Since 1923 Number 643 April 2019

Bluebird at Carden Alvar by Theresa Moore

REGULARS FEATURES

About TFN 14 Tree of the Month: Pines Part III 6 Children`s Corner 11 Wildflowers: Waterleaf Family 7 Coming Events 13 Extracts from Outings Reports 15 TFN Nature Images Event 8 In the News 12 Butternuts at Jim Baillie 9 Monthly Meetings Notice 4 The Endangered Butternut 9 Monthly Meeting Report 5 President’s Report 2 Take Action Committee Report 10 TFN Outings 3 Junior Field Naturalists’ Spring Program 10 Weather (This Time Last Year) 14 What’s New on the Website 2 Celebrate Earth Day 12 TFN 643-2 Toronto Field Naturalist April 2019

PRESIDENT’S REPORT Once the skunk cabbage melts its way through the snow, a exercise are a winning combination if you ask me. pleasant impatience comes to me, growing day by day until Stewardship will also be a significant theme in our Junior it is broken by blooming trout lilies and spring is Naturalists program this year, with events planned at indisputably here! With it come the simple joys of Todmorden in June, the Meadoway in July, and a third flourishing green, trickling streams and parka-free wanders event in August with the City of Toronto (see page 10). in the woods, but also the start of Special thanks to our friends at something every bit as wonderful to TMWP, TRCA and the City for me – stewardship season! Back to making these events a reality. battling buckthorn and digging up DSV, planting oaks and seeding If planting and pulling aren't really wildflowers, the buckets of mulch, your style, TFN’s Cottonwood Flats the counting of mayflowers and Monitoring Project*** is still open to cattails, and reconnecting with volunteers with an interest in citizen friends not seen since the ground science. If garbage clean-ups are more froze a seeming eternity ago. your speed, look for the “Celebrate Earth Day” feature on page 12 to find I can barely contain my excitement a place to pitch in. (Or is pitch out for this first announcement. In mid- more accurate?) April, TFN will be launching a new initiative at our Jim Baillie Nature There are countless other ways your Reserve, aimed at helping to protect head, heart and hands can benefit ’s endangered butternuts. nature in the city. Here’s hoping you The project will offer TFN members might feel inspired to lend them out some meaningful and interesting for a few extra hours this year. stewardship experiences which you Nancy Anderson and Phoebe Cleverly can discover on page 9 in this pulling garlic mustard in 2009. Jason Ramsay-Brown newsletter or in the Stewardship Photo: Wendy Rothwell [email protected] section of our website. Hope some of you will feel as *Todmorden Mills Wildflower Preserve: www.hopscotch.ca/ inspired to participate as I do! tmwp/ or email [email protected] If you’re looking for ways to get your hands dirty closer to home, stewardship activities are gearing up soon at the **City of Toronto's Community Stewardship Program Todmorden Mills Wildflower Preserve* (TMWP) and at https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/ volunteer-with-the-city/community-stewardship-program/ or the City’s Community Stewardship Program** sites. Both email [email protected] offer weekly opportunities to take direct action in protec- ting and restoring habitat in our city. As an added bonus, ***TFN’s Cottonwood Flats Monitoring Project https:// both are densely populated by fellow TFN members. New torontofieldnaturalists.org/stewardship-citizen-science/ friends, time spent in nature and productive effort and cottonwood-flats-monitoring-project/

WHAT'S NEW ON TFN’S WEBSITE

Discover all this and more at www.torontofieldnaturalists.org/for-members/

 The Connected Naturalist: Toronto Tree Maps by Jason Ramsay-Brown

 Newsletter Archive: 48 past issues released!

 10th Year Review of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act

 Plus: Kanopy picks, notes from our latest Junior Naturalists events, opportunities to Take Action “Brown creepers are coming through!” Photo taken in early and much more. March by Ron Dengler

April 2019 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 643-3

TFN OUTINGS

 TFN events are conducted by unpaid volunteers.  TFN 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). Check for any schedule disruptions on weekends and allow extra time if necessary.  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.  Please thoroughly clean your footwear before each outing to avoid spreading invasive seeds.

The Toronto Field Naturalists wish to acknowledge this land through which we walk. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and most recently, the of the Credit River. Today it is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to be on this land. Share your favourite walk photos on social media, hashtag #TFNWalk.

Wed ASHBRIDGE’S BAY – Birds Apr 3 Leader: Anne Powell. Meet at the southwest corner of Coxwell Ave and Lake Shore Blvd E for a circular walk on 10:00 am fairly flat, mostly paved surfaces. Expect to see remaining waterfowl before they migrate north and perhaps some early spring migrants from the south. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. It is colder near the water.

Sat COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK – Birds Apr 6 Leader: Glenn Berry. Meet at Tim Hortons, 300 metres south of Lake Shore Blvd W on Col Samuel Smith Dr for a 10:00 am circular walk along possibly muddy paths. Flat route past the nest boxes, marina, Whimbrel Point, wetland and eastern shore of the park. May be the last chance to see some wintering diving birds before they head north. Tim Hortons has the only washroom.

