The Leaflet Newsletter of the Morgan Arboretum Worth the Risk Spring 2019 By Jim Fyles, Director

Birding 101 ...... 2 The print was almost too tiny to read. But the second sentence Key Resources brought it into clear focus: Species to Look for Here “You should be aware that Nordic skiing involves risks of injury and even death.” Donors List ...... 4 The new pair of cross-country ski boots, replacing the well-used pair that would not make it through another season, promised Upcoming Events ..... 8 cozy toes, and never-ending glide in perfect tracks illuminated by golden slanting rays. The accompanying brochure promised otherwise; in twenty languages. Life is a risky business. We spend our lives reducing risk. We salt our sidewalks. We look both ways before we cross. We buy insurance. We get three quotes. We check the forecast. We eat our vegetables. I am sure that the manufacturer hoped that I would still buy the boots despite the risks, or at least not read the fine print until we got home. As with much in life, we need to accept and manage some risk. The staff of the Arboretum are always worrying about risk. The state of the road, the state of the trails, dead trees, hanging branches, signage, communications with members, visitors, school groups and tours and insurance for rentals, filming and volunteer work are all on our risk ‘worry list’. We are very grateful for the volunteer ski patrollers who reduce the risk on winter trails. As a self-funding unit of McGill, with our major source of funding coming from your memberships and entrance fees, we are always aware of the risks of over- and under-spending. Hiring staff and students, buying and caring for equipment, organizing events, setting fees and advertising all come with risk as well as potential reward. In 2016, due to a tax rule change, we began to pay sales tax on Do you recognize this tree? memberships and entrance fees; we decided to absorb the cost Continued on page 5 The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology

