TORONTO FIELD NATURALIST Number 373, September 1985
COVER TO COVER: PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2 - UPCOMING OUTINGS 3 - JUNIOR CLUB REPORT 5 - ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT 6 - FROM THE SECRETARY-TREASURER 7 - KEEPING IN TOUCH 8 - OUTINGS REPORT 9 - TFN LIBRARY REPORT 10 - NATURAL RESOURCES PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE 11 - TORONTO REGION BIRD RECORDS 12 - FOR READING 18 - POEM 19 - ISSUES 20 - LESLIE STREET SPIT INFORMATION SOURCES 22 - WILD PLANTS UNSUITABLE FOR TRANSPLANTING 24 - WILDFLOWER GARDENING BOOKS 25 - TFN BOARD OF DIRECTORS 25 - BEECH TRZE SPRING 26 - BIRD REPORT APPRECIATION 27 - SPECIES OF THE SPIT 27 - IN THE NEWS 28 - A VICTORY FOR THE ESCARPMENT 32 - THIS MONTH'S COVER 33 - PROJECTS 33 - REPORTS 36 - CONCERN FOR NATURAL ENVIROtTMENT GROWS 37 - STORAGE SPACE NEEDED 37 - MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF TOROHTO 37 - THE WEATHER THIS TIME LAST YEAR 38 - IN CASE YOU WONDERED 38 - COMING EVENTS 39 - WINTER COURSES 40 - FAR-AWAY PLACES 40 - TFN MEETINGS 41 TFN 373
President's Report One morning I had occasion to go to the Cabin in Sunnybrook Park. I went early, by bicycle, and found myself uttering paeans for this marvellous park. It was calm and still, grass and leaves sparkled with dew and the air was sweet and fresh . Robins flew up as I passed by (have you noticed how many robins there are this year?), "gray" squirrels hopped across the grass and a little red squirrel scampered out of my way to the safety of a tree.
The MTRCA has completed and published Phase 1 of the Aquatic Park Master Plan which is a survey of Tommy Thompson Park (a new sign is at the entrance) with plans and options for development. We wrote in response reiterating that we would like to see the park left to develop naturally, that private cars be prohibited and suggesting that, if a marina is developed, as the Harbour Commission has proposed, it be at the north end with all the "businesses" on Harbour Commission lands, on the adjacent mainland.
Although Toronto City Council voted against it, the Toronto Harbour Commission which has jurisdiction over the harbour decided to ignore the wishes of Council and it went ahead with the hydroplane races. Noise at certain points in Tommy Thompson Park was deafening; noise could be heard by members living up to two miles away.
We have loaned to the Black Creek Project {see page 36) our file of outings reports which they will use to fill out their habitat survey of the valley. We have accumulated a large store of information and when we can share it in this way our standing as a source for environmental and ecological information is enhanced.
A group, "Friends of the Valley" has been formed to exert pressure for preserving the brickyard lands as parkland. The existing use as a brickyard is permitted but a rezoning is necessary for any other use. Much of the Don Valley is zoned "conservation", but the owners of the site are filling the pit and are pressing for a rezoning to residential/commercial. East York has suggested "Urban Valley" which would permit some sort of urbanization. The TFN made a presentation at a public meeting attended by several hundred people. (see page 37)
We had displays in three places this summer: one at Scarborough Town Centre, just before World Environment Week, another at Toronto City Hall where enlarged prints of many of our slides were mounted on panels, captioned and related to older maps of Toronto, and the third at the Scott Mission, pictures of nature . for children.
As there were no nominations received from the membership, the nominees listed in the May Newsletter will be elected by acclamation at the September Annual Meeting. I wish to thank Billie Bridgman and James H~dgins who are retiring this year, and the new members who have agreed to serve: Tom Atkinson and Eva Davis. Karin Fawthrop will complete the term of Ann Reynolds, and Robin Powell will serve a second three-year term. Without dedicated people willing to commit time and effort, we could not function. Thanks also to the board members whose terms are continuing. Jean Macdonald (425- 6596)
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Upcoming TFN OUTINGS - RAIN Everybody Welcome!
SEPTEMBER Bird migration is well underway by now and almost anything is possible~ Remember in fall cold air triggers movement and warm air halts it, Hawks, as well as large flocks of blue jays, tend to move westward along the lakeshore. Mudflats, wet fields and shorelines should be checked over carefully for shorebirds. Marshes will yield herons and dabbling ducks while the lake can be productive for gulls, terns and early returning grebes and diving ducks. Look for a good mushroom crop if the first cool days of fall are accompanied by rains. This could be a perfect opportunity to buy a good field guide such as Orson K. Miller Jr.'s MUSHROOMS OF NORTH AMERICA and get some practice at mushroom identification. The field trip on September 14 would be an excellent introduction. Even if you're not overly interested in learning about them.you will probably enjoy just observing the incredible varieties of shapes and colours which make up this fascinating kingdom. Everyone, I'm sure, has seen woolly bear caterpillars. They're the furry ones -- black at each end and red-brown in the middle. These insects are most con spicuous in the fall (September and October) as they cross roads and paths in search of good overwintering spots. The woolly bear is actually a species of tiger moth (Isia isabella) so named because many have bold patterns of stripes on their wings. Larvae of the tiger moth family (Arctiidae) are about the only caterpillars common in fall that are large and covered with long hairs. It may be interesting to see how many different types of tiger moth caterpillars you can spot on your next fall outing. Consult A GUIDE TO OBSERVING INSECT LIVES by Donald W. Stokes for help in identification, While we're on the subject of lepidoptera don't forget to watch for monarch butterflies migrating along the lakeshore. Phil Joiner
{i) DARK OF THE MOON (Sept. 14) Q FULL MOON (Sept. 29)
All outings are within Metro Toronto and accessible by public transit unless indicated otherwise. (Remember TTC RIDE GUIDES are free at subway stations.) (Call 484-4544 TTC if you're not sure how to get to ~of our outings.) For other outings and events of interest this month, see pages 39 to 41.
Sunday Lambton Woods - BIRDS Humber, !tobicoke Sept. 1 Leader: Ilmar Talvila 11 am Meet at the park entrance on Edenbridge Drive east of Royal York Road (halfway between Dundas Street West and Eglinton Avenue West). Bring lunch.
Monday Central Toronto - DEVIANT FLORA Toronto Sept, 2 Leaders: Aarne and Helen Juhola 2 pm Meet on the northwest corner of Dundas St. West and University Avenue. t>
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Upcoming Outings (cont'd) Wednesday East Don south of Finch - NATURE WALK East Don, North York Sept, 4 Leader: Cathy Heynes 11 am Meet in the shopping plaza on the north side of Finch Avenue East halfway between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street. Bring lunch.
Saturday Jim Baillie Nature Reserve - WORK DAY OUT Sept. 7 Leader: Ann Reynolds OF 10 am to Call Eva Davis (694-8928) if you want to attend. Bring lunch, 5 pm work gloves, clippers and rubber boots.
Sunday Toronto Island - BIRDS Lakeshore, Toronto Sept. 8 Leader: Howard Battae 10 am Meet at the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street to take the 10 am ferry. Bring lunch and membership card.
Wednesday Downsview Dells - Nature Walk Black Creek, North York Sept. 11 Leader: Elly Elder 11 am Meet at the park entrance on Sheppard Avenue West where the road crosses the creek (between Keele and Jane), Bring lunch,
Saturday Edwards Gardens - SKETCHING Wilket Creek, North York Sept. 14 Leader: Geraldine Good.win 10 am Meet at the park entrance on Lawrence Avenue West just west of Leslie Street. Bring stool, sketching materials and lunch. We will be sketching late summer plant life (perhaps fungi?).
10 am Edwards Gardens and Wilket Creek - MUSHROOMS Leader: Jack Parkin of the Mycological Society Meet at the park entrance on Lawrence Avenue West just west of Leslie Street. Bring lunch. This is a joint outing with the Mycological Society of To ronto. (See page 37.) Sunday Tommy TJ:!.£:mpson Park - BIRDS Lakeshore, Toronto Sept . 15 Leader: King Baker 10 am Meet in the parking lot at the foot of Leslie Street • .A1.§.Q. Morningside Park - NATURE WALK Highland Creek, Scarboro~gh 1 pm Leaders: Gay and Phil Joiner Meet at the park entrance on the west side of Morningside Avenue about halfway between Lawrence Avenue East and Ellesmere Road.
Wednesday Toronto City Hall - SKETCHING Toronto Sept. 18 Leader: Betty Romano 10:30 am Meet at the information desk on the main floor. (City Hall is on northwest corner of Bay and Queen.) Lunch optional. Bring stool, sketching material and/or cameras. Everyone welcome.
Saturday High Park - FALL FLOWERS Toronto Sept. 21 Leader: Emily Hamilton 9 am Meet at the park entrance on Bloor Street West at West Road (opposite High Park Avenue).
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Upcoming Outings (cont'd) Saturday Rockwood - NATURE WALK Sept. 21 Leader: Eva Davis 8:30 am Meet at the York Mills subway station to catch the 8:45 bus to Rockwood Conservation Area. Fare is $5.70 each way. Bus returns at 2:35 or 5:35. Journey takes about 1~ hours each way. Bring ~ lunch. Interesting rock formations (kettles) to observe. Entrance fee. Sunday Centennial Park West - BIRDS Etobicoke Creek, Etobicoke Sept. 22 Leader: Beth Jefferson 10:30 am Meet at the west end of Rathburn Road.
Wednesday West Deane Park - NATURE WALK Mimico Creek, Etobicoke Sept. 25 Leader: Harold Garner 11 am Meet at the park entrance on the west side of Martingrove just north of Rathburn Road. Bring lunch.
Saturday Rouge Valley - NATURE WALK Rouge, Scarborough Sept. 28 Leader: Eva Davis 10 am Meet in the parking lot of the Glen Eagles Hotel on the corner of Sheppard Avenue East and Twyn Rivers Drive. Bring lunch.
Sunday Toronto Island - BIRDS Lakeshore, Toronto Sept. 29 Leader: Annabel Cathral 10 am Meet at the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street to take the 10 am ferry. Bring lunch and mernber~hip card.
The 1985-86 season of the TFN Junior Club (TJFN, for kids aged 8 to 16) opens at 10.00 a.m. in the ROM Planetarium on Saturday, September 7, 1985. We'll have a slide show of past activities which returning members will enjoy a~d which will introduce the club to new members; outings follow the show.
We meet the first Saturday of the month from September to May and typically have a one-hour lecture by a guest expert followed by separate outings led by knowledgeable leaders for each interest group. Younger childten (8 to 10) are placed in general interest groups, while the older ones choose subjects ranging from insects to astronomy.
TFN membe rs are invited to all meetings, including the outings, of the Junior Club~ If you wou ld like to help the club (for example, by assisting a leader on outings, by leading a group in which you have knowledge, or by supplying [> transportation), please call Alexander Cappell at 663-7738 day qr evening.
5 TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS (incorporated without share capital under the laws of the Province of Ontario) BALAN CE SHEET as at June 30 1 1985 AUDITOR'S REPORT ~ 1984 Current Assets TO: N€M!l:l~S OF THE TOROllTO FIELD NATURALISTS Cash - for genera l club purposes $14,836 105 Prepaid Expenses I have examined the balance sheet of the Toronto Field Naturalists as 555 Accrued Interest 797 3,082 at J•me 30, 1985 and the income statement for the year then ended. Ny examination Short Term Investments 5,000 included a general review of the accounting procedures and such tests of the 2,019 Inventory 1,941 accounting records and other supporting evidence as I considered necessary in $2 7, 535 $20,5~ the circumstances. LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Hembership fees, donations and other revenues are as shown in the Current Liabilities $ 300 books. These receipts have been tested by me to bank deposits. However, Accounts Payable $ 451 because of their nature, these revenues are not susceptible to complete audit Memb ership Fees received in advance 9,210 5,955 verification. 9,661 6,255
I., "'Y o~inion, subject to the 11ml ta tion of the scope of my audit as EQUITY explained above, these financial statements present fairly the financial Retained Earnings position of th,c corporation as at June 30, l985 and the results of lts ope-rations Balance at beginning of year 14,342 15,119 ( 777) for the year then en
Current Assets $27,601 ,,/ Cash $56,739 27,405 Short Term Investments 7,405 777 - / - ~~ V Accrued [nterest ~ .l;; 65,662 55,783 Property and Equipment 42, 770 Land 42,770 ALISTAIR J. KE EDY Building $3,050 TORONTO, CANADA 1,550 Cha~tered Accountant Less Accumulated Depreciation 1,700 1,350 July 12, 1985 44,120 44,320 $109,782 $100,103 Equity Reserve for future expenditures 65,662 55,783 44,120 44,320 Property $109,782 u_oo 1 103 AE>PROVED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD \ (Director \ J. . _ l '-J,.. _ I o Q (Director) ~ ~~ {/The attached notes are an integral part of these financial statements. I 49 Harringay Crescent, Scarborough, Ontario MlW 124 - (416) 491-1564
V TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as at _June ~ 1985
NOTE l - ACCOUNTING POLICIES JAHES BAILLIE NATURE RESERVE TOROllTO FIELD :-lATURALISTS Donations received for the James Baillie Nature Reserve are segregated COMPARATIVE IflCOME STATEMENT on the financial statements, and are to be used solely for Reserve for the year ended June JO, 1985 purposes. The interest earned on these funds is sufficient to cover REVi:NUE 1985 1984 1983 the normal operating costs of the Reserve. f1er.1bership Fees $18,715 $18,325 $17,892 PROPERTY VALUATION Income earnlng programs: - Audubon Wildlife Films (Note 3) I, 790 The Land and Shelter at the Baillie Nature Reserve are recorded at cost. P_ubllcations 257 551 504 The cost of the Shelter is being amortized on a straight Line basis Outings 460 719 583 $19,432 $19,595 $20,76~_ over its estimated useful Life of 15 years. EXPENSES Subsidized programs: - NOTE 2 - The Ontario Field Biologist is no longer associated with or subsidized Ontario Field Biologist (Note 2) - - 959 by the Toronto Field Naturalists. It now operates completely separately. Junior Club 95 33 7 78 Heetlngs expenses 918 732 1,898 NOTE 3 - The Toronto Field Naturalists ceased sponsorship of the Audubon Wildlife Newsletters, printing and mailing 11,860 14,904 12,597 o-3 Other printing expenses 458 586 438 Films after the 198] season. "%j -.J Other mailing expenses 1,325 1,642 i ,085 z Honoraria 2,200 2,100 2,050 t.,) Advertising and publicity 795 816 795 -.J t.,) Donations and affiliation fees 25 40 25 Liability insurance 543 475 475 Office supplies 498 708 351 Telephone 375 375 ]28 $ L9,092 $22,715 $21,079
Operating Income (loss) 340 (3,120) (310) Interest Income L,838 L,709 1,9]8 Net Income (loss) before donations 2, L78 (l ,41L) L,628 Donations 1,354 634 630 --- FROM THE SECRETARY-TREASURER Net Income (loss) $~ $ ( 777) $2,258 The reason the cash in the James Baillie Fund is so high is that the Board of The attached notes are an integral part of these financial statements. Directors is endeavoring to buy additional land adjacent to the Reserve and would need the cash to be readily available.