Thurs TORONTO ISLANDS – Birds Apr 11 Leader: Doug Paton. Meet at the ferry docks at the foot of Bay St in time for the 10:00 am ferry to Ward’s Island for 9:45 am a circular walk. Bring lunch and water. Order tickets online to save time.

Sat SPRING ALONG THE DON RIVER – Nature Walk Apr 13 Leader: Paul Foster. Meet at the northwest corner of Pape Ave and O’Connor Dr in front of Don Mills United 10:00 am Church. A circular hike to explore part of the lower Don River looking for signs of spring – birds, trees and other plants. Mostly paved but with some gravel trails or dirt trails.

Thurs EARLY MIGRANTS AT SCARBOROUGH BLUFFS -- Nature Walk Apr 18 Leader: Bob Kortright. Meet at the south corner of Kingston Rd at Chine Dr for a circular walk on mostly unpaved 10:00 am surfaces with some steep slopes. The slope down to the bluffs from Chine Dr is steep, but we can take the paved path if conditions are slippery. The sheltered ravine in Midland Ravine Park is the most likely spot for early birds and flowers, but be prepared for mud. From there it is a short walk up to Kingston Rd at Midland (coffee and washrooms) or back to the start along Kelsonia Ave. Bring binoculars and wear waterproof footwear.

Sat German Mills Creek – Nature Walk and Clean-up Apr 20 Leader: Theresa Moore. Meet at the northeast corner of Leslie St and Steeles Ave E for a circular walk and litter 10:00 am cleanup. Morning only. No washrooms.

Sun URBAN FOREST ON THE LAKE IROQUOIS SHORE CLIFF – Lost Rivers Apr 21 Leaders: John Wilson with urban forester Steve Smith. Meet at the entrance to Summerhill subway station. 2 pm Identify budding street trees. The route traces part of the escarpment of prehistoric Lake Iroquois along the Core Circle, the natural boundary of central Toronto. A linear walk on city streets with some steep sections ending at Davenport Rd and Dupont St. Washrooms at start. A joint outing with Toronto Green Community.

TFN 643-4 Toronto Field Naturalist April 2019

TFN MEETING …..VISITORS WELCOME

Sunday, April 7, 2:30 pm (Social, 2 pm)

Evolution of Life in the Urban Jungle

Speaker: Marc Johnson, Associate Professor, Dept. of Biology, U of T, will provide insight into the impacts of urbanization on the evolution of plants and other denizens of our urban jungles, as well as on conservation, environmental stability and human health.

Cliff swallow nest in the city. Photo: Jason Ramsay-Brown

Emmanuel College, Room 001, 75 Queen's Park Cres E. Just south of Museum subway station exit, east side of Queen’s Park. Accessible entrance second door south on Queen’s Park. Elevator inside to the right. Room 001 is one floor below street level. For information: call 416-593-2656 up to noon on the Friday preceding the lecture.

Share your thoughts about this lecture on social media, hashtag #TFNTalk

Upcoming lecture:

May 5, The Owl Foundation - a Fly-by-Night Organization? Peter Thoem, expert birder, photographer and ambassador for owl rehabilitation.

TFN OUTING continued

Wed HIGH PARK – Nature Walk Apr 24 Leader: Ellen Schwartzel. Meet at the park entrance at Bloor St W and High Park Ave for a circular walk including 10:00 am some hills. About 2 hrs.

Sat TAYLOR CREEK PARK – Nature Walk Apr 27 Leaders: Alicia Gradson and Leila Lessem. Meet outside Victoria Park subway station for a circular walk to explore 1:00 pm Taylor Creek wetlands and surrounding natural areas. Bring binoculars. Mostly paved path. Some stairs.

Sun LOWER DON VALLEY – Nature Walk Apr 28 Leader: Margaret McRae. Meet at the southwest corner of Broadview Ave and Pottery Rd for a circular walk in the 1:30 pm lower Don Valley south to Riverdale Farm. You can end there or walk back with the leader.

Tues SMALL’S POND/TORONTO’S FIRST GOLF CLUB – Nature and Heritage Apr 30 Leader: Joanne Doucette. Meet at the Gerrard/Ashdale Library at Ashdale Ave and Gerrard St E for a linear 5-km 1:30 pm slow paced walk on mostly paved surfaces featuring, among other things, a lost mill pond and a forgotten burial ground. Walk will end at Kingston Rd and Queen St E. Newcomers and service dogs welcome. No pets please.

April 2019 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 643-5

MONTHLY MEETING REPORT

Moose – Crowned Giant of the Northern Mark spoke extensively about antlers, the size and Wilderness appearance of which indicate a moose’s age, nutrition and genetics. A bull hits his peak at age 10 and starts to March 3, 2019 decline at age 15. Like all ungulates, moose grow their antlers every year. This starts slowly during the spring, Mark Raycroft, Wildlife Photographer and Biologist then picks up in June when most of the growth occurs. While growing, the antlers are covered in velvet. Growth