Birding 101 http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ By Hannah Legault, Communications Assistant Common Yellowthroat - Richard Gregson The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology is a world leader in the study, appreciation, and monitoring of bird populations. Their website hosts All About A Tour of Oiseaux rares du Birds & eBird, two of the most useful resources for 6 Fabulous Bird Resources https://quebecoiseaux.org/index.php/fr/oiseaux-rares detailed knowledge about bird species. They are also responsible for the creation and data used by Hosted within the Regoupement Québec Oiseaux the Merlin App. These three platforms are described website, the Rare Bird Page contains rare bird below. Richard Gregson’s Birding Guides sightings in Quebec. They are listed chronologically https://sparroworks.ca/wildlifing/shop/ starting with most recent and specify the location. Richard Gregson is a local biologist, former president There is a legend to indicate the significance of the https://www.allaboutbirds.org/ and director of Bird Protection Quebec, and an avid siting, and contributors often include a photo of the bird that was spotted. The All About Birds website provides key information Insights on Birds: birder. He regularly leads guided bird walks in the on how to identify specific bird species describing Arboretum for novice and advanced birders. He has their features and silhouettes, and providing Where to look for common created and published two birding guides that offer Le Nichoir targeted images to help narrow your search. and spectacular birds useful information about birding in the Morgan https://www.lenichoir.org/ Species’ pages include all kinds of useful information of the Arboretum Arboretum and in the of . including what the species eat, where they live, if The guides are available for a small fee on his web Founded in 1996, le Nichoir is a non-profit wild and when they migrate, etc. In some instances, there this spring and summer page. The location information from the Morgan bird rehabilitation and refuge centre located close is information about how you can attract them to Arboretum guide for key species is summarized in by in Hudson. Their facilities are open 7 days a your yard. the following pages. week, and they have a hotline (also open 7 days per The excitement of spring and hope for week) to help people who have found injured birds. summer come as the snow begins to melt, Bird Protection Quebec Their website includes a Bird Help 911 page with https://ebird.org/ temperatures begin to rise and the ground emergency information, and they offer guided tours begins to thaw. Spring is an excellent season for https://birdprotectionquebec.org/ of their facility for children and adults that are easy The eBird website is an excellent tool to help spotting migratory birds and spring blooms. The Founded in 1917, BPQ is the oldest bird conservation to book via email. organize and streamline your birding, at all levels Arboretum offers an illustrated guide for spring oriented charity in Canada. BPQ often hosts field of experience. It is the world’s largest biodiversity- blooms listed in order of appearance, to make trips within the Morgan Arboretum to help birders related citizen science project, where contributors your discoveries easy and fun. This issue of the of all levels get the most out of their experiences share more than 100 million bird sightings per year. Spring Leaflet highlights the coming seasons’ here. They have monthly lectures on various The shared data helps you find birds based on the important avian visitors, gives you tips to ID bird-related topics that are free of charge. BPQ is latest sighting information for any location across them, and tells you when and where you are also responsible for the presence of several bird the globe. Take the opportunity to share your most likely to find them during your visits here. sanctuaries in Quebec, and gives valuable grants to own sightings, photos and sounds, and track your We have sought the experience of seasoned important ornithological research projects. lists. A wealth of statistical tools also provides for birders and researchers to share with you our the exploration of range, abundance, habitat, and best guesses on where to spot seven of our local Club ornithologique Vaudreuil-Soulanges trends for each species through maps, charts and bird species. Find them in order of appearance animations. on page 6. https://sites.google.com/site/ornithovs/ Continued on page 6 The Club ornithologique Vaudreuil-Soulanges is a local organization promoting ornithology with http://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/ a keen interest in the protection of habitats and The Merlin Bird Identification App (for smartphones) monitoring of endangered species. Their website HÔPITAL www.animal911 .ca VÉTÉRINAIRE is lighter in weight than a field guide and possibly includes a discussion board, a list of nearby places to 9 HÔPITAL more user friendly, depending on whom you ask! go to observe birds, and an extensive photo gallery 11400 boul. Gouin Ouest You can get assistance identifying a bird you saw by of local birds, including the location information Roxboro, Québec, H8Y 1X8 answering simple questions, or by taking a photo 514.685. VETS (8387) of where the images were captured and when. If of the bird. It is uncanny how accurate the bird ID you have taken a photo of a bird and want help BUREAU 566 boul. Jacques-Bizard feature is! The app is available free of charge for identifying it, you can email the photo to the Club 514.685. VETS Ile Bizard QC H9C 2H2 Apple and Android smartphones. and they will assist you. (8387) 514.696.2004

2 Morgan Arboretum The Leaflet | Spring 2019 The Leaflet | Spring 2019 Morgan Arboretum 3 Commemoration: $10,250 Trail Improvement Fund: $2,333 For a total of:

To all of our caring donors whose generosity makes the success of the Arboretum possible: thank you! Donation Arbo 50 Endowment Fund: $2,590 Road Improvement Fund: $1,752 $30,325 Donors Every contribution helps, and we could not do this without you. Amounts Benefactor & Sustaining: $3,600 General: $9,800 Thank you!

