Number 538 March 2006

Drawing by Diana Banville

Coming Events 22 ● Helping shape the future of In the News 19 8 Keeping in Touch 17 ● TFN Publications – Part II 9 Leaders Workshop 5 ● Who was Emily Hamilton? 10 Monthly Meeting Notice 3 ● Elm Recovery Project 13 Monthly Meeting Report 7 ● Zoo’s Urban Turtle Nominating Committee 6 Initiative 14 TFN Outings 4 ● Risky Business: Introduction President’s Report 6 to Species at Risk Act 15 Publications 2 ● Outing Report from Humber Weather (this time last year) 22 Bay Park 16

TFN 538 - 2

TORONTO FIELD NATURALIST IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER!

Published by the Toronto Field Naturalists, a charitable, non- Send us your original writing (up to 500 words) of your profit organization, the aims of which are to stimulate public thoughts and experiences of nature in and around Toronto. interest in natural history and to encourage the preservation of Do you have a favourite natural area in Toronto? Did a our natural heritage. Issued monthly September to December TFN outing introduce you to a new park? Tell us about it! and February to May. Did you see any plants or animals that particularly interested you? Let us know! Tell us what, where and when, and any ISSN 0820-636X field guides or other sources consulted.

Also welcome are: reviews, poems, cartoons and sketches, Toronto Field Naturalists and articles on natural history. If you have a digital camera, 2 Carlton St., Suite 1519, we would welcome photos of TFN outings. Remember that Toronto M5B 1J3 they will be reproduced in black and white photocopy.

Tel: 416-593-2656 Please include your name, address and telephone number so submissions can be acknowledged. Newspaper clippings Website: www.torontofieldnaturalists.org should include source and date. Email: or Unsigned letters or emails will not be read. Attachments to unsigned emails will not be opened.

Note the deadline for submissions of time-sensitive material, e.g., notices of meetings or events. Deadline for MEMBERSHIP FEES April issue: 3 March 2006. Send by mail or email.

$50 FAMILY (2 adults – same address, children included) NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE: $40 SINGLE, SENIOR FAMILY Diana Banville, Jenny Bull (editor), Eva Davis, Karin $30 STUDENT, SENIOR SINGLE Fawthrop, Nancy Fredenburg, Elisabeth Gladstone,

Siobhan Montague (associate editor), Marilynn No GST. Tax receipts issued for donations. Membership fees Murphy, Toshi Oikawa, Wendy Rothwell. and address changes should be sent to the TFN office. Printing and Mailing: Perkins Mailing Services. Please note: It has always been the policy of the Toronto Field Website Manager: Elaine Farragher. Naturalists not to give out its membership list.

TFN PUBLICATIONS

TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB TORONTO REGION BIRD CHART, 1983……… ….………...…$ 5.00 ITS HISTORY AND CONSTITUTION, 1965……………..……. $2.00 A GRAPHIC GUIDE TO MOSSES, 1985...... ….$5.00 CHECKLIST OF PLANTS IN FOUR TORONTO PARKS; WILKET CREEK, HIGH PARK, HUMBER VALLEY, GUIDE TO TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS’ LAMBTON WOODS, 1972……………………………………..………..$2.00 NATURE RESERVES, 2001…………………..…...... ….…$5.00

TORONTO THE GREEN, 1976 : PLANT COMMUNITIES AND Metropo tan Toronto's mportant natura areas are descr bed and NOTEWORTHY SPECIES, 1987…………..…..…...... …$5.00 recommendat ons g ven for the r conservat on and management; nc udes maps, b b ography and ndex…………………..………….$10.00 TODMORDEN MILLS, 1987…………………...…………….... …$5.00

TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS RAVINE SURVEYS……... ea $5.00 VASCULAR PLANTS OF METROPOLITAN Survey No. 1 Chatsworth Rav ne, 1973 TORONTO, 1994………………….……………...... …….…...…$10.00 Survey No. 2 Brookbanks Rav ne, 1974 Survey No. 3 Chapman Va ey Rav ne, 1975 TORONTO CHECKLISTS (b rds, other vertebrates, Survey No. 4 W gmore Rav ne, 1975 butterf es, other nvertebrates, mosses, other p ants)…………ea. 50¢ Survey No. 5 Park Dr ve Rav ne, 1976 Survey No. 6 Burke Rav ne, 1976 HUMBER FORKS AT THISTLETOWN, 2000…… ….….……..…$5.00 Survey No. 7 Tay or Creek Woodb ne Br dge Rav nes 1977 Survey No. 8 West Don Va ey, 1978 Add $2.00 per item for postage and handling; no GST. Order from TFN office, see address above. INDEX OF TFN NEWSLETTERS (1938 to present)…………….….$10.00 TFN 538 - 3

TFN MEETING

Sunday, March 5, 2006 at 2:30 pm

An Introduction to Evergreen Commons at the Don Valley Brickworks

David Stonehouse, Manager, Common Grounds, Evergreen

VISITORS WELCOME!

SOCIAL HOUR 2:00 - 2:30 pm Bring your own mug if you wish, only paper cups provided.

For more information call the TFN office at (416) 593-2656

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

Room 001 is one floor below street level. Entrance at south end of the building, down a few steps on an outside stairwell. Wheelchair Entrance: Second door south on Queen’s Park Crescent E. Door does not have automatic opener. Elevator is inside to the right.

NEXT MEETING: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas in the Hudson Bay Lowlands Sunday, April 2, 2006.

Circus at my window-pane Squirrel on trapeze Swinging through lilac branches.

Haiku by Jane Grell. TFN 538 - 4

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 by calling 416-393-4636. • Check the weather by calling 416-661-0123 so you will know what to wear on outings which go rain or shine. • Wear appropriate footwear for walking on trails which may be muddy, steep or uneven.

Thursday EAST DON – Nature Walk March 2 Leader: Molly Campbell 10:30 a.m. Meet at Todmorden Mills entrance on Pottery Road (walk down the hill from Broadview Avenue and Pottery Road). Bring binoculars. Morning only.

Sunday MONTHLY MEETING – See notice on page 3. March 5 2:00 p.m. Social Hour 2:30 p.m. Lecture – Evergreen Commons at the Don Valley Brickworks.

Thursday SAM SMITH PARK – Birding March 9 Leader: Doug Paton 10:00 a.m. Meet at the southwest corner of Kipling Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. W. Dress warmly. Bring lunch and binoculars.

Saturday NORTH YORK CENTRAL LIBRARY – Nature Arts March 11 Leader: Mary Chris 10:30 a.m. Meet at the lower level food court of the North York Centre (North York Centre subway stop). Bring what you need for drawing, painting or photography. Bring anything you wish to show the group when we compare our morning’s work after lunch. (Note: we will return to our usual schedule of 1st Saturdays next month.)

Thursday DON VALLEY BRICKWORKS – Natural and Cultural Heritage March 16 Leader: David Stonehouse 10:30 a.m. Meet at Castle Frank subway station. Morning only.

Saturday TORONTO ISLAND – Birds March 18 Leader: Doug Paton 10:30 a.m. Meet at the ferry docks. Bring lunch and binoculars, dress warmly. $ for ferry

Sunday THE LOWER GARRISON AND ITS TRIBUTARIES – Lost Rivers Walk March 19 Leader: Ian Wheal 2:00 p.m. Meet at the southeast corner of College St. and Dovercourt Rd. Along city streets. This is a joint outing with North Toronto Green Community.