finishes by mid-July and the antlers solidify until mid-

Mark Raycroft delivered a visually striking presentation August. In late August or early September they shed their and an interesting interactive talk about moose across velvet, thrashing shrubbery to clear it off. North America – the subject of his book Moose: Crowned Giants of the Northern Forest. He began by teaching us Mark described two types of mating behavior. In Ontario how to make a moose call. the male pursues one female at a time. When a cow is His talk included fascinating nearing heat she will urinate information about moose more frequently. A bull behaviour, illustrated by his following maybe 20 yards vibrant photographs, as well behind making deep grunting as stories of time spent in noises will taste the urine, tip the wilderness. his head back and curl his lip. The Jacobson’s organ in the Of the seven subspecies of bull’s upper oral region enables moose in the world, the four him to tell whether the female in North America are larger is in heat. He spends 24 to 48 in body and antler size than hours with her, then, when she those found elsewhere. The goes out of estrus, searches for Alces alces andersoni can be another female. found from northwestern Ontario to BC except for In the north, where fall is very southern parts of Alberta short, the cows seek the bulls, and BC where the Alces coming to traditional rutting or alces shirasi subspecies harem grounds annually. The live. These smaller moose herd bull, which has to defend a can be found as far south as harem of up to 20 females, Utah, for now, but due to typically gets displaced because climate change the southern it takes so much energy to boundary of moose populations is shifting. The territory of breed and defend the harem. Usually a harem will have the Alces alces americana extends from Thunder Bay to three to five herd bulls over the two weeks of the rut. Newfoundland. The Alaska/Yukon moose are the largest, with bulls weighing up to 1800 pounds, and their wider Moose consume 40 pounds of vegetation a day. They whiter-palmed antlers give them a reflective ability which crave sodium and, in the summer, find it in the roots of helps cows to find bulls. aquatic plants. They can dive down to 18 feet for extended periods. As winter comes on their metabolism slows; they Moose are the fastest-growing land mammal, calves rest more to conserve energy and don’t require as rich a reaching 300 pounds by winter. Only half of moose calves diet. They switch to eating woody boughs which, though survive through their first year. They are most vulnerable less nutritious, enable them to get through winter. The to predators, including bears, in the spring. To protect her name moose comes from an Algonquian word mos calf during its first few weeks, the cow will take it to a meaning twig-eater. place near water, preferably on a small island, and stay with it 24/7. To learn more about Mark Raycroft and his book, visit: www.markraycroft.com Zunaid Khan

TFN 643-6 Toronto Field Naturalist April 2019

TREE OF THE MONTH: PINES (PINUS SPP), PART III

Sometimes you may find spring reproductive twigs of red This is easy to see in Douglas-fir, in which the 3-pronged pine, black pine or Scots pine with new cones of both bracts project conspicuously between the seed scales. The sexes, especially in periodic heavily coning mast years. seed scale is thus attached in the axil of a bract, which However, this usually doesn’t happen because pollen and poses a deep morphological problem. In the 300,000 seed cones are mostly physically separated within the species of seed plants that we see all around us, leaves just crown. Seed cones are carried in the upper crown, with don’t grow directly in the axils of other leaves. Only buds pollen cones borne lower down. The reason is obvious if and shoots are found in this position. Based on this deep- you recall the dense spring scums of yellow pine pollen seated structural arrangement, the seed scale of conifers accumulating at the margins of lakes and ponds, reflecting must be a fertile dwarf shoot, evolutionarily equivalent the enormous clouds of pollen produced by these wind- (homologous) to the whole pollen cone, even though it pollinated trees. Pollen cones above or among the seed looks like a single seed-bearing leaf. cones would result in greatly increased self-pollination and the subsequent production of inviable or weak This paradox was solved in the 1930s by Swedish seedlings due to inbreeding depression. paleobotanist Rudolf Florin, in his careful studies of well- preserved cones of ancient conifers dating from the late We turn now to the seed cone, nestled among the winter Paleozoic, roughly 325 to 275 million years ago. He found buds or branches at the tip of the twig. At first sight, it that, in the oldest of those conifers, there was no seed looks basically like the pollen cone in organization. Pull scale. Instead, in the axil of each bract in the cone, there out a scale of a mature cone and you see what looks like a was a fertile dwarf shoot consisting of tiny mega- sporophyll (a megasporophyll in this case rather than the sporophylls and scale leaves, bringing conifer seed cones microsporophyll of the pollen scale). Although somewhat into line with the organization of all other seed plant woody in texture, this scale appears to be a modified leaf structures. The array of fossils he examined also showed with a pair of elliptical pits on the upper side at the base of that, with time, the number of sporophylls and scale leaves the scale where the seeds sit. The pale outline of the seed in each fertile dwarf shoot was reduced, and those that wing extends from there towards the tip of the scale. were left became fused together into the solid, leaf-like What’s going on? Why does it look like a reproductive seed scale we see today. short shoot (a simple cone), analogous to the pollen cone, with seed leaves attached to the central cone axis, while continued on next page sitting in the position of a long shoot (which would make it a compound cone)? A closer look actually adds to the confusion. If you flip the scale over you may see a small brown rectangular flap at the base. This, too, is a modified leaf called a bract (the general term for leaves in reproductive structures that aren’t themselves pollen- or seed-bearing sporophylls).