DOROTHY GLOUTNEY CONNIE ROBERTS SANDRA HUTCHINSON & Continued from page 1 BRONZE PHILLIP MARCOVITCH MUNICIPAL SILVER $100 ≤ x ‹ $500 BARBARA GRAVES ROBERT & DIANNE ROBINSON $50 ≤ x ‹ $100 CATHY & RICHARD JACKSON in our budget, and increase the fees gradually over a few years. It was a bit of a PETER ABONYI & GEORGE & BARBARA GUILLON COLIN ROSS BAIE-D’URFE WILLIAM ABBA CHRISTL JEMELKA DENISE VERMETTE risky approach but we have managed the budget carefully since then to minimize MEREDITH & JUDY HAYES JOHN ROWEN the impact. You will have noticed that a 15% fee increase to cover the tax has been SAINTE-ANNE-DE-BELLEVUE ED ANDERSON MARGOT ADAIR INGRID A. & MAXIMILIAN KAGEYAMA introduced this year. We hope you will support us in keeping our financial balance BIRGITTE RUMP RALPH & KAREN HOSKER ROBERT ASCAH SENNEVILLE GEOFFREY ANDERSON & positive. This year we have also assumed a bit of a financial risk by hiring Hannah, URSULA & ERIC KRAYER-KRAUSS ALICE HAVEL YSABEL RUPP PATRICIA JACKSON DEBRA ASTROFF our communications intern. Supported in part by a federal ‘Digital Skills for Youth’ CHARLES & JENNIFER ANDERSON HELENE LANGLOIS & DON & JEAN SANCTON grant, the increased action you will have noticed in our social media is part of CORPORATION FRED & VANDA KAYSER ROBERT BAILEY & DENIS CREVIER ANN DE POMINVILLE Hannah’s work to expand awareness of the Arboretum. You can help by liking our DAPHNE ARDELL PIERRE SAUVE DEBORAH & BENJAMIN KEMBALL JULIE LAPERRIERE & posts and sharing them with your friends. BROME BIRD CARE ERIC & PATRICIA BENDER DANIEL FRENETTE AINO ARIK WAYNE KILBOURNE & TERRY SCHWAN The second trip to the Arboretum with my new but risk-incurring boots was wedged NANCY FEELEY CLAUDETTE LAWAND DOMINION & GRIMM TREVOR & BARBARA BISHOP IAN & VERA ASTON ROBERT SCULLY into a Saturday morning that already had too many commitments. But freezing rain TOM & KAREN KINGSBURY MILTON LILLO LALLEMAND SUSAN BLACK was on its way and “If we don’t ski now, who knows? We might not get another HEATHER AYRE FRANCOIS & JEANNE SENECAL-TREMBLAY EMIL KOLLER chance!” We weighed the risk of an even more chaotic day against the risk of terrible CHANTAL BOUTHAT TRACY H. & JOHANNAH LLOYD MDA CORPORATION DANIELLE BEAUDRY PAULA & PATRICK SHANNON skiing following freezing rain and headed for the trails. ANNE-MARIE KUBANEK ELIZABETH BROADY ISABEL MAICAS SCHLUTER SYSTEMS CANADA CAROLINE BEGG It was one of those days when everything seemed to be waiting in anticipation of the BARBARA SHAPIRO LENORE LEWIS & DONALYN MARPOLE HANS BERGER GERALD VAN DER WEYDEN KERR & DARLENE CANNING approaching storm. There was no wind. There was barely a sound. The sky was so PLATINUM JEANNINE SIMON & RICHARD YOUNG blue that we had to stop a few times just to look. $1000 ≤ x ‹ $5000 JACQUES BOUCHER & NANCY LLOYD HELEN CARROLL GAIL MCLEOD-GERMAIN & ELAINE CHUBRY PATRICK GERMAIN DANA SMITH & MARY RIGGIN The tracks were manicured, the glide perfect. The toes were cozy, just as the GARRY MACDONALD & BRUCE CASE & PATRICIA RILEY NADINE BOLDUC & BONNIE CAMPBELL & LYNNE MCVEY DIANA & DUNCAN MCNEILL boots had promised. We saw two barred owls! The chaos of the cluttered morning MICHEL DENIS GILLES DURUFLE LINDA & S. ALLAN STEPHENS KATHERINE CREWE & vanished. Sometimes…often…usually…the reward is worth the risk. So let’s be careful IAN & MARNEY MACDONALD MICHAEL DIXON KARINE MONGRAIN & WILMA BROWN LAUREL CHAUVIN-KIMOFF & DANIEL TIGNER & MATHIEU GELINAS with the risks out there! R. JOHN KIMOFF MARYSE COHEN BARBARA & DON MACDUFF CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN & ENZO CEFIS PHILIP CAPREOL LOUISE MORIN & SERGE LAPORTE If it’s icy, cleats are a very good idea. If it’s very windy, let’s stay out of the woods. If SUSAN CHILDS JIM & MARILYN TOOLEY LOIS MAEDER-ALVES & the hills are very crusty, let’s take our skis off and walk down beside the trail. Let’s PETER ALVES ARTHUR DAWE BRENDA & JOHN MORRISON DAVID HOLLAND MARIE-BELLE CUNNINGHAM NICOLE & JEAN TROTTIER bring our phones and an extra sweater, just in case; in JIM & BARBARA MARCOLIN ANDRE DE L'ETOILE & HELENE & GEOFFREY QUAID PAUL DUPUY LEBLANC MICHAEL & KIM DAVIDMAN UNION & BEAUREPAIRE GUYLAINE BRUNET summer insect repellant and drinking water. Chocolate! UNITED CHURCH NEIL MCDERMID And we, your support staff, will continue to be careful 33, rue St-Pierre KELLY ANN DOHERTY & LOUISE RIEL KARI & SAEED QURAESHI JOHN G. DENNETT Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue (QuŽbec) JEAN-RENE VAN BECELAERE & RICHARD HOY with the risks we manage, keep you informed through BRIGITTE AUZERO H9X 1Y7 BRIAN MILLER & SARAH BROWNS JACQUELINE ROBILLARD HELENE DESPAROIS & our social media, keep the woods and trails as safe as TŽl.: (514) 457-5731 GOLD JOSEPH BLAIN ANITA & KEITH DUNN BETSY MITCHELL LEO VANDERROEST we can, and make sure that we spend your money well. Fax: (514) 457-5731 $500 ≤ x ‹ $1000 FRANCIS & SVETLANA ROY CAROL EDWARD & JOHN DURRANT But let’s not be too careful. The Arboretum is not a ANDREW MORROW MARY ELLEN MONTAGUE WILLIAM VICKERY & JUDITH NOWLAN CHARLOTTE SCHMID very risky place. But from the comfort of home, we can SUSAN CRAWFORD ROD & MAUREEN FALLON ROBERT & WINNIFRED EMMETT EDOUARD MONTPETIT MARY VITOU JURGEN SEIZER & SONIA MAILLY easily magnify the risk of being too hot, too cold, too MARCHƒ J. RAYMOND RICHARD BLAZENA FARRA BARBARA FOWLER SHAN EVANS & RAMAN NAYAR many bugs, too icy, not worth the time or money. ET FILS INC. ANNE PALLEN GEOFFREY WEBSTER TOBBY & LYNNE SKEIE DAWN HODES ALLAN FABRIS & KENNETH FORREST & With a bit of care and attention, we can manage those GEORGE PANCIUK MARGO KEENAN NICOLE PARE-FABRIS MARY WELLS ROBIN & CATHERINE STEWART risks. When we do, the risk of not having a pleasant day MARGUERITE KOPIEC JIM & HELEN FYLES FRED & ARLETTE PARKINSON MICHAEL & MARGARET HUBERT GENDRON is very low. WESTWOOD JEAN-LOUIS TASSE CAROL LAPPIN PAUL & SHARI GAGNE RICHARD & JANE PICKERING JILL GOWDEY Of course, as soon as we step out of the car, the risks of KEITH & MAUREEN WOOLNOUGH MARLENE & SAUL TICKTIN encountering a fox, seeing an owl, strolling past a patch STEVE & MARION STEIN SHIRLEY GAVLAS & CARL POMERANTZ & JANE & PATRICK GUEST PIERRE MARTIN RONDA FISHER C. WRIGHT DAWSON TILLEY of trillium or meeting a friend on the trail, shoot up. ARNOLD ZWAIG & YVONNE HIEMSTRA & STEPHANIE HAMEL FRANCINE GELINAS ROBERT REID & LORI HEATH HENRY B. & MELODIE YATES MICHAEL ZINAY NEVINE YOUSSEF & YVES BRUNET And these are risks that bring their own rewards.

