70 The Henslow's Sparrow in : A Historical Perspective by Richard W. Knapton

Henslow's Sparrows (Ammo­ of the Thames River where it flows dramus henslowii) were first into Lake St. Clair. In this area reported in Ontario in 1898; W.E. Swales (1905) had found a colony Saunders reported seeing and of ten pairs. This raises the hearing"several" Henslow's possibility that the species may Sparrows at two locations-at have occupied the natural tall 1eannette's Creek on the south grass prairies of Essex and shore of Lake St. Clair, near Lambton Counties for many years , . In the prior to first sightings, and it was same year the Reverend C.l. simply overlooked owing to its Young reported a nest containing unobtrusive behaviour, particularly four eggs in a "wet springy place its inconspicuous song, a sentiment in a meadow under a tuft of grass" also expressed by Tozer and near Lansdowne, Richards (1974) and D.A. (Macoun and Macoun 1909). Sutherland (1981, pers. comm.). McIlwraith (1894) makes no After these initial reports from mention of the species in his Lambton and Essex Counties, first survey of the birds of Ontario. records from other parts of the Therefore I make the assumption province indicate a gradual (but see below) that the Henslow's northward and!or eastward pattern Sparrow's first occurrence in the of occurrence during the next few province was in the late 1890s, decades across . and in this account I trace changes The first records for Middlesex in its distribution and abundance and Elgin Counties were in 1918 from the late 1890s to 1980 (see (at London) and in 1919 (at Port Knapton 1982). Stanley), respectively (Dale Saunders (1908), writing on the 1921). Numbers of Henslow's nesting status of the Henslow's Sparrows in these counties Sparrow in Ontario at the turn of evidently increased over the next the century, considered the species few years. Two nests were found to be reasonably common in the at Copenhagen, , in extreme southwest part of the 1930 (Ontario Nest Records province, particularly at the mouth Scheme, R lames, pers. comm.),

Richard W. Knapton, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3Al

ONTARlO BIRDS OCTOBER 1984 71 and numbers peaked in the 1930s, singing males were reported from a prompting W.E. Saunders to class meadow near Goderich, Huron the species as locally fairly County, on 4 June 1943 (Clarke common in the London area (letter 1944). The species was recorded to J. L. Baillie dated 13 August in summer in at 1931; Saunders and Dale 1933). Big Cedar Point in 1942, near The late 19~Os and the decade in 1945, near Angus and of the 1930s were banner periods Oro Station in 1949, near Tiny for Henslow' s Sparrows elsewhere Marsh in 1955, and near Holly in in southern Ontario. The Regional 1960 (Devitt 1967). The species Municipality of Haldimand­ has been found as far north as Norfolk recorded its first birds in Manitoulin Island, one in June 1930, when Speirs (1933) found 1952 (Nicholson 1972). However, four males at Lowbanks and six because the Henslow's Sparrow is males there the following year. At an easily overlooked species, it is Long Point, a colony existed in possible that such records were 1927 between Courtright and due to increasing observer Squire's Ridges, and a second familiarity with the species rather colony was present just north of than a northward extension of its the Provincial Park in the 1930s. breeding range. (McCracken et al. 1980). The In the east, colonies were regional municipalities of reported in the 1950s for the first Hamilton-Wentworth, York and time in Durham (Speirs 1973) and Peel also recorded Henslow's Northumberland (McDonald and Sparrows for the first time in the John 1974) Counties, in the 1930s, for example, a colony in Kingston area (Quilliam 1973), the Parkdale Avenue area of and in the Regional Municipality Hamilton (G. North 1981, pers. of -Carleton (Lloyd 1951; comm.; J. Dowall 1981, pers. H. Ouellet 1981, pers. comm.; B. comm.), a nest found at Cooksville DiLabio 1981, pers. comm.). The in 1932 (Richardson 1933), and a first record in Wellington County nest found at in 1937 was at Luther Marsh in 1962, a (ONRS). The Holland River colony that persisted for ten years marsh, Simcoe County, also reaching a maximum of eight turned up Henslow's Sparrows in, males (Brewer 1977; 1981, pers. 1937, with at least five males comm.). The species was recorded present in late July (Ussher, in far in 1976, 1939). Baillie and Harrington with three in summer near Prescott (1937), reviewing the status ofthe in Leeds and Grenville Counties species up to the mid-1930s, (Goodwin 1976). concluded that Sarnia and Thus, the pattern of occurrence Bradford appeared to mark the of the Henslow's Sparrow in northern limit of the species in the Ontario is a gradual north and province at that time (Figure 1). east one since the turn of the Since the 1930s, the species has century (the nest record at been found considerably north of Lansdowne, Leeds County, in Baillie and Harrington's limit. Two 1898 appears to be somewhat of

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Figure 1. Breeding distribution of the Henslow's Sparrow in Ontario, late 1800's to 1980. an anomaly, particularly since the Ottawa, Lake Simcoe, Georgian next eastern Ontario record, at Bay and Manitoulin Island (James Kingston, was in 1950). This et at. 1976). However, it has never range expansion has resulted in the been recorded as occuping all species occurring as far north as areas in this region at anyone

