Number 574, October 2010

Teasels, photographed by Augusta Takeda at German Mills Creek, October 2009

REGULARS FEATURES

Coming Events 22 Bird of the Month – 15 Extracts from Outings Reports 8 White-throated Sparrow For Reading 18 Financial Statements 12 From the Archives 21

Keeping in Touch 16 Gentians in 10

Monthly Meetings Notice 3 Motion re Nature Reserves 11 Monthly Meeting Report 7 Fund President’s Report 6 Parting Words from Pinky 17 TFN Outings 4 Weather – This Time Last Year 23 Two Beauties and a Memory 20 TFN 574-2 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

Toronto Field Naturalist is published by the Toronto Field BOARD OF DIRECTORS Naturalists, a charitable, non-profit organization, the aims of President Wendy Rothwell which are to stimulate public interest in natural history and Past President Pinky Franklin to encourage the preservation of our natural heritage. Issued Vice President Bob Kortright monthly September to December and February to May. Sec.-Treasurer Karen Walton Views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those Communications Alexander Cappell of the editor or Toronto Field Naturalists. The Newsletter is Monthly Lectures Nancy Dengler printed on 100% recycled paper. Outings Margaret McRae Webmaster Lynn Miller ISSN 0820-636X Marcus Feak Elisabeth Gladstone Barry Mitchell

IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER! MEMBERSHIP FEES We welcome contributions of original writing, up to 500 $30 STUDENT, SENIOR SINGLE (65+) words, of observations on nature in and around Toronto, $40 SINGLE, SENIOR FAMILY (2 adults, 65+) $50 FAMILY (2 adults – same address, children included) reviews, poems, sketches, paintings, and photographs of TFN outings (digital or print, include date and place). No GST. Tax receipts issued for donations. Send Include your name, address and phone number so membership fees and address changes to the TFN office. submissions can be acknowledged. Send by mail or email. Please note: TFN does not give out its membership list. Deadline for submissions for November issue: Oct. 8.

Toronto Field Naturalists NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE 2 Carlton St., # 1519, Toronto M5B 1J3 Jenny Bull (co-editor), Karin Fawthrop, Nancy Fredenburg,

Elisabeth Gladstone, Mary Lieberman, Judy Marshall, Ruth Tel: 416-593-2656 Munson, Toshi Oikawa, Wendy Rothwell (co-editor). Web: www.torontofieldnaturalists.org Email: [email protected] Printing and mailing: Perkins Mailing Services

EXHIBITION OF ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY TFN MEMBERS

February 2011

A group of Nature Arts participants has volunteered to arrange a small exhibit next February at S. Walter Stewart Library in the Ridout Auditorium (lower level). Nancy Anderson, Anne Byzko, Penny Fairbairn and Gail Gregory invite other TFN artist members to join them. Exhibitors may sell their work, but it cannot be removed until the end of the show. We will need to know the size, number, and value of framed artworks to be displayed, and work will be included as space permits. The selection deadline is November 15.

If you would like to participate, please request an Exhibitors’ Information sheet from the TFN office, by e-mail, phone or by dropping into the office on a Friday morning. This will provide all instructions, including how to submit photos of your work for consideration.

We hope many TFN members will take this opportunity to share their nature artwork. Artists not participating in the month-long exhibit will be welcome to display their work on a table during the Nature Images photography event.

NATURE IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY BY TFN MEMBERS

The artwork exhibit will coincide with our annual Nature Images photography event to be held at S. Walter Stewart Library the afternoon of Saturday, February 6. We are pleased that Lynn Miller will once again run the digital projector for the showing. Details for our photographers on how to participate will be supplied in the Winter Issue of the Newsletter.

October 2010 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 574-3

TFN MEETING

Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 2:30 pm

Thinking Big about Ecosystems, Evolution and Life

John & Mary Theberge, wildlife ecologists

Known for their work with Algonquin Park wolves, John and Mary will describe their extensive field experience in wild places to highlight key ideas relevant to an environmental ethic explored in their new book The Ptarmigan’s Dilemma: an exploration of how life organizes and supports itself

VISITORS WELCOME!

SOCIAL: 2:00 – 2:30 pm

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: 2:30 – 2:45 pm

Room 001, Emmanuel College, University of Toronto, 75 Queen’s Park Cres. East

Emmanuel College is just south of the Museum subway station exit (east side of Queen’s Park). Enter at south end of building, down a few steps on outside stairwell. Wheelchair entrance: Second door south on Queen’s Park. Elevator inside to the right. Room 001 is one floor below street level.

For information: call 416-593-2656 up to noon on the Friday preceding the lecture.

Upcoming TFN Monthly Meetings

Nov. 7 From Prickly Pears to Polar Bears: A Look Behind the Scenes of the ROM’s Biodiversity Gallery Deb Metsger, Assistant Curator, Natural History, Royal Museum

Dec. 5 Spiders of Ontario Tom Mason, Curator of Invertebrates and Birds, Toronto Zoo

Learn How to Help Ontario’s Turtles Free workshop given by Adopt-a-Pond at Toronto Zoo, on October 23, 10 am to 2 pm

There is space for one more TFN representative. If you would like to learn how to identify and assist turtles, please contact TFN office for further details. TFN 574-4 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

TFN OUTINGS

• TFN events are conducted by unpaid volunteers. • The club assumes no responsibility for injuries sustained by anyone participating in our activities. • Children and visitors are welcome at all TFN events. Children must be accompanied by an adult. • If you plan to bring children in a stroller, be aware that there may be steps or other unsuitable terrain. • Please do not bring pets. • To get to outings on time, check TTC routes and schedules (www.ttc.ca or 416-393-4636). • Outings go rain or shine: check the weather by calling 416-661-0123 so you will know what to wear. • Wear appropriate footwear for walking on trails which may be muddy, steep or uneven.

Sat FALL COLOURS AT EDWARDS GARDENS – Nature Arts Oct 2 Leader: Joanne Doucette 10:00 am Meet at the southwest corner of Leslie St and Lawrence Ave E. Bus 54 or 54A from Eglinton subway station. Bring sketching materials or your camera, something to sit on if sketching, and lunch. Hills, some stairs, washrooms on site.

Sun LECTURE – Thinking Big About Ecosystems, Evolution and Life Oct 3 Speakers: John and Mary Theberge 2:30 pm Emmanuel College, 75 Queen’s Park Cres E. See page 3.

Tues HUMBER RIVER – Nature and Heritage Oct 5 Leader: Madeleine McDowell 10:00 am Meet at the Old Mill subway station. We will stop at Lambton House for lunch. Can drop out there or continue back to starting point. The salmon should be running. Bring lunch.

Sat GLENDON RAVINE AND CAMPUS – Nature Walk Oct 9 Leader : Victoria Arshad 10:00 am Meet at the entrance to Glendon College at the southeast corner of Bayview Ave and Lawrence Ave E. Morning only. Circular walk.

Mon LOWER – Nature and Heritage Oct 11 Leader: Alexander Cappell 1:00 pm Meet at the northwest corner of Bathurst St and Lake Shore Blvd W. Finish at Bloor St W and Christie St.

Wed SCARBOROUGH BLUFFS – Birds and Plants Oct 13 Leader: Miles Hearn 10:00 am Meet at the southeast corner of Kingston Rd and Midland Ave. Bring binoculars. A circular walk, morning only.

Sat GUILD INN – Birds, Trees and Mushrooms Oct 16 Leader: Bob Kortright 10:00 am Meet at the entrance to the Guild Inn at 191 Parkway (Morningside 116 bus from Kennedy Station). Bring lunch and binoculars. Circular walk.

