2013-05-TFN-Newsletter.Pdf
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Number 596 May 2013 Groundhog photographed by Moy Nahon in Edwards Gardens, May 2011 (see p 19) FEATURES REGULARS th Coming Events 25 90 Anniversary Event 17 Extracts from Outings Reports 14 Toronto’s Staff-Tree Shrubs 18 In the News 21 TFN Grants Report 20 Keeping in Touch 19 Monthly Meetings Notice 3 Arils of Staff-tree Shrubs 20 Monthly Meeting Report 13 Toronto’s Future Climate Study 22 President’s Report 12 The Global Warming Trend: TFN Outings 4 23 A view from Toronto Weather – This Time Last Year 22 Membership Renewal 27 TFN 596-2 May 2013 Toronto Field Naturalist is published by the Toronto Field BOARD OF DIRECTORS Naturalists, a charitable, non-profit organization, the aims of President & Outings Margaret McRae which are to stimulate public interest in natural history and Past President Bob Kortright to encourage the preservation of our natural heritage. Issued Vice President & monthly September to December and February to May. Monthly Lectures Nancy Dengler Views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those Secretary-Treasurer Charles Crawford of the editor or Toronto Field Naturalists. The Newsletter is Communications Alexander Cappell printed on 100% recycled paper. Membership & Newsletter Judy Marshall ISSN 0820-636X Monthly Lectures Corinne McDonald Monthly Lectures Lavinia Mohr IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER! Nature Reserves & Charles Bruce- We welcome contributions of original writing of observa- Outings Thompson tions on nature in and around Toronto (up to 500 words). Outreach Tom Brown We also welcome reports, reviews, poems, sketches, pain- Webmaster Lynn Miller tings and digital photographs. Please include “Newsletter” in the subject line when sending by email, or on the MEMBERSHIP FEES envelope if sent by mail. Please re-name digital photographs $20 YOUTH (under 26) with the subject and your name (abbreviations ok); scale $30 SENIOR SINGLE (65+) your photos to less than 1 MB each. In the accompanying $40 SINGLE, SENIOR FAMILY (2 adults, 65+) email include location, date and any interesting story or $50 FAMILY (2 adults – same address, children included) other information associated with the photograph. No HST. Tax receipts issued for donations. Send Deadline for submissions for September issue: Aug 1 membership fees and address changes to the TFN office. Please note: TFN does not give out its membership list. NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Jenny Bull (co-editor), Vivienne Denton, Karin Fawthrop, Toronto Field Naturalists Nancy Fredenburg, Elisabeth Gladstone, Mary Lieberman, 1519-2 Carlton St, Toronto M5B 1J3 Judy Marshall, Ruth Munson, Toshi Oikawa, Wendy Tel: 416-593-2656 Rothwell (co-editor). Web: www.torontofieldnaturalists.org Printing and mailing: Perkins Services Inc. Email: [email protected] Many thanks to the members of the Editorial Committee for their diligent proofreading and to everyone who sent in articles, reports, reviews, poems, haikus, news items, photographs, artwork. We appreciate all your contributions. Please keep them coming! We welcome Vivienne Denton to the Editorial Committee. In addition to helping our proofreading team, Vivienne has started to compile the extracts from outings leaders’ reports. Hope you enjoy nature in the summer and remember to share your experiences, knowledge and enthusiasm with us by word or picture! Young larch cones, photo Lynn Pady Your editors May 2013 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 596-3 TFN MEETING Sunday, May 5, 2013 2:30 pm Ecology of Breeding Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Doug Tozer, ornithologist, Bird Studies Canada, will present his field research observations on the ecology of this “double keystone” species in Algonquin Park. VISITORS WELCOME! SOCIAL: 2:00 – 2:30 pm Room 003, Northrop Frye Bldg, 73 Queen's Park East, (Immediately southeast of Emmanuel College, south of the Museum subway station exit on the east side of Queen’s Park). Enter on either the west or north side of the building. The west entrance is wheelchair accessible. For information: call 416-593-2656 up to noon on the Friday preceding the lecture. TFN Lecture Series 2013-2014 Sep 8 The Making of the Peterson Field Guide to the Mammals of North America, Fiona Reid, departmental associate in Mammalogy , Royal Ontario Museum Oct 6 Salamanders and the Threats They Face, Matt Ellerback, salamander conservationist and advocate Nov 3 The Flies We Despise: Reflections on the Wonderful World of Black Flies, Doug Currie, senior curator of