JOURNAL OF THE HAMILTON NATURALISTS’ CLUB Protecting Nature Since 1919 Volume 69 Number 7 March, 2016

Cave Swallow at Bronte Harbour on 21 November 2015 - photo Barry Cherriere. It is extraordinary how this species makes almost annual late fall flights into north-eastern North America including Hamilton. This is a new phenomenon that just did not happen until the late 1990s. Whatever the reason for this, it is a welcome event for area birders. This bird at Bronte Harbour, and others this fall, were very easy to see unlike other years when they were seen by few as they passed by quickly along Lake Ontario shores. View all the fall season Cave Swallow records inside on page 152 in the Noteworthy Bird Records.

In This Issue: Results of the Fisherville CBC Summary of HNC Board Minutes “New” Peach Tree Christmas Bird Count Results Member Profile — Ursula Kolster Fall 2015 Noteworthy Bird Records Table of Contents

First Annual Peach Tree Christmas Bird Count – A Success Bruce Mackenzie 148 Updates from HNC’s Land Trust Coordinator February 2016 Jen Baker 150 Bird Houses in Winter June Hitchcox 151 Noteworthy Bird Records - September to November (Fall) 2015 Bill Lamond 152 Ostrich Fern, Bracken, and Cinnamon Fern – Edible? – Take Care Peter Thoem 154 Dates to Remember April - May 2016 Robert Porter/Liz Rabishaw 156 Ontario Nature (ON) Events Gord McNulty 158 Member Profile – Ursula Kolster Gerten Basom 162 BSG - Annual Holiday Celebration and Birding Quiz Michael Rowlands 163 Fisherville Christmas Bird Count – December 28, 2015 Linda Thrower 164 Minutes Summary of HNC Board Of Directors Meetings Bronwen Tregunno 165

A Merlin perched in a roadside tree on 4th Concession West, Flamborough, 24 January 2016 - photo Bob Curry. The Merlin was a rare bird 30 years ago at any time of the year in Hamilton. Numbers gradually increased through the years to the point where Merlins began nesting in the Hamilton area about eight years ago. Numbers have now plateaued but the Merlin is currently a regular if uncommon sight in the HSA at any time of the year.

Page 146 The Wood Duck - March, 2016

Volume 69 Number 7 March, 2016 CN ISSN 0049-7886 - Publications Mail Contract No. 40048074 http://www.hamiltonnature.org [email protected]

Publications Committee: Christine Bishop, Rob Dobos, Maggie Sims, Kevin McLaughlin, Don McLean, Herman van Barneveld, Glenda Slessor, Jean Stollard, Jim Stollard and John Struger. The Wood Duck is the official publication of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and produced by members of the Club. It is published nine times a year from September to May, inclusive. Deadline for receipt of material is the 5th 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 2015 - 2016 Executive Past President: Michael Fischer 905 526 0325 [email protected] President: Maggie Sims 905 331 1496 [email protected] Vice-President: vacant Secretary: Bronwen Tregunno 905 637 7136 [email protected] Treasurer: Jim Stollard 905 634 3538 [email protected] Directors Bird Study Group: Bruce Mackenzie 905 643 4526 [email protected] Conservation & Education: Paul D. Smith 905 659 1482 [email protected] Field Events: Rob Porter 905 920 3148 [email protected] Director-at-Large: Gord McNulty 905 525 9927 [email protected] Membership: Jill Baldwin 905 679 6447 [email protected] Programs: vacant Publicity: Pritom Dey 647 607 8786 [email protected] Sanctuary: Brian Wylie 905 627 4601 [email protected] Volunteer: Kim Fowler 647 886 3049 [email protected] Wood Duck Editor: Bill Lamond 519 756 9546 [email protected]

Coordinators

Website Coordinator: Pritom Dey 647 607 8786 [email protected] Social Coordinator: Catharine Flatt 905 628 2030 [email protected] 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]

Report rare bird sightings to: Cheryl Edgecombe 905-637-5923 Send Noteworthy Bird Records to: Bill Lamond, 238 St. George St, Brantford, N3R 1W7 email: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP FEES – Please remit to The Membership Director, HNC PUBLICATIONS - To order, contact Elaine Serena Hamilton Naturalists’ Club P.O.Box 89052, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4R5 905-639-2702 or [email protected]

Life Membership $750.00 Hamilton Nature Counts 2003 $75.00 Single Membership $45.00 Hamilton Area Bird Checklist 2007 $2.00 Senior Single Membership $40.00 Head of the Lake Nature Guide $8.00 Student Single Membership (on-line-only What’s Alive in Hamilton - from HCA website. free access to Wood Duck; for those 25 or under) free Checklist of Ontario Butterflies $1.50

Senior Joint Membership $45.00 Birds of Hamilton and Surrounding Areas $45.00 Family Membership $50.00 (order from Glenn Barrett at [email protected]) Junior Naturalists - 1st child $80.00 Hamilton Mammal Atlas $15.00 Junior Naturalists - additional children $70.00 A Monthly Guide to Nature and Conservation. $5.00 Honorary Life Member n/a Reptiles and Amphibians of Ham. Area (check local library)

The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Page 147 Editor’s notes…… I hope that those of you who read the Noteworthy Bird Records can read it well enough in this issue. I reduced the type size (for this issue only) to make it take up less space. If you think the type is too small, please let me know and I will leave it at 11 pt. type in future issues. I have received feedback in the past about whether there is still a need for the NBR in the Wood Duck. The case could be made that eBird is now a resource for Hamilton area bird records and the NBR is redundant. Not true! I would say about 30% of the records in the NBR here are records that are not submitted to eBird. The NBR provides a succinct summary of HSA birds which can be seen at a glance and is more complete than eBird – it’s eBird plus records from those who do not use eBird. I think there is still a great value to the NBR, despite the space it consumes. I have included a summary of HNC Board minutes in this issue. I think it is important for members to see what their Board is doing. I have really condensed these minutes, so please note that this is not all that they have discussed, just a synopsis of some of the major topics. There are many other issues that I have left out, including confidential issues that were omitted in regards to potential land acquisitions. Perhaps this summary might get a couple of you interested in becoming part of the HNC Board. There are a couple of vacant portfolios currently. You’d enjoy it!

First Annual Peach Tree Christmas Bird Count – A Success by Bruce Mackenzie ver 30 counters participated in the first annual Peach Tree (1). The 47 American OChristmas Bird Count (CBC) on January 2, 2016. The bird Robins counted were not count circle, 24 kilometers (15 miles) in diameter, was divided a surprise as there are into 14 sections and includes Grimsby, Grassie, Smithville and usually a good number Caistorville – the whole area is within the Hamilton Study Area of them found in the (HSA). Some counters recorded birds at their backyard feeders. Niagara Peninsula over Counters carried out the census in 0oC weather and moderate winds. the winter as they feed They were rewarded with 73 species and a total of 35,241 birds. on the abundant berries. Bruce Mackenzie 15 October 2013 from video in conversation with the Escarpment Project. The highlights for the day were the ducks on Lake Ontario, In addition to the 73 specifically 8,721 White-winged Scoters and 9,345 Long-tailed Count-day birds, Snow Goose, Great Blue Heron, and Common Ducks. Also, the number of Surf Scoters was impressive at 907 Raven were the three Count-week species (three days before or three individuals. The waterfront section of the CBC circle was from days after the Count). We missed a Carolina Wren by one day. Grays Road in Stoney Creek to Nelles Road in Grimsby. Eight The totals were very consistent in terms of numbers of birds and Cackling Geese were in a flock of Canadas on top of the Escarpment. type in each of the 14 sections. This speaks of the equal work Three owl species were recorded: Great Horned, Screech and of the counters, their expertise, and somewhat equal amounts Short-eared. Other raptors included Bald Eagles, Turkey of similar habitats in the different count sections. The two main Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers, Sharp-shinned waterfront sections on the lake both recorded 42 species and Hawks, a Rough–legged Hawk and 22 American Kestrels – a with 12,200 birds in one and 10,229 in the other. high count for this rapidly diminishing falcon. In 11 of the “just land” sections, the species ranged from 15 to 31, Counters generally reported that land birds were hard to find. but in eight sections, the range was between 26 and 31 species – The recent warm weather may have allowed the birds to be very consistent. The numbers of birds in these 11 land sections spread out. The Peach Tree CBC numbers were still impressive ranged from 427 to 2143 with seven sections counting between though with a total of 35,421 birds whereas the Hamilton CBC 427 and 826 birds. on December 26 with 105 participants recorded 38,103. The huge numbers of Long-tailed Ducks and White-winged Scoters in the The varied and excellent habitat that is still found in the circle Peach Tree circle skews the numbers of course. – including the Niagara Escarpment and farm lands above the Escarpment – provides a wide variety of habitat types for birds. There was almost a complete absence of traditional winter birds These lands provide essential habitat for the over-winter survival with only 69 Snow Buntings and one Lapland Longspur recorded. of birds and other wildlife. This further reflects the recent warm weather across the province and region. A few birds that should have been long gone to the A hot spot on the Escarpment was in the area of the new south were still found such as Common Loon (1), Northern Flicker Vinemount Meadows Sanctuary on 10th Road East in Stoney (2), White-throated Sparrow (1) and White-crowned Sparrow Creek. Northern Shrike, Short Eared Owl, Northern Harrier Page 148 The Wood Duck - March, 2016 and two Northern Flickers were found. Rob Porter reported Paul Philp, Rob Porter, Nancy Smith, Bev Trojnar, Rick Trojnar, a large flock of 80 American Tree Sparrows...quite a number. Liz Vanderwoude, Gideon Vanderwoude, Robin Vanderwoude, Common Raven was absent on the count; a few were expected Tyler Vanderwoude, Rob Waldhuber, Deb Wood, Ross Wood. as they are now nesting on a mountain quarry face in Stoney Creek. Neither Carolina nor Winter Wrens showed themselves. Canada Goose 4,096, Cackling Goose 8, American Black Duck The Christmas Bird Count in Hamilton has been ongoing since 20, Mallard 858, Greater Scaup 187, King Eider 8, Surf Scoter 1921. The tradition of Christmas Bird Counts started in North 907, White-winged Scoter 8,721, Black Scoter 18, Long-tailed America in 1900. Prior to this, a practice known as the Christmas Duck 9,345, Bufflehead 38, Common Goldeneye 777, Hooded Side Hunt was carried out in parts of the United States in which Merganser 13, Common Merganser 32, Red-breasted Merganser teams would compete to see which team could shoot the most 957, unidentified duck 200, Wild Turkey 170, Common Loon birds on Christmas Day. With wildlife conservation beginning 1 Red-necked Grebe 1, Double-crested Cormorant 5, Turkey at the turn of the last century, Frank Chapman, an ornithologist Vulture 10, Bald Eagle 4, Northern Harrier 5, Sharp-shinned with the Audubon Society, began the tradition of Christmas Hawk 2, Cooper’s Hawk 4, Red-tailed Hawk 106, Rough-legged Bird Counts in New York. Today, there are approximately 2000 Hawk 1, American Coot 3, Ring-billed Gull 453, Herring Gull bird count circles in Canada and the United States combined. 167, Great Black-backed Gull 19, unidentified gull 94, Rock In Canada the counts are coordinated by Bird Studies Canada. Pigeon 318, Mourning Dove 353, Eastern Screech-Owl 6, Great Conservation biologists use the data from the CBCs to monitor Horned Owl 1, Short-eared Owl 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker bird populations and coordinate wildlife management projects 55, Downy Woodpecker 63, Hairy Woodpecker 18, Northern across North America. Christmas Bird Counts take place Flicker 4, American Kestrel 22, Merlin 3, Northern Shrike 2, between December 14th and January 5th. Blue Jay 331, American Crow 108, Horned lark 4, Black-capped Chickadee 247, Tufted Titmouse 2, Red-breasted Nuthatch It was important to start a census of birds in this area and the 3, White-breasted Nuthatch 49, Brown Creeper 1, Golden- new Peach Tree CBC will fill this role. This new count attracted crowned Kinglet 4, Eastern Bluebird 15, American Robin 47, new birders and experienced birders from across the area, Northern Mockingbird 14, European Starling 3,067, Lapland giving everybody an opportunity. The counters have established Longspur 1, Snow Bunting 69, American Tree Sparrow 604, a good baseline of data for future Peach Tree Christmas Bird Song Sparrow 5, White-throated Sparrow 9, White-crowned Counts. We hope more will participate for the 2016 count. Sparrow 16, Dark-eyed Junco 647, Northern Cardinal 132, Red- I would like to thank all of the participants for their time and winged Blackbird 1, Brown-headed Cowbird 523, Purple Finch energies and we look forward to having them return next year: 1, House Finch 107, Pine Siskin 1, American Goldfinch 271, Rob Buchanan, Wayne Bullock, Barb Charlton, Rob Dobos, House Sparrow 885. Dave Don, Kathy Ellis, Lorraine Feenstra, Christian Friis, Mark Jennings, Sheryl Kampen, Dennis Lewington, Gwen Lewington, Total Species: 73. Ken Linde, George Naylor, Bruce Mackenzie, Laurie Mackenzie, Stuart Mackenzie, Len Manning, David Moffatt, Karin Philp,