October 2010 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 574-5

Sun SALMON RUN ON HIGHLAND CREEK – Lost Rivers Oct 17 Leaders: Bill Snodgrass and Keri McMahon 1:00 pm Meet at Morningside Park, first parking lot west of Morningside Ave. Access road is about halfway between Kingston Rd and Ellesmere Rd. Walk ends either at the start location (if you come by car) or at Tim Horton’s at Morningside and Kingston Rd (with TTC bus access). See the City’s efforts to reintroduce fish habitat in the Highland, and learn of the stewardship programs and workshops being developed by TRCA with funding from Trillium. A joint walk with the Toronto Green Community and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

Wed MOUNT PLEASANT CEMETERY – Nature and Heritage Oct. 20 Leader: Pleasance Crawford 1:00 pm Meet just inside the cemetery's main gates on the east side of Yonge St two blocks north of St Clair subway station. Bring binoculars. Walk will include a return to Plot V, which we visited on a cold day in February. 1½ to 2 hours.

Sat HAPPY VALLEY FOREST – Oak Ridges Moraine Oct 23 Leader: Mark Stabb, The Nature Conservancy of See details below.

Sun WEST DON VALLEY – Nature Walk Oct 24 Leader: Alexander Cappell 1:30 pm Meet at the southwest corner of Sheppard Ave W and Easton Rd. Not circular, finish on Yonge St.

Thurs DAVID BALFOUR PARK AND BRICKWORKS – Nature Walk Oct 28 Leader: Marcus Feak 10:00 am Meet at exit from St Clair subway on the south side of St. Clair Ave W. Bring binoculars and lunch as needed. Morning only, or Brickworks loop till 3.00 pm options. Some uneven terrain. Not a circular route.

Sat TODMORDEN MILLS WILDFLOWER PRESERVE – Stewardship Oct 30 Leader: Paula Davies 10:00 am Meet at the entrance to Todmorden Mills at 67 Pottery Rd, down the hill from Broadview Ave. Tour the wildflower preserve and help the stewards remove the garlic mustard rosettes so they cannot develop next year into flowers producing seeds.

Sat CREEK – Nature Walk Oct 30 Leader: Alexander Cappell 1:30 pm Meet at the southeast corner of Finch Ave E and Bayview Ave. Ends at Sheppard Ave E and Leslie St.

OUTING TO HAPPY VALLEY FOREST Saturday, October 23, led by Mark Stabb, The Nature Conservancy of Canada

Happy Valley Forest, on the Oak Ridges Moraine, is an outstanding example of a mature upland sugar maple and beech forest. The forest supports more than 110 breeding bird species, a wide range of wildflowers and fungi, and several salamander species. It holds special cultural significance because of association with the Toronto Carrying-place. Thus far, over 400 acres of this magnificent forest have been protected through the efforts of the The Nature Conservancy of Canada and partners.

Contact Margaret McRae at or by Oct. 15 re transportation. Car pooling will be arranged to arrive at Happy Valley around 10:30 am. Bring lunch, water, binoculars.

TFN 574-6 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

TFN’s Annual General Meeting will be held this year received. We still need three additional board prior to the lecture on Sunday, October 3. An item of members and would appreciate your help in finding business at that meeting will be a motion concerning qualified people willing to devote time to this our Nature Reserve Fund, and I ask you to familiarize rewarding service. yourself with the reasons behind this motion by As reported in May, when Corley Phillips moved away reading the article on page 11. Don’t hesitate to contact Karen Walton generously agreed to take on the role of me if you have any questions. Secretary-Treasurer. Unfortunately, due to other At this time of transition we will be losing two obligations, Karen finds that she will not be able to valuable board members. Pinky Franklin has worked continue in this position. She has worked hard during incredibly hard for the TFN over the past five years, as the past few months familiarizing herself with our President and more recently as Past President which accounting processes, installing up-to-date software, includes heading the Nominating Committee. During and researching implications of HST, in addition to the all this time she has been in charge of Promotion, annual work of preparing year-end statements for the making sure TFN is visible at community events where auditors and formulating a budget for the coming nature-lovers and environmentally-concerned people financial year. We thank Karen for all she has done, congregate, and finding creative ways to attract new putting things in good order for the new treasurer, and members. We are very grateful for the enthusiasm and for agreeing to stay on while we seek a replacement. dedication she has brought to these roles. Now that she See page 17 for information about this opening. If you has completed her term as Past President, our by-laws have an accounting background, or know anyone with preclude her from staying on the Board. these qualifications who might help us, please contact the TFN office. We are also sorry to lose Barry Mitchell, who joined the board in November 2005 and has played a very I feel a little sad to be writing my last President’s important role in steering us through challenging times. Report. It has been a pleasure and privilege for me to He started by leading a strategic planning process, help- serve as President of the TFN these past two years, and ing us to form a clearer understanding of our purpose I would like to thank my fellow board members, the as an organization and efficient ways to meet our many dedicated volunteers and indeed all members objectives. Behind the scenes, he has been incredibly who have supported me in this role. It has been a great helpful to both Pinky and me during our terms as opportunity to work with such a friendly group of President, always a source of wise advice. He headed people who not only enjoy nature, but generously work the Audit and Finance Committee, gave leadership on to extend that enjoyment to others. I am pleased to be environmental issues, helped with decisions concerning passing the baton to Bob Kortright, who is eminently our nature reserves, served on the Nominating qualified to serve as President of the TFN, and I have Committee and spear-headed discussions about the best no doubt you will give him the same support and use of donations. When he completed his term in encouragement that I have received. We are happy 2009, he generously agreed to stay on for an extra year. that Margaret McRae, who is doing a marvelous job Thank you, Barry, for your invaluable contribution to as Outings Co-ordinator, has agreed to step into the the TFN. We are certainly going to miss you. role of Vice-President. Under their leadership, we can look forward to exciting times ahead for the TFN. Since publishing the Nominating Committee report in our May newsletter, no nominations have been Wendy Rothwell

2010-2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS SLATE PRESENTED BY THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

President: Bob Kortright Past President: Wendy Rothwell Vice-President: Margaret McRae Interim Secretary-Treasurer: Karen Walton Directors: due to retire in 2011: Nancy Dengler, Elisabeth Gladstone due to retire in 2012: Marcus Feak, Lynn Miller due to retire in 2013: Alexander Cappell

October 2010 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 574-7

MONTHLY MEETING REPORT

The Piping Plover Project of Southern Ontario Sunday, September 12. Stewart Nutt, Coordinator of the project in Sauble Beach

Stew was recovering from a serious accident and in need of a new interest when 13-year old Brendan Toews identified a piping plover on Sauble Beach in 2007. For the last 4 years, Stew has been involved 7 days a week for 5 months of each year, helping the piping plover get off the endangered species list in southern Ontario. This year, a man in his 80s who walks the 6 km beach every day sighted the first piping plover of the season on April 15. Stew told us the delightful, ‘folksy’ story of these birds and the many people who come together to help them.