4 Morgan Arboretum The Leaflet | Spring 2019 The Leaflet | Spring 2019 Morgan Arboretum 5 Continued from page 3 Pileated Yellow-rumped Red-eyed Vireo Red-bellied Woodpecker Warbler Viréo à œil rouge Woodpecker Grand pic Paruline à croupion Vireo olivaceus Pic à ventre roux Dryocopus pileatus jaune Smart and sleek Setophaga coronata Melanerpes carolinus Since the 1998 ice looking, the Red-eyed Vireo A year-round storm, the Pileated Named for the is another local resident species Woodpecker has flash of yellow on spring and summer whose distribution become very its rump that is Male Pileated Woodpecker favourite. It is Red-eyed Vireo has moved north in prominent in visible as it flies, - Cristiane Pamponet (FLICKR) - Michel Bourque one of the most the recent years, it our local mature the Yellow-rumped populous birds found in the woods of Eastern is thought to have forests and one of the most common birds in the Warbler is generally North America. been resident in the Male Red-bellied Woodpecker Arboretum, hence its use as an emblem on our the first to arrive Arboretum since - Michel Bourque Facebook page. Its unique appearance makes it and the last to ID Tips: Sparrow-sized or smaller, male and female approximately 2005. easy to distinguish from other local species. leave of our local Red-eyed Vireos are similar. Look for a grey crown, warblers. olive green back and a clean white chest and ID Tips: The same size as a Hairy Woodpecker, ID Tips: The largest of six local species of stomach. A horizontal stripe pattern delineates the slightly smaller than an American Robin, the Red- woodpeckers it is similar in size to a Crow. Both ID Tips: The Yellow- eyes, which are dark from a distance but visibly red bellied Woodpecker male and female have a bright sexes possess a pointy red head crest and are almost rumped Warbler when viewed close up (with binoculars). red nape of the neck (in most woodpecker species completely black all over. In flight, the undersides of is sparrow-sized or this is only seen in males). At rest, the back is barred its wings are white. smaller with a long, Male Yellow-rumped Warbler WHEN to look for them: Late April to early October. narrow tail. They - Jeannine St-Amour (FLICKR) black and white. In flight, watch for white patches WHEN to look for them: Year-round WHERE to look for them: Listen for the distinct, near the wingtips and typical undulating flight have a speckled WHERE to look for them: Listen for the drumming appearance with white, black, brown and grey loud, repetitive (near incessant) calls of “here I am, pattern of woodpeckers. Despite the name, the “red there you are.” belly” is little more than a pale reddish wash on the of the large beak and ringing territory calls. Look for visible. They have yellow patches (with undefined stomach which can be hard to see. vertically long, rectangular holes in large dead tree edges) on their sides in front of the wings and on In the Arboretum: The Red-eyed Vireo’s calls can be trunks and limbs. their rump (visible when in flight or with wings heard at the T-junction of the Orange & Yellow Trails WHEN to look for them: Year-round In the Arboretum: They enjoy the trees past Hill open). near Maple Corner, and the Eastern parts of the WHERE to look for them: Like most woodpeckers, Pond - on the right, halfway along the Orange Trail, WHEN to look for them: Early April through May, Arboretum seem most popular. this species can be found around suet and black and the North-West section delimited by the Orange peak mid May, until mid-October. sunflower seed feeders, and in old growth forests. and Yellow Trails. WHERE to look for them: Mature coniferous and Indigo Bunting Passerin indigo Passerina cyanea In the Arboretum: Look for them between the mixed coniferous-deciduous woods. Try to spot their A favourite to photograph, the stunningly brilliant Conservation Centre and Chalet Pruche, in the yellow patches in spring before full foliage is present, hue of the male Indigo Bunting makes him easy maple stands south and west of Blossom Corner, in Tree Swallow Hirondelle Bicolore Tachycineta bicolor in areas with spring flowers and blooms. to spot among the spring and summer foliage of the forest edge west of Chalet Pruche and in trees Southern Quebec. near the Sugar Shack. Often the first swallow to arrive in Spring, this In the Arboretum: Early morning is the ideal spotting small but swift bird catches insects mid-flight with time. Best spots to look are in Blossom Corner ID Tips: Look for the male: female Indigo Buntings speed and grace. and in the shrubby, dense parts of Pullin’s Pasture, assume the majority of parental care, and with their specifically around May 20. yellow-brown plumage, are much more difficult to ID Tips: Sparrow-sized or smaller, Tree Swallows locate than the vocal and showy, bright blue males. have long, sharply pointed dark wings, a metallic blue-turquoise back and a clean white chest and WHEN to look for them: Late-April to early- stomach. May, highest density between June & July, until September. WHEN to look for them: Mid-March to early April, until September. WHERE to look for them: “Edge” habitats, next to clearings & meadows, are where the males will WHERE to look for them: Tree Swallows usually nest usually appear. They are occasionally seen singing near bodies of water (ideal for insect foraging) and from power lines. can be spotted diving for insects in open areas such as fields, ponds, marshes and wooded swamps. In the Arboretum: The hedges between the Orange Trail and the field to the North and East of Chalet In the Arboretum: Observe the nest boxes from a Pruche are a favoured location. They can also be distance (this applies to all nest boxes – never go seen at the edges of the forest surrounding the field close) and watch them hunting in the field between downhill from Chalet Pruche in front of the Sugar the two main parking lots. Male Tree Swallow - David Saliba (FLICKR) Male Indigo Bunting - Dan Pancamo (FLICKR) Shack. Continued on page 8 6 Morgan Arboretum The Leaflet | Spring 2019 The Leaflet | Spring 2019 Morgan Arboretum 7 The birds of the Arbo Join us this season at the following events: are fed by Forest Spring Flowers Saturdays, May 4 & May 11, 11h-12h30