Scots pine seed cone showing paired Second year Scots pine seed cones showing Douglas-fir seed cone with bracts seed attachments on upper side of their position in the (pseudo-) whorl along subtending the seed scales. seed scales. Photo: James Eckenwalder with the branches (long shoots). Photo: James Eckenwalder Photo: Ron Dengler

April 2019 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 643-7

TORONTO WILDFLOWERS: WATERLEAF FAMILY

The Hydrophyllaceae (waterleaf family) is a small New World family with 15 genera and 300 species. The eight species of the genus Hydrophyllum, including our local species, are confined to North America. The species recorded in the TFN’s Vascular Plants of Metropolitan Toronto are the common H. virginianum (Virginia waterleaf) and the locally rare H. canadense (broad-leaved or Canada waterleaf). The scientific name for the genus and family comes from the Greek hudor (water) and phyllon (leaf). Some species, including H. virginianum but not H. canadense, have mottled leaves, seemingly water-stained, which is the reason for both the common and scientific names given to this genus.

H. virginianum grows up to 80 cm tall. It has purple or white flowers densely clustered in a cyme (paired flowers below an older terminal flower), occurring above the leaves. The five-lobed bell-shaped flowers are about 7 to 10 mm long with long stamens projecting well beyond the petals. Locally, this woodland species tends to be late spring blooming (early June). Its Ontario range is from the Georgian Bay ecoregion south to the U.S. border (ROM). Its full range is Manitoba to Quebec and most of the eastern half of the U.S. (USDA).

H. canadense grows up to 60 cm tall. Locally it has white flowers, although these can be purplish. The open bell-shaped flowers are about 12 mm wide and occur in small clusters below broad maple leaf-shaped upper leaves. This is a species of damp forest areas locally blooming in late June or early July. TFN recorded it in the West Humber watershed, in several segments of the Don, in Highland Creek and in the Rouge valley. Its full range is Ontario, Quebec, and most of the easternmost 40% of the U.S. (USDA).

Finding Canada waterleaf was a challenge for me and may well be so for other searchers. Please report to TFN where you have found it.

Article and photos by Peter Money

References: TFN: Vascular Plants of Metropolitan Toronto, 1994, 2nd ed. ROM: The ROM Field Guide to Wild Flowers of Ontario, T.A. Dickinson et al, 2004 USDA: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/java/ Top: Virginia waterleaf, Hydrophyllum virginianum; Below: Broad-leaved waterleaf, H. canadense and detail of flower

TREE OF THE MONTH continued One living conifer, Cryptomeria japonica, the Japanese cedar or sugi, shows traces of this compound origin in its seed scales, which end in a row of sharp tips separated by grooves, representing the original separate leaves of the ancestral fertile dwarf shoot. All conifer seed cones, no matter how strongly modified, have this origin, but only the pines show the tell-tale positional homology of simple pollen cones and compound seed cones with the transient needle fascicle short shoots and growth extending long shoots that emerge from the winter buds. James Eckenwalder

Cryptomeria japonica seed cone showing partially separate teeth making up each seed scale. Photo: James Eckenwalder

TFN 643-8 Toronto Field Naturalist April 2019

TFN NATURE IMAGES EVENT, February 16

Margaret McRae, who enjoys rearing monarch butterflies during the summer, shared her experience of seeing the spectacle of monarchs in their winter habitat in Mexico. Theresa Moore’s photos depicting bird and other animal behaviour included this enchanting shot of a downy woodpecker feeding his youngster. See also front and back covers. Jim Hoad’s bird photos included this dramatic action shot of a great blue heron catching a fish. Bill Cruttwell showed beautiful images of birds in the Toronto area and at Point Pelee. This green heron was photographed at Lynde Shores. See also back cover. Martin Chen shared his family’s nature experiences during the past year including a tour of waterfalls in the Hamilton area and birding at Point Pelee. He was pleased to get this photo of the carnivorous pitcher plant. Jenny Bull shared interesting observations of monarch behaviour with photos taken in her garden. This caterpillar has pinched off the main vein of a swamp milkweed leaf close to the stem to reduce the flow of sap. Too much of the thick white sticky sap can gum up a caterpillar's mandibles. Lynn Miller took us on a canoe trip in Algonquin Park. Her photos included this peaceful misty early morning scene. Thank you to Lynn Miller for her efficient projection of the images, Margaret McRae and her team for organizing the event and those who provided goodies. TFN is fortunate to have so many talented photographers among its members. We hope more of you will come out to show your images at this event next year. Wendy Rothwell

April 2019 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 643-9

BUTTERNUTS AT JIM BAILLIE

TFN's Nature Reserves are a vital ecological resource and represent some remarkable contributions made by TFN members over the years. In honour and celebration of this, TFN will soon be launching a new stewardship initiative at our Jim Baillie Nature Reserve (JBNR): a program to help protect Ontario's endangered butternut trees.

On Wednesday, April 17 there will be a trip to our JBNR (near Uxbridge). The aim is to locate and map any surviving butternuts. These trees were mentioned in a 1970s inventory, although no one has reported seeing them there recently.

Other events this year will include more locating and mapping, planting of new butternuts, maintenance and monitoring. We invite all members to participate in this exciting project, including, of course, all current Reserve volunteers. For details email [email protected].