Continued…

TFN 538 - 5

Wednesday UPTOWN DISCOVERY WALK, PART 2 – Urban Landscape March 22 Leader: Ron Allan 1:30 p.m. Meet at the southeast corner of Bay St. and College St. (at the entrance to College Park). This is a continuation of last year’s walk and will finish at the Wellesley subway station.

Saturday TFN LEADERS’ WORKSHOP March 25 Meet at the Deer Park Library 2nd floor activity room. See notice below. 9:30 a.m. - Please pre-register before March 15. noon

Tuesday SHERWOOD PARK – Walk in a “well-loved” urban park March 28 Leader: Janice Palmer 1 - 3 p.m. Meet at the main gate of Sherwood Park, 200 metres east of Mount Pleasant Rd. on Sherwood Ave. (Limited parking available, TTC to Sherwood Ave. and Mt. Pleasant Rd.) A circular hike route.

TORONTO FIELD NATURALISTS

LEADERS WORKSHOP

Attention walk leaders and future walk leaders (Sure! You can do it!)

A morning of inspiration and insight featuring guest speaker Jerry Belan, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, City of Toronto, and workshop facilitator and TFN walk leader Theresa Moore.

• to thank walk leaders, • to interest new potential walk leaders, • to review outings procedures, • to reflect on experiences and needs, • to produce a resource package, • to support good walk leadership, • to share favourite field guides and other resources.

Saturday, March 25, 2006, 9:30 – 12:00 noon

Deer Park Library, 2nd floor Activity Room, 40 St. Clair Ave. E. (Just east of Yonge St. There is an elevator and stairwell just inside the library entrance.)

Registration deadline: March 15. Please be certain to register by phoning 416-593-2656 or emailing

Refreshments provided.

Workshop committee: Gail Gregory, Theresa Moore, Ruth Munson, Pinky Franklin.

The leaders gather Park trails and weather suspended For tea and muffins. Haiku by Gail Gregory

TFN 538 - 6

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

I would like to remind all TFN members that there Statham-Bray, Natural Environment Specialist. The will be a dedication of the Helen and Aarne Juhola meeting provided an opportunity for the TFN to learn Nature Reserve on Sunday, May 28, 2006, rain or about the programs and projects the City has shine. We hope that you are planning to be there. Bus undertaken to protect and enhance the natural transportation will be available at the nominal cost of elements of Toronto and to discuss how the TFN can $10.00 per person, leaving from the York Mills constructively support these endeavours. In turn, the subway station at 10:00 am and returning by 5:00 TFN will benefit from opportunities to participate in pm. For those who wish to drive we will publish a workshops, forums or other initiatives and to be map in the April newsletter. A free lunch will be included in the promotional material. provided. Please help the organizers arrange transportation and catering by calling or emailing the On a personal note, I had hoped that things would office to let us know if you will be attending. This settle down in the new year as I became more will be a wonderful opportunity to express our accustomed to my new role, but the TFN is a vital appreciation to Helen and Aarne for their many years organization and there is always something of service to the TFN and to celebrate the result! compelling to address. I never seem to get on top of it all. That said, the TFN has been a catalyst for You may recall that the TFN participated in a enjoying my life from a different perspective. During deputation at City Hall in support of FLAP's a recent trip to Jamaica the highlight for me was the recommendations to prevent deaths of migratory breathtaking sight of a "Doctor Bird" or Swallow Tail birds. I am very happy to report that Council Hummingbird (Trochilus polytmus) sipping nectar unanimously adopted a resolution to implement a from a flowering "Quickstick" tree or Madre de LIGHTS OUT TORONTO campaign. Cacao (Gliricidia sepium) ... and I had thought the highlight would be sipping a rum punch on the During January, we met with Garth Armour, Natural beach! Environment Coordinator for the Parks, Recreation Pinky Franklin and Forestry Department, City of Toronto and Kim

TFN BOARD NOMINATIONS ARTWORK FOR THE NEWSLETTER INVITED Do you participate in Nature Arts outings? Are you a nature The TFN is looking for people with artist? We are planning a colour issue of the newsletter and initiative who are willing to devote would like to include members’ colour artwork of nature time to working as members of the subjects. Board of Directors. If you would like to contribute one or more pieces, please Please send your suggestions to the either: email a digital copy of your work; bring your artwork Chairman of the Nominating (max. size 8.5 in. x 11.75 in.), for digital scanning to the Committee, c/o TFN, 1519 – 2 office (2 Carlton St., #1519) on a Friday morning between 9 Carlton St., Toronto, Ont., M5B am and noon (we do not need to keep your original, once 1J3. The report of the Committee scanned); or, leave a message at the TFN office (416-593- will be published in the May 2656) and we will call you to discuss making a digital copy of newsletter. your work.

Black and white drawings also welcomed. TFN 538 - 7

ONTARIO NATURE’S GREENWAY

On Sunday February 5th Steve Hounsell, President of Ridges Moraine to the newly established Greenbelt Ontario Nature which is now enjoying its 75th surrounding much of the GTA. The major issue is birthday, spoke on the Greenway Project as part of that of connectivity; allowing for organisms to move TFN’s monthly lecture series. The Greenway Project from one protected area to another and thus making is a bold vision for landscape protection and land use the whole Greenway much more than just the sum of planning that will allow for a system of protected its individual green spaces. The tidal wave of natural spaces as cores and corridors throughout the urbanization will only be halted by adopting Smart southern part of Ontario. Steve spoke passionately of Growth planning policies based on watersheds. It is the severe loss of habitat that has accompanied the here that individuals and organizations play the major recent economic boom in Ontario and the role in promoting these concepts to local and accompanying massive urban sprawl surrounding our provincial politicians and planners. major cities and smaller communities. Our society now appears almost entirely divorced from the wider TFN apologizes to Steve and the audience for the natural habitat that formerly sustained it through its lack of a functioning power point projector; the rich soils, waters and natural heritage. This separation eloquence of Steve’s words alone focussed the now threatens our own health, both of society at large audience’s attention. It is without question time to act and as individuals, in the face of deteriorating air and boldly to secure our future environmental well-being water quality arising from urban development. and we thank Steve for speaking on Ontario Nature’s Greenway vision. The essential building blocks of a Greenway are already in place including protected lands from the Check out the Ontario Nature web site at Niagara Escarpment, through the long belt of the Oak www.ontarionature.org Nick Eyles

TFN BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2005-2006

Pinky Franklin, President/ Promotions

Phoebe Cleverley, Past President Wendy Rothwell, Vice President & Recording Secretary Corley Phillips, Secretary-Treasurer

Alexander Cappell, Communications

Nick Eyles, Lectures/meetings

Nancy Fredenburg, Membership Gail Gregory, Outings Co-ordinator

Barry Mitchell

Ruth Munson, Outings Committee Jerry Spevak, Nature Reserves

Linda Stemmler

TFN 538 - 8

HELPING SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HIGH PARK

On Saturday, February 4th, 2006, the High Park Community Advisory Council held a “Planning Day” – • Restore and conserve the environment an opportunity for people who enjoy using High Park to • Preserve natural and historical heritage of the park contribute their ideas towards the process of shaping its • Promote public environmental education in and of the future. Over 60 people attended, including members of park the HPCAC, a few city employees responsible for • Political and public commitment to economic stability managing aspects of the park, representatives from • Preserve balance of serenity and play community groups who use park facilities and individuals • Encourage inclusivity in park use and planning from the neighbourhood who frequent the park for • The park is safe and accessible to all running, dog-walking, communing with nature, etc. Our local City Councillor, Bill Saundercook, joined us briefly In the afternoon we shared our hopes and dreams for the during the morning session. park, which we grouped under the headings:

I appreciated the opportunity to share in this process • Establish Interpretive/Welcoming Centre because, living close to High Park, I visit it frequently in Establish efficient low-impact transit system all seasons primarily for bird-watching and photography. • The discussion was an eye-opener for me, as I realized the • Maintain and improve indigenous bio-diversity challenge of balancing the needs of many different park • Bring Nature to people users (such things as playgrounds, sports facilities, • Improve infrastructure re safety, maintenance and cultural events and general recreation), while protecting access the fragile natural eco-system and preserving a tranquil • Improve collaboration among park programs space for those of us who come to High Park to enjoy • Develop and implement funding initiatives nature. • Improve co-ordinated planning

The brain-storming sessions were very ably facilitated by The HPCAC will produce a detailed report of our Mark Ellwood, vice-chair of the HPCAC. In the morning discussions, which the group hopes will influence political session, we were asked to define values which we felt and administrative decisions affecting the future of High should influence decision-making re changes to High Park. Park. Working in small groups, we came up with many ideas which were summarized as follows: I came away with an increased appreciation for this treasure on my doorstep and for the dedicated and knowledgeable people who voluntarily devote their time and talents to caring for its preservation as a natural haven in the midst of our busy city, not only for people to enjoy, but also as a place where birds and wild animals, indigenous trees and plants can thrive.

Wendy Rothwell

Photo of High Park by Robin Powell.

TFN 538 - 9

TFN PUBLICATIONS PART II: TORONTO THE GREEN AND THE RAVINE STUDIES

“Urban natural history is important. Natural areas houses on large parcels of a twenty acre woodlot of red remaining within urban areas need protection and often oak were about to be demolished to make way for restoration. This is a task in which the informed amateur intensive development. Everything about the area was field naturalist can play an important role.” This quote is recorded in words and photographs by the authors. The from the foreword for the TFN’s ravine studies, a series of press was called. Presentations were made at an OMB reports begun by club members in the 1970s. At that time, hearing. And, while the TFN didn’t win that particular a new official plan was being discussed for Toronto at case, a large section of the area was saved because the City Hall. Rather than merely react to a report from city developer did not want the hassle and expense of fighting planners and politicians, the Board of Directors of the for permission to develop the remainder. Throughout, the TFN decided to become proactive by providing ravine study was a tool in the TFN’s persistent efforts to information and recommendations to both city committees conserve this natural area. Today, many of the original and the public, and began work on individual ravine houses are being replaced by “monster homes” but the studies and the city-wide report Toronto The Green. woods are still there – thanks to the TFN’s ravine study program. The reports describe natural areas within the city, recording both natural history and human use and listing Another ravine study, West Don River Valley (1978) by the plants and animals found within each area. Problems Diana Banville and Linda Cardini, also became a tool for such as erosion or poor water quality were noted and fighting a cause. Nearly 30 years on, the extension of recommendations made on how the City should manage Lawrence Avenue across the Don River still hasn’t been an area in the future. built.

The 70’s and 80’s were a time of environmental Why are these studies relevant today? Written 20 or 30 consciousness-raising within the city. Wherever they years ago, are they not out-of-date? In fact, they provide would be listened to, the TFN made presentations to city not only a history and contemporary record of the park at officials and the public, using the ravine studies and the time they were written, but also base line data with Toronto The Green to carry the message of the importance which an area can be compared today. If you have a of natural areas within the city. TFN members became favorite park for which a study was published, you can use known by officials of Metro Toronto and the MTRCA* as the study to see whether the natural environment has they argued at every opportunity for the conservation of flourished or declined 20 or 30 years on. The TFN would natural areas. It got to the point where officials became be pleased to hear your findings. As the foreword to the nervous when they saw TFN members coming! ravine studies concludes: “Members involved in the preparation of surveys become better naturalists as they Some studies were particularly timely. For example, observe nature in the city, and better citizens as they when Helen Juhola and Linda Cardini decided to do a explore ways to protect and conserve Toronto’s valuable study of Taylor Creek Ravine in 1976, they found natural heritage.” We look forward to hearing from you! bulldozers at work on their first visit. Single family Jenny Bull To order ravine studies and Toronto The Green, please see page 2.

* For younger members: the Metropolitan Toronto government was a partial amalgamation of the city and its boroughs. “Metro” was in charge of some aspects of city government, including many of the larger parks. The MTRCA (Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority) was the forerunner of today’s Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).

TORONTO FIELD NATURALIST - INDEX 2004

The index to 2004 newsletter issues is now available for $2.00 including postage. Please send your order with your name and address to the TFN office. TFN 538 - 10

WHO WAS EMILY HAMILTON?

After the 2 tracts of land that became the TFN’s Jim Baillie Reserve (see TFN 537, Feb. 2006) were bought in the 1970s, a third tract to the south and east of JBR was purchased in 1987 and named after Emily Hamilton following her death in 1992. So, who was Emily Hamilton?

Emily Hamilton became a member of TFN in 1962, inspired by her participation in the FON’s summer camp the year before. She served as a member of the Board of Directors and the Editorial and Outings Committees, but was, above all, the TFN’s “Plant Lady.”

Her life-long interest in natural history was focused on botany after she took courses on plant identification (see next article). A popular leader of botany walks, she also went on almost every TFN outing, giving the names of every plant she saw, sometimes practically taking over from the leader.

Emily was a co-author of the TFN’s Chatsworth and Burke ravine studies, compiling the lists of plants found in each ravine and also recording the habitats within Burke ravine where the plants could be found. Whenever there was an opportunity, she visited the Jim Baillie Reserve, compiling a list of all the plants on the reserve and exactly Drawing of poison ivy by D. Andrew White. where and when they could be observed. When TFN had a booth at the Ex or staffed the log cabin at Sunnybrook flora, and a poison ivy plant in a bell jar, to show and Park, she brought along her pressed specimens of the local teach visitors and pass on her love of plants.

After she became less active outdoors, she volunteered at the ROM, starting with numbering bird bones. But it was soon noticed that her passion was plants, and she was sent to volunteer in the ROM Herbarium. As the herbarium had no technical staff at the time, she virtually became the herbarium technician, looking after the collection and helping out with public programs.

At the time of her death one member wrote: “One year she spent a week in Thunder Bay and she knew what she wanted to see – the plants in Ouimet Canyon, the Sibley peninsula, a rare fern growing along a brook in the hills, and the plants of the Boreal Forest….This lady gave so much of herself to others and to her love of nature. I learned and saw…many botanical treasures.”

Her funeral at Mount Pleasant Cemetery included a walk lead by Helen Juhola to visit her favourite shrub garden Log cabin at Sunnybrook Park, near the woodlot where she had arranged to have her ashes drawn by Mary Cumming, 1987. scattered. Jenny Bull

TFN 538-11

EMILY HAMILTON 1910-1992

Extracted from an article by Deborah Metsger, Assistant Curator, ROM Botany, written for the Field Botanists of Ontario newsletter, Spring 1992.