The newsletter expense is down because the TFN was granted Second Class mailing privileges effective half-way through the year. The expense will be even lower during the c urrent year. This reduction in our expenses means that we should not require a fee increase for several years. Aarne Juhola TFN 373 • Keeping 1n touch • • • April 15, 1985 Dear Ms. Jefferson, ••• I have been studying the robin for over 20 years, and have made extensive research into the literature. I am interested in all phases of robin biology, hence my interest in winter records •••• Robin wintering in Toronto this year was net any more unusual than most winters, except that the cold January seems to have forced them out of the ravines into the gardens and parks. I am most interested in what types of food they were taking, and if they were noted along flowing streams (and at springs) in parks; and what they were doing there. Any information is helpful and useful. (Rev.) R. Charles Long Research Associate Ornithology Dept., R.O.M.
Dear Mrs. Hanson, April 25, 1985 Delighted to enclose my cheque for membership renewal -- and I do want specially to mention the manifest and varied pleasures of the newsletters. Gavin Miller's weather notes are simply superb: meticulous, interesting and invaluable, too, in their comparisons to other years. Please tell him how greatly they are appreciated. Helen Smith (Mrs. R.M.)
Hi there, May 1, 1985 ••. I have been a naturalist for a long time (in Holland) and after living here now for a few years I think it is about time to take up old habits! Nature is here so rich, all the varieties in species! It is really an "El dorado" for me. Even in Holland there's lots to see, but this is at least three to five times better. In Holland you jump sky high when you see a squirrel and here you have to watch out not to stumble (drive) over them! It's crazy (almost unbelievable). I wonder if most Canadians really are aware how rich they are (of course field naturalists are!). • • · Ellen Papenburg Dear Mrs. Juhola May 14, 1985 Your letter of May 11, 1985 [re Bermondsey Ravine] has been received. As you know, ravines are caused by watercourses eroding their side slopes over periods of time. We had hoped that the Bermondsey ravine would continue for a long time to come. However, on a day in 1982, the side of the ravine slid into the watercourse, destroyed the Metro trunk sewer, fractured the bottom of the ravine badly and put adjacent properties in jeopardy. A storm sewer had to be installed to contain the flow in the watercourse and to allow the trunk sewer to be replaced. Controlled filling with clean fill only and with subdrainage must now be done by our forces over the next few years to bolter [sic] the ravine walls and to contain the damage to the area of the slide, Brian Ruddy, Commissioner of Public Works City of North York
8 TFN 373 OUTINGS REPORT Fall 1984 - September, October, November
It's time to look back to the outings of fall 1984. Over 470 people attended the 29 field trips given by the TFN. Many plants and animals were observed and many habitats investigated. Here then are some highlights. Kew Beach was the locale for the September 8 sketching outing. Eleven people attended; two tried their hand at watercolours while the others sketched lake scapes in pencil and ink. Approaches to nature art were discussed and a few examples from the TFN library files were examined. A spotted sandpiper and sanderling rounded out the day. Elly ~lder led an interesting nature walk at Downsview Dells on September 14. Thirty species of plants and ten species of birds were listed. A garden spider was seen catching a honey bee in its web and within half a minute he had the bee wrapped up. A Blanding's turtle was very cooperative and allowed itself to be observed and photographed at close range. The group also reported seeing two healthy tree specimens, one a red oak seven feet in circumference and the other a white pine three and one half feet in diameter. On September 22 Emily Hamilton led a group through High Park for a look at fall wildflowers. It was a pleasant day, sunny and warm. Approximately 130 species of plants were found including blue-stemmed and rough-leaved goldenrod as well as heart-leaved aster. Lise Anglin and 36 fellow birders had a very productive walk at the Leslie Street spit on October 14. A total of 57 different species were spotted. Everyone had good looks at Hudsonian godwit, white-rumped sandpiper, redhead, shoveller and oldsquaw. The overcast day provided just enough light to see colours adequately without any glare and a lack of wind made for a good steady view when looking through a scope. It was sunny and mild on October 27 for Ann Reynolds and 33 other TFN members as they undertook a trip to the Mountsberg Wildlife Centre. Plants, birds, reptiles and amphibians were all observed. Some highlights included ground pine and rough-leaved goldenrod, osprey and fox sparrow, a garter snake and spring peepers calling. All in all it was an interesting and informative trip. A nature walk through Prospect Cemetery with Aarne Juhola provided the participants a good opportunity to see about 30 different types of trees. White pine, jack pine, tamarack, white cedar, black walnut, 5 species of oak, 4 species of maple as well as numerous ornamentals made for an interesting variety. Nine species of birds including a woodcock were also spotted. Thistle, goldenrod, Queen Anne's lace, stinking mayweed and groundsel were still in bloom on November 11 when Beth Jefferson led a bird outing at Humber Bay Park. Twenty species of birds were sighted including white-winged and surf scoter, ruddy duck, but not one Canada goose. Snow bunting, belted kingfisher and water pipit made for a well-rounded list. Two mammals were spotted, one dead (raccoon) and one swimming (muskrat). And last but not least, we express ou'r thanks to the members of the outings committee and the individual leaders for a job well done. Phil Joiner
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TFN LIBRARY report
BOOKS IN TFN LIBRARY - PART XII - FLOWERING PLANTS
FLOWERS IN COLOUR by Hans Schwarzenbach, artist, and Professor W. Rytz adapted from NOTRE BELLE FLORE, Editions de Message, Berne, Switzerland. 60 colour plates of wildflowers of the world with geographic and botanical information. (1960) WILD FLOWERS OF THE NORTHERN STATES AND CANADA by A. C. Quick, illustrations by Constance Stampell, based mainly on Palisades Pk., Mich. 502 pages plus index and colour key, Eng.& Scien.names arranged according to blooming time. (1939) FLORE-MANUEL DE LA PROVINCE DE QUEBEC par Pere Louis-Marie FLOWERS OF THE WILD, ONTARIO AND THE- GREAT LAKES REGION by Zile Zichmanis and James Hodgins, Ox.U.Press 1982(review TFN 356:16 MAY 83) NATURE'S GARDEN by Neltje Blanchan 393 pages. "wildflowers and their insect visitors" NY Doubleday_, Page & Co. 1907. distribution of each plant, description, habitat, flowering season, sometimes origin of name, lore. Canada & US. In colour order but scientific name and family given, indexed. Systematic list. Plates. PODS - WILDFLOWERS AND WEEDS IN THEIR FINAL BEAUTY by Jane Embertson. See review TFN 345:70 Feb. 82. SHRUBS OF ONTARIO by J.Soper & M. Heimberger, ROM 1982. Review 348:23:MAY 82. YOUR GARDEN'S FLOWERS a Guide to identification of all Garden Flowers, pub. C.Arthur Pearson Limited, London 1949, 313 pages, 698 photos and 9 colour plates. Indexed by popular name (often the genus name). Former owner has written family names in pencil. GETTING TO KNOW WILD FLOWERS by Gareth H. Browning, illus. by H. Riddett, Collins, London & Glasgow 1948. Old World wildflowers, many of which are naturalized in our area, others not. By seasons. No scientific names. Index English names,flowering dates and habitat. PRAIRIE WILDFLOWERS by Lloyd T. Carmichael FLOWER GUIDE - WILD FLOWERS EAST OF THE ROCKIES by Chester A. Reed. 208 pages. 11 11 Doubleday Doran Garden City NY 1930. Size of book 3.25 x 5.5 • 320 flowers in colour, painted by the author, and introductory 7 pages on botany with diagrams, plus colour key and index to English and scientific names. FIELD BOOK OF AMERICAN WILD FLOWERS by F. Schuyler Matthews, revised and enlarged by Norman Taylor. G.P. Putnam's NY 1955. 601 pages .including 21-page index of English & scientific names plus colour-guide and short glossary, 28 colour plates of individual flowers and two of De Candolle flower-colour system. Species arranged by families with black-and-white drawing opposite each page of text, drawn from nature by author and Eduardo Salgado. A Putnam Nature Field Book. FLOWERS OF THE MEADOW by Geoffrey Grigson with drawings in colour by R. Tanner. a King Penguin Book, Harmondsworth, Middlesex, 34 pages, 24 plates, no index. British plants, some introduced Ontario. FLOWERS - A Guide to Familiar American Wildflowers by H.Zim & A.C.Martin, illus. in colour by R. Freund. Golden Press Ny 1950. 157 pages including 3-page index, US range maps. A FIELD GUIDE TO WILDFLOWERS of NORTff.E:ASTERN AND NORTH-CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA by Roger Tory Peterson (illus.in B&W & colour) text by Margaret McKenny. A visual approach, arranged by colour, form, and detail. Houghton Mifflin 1968. 393 pages+ 2-page glossary, £> 10 TFN 373
TFN Library Report - cont'd
26-page index, with scientific and English names. 14 pages of family descriptions with symbols (symbols repeated oppos ite each species in text), general range map, range, and blooming time given for each species. CANADIAN WILDFLOWERS by Mary Ferguson and Richard M. Saunders, Van Nostrand Reinhold, Toronto 1976. 192 pages including 8 of indices of English, scientific names, families &c. Colour photos (some magnified),one flower to a page with explanatory text, range of each, blooming time. Overall arrangement by habitat with 3-4 pages describing each habitat. WILDFLOWERS IN COLOR, Eastern Edition, by Arthur Stupka, Eastern National Park and monument Association 1965. Wildflowers of s . Appalachians. 133 pages of photos in full colour, 2 to a page, description of each, with habitat and range, blooming time, similar flowers described, 7 page index and a page of suggested reading. Harper & Row NY 1965. FIELD GUIDE TO THE GRASSES, SEDGES AND RUSHES OF THE UNITED STATES by E. Knobel Dover NY 1977, illustrated key, 79 pages plus index. THE ORCHIDS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA by Adam F. Szczawinski, illus. with b&w scratch board drawings by F. Beebe. BC Provincial Museum, Victoria. 124 pages incl. key, description each species, habitat, blooming season, range map. Flower parts illus. and explained. Includes 7-page glossary and 2-page bibliography. THE HEATHER FAMILY (ERICACEAE) OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, by A. Szcawinski, illus.in b&w hy Betty C. Newton and Ann Hassen. BC Prov. Museum,Victoria. Handbook No. 19, 1962. Indices to scientific and English nanes. 190 pages plus 8-page glossary & 2-page bibliography. Key to genera. Each species described, illus., with habitat, range, blooming time, synonyms, Some range maps. In our Resource Files we have folders on Flowering Plants General, Dicots, and Monocots. We have separate folders on Toronto species.