Map of new Peach Tree CBC Circle centred at 43.148248, -79.680067.

The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Page 149 Updates from HNC’S Land Trust Coordinator February 2016 by Jen Baker

his is a general activity update from the HNC’s Land Trust Saturday, native plant sales, TCoordinator. If you would like more details, or if you have pollinator garden bus tour. questions, please contact Jen Baker at [email protected] We’re continuing to promote or 905-524-3339. the pollinator corridor and Stewardship are encouraging people to certify their pollinator-friendly Spooky Hollow Nature Sanctuary gardens through our program. Jen Baker, HNC Land Trust We are preparing for the prescribed burn that will be happening Coordinator at Cartwright Sanctuary, at the Spooky Hollow Nature Sanctuary in the early spring. A Visit our project blog for more July 2012 - photo Wade Genders. burn plan has been prepared and submitted to the Norfolk details and check often for County Fire Chief. The Fire Chief has approved the burn plan and regular updates! http://hamiltonpollinatorparadise.org a burn permit will be picked up in Simcoe. HNC is responsible Trees Please Project for clearing the fire breaks and has completed approximately 80%. The remainder will be finished right after snow melt and a HNC and Environment Hamilton (EH) are once again volunteer work party will be announced. combining organizational expertise in a project designed to improve Hamilton’s air quality through strategic planting of Short Hills Nature Sanctuary native trees, shrubs and plants in 6 lower city neighbourhoods. HNC is involved with an American Chestnut research project More vegetation will improve the health of Hamilton’s urban which involves trying to pollinate pure American Chestnuts forest, thereby helping to improve air quality and mitigate the to help increase a healthy population. As part of this, saplings impacts of climate change, creating more shade and shelter for were planted near a specimen tree located close to Metler Road. humans and wildlife, while enhancing neighbourhood aesthetics A large hazard tree has been discovered that might fall on the and quality of life. specimen tree and that could also fall on the power lines. The tree is about 80’ tall and the power lines are about 70’ from the The project will offer unique opportunities for community tree. It is a difficult and dangerous tree to fell as it is rotten and volunteers to become ‘citizen scientists’ who will help to (a) could fall back on the operator if pulled and climbing it is unsafe. collect air particulate pollution data; (b) conduct a tree inventory It is felt that Hydro needs to visit the site, and depending on their to evaluate the health of the urban forest; (c) help with analysis response, an arborist may be needed. The SLTC will be arranging of the air and tree data to identify priority planting locations and a site visit with Hydro to determine the appropriate next steps. species to be planted; and, (d) participate in planting events that target these priority locations. Urban Forest Project Over the course of the three year project we will hold Giuliana Casimirri, HNC’s contract urban forest advisor, is neighbourhood-based workshops, walkabouts and information developing a campaign to engage community groups to approach sessions to talk about the results of the air monitoring and tree Hamilton Council with the need for an urban forest strategy. It inventory work. We will also offer specific skills training such as will be in the budget presented by staff and we’ll be asking Council how to grow trees from seed or how to strategically plant trees to approve this budget item. We will be making the delegation and vegetation to save energy at home. to Council during the budget deliberations on February 9. We The project, which we are calling Trees Please: the “Green Solution are encouraging other groups to write a letter and/or make a to Air Pollution”, creatively combines elements of several projects delegation as well. Getting an urban forest strategy underway already underway within each organization (Pollinator Paradise, will be advantageous for the new Trees Please project. Trees Count, Trees Please!, BAM (Bicycle Air Monitoring) and Pollinator Paradise Project INHALE (Initiative for Healthy Air and Local Economies), and We are planning the 2016 plantings which will include a mixture focuses on providing hands on solutions for neighbourhoods to of new sites and infilling sites that were planted this year. The help fix the issues identified by the environmental monitoring sites to be planted in 2016 include parks, Victory/community they undertake. gardens, churches, schools and some private land. TheTrees Please Coordinator job posting is being distributed and Initial discussions about a native garden award are underway interviews will be early February. We will be doing initial project with the Crown Point neighbourhood. We want to celebrate promotion and Trillium recognition in February when we will June as pollinator month and are planning communications and hopefully have a logo, blog, and new coordinator. activities during that time. Outdoor Education The workshops planned for 2016 include: bee box workshop, Planning late winter and spring school programs which will be starting plants from seed, native plant design workshop, Seedy a mix of pollinator and tree programming.

Page 150 The Wood Duck - March, 2016 A videographer is working on a video about education program program. We hope this will help to restore some natural areas in and will be ready for early March. The video will be shown at an the city, while providing places students can visit to make nature upcoming HNC meeting. observations. If anyone is interested in providing advice on these For our upcoming work we are looking at creating mini-forests naturalization projects, please contact Jen Baker. and/or pollinator patches at or near the schools. We’ll be working We are delivering pollinator programming to Grade 3-5 students with the students and teachers in all phases of the project and at the Hebrew Academy in Westdale. will encourage them to undertake a monitoring/sightings

The Secret Lives of Bird Houses in Winter Red-shouldered Hawks by June Hitchcox At the Annual Niagara Peninsula o maybe you thought as I did Hawkwatch Banquet Sthat your bird houses are only We have a special treat in store for the Annual Meeting and useful in nesting season? Not Banquet. Dr. Cheryl Dykstra is going to talk about “Secret correct! Many birds find that they Lives of Red-shouldered Hawks - the Fascinating and Little- are wonderful protection from the known Behaviours of our Wild Neighbours”. cold, wind, sleet and snow in the Cheryl is an independent consultant in Cincinnati, Ohio, winter and any other time when wild weather hits. Many and has been the Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Raptor species – 36 or so in North America - most if not all being Research for the last ten years. She earned her M.S. and cavity nesters in warm weather – use those protected spots Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin- to roost at night to avoid the killing cold, wind, snow Madison, where she studied Bald Eagles nesting along the and sleet.. In fact, they use the bird houses all year in bad shores of Lake Superior, and has since published more than weather. Some prefer to roost there on their own; some do 30 papers in peer-reviewed ornithological journals. After not mind another species with them; some like the warmth graduation she worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, generated by a large crowd such as bluebirds that like to sleep and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cheryl and in heaps on the floor. Nuthatches, House Sparrows, Screech her colleagues have studied the ecology of Red-shouldered Owls, Woodpeckers etc….and mice. Hawks in southern Ohio for the last 19 years, during which After nesting season, thoroughly clean the bird house to time they have banded more than 2,200 nestling Red- remove any pests that would infect/harm the birds. There shouldered Hawks and have recently used cameras to study never should be a perch on a bird house; perches invite nesting behaviour. You can learn more about her studies by predators. In winter, birds prefer boxes to be 10 feet off visiting http://redshoulderedhawkstudy.com/. the ground. You can block the summer ventilation holes The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has one of the highest except for one. They are needed in the heat of summer counts of Red-shouldered Hawks for spring migration sites, but bring in the cold of winter. Birds like to peek inside and so it is fitting that we have such a well-qualified speaker to see if it is safe, before entering so need the light from to talk about this beautiful bird. Please make a special one hole. The house should face south away from the effort to come to St Andrews Church in Grimsby on prevailing winds, plus sun for its heat. Mounting the Saturday, April 16. Socializing and the bucket raffle begin house on a metal pole keeps squirrels and other predators at 5:00 p.m. and dinner around 6:15. As always we welcome from climbing up. Birds suffer high mortality in winter contributions to the bucket raffle and you can inform one but having bird houses for shelter helps so many of them of the members of the executive if you plan to contribute to survive the cold and vicious storms. Probably too late an item. for this year, but gathering all your neighbours’ Christmas trees after Christmas and piling them in a heap gives a Tickets are $35 for members and $45 for non-members. wonderful sheltered spot for birds – mainly non-cavity We encourage you to bring friends for what should be a types – and wildlife too. great evening to chat and learn.

The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Page 151 Noteworthy Bird Records – September to November (Fall) 2015 by Bill Lamond

