) braved it all to plan and
lead their Family Nature Walk. On this icy hike, the
Rangers showed off the hidden wonders of winter to an
enthusiastic group of naturalists young and old. Highlights
of the hike included seeing a bald-faced hornets’ nest,
tasting white pine tea, learning about snowflake formations
and learning to identify poison ivy in the winter. We even
stopped to admire the clever ice crafts of the Nature
Babies.
A sun catcher made out of ice! We saw some like this
on our Family Nature Walk.
Beside leading hikes for the public, the Rangers kept busy
cutting invasive Asiatic bittersweet vines that were shading
out the native species in the woodlands. They scouted out
the great-horned owls and found several regurgitated
pellets, discarded feathers and owl poop. They also made
signage for our outdoor classroom and put up the
orienteering course signs. It was a busy winter for the
Rangers!
This winter we also turned about 20 discarded Christmas
trees into a bird blind to help us better observe the birds at
our feeders. Not only did the bird blind smell amazing, it
helped us observe the behaviour of nuthatches, chickadees,
house finches and hairy woodpeckers at much closer range.
Rangers at the beginning stage of constructing a bird blind.
This spring the High Park Rangers are preparing for the
Urban Bat Project. Bats are misunderstood animals and we
hope to dispel some of the myths and fears by engaging the
public in exciting citizen science. The High Park Nature
Centre will be lending out hand-held bat detectors to the
people of Toronto to survey their neighbourhoods for
ultrasonic bat echolocation calls. This data will help the
Ministry of Natural Resources better understand how bats
use our city. Permanent song meters will record bat sounds
in High Park to identify exactly which species of bats are
using Toronto’s largest green space. The Rangers are eager
to teach participants how to use the hand-held bat detectors
and help lead some of the bat night events we will host this
summer.
It is encouraging to spend time with the High Park Rangers
(or any of the kids in our nature clubs) as they are able to
find the wonder in winter. These youth are becoming
environmental leaders in their community and we are very
proud of them.
We hope to see you at a Family Nature Walk this spring or
summer!
TFN GRANTS REPORTS
The High Park Rangers have been in the news! See these links for articles about their work in High Park: Family Nature Walk in Toronto Star : www.thestar.com/news/insight/2014/03/07/wild_in_the_city_high_park_rangers_ re-veal_some_of_mother_natures_bestkept_secrets.html Urban Bat Project in Toronto Star : www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/03/31/torontos_bat_population_in_spotlight_ at_nature_centre.html
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-23
TFN GRANTS REPORTS continued
Forests Ontario Toronto Envirothon Competition By Kristina Quinlan Johnston, Ontario Envirothon Coordinator
The 2013 -2014 Toronto Field Naturalist grant was used to
support the Toronto Envirothon Competition. The Toronto
Envirothon is where students “take the biodiversity
challenge” and get outdoors to experience nature. Through
workshops led by expert resource professionals, hands-on
field testing and presentations, Envirothon participants
learn about pressing environmental issues and solutions in
the fields of forestry, wildlife, soils and aquatic ecology,
and their impacts on biodiversity.
For many students, the Ontario Envirothon is their first
exposure to natural resources and the value of biodiversity.
The skills and knowledge students gain through participa-
tion in these events empower them to make informed
responsible decisions in their everyday lives. Due to the
immersive nature of the program, Ontario Envirothon
alumni become passionate stewards of our land. Some
have even identified Envirothon as an informative
experience which helped direct them to an environmentally
-focused career or post-secondary program.
Ontario Envirothon's goal is "to build environmental
awareness and leadership among young people through
practical, hands-on educational experiences, enabling them
to make informed, responsible decisions that benefit the
earth and society." The objectives are:
to increase students' awareness of the natural balance and
complexity of environmental ecosystems;
to increase students' understanding of basic science
concepts in the areas of forestry, wildlife, aquatic
ecology and soil, together with a current environmental
issue each year;
to provide opportunity for students to experience
differing views and concepts relative to environmental
issues;
to provide opportunity for students to experience new
ideas, geography and cultures throughout Ontario and
North America.