From 1984 until her death, Emily Hamilton was a in natural history taught through the Continuing Studies volunteer in the Herbarium of the . Department of the University of Toronto. These courses She spent four or more days a week providing technical focused on distinguishing features of plant families. A assistance in the collection and taking on special projects, diligent student in her own right, Emily acquired a such as pulling specimens [from cabinets] for county flora personal library of botanical manuals and field guides and projects and making a mini herbarium of berry producing undertook the study of plants family by family. She made plants to use in responding to poison plant inquiries. Her collections of common species of some of the major plant care for plant specimens was meticulous and she had little families and placed them in scrap books complete with tolerance for sloppy collectors who failed to remove dirt drawings and notes. The scrap books were used to really from the roots before pressing a plant. After years of learn plants. Her knowledge was then reinforced by observing Emily, I concluded that she treated plant constant expeditions to look at things in the field. In this way Emily became one of the most knowledgeable amateur botanists I have ever known. Her personal scrap books and library have been left to the Herbarium so that others may make use of them in their own studies.

In the last three years of her life Emily suffered heart attacks and her eyesight failed to the point that she was legally blind. However, she still botanized using what peripheral vision she had left. Ever cheerful and determined, she dedicated time to her avocation right up to her death. Her ashes were scattered in Mount Pleasant Cemetery where she had spent many years mapping the arboretum.

specimens in the same fashion as she had the numerous babies who had been her charges as a Mothercraft nurse: loved them, scolded them and fussed over them – ever inventing new techniques for efficient handling!

Above and beyond everything else, Emily loved field botany. She studied plants around the world, but was particularly dedicated to the local native flora. I was always intrigued as to how she had learned so much. Her methods of study can provide guidance for all of us. Her interest in plants was first kindled at an FON field camp on the Bruce Peninsula where she chose to study grasses. She subsequently studied plant systematics with James Soper and James Cruise as part of two successive courses Emily Hamilton’s specimen of bunchberry, Cornus canadensis, from her scrapbook on the dogwood family.

TFN 538 - 12

EMILY HAMILTON'S "BEGINNINGS"

Life in Britain before the Great War was easy, leisurely, and without distractions. We walked along roads and down lanes without cars whizzing by; we walked to the village to get the newspaper - - no radios! So as we lived in the country we were surrounded by nature; primroses and robins in the hedges, various trees and cushion-mosses in the woods; flowers and shrubs in the garden; and rows of cabbages, carrots and currant bushes in the kitchen-garden, just like the one Peter Rabbit got caught in.

Then there was the seaside nearby with tide-pools full of dark red sea- anemones, crabs small and green, large and brown, and shrimps darting about, and brown wrack on the rocks and green slippery seaweed below the barnacled rocks. To get to know more about these things we had books.

When it was time for us to go to school we moved to a suburban area, which was not disappointing as there was The Downs nearby -- an

open upland with hawthorns and shrubby areas, and rows of planted trees along the roads bisecting it. In school we had classes on nature study; in the early days we watched the sticky buds of horse-chestnut twigs slowly put out their leaves; tadpoles in a tank turned to frogs, and every year we brought in branches of wild roses. There were still summer holidays at the seaside where the sand-dunes had stout grasses growing on them, with the blue flowers of sea-holly and the pink of rest harrow to give colour. Or, we went to the moors to learn the cry of the curlews and find heather and eyebright and bilberries.

The move to Canada was almost a disaster nature-wise. In downtown Toronto I met my first American Robin, as big as a Song Thrush and it sang like one; it deserved the name of robin only because it had a red breast. Lake Ontario was so dull! no tide, no tide-pools, just cold, cold water on endless sandy beaches! Emily Hamilton’s specimen of ground-cedar or ground pine Nature Camp at Billie Bear (1961) under the leadership of T.F. (Lycopodium tristachyum), McIlwraith was the best beginning for me. Here I found tiny from her scrapbook dogwoods which I learnt to call bunchberry; tiny tree-like plants called on ferns and fern relatives. tree clubmoss; endless warblers which were hard to learn because I was using a First Edition of "Peterson". The trees I resolved to learn as I mis-identified an ash as a cherry! We keyed out buttercups and pyrolas. I learnt to recognize the common grasses and the frequently- Memory Book Update seen birds. The evening thrush-walks were delightful -- so full of We are continuing to compile the song! In order to learn to distinguish between songs Helen Lawrence Memory Book for Helen and would teach beginners by pinching their arms at the right moment -- Aarne Juhola. Our plan is to the perfect way to pick out the right song. Leadership throughout the present the book at the camp was excellent, and encouraged further study, recommending the commemorative party for the evening course given by the University of Toronto Extension on trees, Juholas on May 28 at the TFN birds and botany -- which I took, and found most helpful. Nature Reserve (see President’s

Report). Please send Extracted from an article by Emily Hamilton in TFN Newsletter # 402, March 1989. contributions to the TFN office.

TFN 538-13

ELM RECOVERY PROJECT

Extracted from a pamphlet produced by The Arboretum, University of Guelph and their website.

Elms were once a significant and very important tree of However, they are often too isolated to breed with each forests and cities. Few other trees can tolerate the other. The University of Guelph Arboretum will collect exposure and harsh street conditions as well as the elm. cuttings and graft new trees from these potentially The most common elm, the one that once arched over the resistant individuals. streets of eastern North America, is white elm, also known as American elm. Its characteristic "V" shaped, umbrella- We underestimated the number of large elms that would like crown made white elm easily identifiable and much be reported, and we have only visited half of the nearly admired. 1000 elms scattered through Ontario. Our goal is to collect cuttings from the most promising of these trees and Dutch Elm Disease (DED) was first identified in 1918 in propagate them for testing. Immune system challenge Belgium by a Dutch pathologist who observed the fungus tests are being done by the University of Toronto. The disease spreading through northern Europe. The disease threats to large surviving elms have increased and we are likely arrived in North America on logs from eastern now in a race against time to collect from the old Europe. The disease and its carriers, the European elm survivors before the potentially outstanding genes are lost bark beetles, were to age and drought stress- inadvertently exported on elm related decline that reduces burls for the furniture industry the immune system strength between 1930 and 1940. and ends the fight against DED. Development, storms DED likely originated in and road widening pressures Asia, where occasional also take their toll. branch death is its most notable damage. This Although horticultural observation indicates that releases of DED resistant resistance to the disease is a elms ("Liberty" and "Valley long term natural tendency, Forge") have taken place in and holds great promise for the U.S., they represent a the closely related elms of North America, white elm, small gene pool of clones from a climate significantly slippery elm and rock elm (Ulmus americana, U. rubra different than Ontario’s. Unfortunately, DED has been and U. thomasii), which are the target of the elm bark reported in Liberty Elm and so all of its clones are beetle which carries DED. susceptible. This emphasizes the urgent need to initiate a recovery program that utilizes non-clonal seed production Non-resistant elms that are too young to be killed by DED from Ontario's own climate-adapted, resistant elms. but old enough to flower are very common in Ontario. Airborne pollen from these non-resistant trees is the You can help by informing friends and local media of this common pollinator of isolated, resistant survivors thereby project, by requesting a survey form from The Arboretum reducing the opportunity to produce seeds that carry the to report large elms (trunk at least 213 cm in circumfer- genetic traits for resistance to the disease. ence) and by donation. Cheques payable to the University of Guelph should be mailed to The Arboretum, University By the early 1970s, the rapid spread of DED led many to of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1. For more infor- believe that all of the elms would die. A few large mation refer to www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum or contact individual trees have resisted the disease and are still Arboretum Director, Prof. Alan Watson 519-824-4120 found growing in rural and urban landscapes. ext. 52356.