Acquisitions ] There are 25 books in the series LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. Since these are going out of print, TFN have purchased those available for the Library. We have 13 volumes of the series and have been promised one other. If any member knows of any source where the remaining 11 volumes are available, please let us know. Missing volumes are: LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN CARDINALS, GROSBEAKS, BUNTINGS, TOWHEES,FINCHES , SPARROWS , AND THEIR ALLIES (3 v.olumes); L.H.of N. A. CUCKOOS, GOATSUCKERS, HUMMINGBIRDS AND THEIR ALLIES; L.H.of N.A. DIVING BIRDS; L.H.of N.A. FLYCATCHERS, LARKS, SWALLOWS AND THEIR ALLIES; L.H.of N.A. JAYS, CROWS & TITMICE (2 .volumes); L.H. of N.A. PETRELS AND PELICANS AND THEIR ALLIES; L.H.of N.A. WILDFOWL (2 vols.). During the summer many members donated books, periodicals,· booklets,· and articles which were much appreciated. More about this in the next issue. If you wish to borrow or donate, call TFN Library 690-1963. t> DB
PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has a Public Information Centre for all natural resources programs. It is located at Room 1640, 99 Wellesley Street West, Toronto. M7A 1W3. Telephone 965-2000.
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.T·oronto Region BIRD RECORDS for tr,e pet-iod Mar. 16 - J1.1ly 15, 1985.
CONTR IBUTORS: Ruth Airey, Maureen Allain IMAll , Tom Atkinson, Mary Avison CMAvl, Elinor Beard, Dorothy Brace, Canadian Wildlife Service, Sandy Cappell, Glenn Coady, Jud y Coggle, Mike DeLorey , Bill Edmunds, Malcolm Gilbert, Loui se Golberg, Clive Goodwin, Emily Hamilton, Ida Hanson, Mrs. Hurlbert, Beth Jefferson, Bob Johnson CBJol , Aarne & Helen Juhola, Harry Kerr, Don Mcclement, Joanne & Roger McClennan, Millie & William Mansell, Ministry of Natural Resources Waterfowl Viewing Day , Norman Murr, Maisie Newby, Ian & Joan Patterson, Joyce Peterson IJPel, Don Peuramaki, Suzanne Poodrey, Don Roebuck, Helen Smith, Mary Smith, Winnifred Smith, Toronto F i eld Naturalists· Outing, Bruce Wilkinson, Mr.& Mrs. J.F. Wilson, Bob Vu kich, Larisa Zviedris, many observers:m.ob.
LOONS THROUGH GEESE:
Red-throated Loon Apr.22 Humber Bay DP all spring Cranberry Marsh BP Common Loon Apr.19 New Toronto BJ Apr.23 (13 in 25 min.l BJ Pied-billed Grebe Mar.28 Toronto Island BY Horned Grebe Mar.28 BY Red -necked Grebe Apr.12 Humber Bay DP Double-crested Cormorant Apr. 10 Spit GC Great Blue Heron Mar.19 Humber Marsh 7 BY (Have other people noticed that there are fewer Great Blue Herons around this year?) Great Egret June 1 Cranberry Marsh (2 individuals) CG Snowy Egret. June 4 Humber Marsh 7 HS Green-bac ked Heron Apr.14 Rattray Marsh MNF: Black- c rowned Night-Heron Mar. 2 4 Humber Marsh 7 GC Yellow-crowned Night-Heron July 3 Bolton BP Tundr·a Swan Mcir-.25 f,::ew Beach ( 6) MH May 18 Humber Bay BY M1.1te Swan all spring Lakeshore m.ob. Brar,t Ma y 25 Spit (40 ) TFN Canada Goose all spring Lakeshore m.ob. lli1£L§: Some ducks arrived in Toronto during the spr i n g while most of the vi i 1~,ter di v ing dLlc ks r,eaded nm-th. "L" after tr,e date i n dicates last date seen, while "E" means the earliest date seen.
Wood D1.1ck Mar.20 E So1.lth H1.1mber (3 pairs ) SP Green-winged Teal Apr.5 E Humber Bay DP American Black Duc k July 7 Etobicoke Creek (with young) BJ Mallard c:<11 dates Lakeshore m.ob. Blue-winged Teal Apr.5 E H1.lmber Bay (9) MD Northern Shoveler Ma r .29 H1.lmber Marsh 7 BY Gadwal 1 June 16 H1.lmber Bay (with 12 young ) DP American Wigeon Apr.14 L Humber Bay GC Canvasback Apr.9 L DP Redhead June 28 L Grenadier Pond BY Ring-necked Duck Apr. 1 Humber Marsh 7 BY Lesset- Sca1.•.p end of March, Airport (flocks flying north all day) DP J1.tne 16 L HLtmber Bay DP Dldsquaw very f ew left at Humber Bay after Victoria Day E:J Black Scc,t.et- Mar . 15 Humber Bay WM I>
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TORONTO RiGIO~ BIRD RZCORDS (cont'd)
White-winged Scoter Mar.24 Humber Bay GC Common Goldeneye June 12 Humber Bay BJ Barrow's Goldeneye Mar.15&20 WM
During the spring, the following 4 diving ducks were frequently found on the many marshes and ponds in the Toronto region , contrasting with their usual winter habitat out on the Lake. Bufflehead Apr.8 Humber Marshes BJ mid-Apr. Centennial Swamp Ruddy Duck Apr.21 Cranberry Marsh ( 6) GC HAWKS, ETC. Turkey VLtl ture Apr-.7 N.Mississauga NM JLtne 24 Centennial Park CG Northern Harrier Mar-.30 Lynde Shor-es NM June 22 Centennial Par-k (carrying food)CG Sharp-shinned Hawk Apr.20 Spit GC Northern Goshawk Apr.20 High Park GC Red-shouldered Hawk Apr-. 11 Centennial Park HS Broad-winged Hawk June 18 L Centennial Park M!,WM Red-tailed Hawk Mar.30 Lynde Shor-es NM Apr.15 Don Valley& Bloor- (eating 5 Garter Snakes) DP Americ:an Kestrel Apr-.5 O.I.S.E. (pair-) ws July 1 Queen & Gr-eenwood PHEASANTS THROUGH COOTS: Ring-necked Pheasant These have been heard on many TFN Outi ngs and were obser-ved with young on the outing to Taylor Cr-eek, July 1. TFN Vir-ginia Rail Apr.18-June 6 High Par-k BY,GC Sora Apr.21 Base of the Spit BY Common Moorhen May 13 Rattray Marsh WM American Coot Apr. 11 Grenadier Pond BY SHOREBIRDS: Migration north through Toronto began in late March. Generally each species was around for only a few days after the date given here. Southward migration began in early summer-, with many species feeding on our mud flats for many days. If possible both dates are given. Howeve~ some shorebir-ds use two separate migration routes. Black-bellied Plover May 22 Spit DP Lesser Golden Plover May 25 Rattray WM Semipalmated Plov er Ma y 11 Spit DP Killdeer Mar.17 High Park BY Greater Yellowlegs Apr.21 Spit BY Lesser Yell owlegs Apr.21 Spit (moving north ) BY Jul y 4 Don key Ponds (moving south ) BF' Solitary Sandpiper Ma y 2 Humber Marsh 7 HS Spotted Sandpiper Apr.29 Spit DF' Sm ythe Park HS I> 13 TFN 373 TORONTO REGION BIRD ~ZCORDS (coat'd) Wt-,i mbrel May 16 Toronto Island (35) BY Ruddy Turnstone May 17 HLtmber Bay HS Red Knot May 25 Spit TFN Sanderling May 25 Spit TFN Semipalmated Sandpiper May 22 Donkey F'onds WM July 4 BF· Least Sandpipiper May 11 Spit DP JLtl y 4 Donkey Ponds BF' White-rumped Sandpiper May 21 Base of the Spit BY Pectoral Sandpiper Apr.21 Base of the Spit (75-80) BY Dunlin May 17 HLtmber Bay (34 in flight) HS Short- billed Dowitcher May l l Spit DP Common Snipe Apr.18 High Park GC American Woodcock Mar.30 Lynde Shores WM Apr.2 Scarborough garden MAv Wilson's Phalar-ope May 26 Base of the Spit BY GULLS ~, TERt-lS: Little GLtl 1 June 1 Whitby CG Bonaparte ' s Gull Apr.20 Spit GC Ring-bi 11 ed GLtl l all dates everywhere Spit (48 000 pairs) cws Herring GLtll occasionally (very few compared to BJ RBGullsl Gl aL1cous GLtl l Apr 20 Spit GC Great Black-backed Gull May 25 L Toronto Islands TFN Caspian Tern Apr.4 Rattray MNR Common Tern Apr.21 Spit BY Black Tern May 10 HL1mber Mar sh HS DO\/ES i; CUCKOOS: Rock Dove all dates everywhere m.ob. Mourning Dove Apr. 16 Long Branch ( fledg 1 ings) BJ Ringed Turtle Dove May 6 Scarbor-ough Bluffs JF'e Black-billed Cuckoo May 14 Spit OF' Easter-n Screech Owl June 4 Humber Marsh 7 (gr-ay phase) TFN JLtne 22 James Gardens (2 immature) TFN Great Horned Owl May 6 Lambton Woods BW Northern Saw-whet Owl Mat-. 19-26 High Park m.ob. NIGHTHAWKS THROUGH WOODPECKERS: Common Nighthawk May 13 Bloor Village BY Whi p-poor-wi 11 May 3 Rosedale Valley OF' Chimney Swift Apr-.27 Toronto Island GC Ruby-throated Hummingbird May 7 S1.mnysi de GC Belted Kingfisher Mar.29 HL1mber- Mar sh 7 HS Red-headed Woodpecker May 14 High Park BY Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Mar.19 High Park BY Down y Woodpecker freqL1entl y seen m.ob. Hairy Woodpecker Apr.28 Etobicoke Creek Cpai r) BJ Norther-n Flicker frequent most 01.1ti ngs TFN Pileated Woodpecker July 6 Ear-1 Bales TFN I> 14 TFN 373 • TORONTO RlGION BIRD RECO~DS (cont'd) FLYCATCHERS THROUGH SWALLOWS: Eastern Wood-Pewee Apr. 14 Toronto Island LZ Yellow-belli ed Flycatcher May 16 " &Hi gr, Park BY Alder Flycatcher Ma y 7 Rattray WM Willow Flycatcher May 20 H\.1mber Marsh 7 HS Least Flycatcher May 1 Humber Marsh 7 BY Eastern Phoebe Mar.25 Humber Marsh 7 HS Great Crested Flycatcher May 1 Rosedale Valley DP July 6 Earl Bales ( a f ami 1 y ) TFN Eastern Kingbird May 6 Humber Marsh 7 HS Horned Lark July Centennial Park (nesting) CG F'Ltrple Martin Apr.22 Rattray WM Tree Swallow Apr.2 Humber Bay DP Northern Rough-winged Swallow Apr.19 Humber Marsh 7 BY Bank Swallow Apr.24 Etobicoke Creek TFN Cliff Swallow May 20 at Eglinton (nesting) m.ob. Toronto Island TFN Barn Swallow Apr.27 Humber Bay BJ JAYS THROUGH GNATCATCHERS: Blue Jay frequently seen & heard m.ob. Common Raven Mar.16 Lambton Woods (2 calling> GC American Crow frequently seen m.ob. Black-capped Chickadee frequently seen m.ob. Red-breasted nuthatch May 1 L Lambton Woods BY White-breasted nuthatch J\.tl y 6 Earl Bales TFN Brown Creeper Apr.14 L Toronto Island TFN Carolina Wren Mar.16 Lambton Woods (singing> GC June 27 Humber Marsh HS H □ L1se Wren Apr.14 Hanlan's Point TFN Wi nter Wren Apr.5 High Park BY Marsh ~Jren May 5 Spit DF' Golden-crowned Kinglet Mar.29 High Park (flocks beginning to move> BY Ruby-crowned Kinglet Apr.9 High Park BY Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Apr.27 " t, Toronto Isl and GC BLUEBIRDS THROUGH STARLINGS: Eastern Bluebird Ma.r.30 Lynde Shores MN Apr.23 East Don MAl Veery Ma y 3 Humber Marsh 7 HS Gray-cheeked Thrush Ma y 7 HS Swainson ' s Thrush Apr.30 Glen Stewart Ravine TFN Hermit Thrush Apr. 13 High . Park < l C>) BY Wood Thrush May 5 Guildwood TFN American Robin end of Mar. great increase m.ob. Gray Catbird Ma y 7 Mississauga WM Northern Mockingbird May 14 Nat\.lre Cabin TA Brown Thrasher Apr. 19 High Park BY Cedar Wa:-:wi ng frequently seen m.ob. European Starling all dates everywhere VIREOS: White-eyed Vireo Ma y 13g, 14 High Park BY Solitary Vireo May 1 Smythe Park HS Yellow-throated Vireo May 7 Higt-, Park GC Warbling Vireo Apr.30 Bloor Village BY 15 TFN 373 TORONTO REGION BIRD RECORDS (cont'd) Philadelphia Vireo May 16 Toronto Island BY Red-ey ed Vireo May 5 Humber Marsh 7 HS WARBLERS: Late April marked the beginning of the migration of warblers through Toronto. Reported here are the first dates that a species was seen. Your reports indicate that several birds followed these dates, remaining in Toronto for a short period, feeding, before heading north. Golden-winged Warbler May 6 Lambton Woods (2) BW Tennessee Warbler May 1 High Park GC Orange-crowned Warbler Apr.23 Rosedale Valley DP Nashville Warbler Apr.23 DP Northern Parula May 5 Humber Marsh 7 HS Yell □~ Warbler Apr.21 Centennial Swamp DP Chestnut-sided Warbler May 1 Humber Marsh 7 HS High Par-k DP Magnolia Warbler May 6 DP Cape May Warbler May 9 Cherry Beach DP Black-throated Blue Warbler May 1 Lambton Woods BY Yellow-rumped Warbler Apr.5 High Park BY Black-throated Green WarblerMay 1 Humber River- Area m.ob. Blackburnian Warbler May 4 Humber Marsh 7 HS Pine Warbler Apr.14 High Park GC Palm Warbler Apr.23 Centennial Swamp DP Bay-breasted warbler May 10 Rosedale Valley DP Blackpoll Warbler May 19 High Park SP Black-and-white Warbler Apr.28 Tor-onto Island TFN American Redstart May 4 Humber Marsh 7 HS Ovenbird Apr.30 Centennial Swamp DP Northern Waterthrush Apr.24 High Park GC Louisiana Waterthrush Apr.9-11 " (turning over oak leaves in the water to eat) m.ob. Apr.15 la different individual ) m.ob Apr.24 (a third bird) m.ob Kentucky Warbler May 9 Cherry Beach DP Connecticut Warbler Apr.29 Etobic:oke Creek BJ Mourning Warbler May 16 Toronto Island BY Common Yellowthroat May 5 HL1mber- Marsh 7 HS Wilson ' s Warbler May 10 Spit DP Canada Warbler May 15 Downsview Dells TFN TANANGERS THROUGH SPARROWS: Scarlet Tananger May 5 Rosedale Valley DP Northern Cardinal frequent Rose-breasted grosbeak May 1 Humber River Area m.ob. Indigo Bunting · Apr.20 Bloor Village BY Rufous-si ded Towhee Apr.9 High Park BY American Tree Sparrow Apr.24 L Etobicoke Creek TFN Chipping Sparrow Apr. 19 High Par-k BY Field Sparrow Apr.9 BY Vesper Sparrow Apr.20 GC Savannah Sparrow Apr.7 Base of Spit DP Grasshopper Sparrow M... y 18 High Park SP Foi< Sparrow Apr.6 GC Song Sparrow Mar.30 Chine Drive TFN Lincoln Sparrow Ma y 1 Lambton Woods BY Swamp Sparrow Apr.20 High Park GC Harris ' s Sparrow Apr. 16 Mississauga GC White-throated Sparrow Mar-.20 High Park SP June 22 L Etobicoke Creek CG White-crowned Sparrow May 5 Guildwood Par-k TFN 16 TFN 373 TORONTO R3:GION BIRD RtCORDS ( co,;t' d) JUNCOS THROUGH BLACKBIRDS: Dark-eyed Junco May 7 L High Park SP Snow Bunting Mar.20 L Humber Bay WM Bobolink May 12 Bronte TFN Red-winged Blackbird all dates everywhere m.ob. Eastern Meadowlark Mar.27 New Toronto BJ Western Meadowlark June 29 Nashville GC Rusty Blackbird Mar.16 Lambton Woods GC Brewer's Blackbird Mar.30 Lynde Shores NM Common Grackle all dates everywhere m.ob. Brown-headed Cowbird Mar.20 High Park SP Northern Oriole May 2 Humber Marsh 7 HS Orchard Oriole May 9 Mississauga WM June Mt. Pleasant Cemetery (nest) HK FINCHES: The end of the reporting period for the last Bird Records was in the middle of a large and unusual invasion of winter finches. Huge flocks continued to be seen until the end of March. Many were reported at feeders in the northern parts of Toronto until early April. Some remained scattered here and there throughout the summer. Purple Finch May 7 L High Park SP House Finch July Bathurst-Eglington Can increase of close to 40 birds since Nov/84, coming to a feeder) Red Crossbill July 6 L Thorncrest White-winged Crossbill Apr.4 High Park Common Redpoll Mar.18 Kipling & Lakeshore (thousands moving north all day> OM Hoary Redpoll Mar.17 Lambton Woods GC Pine Siskin Mar.20 High Park SP American Goldfinch Mar.24 Lambton Woods <190) GC everywhere this summer House Sparrow all dates everywhere m.ob. A great deal of thanks is extended to all of you who submitted reports during this extended period. Unfortunately space prohibits the listing of every individual sighting, but when taken together they add up to a most interesting picture with trends which I've tried to indicate. Many of you felt that this was a poor spring for birding. There were few good days for warblers, as north- bound flocks were not forced to land because of the pleasant weather conditions. Foliage, early by 1-2 weeks, made viewing birds increasingly difficult. Others disagreed and felt this had been a good spring. All the birds were there but not in great number •. Certainly the latter opinion would be substan~jated by this report. 