Entomology, Royal Ontario Museum Dec 1 The Don River, John Wilson, long-time veteran and former chair of the Task Force to Bring Back the Don Feb 2 The Sky Above: Another Aspect of Our Natural World, Paul Delaney, popular lecturer and astronomy professor at York University Mar 2 In the Eye of the Beholder: A Study of Beauty in the Natural World, Kyle Horner, wildlife photographer, birder and naturalist Apr 6 The Reluctant Twitcher, Richard Pope, a relatively normal birdwatcher who became a reluctant twitcher in 2007 and wrote a book by the same name. May 4 Sand Dune Conservation, Geoff Peach, co-founder of the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation TFN 596-4 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2013 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. • Wed HUMBER – LAKESHORE –- HIGH PARK May 1 Leader: Ed Freeman 1:15 pm Meet at northwest corner of Armadale Ave and Bloor St W (Jane subway station) to view what was and is along a discovery walk ending at High Park. Sat TRILLIUMS IN WILKET CREEK PARK – Nature Arts May 4 Leader: Mary Taylor 1:30 pm Meet at the northwest corner of Eglinton Ave W and Leslie St. Nature Arts members, please arrive early to do your sketching, photography or writing in the morning. Join Mary’s walk after lunch. This area features an + impressive population of white trilliums and other interesting spring wildflowers. Sat SEVENTH ANNUAL JANE JACOBS WALK – Evening Ramble May 4 Leaders: Pleasance Crawford and Helen Juhola 6:45 pm Meet at the north end of Glencairn subway station, on the south side of Glencairn Ave. Walk includes neighbourhoods near Allen Rd, Ben Nobleman Park, Everden Rd and Cedarvale Park and Ravine, ending at St Clair West subway station. Duration 2 hours. Bring binoculars. Sun ECOLOGY OF BREEDING YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS May 5 Speaker: Doug Tozer, Ornithologist, Algonquin Park 2:30pm Northrop Frye Bldg, 73 Queen’s Park Cres E (see page 3) Tues ROUGE VALLEY – Spring Ephemerals and Nature May 7 Leader: Peter Money 11:00 am Meet at Pearse House, east of first bus stop north of the stop at Sheppard Ave E and Meadowvale Rd. Bring lunch and binoculars. Circular walk, 3 to 4 hours. Sat DAVID DUNLAP OBSERVATORY – Richmond Hill May 11 Leader: John Bacher 2:00 pm Meet at Yonge St and Weldrick Rd in Richmond Hill. Take Richmond Hill Viva blue bus from Finch subway station before 1:30 pm. Bring water and binoculars. The 150-acre David Dunlap Observatory Forest is threatened by a development proposal. To prevent re-zonings which would destroy the forest, it is important that people know about this forest which provides many ecological benefits. We will walk the perimeter of the forest. Sun ST. CLAIR AVE E – ROSEHILL RESERVOIR – CHORLEY PARK – Nature Walk May 12 Leader: Ed Freeman 1:30 pm Meet at the St Clair subway station entrance on St Clair Ave E for a ramble to see what buildings, landscape and the past have to show us in addition to what nature has in store this day. + Sun AGGIE’S WILDFLOWERS – Lost Rivers May 12 Leader: Madeleine McDowell 1:30 pm Meet at Lambton House, 4066 Old Dundas St. Rediscover the world of Agnes Dunbar Moodie Fitzgibbon, daughter of Susanna Moodie and illustrator of Canadian Wildflowers (published in 1867). All of Aggie’s specimens were from the Baby Point and Humber valley area. Many of these flowers still survive in the Magwood Sanctuary. Approx. 2 hours, returning to Lambton House for tea and a talk with Agnes. May 2013 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 596-5 Tues CEDARVALE RAVINE – Nature Walk May 14 Leader: Doug Paton 10:00 am Meet at the Eglinton West subway station. Walk will end at St Clair West subway station. A joint walk with the Life Institute. Wed WATERFRONT GARDENS – Evening Ramble May 15 Leader: Peter Iveson 6:45 pm Meet at the southwest corner of Queens Quay W and Bathurst St beside the war memorial in Little Norway Park. Walk ends in the Music Garden. Check with TTC as Queens Quay streetcars not operating. Try Bathurst #511 streetcar to Fleet St or bus from King and Yonge or Bay and Front . Sat LESLIE STREET SPIT – Birds, Insects and Plants May 18 Leader: Bob Kortright 10:00 am Meet at the park entrance at Leslie St and Unwin Ave. Bring binoculars and lunch. A joint outing with the Toronto Bruce Trail Club. Sun DAYLIGHTING WILSON CREEK – Lost Rivers Walk May 19 Leader: Helen Mills 2:00 pm Meet at the northwest corner of Victoria Park Ave at Jonesville, one block north of Eglinton Ave E. An investigation of lost watersheds and water infrastructure. Visit: www.vanishingpoint.ca/why-did-we- bury-this-creek.