November 2019
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JOURNAL OF THE HAMILTON NATURALISTS’ CLUB Protecting Nature Since 1919 Volume 73 Number 3 Celebrating 100 Years! November 2019 White-winged Dove at Edgemont St, Hamilton - 19 May 2019 - photo Simon Carter. One of the more exciting species found during the Spring birding season in Hamilton. Check-out all the significant records in the Noteworthy Bird Records on page 55 inside. In This Issue: Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Spring Season Noteworthy Bird Records Lynx and Landscape The Environmentally Friendly Lister - The Five Mile Radius Reflections from Late-1950s Wood Ducks Table of Contents Songbird Conservation and Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Mike Rowlands 52 The Environmentally Friendly Lister - The Five Mile Radius (5MR) Ellen Horak 54 Noteworthy Bird Records, March – May (Spring) 2019 Bill Lamond 55 Dates to Remember – November and December 2019 Rob Porter/Liz Rabishaw 60 Pipelines Crossing Significant Local Wetlands and Streams Don McLean 62 Lynx and Landscape - HNC Monthly Meeting - 9 September 2019 Bill Lamond 65 Reflections from the Past - Wood Duck Articles from the Late-1950s Various authors 70 HNC 100th Anniversary cake-cutting at Ontario Nature 88th Annual Gathering at McMaster University. (L to R) ON Executive Director Caroline Schultz, HNC President Bronwen Tregunno, ON President Lyle Clarke and HNC Conservation & Education Director Gord McNulty - photo Noah Cole. Page 50 The Wood Duck - November, 2019 Volume 73 Number 3 November 2019 CN ISSN 0049-7886 - Publications Mail Contract No. 40048074 http://www.hamiltonnature.org [email protected] Publications Committee: Christine Bishop, Martin Daly, Rob Dobos, Judy Eberspaecher, Andrea MacLeod, Kevin McLaughlin, Don McLean, Herman van Barneveld, Glenda Slessor, Jean Stollard, Jim Stollard and John Struger. The Wood Duck is the official publication of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and produced by members of the Club. It is published nine times a year from September to May, inclusive. Deadline for receipt of material is the 5th of the month preceding publication date. As long as credit lines are included, articles may be reprinted without permission, unless otherwise specified. Opinions expressed in the Wood Duck are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club. The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club promotes public interest in the study, conservation and appreciation of our natural heritage. Meetings are held monthly September to May inclusive and field events are scheduled throughout the year. Visitors are welcome. The HNC is a registered charity and all donations as well as membership fees are tax deductible. HNC BOARD 2019 - 2020 Executive Past President Bronwen Tregunno 905 637 7136 [email protected] President: Chris Motherwell *** *** **** [email protected] Vice-President: Bill Lamond 519 756 9546 [email protected] Secretary: Joyce Litster 905 627 1203 [email protected] Treasurer: Jim Stollard 905 634 3538 [email protected] Directors Bird Study Group: Bruce Mackenzie 905 973 4869 [email protected] Conservation & Education: Gord McNulty 905 525 9927 [email protected] Field Events: Rob Porter 905 920 3148 [email protected] Director-at-Large: Jackson Hudecki 905 516 4253 [email protected] Membership: Jill Baldwin 905 679 6447 [email protected] Programs: Lou Mitton *** *** **** [email protected] Publicity: Andrea MacLeod *** *** **** [email protected] Sanctuary: Brian Wylie 905 627 4601 [email protected] Volunteer: Mike MacLeod *** *** **** [email protected] Wood Duck Editor: Bill Lamond 519 756 9546 [email protected] Coordinators Website Coordinator: Andrea MacLeod *** *** **** [email protected] Social Coordinator: Catharine Flatt 905 628 2030 [email protected] Junior Naturalists: Brian Wylie 905 627 4601 [email protected] Mailing: Jean Stollard 905 634 3538 [email protected] Land Trust Program: Jen Baker 905 524 3339 [email protected] Report rare bird sightings to: Cheryl Edgecombe 905-637-5923 Send Noteworthy Bird Records to: Bill Lamond, 238 St. George St, Brantford, N3R 1W7 email: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP FEES – Please remit to The Membership Director, HNC PUBLICATIONS - To order, contact Bill Lamond Hamilton Naturalists’ Club P.O.Box 89052, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4R5 519 756 9546 or [email protected] Life Membership $900.00 Hamilton Nature Counts 2003 $75.00 Single Membership $45.00 Hamilton Area Bird Checklist 2019 NEW $2.00 Senior Single Membership $40.00 Head of the Lake Nature Guide $8.00 Date Guide to the Birds of the Hamilton Study Area NEW $5.00 Student Single Membership (on-line-only free access to Wood Duck; for those 25 or under) Checklist of Ontario Butterflies $1.50 Senior Joint Membership $45.00 Birds of Hamilton and Surrounding Areas $25.00 Family Membership $50.00 (order from Glenn Barrett at [email protected]) Junior