No prior specialized knowledge is needed. We will provide hand-outs and hands-on training. We will try to organize car-pooling for those who need a ride. Please note: We will be going off-trail during some events, so the going may be quite rough in parts. Charles Bruce-Thompson and Jason Ramsay-Brown

THE ENDANGERED BUTTERNUT Butternut (Juglans cinerea) is a walnut native to eastern North America including southern Ontario, southern Quebec and New Brunswick. Native peoples may have helped extend its range by planting nuts as they moved up the St Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. Closely related to black walnut, its lighter-coloured wood is sometimes called white walnut. It usually grows on moist well-drained soils in shallow valleys and slopes. Butternuts have become endangered due to infection by a fungal disease brought to North America from Asia in the 1960s. The bark of infected trees cracks and may leak a black fluid.

Butternuts, like this one in Queen’s Leaves are alternate, yellowy-green, Terminal buds are more than 1 cm Park, grow to about 20 m with an hairy, with 11 to 17 leaflets (some long. Leaf scars are more or less irregular form. The walnuts are of which have fallen from this straight across the top edge. enclosed in sticky, hairy, yellow-green, October leaf). The terminal leaflet is elongated husks, up to 5 in a cluster. about as big as adjacent leaflets.

References and further info: - Range map: http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx? - Description: Trees in Canada, J.L. Farrar flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500716 - Interesting info: Trees of the Carolinian Forest, Gerry Waldron - Endangered status: www.ontario.ca/page/butternut-species-risk - Toronto: Trees, Shrubs and Vines of Toronto, City of Toronto, - Butternut canker: www.nrcan.gc.ca/forests/fire-insects- p 49, 54 disturbances/top-insects/13375

TFN 643-10 Toronto Field Naturalist April 2019

TAKE ACTION COMMITTEE REPORT

Biodiversity Strategy: As part of the Biodiversity representative for this Advisory group which will be Strategy Advisory Committee, Paula Davies and Bob considering the development of a small section of the old Kortright submitted refinements to the Draft Biodiversity Downsview Airport site. There is a 30-acre forest with Strategy. See https://bit.ly/2GzAejO valuable 100-year-old trees on this site and extending into the surrounding residential area. The forest is protected in Ravine Strategy Funding: Committee members wrote the Secondary Plan, but will be at risk from extra human and delivered a deputation at four Budget Committee traffic. Steve Smith of Urban Forest Associates has offered meetings in February. They requested funds to permit to give advice on this matter. ravine restoration in three areas: 1) Development of management plans for Environmentally Significant Areas, Port Lands Development and Sidewalk Labs: Sidewalk 2) Monitoring protocols for ecological health of ravines, Labs won a contract to make a proposal for the 3) Increased volunteer participation on Stewardship teams. development of a 12-acre site which is part of the Port For a live presentation, visit: https:// Lands. The week of February 16th they made a proposal youtu.be/6RgosyQuKlo?t=1350 for the development of the whole Port Lands area in exchange for a chunk of the City's property tax revenue. Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan: The Ontario This deeply offended many Torontonians. Please let your Government responded to the public's wish to remove Councillor know how you feel. Waterfront Toronto has Schedule 10 from Bill 66. They are, however, in the also posted a survey so folks can let them know their process of altering the Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth priorities for parks. See: How to Make a Great Park Plan to permit less dense development and more greenfield land to be developed in the GTHA. The Co-ordinated Land Ontario Place: The Ontario Government is in the process -use review of 2017 established a new method of assessing of considering re-development of Ontario Place. A the land available for development, not based on market grassroots organization called “Keep Ontario Place for value. By this more accurate measure, it was determined All” is attempting to mobilize public opinion to protect that there is more than enough land available for housing Ontario Place as part of Toronto's waterfront park system within municipal boundaries in the GTHA till 2031. BILD, and prevent commercial interests from driving the a consortium of developers, has been running ads in the discussion. They are asking for a full and robust public Star claiming that the housing crisis in Toronto is due to consultation before any changes are made. Vivienne lack of land available for building. See Environmental Denton of the Take Action Committee is keeping abreast Defense's Petition at: https://bit.ly/2U2pldk of this issue for TFN. See https://ontarioplaceforall.com.

William Baker Community Stakeholder Advisory Anne Purvis Group: Jim Purvis has offered to be the TFN

JUNIOR FIELD NATURALISTS’ SPRING PROGRAM

Join us for two more spring adventures exploring Toronto wildlife and our wonderful green spaces! We meet on the second Saturday of the month from 10:00 am to noon. Dress warmly, bring your binoculars and your curiosity!

 April 13: Lambton Woods. See TFN website for precise meeting spot. We will venture forth to find some of the earliest bees to emerge in spring – the mining bees. Do they really line their nests with cellophane? Whoa! Also, Monica will help us to recognize mosses and see what they are up to before most things are stirring in early spring.

 May 11: Tommy Thompson Park. Come and celebrate with us at the Toronto Birding Festival. We are planning to get around by bike if that works for everyone. There is also the park trolley operating that day. May and June are a special time for Toronto, as our lakeshore is a stopover site for songbirds migrating to Ontario's northern forests. We will bike down to the bird banding station and find out what birds are being tagged there.