Wan mask Peering from blue infinity Daytime moon Haiku by Arthur Wade TFN 538 - 14

TORONTO ZOO'S URBAN TURTLE INITIATIVE

Extracted from an article by Michelle Nelson in Amphibian Voice, Fall 2005.

Under the direction of Bob Johnson, Curator of Reptiles snapping turtles in the Rouge River, for the past six years. and Amphibians, and Lisa Sealock, Adopt-a-Pond The information collected has provided us with essential Programme Coordinator and in partnership with Rouge insights into the secret lives of turtles and has helped us to Park, has launched a remarkable new develop our research strategy for species at risk. program to conserve turtles in our community and throughout Ontario. Six out of eight species of turtle in This spring season saw us begin to attempt to capture and Ontario have been identified as at risk of extinction. tag Blanding's turtles. We were successful, and quickly Blanding's, map and musk (or stinkpot) turtles are three of had a study group of two males and one female. these species. Toronto Zoo and Rouge Park are Throughout the spring and summer, the males have taken conducting biological research in the field to find out how us to places we never expected they would go, these species cope in an urban environment and what we demonstrating large home ranges. The female led us to can do as a community to help them survive. her nesting beach this summer, where we had the privilege of watching her lay seven eggs and learning about her The project has a broad spectrum of objectives. Initially, preferred nesting habitat. Just a few weeks ago, we added we would like to identify population size, distribution and another male Blandings to our study. He's only about five critical habitat (in particular nesting and hibernation sites) years old and we are very excited about the rare through direct observation of wild turtles using visual opportunity to observe a juvenile Blanding's in the wild. surveys and radio telemetry techniques. As part of this objective, we are analyzing several aspects of habitat that We also diligently attempted to capture two map turtles may affect usage, including water chemistry, water quality that were repeatedly sighted basking this summer, but and habitat structure. were unsuccessful. Although there were a small number of sightings by community members over the last few years, we were unable to sight any stinkpot Research has been conducted through the Zoo, on turtles in the Park. This species is notoriously hard to spot as they forage underwater and rarely bask. However, we The Blandings turtle was listed as Endangered in Nova Scotia are hopeful for next season. and Threatened in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population in May of 2005. This species faces threats including the At the Urban Turtle Initiative, we believe draining of wetlands which results in a loss of habitat and people are an essential piece of the potential nesting sites. By losing potential nesting sites, the conservation puzzle. Particularly in an Blanding's turtle is being forced to utilize gravel shoulders of urban environment, individuals can help roadways, which greatly increases the chances for adult road- provide essential habitat for turtle species at related mortality. Survival of this species is very sensitive to risk, and can help guide development in adult mortality, and even slight increases in mortality (<5%) their areas to protect hibernation and nesting could potentially threaten the species, as they will not adjust areas. To find out more visit our website, their reproductive output in response to increases in adult www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond/, or mortality. A large increase in raccoon population in the past contact the Urban Turtle Initiative century is further leading to the species demise, causing a Coordinator at [email protected] or by seriously low nest survivorship in some areas. Nest calling 416-392-5999. survivorship is already extremely low (~5%), and slight increases could be extremely detrimental to the stability of the populations.

Amphibian Voice, Winter 2005.

TFN 538-15

"RISKY BUSINESS": AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIES AT RISK ACT

Extracted from an article by Steve Jones in Amphibian Voice, Winter 2005.

The term "species at risk" seems to be a popular catch designed to work in conjunction with other government phrase these days. What is a species at risk (SAR), and programs and give species listed as either Threatened or how do the animals labeled as such gain this identity? Endangered legal protection as well as encourage the SAR are species that have been designated by the management of species currently not at risk. Once a Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in species is listed as at risk in the SARA, it becomes illegal Canada (COSEWIC) as being in one of five categories of to kill, harass, capture, collect, and destroy habitat of that peril. Those categories in ascending order of threat are species. Landowners may receive compensation for losses Special Concern, Threatened, Endangered, Extirpated, and incurred as a result of critical habitat occurring within the Extinct. land limits. This, in combination with stiff penalties for not abiding by the SARA, encourages everybody to Special concern species are those which may become participate in the survival of a SAR. At the same time the threatened or endangered because of a combination of SARA requires that a species recovery plan be developed biological characteristics and other threats, which reduce and implemented. That plan must address ways of their ability to survive. Threatened species are those preserving unprotected critical habitat, and must contain which have factors reducing their populations, and if those ways to monitor the recovery of the species. factors are not reversed, the species will become endangered or extirpated. Endangered species are those Wetlands are one of the most biologically diverse which are facing imminent extirpation ecosystems in the world. Any changes that occur to or extinction. Extirpated species are those that do not wetland habitats impact a large number of species and can exist in the wild in Canada, but persist elsewhere (i.e. in lead to their eventual designation as species at risk. If we other countries or in captivity). Extinct species are those all begin to practise conservation and preservation, much which no longer exist. of our beautiful and interesting fauna will be around for generations to come. To assess and designate a species as one of the above mentioned categories, COSEWIC consults experts on a particular species to gather all available information, evaluates that information, and makes a recommendation through a report. The entire COSEWIC committee gathers biannually to evaluate the reports and arrive at a consensus of the appropriate designation level a species should be afforded.

In June of 2003, the Species at Risk Act (SARA) became legislation. The Act was

Drawing by Diana Banville TFN 538 - 16

OUTING REPORT

HUMBER BAY PARK OBSERVATIONS

On the bright brisk morning of February 7, I led 15 and learned that I was looking at Greater Scaups and TFNer’s on an excursion to Humber Bay East Park. This American Mergansers. Later on I was shown Buffleheads, is one of my favourite bird-watching spots in Toronto. The Goldeneyes and Long-tailed Ducks. perimeter provides access to several vantage points of Lake Ontario and some of the best waterfowl viewing on What a change in the past fifty years! Gadwalls, Widgeon the lake. Although the park was constructed from landfill and Shovelers are all new to the winter scene here as are within the past few decades, it now supports a mixture of Hooded and Red-breasted Merganser. By contrast, Black weedy fields, shrub borders and Austrian pine plantations Ducks which were essentially the only dabbling duck then attractive to spring migrants and summer nesting birds. have been almost completely replaced by Mallards. In fact We hoped they would also be attractive to winter on our morning outing, we tallied about 200 Mallards, but landbirds. only one Black Duck!

