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JOURNAL OF THE HAMILTON NATURALISTS’ CLUB Volume 66 Number 4 December, 2012 © Frank and Sandra Horvath Two Barred Owls (Strix varia) were seen during the Hamilton Fall Bird Count, held on November 4, 2012. It’s only been the second time that this species was seen during 39 years of the Count’s history (see page 78). These owls, also called Eight Hooters, Rain Owls, Wood Owls, or Striped Owls, need old trees to nest in, using old Pileated Woodpecker, hawk, or squirrel nests. This Barred Owl was seen at Presqu’ile Provincial Park. Jan. 12, 2012. Photo by Frank and Sandra Horvath. In This Issue: Which birds were seen on the Hamilton Fall Bird Count? What is endangering our bats much more than wind turbines? Who are the Junior and Senior Volunteers of the 2012? Can you guess our three mystery birds? What happened to some ‘kidnapped’ Purple Martins? What property was acquired by the Hamilton Conservation Authority? What are some good ways to increase your bird count on a Big Day? Table of Contents Arlene McCaw - 2012 Junior Volunteer Award Elaine Serena 76 Seeds for Winter Birds June Hitchcox 76 Jim Stollard - 2012 Senior Volunteer Award Bill Lamond 77 Name that Mystery Bird Herman van Barneveld 77 Hamilton Fall Bird Count Bill Lamond 78 Leslie Hale’s Presentation on Bats Louise Unitt 83 DATES TO REMEMBER Michael Fischer 84 Home is Where the Heart is Ronald Barbara 85 Reflections on Two of Canada’s Biggest Days Michael Rowlands 86 HNC Helps to Protect Pleasant View in Dundas Jen Baker 90 Summary of Board Meeting Minutes, Sept.27, 2012 Joyce Litster 91 2013 Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Calendar Mario Carr 92 Noteworthy Bird Records for June and July 2012 Rob Dobos 93 Orange-crowned Warbler. Wetland Trails, Flamborough. October 7, 2012. Photo by Tom Thomas. Page 74 The Wood Duck - December, 2012 Volume 66 Number 2 October, 2012 CN ISSN 0049-7886 - Publications Mail Contract No. 40048074 http://www.hamiltonnature.org [email protected] Publications Committee: Rob Dobos, Bill Lamond, Don McLean, Michael Fischer, Jean Stollard, Jim Stollard, and Susan Doka. The Wood Duck is the official publication of the HNC and produced by volunteer members of the Club. It is published nine times a year from September to May, inclusive. Deadline for receipt of material is the 12th of the month preceding publication date. As long as credit lines are included, articles may be reprinted without permission, unless otherwise specified. Opinions expressed in the Wood Duck are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club. The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club promotes public interest in the study, conservation and appreciation of our natural heritage. Meetings are held monthly September to May inclusive and field events are scheduled throughout the year. Visitors are welcome. The HNC is a registered charity and all donations as well as membership fees are tax deductible. HNC BOARD 2012 - 2013 Executive Past President: Bill Lamond 519 756 9546 [email protected] President: Michael Fischer 905 526 0325 [email protected] Vice-President: Jim Heslop 905 648 5770 [email protected] Secretary: Joyce Litster 905 627 1203 [email protected] Treasurer: Jim Heslop 905 648 5770 [email protected] Directors Bird Study Group: George Holland 905 945 3962 [email protected] Conservation & Ed: Terry Carleton 905 515 4101 [email protected] Field Events: Fran Hicks [email protected] Director-at-Large: Gord McNulty 905 525 9927 [email protected] Membership: Maggie Sims 905 331-1496 [email protected] Programs: Peter Scholtens 905 388 6415 [email protected] Publicity: Lindsay Burtenshaw 289 389 9074 [email protected] Sanctuary: Warren Beacham 905 627 3343 [email protected] Volunteers: Elaine Serena 905 639 2702 [email protected] Wood Duck Editor Herman van Barneveld 289 426 5341 [email protected] Coordinators Website Coordinator Kyle Bates [email protected] Social Coordinator (seeking volunteer) Junior Naturalists Brian Wylie 905 627 4601 [email protected] Mailing Jean Stollard 905 634 3538 [email protected] Land Trust Program Jen Baker 905 524 3339 [email protected] Bookkeeper Marion Fletcher Report rare bird sightings to Cheryl Edgecombe 905-637-5923 Send Noteworthy Bird Records to: Rob Dobos, 21 Sunrise Cres., Dundas, L9H 3S1 email: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP FEES – Please remit to HNC PUBLICATIONS - To order contact Alf Senior The Membership Director, Hamilton Naturalists’ Club 905 527 0905 or [email protected] P.O.Box 89052, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4R5 Life Membership $ 750.- Hamilton Nature Counts 2003 $ 75 Single Membership $ 35.- Checklist of the Birds of Ham./Wentworth $2.- Senior Single Membership $30.- Date Guide to Birds of Ham./Wentworth $1.