This year’s event saw students from various Toronto high
schools participate in two days of hands-on workshops and
a competition day. In one workshop, students learned about
local sustainable agriculture, this year’s current issue, at
Downsview Farms’ Fresh City Farms and saw how a
working farm operates in an urban centre. In a full day
workshop at Humber Arboretum, students took part in
forestry, wildlife, soils and aquatics sessions led by
resource professionals from the Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority, City of Toronto and Ecospark.
Students learned numerous field skills including benthic
sampling, looking for signs of wildlife, learning how to
identify and measure trees and identify soils.
The Toronto Competition will see the students put their
learning to the test as they compete at the Toronto
Envirothon Competition at the Ontario Science Centre. The
students will compete in four field tests and also make a
presentation based on the current issue. The winning team
will then represent Toronto at the provincial Envirothon
competition being held May 12-15 at Fleming College in
Lindsay.
REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee recommends the following slate of nominees to the Board for the year 2014-2015:
TFN by-law No. 1, Section 5(g) provides that “any three members may submit, in writing, to the Secretary-Treasurer by
July 15 the name of a candidate accompanied by the written consent of the nominee. Such nominations shall be pub-
lished in the September issue of the newsletter and the names of such nominees shall be added to the list of candidates
submitted by the Nominating Committee.” Nominations should be sent to the TFN office, 2 Carlton Street, Unit 1519, Toronto, ON, M5B 1J3.
According to TFN by-law No.1, Section 5(b), “If an election is required it shall be by ballot mailed to all members.
Ballots may be mailed to the auditor or deposited at the Annual General Meeting prior to the commencement of the
meeting. The ballots will be tabulated by the auditor who shall announce the results.”
President: Nancy Dengler Past President: Margaret McRae
Vice-president: Charles Bruce-Thompson Secretary-Treasurer: Charles Crawford
Directors: due to retire in 2015: Lynn Miller, Lavinia Mohr, Charles Crawford due to retire in 2016: Alexander Cappell, Stephen Kamnitzer, Vivienne Denton due to retire in 2017: Anne Powell + 2
TFN 604-24 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
WEATHER (THIS TIME LAST YEAR)
May 2013
This was a changeable month that had a bit of everything:
sunny warm spring weather, rain both cold and warm, a
couple of days of summer-like heat and humidity, and
even a bit of snow!
May began with a ridge of high pressure bringing a long
period of sunny and fairly warm conditions that marked a
distinct change from April. The first seven days of the
month were virtually cloudless, and daytime temperatures
rose into the low-to-mid twenties. Warm, but no 2012-
style freak heat-wave here.
The middle part of May was much cooler and more
unsettled. There was actually a little bit of snow on May
12th, 0.4 cm at Pearson Airport. This was the first time
measurable snow fell in May since 1989. Daytime
maximum temperatures stayed below 10° this period, but
we narrowly escaped frost.
The pattern for the rest of the month was one of fairly
typical but wide-ranging temperatures, as cold and warm
fronts moved across Ontario. Pearson Airport just broke
the 30-degree mark on the last two days of May.
In the end, temperatures and sunshine ended up being just
a bit above normal – because of the settled warm spell
during the first week. Actually, sunshine at 291 hours was
about 60 hours above normal and the most since 2007,
while monthly mean temperatures were just about a
degree above normal (15.2° at Pearson, 15.6° downtown).
Precipitation of 76 mm was almost exactly average.
June 2013
June was marked by seasonable conditions – actually a bit
cool by recent standards, and variable amounts of rainfall
(typical of summer months). Changeable weather
included overnight lows below 10° during the first week
and peak heat on the 24th in the low thirties (typical
summer stuff). The mean temperature of 19.2° downtown
was actually 0.6° below the 30-year average, while
Pearson’s 18.7° was just 0.1° below. Rainfall was near or
slightly above normal – Pearson was missing a complete
record, but downtown had 108.7 mm.