In the lagoons near the park entrance we observed several It had snowed the evening before so we had ideal species of ducks so close we could note the distinctions conditions to see mammal tracks. This was an opportunity between female Gadwalls, Mallards and Widgeon. Many to determine just how many Meadow Voles lived in the park. Elsewhere in some fields frequented by wintering Red-tailed Hawks the snow surface would be dappled by mouse tracks and runs. However, we found only two tracks; hence the absence of hawks or owls. We were fortunate to see one predatory bird—an adult Northern Shrike. First posed at the top of a poplar, then on a low willow, the bird gave us excellent looks at the black and white plumage and other field marks. It was not until I tallied the trip list that I realized the significance of this sighting. In another month, should be alive with the songs and calls of Song Sparrows, American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds. But on this Drawing of Hooded Merganser by Geraldine Goodwin occasion, we observed no landbirds—not even a Starling or Rock Pigeon—with one exception—the single Northern duck species had already paired off. Male Mallards chased Shrike, a bird which I generally see about once a year. females while male Buffleheads inflated their chests and bowed to their potential mates. Both Long-tailed Ducks A great morning—lovely views, healthy exercise, a little and American Widgeon were vocal—during the morning sunshine and a good bird. we were seldom out of earshot of their conversational George Bryant mutterings. We had excellent looks at male American Mergansers and compared the subtle differences between female American and Red-breasted Mergansers. There were about a dozen Hooded Mergansers in various locations; a few drakes fanned their hoods to attract females. Unlike most duck species which had already moulted out of their summer eclipse plumage a flock of eight Shovelers were mainly mottled.

One of my clearest memories of early birdwatching days in Toronto is of a windy cold day in early March about 1958 near the Eastern Gap. I could identify Black Ducks but was confused by the many black and white ducks Drawing of Northern Shrike by Diana Banville, from a photo diving in the harbour. Fortunately I ran into a TFN group TFN 538-17

KEEPING IN TOUCH

RE: TORONTO’S CHANGING BIRD SCENE – TFN 537, February 2006

Even here where I live in Outer Scarberia, The Urban Wasteland of Toronto, I have seen some new birds in the last few years. Some of these birds, while very common elsewhere in Toronto, were not present when we first moved to Scarborough, and for 10 to 15 years afterwards. They include Northern Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher(?), chickadee, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Blue Jay, an unknown wren, unknown sparrows (?) and Merlin. I am not an experienced birdwatcher. As my wife says, “Did the birds watch you today?” Strangely, I have always seen a Cooper’s or Sharp-shinned Hawk every winter. This winter is the first year that we have seen more than two Blue Jays together. My wife also saw a group of 18 Mourning Doves at our backyard feeder, a “never seen before” here. These sightings give me some hope for this part of Toronto, although I get almost no support in my endeavours to “green” Scarborough-Rouge River.

Al Roffey

Red-tailed Hawk drawn by Diana Banville, from a photo.

URBAN BIRDS

I live on the tenth floor (top floor) of a condominium off. It soon returned to perch about four feet from in north central Toronto. The twenty foot long the dove. They stared at each other for about five balcony has a wood fence, six feet high, which minutes. The dove remained frozen. I wondered if overlooks a tiny park with thick evergreen trees. the hawk would attack the dove which seemed larger Birds like to sit atop the fence – usually at the very than the hawk. Finally the hawk flew off and the end to enable them to view the park and an dove wasted no time to also fly off. underpass inhabited by pigeons. Last summer a pair of mockingbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds nested There have been Sharp-shinned Hawks and Red- in the trees below. A mockingbird often sat at the tailed Hawks swoop down off the roof above me and end of the fence to sing its many varied songs. One soar over the balcony. One day I was privileged to day a Mourning Dove perched half way along the have a female Red-tailed Hawk sit on the fence for fence. A female kestrel landed at the end of the five minutes. I had wonderful views of it posed fence about six feet from the dove. The kestrel there. stared at the dove, scrutinized the park, then flew Ethel Day

It would be best to seek to know one limited area well. Too often we pride ourselves on the breadth of our geographic experience, on having traveled far and seen much; by ranging widely we impress our friends and ourselves, the shallowness of our worldly experience unremarked upon, even as our sense of home place atrophies.

from Rediscovering the Great Plains: Journeys by Dog, Canoe, and Horse by Norman Henderson, the John Hopkins Press, 2001.

TFN 538 - 18

Keeping in Touch, continued.

CARDINAL VIRTUES

On a sunny winter day, as I walked beside Grenadier I realized then that I Pond, noting how the frosty ground crunched beneath my have seen these feet, I came upon a group of people standing in front of brilliantly coloured the forsythia. The shrubs were alive with chickadees, but birds all year-round. I soon realized the strollers had gathered to admire three According to my bird cardinals, two males and a female, who foraged among the bible,* the cardinal is dry leaves underneath. A bystander commented that she “everyone’s favourite had seen five other cardinals in Hillside Gardens. songbird” east of the Cardinal, artist unknown. prairies. Both male and There was a sudden flash of scarlet, as one of the birds female are skilled vocalists and their whistled songs have flew close and lit on a nearby branch. “My, isn’t he two dozen variations. Not shy of people, they nest in city proud!” the woman next to me said. Or, bold, I thought. parks and suburban gardens. They are also hard-working Meanwhile her husband whistled to the cardinal. “He parents. During mating season, up to four broods are plays the harmonica. He can imitate many birds,” she raised in succession, the male cardinal caring for the remarked, as she shelled and tossed peanuts into the nestlings while the female incubates the eggs of the next shrubbery. The cardinals were competing with the brood. squirrels for the peanuts, and occasionally the boldest cardinal beat them to it. Siobhan Montague

*Reference: John K. Terres, The Audobon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds (1995), Wings Books, Random House, NJ.

SWANS

A correction and apology are due those 12 field My mistake was probably partially brought on by my big naturalists who followed me on a TFN walk on blue bird book which covers only eastern birds. Saturday, January 21 over that beautiful big Trumpeters have been classed as western birds. pedestrian bridge over the mouth of the Humber River, through Humber Bay Shores and the Butterfly Boris Mather Garden, to Humber Bay Park East past the mouth of Mimico Creek, over the cantilevered Calatrava bridge to the boat launch at Humber Bay Park West.

At the mouth of the creek we saw several imported mute swans and six native swans which I identified as tundra swans (aka whistling swans). Several of the walkers demurred, claiming they were trumpeter swans. When I checked with the Ministry of Natural Resources, sure enough I was mistaken and the swans we saw are the latest introductions in the MNR program, since 1982, of introducing wild trumpeters into the Ontario biosphere.

Drawing of trumpeter swans by Eva Davis.

CLARIFICATION Re: “Doing It For Ourselves” (Keeping In Touch, TFN 537, Feb. 2006), please note that Marita Dreger follows the protocols of the Ontario Society for Ecological Restoration for seed collecting. Their website is at: www.serontario.org.

TFN 538-19

IN THE NEWS

NO CASH FOR THE BIRDS Extracted from an article in NOW Magazine, Jan. 12, 2006.

A number of community groups lights after hours. Building owners Since 1993, more than 32,000 birds [including TFN] trying to persuade say it’s up to the tenants. from 158 species have died after the city to invest $25,000 to educate flying into the lit windows of Toronto the public about migratory birds Michael Mesure, executive director of buildings late a night. slamming into downtown office the Fatal Light Awareness Program towers weren’t exactly flying high (FLAP), points out that warblers and In addition to turning off the lights, after the January 9 planning and woodpeckers generate millions of FLAP hopes to persuade building transportation meeting. The group dollars from touring birdwatchers, not owners to apply an ultraviolet coating was denied the funding. to mention birds’ crucial work eating to glass during migration season that insects and pollinating plants. How- only birds can see. The city currently has no regulations ever, some councillors believe there’s requiring skyscrapers to flick off the not enough money in the budget.