In 2010, there were three nests at Sauble Beach. The first male to arrive was new to the area, a year old bird from Michigan. First, it checked for predators and then looked around for a female. Two days later, a female arrived (her third year in a row). The male started courting her almost immediately, calling and flying in loops to impress her. At first, she was not interested but eventually she agreed to mate. Then a male from of the nest but they mind the cold and dive under a last year arrived on the scene. After much looping and parent’s wings, coming out occasionally to practise strutting by the two males, the female left the wing flapping. Stew described the sight of one male newcomer to take up with last year’s mate. The loser with two rather large chicks sheltering under him. They went up the beach to mope, but was attracted to a were so big that the adult’s feet were off the ground but second female who arrived shortly thereafter. Courting he moved around as the chicks dashed beneath him. behaviours involved sneak attacks and goose-stepping behind the female, sometimes kicking her feathers. The chicks are banded at 2 weeks before they finish brooding; otherwise, they would be impossible to The male takes about 20 seconds to build a nest by catch. Each has 3 bands indicating history, year and scraping a hole in the sand. One male dug 20 nests nest of birth as part of the Great Lakes population. before his mate was happy with the result. Perhaps it Three quarters of the chicks don’t make it to adulthood. was the particular arrangement of the zebra mussel Predators include gulls, merlin, fox, crows, cats, dogs shell ‘furniture’ at the bottom that appealed to her. and the Norway rat. The biggest problem this year was From observations over time, the project has found that the fox. an egg is likely to result from a mating of 25 seconds Many people assist with this project. The volunteers or longer. There are usually 4 eggs but because they are mostly local people who guard the birds in 4-hour are so big (30% of her size and weight), the female has shifts, making observations in a log book that are then to rest a day or two before producing another. During used to write reports. Since 2007, they have helped to this process, the existing eggs are unattended, at the add 14 chicks to the population and are hoping that the mercy of predators. The Sauble Beach project has little birds will return after their winter on the oil- started to use mini exclosures where the birds can go in damaged Gulf coast. For more information, see and out but predators are excluded. www.saubleplovers.com. The male and female take turns incubating the eggs on Stew put things in perspective when he acknowledged 2 to 3 hour shifts. The volunteers know the eggs have that it was a chance of a lifetime to do something to hatched when the adult birds start removing the shell help an endangered species. from the nests. The chicks start to poke their heads out Corinne McDonald

Photo by Stewart Nutt TFN 574-8 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

EXTRACTS FROM OUTINGS LEADERS’ REPORTS

Cedarvale Ravine, July 1. Leader: Marcus Feak. Woodbine Park & Eastern Beaches Park, July 14. The dry ponds built three years ago are maturing, and Leader: Bob Kortright. From the formal entrance to worth a visit. Tree swallow boxes occupied last year Woodbine Park we went past the young trees that were were not occupied this year – too much people planted when the park replaced half the old Greenwood interference or threat of, I suspect. In the 2-3 weeks Raceway lands in the 1990s, affording us comparison of after the walk, purple loosestrife was noted flowering horsechestnut and Ohio buckeye (Aesculus spp); white abundantly. Although I can’t quantify this I suspect and green ash (Fraxinus spp); Amur, Norway, red, insect diversity has decreased during the last 2-3 years. silver and Freeman maple (Acer spp); eastern I’m wondering whether some of the native plants cottonwood, quaking and largetooth aspen (Populus planted there ten years ago have not fared well. I’d like spp). On higher slopes were plantings of native bush to know who’s monitoring this and where the city honeysuckle and red cedar almost lost in weeds. East of stands on the current purple loosestrife situation. the pool at the foot of Woodbine, we saw tulip-tree, Kentucky coffee-tree, hackberry, pin oak, dawn Rouge Wetland and Forest, July 6. Leader: Carol redwood, Turkish hazel, and, north of the path running Sellers. Best birds were the nest of 5 baby barn through the oaks on the west side of Kew Gardens a swallows at Pearse House being fed constantly by the mature sweet birch – the only one I have seen. adults; also a pair of bluebirds in the wetlands. A mink was swimming in the creek. Butterflies seen: European Leslie St Spit, July 17. Leader: Bob Kortright. We and dun skippers, black and tiger swallowtails, cabbage found the trail through the baselands quite overgrown, white, clouded (or common) sulphur, eastern tailed but we persevered and enjoyed good looks at bank, tree, blue, spring azure (or common blue), question mark, and barn swallows, cedar waxwings, kingbirds, and mourning cloak, American painted lady, red admiral, glimpses of kingfisher, egret, and 3 great blue herons. northern pearly eye, eyed brown (or Appalachian), blue- For many some of the flowers were new; spotted eyed grayling (or common wood-nymph), monarch. knapweed and nodding thistle very common here. Butterflies stole the show on the trail along the neck of , July 10. Leader: Joanne Doucette. the spit. Most saw the black and giant swallowtails and We visited two of the six Environmentally Significant the uncommon common buckeye. There were also Areas (ESAs)/Areas of Natural & Scientific Interest common and orange sulfur, summer azure, northern (ANSIs): the dunes at Hanlan’s Point and the Wildlife broken-dash and European skipper. Sanctuary. Participants worked in small groups to find particular plants and we identified 93 species. Lake Iroquois Shoreline Ramble # 2, July 21. Leader: Sandy Cappell. The air was smog-free so we Garrison Creek and Regal Heights, July 13. Leader: could see the lake and from the top of the Casa Loma Pleasance Crawford. The walk was proposed by steps we also saw a sailboat in the lake. There are many longtime area resident Dick Watts and followed an oaks in the streets, some flaring at the base. We saw a annotated map he had prepared. We saw both the east deKay’s snake and an eastern cottontail. From the top (Humewood) and west (Springmount) reaches of the of Winston Churchill Park reservoir, there’s a good Garrison Creek headwaters and passed near their former view of the south slope of Nordheimer Ravine, with confluence at Davenport Rd. We also descended and downtown office towers peeking over treetops. climbed the Lake Iroquois Shore Bluff. Everywhere we saw “orphan spaces” adopted and beautified over the Rosetta McLain Gardens and the foot of the bluffs, past 15 years by the Regal Heights Residents’ Associa- July 24. Leader: Bob Kortright. Except for swallows, tion, and enjoyed the variety of approaches to land- land birds were hard to see, other than red-winged scaping and gardening in this green and leafy neigh- blackbirds and eastern kingbirds defending their bourhood. We saw a re-blooming saucer magnolia; very territory and goldfinches flying overhead, but Caspian deeply bi-lobed leaves on a young ginkgo; and several and common terns and great blue herons showed plants in fruit: Kentucky coffee-tree pods (still reddish), themselves well flying past. As in past years we found crabapples, nut-like linden drupes, false indigo and a number of silver-spotted skippers, far the largest and honey locust pods, chokecherries, early apples, rugosa perhaps only easily recognized, of our skipper rose hips, and common milkweed pods. butterflies. More than one wild indigo dusky-wing was seen, also black and eastern tiger swallowtails, cabbage October 2010 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 574-9

white, orange sulphur, eastern tailed-blue, summer multiple new trails on the valley floor – all in this area azure, red admiral, monarch, northern broken-dash, where Agnes Moodie Fitzgibbon did her illustrations American dagger moth caterpillar, and inchworm. In for Canadian Wildflowers in 1866, and in an area of Rosetta McLain Gardens we puzzled out the identity of archaeological sensitivity. some exotic species, including Chinese walnut, yellowwood, katsura, Korean flowering dogwood, oak savannah, Aug 14. Leader: Joanne European mountain ash, European larch, and exotic Doucette. We discussed how rare and unusual oak varieties of native species such as pagoda dogwood. savannah is, that there are many regionally rare and unusual Sunnybrook Park and Wilket Creek, July 25. plants in this ecotype, and that Leader: Miles Hearn. We observed many plants the Ministry of Natural including bitternut hickory, blue beech, bur oak, swamp Resources maintains the white oak, maple leaf viburnum, beaked hazel, witch savannah with prescribed burns. hazel, Joe Pye weed, Himalayan balsam, yellow Some of the key grasses are big jewelweed, rattlesnake root, nipplewort, poison ivy, and little bluestem, Indian grass honewort, purple and white vervain, Christmas fern. We and switch-grass. Forty of the also saw ebony jewel wing and many dragonflies, park’s native plants are known Cooper’s hawk, and cedar waxwing. to occur in only 4 other places in Toronto, while it’s estimated Glendon Campus and Ravine, Aug. 8. Leaders: that over half the plants Nancy Dengler and John Court. Highlights included historically Big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii, Lawrence’s Bush, a remnant of maple-beech forest documented have drawn by Joanne Doucette from the John Lawrence farm that remained uncut disappeared. during development of Lawrence Park. The woodlot contains large sugar maples, white pine, American beech, basswood and red oak, but is threatened by invasive woody species such as Norway maple, common buckthorn, and Tatarian honeysuckle. We saw some of the conifer collection developed by the founder of Sheridan Nurseries as part of the 1930s landscape design for Glendon Hall, including oriental arbor-vitae, Douglas fir, white fir, Colorado spruce and native white spruce. We also examined trees from the short-lived U of T botanical garden era (1950-1961), including ginkgo, dawn redwood, redbud, katsura, northern catalpa, golden raintree, European beech, Japanese pagoda tree, London plane tree and bur oak. Happily, the design of the new buildings of the Glendon Campus of York U respected the trees planted in the 1950s so most remain to the present day. Gray-headed coneflower, Ratibida pinnata, Lambton Park and Magwood/Etienne Brule, Aug 10. photographed by Wendy Rothwell in High Park