Underlined species or dates require documentation by the Hamilton Bird Records Committee. Capitalized species require documentation by the Ontario Bird Records Committee. For species marked with “#”, all reported records are listed. For all other species, only highlights are listed. Note that the species order follows the most recent American Ornithologists’ Union checklist and supplements. Observers: Alfred Adamo (AA), Rex Bartlett (RB), Gerten Basom (GB), David Bevan (DBe), Amanda Bichel (AB), Mike Boyd (MBo), Wayne Bullock (WB), Jim Burrell (JB), Ken Burrell (KB), Mike Burrell (MB), Isabel Butler (IB), Mike Cadman (MC), Giovanni Campanelli (GC), Alan Carriere (ACa), Barb Charlton (BCha), Chris Cheatle (CC), Barry Cherriere (BCh), Sheena Chisholm (CS), Curtis Combdon (CCo), Barry Coombs (BCo), William Crins (WC), Bill Cuddy (BCu), Bob Curry (BC), David d’Entrement (Dd’E), Martin Daly (MDa), Ken Dance (KD), Rob Dobos (RD), Andrew Don (AD), Dave Don (DD), Mark Dorriesfield (MD), Barney Dutka (BD), Helene Dutka (HD), Grace Dyer (GD), Cheryl Edgecombe (CE), Gavin Edmondstone (GE), Brian Enter (BEn), Luc Fazio (LF), Mark Field (MF), Iain Fleming (IF), Brett Fried (BF), Nancy Furber (NF), Denys Gardiner (DG), Kate Gardiner (KG), Jeff Gilbreath (JG), Ethan Gosnell (EG), Athena Gubbe (AGu), Dean Gugler (DGu), Todd Hagedorn (TH), Dominik Halas (DH), Jim Hignell (JHi), Brandon Holden (BH), Nathan Hood (NH), Jerry Horak (JH), Ellen Horak (EH), Mourad Jabra (MJa), Jarmo Jalava (JJ), Ian Jarvie (IJ), Beth Jefferson (BJ), Mark Jennings (MJ), Marc Johnson (MJo), Andrew Keaveney (AK), Bonnie Kinder (BKi), Gordo Laidlaw (GLa), Robert Laker (RLa), Bill Lamond (BL), Sarah Lamond (SL), Tim Lucas (TL), Rick Ludkin (RL), Karl Lukens (KL), Len Manning (LM), Reuven Martin (RM), Beverly McClenaghan (BMc), Arlene McCaw (AM), Sheldon McGregor (SM), Kevin McLaughlin (KM), Kyle McLoughlin (KyM), Peter McParland (PM), Nathan Miller (NM), Tom Miller (TM), J.W. Mills (JWM), Matt Mills (MM), Joe Minor (JM), Ian Miron (IM), Brian Mishell (BM), David Moffatt (DMo), Alec Napier (AN), George Naylor (GN), William Olenek (WO), Karen Philp (KP), Paul Philp (PP), Richard Poort (RPo), Anna Porter (AP), Rob Porter (RP), Jim Pringle (JP), David Pryor (DPr), Joanne Redwood (JR), Brian Rennie (BRe), Bert Richards (BR), Nicole Richardson (NR), Sarah Richer (SR), Garth Riley (GR), Yves Scholten (YS), Caleb Scholtens (CSc), Robert Secord (RS), Elaine Serena (ES), Glenda Slessor (GS), Bill Smith (BS), Paul Smith (PS), Janet Snaith (JS), Carolyn Southward (CS), Shawn Sullivan (SS), Phil Taylor (PT), Lisa Teskey (LT), Peter Thoem (PT), Tom Thomas (TT), David Trumbell (DT), Kevin Tupman (KT), James Turland (JT), Rohan van Twest (RvT), Fred Urie (FU), Brenda Van Ryswyk (BVR), Josh Vandermeulen (JV), Will Van Hemessen (WVH), Judy Van Ryn (JVR), Mike Veltri (MV), Rob Waldhuber (RW), Jim Watt (JW), Bill Wilson (BWi), Mark Willis (MW), Ross Wood (RWo), Alan Wormington (AW), Brian Wylie (BWy), Anthony Zammit (AZ), Susan Zhang (SZ), many observers (m.obs.).

Legend: Plumages, etc.: County/Region/City: * -first occurrence for the year m. -male Brant [BR] F -first occurrence for the f. -female Haldimand [HD] migration ad. -adult Halton [HL] L -last occurrence for the ba. -basic Hamilton [HM] migration alt. -alternate Niagara [NG] HSA -Hamilton Study Area imm. -immature Peel [PL] RPBS - Ruthven Park Banding Station juv. -juvenile Waterloo [WT] HFBC - Hamilton Fall Bird Count 1st yr. –first year Wellington [WL]

Snow Goose#: Five birds (four white, one blue) along Hwy 8 west Redhead: 55 at Cootes Paradise Oct 12 (RD,CE,DD,RP); 122 on Lake of Greensville [HM] Oct 4 (PS); two (one white and one dark juv.) off Creanona Blvd. [HM] Nov 24 (LM). at African Lion Safari [HM] Oct 7 (AB); one white ad. at Oak Park, Canvasback: 77 at Tollgate Pond Nov 29 (KyM). Oakville [HL] Oct 12 F and also there Nov 16 (DH). Greater Scaup: 200 at Lake off Creanona Blvd. [HM] Nov 23 (LM). Cackling Goose#: Two at Green Road at Lake Sep 30 F (BH); one at Harlequin Duck#: One at Millen Road on Lake Oct 25 F (LM); one at Bayfront Park [HM] Oct 9 (CC); La Salle Park [HM] Oct 27 (IJ); one m. on Lake at Arkendo Park [HL] three at Mountsberg [HM] Oct 31 Nov 15-19 (IF/LF); one at Lakefront Park, Mississauga [PL] Nov 17 (TH,BMc,MD); three on Grand (BJ); one m. on Lake at Fifty Road [HM] Nov 21 (RW,BCha) moving to River in Brantford Nov 1 (BL); two the end of Winona Road on Nov 27 (LM). at Oak Park, Oakville Nov 19 (DH). King Eider#: One at Fifty Point [HM] Nov 30 F (GD,JT). Trumpeter Swan: 79 recorded in the Surf Scoter: Five at Green Road HSA on HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.). on Lake Sep 4 F (BH); 260 off Tundra Swan: Two at Cootes Two Cackling Geese at Oak Park, Sayers Park [HM] Oct 15 (KM); Paradise Oct 11 F (PT) and seven Oakville, 19 Nov 2015 - photo Dominik Halas. 800 off Green Road at Lake Oct 21 there Oct 12 (RD,CE,DD,RP). and 700 there Oct 31 (BH); 300+ American Wigeon: Six off Van Wagners Beach Sep 26 (RD et al.). on Lake at Millen Road [HM] Oct Blue-winged Teal: Six at Tollgate Pond Sep 26 (RD). 25 (LM); one off Bronte Cemetery Northern Pintail: 60 at Van Wagners Beach Sep 26 (RD et al.) and 20 [HL] Nov 17 (MJ). Black Scoter female in Burlington Ship Canal, 11 Nov 2015 - photo there Sep 30 (RD); 100 at Green Road at Lake 30 Sep (BH). White-winged Scoter: Three at Van Joanne Redwood. Green-winged Teal: 80 at Van Wagners Beach Sep 4 (JV) and 145 there Wagners Beach Sep 4 (JV); 68 at Van Sep 20 (RD et al.). Wagners Beach Sep 20 (RD et al.); one m. on Lake at Forty Mile Creek

Page 152 The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Mills C.A. [WT] Oct 6 (AZ); one at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] Oct 11 (CCo); two at Millen Road on Lake Oct 11 (LM); one at Mountsberg Reservoir [HM] Oct 14-23 (BRe/IJ); 13 at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] Oct 31 (AK); one at Aberfoyle Pit, Puslinch [WL] Nov 1 (CCo et al.); 11 at Fifty Point Nov 3 (CE); one off Sayers Park [HM] Nov 13 (RP); one at west Harbour Nov 25 (KM); six flying past Fifty Point C.A. [HM] Nov 28 (RPo); one at Puslinch Lake [WL] Nov 28 (TH et al.). Red-necked Grebe: 35 at Rattray Marsh [PL] Sep 13 (SS) and 150 there Oct 7 (RM); eight at NE shore of Harbour Oct 3 (RD); one at Mill Creek Surf Scoter male (left) in Burlington Ship Canal, 11 Nov 2015 - photo Joanne Redwood; Harlequin Duck male (right) at La Salle Park 27 Oct Pit, Puslinch [WL] Oct 25 (CCo); one at Tikal Pit, Puslinch [WL] Nov 2015 - photo Ian Jarvie. 29 (ACa). Double-crested Cormorant: 50 at Mountsberg Reservoir Sep 9 (MC); [HM] Sep 24 (KM); 6411 recorded in the HSA on the HFBC on Nov 1. 64 on Grand River at Ruthven [HD] Oct 1 (RL); four at African Lion Black Scoter: Five off Green Road on Lake F Sep 26 F (BH); 63 at Grays Safari [HM] Oct 3 (AB). Road on Lake Oct 29 (LM); two fem. off Suncor Pier [HL] Nov 17 (MJ). American Bittern#: One at Windermere Basin Oct 14 (BC). Long-tailed Duck: One at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] Nov 1 (AZ); 7,300 Great Egret: Two at Windermere Basin Sep 5 (RD et al.) and one there on Lake off of Fruitland Road [HM] Nov 16 (LM). Sep 26-27 (RD); 10 off of Marsh Boardwalk, Cootes Paradise Sep 12 Bufflehead: One f. at Tollgate Pond Sep 10/12 (JR/RD); two at Green (RP) and 12 there Sep 20 (RP);one on Grand River above Wilkes Dam Road at Lake (BH) and four at J.C. Saddington Park (LF), both Oct 18 F. [BR] Sep 16 (DG); one at Red Hill Parkway Pond Sep 22 and two there Common Goldeneye: 15 off Green Road on Lake Oct 21 F (BH). Sep 25 (JR); four at African Lion Safari [HM] Oct 3 (AB); 19 at Cootes Hooded Merganser: 125 at Dundas Hydro Pond Nov 21 (JR); 70 at Valens Paradise Oct 12 (RD,CE,DD,RP); seven at Valley Inn [HL] Oct 17 (RD Reservoir [HM] Nov 22 (RP); 150 at Mountsberg [HM] Nov 28 (TH). et al.) and two there Oct 25 (RD,CE,DD); one in Hendrie Valley [HL] Red-breasted Merganser: One at Van Wagners Beach Sep 25 F (KB,NH). Nov 1 (JP); one at Desjardins Canal, Dundas Nov 29-30 (MDa/RD). Common Merganser: 300 at Valens Reservoir [HM] Nov 22 (RP). Green Heron: One at Robertson Tract [HL] Oct 5 (BRe); one at south Ruddy Duck: One m. at Tollgate Pond Sep 18 F (RD); 130 at Cootes shore of Cootes Paradise Oct 7 L (Dd’E,SR); three at Hendrie Valley Paradise Oct 12 (RD,CE,DD,RP); 200 at Tollgate Pond Nov 29 (KyM). Sep 20 (SR) and one there Oct 7 L (BCo). Ruffed Grouse#: One bird on Westover Road north of Concession 8 Black-crowned Night-Heron: [HM] Oct 8 (PS); two at Burns Tract [HL] Oct 26 (BVR); two birds Seven at Mill Race Park, recorded on the HFBC on Nov 1. Cambridge [WT] Sep 2 (BWi); Wild Turkey: 86 recorded in the HSA on the HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.). three at Desjardins Canal [HM] Red-throated Loon#: One at Green Road on Lake Sep 1 and two there Sep Sep 6-21 (BR); two at CCIW 30 (BH); two at Fifty Road on Lake[HM] Oct 12 (KM); five past Woodland Sep 12 (LM); one at Rattray Cemetery [HM] Oct 25 (RD,CE,DD); one at Bronte Harbour [HL] Oct 31 Marsh [PL] Sep 13 (SS); one (GE); one at Suncor Pier [HL] Oct 31 at Red Hill Parkway Pond Sep (MJ); one on Lake at Grays Road Nov 24 (JR); one at Franklin Pond, Four Black-crowned Night-Herons at 2 (BC,GS); two at Fifty Point Nov 3 Red Hill Creek at Woodward Ave, 18 Cambridge [WT] Sep 30 (AZ), (CE); one at Gairloch Gardens [HL] Nov 2015 - photo Joanne Redwood. one at Bayfront Park [HM] Oct Nov 14 (LF); six at Van Wagners 11 (WO); four at Red Hill Creek Beach Nov 14 (RD,CE,DD) and two at Woodward Ave [HM] Nov 18 (JR) and five there Nov 25 (JR); two at there Nov 21 (KM); 15 past Green Marsh Boardwalk 20 Sep (SR), four at south shore Cootes Paradise Oct Road on Lake on Nov 10 and 90 on 7 (Dd’E,SR), and 10 at Marsh Boardwalk Oct 13 (JM). Red-throated Loons at La Salle Park, Nov 17 (BH); two off of Bayshore 18 Nov 2015 - photo Joanne Redwood. Turkey Vulture: 300 over Cootes Paradise Oct 18 (RP); 10 roosting Park [HM] Nov 18 (JR); four at Green near University Plaza, Dundas [HM] Nov 17 (MM); one at Hwy 403 Road at Lake Nov 21 (BH); two at Burlington Ship Canal Nov 27 (RM). and Sunnyridge Road Nov 29-29 (RD). Pacific Loon: Seven at Van Wagners Beach Nov 1 (WC,BCha, et al.); two on Osprey: Two at RPBS Sep 23 (RL); three recorded on the HFBC on Nov 1. Lake at Grays Road Nov 2 (BC,GS); one at Van Wagners Beach Nov 2 (RD). Bald Eagle: One 1st ba. Sep 13 F at Woodland Cemetery (RD,MM); two Common Loon: 16 at Van Wagners Beach Sep 4 (JV); 70 past Green imm. at Bronte Sep 13 F (RD et al.); six at Cootes Paradise Sep 20 (SR); Road on Lake Sep 30 (BH); 48 at Fifty Point Nov 3 (CE); one at McMillan one at Green Road at Lake Sep 30 (BH); three imm. at Bayfront Park Pit, Puslinch [WL] Nov 1-13 (NH); one at Puslinch lake [WL] Nov 8 Oct 11 (WO); one at Bayfront Park Oct 15 (DBe,); two over York Road (RvT); one ad. on Grand River above Wilkes Dam, Brantford Nov 21- & Old Guelph Road Oct 17 (DPr); two at Ruthven [HD] Oct 17 (CSc); 26 25 (BL,KG); four in west Harbour Nov 25 (KM). recorded in the HSA on the HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.); one ad. hunting Pied-billed Grebe: Birds at Long-tailed Ducks ca. 1km from shore at Millen Road Nov 27 (LM). Windermere Basin: one Sep Northern Harrier: One juv. past Woodland Cemetery Sep 6 F (RD); six 5 (RD et al.) and three Sep 15 past Green Road over Lake Sep 30 (BH). and Sep 24 (KM); three at La Sharp-shinned Hawk: 15 recorded on the HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.). Salle Park Sep 16 (JR); nine at Cooper’s Hawk: 22 recorded in HSA on the HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.). Mountsberg [WL] Sep 9 and 16 Red-shouldered Hawk: One over Old Guelph Road, Dundas Oct 17 F there Oct 14 (MC); one at Cootes (DPr); two over Woodland Cemetery Oct 18 (GN); two over Churchill Paradise on Sep 20 (SR) and two Common Loon at Wilkes Dam, Park [HM] Oct 18 (JM); one over Arkendo Park [HL] Nov 15 L (GLa). there Oct 12 (RD,CE,DD,RP); one Brantford, 22 Nov 2015 - photo Rex Broad-winged Hawk: 90 over Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] Sep 21 (AZ); on west Harbour Nov 25 (KM). Bartlett. one at RPBS [HD] Oct 9 (NF). Horned Grebe: Three at Shade’s (continued on page 159) The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Page 153 Ostrich Fern, Bracken and Cinnamon Fern – Edible? – Take Care by Peter Thoem hile the ground is still frozen let’s take a look at the fern the heart to gather them. species which, at the fiddlehead stage, have a reputation W Ostrich Fern uncoils quickly from the for being edible, - or nearly so. The three species are Ostrich Fern fiddlehead stage; fronds emerge in a (Matteuccia struthiopteris), Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), and circle of bright green forming a thick, Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea); of these only Ostrich arching, basket-like stand. By the time Fern is generally considered edible. spring is full blown the fronds are fully But first, I’ll reiterate this bold caution found on the Ontario Peter Thoem from RBG developed and stand about a metre Directors webpage. Ferns website, You – and only you are responsible for determining high. This exuberance comprises whether a particular species of plant is edible, what parts are infertile fronds only. It’s not until much later in mid-summer that edible and how to safely prepare/cook it. the fertile fronds appear. The green fronds of spring are distinctive Where Ostrich Fern grows naturally it is frequently rampant. It in that the pinnae increase in size from the ground up, reaching favours damp open, sun-soaked sites. I picture it colonizing large maximum width at mid height before tapering gradually towards swathes of wide alluvial flood plains in Burlington’s Paletta Park, the tip. Instead of having the classic isosceles triangle, symbol Bronte Creek Valley and on islands along the Grand River, all of New Zealand outline, they are elliptical, more like the profile rich and moist places with some full-sun exposure. But Ostrich of a football. This is a useful feature to bear in mind for Ostrich