CITY FIRST IN THE WORLD TO IMPLEMENT MIGRATORY BIRD PROTECTION POLICY: CITY ADOPTS GUIDELINES TO PREVENT BIRD COLLISIONS WITH BUILDINGS Extracted from FLAP News Release, Feb. 1, 2006

City Council unanimously adopted a The Fatal Light Awareness Program resolution on January 31 that will (FLAP) has been working to address FLAP, the City of Toronto and others protect migratory birds through the issue of bird collisions with have formed a partnership known as controlling light from buildings, structures since 1993. It was the first Lights Out Toronto. This April, in public education, and bird rescue. For organization of its kind in the world; time for spring migration, the Lights all new buildings in Toronto, the similar organizations have since Out Toronto partnership will launch a resolution specifies “that the needs of sprung up in Chicago and New York. public awareness campaign on how migratory birds be incorporated into FLAP conservatively estimates 1 to Torontonians can prevent the deaths the Site Plan Review process with 10 birds are killed at every structure of thousands of migratory birds by respect to facilities for lighting, each year. With 940,000 structures in simple acts like turning lights off. including floodlighting, glass and Toronto, one quickly realizes why This will also greatly reduce the other bird-friendly design features.” collision with structures is the leading amount of greenhouse gas emissions cause of death to migratory birds. and save millions of dollars each year.

FLAP NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

Each year 1 to 10 million migratory birds collide with windows in Toronto.

This global problem is the cause of decline for many bird species - some of which are already threatened with extinction. Collision with structures is now the leading cause of death to migratory birds. The Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) urgently needs your help to rescue these birds. Most of the live birds our volunteers pick up are able to recover and are returned to the wild.

If you are available for a few hours a week any time of day for bird rescue work or to drive birds to a rehabilitation centre during the bird migration months of March to June and August to November, please call or email us to arrange training. We would be happy to hear from you.

www.flap.org [email protected] 416-366-FLAP (3527) TFN 538 - 20

IN THE NEWS continued.

PROVINCE EXPEDITES FIVE WATERFRONT PARKS Extracted from an article by Paul Moloney in The , Jan 21, 2006

Toronto’s waterfront agency expects Toronto Waterfront Revitalization metals. The Toronto Environmental to save up to $5 million after the Corp. Alliance is warning the waterfront provincial government granted an While the corporation won’t have to agency to proceed carefully in order exemption from the usual fund certain studies and seek various to maintain public confidence. environmental assessments of 5 future environmental assessment approvals, Campbell said the public would be parks – Don River, Sherbourne, it will still have to conform to consulted on cleanup plans. The first Commissioners, Don Greenway and pollution laws, Campbell said. The park, Don River, is to run along the Lake Ontario - that include former corporation will confirm what west side of the river from near Queen industrial lands with contaminated substances are in the soil, which St. south to the railway tracks. The soil. “It’ll save money and time,” said environmentalists suspect contains 9.5-hectare park could be completed John Campbell, president of the arsenic, mercury and other heavy by 2008 or 2009.

TREASURE HUNT Extracted from an article by Jim Maloy in the Toronto Star, Jan. 14, 2006.

Taddle Creek originally flowed from 19th century, the waste discharged that emptied into Lake Ontario. Wychwood Park at the foot of the from the Annex, Yorkville and the Improvements in recent times have Davenport bluff through downtown university turned the creek into a seen the more unsavoury elements of Toronto to Lake Ontario. The last sewer. Burying it was the obvious this mix sent through the sewage remaining stretch to be allowed above solution. There had been other treatment plant at Ashbridge’s Bay, ground ran along what is now the streams flowing through Toronto but, while some of the rain and snow that University of Toronto’s Philosophers’ like Taddle Creek, they eventually used to feed Taddle Creek finds its Walk, south from Bloor St. near the became grossly polluted. They were way to Lake Ontario in storm sewers. Royal Ontario Museum. By the late all redirected into a sewage system

FROGS ARE FEELING THE HEAT Extracted from an article in the Toronto Sun, Jan 12, 2006.

An infectious fungus aggravated by extinction is taking place because global warming has killed entire of global warming,” Dr. Alan populations of frogs in Central and Pounds, an ecologist of the South America. Researchers found Monteverde Cloud Forest preserve that a warming atmosphere in Costa Rica, said. Warmer encouraged the spread of a fungus that temperatures resulted in increased has wiped out species of harlequin cloud cover over the mountain, frogs and golden toads. “This is the which scientists believe promoted first clear evidence that widespread the growth of the chytrid fungus. Drawing by Joan Doucette from a photo

DRUNK ELKS MOB RETIREMENT HOME Extracted from The Guardian Weekly, November 18-24, 2005

A drunken party of elks surrounded an Nyheter reports. Police with dogs had forester Fredrik Johnsson told the old people’s home in the town of failed to scare them off, and the newspaper. “They don’t recognize Ostra Goinge, near Malmo, after animals only ran away after hunters the difference between fermented and devouring high numbers of fermented with guns arrived on the scene. “It’s not fermented and stuff themselves apples, Swedish paper Dagens not unusual for elks to get drunk,” down to the last apple.” TFN 538-21

IN THE NEWS continued.

QUARRY GROWTH BAD FOR ESCARPMENT Extracted from an article by Robert Bateman in The Hamilton Spectator, Jan. 23, 2006.

Protecting the escarpment has come unused buildings. We can grow our would fail to ensure protection for the full circle, for it was the blasting of a cities in smarter ways through urban Jefferson salamander, a threatened huge hole in the cliff face here in intensification and more public transit. species under the federal Species at 1962 that ignited the first public out- Risk Act, and would jeopardize cry. Now, the company [Dufferin Dufferin Aggregates' proposed quarry Canada's commitment to upholding Aggregates] wants a licence to destroy expansion is troubling because it the international Convention on another 83 hectares (205 acres) to depends on massive engineering Biological Diversity. McGuinty's gain about ten years of quarrying. works operating forever -- akin to cabinet should not risk Ontario's This is the Milton Quarry. It's the “safely” storing high-level radioactive international reputation which has largest active quarry in Canada at 468 wastes. The company will need to long recognized the need to protect hectares (1,156 acres). protect the water resources of the area our finest natural jewels such as the -- the wetlands, creeks and ground- escarpment. Premier Dalton McGuinty and cabinet water -- as it quarries deeper, have a pivotal decision to make -- siphoning out precious water. How Last June, on the 20th anniversary of whether to approve the company's this will be done entails as yet the Niagara Escarpment Plan, Ontario applications for various land-use untested engineering tricks that defy Natural Resources Minister David planning amendments, permits and the public's demand for clean, Ramsay, in thanking those who have licences to expand the Milton Quarry. abundant drinking water and protected contributed to protecting the To be true to its much-heralded ecosystems, especially in an escarpment, said, "Keep doing what Greenbelt, cabinet should turn environmentally sensitive area like the you're doing. We still need you." Dufferin Aggregates away. Niagara Escarpment. Ontarians need their cabinet to save the escarpment, too, by rejecting the Because the Ontario government lacks The company proposes to "fix" the Milton Quarry expansion. In doing so, any comprehensive strategy for destruction of its escarpment lands by the cabinet will leave a green, natural conserving aggregates (sand, gravel tacking nearby lands onto the Niagara escarpment as a lasting legacy of their and stone), companies are always Escarpment Plan. This would render commitment to the environment. looking for more places to mine. We the plan's boundaries so elastic that should be stemming the need for new they could readily accommodate Artist and naturalist Robert Bateman was mines because of their destructive quarrying, setting a harmful precedent a charter member of the Ontario impact. Ontario could do far better in running counter to maintaining the government's Niagara Escarpment the recycling of used aggregates from escarpment's continuous natural Commission in the 1970s. ripping up old roads and tearing down corridor. An expanded quarry here

CITY OF TORONTO LEADS NORTH AMERICA WITH NEW GREEN ROOF POLICY Media release from the City of Toronto, 1 February 2006.