Leader: Madeleine McDowell. We looked at some Taylor-Massey Creek and area, Aug. 25. Leader: photos of the same site in 1890s through to 1926, Pleasance Crawford. We saw a white beggars’ tick showing the lay of the land as it was and examining the (an anomaly?) … and dog-strangling vine everywhere. change to how it is now… Past the recently erected The railway spur is a good place to see late-summer balancing rock sculptures in the Humber, a white-tailed field flowers. The various aster species, all just starting deer emerged from the bank brush and wandered out to to bloom, overlapped with many earlier-summer cross the river, changed her mind walking downstream flowers. Canada goldenrod was at the height of its and after a few minutes and a lot of attention, ambled golden-ness. I'm still not sure why the trenches were back into the brush. Not content with the ongoing dug last summer around the wetland in St. Clair Ravine; damage in Lambton Park, the bikers are invading the but at least the raw soil is now becoming vegetated. Magwood Sanctuary undermining century old trees and diverting spring fed streams as well as breaking TFN 574-10 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

GENTIANS IN TORONTO

According to the Oxford Dictionary, gentian comes from Old English, in turn from the Latin gentiana, and this from Gentius or Genthius, king of Illyria (on the east coast of the Adriatic Sea) from about 197 to 168 BCE. The Romans associated a herbal medicine made from the flowers now known as gentians with this ruler and kingdom. Gentius made the mistake of joining Perseus, king of Macedon, in attacking the Romans, was defeated, and became a Roman captive.

The family Gentianaceae occurs Wildflower Guide. The TFN’s from arctic tundra to tropical Vascular Plants of Metropolitan forests. Eighty-seven genera and Toronto lists this species as about 1650 species have been uncommon and records it in the recognized. The type genus is Taylor Creek area, the Rouge Gentiana, now redefined to exclude Valley, and at East Point. The species placed in Gentianopsis, Taylor Creek occurrence is of which means gentian-like. In North purplish flowers in a perched bog. America there are about 56 species East Point has the white form in in these two genera, most occurring slightly damp heath. According to Bottle gentian, Gentiana andrewsii only south of the boreal forest. the ROM publication, in Ontario this species blooms from August to Two native species occur in October. My records are of the Toronto, Gentiana andrewsii (bottle Taylor Creek flowers blooming in gentian) and Gentianopsis crinita early September and the East Point (fringed gentian). Crinita means flowers blooming in late September. with long hairs and refers to the fringed petals of this species. In The distinctive fringed gentian Ontario both species are essentially needs little description. Its flowers confined to the mixed (Great Lakes- are bluish with a pale throat. The St Lawrence) forest and Carolinian colour reproduction in my photo is zone. G. andrewsii’s range is from too purplish. The flowers are 4- southwest Quebec to Saskatchewan lobed, about 5 cm long, with long and south to Georgia and Arkansas. fringes at the top, and are solitary White form of bottle gentian G. crinita ranges from central on long stalks, above leaf axils. The Maine to southern Manitoba and stalkless leaves are ovate to lance- south to Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and shaped and opposite. The TFN’s northern Iowa. Vascular Plants… lists the species as uncommon and as occurring at Bottle gentians, also called closed Taylor Creek, Toronto Island, East gentians, are so named because their Point, and the Rouge Valley. The 5-lobed corolla is closed by fringed Taylor Creek occurrence is in the pleats between the lobes that form same perched bog as the bottle it, so the flower is bottle-shaped. gentian. The Toronto Island This ensures that the plant is only occurrences are in low elevation pollinated by bumblebees (see the damp meadows. This species ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of blooms, in Toronto, in late Ontario) as they are the only insect September. capable of opening the corolla tube. The stalkless flower clusters are The fringed gentian, in most years, terminal and in the axils of the has been abundant and easy to find stalkless, lance-shaped to ovate on Toronto Island. The closed leaves. The flowers, about 3 to 4 cm gentian has taken diligent searching long, are either purple/blue or and, at Taylor Creek a risk of wet white. The purple/blue form is feet, but if you are really Fringed gentian, Gentianopsis crinita apparently more widespread as the dedicated … !?! white form is not mentioned in the fairly comprehensive Newcomb’s Article and photos by Peter Money October 2010 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 574-11

MOTION RE NATURE RESERVES FUND

Toronto Field Naturalists purchased the Jim Baillie other educational activities at the reserves, and we will Nature Reserve in the early1970s with the assistance of continue to be responsible stewards of this land. a mortgage. Generous donations from TFN members However, the Board does not anticipate purchasing enabled us to pay off this mortgage and purchase additional nature reserves in the near future. One additional reserves, so that we now own over 400 acres property adjacent to our reserves which we had of environmentally sensitive forest and wetlands north considered acquiring is instead being donated to the of Uxbridge. We are grateful to past and present Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) members who took this important initiative. under the Canadian Ecological Gifts Program, which Over the years we have continued to receive donations provides attractive tax advantages to the donor – a and bequests from our members, and for some time it benefit we are not in a position to offer. This makes us was our practice to allocate these to a Nature Reserve aware that, over the past decade or two, the Ontario Fund, dedicated to the purchase of additional land, government, Ontario Nature, The Nature Conservancy even though the donor had not designated their gift for of Canada, conservation authorities, land trusts and this purpose. These monies were invested and, by June others have improved the protection of vulnerable 30, 2010, had grown to over $150,000. habitats, especially wetlands, and have active programs which we expect will strengthen conservation. Indeed, More recently, our Treasurer, with the support of the the LSRCA has protected wetlands very near our Board, changed this practice. For the past few years, current reserves. donations not designated for a particular purpose by the donor have been credited to the Operating Account, We believe, therefore, that this is a good time to and any surplus in that account at fiscal year end is remove the restrictions from the Nature Reserve Fund, transferred to a Special Projects Fund. All non- opening up opportunities to use these donated monies designated bequests go directly to Special Projects. to promote a broader set of activities that meet TFN This has permitted TFN to spend donated funds in objectives. The Board proposes that the monies in the ways that strengthen programs other than the nature Nature Reserve Fund be combined with the Special reserves. For example, we were able to add colour to Projects Fund. our newsletter and be more environmentally respon- This will not prevent future investments in additional sible by printing it on recycled paper. We were also nature reserves. Land acquisition will remain one of able to produce our new brochure to attract new the possible uses of funds. But the board has identified members. many other worthwhile purposes for funds at our In the past year we received several significant disposal, and wishes to free current and future TFN bequests, leading us to give a great deal of thought to boards to make the best possible use of donations and the best ways of using donated funds. As set out in the bequests we have received. President’s Report in the March 2010 newsletter, many For this reason, the following motion will be presented good ideas are being considered in the areas of to the membership at our Annual General Meeting on Conservation (including protection of land as in our October 3. nature reserves), Education, Promotion of Nature, Youth, Member Benefits and Promoting the TFN. We are especially excited about opportunities which have IT IS HEREBY MOVED that restrictions on the use of arisen for us to support programs which educate young the Nature Reserve Fund be removed, allowing these people about nature (see September 2010 newsletter). monies to be used for a broader range of purposes that meet TFN objectives. On several occasions over the past few years the Board of Directors has discussed the future of our nature reserves and the Nature Reserve Fund. We concluded We are grateful to all TFN members who have donated that there is value in continuing to own our current or bequeathed money to the Toronto Field Naturalists reserves. To allow members to experience a somewhat over the years, and those who continue to do so. We “wilder” environment, a number of trips to the reserves wish to be as responsible as possible in using these have been arranged over the past few years, and donations effectively. participants found the effort well worthwhile. We hope to continue these outings and perhaps organize Wendy Rothwell TFN 574-12 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