214 species of birds were reported by 45 observers in this 4 month period which leans me to wonder why so many of you travel afar to Pelee. The trick is to be in the right spot at the right time, to know the best places to bird in Toronto and the dates to expect each species through. Then to arrange time off to be out there. The next report will cover the period July 16 to Aug. 15. Please send your observations before Aug. 25 to Beth Jefferson, 41 Lake Shore Dr., Apt. 404 [> New Toronto, Ont., MBV 123, or telephone 251-2998. Beth Jefferso,1 17 TFN 373 RECENTLY PUBLISHED DIRECTORY OF COOPERATIVE NATURALISTS' PROJECTS IN ONTARIO, edited by Clive and Joy Goodwin, published by the Long Point Bird Observatory, P. O. Box 160, Port Rowan, Ont. NOE lMO, March 1985 ($1.50) COMMON PESTS OF TREES IN ONTARIO, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, 1985 - a revised edition of COMMON PESTS OF ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS, first printed in 1975 ($5.00) CHECKLIST OF PLANTS-LAKE SUPERIOR PROVINCIAL PARK, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario, 1985 (50¢) AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HANDBOOK OF POISONOUS AND INJURIOUS PLANTS, AMA, 1985, soft-covered, 435-page pocket-sized book ($18.95 + $2.50 postage US) THE GRANITE GARDEN: URBAN NATURE AND HUMAN DESIGN, Anne Whiston Spirn, Basic Books, Inc., Publisher, New York, 1984 GROWING WILDFLOWERS by Helen Skinner and Catherine Thuro, The Garden Club of Toronto , 1985 ($2.00) NATURALIZATION AREAS IN NORTH YORK, Wm. B. Granger et al, City of North York, Parks and Recreation Department, 1985 GREAT LAKES DIVERSIONS AND CONSUMPTIVE USES, International Joint Commission, 1985 ORIENTEERING MAPS, Orienteering Ontario, 1220 Sheppard Ave. East, Willowdale M2K 2Xl (495-4160), Toronto Island, High Park, Taylor Creek, Sunnybrook Park, Highland Creek, Rouge Valley, East Don north and south of Finch, and others CITY FORM AND NATURAL PROCESS, Michael Hough , Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1984 TOXIC GREAT LAKES HOTSPOTS, Poster map, 343 hotspots, 21 X 34 inches, 5 colours $5 postpaid in Canada and the U.S. from Pollution Probe Foundation, 12 Madison Ave., Toronto MSR 2Sl HAZARDOUS \.[ASTES: LET'S TREAT THEM RIGHT - Public information booklet - free from Ontario Waste Management Corporation, 2 Bloor W. 11th flr:.'ID. M4W 3E2 POLITICAL ECONOMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - 100 page study paper - free from The Law Reform Commission of Canada, 130 Albert St., 7th flrDttawa -KJAOL6 NOT IN MY BACKYARD - Proceedings of NIMBY "Not In My Backyard" Symposium of 1983. $22 payable to York U, mailed to NIMBY Symposium, Faculty of Environ mental Studies, York U., 4700 Keele St., Downsview, M3J 2R2. CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO THE ONTARIO LEGISLATURE - 8-page tabloid - $1.00 plus postage, from Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) 302 Innis College, 2 Sussex Ave., U. of T., Toronto MSS 1J5. TORONTO FIELD NATURALIST INDEX 1984, 12 pages. Available FREE at monthly meetings. 18 TF~1 373 DAWN CHORUS In silence falls the night to gentle rest. Then softly sleeps the sparrow and the lark. No wind or moving leaf disturbs the nest, As woods and meadows slumber in the dark. I see the sure embrace of thrush's wing, And feel the feathered warmth of robin's breast. My fingers count the nestlings in the ring, And touch the soundless throats in hopeful jest. No patience can attend such fancy long, And filled with urging for the breaking day, I long to hear that timid morning song From where the willow's weeping tresses play. I hear not yet a song to brave the night, Just one small cry, the fading stars to mourn. But when the darkened treetops pierce the light The chorus of the dawn at last is born. I soar, I sing, I fly amid the sounds - A thousand voices rushing to the skies. The chorus strides the air in throbbing bound, And hurls across the land its urgent cries. My longing now is stilled as soft they sing, And choose their quiet places in the tree. Then nearing sleep, I brush one folded wing, And know, indeed, the chorus was for me. Lawrence Banville IfI had one wish for my children, I would wish that they were interested in natural history, because I think there you get a spiritual well-being that you can get no other way, and what is more, life can never be long enough I think all naturalists retain a sort of keen interest in what's going on in life. It's all part of natural history. quote of Miriam R 19 TFN 373 issues--- ONTARIO PROVINCIAL PARKS "Over the past nine years the Ontario government has quietly rented out 21 of Ontario's best recreational parks to commercial operators" . The Ontario Public Service Employees Union, c/o James Clancy, President, wants MNR to halt park leasing and resume direct management. Interested TFN members can write to him at 1901 Yonge St., Toronto, Ont. M4S 2Z5 or [> phone 482-7423. AN URBAN CONSERVATION STRATEGY The Metro Toronto Branch of t~e United Nations Association has been working on promoting urban conservation strategies for Canadian cities. Noting that Canada will be hosting the first international meeting to report on the progress of the World Conservation Strategy in June of 1986, the group is suggesting that local municipalities should prepare their own conservation strategy. An urban conservation strategy would undoubtedly reflect local cond itions, so the Association has developed a list of suggestions as a guide. Included on the list: • preservation of greenbelts and agricultural reserves; • bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways provided as alternatives to automobiles; • establish a conservation education and environmental action centre where the public and businesses can find complete information on local energy, resources, environment, recycling and appropriate technology opportunities; • implement energy efficiency standards for the design of new subdivisions; • form job "think tanks", comprised of local industry, government and public representatives, to plan strategies to put people back to work in the community (as proposed by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce); • designate and protect unique historical, recreational, natural and cultural areas. For more information contact the United Nations Association, Metro Toronto Branch, [> 31 Madison Ave., Toronto, Ont. M5R 2S2, or call 928-0138. from NEWSPREADER published by the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, July 1985 MEARES ISLAND Meares Island is located northwest of Vancouver Island and is one of the few places in Canada containing ancient trees and pure rushing streams. The native peoples on the island are fighting an attempt to bring the logging industry to the area. If you would like to help save this priceless treasure, write to Meares Island Action Committee, t> 1105, 240 Northcliffe Blvd., Toronto, Ontario. M6E 3K7 20 TFN 373 - ./\.,_ 4 ,V ~ "· -~ ✓ "Careful - Trilliums in Bloom" drawn by Diana Banvill-~ after a photograph by May Staples On first seeing May's photo, taken that chilly Nay day in the red maple forest at Thornton Bales Park, I had to laugh at the obviousness of the botanists ' caution and tension as they stepped gingerl y among the wildflowers. I only partially succeeded in capturing this aspect - but you know the feeling. Note the pencils and notepapers ~t the ready. The leader on the right is carrying the samples taken that day by the group - only one specimen of each plant which needed to be properly identified and/or documented for a study of the area with a view to its protection as an Environmenta lly Significant Area. DB 21 TFN 373 More Sources of INFORMATION ON THE LESLIE STREET SPIT !Explanatory Leaflets 1984-19851 Aquatic Park, A Significant Waterfront Area published by the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Aquatic Park - Wildlife Viewing Days, 1984. Orientation Map, field identifica tion of common birds, map. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Canadian Wildlife Service, Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and The Toronto Harbour Commissioners Friends of the Spit. Explains aims of this organization of users oriented toward the natural environment of The Spit. Leslie Street Spit - Tourific T.O_! - with map. Prepared for the City of Toronto Planning and Development Department (for the Sesquicentennial tours) by the Information and Communication Services Div., Dept. of City Clerk, in conjunction with the Toronto Field Naturalists. I Newspaper articles 1985 ·I (a cli~ping collection of -Friends - of the Spit) March 26, 1985, GLOBE & MAIL. "Harbor powerboat races gain support" by A.Baker March 30, 1985, TORONTO STAR. "Leslie spit powerboat races win support" by Sterling Taylor March 30, 1985, TORONTO STAR. "Reader objects to boat races at Leslie St. Spit by Jacqueline Courval "Don't disturb the Spit, MPP warns" by Marion Bryden, MPP, Beaches-Woodbine "Racing's the antithesis of natural peace" by Gail L. Cox "Boat racing would disturb tern colonies reader says" by Verna J. Higgins for the Conservation Group, Dept. of Botany, U. of T. March 30, 1985, GLOBE & MAIL. "Hydroplanes will race despite groups' concerns" by Alden Baker April 2, 1985, TORONTO STAR. "Gull lovers put Leslie Spit on hold" by Rosie DiManno "Officials hope hawks will keep seagulls from their breeding ground" by Alfred Holden April 4, 1985, TORONTO STAR. "Boat-racing ban urged until city sure birds safe" by Tom Kerr April 4, 1985, TORONTO SUN. "The 'wild ones' are at it again" by Ted Welch. April 10, 1985, GLOBE & MAIL. "'Nuts' to the speedboats" by Jacqueline Courval April 23, 1985, TORONTO STAR. "Cancel hydroplane boat races Harbor Commission is urged" by Tom Kerr April 23, 1985. TORONTO SUN. "Go-ahead expected for races" April 6, 1985. TORONTO STAR. "Leslie Spit gulls• eggs to be destroyed" by Peter Cheney t> Blanket of sea gulls Trying to keep the beach warm. Oh! They're unravelling. autumn haiku by Karen Parker 22 TFN 373 More sources of information on the Leslie Street Spit - cont'd TORONTO FIELD NATURALIST (newsletter) 1984-1985 Banville, Diana. 1984. "Birds of Tommy Thompson Park" TFN 365:29:SEP "Species of Tommy Thompson Park" TFN 368:23:DEC ~anvi~le, Diana. 1985. "Species of the Spit0 TFN 369:14:FEB Gilbert, Malcolm. 1984. "One Park - One Name" TFN 362:18:MAR Milanich, Melanie. 1984. "Environmental Group Report0 on SCOW (Stop Contamin ating Our Waterfront) and the Keating Channel dredgeate TFN 364:14:MAY Murr, N. C. 1985. Letter on the value of The Spit to a field naturalist without a car. TFN 372:4:MAR Peterson, Roger Tory. 1984. Quoted in an article in TORONTO STAR, May 14, headed 0 Leslie Street Spit gulls a resource, not a menace, bird expert says" Reprinted in "In the News" TFN 365:28:SEP Powley, Roger. 1984. · "Keep on Spit-ing". TFN 361:15:FEB "Are ring-billed gulls really polluting our waters?11 TFN 362:19:MAR Smith, Mary. 1985. "The Leslie Street Spit - a unique memorial" TFN 372:16:MAY Toronto Field Naturalists Editorial Committee. 1983. "Leslie Street Spit open", a one-paragraph report with user statistics. TFN 360:28:DEC Toronto, City of, Dept. of Public Health to Neighbourhoods Committee. 1984. a quotation from ADDENDUM TO · T~E KEATING CHANNEL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT on escape of contaminated dredgeate (map). Under heading "Horror Story" in TFN 371:19:APR, 1985. lREPORTS 1979-19831 Merrens, Roy. 1983. YORK UNIVERSITY GUIDED TOURS OF THE LESLIE STREET SPIT Summer 1983. 