Naturalists - 1st child $80.00 Hamilton Mammal Atlas $15.00 Junior Naturalists - additional children $70.00 HNC - A Centennial Celebration in Stories and Pictures $25.00 Honorary Life Member n/a Reptiles and Amphibians of Hamilton Area (check local library) The Wood Duck - November, 2019 Page 51 Editor’s Notes... The Book Launch was very successful on 7 October. It was a great night. Sales of The“ Hamilton Naturalists’ Club – 1919-2019 – A Centennial Celebration in Stories and Pictures” have been excellent and it will likely sell-out very soon so make it known if you want one. If you are reading this before November 1st and you would like to go to the centennial gala at Liuna Station on 2nd of November, you will have to act immediately. Let Debbie Lindeman know and she will see if you can be squeezed in. The Spring Noteworthy Bird Records are in this issue. The spring season report is the largest as so many birders are active at this time of the year and of course there can be birds everywhere in April and May. This report so large that I have reduced the type to 9 point to leave room for other articles. It may be somewhat difficult to read in print (no problem at all on-line), but as this is more of a scientific reference rather than a relaxed read, I am not overly concerned. You can always get out your magnifying lens! I could have left out all the 43 photos by 33 photographers and increased the type to 11 point but that would make it so unappealing. The photos add so much. I believe the NBR are vital as they encompass all the records of birds observed in the HSA. I am well aware that some of you may not share this sentiment. I beg your indulgence. The annual Alan Wormington Fall Bird Count takes place on 3 November (Sunday). I am certain that most of you who are participating have your area set. For those who don’t, you can contact me and I will see what I can do to find you an area. My wish for all of you is that you find a rare bird in your area. That would be so fine. Our centennial year is starting to wind down but there are still hikes and talks to attend. Don’t forget about the exhibition at the Art Gallery of Hamilton called “Cootes Paradise: A Place Above All”. ‘This exhibition looks at Cootes Paradise through the eyes of artists and naturalists who have immersed themselves in its natural beauty. Most importantly it also celebrates the founding of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club by a group of concerned community members who had the foresight to work to protect the area beginning 100 years ago’ - that’s us! Bird Study Group Meeting Summary – 16 September 2019 Songbird Conservation and Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery by Michael Rowlands he first meeting of the Bird Study Group’s 2019-2020 season eyed Junco), GCKI (Golden-crowned Twas held at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre on September 16 Kinglet), RCKI (Ruby-crowned with a full house of attendees. As usual, Bruce Mackenzie, our Kinglet), OVEN (Ovenbird), WTSP emcee and Director for the BSG, welcomed new birders and (White-throated Sparrow), HETH made several announcements about forthcoming events. (Hermit Thrush), MAWA (Magnolia Warbler), NAWA (Nashville Warbler), Our guest speaker was Jane Hudecki, the Conservation Breeding and COYE (Common Yellowthroat). Coordinator at Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC), a non- profit organization in Guelph. After getting her B.Sc. in zoology/ The bar graph below shows Bird Study Group scribe animal biology at Guelph in 2013, Jane worked at the Toronto the frequency of various major Mike Rowlands. Wildlife Centre (TWC) for three years helping rehabilitate observations (from the Journal of Wildlife Preservation, Volume injured birds. Seeing there was a wealth of raw data about the 38 (2), 2018) for each species. What was significant, was that for condition of hundreds of birds examined and treated at the every species, eye trauma was about four times more prevalent Centre, she decided to return to university to obtain an M.Sc. and than any other injury or condition: this has been under-reported the skills to analyze that data. Her talk summarized this work in in previous research. Corneal ulcers are caused by abrasion of songbird conservation as well as her involvement in the recovery the outer surface of the birds’ eyes after collisions with windows, program for the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike. buildings, or other birds. These can become infected and lead The Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) in Toronto estimates to more serious problems, such as necrosis (death or decay of there are about 2500 spring and 2900 autumn window or the tissues). What can we do to prevent these collisions? Turning building collisions of songbirds every year. Birds migrating at off lights in downtown high-rise buildings, apartments and night are attracted to and confused by city lights or during the condos will help.