tact the Audit and Finance Committee c/o the TFN Office

If you have any questions concerning these financial statements, con please October 2010 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 574-13

TFN 574-14 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2010

1. OPERATIONS The Toronto Field Naturalists is a registered non-profit (e) INVESTMENTS charity. The purpose of the organization is to stimulate Investments are recorded at cost. Adjustment for a lower public interest in natural history and to encourage the market value will only be made if the Board decides that preservation of our natural heritage. For income tax the lower value is considered to be other than temporary. purposes the organization qualifies as a not-for-profit (f) CAPITAL ASSETS organization which is exempt from income tax under the - The furniture and fixtures in the office, including the Income Tax Act. computer equipment, are considered to have been expensed at the time of purchase or donation. 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Nature Reserve Property is recorded at cost. The organization follows accounting principles generally - Photo Library is recorded at the lower of cost or net accepted for not-for-profit organizations. realizable value. (a) FUND ACCOUNTING (g) USE OF ESTIMATES The accounts of the Toronto Field Naturalists (TFN) are The preparation of financial statements in accordance maintained in accordance with the principles of fund with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles accounting. This method of accounting is used by most requires management to make estimates and assumptions not-for-profit organizations. Resources for various that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at purposes are classified into funds. The activities or the date of the financial statements, and the reported objectives of each fund are specified by the donors or by amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting direction from the Board of Directors. period. Actual results could differ from management’s - Operating Fund: Reflects the income and expenses best estimates as additional information becomes associated with the TFN’s program delivery and available in the future. administrative activities. This fund is set to zero at the (h) FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS beginning of each fiscal year. Any excess (loss) of The organization’s financial instruments consist of cash, income over expenses is transferred to the Projects investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable. Fund. Unless otherwise noted, it is the Board’s opinion that the - Nature Reserve Fund: Reflects the income and corporation is not exposed to significant interest or credit expenses relating to the Nature Reserves and also risks arising from these financial instruments. The fair provides for future purchases. This is a restricted fund. value of these financial instruments approximate their - Projects Fund: Reflects the income and expenses carrying values, unless otherwise noted. relating to special events or purchases that are outside (i) CONTRIBUTED SERVICES the normal day to day activities. This is an unrestricted The Organization depends heavily on the use of fund. volunteers to provide services. Because of record (b) REVENUE RECOGNITION keeping and valuation difficulties, these contributed Donations and bequests are recorded when received. services are not recorded in the accounts. Donations and bequests which are designated for the Nature Reserve are recorded in that Fund. All other 3. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS donations are allocated to the Operating Fund and all A statement of cash flows has not been prepared as it other bequests are allocated to the Special Projects Fund. would not provide any additional meaningful information. Membership fees are recorded for a specific fiscal year 4. COMMITMENT and are amortized over the number of months remaining The organization entered into a lease agreement for office in the fiscal year at the time the monies are received. space, at a cost of approximately $16,500 per year. The Membership fees received in advance are included in lease will expire February 28, 2014. deferred revenue. All other income is recorded when received. 5. PHOTO LIBRARY (c) INVENTORIES The Photo Library consists of an estimated twelve Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net thousand 35-mm colour slides, focussing on Toronto realizable value. valleys, watercourses, shorelines, plants and animals and (d) REBATES on TFN properties and activities. The collection, which The TFN applies for, and has received in the past, rebates began in the early 1970’s, continues to expand by photo for 50% of GST paid and 40% of that portion of the donation from members and others. Office Rent that is considered property tax. The rebates are accrued for in the period in which they are incurred.

October 2010 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 574-15

BIRD OF THE MONTH – WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

Among the dozen or more native sparrow species city our perception may be skewed by seeing large regularly seen in Toronto the white-throated sparrow is numbers of introduced species but the above-mentioned one of the most easily observed and recognized. The Atlas lists the white-throat as one of the seven most house sparrow, an introduced European species, lives numerous bird species in the province, the others being here all year round and belongs to an entirely different Nashville warbler, chipping sparrow, dark-eyed junco, Old World family. golden-crowned kinglet, magnolia warbler and yellow- rumped warbler. The white-throated sparrow nests on The combination of white throat and boldly striped the ground near forest openings and edges and, as crown readily distinguishes the white-throated sparrow explained in the Atlas, “is usually common in the early from all others. The crown stripes may either be black years of forest succession, but it declines in numbers as and white or dark brown and tan. Males and females the forest becomes dense.” appear identical and either sex can be of either colour morph which has resulted in confusion in the past. The Theirs is one of the easier bird songs to recognize, even population is split fairly evenly between these two for my tin ear. Americans hear the song as “Old Sam colour morphs. Older reference books sometimes Peabody, Peabody, Peabody” while to Canadians the showed birds with white-stripes as male or as adult and white-throat sings “Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada.” those with tan stripe as female or juvenile. According Using some such mnemonic device helps a lot in to the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario 2001 - learning to recognize a bird song. There are variations, 2005 some of the earlier misconceptions about this however, in notes and pitch. The article Songs of the species were eventually cleared up thanks to “work Seventies in The Best of the Raven explains that white- done mainly in Algonquin Provincial Park.” throats use “at least 15 different basic song patterns,” that “certain song patterns become more or less popular as the years go by” and that the birds recognize the songs of their neighbours. The male sings to declare his territory and he doesn’t waste time or energy when he hears his neighbour singing from the adjoining territory, but the song of a strange white-throat or of a neighbour singing in the wrong area will send him rushing to attack. Oddly, the white-striped birds apparently sing more than their tan-striped counterparts and unlike most bird species, both males and females sing. In the fall the song can sometimes still be heard, albeit usually incomplete and fainter than in spring.

Small flocks of white-throated sparrows migrate

White-throated sparrow, photographed by Martin Wiener through our area in April and May, then again from September through November, on their way to and from The old adage that opposites attract appears to apply to their more northerly breeding areas. They eat seeds, this species as the birds tend to mate with the alternate fruit and insects. Observing them is made easier by their colour morph. This very unusual breeding pattern remains tendency to spend much of the time on the ground, something of a mystery; however, researchers have scratching with their feet as they search for food. Look found fascinating differences in behaviour among for them in or near shrubby areas. They also visit bird individuals of the two colour morphs. The white-striped feeders, often focusing their attention on what other birds, both male and female, are more aggressive while birds have spilled on the ground. While most white- the tan-striped birds provide better parental care. The throats spend the winter in the United States, some pairing of opposites seems to serve this species quite well. invariably turn up here on Christmas Bird Counts.