Ostrich Fern emerging in Spring from Grand River floodplain near Paris, 24 May 2014 - photo Peter Thoem. Fern also manages to do okay in a shady and rather dry corner Fern can be confused quite easily with several larger ferns such as of my front yard (though mercifully less rampantly), and therein Cinnamon and Interrupted Fern, or Intermediate and Spinulose one of its features; it is commonly planted as a space-filling, Wood Fern. The fertile fronds of Ostrich Fern appear in July or grows-anywhere, all-season ornamental. August and are strikingly different; they look rather like the fluffy wing plumes of an ostrich. They are greenish-brown turning to Ostrich Fern emerges early in spring from dark brown stump-like brown, and stiff and erect to about knee-high. The fertile fronds branches of a spreading rhizome. The fiddleheads are considered persist through the winter long after the green infertile fronds edible and are often harvested for commercial sale; they certainly have collapsed. look good enough to eat. The only time I tried cooking them we let the pot boil dry and spoiled them; since then I’ve never had Bracken was very common where I grew up and grew rampantly

Page 154 The Wood Duck - March, 2016 distributed worldwide in temperate and sub-tropical regions. Botanists evidently abhor such simplicity and the recent trend is to subdivide it into ten species. I described and discussed Cinnamon Fern in the November 2015 Wood Duck so I’ll spare you all the descriptive stuff. While a few websites comment on Cinnamon Fern’s edibility, those that do are unenthusiastic, one describes the taste as very bitter and says that eaten raw it may result in nausea, dizziness, lethargy and headache. I can’t imagine why anyone would try it; perhaps the fiddleheads just look succulent. By the way, no one suggests that the fertile frond, despite its appearance, is a source of cinnamon the spice.

Ostrich Fern at Paletta Park, Burlington, 26 August 2015 - photo Peter Thoem. where other plants struggled to thrive. Perhaps it’s because it was so abundant that I seldom give it a passing glance. While a ten-year old can make a wonderfully fragrant fort deep in an expanse of Bracken, almost every source I’ve consulted warns that Bracken is carcinogenic if eaten. Indeed, in the UK, Bracken is considered a pernicious weed and “…is toxic to cattle, dogs, sheep, pigs and horses…and can harbour high levels of sheep ticks which can pass on Lyme disease.” (Wikipedia) Opinions vary. Some websites point out that Bracken is consumed in parts of Japan, China and Korea and go on to explain that there are safe Bracken at Spooky Hollow, 24 June 2014 - photo Peter Thoem. ways to eliminate the carcinogen; I’ll leave it at that. Here are some of my sources and references to follow up. I recommend you do your own checking for comments on edibility and identification. • Ferns of Northeastern and Central North America. Peter- son Field Guide (Re: Bracken and Ostrich Fern) • Ferns of Grey and Bruce. Published by Owen Sound Field Naturalists. (Re: Bracken and Ostrich Fern) • Ontario Ferns website. (http://ontarioferns.com/main/ edible.php). (Re: Bracken, Ostrich and Cinnamon Fern) • Foragers Harvest website. http://foragersharvest.com/ fern-fiddleheads-the-succulent-stalks-of-spring/ (Re: Bracken, Ostrich, Cinnamon and Interrupted Fern) • Wikipedia. wikipedia.org. (Re: Bracken and Ostrich Fern) Ostrich Fern at Beverly Swamp, 5 June 2011 - photo Peter Thoem.

Bracken is common in our area, mostly in exposed dry areas such as At the 14 March (Monday) 7:30 p.m. HNC Monthly Meeting Growing Edible Natives with Lorraine Johnson sandy roadside banks and woodland edges and openings. Bracken RBG HQ, Plains Road W, Burlington is described in the Peterson guide as “strong and coarse”, and in the This illustrated slide lecture will focus on growing some of the more Ferns of Grey and Bruce as “prone to take over as a weed”. unusual native plants—delicious, nutritious edible species such as Shagbark Hickory (the sap of which can be made into a syrup), Wild To be more specific, Bracken fronds grow singly from deep Ginger (whose roots do indeed taste like ginger), and Nannyberry rhizomes, rising to a metre or so before the blade reflexes to a (whose dried fruit taste like raisins). With all of the recent interest in nearly horizontal plane divided into three more or less equal urban agriculture and food gardens, along with the ongoing enthusiasm sized parts. Strictly speaking the two lower parts are pinnae, for foraging, this timely talk will offer inspiration for including native yet they are so large that they look like separate blades. Bracken plants in the garden not only for their beauty but also for their flavour. Lorraine Johnson is the author of numerous books on growing native fronds emerge in spring and grow rapidly; the plant generates plants (“100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants” and “The New Ontario new fronds all season but is soon killed by frost in fall. It produces Naturalized Garden”). Her most recent books include “City Farmer”, few spores, it almost always spreads vegetatively and some clones and the just published encyclopedia “What Plant Where”. She is are believed to be more than a thousand years old. Bracken involved in many conservation and naturalist organizations, and is a was long considered to be one species (Pteridium aquilinum) community gardening/urban agriculture activist in Toronto.

The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Page 155 DATES TO REMEMBER - March 2016 One Saturday of the Month, September to May, 10 a.m. to noon, Jr. Naturalists’ Club at RBG Nature Centre. For 7 to 13 year olds. Since the club formed in 1986, it has given children learning experiences that generate life-long respect and appreciation for nature. Jackson Hudecki leads the adventures. Pre-registration required.Fee: $80/child.

1 March - 15 May: The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch’s 42nd season of monitoring the migration of hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area, Quarry Rd. off Ridge Rd. W., Grimsby. Except in very bad weather, counters are present every day from 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. EST / 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT. Visitors always welcome. Information: Bruce Mackenzie 905-643-4526, [email protected] or Mike Street - 905-648-3737, [email protected]

4 March (Friday) 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. RBG - Creating Ecological Plant Combinations at RBG Centre. Internationally acclaimed landscape architect Thomas Rainer teaches how plants fit together in the wild, and how to use that knowledge to create designed plantings. Participants create a studio project, receive feedback plus a certificate of attendance. Pre-registration required. Fee: $90. (SEE ALSO 2-hour presentation Saturday, March 5, $30.)

5 March (Saturday) 2 to 4 p.m. RBG - Planting in a Post-Wild World at RBG Centre. Internationally acclaimed landscape architect Thomas Rainer, a leading voice in ecological landscaping, discusses designed plantings that function like naturally occurring plant communities. Pre-registration required.Fee: $30. (SEE ALSO half-day intensive workshop, Friday March 4, $90.)