Overall, this was a pleasant month without excessive heat
and enough rain to keep things lush.
July 2013
The big story this month was the torrential downpour on
July 8th, which set records for the heaviest one-day
rainfall ever at Pearson Airport, exceeding even Hurricane
Hazel.
Though this statement needs to be made with a certain
caveat. The area covered by heavy rains in Hurricane
Hazel was larger and covered a somewhat different piece
of land. Hazel brought up to 214 mm to areas west of
Toronto (Snelgrove, the north part of Brampton). Pearson
Airport had 137 mm with Hazel, but the one-day total on
October 15, 1954 was 121 mm. The July 8th storm was
smaller in extent and focused a bit further east, extending
into downtown, though it was still heavier in the west end.
Pearson’s 126 mm on July 8th did indeed supersede
Hurricane Hazel, at that location.
A more similar event for comparison is the storm of
August 19, 2005. That downpour focused on the city’s
northern suburbs: there was a report from Thornhill of
175 mm (Wikipedia).
In the end, the July 8th storm was the more expensive
weather event in terms of damage, because it struck older,
densely-built neighbourhoods that lacked the space or
infrastructure to cope with flooding rains. There was
enormous damage to properties on the edges of ravines,
built before set-backs provided safe space, and to the
ravines themselves. Vegetation got torn up wholesale and
the floodplains became, in places such as the Vale of
Avoca, a series of braided channels with little vegetation.
Yet this storm was not unusual in its formation or
violence. It was not a hurricane like Hazel or a tornadic
supercell like the 2005 storm. Rather, it was an ordinary
summer thunderstorm that became rather large by
incorporating several cells, formed in an unusually
saturated atmosphere and, most importantly, was very
slow-moving, which meant that it poured for two hours.
July then featured a notable spell of heat and humidity but
less extreme than in 2011 or 2012. It was still bad enough
though, because of the huge amount of ambient moisture
left over from the previous storms. The heat-wave lasted
from July 16 to19, with Pearson reaching 34.9° on the
19th and downtown 35.4° on the 17th. Humidex values
were in the 50° range.
This heat broke with a squall line of storms which moved
very quickly so didn’t bring as much rain. They did,
however, bring damaging straight-line winds. Pearson
reported a gust of 104 km/h. Numerous trees and power
lines were downed.
After this, July settled down, and the remaining 11 days
of the month were pleasant with somewhat below-normal
temperatures.
Continued on next page
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-25
COMING EVENTS
WEATHER (THIS TIME LAST YEAR) continued
The month as a whole was not the wettest on record.
Pearson Airport’s 181.2 mm, although based on
incomplete data, was exceeded as recently as July 2008
(193.2 mm). (Even with complete data, it is unlikely to
exceed the 200+mm recorded in October 1954 and
September 1986). It was marginally warmer than normal
(22.3° at Pearson, normal is 21.7°) because the last third of
the month brought the average down.
August 2013
August was quite cool and dry for the first half of the
month, but this was reversed for the second half. The
lengthy cool spell was quite pleasant for certain outdoor
activities and helped to dry things out after July’s
humidity and heavy rains.
The last ten days of the month saw a return to heat,
humidity and rain, though none of these were excessive.
Pearson Airport’s hottest day was the 21st, with a high
temperature of 31.5°, while downtown it actually was a
whisker below 30°. The severe heat stayed a few hundred
kilometres away over the US Midwest. Thunderstorms
rolled along the boundary on the 25th to 28th.
Temperature and rainfall averaged out close to normal.
Downtown’s mean of 21.4° was 0.4° below the long-term
normal, while Pearson’s 20.9° was 0.1° above. Rainfall
downtown was 88.9 mm (slightly above normal) and at
Pearson 69.2 mm (slightly below normal).
Gavin Miller
If you plan to attend any of these events, we recommend that you contact
the organizing group beforehand to confirm time and place.