In Ontario, despite changes in various regions, overall Marilynn Murphy white-throated sparrows are holding their own. In the

Note: The Best of the Raven, published by The Friends of Algonquin Park, is sold through their website store.algonquinpark.on.ca/cgi/algonquinpark and in the park visitor centre. The Friends of Algonquin Park has produced many excellent publications, some of which are also available in Toronto at Open Air Books, 25 Toronto St and at Mountain Equipment Co-op, 400 King St W. TFN 574-16 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Memories of Boris Mather Toronto Parks and responsible citizens. Would you In September 1958, CBC-TV hired several technicians. agree that it is not a coincidence that there were no kite Boris Mather and I were among them. In little time his flyers to disturb them? Tell the kite flyers to "go fly a co-workers became familiar with his wit, sarcasm and kite in the subway". sly grin. Being on the same crew with Boris meant that Al Roffey we shared breaks, the lunch table and laughter. Those were the days of black-and-white television and it was …and at Ashbridges Bay all live. Every mistake we made went coast to coast and was upsetting. One evening I made a major goof. In minutes, as Boris rode by perched on his micro- phone trolley, he leaned down and chuckled, “Thanks for making the rest of us look good.” It helped.

During those two years neither of us was aware that the other was a naturalist. We moved on. Ten years ago I joined TFN. While perusing the newsletter, I read that

Boris Mather was leading a walk to Ashbridge’s Bay. I joined him. After forty years his wit and chuckle were still there. Thanks TFN for reuniting us.

Harvey Medland

…………………………………………………………

Cowbird and yellow warbler parent

What a sight!! Two trees laden, and everywhere in the park that I wandered you could look up and see more and more fluttering in to join the gathering. Fabulous. Thought you might enjoy. Now to find a chrysalis …and Alice in Wonderland. Lynn Pady ………………………………………………………… Exotic plant on Toronto Island Can anyone please identify this plant? Discovered on the landward side of the wharf at the eastern gap at Wards Island during a Nature Arts outing on September 4. Barry Singh

This photograph was taken at Sam Smith in the Spring. The poor warblers were working SO hard to feed this fat baby…what a nightmare. Lynn Pady ………………………………………………………… Monarch butterflies at Milliken This Sunday (August 22) afternoon I saw, for the first time in over 20 years of observing, hundreds of monarch butterflies on trees and shrubs in Milliken Park. Many of the butterflies were in the vicinity of the tree and shrub plantings made in recent years by

continued on next page.

October 2010 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 574-17

PARTING WORDS FROM PINKY

As Wendy mentioned in her President’s Report, I will be retiring from the TFN Board of Directors at the AGM in October. In all honesty I can say that being on the Board of TFN has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I have never learned as much or enjoyed learning so much!

Not only did I learn about the birds, plants, rocks, insects etc. in Toronto; I learned about other organizations such as FLAP, Toronto Wildlife Centre and Toronto Green Community, among many others, working to protect and enhance Toronto’s natural heritage. I also learned about people like Lorraine Johnson, Bridget Stutchbury, Dalton Shipway and John Carley, to name but a few dedicated to the cause.

But perhaps most of all I have learned to appreciate and respect the many, many committed volunteers who make TFN the wonderful organization it is.

I feel sure there are others who are waiting to be asked to be involved. Now is the time! Step forward and volunteer!

At the moment, there are several vacancies on the Board. The most pressing position to be filled is Secretary- Treasurer, whose duties include keeping accurate accounting of our finances (with the able assistance of our bookkeeper, Louise Dixon), executing the Board’s investment decisions and doing the annual government filing required of a charitable organization. Please volunteer your services if you have expertise in these areas.

Take my (last) word for it…volunteering for TFN is a rewarding experience that will enrich your life.

Pinky Franklin

KEEPING IN TOUCH, continued

Ed.: This plant is water hyacinth (Eichhornia, in the Nancy Dengler’s report on that event. Deciding how family Pontederiaceae). It has swollen leaf stalks that best to put such a substantial amount to use must have help it float. It was likely thrown into the water here by been a challenging responsibility and the board should a resident who had too many plants in a backyard be commended for what I believe were wise decisions. pond. A tropical plant related to pickerelweed (Pontederia), it is the world’s worst invasive aquatic Marilynn Murphy and is a scourge in many parts of the world. Fortunately, it is unlikely to survive the winter in … and another Toronto. This is just a note from a proud great-uncle, thanking ………………………………………………………… TFN for supporting Tessa McCarthy Barnes at this A note of appreciation summer's Summit on Biodiversity. I believe it was an Many thanks to the TFN board for putting the donated enlightening and inspiring experience for her, and it's funds towards such carefully considered and wonderful that TFN was able to provide it. Many worthwhile projects. I was very impressed with the many thanks, letters from the youth summit participants and with Skip Shand

Remember to vote for nature on October 25

We urge members to become informed of candidates’ platforms on issues concerning parks and other green spaces in the city. For instance, mayoralty candidates are variously proposing to spend $50 million to build off-road bicycle trails through ravines and “unused” green space, turn the Gardiner Expressway into an elevated park, designate “signature parks” that attract tourists, and support the proposal to make Rouge Park a national park. Check out websites, all candidates meetings, or phone candidates’ offices for information.

The idea for Rouge National Park comes from a consultant’s report on Rouge Park published early this year. For information: www.rougepark.com; www.rougenationalpark.ca; and www.thestar.com/News/ GTA/ article/61264. TFN 574-18 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

FOR READING

Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern However, I have no experience with such things, so will and Central North America, 6th Edition, 2010 not cover them here.

New or updated field guides to our birds seem to be In my experience, there is no good substitute for having coming out almost every year – much more often if a good field guide in the field when you see a bird that your definition of “our” birds extends beyond Canada you are not sure about, but improving web resources and the US. This latest edition of the original field mean that you can learn a great deal about birds from guide contains a combination of the features that have resources on the internet. In particular, check out made the Peterson guides so popular, and innovations natureinstruct.org/dendroica – a great new site for introduced by others now adopted here: listening to song recordings of any species found in Canada, USA or Mexico while you check out the Arrows pointing to key field marks on illustrations • photos and range maps for the species at the same time opposite the text, which includes size, description, (some species, mostly Mexican, have no picture or song habitat, voice, similar species, and indication of how yet). A quiz is also available once you register. common or rare the bird is However, I find I remember the songs better if I also Similar species shown together, with extra pages for • look at the mnemonic descriptions of the songs in one difficult issues such as immature gulls, fall warblers of my field guides. • Raptors, waterfowl and other species frequently seen in flight, portrayed that way, as well as at rest In addition to Peterson’s (starting with the original • Short introduction to each bird family edition), field guides to birds I have used, with key • Good introductory material on how to identify birds, advantages of each are: bird conservation and other important topics • National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North • Quality binding and cover America – covers species that have turned up in North • Small maps beside the text for most species showing America only occasionally (accidentals) breeding and wintering ranges, both regular and • Golden Guide to Birds of North America – compact, occasional lowest price, sonograms give a visual image of the • 512 large range maps at the back of the book with songs of many species. additional information on such things as irregular • Sibley Guide to Birds, D.A. Sibley – shows just about movements, wintering range outside North every plumage (juvenile, male/female adult, morphs America... These range maps show that Peterson where applicable) at rest and in flight, not only for all appreciates that Greenland is part of North America, species normally found in North America, but also unlike many other guides which perhaps base their subspecies where they might be distinguishable in the geographic coverage on the American Birding field. In addition, the range maps show occurrences Association’s odd definition of North America. outside the normal breeding and wintering ranges. • Color bands for each of the larger bird families at Since the guide shows so many plumages, it generally the bottom of each page, index to families on the shows only a couple of species per page. To enable inside cover, along with key to range maps comparison of all similar species, the beginning of the • Shore, flight and roadside silhouettes of common section for each family shows illustrations of all the birds inside the back cover species for that family, generally of the plumage that is most difficult to differentiate among species (either When considering whether to buy this guide, key female or juvenile, depending on the family). At questions would be: Is there a better guide out there for 24x16cm & 542 pages, however, this is a pocket me? Do I need a guide to birds of North America, guide only for those with very big pockets. Eastern North America, or maybe just Ontario? Do I really need a field guide – could I just use resources on Others now available that I have not used include the internet? Smithsonian, National Wildlife Federation, Stokes, Kindersley, and Kaufman guides to birds of (Eastern) If you already have an iPhone or something similar, you North America, and guides to birds of Ontario by ROM, may wish to rely on apps you can purchase for these. Lone Pine, and Lorimer. Birder friends have not These have some advantages over a field guide, such as recommended any of these to me, although that may be the ability to play a song of any species, and to show a partly because they are relatively new, but I have not map of where a particular species was last reported. reviewed these.