- Student Single Membership (on-line-only free Naturally Hamilton - Guide to Green Spaces free access to Wood Duck; for those 25 or under) Head-of-the-Lake Pocket Nature Guide $8.- Senior Joint Membership $35.- The Habitats of Hamilton and Halton Poster $4.- Family Membership $40.- A Monthly Guide to Nature and Conservation. $5.- Junior Naturalists - 1st child $80.- Hamilton Mammal Atlas $15.- Jurnior Naturalists - additional children $75.- Birds of Hamilton and Surrounding Areas $45.- Honorary Life Member n/a Reptiles and Amphibians of Ham. Area (check local library) The Wood Duck - December, 2012 The Wood Duck - December, 2012 Page 75 Arlene McCaw – Junior Volunteer of the Year for 2012 by Elaine Serena t the November HNC meeting Arlene McCaw was Christmas meetings, Fall Bird Counts, and chili suppers, as well. honoured with the 2012 Junior Volunteer of the Year She participates in the Fall Bird Count each year and many other Award for her readiness to volunteer and help out with HNC activities. Amany HNC events since she joined the HNC in 2001. She served Arlene is one of those special people that are always quick to help on the Board as Bird Study Group leader from 2004-2008, quietly and to give very sound advice! giving us thoughtful comments on our various endeavours and activities, always supportive and appreciative of other members, yet having very practical suggestions for action. Since then she has quietly and efficiently helped out and filled in as leader on numerous occasions when other BSG leaders were absent. She has been an integral part of the BSG Planning Committee and continues to do this, drawing up agendas and generally organizing the group. She is a faithful helper at BSG meetings, and you can depend on her to be there with her husband, Jim, to get the room ready and display the membership name-tags. Arlene has also assisted with many other HNC special events, such as the 90th anniversary celebrations, and has provided Elaine Serena (left) with Arlene McCaw (right), the Junior Volunteer of the Year Award holder for 2012. delicious baked goods not only for these occasions, but for Seeds for Winter Birds by June Hitchcox, Courtesy of the Apsley Voice t is always interesting to see birds up close so that we can are not as strong, need small seeds such as millet, canary seed have a really good look at them. Having bird feeders helps and broken-up sunflower seeds called “chips of sunflower seeds”. us do that. Identifying birds at a winter bird feeder is easier Having visitors at your feeder may prompt you to try some exper- Ibecause many species have migrated south so there are fewer iments. Try hanging the feeder up high; your height; quite low; species to see. Perhaps the first thing that we note is that most of near bushes; out in the open; seeds scattered on the ground and these birds have strong bills. They are birds that are seed eaters, you will find what habitat is comfortable for the different species. able to crack seeds open for the “meat” inside. Evening Grosbeaks Also of interest is to note which species prefer to eat in the morn- have extra strong bills that can even crack cherry pits! Sunflower ing, throughout the day or at dusk. When the feeders are empty seeds attract many different species – Chickadees, Blue Jays, both and the birds have become to trust you, they will come to your Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, Cardinals, Purple hand for seeds. We have had birds gently tapping on our win- Finches and more. “Premium black-oil sunflower seeds” are the dows when our feeders are empty, to remind us to get more seeds! most nutritious. Goldfinches, Juncos and others with bills that The HNC will sell 2012 Ontario Nature Greeting Cards this season. This year's card features an image of the Black-capped Chickadee by photographer Robert McCaw. A sign-up sheet to order will be available at the meeting on Monday night. The cards should arrive in time for the Dec. 3 Bird Study Group meeting and the club meet- ing on Dec. 10. The price is $10 for a package of 10 cards and 10 envelopes. Page 76 The Wood Duck - December, 2012 Jim Stollard – Senior Volunteer of the Year Award for 2012 by Bill Lamond im Stollard is the 2012 winner of the HNC Senior Volunteer Jim has also been involved in many other HNC activities. of the Year Award, awarded at the HNC general meeting at • For several years Jim has been, and still is, an active member the Royal Botanical Gardens on 12 November 2012. J of the Sanctuary Committee. I was the Board member who put forth his name at the June HNC Board meeting as the Senior candidate. I can’t think of • For many years Jim has been, and still continues to be, on the anyone more deserving of this award than Jim.

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