3 pages. Steers, Susan. 1979. 11A Bird Census conducted at the Leslie Street Spit, Spring and Summer 1978~. THE ONTARIO FIELD BIOLOGIST V.33(2):34-35:DEC Decision-Making Authorities Inner portion of The Spit: Toronto Harbour Commission.(Ian Brown, Gen.Manager) 60 Harbour St., Toronto MSJ 1V7. (863-2028) Outer portion of The Spit: Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (Bill McLean, General Manager, Larry Field, Summer Program) 5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, Ont. M3N 1S4. ( 661-6600 ) Toronto City Hall (Art Eggleton, Mayor, 947~7001, Your alderman 947-9111.) Previous Bibliographies: Sources of Information on the Leslie Street Spit TFN 354:20-23:MAR (1983) The Leslie Street Spit: A Selected Bibliography Roy Merrens, York u., 667-3218) 23 NATIVE WILDFLOWERS AND FERNS L~SUITABLE FOR TRANSPLANTING TO MESIC, NEtrrRAL SOIL GARDENS by Jamee L. Hodgins SPECIES COMMON NAME WHY UNSUITABLE ~ Calypso orchid requires conifer duff or moss as substrates Case,F.W, 1964. Orchids of the western Great (eastern form) never grows in mineral soils. Will not grow in Lakes region.Cranbrook Inst. of Sc ience. gardens and is probably mycorhizal, Bloomfield Hills. Mich. pp.29,101. Camptosorus rhizophyl lue walking fern - requires damp, limestone rocks as substrate Nyman,L.P . and D.A.Marchand. 1975. Trek to ·dth soil in the range pH 7.0-8.0. s urvival - the walking fern.Ontario Naturalist Mar. pp. 9-13. · Castilleja coccinea Indian paint brush semi-parasitic on roots of other plant species. Malcom,W .1966 . Root parasitism of Castilleja coccinea.Ecology 47(2) : 179-186. Chimaphila umbellata pipsissewa requires oak or conifer duff with sandy soil Chimaphia maculata spotted wintergreen in the range pH 4.0-5.0. Difficult to transplant.Foster,H.L, 1982. Rock gardening.Timber Press. Portland, Ore. p.182. Clintonia borealis c l intonia, beadlily has very specific growing requirements inc. Cr ockett,J. and O.Allen.1977.Wildflower soil pH of 4.5-5.5. Transplants poorly. gardenin_g. Time-Life Books.Alexandria, Va . p.98. CYPripedium acaule pink moccasin requires leaf mold in soil of 4.0-5.0.Delicate Foster,H.L.1977. Pink moccasin.Bulletin of the roots easily damaged; probably mycorhizal . American Rock Garden Society 35(4):163-166. Case, F.W. 1964 . Orchids of the western Great Lakes regi on. p. 26. Cypripedium reginae s howy l ady' s slipper requires very specific growing conditions inc. Kirk, M. 1984. A r a r e plant transplanting soil pH of 7.0-7.5; species is mycorhizal. proj ect which failed.The Plant Press 2(1) :4, w -..J Drosera spp. s undews require sphagnum bog conditions with soil in Crockett,J, and 0. Allen. 1977. Wildflower w the range of pH 4.0-5.0. gardening. p.105. trailing arbutus, Mayflower requires pine needle or oak leaf soil at pH 4.5. rree,M. 1957. Plant propagation in pictures. Very difficult to transplant. Can be grown from American Garden Guild and Doubleday. seeds or green cuttings rooted in sand and Garden Ci ty, Naw York. ~p.108-111. sphagnum. · Lupinus perennis vild lupine one deep tap root makes a successful t ransplant Sperka,M. 1984. Growing wildflowers. impossible. Easily grown from seed. Cha rles Scribner's Sons, New York.pp.131-132.. Lycopodium spp, c lub mosses the genus transplants poorly, reasons unknown . Cobb,B. 1963. A field guide to the ferns. Houghton-Mifflin, Bost1:rn. p,218, Pedicularis canadensis wood betony, lousewort known to be semi-parasitic on the roots of 80 Piehl,M. 1963. Mode of attachment,haustorium species of plants. struc ture, and hosts of P.canadensis. American Journal of Botany 50(10):978-985. Phyllitis scolopendrium hart's tongue fern requires damp limestone rocks as substrate with a soil pH of 7.0-8.0.Rare in North America .Futyma,R. 1980. The dist ribut ion and e cology of Ph llitis scolo end ium in Michi an. American Fern Journal ·0(3);81-87. Polygala paucifolia gaywings, fringed polygala probably mycorhizal; r equires very acidic soil; Foster,H. L. 1982.Rock gardeni ng. Timber Press. transplants poorly. Portland, Ore, p . 317. TFN 373 WILDFLOWER GARDENING recommended books for Eastern North America Browse, P.M. 1979. PLANT PROPAGATION. Simon & Schuster. New York. 96 pp Crockett, J.U. and O.E . Allen. 1977. WILDFLOWER GARDENING. Time-Life Books. Alexandria, Va. 160 pp Currah, R. et al. 1983. PRAIRIE WILDFLOWERS: AN ILLUSTRATED MANUAL OF SPECIES SUITABLE FOR CULTIVATION AND GRASSLAND RESTORATION. Friends of the Devonian Botanic Garden. University of Alberta, Edmonton. 290 pp Diekelmann, J. and R. Schuster. 1982. NATURAL LANDSCAPING. McGraw-Hill Book Co. New York, 276 pp Dunk G. 1982 FERNS FOR THE HOME AND GARDEN. Angus and Robertson Publishers, London, U.K. 128 pp Foster, F.G. 1976. FERNS TO KNOW AND GROW. Hawthorn Books, Inc. New York. 282 pp Miles, B. 1976. WILDFLOWER PERENNIALS FOR YOUR GARDEN. Hawthorn Books, Inc. New York. 294 pp Perl, P. 1977. FERNS. Time-Life Books. Alexandria, Va. 159 pp Rothschild, M. and C. Farrell. 1983. THE BUTTERFLY GARDENER. Michael Joseph/ Rainbird. London, U.K. 128 pp Schenk, G. 1984. THE COMPLETE SHADE GARDENER. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, Mass. 278 pp Sperka, M. 1973. GROWING WILDFLOWERS. Charles Scribner's Sons. New York. 277 pp Sullivan. G.A. and R.H. Daley. 1981. RESOURCES ON WILDFLOWER PROPAGATION . Missouri Botanical Garden. St. Louis. 331 pp Wilson, W.H. et al. 1984. LANDSCAPING WITH WILDFLOWERS AND NATIVE PLANTS . Ortho Books. San Fransisco. Ca. 96 pp James Hodgins · BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1985-86 Past President: Mary Smith, 49 Thorncrest Rd., Islington M9A 1S6 (231-5302) President: Jean Macdonald, 88 Parklea Dr., .Toronto M4G 2J8 (425-6596) Vice-president: Winifred Smith, 509 - 145 St. George St., Toronto M5R 2Ml (923-9015) Directors: Tom Atkinson, 75 Ternhill Cres., Don Mills M3C 2E4 (449-7907) Howard Battae, 130 Alfred Ave., Willowdale M2N 3H9 (225-9780) Alexander Cappell, 109 - 35 Cedarcroft Blvd., Willowdale M2R 2Z4 (663-7738) Eva Davis, 203 - 1080 Kingston Rd., Scarborough MlN 1N5 (694-8928) Karin Fawthrop, 38 Andrew Ave., Scarborough MlM 3H2 (267-5125) Phil Joiner, 1703 - 260 Seneca Hill Dr., Willowdale M2J 4S6 (496-0735) Aarne Juhola, 112-51 Alexander St., Toronto M4Y 1B3 (924-5806) Muriel Miville, 607 - 33 Eastmount Ave., Toronto M4K 1V3 (463-8066) Robin Powell, 402 - 169 St. George St., Toronto M5R 2M4 (928-9493) 25 TFN 373 BEECH TREE SPRING In our yard the sight of a new species starting to grow of its own accord (that is with no overt assistance from humans) is not such a rare event. From wall-to-wall grass when we moved in in 1971, the yard is being converted to what some day we hope will be more forest than prairie. If one leaves patches (say at the periphery of the yard) to themselves, it is amazing what will start up. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) , purging buckthorn (Rhannus cathartica), apple (Malus punila), basswood (Tilia anericana), black walnut (Juglans nigra), helleborine (an orchid, Bpipactis helleborine), strawberry (Fragaria vesca), avens (Geun sp) are but a few of the vascular plants which we find as "volunteers" here. As you know from the February, 1985, issue of the newsletter (TFN 369:16-17), I consciously attempt to grow trees from seed, with some success. Never have I been able to coax life from the seed of a beech tree (Fagus grandifolia). Many of the beech nutlets are not "full" (i.e. do not have the capacity to renew life). Of those that are viable, the germinative capacity is quite good (ref.SEEDS OF WOODY PLANTS IN THE UNITED STATES, U.S. Government Forest Service), but one has to know what one is doing. Beech trees in our area form, with sugar maple (Acer saccharun) and hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), the characteristic forest cover. All three species can survive shade for years; when an aging forest giant crashes to the ground, permitting the sun's rays to reach the forest floor unimpeded, the "bridesmaids" can compet e for the light. When you are in the woods and see a beech tree, look to see if there are many smaller beech trees near it. Beech roots "sucker" profusely; that is they will shoot up stems some distance from the trunk of the parent, producing a clonal thicket, each tree a part of the main body. Never in my days had I identified an obvious "beech seedling". In mid-May Mary Smith and I were chatting and she mentioned that beech trees were sprouting from seed "for the first time since we've been in our house", which has been about thirty-five years. That was indeed good news to me. On a wildflower walk through Sunnybrook Woods just by the path that leads to Wilket Creek, a young man asked me to identify a plant he had spotted. The leaf was too small to identify, and the cotyledons appeared to be like those of a morning glory (Iparoea spp). Feeling embarrassed that I had "flubbed it", I was shown more such plants near by. Fortunately the first leaf of one of the plants was unfurling and, sure enough, it was a beech! Today Linda, my wife, asked me what "those two trees" were in one of our "urban wilderness" areas. There being hundreds of Norway maple (Acer platanoides) sprouts in that part of the yard, I was set smugly to categorize these two as this species when suddenly I realized that the cotyledons were those of a beech! To Linda I owe a debt of gratitude. 1984 was the most outstanding year for fruiting of trees - all were laden: conifers, nut trees, berry trees. Beech was no exception. One can say that 1985 is the year of the beech, from Himico Creek to Wilket Creek, and probably throughout southern Ontario. Tom Atkinson 26 TFN 373 MY CANADA GOOSE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION On April 7, 1984, in G. Ross Lord Park, a jogger told me that some of the Canada Geese I was watching had bands on their necks, not on their legs, which he had seen earlier in the day. We started looking and soon found a pair with big yellow sleeve-like collars on which there were large black letters easily read with binoculars; one goose was Xl3K and the other X14K. The TFN advised me to report the geese to an Ontario Government scientist (Harry Lumsden, Wildlife Research Section, telephone 832-2761), so I did. In May, I received a letter from the (federal) Bird Banding Office in Ottawa telling me the information had been sent to the U.S. Bird Banding Laboratory. In August , I received a letter from Cornell University, three pages long, explaining the Canada Goose neck-banding project, including the reason for neck rather than leg bands - a neck band can be used to track the bird during its lifetime while the leg band is usually read only once, when the bird is found dead. Later I received a Certificate of .euiti/uate 61 ?I~ Appreciation for each (11 ..4~7- . · i lollUIIOEll ·ct.loPf'ELL goose from the U. S. H~ -35 ,CEOloltCRCFf ,eur.. uu.oi;on:£.. ,Otfl~Jo . Bird Banding Laboratory J -f, COAOA .'f',2t .-:;z4 .. in Laurel, Maryland. Both geese were born ,!J •-DATA: . . . . . ';;\, _....,_ 115e111-9i,14 · ~(l\':nAlla;,nost · in 1982 or earlier and both were banded i; _.,,_ lT ,ttAlCH~ 111 1'982 '.01 ;£A«UU~ • I • • in South Carolina on Ji -11 US 6AIICED 8Y UlllEt -flll'l · February 9, 1984. ·110..tE 2 :1!CI :.f>'f . • . . ·. ·.;sc .. ,~U.!5l'14 .· 1'1 ~- ...cia • I saw them once more ~, lillltoftllY'O~ ._ __,_ , •·2,en5 "i.'( '..•f>'II .u,,; . in the park on "' ..,..,_ 'TOIOtiTli '4ll August 6, 1984. ON BEHALF OF PROFESSIONAL MID AMATEUR 111RD BANOERS THROUGHOUT NORTM AMERICA. THANK YOU 'FOIi REPORTING TME BAND NUMBER ANO RECOVERY INFORMATION NOTED ABOVE. THE PERSON WHO BANDED THE BIRO WILi. BE NOTIFIED OF YOUR REPORT. THE 'DATA WILi. BECOME PART OF THE PERMANENT Fll.