5 March (Saturday) 8:00 p.m. Hamilton Association Lecture. Polar Vortex, El Nino, The Blob: What’s up with our weather? — Chris Scott. Social media have changed the communication of weather information, with exotic terms once used only by meteorologists now seen in mainstream culture. But what’s really behind this scientific jargon? Is our weather actually getting more extreme? How does climate change fit within the context of our daily weather? Chris Scott, Chief Meteorologist for The Weather Network, has degrees in atmospheric science from York University and the University of Michigan. Room 1A1 Ewart Angus Centre. Located in the northwest corner of the McMaster Medical Centre on the 1st floor in the purple area.

6 March (Sunday) 10 a.m. to noon. RBG - Reptile Ranger at RBG Centre. For ages 6 to 9. Learn why turtles are so important; check out the exhibit “Reptile Rendezvous,” enjoy games, art, stories, crafts.Fee: $15 / class (additional classes March 20, April 3).

6 March (Sunday) 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. RBG - Winter Tree ID at RBG Centre / Hendrie Park. Learn to recognize common woody plants during dormancy; Nadia Cavallin, RBG Herbarium curator and field botanist instructing. An Adult Education Series program. Pre- registration required. Fee: $40 with tree manual and lens, $15 without.

6 March (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Hendrie Valley, meet at Cherry Hill Gate parking Lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404

13 March (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Princess Point, meet at the parking lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404

14 March (Monday) 7:30 p.m. HNC - Monthly Meeting. Growing Edible Natives. This illustrated slide lecture will focus on growing some of the more unusual native plants—delicious, nutritious edible species such as shagbark hickory and others. See page 155 for details. Speaker Lorraine Johnson is the author of numerous books on growing native plants. At the RBG HQ, Plains Road W., Burlington.

19 March (Saturday) 10 a.m. to noon. RBG - Birding for Beginners at RBG Arboretum location, Nature Centre. Hike the trails and hone birding skills with Jackson Hudecki. An Adult Education Series program. Pre-registration required.Fee: $15.

20 March (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike. Cootes North Shore, meet at the Nature Centre, Arboretum location, Old Guelph Road. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404

20 March (Sunday) 2 to 4 p.m. RBG - Spring Equinox at RBG Arboretum location, Nature Centre. Check out the signs of Spring, learn about other Spring Equinox celebrations, enjoy games, stories. Pre-registration required. Family Program. Fee: $12 per adults, $8 per child (3 years and under $0).

21 March (Monday) 7:30 p.m. HNC - BSG Meeting. Loggerhead Shrike Captive Breeding Program at Mountsberg, Speaker Sandra Davey. Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New Street, Burlington.

26 March (Friday) 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch Good Friday Open House. There will be Hawk ID workshops throughout the day as well as a couple of seminars explaining why hawks are at Beamer in the Spring. There will be a live birds demonstration by members of the Canadian Raptor Conservancy and there will be a children’s program by Carla Carlson of Niagara Nature Tours. And of course the hawks going by overhead. Hopefully it will be a good day with lots of Red-shouldered Hawks and with luck, a few eagles. See the NPH website for details and updates http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org.

27 March (Easter Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Cootes South Shore, meet at Aviary parking lot, Oak Knoll Dr., Hamilton. If inclement weather, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.

Page 156 The Wood Duck - March, 2016 DATES TO REMEMBER - April 2016 2015 One Saturday of the Month, September to May, 10 a.m. to noon, Jr. Naturalists’ Club at RBG Nature Centre. For 7 to 13 year olds. Since the club formed in 1986, it has given children learning experiences that generate life-long respect and appreciation for nature. Jackson Hudecki leads the adventures. Pre-registration required.Fee: $80/child.

3 April (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Hendrie Valley, meet at Cherry Hill Gate parking Lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404

3 April (Sunday) 10 a.m. to noon. RBG Reptile Rangerat RBG Centre. For ages 6 to 9. Learn why turtles are so important; check out the exhibit “Reptile Rendezvous,” enjoy games, art, stories, crafts. Pre-registration required.Fee: $15 / class.

10 April (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Princess Point, meet at the parking lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404

10 April (Sunday) 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Forest Bathing Walk, at RBG Centre, meet at the Admissions Desk. Ben Porchuk, former RBG Head of Conservation and one of Canada’s first Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) certified guides leads this 3-hour, very slow, therapeutic walk. Pre-registration required:Fee: $60.

11 April (Monday) 7:30 p.m. HNC - Monthly Meeting. Save the Salamanders. Salamanders are one of the most at risk group of vertebrate animals in the world. Currently, around half of all salamander species are threatened with the risk of extinction. Due to the salamanders’ hidden lifestyles, many people never encounter them, therefore their decline goes largely unnoticed by the lay community. Our speaker, Matt Ellerbeck, is a Salamander Conservationist who runs the project “Save the Salamanders”. He is licensed with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and is a Partner of the Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA), which is the world’s largest partnership for amphibian conservation. The Amphibian Ark also featured him as one of their Amphibian Ambassadors. The AArk is a joint effort of three principal partners, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the IUCN Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, and the Amphibian Survival Alliance. Matt’s efforts to contribute to salamander conservation via outreach education earned him an award from the Cataraqui Conservation Authority. Aside from educational efforts, he is also currently involved with a study of salamanders in the Thousand Islands Ecosystem for Parks Canada. At the RBG HQ, Plains Road W., Burlington.

16 April (Saturday) 4 to 6:00 p.m. RBG - Eager to See Beavers at Grindstone Creek at RBG Centre. RBG staff discuss the plants and animals making a comeback thanks to the marsh restoration efforts. Hike and search for evidence of our national animal; dress for the weather and muddy trails. Pre-registration required. Family Program.Fee: $12 per adults, $8 per child (3 years and under Free).

17 April (Sunday) 7:30 a.m. to noon. HNC - Early Spring Birding Tour in West Flamborough. Join leader Rob Dobos on a driving tour of the West Flamborough area to look for early spring migrant and breeding birds. Areas we will check will include the Hyde Tract, Safari Rd Wetland, Beverly Swamp and various wet fields. Some walking on muddy trails will be involved so bring rubber boots. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Harry Howell Arena at Clappisons Corners for car pooling. From the intersection of Hwy 6 and Hwy 5, go west on Hwy 5 about 100 m and turn right on North Wentworth Dr, park in the lot on the left. Contact Rob Dobos at [email protected].

17 April (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Cootes North Shore, meet at the Nature Centre, Arboretum location, Old Guelph Road. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.

18 April-May 16 (Mondays) 6:00-8:00 p.m. plus May 28 (Saturday) 1-3:00 p.m. RBG - Introduction to Entomology. At the RBG Nature Centre. Study insects with Sabrina Hall; classroom sessions wrap up with a field ID session. An Adult Education Series program. Pre-registration required. Fee: $140.

18 April (Monday) 7:30 p.m. HNC - BSG Meeting. Barn Swallow Conservation: Evaluating the effect of social cues at new nesting structures. Zoé Lebrun-Southcott, Executive Director & Wildlife Biologist, Bird Ecology and Conservation Ontario. Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New Street, Burlington.

18 April (Monday) pre-registration deadline date for Cherry Blossoms by the Light of the Moon at RBG. Seasonal weather conditions affect blooming time; pre-registration required, you will then be notified of the date two weeks prior.Fee: $40 per adult.

23 April (Saturday) 9:30 a.m. OR 11:30 a.m. RBG - Panorama Adventure Challenge Course at RBG Nature Centre. Wild and fun team-oriented obstacle course designed for families and friends. Climb, leap, swing, crawl, think, create, and strategize your way through fields, forests, hills, and valleys. Pre-registration required. Entry fee (includes food ticket): adults $35; child (ages 4-12): $25; Children under 3: free. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

24 April (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Cootes South Shore, meet at the Aviary parking lot, Oak Knoll Drive, Hamilton. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404

30 April (Saturday) 10 a.m. to noon. RBG - Birding for Beginners at RBG Nature Centre. Hike the trails and hone birding skills with Jackson Hudecki. An Adult Education Series program. Pre-registration required. Fee: $15.

The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Page 157

Environment Hamilton & Hamilton Naturalists’ Club presents…. Members Outing to the Spooky Hollow Nature Sanctuary The HNC became Ontario’s first land trust in 1961 with the acquisition of the Spooky Hollow Nature Sanctuary located close to Turkey Point. The 166 acre sanctuary is largely composed of old growth Carolinian forest and protects over 20 at risk species. It is a very special place that has been visited by naturalists and biologists from across Ontario for decades.

The northern part of the sanctuary is made up of a pine plantation William Dam Seeds

that the Sanctuary Land Trust Committee has been working for Urquhart Butterfly over 15 years to restore to its native oak savanna habitat. This has Garden involved creating clearings within the plantation, conducting prescribed burns, managing invasive species, monitoring and Mac Forest surveying endangered plants like Eastern Flowering Dogwood. Trees, Bees & Seeds Bus Tour We would like to offer a guided member outing on Saturday, June 4 to the nature sanctuary when the forest is alive with birds, wildflowers, and a large number of flowering Dogwoods! It is also a great opportunity to talk to the ecologists about the Sat June 11th, 2016 restoration and monitoring work being done. Bus departs Dundurn Castle 10am sharp We need a minimum of 10 members to hold the event and Tickets: $10 / person we will determine the transportation costs when we know the More details…. number of people who will be attending. If you are interested Details…. in attending the outing, please contact Jen Baker at 905-524- hamiltonpollinatorparadise.org

3339 or [email protected] by March 24. Thanks to Ontario Trillium Foundation, Hamilton Future Fund & Hamilton Community Foundation for their support