ONTARIO BIRDS OCTOBER 1984 73

time. It now appears to be absent people who replied to my requests or very rare in large areas of for information, who suggested Ontario: for example, the references on Henslow's Sparrows, intensively cultivated southwest, a and who offered opinions on the region which certainly had far historical and present status of more suitable habitat (e.g. Henslow's Sparrows in their areas abandoned grassy farmland left (apologies for omissions): Dave undisturbed for many years) Brewer, Mike Cadman, Craig earlier this century. There are no Campbell, Geoff Carpentier, Bob colonies greater than ten males Curry, Am Dawe, Bruce currently known in Ontario, DiLabio, Jim Dowall, Dave although some fairly large colonies Fidler, Clive Goodwin, Chris have occurred in the last ten years Harris, Dave Hussell, Ross James, or so, for example at Tiny Marsh Bill Jarmain, Harry Kerr, Cliff (C.J. MacFayden 1981, pers. MacFayden, Doug McRae, comm.) and at Barrie (C.G. Harris George North, Mike Oldham, 1981, pers. comm.). Superficially Henri Ouellet, Martin Parker, suitable habitat still occurs across Peter Peach, Paul Pratt, Bill Pratt, southern Ontario but is evidently Helen Quilliam, Alf Rider, Chris unoccupied at present; for Risley, Doug Sadler, Ron Scovell, example, Henslow's Sparrows Roy Smith, Murray Speirs, Terry were found at only two of 155 Sprague, Don Sutherland, Ron survey stops in areas of suitable Tozer, Wayne Weber, Ron Weir, habitat in southern Ontario during Chip and Linda Weseloh, Peter the breeding season of 1983 Whelan, Paul Wiper. Their help is (Risley 1983). Furthermore, the gratefully acknowledged. Alan Henslow's Sparrow is now of Wormington and Chris Risley sporadic occurrence in areas in made helpful comments on earlier which it was formerly classed as drafts. Part of this work was "locally fairly common" (e. g. completed under the supervision of Middlesex County, Haldimand­ the Wildlife Branch, Ontario Norfolk R.M.), or "uncommon, Ministry of Natural Resources, very local summer resident" (e.g. with a special thanks to Irene York and Peel R M. s, Goodwin Bowman, Nongame Program 1979). The whys and wherefores Coordinator. of population fluctuations, or perhaps more accurately the long Literature Cited term gradual but consistent Baillie, J.L. and c.J. Harrington. population decline in the 1937. Distribution of breeding Henslow's Sparrow throughout its birds in Ontario. Trans. Roy. Can. range, are very poorly understood, Inst. 21:150-285. and the species remains somewhat Brewer, A. D. 1977. The birds of of an enigma among our provincial Wellington County. Spec. Publ., avifauna. Field Nat. Club, Guelph. Acknowledgements Clarke, C. H. D. 1944. Gleanings I would like to thank the following from the natural history of Huron

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County, Ontario. Can. Field-Nat Nicholson, J. C 1972. The birds of 58: 82-84. Manitoulin Island-a species accounts summary. Sudbury, Dale, E. M S. 1921. Starling and Henslow's Sparrow in Ontario. Ontario. Bird Lore 23: 198-199. Quilliam, HR. 1973. History of Devitt, o.E. 1967. The birds of the birds of Kingston, Ontario. Simcoe County. Brereton Field Kingston Field Naturalists, Naturalists Club, Barrie. Kingston. Goodwin, CE. 1976. Ontario Richardson, H 1933. Further Region. Am. Birds 30: 802-804. notes on the Henslow's Sparrow at Toronto. Can. Field-Nat. 47: 58. Goodwin, CE. 1979. A bird finding guide to the Toronto Risley, CJ. 1983. Results of a survey for Henslow's Sparrows in region. Toronto Field Naturalists Toronto. ' Ontario in 1983. Unpublished Report, Wildlife Branch, Ontario James, R.D., P.L. McLaren and Ministry of Natural Resources, J. C Barlow. 1976. Annotated Toronto, 8pp. checklist of the birds of Ontario. Life Sciences Misc. Publ., Saunders, w.E. 1908. Nesting of Henslow's Sparrow in Ontario. RO.M., Toronto. Ottawa Nat. 22: 115-117. Knapton, R. W. 1982. The Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodra­ Saunders, W.E. and E.MS. Dale. 1933. History and list of mus henslowii) in : a status report Unpublished Report, birds of Middlesex County, Nongame Program, Wildlife Ontario. Trans. Roy. Can. Inst. Branch, Ontario Ministry of 19: 161-248. Natural Resources, Toronto. 78pp. Speirs, J.M 1933. Some notes on Lloyd, H 1951. Recent Ottawa the Henslow's Sparrow. Can. district bird records. Can. Field­ Field-Nat. 47: 35. Nat. 65: 46. Speirs, J.M 1973. Birds of Macoun, J. and J.M. Macoun. Ontario County. Fed. Ont. 1909. Catalogue of Canadian Naturalists, Toronto. birds. Dept. of Mines, Ottawa. Swales, B.H 1905. Henslow's McCracken, J., M Bradstreet and Sparrow in St Clair County, G. Holroyd. 1980. The breeding Michigan. Auk 22: 83-84. birds of Long Point, Lake Erie. Tozer, R. and J.M. Richards. L.P.B.O. Publ., Port Rowan, Ont 1974. Birds of the Oshawa-Lake McDonald, E. and E.R. John. Scugog region, Ontario, Alger Press, Oshawa. 1974. Birds of the Port Hope & Cobourg area. Willow Beach Field. Ussher, R.D. 1939. Additional Naturalists, Port Hope. notes on the fauna of King township, York County, Ontario.. McIlwraith, T. 1894. The birds of Can. Field-Nat. 53: 101-110. Ontario. W. Briggs, Toronto.

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