£S OF THE'BlRD BANDING LABORATORY. If you see a banded bird and don' t know where to report it or if you have any interesting information about birds, call Beth Jefferson of the TFN at 251-2998 (home). Sandy Cappell SPECIES OF THE SPIT On July 27 monarch butterflies were starting to gather on The Spit. On that date our first report of a gray squirrel for The Spit was recorded - within the inner gates on "the neck". A buff-breasted sandpiper was seen at the base of The Spit on the west side in the area cleared for the boat races. While the grass is short in this area it is recommended also as a possible area to look for the upland sandpiper. Breeding records also were reported for this area - very young, dependant spotted sandpipers , and a willow flycatcher singing in the morning in good n esting habitat. from report of Norm Murr, July 27, 1985 27 Tf<' N 373 IN THE NEWS ENCROACHERS GET REPRIEVE FROM METRO A total of 832 Metro Toronto property owners whose gardens, swimming pools and fences encroach on Metro parkland have won a reprieve from a parks department order telling them to end the encroachment by June 17. Metro Council's parks and property committee decided yesterday to extend the deadline indefinitely while it considers licencing some encroachments for a fee provided they do not damage Metro's concept of an urban wilderness park system. from the GLOBE AND NAIL, May 31, 1985 GOLF COURSES PLANNED FOR CONSERVATION AREA More than 320 acres of land held by the Metro Toronto and Region Conservation Authority have been leased for 20 years to a private company to develop and operate two golf courses. The pay-as-you-play courses, expected to open in 1988, will be built for $1.6-million at Claireville conservation area on Highway· 7 west of Woodbridge, says William McLean, general manager of the authority. The policy of allowing private enterprises into conservation areas results from a decision by the province that its financing of these areas should concentrate on flood control, wildlife and forest conservation, and protection of environmentally sensitive areas, Mr. McLean said in an interview. The authority is trying to find other ways of meeting a demand for recreational programs without drawing on either provincial or municipal government funds, Mr. McLean said. In addition to leasing land for the golf courses, the authority is also looking for a private company to build and operate a swimming pool at Claireville and is interested in proposals for recreational activities in other Metro conservation sites. The land for the Claireville courses has been leased to the Kleinburg Golf and Country Club which will form a separate company to operate the two public courses. The company will pay the conservation authority a basic rent of $45,000 a year, 6 per cent of the revenue from golf fees and 10 per cent from the food and beverage sales. After the fifth year of operation the company will be required to give the authority 20 per cent of net income. from the GLOBE AND MAIL, summer 1985 EROSION-CONTROL PROGRAM FOR RAVINE WILL SAVE HOMEOWNERS' PROPERTY Homeowners who for years have been losing part of their backyards to the Bellamy ravine -- nicknamed the Grand Canyon of Scarborough - - are going to get some. help . An expensive erosion-control program for the half-mile-long ravine has been replaced by a less expensive scheme, which will be started sometime this summer by the Metro Toronto and Conservation Authority. Engineering studies indicate the erosion can be controlled by using fill to shore up the slopes and construction of a surface ditch on the ravine floor to accommodate water run-off, thereby preventing the water from further eroding the property. The Bellamy ravine, located south of Kingston and Bellamy roads in central Scarborough, is a heavily treed area often up to about 300 ~etres (1,000 feet) wide and in several spots has a depth of 75 to 90 metres (250 to 300 feet), Cost of building up the ditch and stabilizing the ravine embankments is $2.5 million versus an initial estimate of $7.5 million required to build a tunnel and a dropshaft on the original plan. The use of fill -- approximately 300,000 cubic yards -- is the first stage in the erosion control scheme planned for the ravine and will involve building an access road for the work crews and trucks, plus the channel improvements of lining the valley floor with rip-rap armour stone. Stabilizing the slopes alone will cost about $2 million. The real problem with the ravine t> 28 TFN 373 In the News (cont'd) is the storm water runoff, which is causing the erosion. Homeowners will have to put up with noise and dust when the work begins of bringing in and depositing the fill. About 40 property owners live adjacent to the ravine, with more than half directly affected by eroding embankments. The nine homes identified as "endangered" would probably stand for no more than another 10 years if the ravine is left as it is. In some places, the ravine is quite steep. from an article by Anne Fitterer in the REAL ESTATE NEWS, May 17, 1985 CASH SOUGHT TO SAVE VALLEY LAND Conservation authorities are asking Metro and the province for $48 million to buy and protect valley and waterfront land from development. The dozen or so parcels of land, which the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Author ity considers in danger of flooding and erosion, are prime development areas. The properties include the former Toronto Brick Co. site near Bayview Ave. and Pottery Rd., and a section of Hogg's Hollow around the Jolly Miller Tavern at Yonge St. and York Mills Rd. Other properties tagged for acquisition are along the lower Don River, beside the Bayview Ave. extension. Also sought is valley land at Sheppard Ave. and Bathurst St., Finch Ave. and Bathurst St., Dufferin St. and Finch Ave., Bayview Ave. and Lawrence Ave., Weston Rd. and Sheppard Ave., near the Metro Zoo, and land between Steeles Ave. and Finch Ave. along the Little Rouge River. from an article by Sterling Taylor, TORONTO STAR, May 6, 1985 DEER IN HUMBER VALLEY City of York animal control officer George Banton pets a two-week-old fawn found in a hydro ri.ght-of-way near St. Clair Avenue and Jane Street. Officials say there is no sign ofthe mother, who must have travelled along the Humber River and through Smythe Park before giving birth to the fawn. Officials will soon place it with adoptive parents. caption under photograph of fawn in REAL ESTATE NEWS, June 28, 1985 BAMBI STORY IS MISLEADING The STAR'S coverage of the "Bambi" story once again misled people into believing that wildlife can be treated like domestic animals• then released "back into the wild". The notion that Mr. DiBonno's· bull terrier rescued the orphaned fawn is nonsense. A more likely scenario is that the dog scared the adult deer into leaving her fawn and that if the DiBonnos had left the deer where it was, doe and fawn would be reunited now. These well-meaning peo·ple made a common mistake in thinking that the fawn was orphaned. Your story, instead of pointing out the error in taking wildlife home, made it sound like the DiBonnos and the Animal Control were helping. They were not. Let's see a picture of the deer being released back to the wild! a letter from T.C. Smith, Aurora, Ont. in the TORONTO STAR, June 30, 1985 NEW PARK WILL SHOW ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPING The sod was turned yesterday on Ecology Park, a Pollution Probe-sponsored pro ject aimed at showing the public how landscaping can conserve energy and re sources. Steve Hall, co-manager of the adjacent Ecology House on Madison Ave., said the park will contain alternatives to common landscape features. from the TORONTO STAR, June 3, 1985 29 TFN 373 In the News (cont'd) UNIQUE PLANT SPECIES FOUND IN MISSISSAUGA Mississauga has a botanical first. Botanical consultants Jocelyn Webber of Mississaugaand Dan Brunton of Ottawa have discovered a plant species that so far has not been officially found elsewhere in the world. Brunton sent a sample of the plant -- it looks like an Evening Primrose -- to world experts in Missouri and Hawaii who admit they haven't seen it before. "It is a new record for Canada," said Brunton. "There are a number of closely related species. The one I sent to Peter Raven (director of the Missouri Botanic Garden) has never been found. It may be elsewhere, but no one has ever offically described it. "It's a very rare event -- especially in Canada -- to describe a new species of a higher plant like this." The most closely related plant has the technical name, the Oenothera rhombipetala, said Webber, a botany teacher at Erindale College. She found the biennial plant a year ago in a 10 by 10-metre patch of high, dry, unshaded, sandy soil containing native prairie vegetation near Lorne Park Rd. north of Lakeshore Blvd. from an article by David Steen, TORONTO STAR, June 30, 1985 ONE MAN'S WEEDS ANOTHER'S FLOWERS From time to time a friend in Gloucester sends me pages from THE SUNDAY STAR which he feels may interest me ... I noticed in a recent copy an edict from the Commissioner of Parks, Borough of East York, reminding all land owners that all noxious weeds must be destroyed by June 3. Surely many of these plants provide the staple diet of so many wild creatures, and with the destruction of these so called noxious weeds will go many more attractive wild flowers? I would hesitate to suggest that we are more enlightened in this eastern part of England, but as an economy measure we have had to curtail the cutting of many of our grassy road verges. This at first met with considerable criticism, but this year they are a blaze of nature's colours, and now and again we hear of the discovery of plants that were thought to be extinct~ from a letter by Bob Niblett, Halesworth, Suffolk in the TORONTO STAR, July 21/85 VISITOR SEES LANDSCAPE DESTROYED As a visitor to your fair land, I am saddened to see the destruction to the beauty of your countryside, its flora and fauna. Some instances: (a) Notices near streams and brooks, "Do not paddle or swim, pollution". Why in this modern age is pollution allowed in a progressive city like Toronto? (b) A conservation ist trying to introduce wild swans to Cranberry Marsh. "We think the turtles are taking the young birds, so we will dispose of the snapping turtles.'' (I told him, as a member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Snapping Turtles, I objected!) Have wild swans ever bred this far south? (c) Reading in a glossy gardening magazine an introduction to an article to be published in their next issue, "How to collect wild flowers for your garden." One can see hordes of amateur gardeners descending on the innocent countryside, digging up the last of your exotica as they did the turks-cap lily and rare orchids: in Britain. Wake up Toronto, before you become like us, a faunal and floral desert. from a letter by Frank J. Walker, Salop, England in the TORONTO STAR, July 14/85 t> 30 TFN 373 In the News (cont'd) FORESTS IN OUR FUTURE - NORTH :'ORK TO PLANT NEW TREES IN 20 PARKS North York's parks and recreation department is out to turn parts of the urban jungle into hardwood forests. It takes 140 years for nature to turn a field into a mature forest, says William Granger, the city's arborist supervisor, but North York plans to do it in five. The parks department will be planting mature for est seedlings in declining woodlots and natural areas in 20 parks. The woodlots and natural areas in the 20 parks will be restored and expanded under a new plan to naturalize parkland, The new look of the parks will better serve the growing number of people who simply desire a walk in the woods or a place to sit in quiet enjoyment under a shady cover, says Granger. As many as 300,000 North York residents could be potential users of natural areas, according to the department's report on naturalization areas in North York. North York's wooded areas have become so popular with hikers that the tread of thousands of feet over the years has compacted the soil, resulting in a loss of vegetation, which leads to erosion and forest decline. To halt the destruction and allow newly planted seedlings to grow, paths will be constructed to direct pedestrian traffic over sensitive areas. According to a recent provincial study on recreation, the five most popular year-round activities are walking, general exercise, jogging, swimming and bicycling. Parks staff say most of these can best be accommodated in natural environments . The naturalization of parklands is also expected to save the city money by cutting back on the costly grounds upkeep required in most parks. from an article by Lynne Ainsworth, NEIGHBOURS NORTH STAR, April 23, 1985 AVUIUI W. ITULU 9 ...... @ HWY. 40! l r @ I ~ l l ...HCI ..JD NATURALIZATION AREAS IN NORTH YORK l. Anewan Greenbelt 9. Edgeley Park 17. St. Andrews Park 2. Blue Ridge Park 10. Havenbrook Park 18. Three Valleys Park 3. Bratty Park 11. Lindy Lou Greenbelt 19. Vyner.Greenbelt 4. Brookbanks Park 12. Moatfield Farm Park 20. Windfields Park 5. Brookdale Park 13. Uoccasin Trail Park 6. Burnett Park 14. Pineway Park 7. Caledonia Park 15. Queens Greenbelt 8. Duncan Creek Park 16. Roding Park CITY OF NORTH YORK H01'I':t PARKS AllD RECREATION ftem NATURALIZATION AREAS IN YOilK, Uorth York 1985 DEPAilTifCHT 31 TFN 373 In the News (cont'd) AERIAL WOLF HUNTS EXPAND IN ••• BRITISH COLUMBIA Project Wolf is fighting a continuing battle against the aerial killing of wolves in British Columbia, the following are excerpts from their latest newsletter. "The [B.C.] Ministry of Environment is continuing a massive extermination program using Fish and Wildlife staff in helicopters to wipe out entire wolf populations in selected areas of northeastern British Columbia. There is absolutely no predation on livestock from the wolves that are being hunted down and shot from helicopters. Although in private hands, public money is being used to fund a slaughter that will benefit financially only a handful of already wealthy men. It is big business. One guide took in 79 hunters in 1982 each of whom paid between $5,000 and $10,000 to the company for the opportunity. Who opposes the wolf kill? The wolf kill program has been denounced by the Federal Department of the Environment as 'unscientific and dangerous'. In addition the Canadian Society of Zoologists, and the department of biology at Guelph [University] and McMaster: University have condemned the program. Biologists from the University of B.C. have criticized the governm~nt biologist Dr. John Elliott for being unscientific in managing and organizing the program. In addition the kill has been condemned by the World Wildlife Fund, the Sierra Club, The B.C. Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals and by Project Wolf.". (from THE ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE QUARTERLY Washington DC, V.33 #4 WINTER 85) A VICTORY FOR THE ESCARPMENT Four days before going down to defeat, the Conservative Government did an about face -- it proclaimed the Niagara Escarpment Plan removing all references to the controversial Mineral Aggregate Policy which was contained in the earlier version of the Plan, released last July (1984) . The final plan proclaimed in the legislature by Mr. Dennis Timbrell stated "by opting for conservation, we have kept our natural heritage options open indefinitely". Let us sincerely hope they are right. The plan calls for the establishment of a Niagara Escarpment Fund to be run by the Ontario Heritage Foundation to enable donations to be received for buying land on the Escarpment. This means that if members of the public wish to contribute, they will receive a full tax-benefit as well as the satisfaction of keeping a part of the escarpment safe for future generations. Also, groups such as CONE can start using funds for this purpose rather than having to spend every penny on fighting battles -- it will be a welcome change to be able to do something creative now that the plan is firmly in place. CONE fully intends to make a donation. CONE thanks all those who have given so generously of their time, effort and support -- it has been an exemplary exercise in teamwork. We have been cheered on by the dedication of help expressed by literally thousands of people. It is a great relief to have a final plan of which we can be proud. CONE will continue to act as the Escarpment "watchdog" and to make sure all runs smoothly. We are confident that the new Government will honour the commitments and will work towards the plan implementation. from the newsletter (#19, July 1985) of CONE (Coalition on the Niagara Escarpment) 355 Lesmill Rd., Don Mills, Ont. M3B 2W8 (444-8419) 32 TFN 373 This Month's Cover: Owen Fisher's original drawing was to a much smaller scale, designed for another project, but we had it enlarged for this cover at a time when the purple martins seem to have something to tell us . Editorial Committee. projects PURPLE MARTIN STUDY The Canadian Wildlife Service is participating in an interna~ional study of the migration of Purple Martins, 300,000 of which were "microtagged" in Brazil in March 1985. The microtag is a fine non-toxic powder sprayed on the birds which fluoresces in ultra-violet light. If you have a nest box occupied by Purple Martins, please collect the feathers shed and send them to the CWS, who will examine them for the presence of the Brazilian microtags . Send the feathers, the collector's name and address , and the name of the town or city nearest the collection site to: Purple Martin Project, Canadian f> Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa. KlA OE7. If microtags are found, you will be notified. EVER HEARD OF A TREE BANK? In Calgary, when a garden begins to get crowded, usually in 10 to 20 years, the owner can decide which trees, shrubs, hedges should be moved to make room for the rest, and phones the information to the tree bank. The tree bank is run by the municipality which lists owner's names, addresses and phone numbers by district so that people who want trees can find something suitable ~lose by. Tree hunters phone owners and make their own arrangements to have trees moved. Tree movers make a profit because their large tree spades are kept busy. New subdivisions are becoming "treed" rapidly and people enjoy knowing their "old" trees are being used. Prices are much more reasonable than for nursery stock. Anyway, such large stock is not usually available. There is an element of risk of course, but if a big tree can be kept from drying out, the survival rate is good. When trees are fed seaweed extract through their leaves, the results are even better. If trees 15 to 35 feet, many of them in full leaf, can be moved in Calgary with all that dry air, it should work even better in Toronto. Mary Smith 231-5302 t> 33 TFN 373 PROJECTS Cont'd PLANT A TREE FOR AN OWL The provincially-owned land in Etobicoke just west of the greenhouses of Centennial Parkand,north of Rathburn Road,is being developed as a park by the Etobicoke Parks and Recreation Department. The rubble dumped by a previous owner has been removed and the previously stockpiled woodchips spread over a large area through which a few trees are already sprouting. Most of the young trees in the owl-roosting area are American elm which are again being attacked by Dutch elm disease. This means that other species of trees are needed in the area immediately. Members who enjoy planting young trees and/or · tree seeds have a place to plant now . Species such as bitternut hickory, shagbark hickory, white oak, red oak, bur oak, sumac, hazel, bluebeech and ironwood are all suitable. Large seeds have a better chance of surviving. Etobicoke's maintenace chief, Don Sadler, suggests that anywhere where there is a thick woodchip mulch is a good place to plant. He invites TFN members and friends to plant to their hearts content. Another good place to plant is among the elms in the forest opposite the green houses . So all you planting enthusiasts can now show what you can do! The open meadows where the owls hunt for food are knee high at this time of year. The park is worth visiting so a walk has been scheduled. Suggestions for improving the habitat for owls are welcome. Mary Smith 231-5302 WHAT TO DO WITH BACK COPIES OF NATURE MAGAZINES 1. Donate to public libraries or schools. (You may have some numbers which are missing from their sets, or they may be interested in keeping extra copies in case of loss.) 2. If you do not have interested friends, acquaintances, or relatives, leave copies in a reception room such as those of doctors, dentists , hospitals, or in a laundromat, or bring them to our log cabin Nature Centre for distribution to visitors. (This also applies to recent copies of our newsletter - a good way to advertise or share information.) 3. Clip articles, reviews, bibliographies, pictures, which you think would be of interest to Toronto naturalists,nbta name and date of the publica tion on them. Send the clippings to TFN Library, and discard the rest. 4. Donate intact to TFN Library copies of the TORONTO FIELD NATURALIST before issue #300, copies of the ONTARIO FIELD BIOLOGIST, or of publications of other nature clubs within Canada. We are keeping sets of these. 5. Please do not throw out any publications of interest to naturalists. Let us know if you have any other ideas for their circulation. If any member is interested in accumulating sets of periodicals for TFN f"'.. Library, or in handling a magazine exchange at TFN general meetings, or V has any questions or ideas, call Betty Paul, 224-0793. 34 TFN 373 PROJECTS Cont'd VOLUNTEER NEEDED Have you some spare time to devote to an educational and worthwhile TFN endeavour that is also fun? Do you read the newspaper and clip the occasional item on mammals, birds or hiking for your own interest and future reference? For two years now I have been keeping the TFN clipping file up to date with the helpful donation of clippings from many TFN members. It has been an intensely interesting project for I have been provided with environmental news items from as far back as the year 1880 and as far away as India! It takes very little to sort and catalogue the articles and yet once it's done, they're there for posterity. Now I'm looking for someone to take the job of maintaining the club clipping file over from me. All that's required is an individual with the interest and a few spare hours a month. Please contact Margo Sheppard at 536-1487, or during the day at t> 248-3688, or Helen Juhola at 924-5806. £) Ontario Paper Recycling Inc. and Consolidated Fibres-Ltd. For more information or groups interested'in paper drives phone 461-0211 between 10:30 -11:30 a.m. and 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. GRANTS FOR BIRD RESEARCH Applications are welcome for funding in 1986 by the James L. Baillie Memorial Fund for Bird Research and Preservation, and should be submitted on forms available from the Secretary (address below) no later than December 31, 1985. Any project will be considered but must be done in Canada, although the applicant may live elsewhere. Preference will be given to amateurs and to those without access to other funding. For 1985, nineteen grants totalling $9,000 were awarded. For information and applications write: Martin K. McNicholl James L. Baillie Memorial Fund c/o Long Point Bird Observatory P.O. Box 160, Port Rowan, Ontario NOE 1MO Note: The Fund is itself partly funded by direct donations. If you wish to donate, the address is the same and you will receive a receipt for income tax purposes. 35 TFN 373 REPORTS ... BLACK CREEK PROJECT This summer the BCP secured funds through the Canada Works Program to carry out the "Black Creek Improvement Project" . Under the program, three individuals were hired: Greg Tokarz, Project Manager, Jackie Howlett, Engineer, and Debbie McKeown, Biologist. Over the summer months, the entire Black Creek valley was walked, inventoried and assessed. The prime objectives were to develop detailed plans for a system of walking trails and paths to connect with existing and planned paths in estab lished parks, and plans for bank stabilization and safety improvements to reduce erosion and risks to children during stormwater floods. A detailed inventory of flora and fauna of the valley was included in the agenda. The Black Creek Project is a citizens' group formed to work for improvements to the natural environment of the Black Creek valley. Activities of its members include lobbying to protect upstream reaches of the Creek from further development, promoting safety and environmentally sound channel improvements and actually carrying out instream projects on workdays held through out the spring, summer and fall. Upcoming events: September 11 - Bimonthly meeting September 22 - Fall Photography Walk October 5 - Fall Workday Concerned individuals may contact John Maher at (416) 592-5163 [> or Sandy Agnew at (705) 549-3531. Margo Sheppard THE ONTARIO FIELD BIOLOGIST The Ontario Field Biologist is a semi-annual publication dedicated to reporting on the ecology, flora and fauna of Ontario. Limited copies of the following issues are available from Rosemary Gray, Ontario Field Biologist, 36 Haslemere Road, Toronto. M4N lXS. Telephone 481-3918 . t> December 1983 - Volume 37 (2) Featured article: THE HERPTOFAUNA OF WATERLOO REGION, Ontario, by George Francis and Craig Campbell. June 1983 - Volume 37 (2) Featured article: BUTTERFLIES OF POINT PELEE NATIONAL PARK', ONTARIO, by Alan Wormington. December 1982 - Volume 36 (2) Featured articles: RARE VASCULAR PLANTS OF TWELVE PROVINCIAL PARKS IN THE DECIDUOUS FOREST REGION OF SOUTHERN ONTARIO by Katherine Lindsey. BUTTERFLIES OF ALGONQUIN PROVINCIAL PARK by John Reynolds. Special Publication No. 2 - THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF LUTHER MARSH, ONTARIO - "Annotated Checklist of the Vascular Plants and Vertebrates of Luther t!arsh, Ontario" 36 TFN 373 CONCERN FOR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT GROWS Another natural history society has been formed in Fenelon Falls, Ontario. The club's program has included indoor meetings, workshops and field trips. TFN is exchanging newsletters with this group. So far we have a copy of issue number 2 (winter 1984) though their programs are for all year. They are looking for new members. For further information write to: t> KAWARTHA FIELD NATURALISTS, P.O. Box 313, Fenelon Falls, Ont. KOM lNO And closer to home, a group of individuals and associations dedicated to preserving the Don Valley for public use has recently become incorporated. This past summer, the group organized ._ two "valley rallies" to which a total of about 500 people came. Their first project is toguarantee that the former Don Valley Brick Works property (presently owned by a developer known as Torvalley) becomes public property. To learn more about this group and how you too can help preserve this important part of our natural heritage, write to: t> FRIENDS OF THE VALLEY, 5468 Dundas St. West, Suite 561, Toronto M9B 6E3 And -- if you're looking for alternatives to manicured lawn you'll be interested in a new group -- Urban Wilderness Gardeners. They're exploring various envir onmentally-sound, aesthetically-pleasing alternatives to lawns which need fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, water and a great deal of care to keep them lush and green. They have viewable gardens that feature wildflowers, herb patios, summer houses, winding paths, forests, meadows, vegetables, boardwalks and bird feeders. For more information, contact: "'URBAN WILDERNESS GARDENERS, c/o Hill Cottage, 227 Kenilworth Ave., Toronto V M4L 3S7 STORAGE SPACE NEEDED Storage space for TFN publications - preferably free - centrally located with 24-hour access if possible, approximately 100 square feet floor are~. If you know of such a place, contact Aarne Juhola, TFN Secretary-Treasurer, 112-51 Alexander St., Toronto. M4Y 1B3. Telephone 924-5806. THE MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF TORONTO Established in 1973 "for fun and for fungi", this Toronto based group has monthly meetings (except in summer) featuring talks illustrated with slides or movies. Spring and fall weekend forays are held during which participants collect and identify mushrooms and other fungi. All members receive the quar~:rly new~letter.Myceli~m which includes articles on the natural history of fun~1, checklists; field trip reports; notices of meetings and fungi fairs; :ecipes; accounts of poisonings and identification tips. The membership fee is $12.50 (payable to the Mycological Society of Toronto) • . From THE PLANT PRESS, Vol. 2, No. 3, Sept. 1984. [>Ed. Note: If interested, call Otto Lang 445-0680 37 TFN 373 THE WEATHER THIS TIME LAST YEAR City of Toronto, September 1984 This was a cool month. The mean temperature of 15. 