Ontario Nature (ON) Events – by Director-at-Large Gord McNulty

The Sugar Maple planting (left) was at the Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve. Area naturalists planted about 40 trees for the Legacy Grove Tree Planting on 10 Sep 2015. The grove of native trees stands in memory of people who have donated to Ontario Nature in their will. The Riverwood Conservancy in Mississauga (right) was the seen of Ontario Nature’s Carolinian East Fall 2015 Regional Meeting on 17 Oct 2015. Located in central Mississauga along the banks of the Credit River, the 140 acre Riverwood property provides habitat to more than 475 species of animals and plants, including more than 150 species of resident and migratory birds. It is co-owned by the City of Mississauga and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and has the most ecologically diverse community in the Credit Valley watershed. The natural features include woodlands, meadows and tablelands, ravines and slopes, wetlands, creeks and floodplain, and former agricultural lands – photos Gord McNulty. Page 158 The Wood Duck - March, 2016 (Noteworthy Bird Records - continued from page 153) Lesser Yellowlegs: 15 at Windermere Basin Sep 27 (RD,CE,DD); two at Red-tailed Hawk: 240 recorded in HSA on the HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.). African Lion Safari [HM] Oct 7 (AB); one at Windermere Basin Oct 26 Rough-legged Hawk: One at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] Oct 15 F (IJ); (KM); two at Dry Lake [HD] Nov 1 (NF). one at Sager Road and 4th Concession [BR] Nov 14 (BL,SL,KG); one at Hudsonian Godwit#: 42 in a flock past Green Road at Lake, Stoney Tyneside Road between White Church & Chippewa Rds [HM] Nov 22 (RP). Creek Sep 30* (BH); two flyovers at Van Wagners Beach Oct 3 (RPo); Golden Eagle#: One juv. over York Road & Old Guelph Road [HM] Oct one at Cootes Paradise Oct 10-12 L (RD; m.obs.). 17 F (DPr); one over Guelph Arboretum [WL] Oct 18 (MD); one over Ruddy Turnstone: One at Suncor Pier [HL] Sep 2 (MJ); two juv at 4th Concession Puslinch [WL] Oct 25 (CCo); one over Churchill Park Tollgate Pond Sep 11 (RD,CE,RPo), one there Sep 15 (KM) and Sep 26 Oct 18 (JM); one ad. over York Road, Dundas Oct 25 (DD); two over (RD); one juv. at Van Wagners Beach Sep 24-26 (GR/KM); one juv. at Blythe Cres, Oakville Oct 25 (JW); one imm. over High Level bridge NE shore of Harbour Oct 3 L (RD). Nov 24 L (RPo). Red Knot#: One at Windermere Basin Sep 9 L (BC). Virginia Rail#: One along Mountsberg Road west of Centre Road Sanderling: Three at Suncor Pier [HL] Sep 9 and one there Sep 10 (MJ); [HM] Oct 8 (YS); one at Mount Albion C.A. [HM] Oct 14 L (LM). eight juv. at Tollgate Pond Sep 11 F (RD,CE,RPo). Birds at Van Wagners American Coot: Two at Windermere Basin Sep 27-Oct 11 (RD,CE,DD); Beach: 20 juv. Sep 12 (RD et al.), three Sep 24 (GR), 9 juv. Sep 26 (RD three at Cowan’s Lake, Cambridge Oct 9 (KD); 60 at Bayfront Park Oct et al.), eight juv. Oct 3 (RD,DD), and one Nov 3 L (MJ). Five juv. at 13 (RP); 39 at Puslinch Lake [WL] Oct 25 (CCo); 100 at Mountsberg Windermere Basin Oct 17/18 Reservoir Oct 31 (MD et al.) and 25 there Nov 28 (TH et al.); one at (KM/RD,CE). Grand River at Glenhyrst Gardens, Brantford Nov 23 (DG). Semipalmated Sandpiper: Sandhill Crane#: Two at Cowan’s Lake, Cambridge [WT] Sep 13 (KD); one at African Lion Safari one on Grand River at Glenhyrst Gardens, Brantford Sep 22 (JHi); one [HM] Oct 3 (AB); one at at Franklin Pond, Cambridge [WT] Oct 12 (AZ); 10 at Grass Lake [WT] Windermere Basin Oct 11 Oct 25 (JWM); five at Barrie’s Lake, Cambridge Nov 1 (MB, KB,JB); 24 (RD,CE,DD) and one juv. there over Mountsberg [WL] Nov 28 (TH et al.); 52 over Valens C.A. [HM] Oct 17 (KM); one at Red Hill Nov 29 (JM). Parkway Pond Oct 19 L (LM). Least Sandpiper: Two at CCIW Sanderlings at Van Wagners Beach, 21 Black-bellied Plover: One at Sep 2015 - photo Joanne Redwood. Ferris Road & White Church Sep 12 (LM); five at Red Hill Road [HM] Sep 9 (LM); one Parkway Pond Sep 16 (JR); one at RPBS [HD] Sep 27 (RL); six at African juv. at Tollgate Pond Sep 11 Lion Safari [HM] Oct 3 (AB); three juv. at Windermere Basin Oct 7 (KM). F (RD,CE,RPo); one juv. at White-rumped Sandpiper: One at CCIW Sep 22 (LM); one at Red Hill North Island off Eastport Parkway Pond Oct 4 (JR), 26! there on Oct 9 (LM), and four there Oct Drive [HW] Sep 12 (RD); 18 (RD,CE) and Oct 22 (LM); two juv. at Windermere Basin Sep 27 Sandhill Cranes over Valens Reservoir, 29 and one there Oct 11-14 (RD,CE,DD/BC); 16 at Cootes Paradise Oct five juv. at Tollgate Pond Nov 2015 - photo Joe Minor. Sep 16 (LM); one at RPBS 13 (JM); eight at Princess Point on Oct 27 (JR) and three there Oct 31 [HD] Sep 23 (RL); one at Red Hill Parkway Pond Sep 20 (JR); six juv. at L (RD,CE). Windermere Basin Sep 26 (RD) and 10 juv. there Sep 27 (RD,CE,DD); Baird’s Sandpiper: Five at Tollgate Pond Sep 1 (LM) and one there Sep two juv. at Windermere Basin Oct 17 L (KM). 14 (LM). Birds at Windermere Basin: one juv. Sep 11 (RD,CE,RPo), one American Golden-Plover: One at Bronte Harbour [HL] Sep 8 (MJ); five at Sep 24 (GR), and one juv. Sep 27 L (RD,CE,DD). Ferris Road & White Church Road [HW] Sep 9 (LM); one at Windermere Pectoral Sandpiper: One at Red Hill Parkway Pond Sep 16 (JR); one Basin Sep 11 (AA); one ad. at North Island off Eastport Drive [HW] Sep 12 juv. at Windermere Basin Oct 26 (KM); two at Bronte Marsh [HL] Oct (RD); ten at Van Wagners Beach Sep 12 (RD et al.); two juv. Tollgate Pond 24 and 26 (MJ). Sep 14 (LM), one ad. there Sep 16 (LM), and two juv. there Sep 26 (RD); Purple Sandpiper#: One flying over Lake at Lift Bridge Nov 15* (MV). three juv. at Van Wagners Beach Sep 25 (RD et al.); two juv. at Windermere Dunlin: Nine at Windermere Basin Basin Sep 26-27 (RD,CE,DD) and one there Oct 5 L (BC). Sep 27 F (RD,CE,DD). Birds at Red Semipalmated Plover: Eight at Windermere Basin Sep 5 (RD et al.); one Hill Parkway Pond: seven Sep 27 F, 20 at Green Lane Wetland, Paris [BR] Sep 7 (KD); three at Windermere Basin Oct 7-9 (KM/JR), 35 Oct 20 (JR), 70 Sep 27 L (RD,CE,DD); four at Red Hill Parkway Pond Sep 27 and seven Oct 22 (JR). 25 at Cootes Paradise Oct there Oct 7 (JR); seven juv. Windermere Basin Oct 7 (KM); one at Cootes 12 (RD,CE,DD,RP) and 64 there Oct Paradise Oct 7 (CC); two at Red Hill Parkway Pond Oct 19 L (LM). 23 (JM); 15 at Windermere Basin 23 Killdeer: 15 at African Lion Safari [HM] Oct 7 (AB); five at Bronte Oct (KM); 120 at Princess Point Oct Beach [HL] Nov 16 (MJ); one at Lakeside Park [PL] Nov 24 L (DP). 27 (KM), 35 there Oct 31 (RD,CE) Spotted Sandpiper: One at La and 16 there Nov 7 (JWM); 21 at Dry Purple Sandpiper over Lake Ontario at Liftbridge, 15 Nov Salle Park Oct 14 (AP); one at Lake [HD] Nov 1 (NF); one flying over 2015 - photo Mike Veltri. RPBS [HD] Nov 4 L (NR). Lake at Lift Bridge Nov 15 L (MV). Solitary Sandpiper: One at Valley Stilt Sandpiper#: Birds at Windermere Basin: Six juv Sep 5 (RD et al.), Inn [HL] Oct 16-22 L (JR, m.obs.). five Sep 9 (BC), six Sep 11-24 (AA;GR), and two Sep 27 L (RD,CE,DD). Greater Yellowlegs: 18 at Buff-breasted Sandpiper#: One at Haldibrook Road east of Mines Windermere Basin Oct 11 Road [HD] Sep 7 F (DD); one at Windermere Basin Sep 11 (LM) and (RD,CE,DD); one at RPBS [HD] one there Sep 14/16 (RD/BCh;LM); one at Tollgate Pond Sep 15/16 Oct 21 (RL); two at Windermere Solitary Sandpiper at Valley Inn, 16 (KM/LM); one bird at Hespeler Mill Pond, Cambridge Sep 22 (FU) and Basin Oct 26 (KM); eight at Dry Oct 2015 - photo Joanne Redwood. two there Sep 22 L (KT,AZ). Lake [HD] Nov 1 (NF). Short-billed Dowitcher: One at Windermere Basin Oct 11-14 L