At its meeting today, Toronto City and climate change benefits of wide- urban heat island reductions. Opera- Council approved Making Green spread green roof implementation. tional cost savings for the City from Roofs Happen, its green roofs strategy this level of coverage were calculated which includes commitments to install The City recently commissioned a at approximately $40 million per year. green roof infrastructure on new and multi-disciplinary green roof benefits existing buildings, and recommends study by . Green roofs infrastructures are proven the establishment of pilot programs of Researchers found that 8% coverage technologies that utilize high quality financial incentives for privately of existing rooftops with extensive waterproofing, root repellency and owned green roofs. City officials will green roofs would generate over $300 drainage systems, and lightweight be working with officials at Toronto million in initial cost savings in areas growing media to grow plants on Hydro and the Toronto Atmospheric such as stormwater management, roofs. Fund to develop programs that recog- combined sewer overflow reduction, nize the significant energy, air quality building energy savings, and the TFN 538 - 22

WEATHER (THIS TIME LAST YEAR)

MARCH 2005

March was characterized by lingering cold for most of the and the highest since 2000. Total rainfall was just under 10 month that slowly moderated. The monthly mean tempera- mm, while snowfall amounts were 17.8 cm downtown and ture downtown was –0.4o (1.7o below normal) and –1.6o at 25.6 cm at Pearson Airport – fairly close to normal. Total Pearson Airport (2.0o below normal). It was the coldest precipitation of 26 mm downtown was the lowest since March since 1996 and made the winter of 2004-2005 a 2000 and 32.8 mm at Pearson the lowest since 2001. relatively long one in spite of many fluctuations. The coldest period was on the 8th and the following several Something of a turn-around happened the last three days days, but no records were broken. with temperatures rising into the teens and thunder on the 31st. The fairly steady flow of Arctic air meant also relatively sunny and dry conditions; 167.6 hours of sun were Gavin Miller recorded at Pearson, about 10 above the long-term average

COMING EVENTS

Toronto Ornithological Club – Jim Baillie Memorial Bird Walks For more information visit www.torontobirding.ca • Saturday, March 4 –Toronto to Burlington – “Waterfowl”. Meet in the parking lot at Humber Bay Park East at 9:00 am to car pool if necessary. Led by Ron Scovell. All day. Dress warmly and bring a lunch

High Park Walking Tours Walks begin at 1:30 pm just south of the Grenadier Restaurant. Donations of $2.00 accepted. For information phone 416-392-1748 or 416-392-6916 or visit www highpark.org • Sunday, March 5 – The Birds of Winter (Especially recommended for families) • Sunday, March 19 – Looking for Signs of Spring

Royal Canadian Institute – Science on Sundays ... live! J.J.R. Macleod Auditorium, Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle. Sundays at 3 pm. For information phone 416-977-2983 or visit www royalcanadianinstitute.org • March 5 – Malignant Angels: Reflections on Homicidal Youth – Clive Chamberlain • March 12 – Let’s Talk Science: Fun for kids ages 7-12

Toronto Entomologists Association For further information, visit www.ontarioinsects.org • March 25 – Annual Student Symposium, 1 pm, Room 432, Ramsay Wright Building, 25 Harbord St. (SW corner of St. George St. and Harbord St.)

Hamilton Naturalists’ Club For information call 905-381-0329 or visit www hamiltonnature.org • March 1 to May 15. Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch: Raptors at Beamer Memorial C.A. above Grimsby. Contact Mike Street at 648-3737 for details. • March 4. Cartwright Nature Sanctuary. Meet Alan Ernest at the Nigel Charlong Community Centre, 287 Old Guelph Road at 9:30 am. Moderately difficult walk of about 2 hours. Phone 689-9466 for more details. TFN 538-23

COMING EVENTS continued.

Rouge Valley Conservation Centre – Hikes in the Rouge Valley For more information, phone 416-282-8265 • March 12 at 1:30 pm Theme Walk, ice-break-up. Meet at Conservation Centre, 1749 Meadowvale Rd., Scarborough. • March 26 at 1:30 pm Nature Walk. Meet at Glen Eagles Vista parking lot, Sheppard Ave. E. and Twyn Rivers Drive.

Heritage Walk - Ian Wheal March 25 at 2:00 pm “Lost Ponds of the Annex” Meet at main entrance to Spadina subway, east side of Spadina Road just north of Bloor St. W.

North York Central Library Book Club – book discussion The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-eye View of the World by Michael Pollan March 21, 7:00-8:30 pm Room 106, North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge St. Register in person at the Browsery Desk or call 416-395-5672.

University of Toronto Centre for Environment – Seminars For information visit www.environment.utoronto.ca, e-mail [email protected] or phone 416-978-6526. No registration or fee required. All are welcome. • Wednesdays, March 8, 22, 29. Environment Seminar Series. 4 pm, Baden Centre, 40 St. George St., Rm. 1210 • Thursdays, March 2, 9, 16. Environment & Health Seminar Series. 4 pm, Koffler Institute, 569 Spadina Ave., Rm. 113.

Centre for Global Change Science – Distinguished Lecturer Series For more information: www.cgcs.utoronto.ca 3:30 pm, Bahen Centre, Room 1190, 40 St. George St. • March 7 - Paleoclimate and Global Change. Prof. Brian Luckman. • March 21 - Looking at Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions Differently. Prof. Dennis Baldocchi.

Toronto Mycological Association Toronto Botanical Garden Auditorium, southwest corner of Leslie St. and Lawrence Ave. E. • March 20, 7:45 pm - The Secret Life of Forest Fungi. Dr. Linda Kohn, Professor, Dept. of Botany, University of Toronto

Market Gallery – Windows, Gables, Gingerbread and Gargoyles. For more information: 416-392-7604 Feb. 11 to Mar. 26. Wednesday to Sunday to 4 pm. 95 Front St. E.

Natural History Travel – small group nature travel to a variety of destinations (led by TFN member, George Bryant). Interests include birds, plants, insects, astronomy and historic sites. For information call 416-762-7941 or 1-800-371-7779.

NEW GUIDES:

Carolinian Canada Signature Sites: A Guide to 38 Special Natural Areas in Ontario’s Deep South and Heritage Plaques Celebrating Community Conservation, by Lorraine Johnson, 2005. Available from Carolinian Canada Publications, 1017 Western Road, London, Ontario, N6G 1G5 www.carolinian.org Site 1 is the Rouge River Valley. The plaque is at Glen Eagles Vista, 7 Twyn Rivers Drive, Toronto, near the intersection of Sheppard Ave. East and Meadowvale Road.

Ferns of Northeastern and Central North America: A Field Guide to Ferns and their Related Families, Second Edition, by Boughton Cobb, Elizabeth Farnsworth and Cheryl Lowe, 2005. Houghton, Mifflin, New York. www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com This is an update of the original Peterson field guide to ferns. TFN 538 - 24

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

This photo is from the TFN archives. Please let us know if you recognize any of the people.