6°C was lowest since 1975. Cold spells occurred at the beginning, middle and end of the month. Other elements were as might be expected: sunshine - below normal; rainfall - above normal. But it was sunnier and drier than several of the· recent . Septembers . Rainfall was about 20 mm above normal, and sunshine about 15 to 20 hours below normal. Mean windspeed was somewhat below normal and the winds prevailed out of the north. A gust of 74 km/h occurred with a massive cold front on the 25th. The Pope' s visit occurred on the 14th and 15th. Pope John Paul II and his followers experienced unsettled and cold conditions. Fortunately, the only significant rain occurred overnight. A lively sky with stratocumulus and cumulus clouds and sunshine provided a dramatic backdrop for the Papal Mass on the 15th. North York (146 Johnston Ave. and personal observations) September 1984 My vacation period in the latter part of August ended early in September. Estimated maximum temperatures occurred the days of September 1, 2, and 3. and the estimated minima September 1, 2, 3, and 29. Many thanks to Paul Bartha for watching the weather. The mean temperature at the station was 14. 7°, 0.9° cooler than downtown, even though maxima were higher . It cooled to 1 . 5° on September 28th. Despite the cool weather in general, the furnace did not go on until the 26th at the house. Around the city, fall colours had only very slightly begun by month's end. Only sickly trees had turned. And also,despite the generally cool weather, a cicada was heard as late as the 25th. Gavin Miller IN CASE YOU WONDERED ... D Coloured tags on trees in Mount Pleasant Cemetery mean: ~Ired (to be pruned), I~ blue or D yellow (to be sprayed - different sprays) C The shrubs (red osier dogwoods) at Cherry Beach were pruned severely this past spring. City parks officials say it was necessary because (a) the bush~8 should be pruned periodically -- they had become quite large, (b) the leaves under them had become a fire hazard, and (c) to prevent people from being able to hide in the bushes. D The woodlot west of Marie Curtis Park (on the west side of Etobicoke Creek where it enters Lake Ontario) is marked NO TRESPASSING. The property is owned by the Federal Government and at one time was the site of the Long Branch rifle range. For this reason the government considers the site unsafe and will !!.Q.l permit the public to enter. 38 TFN 373 McLaughlin Planetarium The following programs will be offered at the McLaughlin Planetarium, Queen's Park Cres. For details call 978-8550. Star Gazing Workshop - Monday, September 16, 7.00-9.00 p.m. $5 . 00. Introduction to Astronomy - Survey course for the beginning astronomy enthusiast. Mondays, September 23 to November 25, 7.00-9.00 p.m. $52.00. Kortright Centre for Conservation For details about the following events, call 661-6600. The Kortright Centre is on Pine Valley Drive, 3 km west of Highway 400, just south of Major Mackenzie Drive. Exhibition and sale of watercolours, acrylics and drawings by wildlife artist, Paul Harpley - to September 8. Fall Colour Hikes, September 28, 29. Mycological Society of Toronto The Mycological Society of Toronto will sponsor the following events. For information call Otto Lang, 445-0680. Cain Foray, Dorset - September 20-22. Fungi Fair, Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Ave. E., Don Mills - Monday, September 23, 12.00 noon to 10.00 p.m. Clive and Joy Goodwin For details about the following activities, telephone the Goodwins at 249-9503. Presqu'ile Park Weekend - September 7-8. Point Pelee Weekend - September 21-22. Birding in Fall - Four-week beginners course at Orchard View Library, Eglinton and Yonge, commencing Thursday, September 24. Gem and Mineral Club of Scarborough Wonders of the Earth - 16th Annual Gem and Mineral Exhibition - Saturday, September 14, 10.00 a.m.-9.00 p.m., and Sunday, September 15, 11.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m. Mid-Scarborough Community Centre, 2467 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto. Call Gary Ibell, 282-6981 for ioore information. Humber Arboretum The following events will take place at the Humber Arboretum. Call Peter Joyce, 675-5009 for details. Birds of the City - Sept. 11 ) The Nature of Ontario - Sept. 18 ) 7. 30-9. 30 p.m. Wildflowers of Ontario - Sept. 25 ) $5.00 per session. The Nature of the Humber Arboretum - Oct. 2) Fall Nature walks - September 22, 29. 1.30-3.30 p.m. $10.00 per family per session. Todmorden Mills Historic Site Honey and Craft Fair - September 22. 11.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m. 39 TFN 373 Coming Events (cont'd) Toronto Historical Board For details about the following events, contact the Toronto Historical Board, 595-1567. September 29, 2.00 p.m. - Nature Photography with Barry Ranford. Marine Museum. September 24 - "Toronto's Forgotten Waterways" - Exhibit. Marine Museum. Ministry of Natural Resources Wildlife Viewing Sunday, Sept. 29. 10.00 a.m.-4.00 p.m. Hanlan's Point. For information call Angus Norman, 832-2761, ext. 259. Field Botanists of Ontario September 7 - Crawford Lake and the Bennett Estate. Located in the Regional Municipality of Halton, Crawford Lake has become famous for stud~es on fossil pollen which have enabled scientists to interpret vegetation patterns thousands of years ago. For information contact Doug Geddes, 45 Massey St., Bramalea, Ontario. L6S 2V8. Telephone (416) 792-0451, evenings. WINTER COURSES A course on Ectible and Poisonous Mushrooms will be offered at the University of Toronto, Monday evenings from September 16 to November 25. For more information, contact the University of Toronto, Department of Botany, Toronto. MSS lAl. George Brown College will offer the following courses of interest to naturalists. For details contact: Part-time Courses, George Brown College, P.O. Box 1015, Station B, Toronto. MST 2T9. Introduction to Astronomy, Wednesdays, 7.30-9.30 p.m., September 18 to November 20. Casa Loma Campus. Birds of Southern Ontario, a Field Study, Saturdays, 10.00 a.m.-2.00 p.m., September 21 to November 9. St. James Campus. Edible Wild Plants, Saturdays, 10.00 a.m.-4.30 p.m., September 21 and October 5. Casa Loma Campus. _Bird Study II -- Rosemary Gaymer -- Sheridan College, Oakville Campus. For those whose experience is beyond the absolute beginner stage of bird watching. Wednesdays, 7.30-10.00 p.m. 2 semesters, 24 weeks, plus field trips, commencing September 18. For details contact Continuing Education Division, Sheridan College, 1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. L6H 211. Telephone 842-8800 (Oakville). FAR-AWAY PLACES For information about nature trips outside Ontario, contact: 1> Nature Travel Service, 127A Princess Street, Kingston, Ontario. K7L 1A8. Telephone (613) 546-3065. I> Clive and Joy Goodwin, 45 LaRose Ave., Apt. 103, Weston, Ontario. M9P 1A8. Telephone (416) 249-9503. 40 TFN 373 G E N E R A L ME E T I N G S Board of Education Centre, 6th F1oor Auditorium 155 Co11ege Street, at McCau1 Tuesday, September 3, 1985. 8.00 p.m. (Coffee at 7.15) The Carolinian Forest Conservation in Ontario - Kevin Kavanogh, Doctoral Candidate at University of Toronto. Carolinian species of trees and shrubs and wildlife from the southern United States are found in Ontario w!tere they are on the verge of extinction. Work is being done to save the last vestiges of a unique and precious Ontario heritage. Kevin's talk will be illustrated with coloured slides. Next meeting - Monday, October 7, 1985. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * G R O UP ME E T I NG S Bird Group No meeting in Se?tember. The following dates have been set for meetings of the TFN Bird Group during 1985-86: Wednesday, October 16 } Monday, November 18 Warblers Wednesday, January 8 Wednesday, February 19 Wednesday, March 12. The meetings will commence at 7.30 and will be held in the Education Centre Auditorium, 155 College Street, Toronto...... Botany Grou~ No meeting in September...... Environmental Group Thur. Sep. 26 Black Creek Project (see page 36) 7.30 p.m. - Greg Tokarz Location: Huron Public School, 541 Huron Street, 1 block west of St. George subway station. : : : : : : : : : : : : Junior Club Sat. Sep. 7 Slide show of last year's activities. 10.00 a.m. Location: Planetarium Auditorium, immediately south of Royal Ontario Museum. 41 TFN 373 TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS 83 Joicey Boulevard SECOND CLASS MAIL Toronto, Ontario M5M 2T4 Registration Number 6669 TORONTO FIEL D NATURALIST J published eight times a year 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. Editorial Committee Helen Juhola (924-5806) #112 - 51 Alexander St., Toronto, Ont. M4Y 1B3 Diana Banville (690-1963) #710 - 7 Crescent Place, Toronto, Ont. M4C 5L7 Alexander Cappell (663-7738) #109 - 35 Cedarcroft Blvd., Willowdaie MZR 2Z4 Eva Davis (694-8928) #203 - 1080 Kingston Rd., Scarborough, Ont. MlN 1N5 Mildred Easto (488-0962) #416 - 28 Broadway Ave., Toronto, Ont. M4P 1T5 Florence Preston (483-9530) #203 - 368 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto, Ont. M4P 1L 9 Members are encouraged to submit notices, reports, articles up to i500 words in length, and illustrations at least six weeks before the month in which the event is to take place or the material isrequired to appear. Other Publications Price TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS' RAVINE TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB: SURVEYS .•..•....••.•••••••..••. 2.00ea. ITS HISTORY AND CONSTITUTION Survey #1 - Chatsworth Ravine, 1973 by R.M. Sau nders, 1965 ...... $ .50 Survey #2 -Brookbanks Ravine, 1974 Survey #3 - ChapmanValley Ravine, 1975 CHECKLIST OF PLANTS IN FOUR TORONTO Survey #4 - Wigmore Ravine, 1975 PARKS: WILKETCREEK, HIGH PARK, HUMBER Survey #5 - Park Drive Ravine, 1976 VALLEY, LAMBTON WOODS, 1972 • • • •• • • • • .50 Survey #6 -Burke Ravine, 1977 TORONTO THE GREEN, 1976 Survey #7 - Taylor Creek-Woodbine Metropolitan Toronto's important natural areas Bridge Ravines, 1977 are described and recommendations given for their Survey #8-West Don Valley, 1978 conservationand management;includes maps, bibliography and index • •• . . •• •• • .• . • • 2.50 INDEX OF TFN NEWSLETTERS (1938-1978) 10.00 A GUIDE TO THE JIM BAILLIE NATURE RESERVE, ANNUAL TFN fNDEX .25 ea. 1977 • . • • • • • • • • . . • • • • • • • • • • •• • 1.25 AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF FIELD CHECKLIST OF PLANTS OF SOUTHERN METRO TORONTO, 1983 ...... 2.00 ONTARIO, 1977 .••.. 5/$1.00 or ...... 25 ea. TORONTO REGION VERTEBRATE LIST (fishes, amphibians, TORONTO REGION BIRD CHART, 1983...... 2.00 reptiles, mammals), 1985... 51$1.00 ...... 25ea. A GRAPHIC GUIDE TO ONTARIO MOSSES, 1985 . .. 2.00 TORONTO REGION BIRD LIST, 1985... 51$1.00 ...... 25ea. Membership Fees $20 Family (2 adults same address) $15 Senior Family (2 adults 65+) $15 Single $10 Single Senior $10 Student Tax receipts issued for donations Publication orders (add 50¢ per item for postage and handling), membership fees and address changes should be sent to: 83 Joicey Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M5M 2T4 (488-7304) ISSN 0820-683X 42