Jim Baillie Memorial Bird Walks – Toronto Ornithological Club
Aimed at the intermediate birder, but beginners also welcome. Free to the public. Information: www.torontobirding.ca
Sun May 4, 8 am – noon. Lambton Woods – spring migrants. Leader: Don Burton. Meet at James Gardens parking lot (access
from Edenbridge Dr east of Royal York Rd, north of Dundas St W).
Sun May 11, 8 am – noon. High Park – Warblers, orioles, sparrows, hummingbirds. Leader: Pat Hodgson. Meet at the parking lot
inside the Bloor St park entrance at High Park Ave.
Sun May 17, 8 am – noon. Toronto Islands – later spring migrants. Leader: Kevin Seymour. Meet at Toronto Islands Ferry Docks
at the foot of Bay St off Queen's Quay to catch the 8:15am ferry to Hanlan's Point ($6.50 ferry fee for adults; students/ seniors
$4). Bring lunch.
Sun May 25, 7:30 am – noon. Colonel Samuel Smith Park – possible Whimbrel; other migrants.
Leaders: Jim and Petra Grass. Meet in the southerly parking lot at the foot of Kipling Ave off Lake Shore Blvd W.
High Park Walking Tours
1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, 10:30 am to noon. Meet at the benches across the road south of Grenadier Restaurant.
Information: 416-392-6916 or [email protected] or www highpark.org.
Tommy Thompson Spring Bird Festival Sat May 10, 8 am – 4 pm. Leslie Street Spit
International Migration day
Sat May 10, 9 am – 3 pm. Toronto Zoo
Colonel Sam Smith Spring Bird Festival
Sat May 24, 9 am – 1 pm. Colonel Sam Smith Park.
NANPS Annual Native Plant Sale
Sat May 10, 10 am – 3 pm. Markham Civic Centre, 101 Town Centre Blvd, Markham (Warden & Hwy 7) free parking. See plant
list at www.nanps.org. Information: [email protected]
High Park Stewards Native Plant Sale
Sun May 11, 11 am – 2 pm. In front of greenhouse (Greenhouse Rd off Centre Rd). Park in Grenadier Restaurant parking lot.
Cash only. Large orders after 1 pm only. Information: www highparknature.org.
Coming Events continued on next page
May 4. The Amazing Birds of the Park, Brian Bailey
May 18. Grenadier Pond Awakes, Christine Tu-Parker
June 1. Spring Babies at the Zoo, Sonya Dittskrist
June 15. Hidden Treasures Scavenger Hunt
July 6. Shakespeare in the Park, Julia Bennett
July 20. Exploring Spring Creek Ravine, Stephen Smith
Aug 3. Caterpillars, Moths and Butterflies, Don Scallen
Aug 17. Native Wildflowers, Sharon Lovett
Yellow
Warblers
at Leslie
St. Spit
Photo by
Ken
Sproule
TFN 604-26 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
COMING EVENTS continued
Celebrating 90 years of library service to the Gerrard East community.
Thurs May 15, 6:30 – 8 pm. Speaker: Joanne Doucette. Photos and artifacts, light music and refreshments. Gerrard/Ashdale Library,
1432 Gerrard St E.
Lambton House HeritageTalk
Thurs June 12, 7:30 pm. Up the Humber to the West: My Metis Voyageurs. Speaker: Joanne Doucette. 4066 Old Dundas St
(#55 bus from Jane subway station). Tea and coffee served from 6:45 pm.
Leslieville Tree Festival
Sat Jun 21, noon - 4 pm at Leslie Grove Park on Queen Street East. More info at: www.yourleaf.org/leslieville-tree-festival
Annual Tommy Thompson Park Butterfly Festival
Sat Aug 23. More info at: www.trca.on.ca/events/
Toronto Entomologists’ Association
The TEA conducts a number of field trips over the summer. Everyone is welcome. Information: www.ontarioinsects.org
Rouge Park Weekly Guided Nature Walks
Explore Rouge Park’s trails with a Hike Ontario certified volunteer leader.
Information: visit www rougepark.com/hike, e-mail [email protected] or phone 905-713-3184, Monday thru Thursday.
Lost Rivers Walks
Information: www.lostrivers.ca.