Stay tuned for our summer program – three events focusing on stewardship at Todmorden Mills Wildflower Preserve, the Meadoway and a third event in August with the City of Toronto.

April 2019 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 643-11

CHILDREN’S CORNER

WHODUNNIT?

It was a beautiful sunny day in February when we arrived at our camping spot at the conservation property we look after.

We noticed teeth marks in the wood of a young oak tree, where all the bark had been removed.

The animal that did this had waddled through the snow, leaving an 8” wide trail behind him.

He had climbed our white pine tree and nipped off all the ends of the branches, with their buds. These were scattered all over the snow.

His trail disappeared into the woods, where it ended at a very old, hollow silver maple tree.

We found some scat there that looked like little bullets. When we broke them open, we could see that the creature had only eaten bark because they were full of wood fibres.

We went back in April and saw a little fellow sitting on the branch of a trembling aspen tree, eating the dangling buds.

This was our winter visitor!! He had long orange teeth, tiny beady eyes and was covered with prickles.

He was a ______.

Answer on page 15. Project by Anne Purvis

Attention Junior Naturalists! Visit TFN online (http://www.torontofieldnaturalists.org/kids/) to view fascinating nature videos, download brain teasers, print nature scavenger hunt sheets, and get inspired to explore nature in our city.

TFN 643-12 Toronto Field Naturalist April 2019

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY (over a week or three)

As Earth Day falls on Easter weekend this year, it's a bit more like Earth Month!

Todmorden Mills Wildflower Preserve (TMWP) Cleanup. April 13, 10 am to noon Join the TMWP Stewardship Team and TFNers aplenty for the annual cleanup of this amazing natural area. All equipment and materials will be provided. Meet by the entrance to the Preserve south of the historic buildings (67 Pottery Rd).

Nature Walk & Litter Pick-up. April 20, 10 am to noon. Theresa Moore, creator of the newly-released Fauna, Photographs, will lead a two-hr circular walk along German Mills Creek to view spring wildflowers and birds, and clean up the park! Bags will be supplied. Meet at the northeast corner of Leslie St and Steeles Ave E. No washrooms.

Cottonwood Flats Monitoring Project (CFMP) Spring Vegetation Assessment. April 20, 2 pm to 4 pm See firsthand what TFN's CFMP team is up to in the valley! You're invited to pop by and say hello as we conduct our annual Spring Vegetation Assessment. Our CFMP Site Ambassador will be stationed at the armour stones, happy to answer any questions you might have. To find us, please see https://goo.gl/RJ9hAP

Toronto Nature Now Broadcast. April 22, 9:02 am Tune in to 1280AM CJRU, the Scope at Ryerson, to catch the Earth Day episode of TFN's weekly program, Toronto Nature Now.

Taylor Creek Park Cleanup and Campfire. April 22, 10 am to 1 pm In celebration of Earth Day, please join TFN and the Friends of Taylor Creek Park for the community's annual Ravine Cleanup and Campfire. Meet at the Haldon St fire pit to be assigned a clean-up location. If you already have a location you would like to work, please email Anne and Jim at [email protected]. Come back to the fire pit for a cookout and social time afterwards.

Don Valley Ravine Clean Up and Restoration. April 27, 10 am to 2 pm Help Don't Mess with the Don to clean up the valley in honour of Earth Day. Meet at 10 am in the E.T. Seton Park parking lot, entrance road next to 71 Thorncliffe Park. Gloves and bags will be provided.

Glen Stewart Earth Day Celebration. April 27, 10 am to noon Join Friends of Glen Stewart Ravine for a Pollinator Palooza! Ravine cleanup, native seed giveaways and a chance to meet local bee and butterfly experts will make for an amazing morning. Meet at the Beech Ave entrance to Glen Stewart Ravine (off Kingston Rd just east of Main St).

IN THE NEWS

Melanie Milanich sent us an interesting article from the winter issue of the Annex Gleaner. A female wild turkey, seen recently at Christie Pits, Bickford and Art Eggleton Parks, has been named “Rose” by neighbours. She seems to like children and favours areas near playgrounds.

The article records efforts by Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources in the 1980s to restore this species from near extirpation by trapping some 4400 wild turkeys in the U.S. and releasing them at 275 sites across the province. It is estimated there are now about 70,000 residing year-round in Ontario.

Female wild turkey photographed at Lynde Shores, 2015. Photo: Ken Sproule

April 2019 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 643-13

COMING EVENTS

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 (www.torontobirding.ca) Aimed at the intermediate birder, but beginners also welcome. Free to the public.

 Sun Apr 14, 7:30 am to noon. South Peel Hotspots. Leader: Reuven Martin. Meet at Marie Curtis Park parking lot, off 42nd St south of Lakeshore Rd E. We will drive to locations, possibly including Lakefront Promenade, Saddington Park, Rattray Marsh and Lakeside Park. Carpooling may be available. Spring migrants.

 Sun Apr 21, 7:30 am to 1:30 pm. Second Marsh. Leader: Charmaine Anderson. Meet in the parking lot at the GM Headquarters. Exit from Hwy 401 at Harmony Rd (#419). Go south on Farewell St; turn east onto Colonel Sam Drive and follow to the west parking lot close to the marsh. Bring lunch. Gentle terrain over 1.5 - 3 km. Little gulls and other migrants.