World Migratory Bird Day Spring Walk Saturday, May 11, 7h-11h

Where the Wild Things Are Sunday, May 19, 10h-12h

Survival in the Wild: Useful Plants Saturday, June 1, 10h-13h

The Summer Night Sky Saturday, June 8, 19h30-21h30

Infrared Astronomy Saturday, July 6, 19h30-21h30

What’s in this Pond? Saturday, July 27, 10h-12h https://birdprotectionquebec.org/

Photographing a Meteor Shower Friday, August 9, 19h30-21h30 Morgan Arboretum Association Perseids Meteor Shower Monday, August 12, 19h30-23h Established in 1952 Continued from page 7

Scarlet Tanager WHEN to look for them: Mid to Tangara écarlate Piranga olivacea late May until September. Looking for a challenge? The WHERE to look for them: Find Scarlet Tanager is a rare find them high up in the canopy of Dedicated to forest conservation due to its small mature, forested and environmental education habitat range areas, (binoculars are strongly and preference Morgan Arboretum for treetop recommended). They nest in 21,111 Lakeshore Road P.O. Box 186 foraging, but the bright plumage hemlock, oak, pine, hickory, and beech Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9 of the male Tel.: 514-398-7811 mixed forests, Scarlet Tanager Fax: 514-398-7959 but sometimes in is a treat for the Email: [email protected] stands of aspen, Web Site: www.morganarboretum.org adventurous birder birch and poplar. looking for the Male Scarlet Tanager THE LEAFLET unusual. - E. Estrada (FLICKR) In the Arboretum: is published in English and French, ID Tips: Look for The best chances twice a year in April and September to see them are on dry, sunny the breeding male. Between English revision: days near Blossom Corner, high sparrow and robin-sized, the up in the trees. They might also Richard & Jean Gregson male Scarlet Tanager has black appear in the small but tall stand French translation: wings and a black tail, contrasting of maple trees within the Orange Anne-Marie Pilon & Jean Lapierre with the very bright red plumage Trail loop in front of Chalet all over his head and body. Pruche. Cover page photographs: Top Michel Bourque Bottom John Lanthier