The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Page 159 (RD,CE,DD/BC). 10, five Sep 25, three Sep 30, one Oct 8, and one Nov 1 L (BH). One ad. Long-billed Dowitcher#: Birds at Windermere Basin: One juv. Sep 9 at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] Oct 2 (LF). (BC), two - three juv. Sep 11-14 (AA, m.obs.), one juv. Sep 23 (KM), and Jaeger species#: One off of Suncor Pier [HL] Sep 14 (MJ). Sep 24 (GR), and one juv. Oct 18 L (RD,CE). Long-tailed Jaeger#: Two ad. and one juv. off Van Wagners Beach Sep 4 Wilson’s Snipe: One at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] Oct 17 (BO). (CE,RD et al.); one adult off of Confederation Park Sep 10 (CE); one off American Woodcock: One at RPBS [HL] Oct 30 (RL). of Confederation Park Sep 11 (BH); two ad. at Van Wagners Beach Sep Red-necked Phalarope#: 34 off Green Road on Lake [HM] Sep 6 (BH); 24 (DD,BCh,LM); one ad. at Van Wagners Beach Sep 21 (LM); two ad. three off Sayers Park [HM] Sep 6 (BCha). at Van Wagners Beach Sep 24 (LM). Red Phalarope#: One at Van Wagners Beach Nov 1* (DD); one at Bronte Beach [HL] Nov 21 (m.obs); one at Grays Road at Lake Nov 30 (KL). Black-legged Kittiwake#: Birds off Van Wagners Beach: One Sep 5 (MJa), one juv. Nov 10 (LM). Sabine’s Gull#: Four adults off Van Wagners Beach Sep 3 (BCh); three Red Phalarope over Lake at Grays Road, 30 Two views of Long-tailed Jaegers at Van Wagners Beach on 21 Sep 2015. juv. at Green Road on Lake November 2015 - photo Karl Lukens. Adult (left) - photo Joanne Redwood. Immature (right) - photo Iain Rayner. Sep 10 (BH); nine juv. at Van Wagners Beach Sep 20 (RD,CE,et al.), DOVEKIE#: One at Bronte Harbour Nov 30 (RS). First record for the three there Sep 21 (LM), and one there Oct 27 L (RPo). Hamilton area and one of few Ontario records (back cover photo). Bonaparte’s Gull: 25 off Van Wagners Beach Sep 30 (LM); 41 over Black-billed Cuckoo: One at RPBS [HD] Sep 6 (RL); one at Shoreacres Windermere Basin Oct 14 (BC); one at Tannery Park, Oakville Nov 22 (TM). Park [HL] Sep 14 (DT); one at Lion’s Valley Park, Oakville [HL] Sep 20 Little Gull#: Two ad. off Green Road on Lake Sep 6 F (BH); one ad. off (MW); one in Hendrie Valley [HL] Sep 21 (ES); one at Bronte Cemetery Van Wagners Beach Sep 28 (JJ) and also on Sep 30 (LM). [HL] Oct 6 (MJ). Iceland Gull#: One imm. at Sager Road & 7th Concession [HM] Nov 15 Yellow-billed Cuckoo: One at Edgelake Park [HM] Sep 8 (BH); one F (BL,SL,KG). at Princess Point Sep 17 (MJa); one at Rattray Marsh [PL] Sep 19 (LF); Lesser Black-backed Gull#: one juv. at Van Wagners Beach Sep 4 F – one at Shoreacres Park [HL] Oct 6 (AM). Birds at RPBS [HD]: one Sep 30 (KM/RD et al.); three juv. at Green Road on Lake, Sep 26 (BH); one 5, one Sep 14, one Sep 24 (RL) and one Oct 15 L (NR). at Green Road on Lake Sep 30 (BH); one juv. on NE Harbour Nov 1 Snowy Owl: One at Elderwood Trail (street), Oakville Nov 11 F (MBo); (RWo); one juv at Peace Park, Grimsby [NG] Nov 13 (KM); one juv. one bird at QEW and Burloak Road [HL] Nov 14 (GLa); one bird at QEW west Harbour Nov 25 (KM). and Appleby Line Nov 15 (JR); one bird ranging from Bronte Heritage Great Black-backed Gull: Park to Bronte Harbour to Bronte Bluffs Park[HL] Nov 16-23 (MJ,m. Two juv. at Van Wagners obs.); one at Suncor Pier [HL] Nov 19 (MJ) – all of the above records may Beach Sep 4 F (BH); 35 at pertain to one wide ranging bird in the Bronte, Appleby, Oakville area. Tollgate Pond Nov 14 (RD). Short-eared Owl#: One at Van Wagners Beach Sep 20 F (RD et al.). Caspian Tern: One at RPBS Northern Saw-whet Owl#: 42 birds banded at RPBS [HD], sample [HD] Sep 12 (RL); one at numbers: six on Oct 14, seven on Oct 22, four on Nov 2, and one on Windermere Basin Sep 24 Nov 7 (NF,RL,EG,CSc). One bird caught on Oct 25 had been banded (GR); two at Van Wagners at Whitefish Point, MI. Ten birds netted at Taquanyah C.A. [HD]: five Beach Sep 30 L (JR et al.). Juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull at Peace Park, Grimsby, 13 Nov 2015 - photo Kevin McLaughlin. on Oct 25. One bird caught on this date was banded in Minnesota on Common Tern: Five at 22 Oct 2013. One bird caught on Nov 2 was previously banded a week Suncor Pier [HL] Sep 2 (MJ). Birds off Van Wagners Beach: 19 Sep 4 earlier at RPBS on Oct. 25 (CSc). One bird at Glen Morris along rail (RD et al.), 50 Sep 10 (RW), 77 Sep 20 (RD,CE et al.), 17 Sep 30 (LM), trail [BR] Nov 1 (KD). 35 Sep 30 (RD), nine Oct 4 (RD,CE,DD). 100 off Green Road on Lake Common Nighthawk: Two over McMaster Forest Sep 2, four there Sep 30 (BH); three at Cootes Paradise Oct 10 (RD); one at Windermere Sep 4, one there Sep 14, one there Sep 21, and Sep 22 (RP); one over Basin Oct 14 L (BC). Powerline and Balmoral Roads, Brantford Sep 2 (JS); one over Gage ARCTIC TERN#: One juv. past Van Wagners Beach Sep 30 (RD). Park [HM] Sep 3 (LM); five at RPBS [HD] Sep 4 (EG); one at RPBS Forster’s Tern#: Two at Van Wagners Beach (DP et al.) and one at Green [HD] Sep 5 (RL); one at Cootes Paradise Sep 6 (IM); three over Lowville Road on Lake Sep 30 (BH). Park [HL] Sep 8 (BO); one over Churchill Park [HM] Sep 9 and Sep 13 Pomarine Jaeger#: One juv. off Green Road Sep 26* and one there Sep (JM); three at Franklin Pond, Cambridge [WT] Sep 16 L (NH); one over 30 (BH); one imm. at Van Wagners Beach Oct 1 (JV,TL); two at Van River & Ruins Trail, Bruce Trail [HL] Sep 16 L (BO). Wagners Beach Nov 17 (LM). Eastern Whip-poor-will#: One at Guelph Arboretum [WL] Sep 30 L (IJ). Parasitic Jaeger#: Birds off Van Wagners Beach: Chimney Swift: One at RPBS [HD] Sep 13 (RL); three at Stoney Creek Five ad. and two juv. Sep 4 (BCh,RD et al.); one Sep 28 L (LM,LT). Sep 10 (MC); three ad. Sep 12 (RD, et al.); one Ruby-throated Hummingbird: One at RPBS [HD] Sep 24 (RL); one in juv. Sep 20 (LM); three juv. Sep 20 (RD et al.); Parasitic Jaeger, an Oakville backyard Oct 22 L (JW). nine ad. Sep 24-25 (DD,BCh,RD, et al.); seven ad, imm., Van Wagners Beach, 26 Sep 2015 - Belted Kingfisher: One at Woodward Ave at Red Hill Creek Nov 18 (JR). and two juv. Sep 26 (RD, et al.); one subad. Oct 3 photo Andrew Don. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: One at Franklin Pond, Cambridge [WT] Sep (RD,DD). Birds at Green Road on Lake: One Sep Page 160 The Wood Duck - March, 2016 7 F (AZ); one at RPBS [HD] Oct 2 (RL); seven at Confederation Park Oct 4 (RD,CE,DD); one along Grand River near Glen Morris [BR] Nov 1 L (KD). Northern Flicker: 27 counted on HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.). Pileated Woodpecker: Eight recorded in the HSA on the Belted Kingfisher at Red Hill Creek and HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.). Woodward Ave, 18 Nov 2015 - photo American Kestrel: Only 11 counted Blue-headed Vireo at Joanne Redwood. on HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.). Arkendo Park, 15 Nov 2015 Red-eyed Vireo at Arkendo Park, 16 Nov Merlin#: Two at Erindale Park [PL] Sep 4 (MJo); two at Van Wagners Beach - photo Joanne Redwood. 2015 - photo Joanne Redwood. Sep 4 F (RD et al.); one at Franklin Pond, Cambridge [WT] Sep 7 (AZ); Treatment Plant [HL] Nov 14 (RM); one at Shoreacres Park Nov 18 (DG). one at Riverwood [PL] Sep 9 (LF); one at Lakeside Park, Oakville Sep 10 Warbling Vireo: One at South Shell Park [HL] Sep 13 (MJ); one at (AN); one at Cootes Drive at Dundas St. Sep 16-29 (RD); two at McMaster RPBS [HD] Sep 23 L (RL). Forest Sep 16 (RP); one at Mill Pond/Centennial Park, Milton [HL] Sep Philadelphia Vireo: One at RPBS [HD] Sep 25 (RL); one at South Shell 21 (SZ); one at Lion’s Valley Park, Oakville Sep 23 (DH); one at Red Hill Park Oct 6 L (MJ). Parkway Pond Sep 24 (JR); one at Green Road, Stoney Creek Sep 26 and Red-eyed Vireo: One at RPBS [HD] Sep 25 (RL); one at Bronte Bluffs Sep 30 (BH); one at Van Wagners Beach Sep 30 (RD); one at Nipegon Trail, Park [HL] Oct 21 (AW); one at Arkendo Sewage treatment Plant [HL] Oakville Oct 9 (DH); two at Woodland Cemetery Oct 10 (RD,CE,DD); one Nov 12-16 (RM/JR) 2nd. latest record for HSA. over Plains Road, Burlington Oct 30 (GN); one at High Level Bridge Nov Common Raven#: One at Lion’s Valley Park, Oakville Sep 20 (MW); two 3 (BCu). Birds at RPBS [HD] one Sep 19, one Sep 20 and one Oct 2 (RL). over Westover Road, north of Concession 8 [HM] Sep 22 and again on 30 Peregrine Falcon: Three past Green Road at Lake Sep 30 (BH). Sep (PS); one over Hwy 403 in Ancaster Sep 30 (DD); two at McPherson Rd Olive-sided Flycatcher#: One at RPBS [HD] Sep 3 (BO,EG,GC); one and Wyecroft Rd Oakville Oct 4 (MJ); one at Paddy Greene Road area [HM] at Riverwood [PL] Sep 9 (LF); one at Dundas Valley [HM] Sep 13 L Oct 6 (NM); one at Sheridan College, Oakville Oct 6 (AGu); one at RPBS (RD,MM). [HD] Oct 19 (IB); one at [BR]-[HM] boundary on Hwy 99 on Oct 25 (DGu); Eastern Wood-Pewee: One at South 26 on the HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.); two over Rattray Marsh [PL] Nov 5 Shell Park [HL] Sep 13 (MJ); three (PT); one at Erindale Park [PL] Nov 8 (RM); two at West River Road at at RPBS [HD] Sep 21 (RL); one at Grand River [BR] Nov 16 (DG); two at Watersedge Park [PL] Nov 18 (RM). Morrison Valley Trail, Oakville [HL] Purple Martin: Three at RPBS [HD] Sep 7 (RL). Sep 30 (AGu); one banded at RPBS Tree Swallow: One at African Lion Safari [HM] Oct 3 (AB); 20 at RPBS Oct 14 L (CSc). [HD] Oct 18 (RL); one at Princess Point [HM] Oct 27 L (TM). Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: One at Northern Rough-winged Swallow: Eight at RPBS [HD] Oct 3 L (RL). Edgelake Park [HM] Sep 1 (RPo); one Bank Swallow: Two at RPBS [HD] Sep 6 L (RL). at Shoreacres Park [HL] Sep 2 (RPo) Cliff Swallow: One at Woodland Cemetery Sep 6 L (RD). and one there Sep 8 (RWo); one at Cave Swallow#: Three at Arkendo Park [HL] Nov 14* (RD,CE,DD) Waterworks Park, Brantford [BR] and four later that day at nearby Carrington Promenade (BCha); one at Sep 7 (DG); one at Edgelake Park Sep Eastern Wood-Pewee, 14 Oct Lakeside Park, Mississauga [PL] Nov 14 (RM); one at Gairloch Gardens, 8 (BH) and one there Sep 14-15 (RW); 2015, RPBS - photo Caleb Scholtens. Oakville [HL] Nov 20 (MJa); three at Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] Nov 20 two at Bronte [HL] Sep 13 (MJ); one at (DH, TM); one at Bronte Harbour [HL] Nov 20 (MJ) and two there Nov RPBS [HD] Sep 24 (RL); one at Fifty Point C.A. [HM] Sep 27 L (RPo). 21 (MJ, m.obs.); three over Bronte Bluffs Park Nov 21 (LM); two over Alder Flycatcher: One at Edgelake Park Sep 20 L (call note heard) (JJ). sewage treatment plant at Sedgewick Park [HL] Nov 21-23 (NH/MM;JR) Least Flycatcher: One at U of G Arboretum [WL] Sep 22 L (TH,MD). with one there Nov 24 (LM); two likely Cave Swallows over Maplewood Eastern Phoebe: One at Van Wagners Beach Sep 20 F (RD et al.); 12 at Mall, Burlington Nov 24 (LT). Confederation Park [HM] Oct 4 (RD,CE,DD); two at Cootes Paradise Oct (continued on page 166) 31 (RD,CE); one at Iroquois Heights C.A. [HM] (WB,DMo) Nov 1; one at Riverwood [PL] Nov 7 (LF); one at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] Nov 30 (JT). Great Crested Flycatcher: One at Churchill Park [HM] Sep 14 L (JM). Eastern Kingbird: One at Windermere Basin Sep 9 (BC); one at Princess Point Oct 25-27 (GLa, m.obs.). This worn plumaged bird was originally reported as a possible Fork-tailed Flycatcher. The ID of this bird is still in question. Northern Shrike#: One at 10th Road East [HM] Nov 8 F (RPo); one at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] Nov 15-16/22 (SC/JJ). White-eyed Vireo#: One at Riverwood [PL] Oct 21* (LF). Yellow-throated Vireo: One at 15 SR and Nassagawaya 4th Line [HL] Sep 8 (LM); one at RPBS [HD] Sep 22 (RL); one at Guelph Arboretum [WL] Sep 30 L (IJ). Blue-headed Vireo: One at Churchill Park, Hamilton Sep 10 F (JM); two at Confederation Park Oct 4 (RD,CE,DD); one at Edgelake Park [HM] Cave Swallow at Sedgewick Park sewage treatment plant, 23 Nov 2015 - photo Iain Fleming. Oct 14 (RW); two at Bayfront Park Oct 15 (DBe); one at Arkendo Sewage The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Page 161 Member Profile – Ursula Kolster by Gerten Basom rsula Kolster’s interest in the natural world was long in place by habitat destruction! She also Uthe time she, her husband Manfred, and their two daughters found a rare Fowler’s Toad this arrived in Hamilton in 1990. Born in Eberswalde, Germany, a town past summer at their cottage 30 km east of Berlin, Ursula’s family fled to Hamburg just before on Long Point. Flowers such the Second World War ended. Concerned that the Russian military as poppies, daisies, sunflowers, had plans to take over Berlin, as well as neighbouring areas, her goldenrod, brown-eyed susans, father moved his family to his hometown where they remained for phlox, cornflower, delphinium, the next 33 years. In Hamburg, Ursula attended school, enjoying bee balm, honeysuckle and Ursula Kolster, 1 November 2015 the motivation and inspiration which studying brought her. irises all surround the small but on the Hamilton Fall Bird Count - photo Gerten Basom. Tennis, scull rowing and playing on the university volleyball team mighty pond. The pay-back is were favorite sports which she engaged in during her university immense. Their backyard literally hums with activity and many year. She became a teacher for elementary and middle school from an hour over coffee is spent observing and delighting in their grade 1 to 10 with a focus on physical education. work from their back deck. Bike riding was a common daily mode of transportation. Bike tours In December of 1995, Ursula noticed a towhee at their feeders. also offered Ursula a means of traveling throughout Germany. Using her bird guide, Ursula identified it as a Spotted Towhee, not The Kolster family often went camping and travelled regularly to quite fully understanding the actual significance of the bird being Denmark to visit the Baltic Sea. Downhill skiing and horseback in her yard. She phoned Mike Street who at first questioned it a riding were added to Ursula’s list of activities in later years. bit, but there was no doubt. It was announced at the following Bird Her mother played an important role in pointing out birds to Study Group in January of 1996. Fortunately, the bird remained her while growing up. This, along with the fascination of naming until April of that year and caused great excitement among birds, anchored her curiosity in learning to identify various birders. People came from all over to see the Spotted Towhee, species. When Manfred landed a position on faculty at McMaster Pete Dunne among them. This Spotted Towhee not only brought University in 1990, the Kolsters packed up their belongings and visitors to her at a time when she needed them, but also provided moved to Canada. Upon arriving here, Ursula soon realized her with the daily company of the bird itself. During that winter that she was already familiar with many of the birds she was Ursula was undergoing chemotherapy and the Spotted Towhee seeing in Hamilton. Shortly after, she joined a hiking group brought excitement and hope, well into the early spring. She and began studies in English as a second language, challenging received a certificate of appreciation from the OFO for the rare her already broad knowledge of the language. She joined the sighting and sharing of this bird, but most of all, she regained Hamilton Naturalists’ Club as well as the Bird Study Group. It her health. This stunning bird’s appearance is well documented was with Bruce Duncan that she saw her first hummingbird and in Bob Curry’s Birds of Hamilton. warblers. At the Bird Study Group she also met Mike Street who Other birding adventures have also caught Ursula’s attention, introduced her to the Baillie Birdathon. Mike helped her take prompting her to participate at greater lengths from home. She on her own area and she regularly wrote up a full report of her and Manfred became regular campers with Frank Morley’s group findings. Christmas Bird Counts weren’t far behind and Ursula on the annual HNC Point Pelee camping and Manfred have participated in that annual count each year. trip. Ursula’s notes on birds sighted over Their jurisdiction is an all day excursion which they have enjoyed those years create a massive and interesting for some time now. file. These descriptive and thorough notes As their interest in birding continued, Ursula and Manfred are worthy documentation. As we spoke, she also began to develop their backyard, turning it into a small shared her observation of what is becoming a oasis. Begun just shortly after their arrival in Canada, the small common occurrence these days, also noticed pond was designed and planted with a variety of both native by many other thoughtful birders. More and and non-native flowers to draw in birds and butterflies. The more, Ursula says, photographers are taking summer months feature Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, House over Point Pelee and other birding hotspots. Finches, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles, Red- It has become less about the bird itself and bellied Woodpeckers, as well as Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Ursula Kolster, more about the photo, she feels. Observing Aug 2009 - photo birds first hand, rather than through the particularly in the past eight years. The pond is complete with lily Manfred Kolster. pads and hosts up to 22 frogs, including Leopard Frogs and toads. camera lens, is her true area of interest. The Despite last year’s construction occurring at a nearby McMaster most informative method of getting to know birds is the timeless University building, which had destroyed the flow of a close by, method of field study. Ursula feels that time spent observing natural spring, Ursula was pleased to hear the three day trilling them in their habitat prevents birds from simply becoming an of the mating toads in her pond. Some had in fact survived the object through a lens.