 Thurs Apr 25, 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm. American Woodcock Display at Leslie Street Spit. Leader: Justin Peter. Meet at the foot of Leslie St at Unwin Ave. Waterproof footwear recommended.

 Sat Apr 27, 7:30 am to 1:30 pm. Leslie Street Spit. Leaders: Bob Cumming, Garth Riley, Caroline Biel, John Carley. Meet at the foot of Leslie St at Unwin Ave. Bring lunch. Waterproof footwear is recommended. 2-8 km on mainly level ground. Early spring migrants.

 Sun Apr 28, 7:30 am to noon. Humber Bay Park East. Leader: Howard Shapiro. Meet at Humber Bay East parking lot. Bring lunch. 1 - 2 km on gentle terrain. Spring migrants.

Tommy Thompson Park Birding Workshops: (https://tommythompsonpark.ca/events/) Each workshop (evening class and morning field practice, 5 hrs total) $60 OR $50 if you register for two or more. Register at above website. If you have questions, contact Emily Rondel at [email protected] or 416-268-3385  Thurs Apr 25 & Sat Apr 27 – Birding for Beginners  Thurs May 2 & Sun May 5 – Warblers  Thurs May 23 & Sat May 25 – Birding by Ear

The Market Gallery (www.toronto.ca/marketgallery) To Apr 27, Toronto Through the Eyes of Women Artists. Admission $5 - $8. Location: South St Lawrence Market, 2nd floor, 95 Front St E. The gallery is closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

Ian Wheal Walks Sat Apr 27, 1:30 pm. Bike/horse police patrols, High Park to CNE in war (1914-18) and peace (after 1931 to 1960s). Meet at the entrance to High Park, Bloor St W at High Park Ave. Free.

Learn about Ward 4’s Natural Heritage Map!

Mapping and Protecting Our Natural Heritage

Tuesday, April 9, 6:30 to 8:15 pm Runnymede Library, 2178 Bloor St W

Ward 4/Parkdale-High Park is rich in natural heritage with extensive lakefront green space, the Humber River ravine and High Park. Learn about the biodiversity of our natural areas, how these are mapped for protection purposes, what legal protections apply, and what measures are being taken, or need to be taken, to ensure that this natural heritage is protected for the long term.

This discussion will also help you access a great deal of information provided by the City and others on strategies for Biodiversity, Ravines and Pollinators, as well as public consultations and committee and council meetings.

Green 13 welcomes presenters Sharon Lovett, Leslie Gooding and Karen Yukich on behalf of ProtectNatureTO and High Park Nature. Free. For information see: https://bit.ly/2XtAztL

TFN 643-14 Toronto Field Naturalist April 2019

WEATHER (THIS TIME LAST YEAR) April 2018 April was incredibly cold, wet and, at intervals, very and 24th-25th. These combined made it a record-wet windy. It was the coldest April in more than 40 years, and April at Pearson Airport (150.6 mm) and the wettest the wettest in almost 90 years. The cold was particularly since 1929 downtown (146.4 mm). Normal precipitation remarkable for its persistence, as temperatures did not is about 75 mm. rise to near-normal values until the 21st (aside from a The weather system on April 4th brought high winds in brief warm front on the 12th). Pearson Airport had its its wake. There was a 98-km/h gust at Toronto Island and coldest April since 1975, with a mean temperature of extensive damage to trees and roofs from upstate New 3.4°. (1975, along with 1943 and 1972, had a mean of York across the Golden Horseshoe. 2.8°.) Downtown, April (4.3°) was fractionally colder than 1975 (4.4°) and the coldest since 1943 (4.0°). These A stationary front set up across southern Ontario on the conditions placed against a backdrop of global warming 11th, bringing rain and a brief warm-up. As this front make this month almost as anomalous as February 2015. slipped gradually south, it gave way to the most disruptive winter storm of the entire season. A mix of Snow cover was also remarkably persistent in Ontario, snow, ice pellets and freezing rain fell over many hours though not in the Toronto area which had lost its snow from the 14th-16th. Pearson Airport recorded 8.0 cm of during the late February warmth and did not regain it in snow – the most so late in the season since 1965 (April March. In cottage country, the ground remained snow- 17, 9.4 cm). It was very dense and icy, and covered the covered and the lakes iced over until the last week of the ground for a few days, bringing the 2017-2018 winter month (and ice remained on some Algonquin Park lakes snowfall total to 109.3 cm, which is very close to the until around May 10th). long-term average. Most of the month was cloudy with temperatures within a During the last ten days of the month, the cold finally few degrees of freezing. There was no extreme cold; the yielded to near-normal conditions and temperatures rose lowest temperature at Pearson was -6.1° (compare this to 20° by the 30th. with the -17.2° reached in 1972). There were three Gavin Miller significant precipitation events, on the 3rd-4th, 12th-16th,