October 2010 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 574-19

Coverage: If you plan to do all your birding in Southern The Complete Up North Ontario, a guide that covers the roughly 400 species you by Doug Bennet and Tim Tiner, McClelland & Stewart might encounter here should be lighter, less expensive, This book is aimed at the average cottager who spends and perhaps less confusing, than one that covers the some of their time up north. It is trying to be a field roughly 800 species in all of North America north of guide to all the common things that may not be familiar Mexico. However, the choice made for the Peterson to the city dweller. I found the section on birds the most guide is a good compromise with 500-600 species, interesting and more detailed than the rest of the book. especially considering that many of us will venture The only fault was the omission of scientific names and south into the eastern US now and then. If you are a their etymology, which would have improved it greatly, beginner, you may find the variety of birds even in this though the origin of some common names was given. guide to be overwhelming, and so prefer an Ontario What I found most interesting was trivia like the name guide or a beginners’ guide. If you love bird of a group of birds such as “a party of jays” or the fact identification however, I believe you will soon want a that young flickers buzz to make predators think they guide that is comprehensive, both with respect to might be stung. species that you will encounter and with respect to plumages for The book seemed to each species. reflect the basic general Accordingly, I knowledge of any recommend The person calling Sibley Field themselves a Guide to Birds of “naturalist.” Only a few Eastern North pages were devoted to America. By ferns, spiders, leaving out the butterflies, etc. In the species confined bird section it would to the west, this have been better to Sibley guide is a concentrate on the birds true pocket up north (as the title guide, but still suggests) that are not shows all the common in southern plumages that Ontario, such as gray made the original Sibley guide preferred by many jays, ravens, boreal chickadees, ruffed grouse, black- birders when it was published. Feedback about your backed or three-toed woodpeckers. The same is true experiences with any of these guides is welcome. with plants. When living up north I discovered fireweed, goldthread, interrupted fern and bog plants Finally, although you can learn a lot from books and the not common around Toronto. Trout lilies, goldenrod internet, there is no substitute for time spent in the field, and jack-in-the-pulpit are plants we find in our woods especially if you can do so in the company of other commonly so I would leave those things out. birders, and especially if they know more than you do. Although I have loved watching birds since I was a The section on amphibians and reptiles was especially child, volunteering as a migration monitoring assistant good as most populations have been severely reduced in at the bird-banding station in Tommy Thompson Park our area. The writers used many metaphors which might (Leslie St. Spit) helped me improve my skills have been enjoyed by novel readers but which I did not considerably. The sunrises, other volunteers, and seeing particularly like. I found some of the facts on wing birds (and a couple of bats) up close were other great loading completely useless unless one was a flight reasons to recommend the bird-banding experience. engineer.

Bob Kortright It is difficult to criticize the authors when one realizes the effort put into writing a book that is trying to cover so many areas - everything from fish to plants to astronomy. An informed naturalist might not learn very much from this book, but it may be handy for the average cottager to have around. Roger Powley TFN 574-20 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

TWO BEAUTIES AND A MEMORY

As I often bemoan, I can no longer go on TFN outings, fans, grading in colour from brown-to-orange-to-gold- wander solitary and footloose in the Rouge, or take to-white, with creamy pores. They fruit on hardwoods. trips with the Mycological Society of Toronto to Known as ling chih, these fungi are sold in Toronto’s continue my education in the magical world of fungi. Chinatown and used like gingseng. In the time of the Therefore when I do come across a wild mushroom, it Emperors, it was called the Mushroom of Immortality. is a matter of some rejoicing. I discovered two species Anyone finding a cache and caught not telling the royal recently when I holidayed in Haliburton. For anyone household was executed on the spot. finding him/herself in that area, a visit to the Wolf These delightful finds reminded me of a TFN outing Centre in Haliburton Forest is a must. What harm the years ago to the Jim Baillie Reserve. We came upon a nursery story of Little Miss Riding Hood and the Big powerful scent en route to the river, which had us all Bad Wolf has done to these magnificent creatures who convinced that a fox had recently passed by. Coming (I refuse to write “which”) are largely uninterested in upon the same smell at the same place years later, I us and will avoid us in the wild if they can. It is also investigated the nearby woodland and discovered a rich obligatory to take the Tree Walk, preferably in the fall fruiting of Tricholoma myomyces, the mouse amongst the gold and orange and scarlet, but at any mushroom. All wild mushrooms have a rich scent – or time that Fate offers. It was on that walk, while being smell, according to personal reactions. I find it canoed to the starting point, that I beheld a log at the interesting that, of the two references listed below, water’s edge smothered with a fruiting of Phyllotopsis Miller constantly mentions mushroom aromas, all the nidulans: caps up to three inches across, fan shaped, way from “mealy” to “anise-scented”, whereas Barron bright orange-yellow, as are the gills, no stalks, spore rarely bothers to do so. print a pinkish tan. Lovely creatures with, alas, a Article and drawings by Eva Davis disagreeable odour.

Even more spectacular, however, was finding an inlet, Barron, G. 1999. Mushrooms of Ontario and Eastern during that holiday, which grew Ganoderma lucidum, Canada. Lone Pine Publishing. the lacquered polypore, as though they were weeds. Miller, O.K., Jr. 1981. Mushrooms of North America. These dazzling beings can form up to seven inch wide E.P. Dutton

October 2010 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 574-21

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Excerpts from an article written by Ernest P. Edwards, Associate Director, the Houston (Texas) Museum of Natural History in the New York Times of March 23, 1958. TFN newsletter #156 May 1958