Sat May 3, 10 am. Jane’s Walk “Come PLAI With Us in the New Port Lands.” Meet at Carlaw Ave and Lake Shore Blvd E. Facili-
tators: Councilor Paula Fletcher, Alfredo Romano, David Stonehouse, Mark Wilson and John Wilson. Due to the Port Lands Acceler-
ation Initiative (PLAI), a new reality is emerging in the Lower Don Lands. Neighbourhood community and business leaders invite
you to explore with us and our partners from Waterfront Toronto, City Planning and Toronto & Region Conservation. Walk will end
at Cherry St and Commissioners St.
Wed May 7, 6:45 pm. Pomona fruit tree orchards in Little Italy (Garrison Creek area). Leader: Ian Wheal. Meet at the northwest cor-
ner of College St and Grace St. 5 km.
Wed May 14, 6:45 pm. Grog Lane to Whiskey Alley (Russell Creek and Taddle Creek areas). Leader: Ian Wheal. Meet at the north-
east corner of Queen St W and John St. 7 km.
Sat May 17, 1 pm. Jewish Summer Camp Farm and Military Training area. Saul’s Creek, Long Branch Camp. Leader Ian Wheal.
Meet at Long Branch TTC loop. 14 km.
Mon May 19, 2 pm. In Defence of Learning, University of Toronto. Military watersites, 1066 to today. Leaders: Ian Wheal and Ed
Freeman. Meet at St. George subway station, Bedford Rd entrance.
Harbourfront Centre
Through June 2014. Nine Rivers City. A large-scale outdoor photographic exploration of Toronto’s nine rivers.
Information: harbourfrontcentre.com/visualarts.
Ontario Nature’s 2014 AGM June 20-22
YMCA Geneva Park on Lake Couchiching, north of Orillia.
Celebrate 25 years of ON’s loon logo with a talk from Bird Studies Canada’s Dr. Doug Tozer on the natural history of the common loon and its future in Ontario.
Participate in nature workshops and learn from the experts on gardening with native plants, nature photography, searching for salamanders, identifying dragonflies and much more!
Explore ecological treasures on one of our guided field trips, including tours in the Carden Plain, a paddling trip in Minesing Wetlands, and an excursion at Ontario Nature’s 470-hectare Altberg Wildlife Sanctuary.
Hear about the year’s highlights and celebrate achievements .
For more information and to register (by May 16) visit www.ontarionature.org/discover/annual_general_meeting.php
May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-27
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Your TFN membership expires June 30, 2014. To renew for the year July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, and ensure a September newsletter, either cut out this form, which has your address printed on the back, or photocopy both sides of this form, or print the Membership application form from the TFN website (www.torontofieldnaturalists.org)
and complete it, ensuring that the name appears exactly as printed on your newsletter, or submit from TFN website using PayPal. If your name or address has changed, please indicate this so our records will be updated. Send the form with your payment by June 30 to: Toronto Field Naturalists, 2 Carlton Street, Suite 1519, Toronto, ON, M5B 1J3
Contact Information: (Note: We do not sell or swap our mailing list) Home phone: _______________ Work Phone: _______________ E-mail address: ___________________________________________ Please check your name and address on reverse of this page and modify if necessary.
Remittance enclosed __ $40 Single __ $50 Family (2 adults at same address, children included) __ $30 Senior Single (65+) __ $40 Senior Family (2 adults 65+) __ $20 Youth (under 26)
Plus a donation of $_______(tax receipts issued for donations)
I/we might be willing to volunteer in the following areas:
Outings Outreach Office help Conservation Nature Reserves
Newsletter Website Finance/Accounting Youth
Other:_________________________________________________________
Opossum at Ashbridge’s Bay, March, 2014. Photo: Lynn Pady
TFN 604-28 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014
Publications Mail
Registration No. 40049590
Toronto Field Naturalists
1519—2 Carlton St., Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1J3
“Woodlot in March,” inspired by a vernal pond on the Humber River, by Joanne Doucette.