TFN is a charitable, non-profit organization

MISSION STATEMENT: NEWSLETTER

Toronto Field Naturalists connects people with nature in Toronto Field Naturalist is published by TFN monthly, the Toronto area. We help people understand, enjoy, and September to December and February to May. Views protect Toronto's green spaces and the species that expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those of inhabit them. the editor or Toronto Field Naturalists. The Newsletter is printed on 100% recycled paper. ISSN 0820-636X BOARD OF DIRECTORS EDITORIAL COMMITTEE President Jason Ramsay-Brown Kathleen Brooks, Jenny Bull, Vivienne Denton, Nancy Past-President, Stewardship Charles Bruce-Thompson Vice-President, Junior Naturalists, Anne Purvis Fredenburg, Elisabeth Gladstone, Alicia Gradson, Susan Grimbly. Vanessa Hardy, Zunaid Khan, Vanessa McMain, Action Committee Jennifer Smith, Wendy Rothwell (editor). Secretary-Treasurer Bob Kortright Outings Jane Cluver Printing & mailing: Digital Edge Printing & Media Services Lectures Alex Wellington Promotions & Outreach,Volunteers Lynn Miller MEMBERSHIP FEES At large Elizabeth Block, Liz Menard Youth (under 26) Free (Digital only) Ellen Schwartzel Senior Single (65+) $30 Agneta Szabo Single $40 Senior Family (2 adults 65+) $40 CONTACT INFORMATION: Family $50 Telephone: 416-593-2656 No HST. All members with email address receive digital Website: www.torontofieldnaturalists.org newsletters. There is a surcharge of $15 for those who Email: [email protected] prefer a printed mailed newsletter. Address: 2 – 2449 Yonge St, Toronto M4P 2E7. Tax receipts issued for donations. The office is open 9:30 am to noon on Fridays. TFN does not give out its membership list. April 2019 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 643-15

EXTRACTS FROM OUTINGS LEADERS’ REPORTS

Allan Gardens, Feb 2. Leader: Volunteer Docent from Garnet's three-part Queen Street sculpture, we ended the the Friends of Allan Gardens. Starting in the Palm walk at a Tim Hortons on River Street where warmth was House, which was built in 1909, the group made their way most welcome. through the Temperate, Tropical and Arid Houses, each showcasing flora from its associated climatic zone. A Ashbridge’s Bay, Feb 23. Leader: Bob Kortright. wide variety of plants from every zone were observed, Fortunately most participants came with icers to deal with including tropical trees, orchids, bromeliads, cacti and slippery conditions. Highlights included a merlin, Iceland succulents, temperate plants and common decorative and great black-backed gulls and white-winged scoters. garden flowers. Food-producing plants included banana We saw still spectacular remnants of ice frozen on the trees, vanilla vines, dragon fruit vines, coffee trees and trees during the storm of January 28 which brought east papaya trees. Allan Gardens puts on four flower shows a winds over 70 km/h. We discussed the identification of year, including its famous Christmas pointsettia display. winter trees, the old shoreline of Ashbridge's Bay, the The group was encouraged to visit throughout the year to Main Sewage Treatment Plant's outfall project, and the see the different flowers and fruits as they come into new groynes planned to prevent siltation of the harbour season. entrance.

East Don Trail, Feb 9. Leader: Stephen Smith. We Birds, Humber Bay Park East, Feb 27. Leader: Anne toured some restoration sites near Cummer Avenue Powell. Despite the blowing snow, 22 species were observing the various plant species found there, damage to observed. Highlights were a bald eagle and a hermit plantings by deer, and the invasive black locust trees thrush. common in the area. We discussed the regrowth of ash trees that had been cut after the tops died from emerald ash borer, some tree diseases, problems with road salt on trees, and the differences between the tree and shrub species we saw. Birds were few but we were visited by a red-tailed hawk, some cardinals and a robin. Old Baltimore oriole nests were seen at the top of a balsam poplar. There were deer and rabbit tracks in many places.

Riverdale Ramble, Feb 12. Leader: Ed Freeman. With gusty winds, blowing snow and schools closed, people were encouraged by TV and radio reports to stay indoors. But the TFN offers walks regardless of weather. Trudging through ankle-deep slushy snow, we reminisced about industry coming and leaving the area. After reading Heritage Toronto plaques and understanding Eldon Hermit thrush, Toronto Islands, February 2016, Ken Sproule

IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER! TFN is on Twitter and Facebook! Got something interesting to We welcome contributions of original writing share? We’d love to get your (between 20 and 500 words) of nature observations, photos and insights on TFN activities, Toronto especially in the Toronto area; also reports, reviews, nature events and interesting nature news. poems, sketches, paintings and digital photos. Email [email protected] and be Please include “Newsletter” in the email subject line sure to include what your photo is and where it was or on the envelope. Please re-name digital photos taken. with subject and your name. In the accompanying To read posts, go to www.torontofieldnaturalists.org email include location, date and any interesting and click on Twitter or Facebook. information associated with the photo.

Submissions deadline for May issue: April 1 Answer from page 11. He was a porcupine.

TFN 643-16 Toronto Field Naturalist April 2019

Toronto Field Naturalists Publications Mail 2 – 2449 Yonge St., Registration No. 40049590 Toronto, Ontario, M4P 2E7

Buck at German Mills by Theresa Moore Barred owl by Bill Crutwell