For birders in general, anxious to view Mexico's In the nearest approach to a rugged mountain trip, we remarkable varieties, here are some details on what drove to a cloud forest called El Suspiro to hear what may be found – and where. has been called the most beautiful bird voice in the world, the song of the slate-colored solitaire. On this The rare white-naped swift is found within the city trip, high points are finding other tropical birds like the limits of Cuernavaca. Related to our chimney swift, but bananaquit, the striped-tailed hummingbird feeding as large as a small hawk, it is still almost unknown among the surprisingly fragrant yellow orchids, the even to professional ornithologists. At sunset, while collared trogon, the crimson-collared tanager, and the the small chestnut-collared swifts streak through the blue-black grosbeak. sky above, the big white-naped swifts wheel up the canyon below, probably coming to roost in the steep The modified rain forests of the coastal plain convey rocky cliffs. the feeling of the tropics. The keel-billed toucan is here, almost as big as a crow, black with touches of A trip out to the Canon de Lobos reveals another of white and red, with a bill almost banana size and Mexico's rarest birds, the ragged-crested little pileated banana color. flycatcher. On one tour, realizing that this bird's nest had never been reported, we found an unusual semi- On the edge of that dense woodland, parrots are found pendant nest and then stood back a few rods and – the yellow-cheeked, the red-crowned, or the white- watched as a pileated flycatcher came to the nest and crowned – usually flying overhead in pairs or feeding covered its young. in the tops of the trees. Brilliantly colored trogons are there, with bright red or yellow underparts and A big surprise is bird watching at Acapulco. Good iridescent green head and back. The blue-crowned places near there are the fields and woodlands near motmot is one of the most unusual birds because its Playa Revolcadero, the woodlands above the Naval elongated central tail feathers have been stripped to the Base, Pie de la Cuesta and the Laguna Coyuca. Two of shafts for part of their length, giving the appearance of the birds seen most frequently are as spectacular as a pendulum or a tennis racket. The pendulum effect is almost any birds of the tropics. The flaming streaked- heightened when the bird perches upright on a branch backed oriole and the crested, yellow and black and swings its tail from side to side; and for just that yellow-winged cacique never fail to thrill visiting reason the Mexicans sometimes all it pajaro reloj, the birdwatchers. clock bird. From Acapulco can be visited a colony of nesting Shy tinamous, brown-streaked woodcreepers, cotingas boatbilled herons, a rare and bizarre species and honey creepers add to the list of new groups of characterized by an extremely broad bill. It has been birds that await the birdwatcher there. supposed to be a solitary nester, but near Acapulco dozens of nests are placed only a few feet apart in the Since a hard rain could ruin a field trip, tours should mangrove branches. The nests, with two white eggs in take place before the rainy season begins in earnest, each, are beset constantly by marauding San Blas jays, that is, before June. big black and blue birds ready to break and eat an egg if the owner of the nest moves very far away.

Western Whitby was where we went watching warblers. We wore Wellingtons which were waterproof when weather was wet. When winter winds whistled women wore warm woollens while watching woodpeckers. Alliteration by Woger Wowley TFN 574-22 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

COMING EVENTS If you plan to attend any of the following events, we recommend that you contact the organizing group beforehand to confirm time and place.

Barnyard Bliss: An Exhibit of Animal Drawings by TFN member, Gail Gregory Oct 2 – 30, during library hours, in the Ridout Auditorium at S. Walter Stewart Library, 170 Memorial Park Ave (west of Coxwell Ave, north of Mortimer Ave). Opening Reception: Sat Oct 2, 2 – 4 pm (refreshments, music and a story in progress). You and your family are invited

Jim Baillie Memorial Bird Walks – Toronto Ornithological Club Aimed at the intermediate birder, but beginners also welcome. Free to the public; no advance registration required. • Sat, Oct 2, 8:00 am (all day). Toronto Islands – Late migrants, raptors. Leader: John Nishikawa. Meet at ferry docks at the foot of Bay St. to catch the 8:15 am ferry to Hanlan’s Point ($6.50 fare for adults; $4 for students/seniors).

Toronto Entomologists’ Association (TEA) Sat, Oct 23, 1:15 pm. Spring Migration Patterns of the Monarch. Speaker: Nathan Miller. Room 206 Victoria College. Information: www.ontarioinsects.org.

Mycological Society of Toronto Mon, Oct 18, 7:45 pm. Dr. Kathie Hodge, Assoc. Professor, Director of Dept. of Plant Pathology, Cornell University. Auditorium of the Toronto Botanical Garden. Information: www mycltor.org

High Park Walking Tours 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, 10:30 am – noon. Meet at the benches across the road south of Grenadier Restaurant. Donations welcomed. Information: 416-392-1748 ext. 5 or [email protected] or www.highpark.org • Oct 10. Who Goes to the Park? – A poetic visit to sites from well-known book. Led by Walking Tours Committee • Oct 24. Autumn Splendour – Photo-Buff Walk. Leader: David Allen

Rouge Valley Naturalists’ Guided Nature Walks Sun, Oct 31, 1:30 – 3:30 pm. Meet at the Woodlands parking lot located at 19 Reesor Rd just south of Steeles Ave E.

Rouge Park Weekly Guided Nature Walks Explore Rouge Park’s trails with a Hike Ontario Certified volunteer leader. Information: visit www rougepark.com/hike, e-mail [email protected] or phone 905-713-3184 Monday thru Thursday

Science on Sundays Royal Canadian Institute, J.J.R. MacLeod Auditorium, Medical Sciences Bldg., University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle. Free. Information: www.royalcanadianinstitute.org or 416-977-2983. • Sun, Oct 17, 3 pm. Charles Darwin: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Transmutation. Seth Feldman, Ph.D, Professor, University Professor (Honorific) York University; Director, Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies. • Sun, Oct 24, 3 pm. Observing the Birthplaces of the Universe. Michel Fich, B.Sc., M.A, Ph.D. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo. • Sun, Oct 31, 3 pm. Nuisance and Indispensable Ally – The Dual Role of Bacteria. Gideon Wolfaardt, Ph.D. Professor and Canada Research Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University; Adjunct Professor, Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto

North American Native Plants Society Wed, Oct 27, 7:30 pm. Douglas Tallamy, author, Bringing Nature Home. Toronto Botanical Gardens. Information: www nanps.org

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) Every Sunday until Nov 7, 8 am – 11 am. Bird Walk and Bird Banding Demonstration at Tommy Thompson Park. Meet at park entrance, foot of Leslie St and Unwin Ave.

Harbourfront Centre – Beyond Imaginings Until June 2011. An outdoor display. Eight artists encounter Ontario’s Greenbelt. Free

Lost Rivers Walks Fri, Oct 1, 11:00 am. Anderson Medicinal Springs, Lawrence Park. Leader: Ian Wheal. Meet at southeast corner of Lawrence Ave E and Yonge St.

October 2010 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 574-23

WEATHER (THIS TIME LAST YEAR)

October 2009

After a sunny September, October brought us rapidly Minimum temperatures were less exceptional; first into cloudy, chilly late autumn conditions. The frost at Pearson was October 11th, and the lowest for monthly mean temperature (9.5º downtown and 8.7º at the month was -1.2º. Downtown areas escaped frost, Pearson Airport) was about a degree below the long- with overcast skies and little variation between day and term average and, at least downtown, was the lowest night temperatures. Sunshine hours totaled 109.5, since 1993. Maximum temperatures were particularly about 40 below normal and the lowest since 1979 low. In contrast to the 30º+ readings of the (which had just 94.6 hours and was the cloudiest on Thanksgiving heat wave in 2007, the warmest it got record). Total precipitation was in the 70-80 mm range, this month was just 17.6º at Pearson and 17.1º near or just slightly above normal, with frequent but downtown. This marks the first October since 1981 not heavy showers. Strangely, there were no snow where it never attained 20º, and possibly the lowest flurries reported in the immediate Toronto area. monthly maximum in many decades. The mean maximum temperature of 12.6º downtown and 12.7º at The relationship between the cool October and the Pearson was the lowest since 1992, when global burgeoning El Niño in the Pacific is unclear. It is not temperatures were affected by the Pinatubo eruption of unusual for the summer and fall of an incipient El Niño 1991. The period from the 11th–18th (starting on the to be on the cool side in Ontario, with warming Thanksgiving weekend) was very cold, with following thereafter. In the meantime, Arctic sea ice temperatures generally remaining below 10º in the continues well below normal after being not too daytime. drastically low this past summer. Re-freezing seems delayed, perhaps because of the transport of cold Arctic air southwards.

Gavin Miller

Members of the Editorial Committee admiring an amazing profusion of fringed gentian on Ward’s Island, September 15, 2010.

Photos by Wendy Rothwell

TFN 574-24 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2010

Toronto Field Naturalists Publications Mail Registration No. 40049590 2 Carlton St., #1519 Toronto, Ontario M5B 1J3

Monarch caterpillar on milkweed, photographed by Lynn Pady at Ashbridge’s Bay, September 2010