Page 162 The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Ursula is also a very active participant in other areas of While some of Ursula’s favorite birds and birding memories have volunteering. One project with the RBG required extra hands occurred here in the vicinity of Hamilton and Burlington, trips on monitoring of bird boxes on RBG land. Another ongoing further afar have captured some wonderful finds as well. A special personal project of hers is to clear out Garlic Mustard plants in her occasion has been to regularly come across a Prothonotary Warbler neighbourhood. In 1997, she was awarded the Baillie Birdathon at Tilden’s Woods at Point Pelee, along with Blue-winged Warblers, Achievement Award, Harrier Class Status, in recognition for Indigo Buntings and Scarlet Tanagers. Their cottage at Long Point outstanding contribution also offers a wonderful place to bird. When not out birding, Ursula in the 1997 Birdathon. can be found teaching German for certification at a local German When asked which School. This too is a passion, linking past to present. birding app she feels has Ursula credits Bruce Duncan for special memories of wonderful assisted her the most, birding days, acknowledging his incredible, generous spirit as Ursula is quick to reply, well as his ability and willingness to share his knowledge. She also “iBird Pro” which she values the very informative meetings of the Bird Study Group. keeps at her fingertips Recently, Ursula has also participated in outings with the Larks, on her cellphone. One all of whom share their findings and birding skills with one of her favorite moments Ursula’s backyard pond, June 2013 - photo another. As with so many others who have grandchildren, Ursula Ursula Kolster. occurred at the White and Manfred are pleased to be able to share their love of nature Pine picnic shelter at and the outdoors with their five grandchildren. Their learning Point Pelee when she noticed a Lincoln’s Sparrow illuminated experiences and enthusiasm are in turn passed on to others in the in bright sunlight. She then identified it, on her own. Magical same spirit in which they have been guided. moments for birders!

Bird Study Group Meeting Summary – December 8, 2015 Annual Holiday Celebration and Birding Quiz by Michael Rowlands ecember meetings of the Bird Study Group are always Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with Dinteresting. They begin with BSG members bringing in dead the Great Survivor B95 [reviewed in the birds they have collected throughout the year (under the HNC’s Wood Duck Vol. 68 (Sep 2014) No. 1 pg. special permit) to be donated to the Royal Ontario Museum. Mark 4, by Christine Bishop], it is directed at Peck, ornithologist at the ROM, comes each year to pick these up. younger readers with an interest in bird A group gathers around a table at the front of the meeting room migration and conserving the habitat of Michael Rowlands from to see what’s been found and to reach consensus on species, age, this intrepid bird and its kin. LinkedIn website. and sex of any identified specimens. Mark is always appreciative The 2015 winter edition of ON Nature magazine features a full- of the finds we contribute as they are used for various research page profile of HNC’s Director-at-Large, Gord McNulty. Gord purposes. has been a liaison between the HNC and Ontario Nature since Bruce Mackenzie emceed the meeting and made several 1980 and is described as “a gem” in the article that highlights his announcements or introduced others with special messages. Jim long-standing love of nature and environmental advocacy. Stollard first appealed to us to make a donation for a memorial Glenda Slessor presented a short update from Don Wills about bench in honour of two prominent birders we lost in 2015, Tom 2015 activity of Prothonotary Warblers in boxes set up in Crooks and Jim Heslop. The goal is to raise $1500 for a bench to the sloughs of Backus Woods near Long Point. There were 12 be placed in the Cartwright Sanctuary. Bruce mentioned that an Prothonotaries (seven females, five males) this year, with eight annual $500 scholarship towards post-secondary education has nests and 33 fledglings. One female had a double brood and one been created for the secondary school student who participates male serviced three nests! Don covers the boxes for the winter to in the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch and earns the most points keep flying squirrels out of them. He also reported finding a new from hours of hawkwatching and a project or essay on raptor colony west of Paris. migration. Details may be found at the website: http://www. The feature of the evening was the annual birding quiz, this year niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ prepared and delivered by David Brewer, a long-term member A book about a banded rufa Red Knot, which has travelled more of our group who has birded in many places around the globe. than 325,000 miles (the distance to the moon and halfway back) Less structured than some of the glossy presentations we have in its 20 years of annual migrations from Tierra del Fuego to been used to in past years that have been prepared by some of the Canadian Arctic, has been written by Philip Hoose. Entitled our gifted younger birders, Dave brought a collection of photos

The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Page 163 and drawings and stated that each slide would have a varying Wilson’s Storm-Petrel. A challenging question indeed! number of points. He also stated he would award bonus and Our quizmaster was also not averse to giving “helpful” clues penalty points as we reviewed the slides to determine the correct to confuse us as he did when he said a particular bird was not answers! named after a US president. The bird was a Lincoln’s Sparrow, The funniest (or should I say “punniest”) slides, which were also named after birder Thomas Lincoln, not President Abraham some of the toughest to decipher, were Dave’s drawings of an Lincoln. Top points and some prizes went to Ben Oldfield in Uncle Sam character with a dog or fox attempting to bite him the junior category and Rick Ludkin and Peter Scholtens in the (American Bittern) and Uncle Sam pointing a gun at a man senior category. (It looks like bird banding experience conveys with raised arms (American Robin). For another series of slides a definite advantage to persons taking these quizzes!) All in all, we were asked to distinguish the odd man out. All the birds it was an amusing and educational quiz and, after a few final were named after ornithologist Alexander Wilson except one announcements from our emcee, the group broke up to chat and (Williamson’s Sapsucker) – Wilson’s Warbler, Wilson’s Phalarope, enjoy the holiday refreshments that people had contributed. Veery (formerly known as Wilson’s Thrush!), Wilson’s Snipe, and

Hairy Woodpecker 6 (19); Northern Flicker 1 (1); Northern Fisherville Christmas Bird Shrike 1 (2); Blue Jay 202 (221); American Crow 191 (828); Horned Lark 4 (55); Black-capped Chickadee 259 (357); Count – December 28, 2015 Tufted Titmouse 18 (9); Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 (12); White- by Linda Thrower breasted Nuthatch 43 (58); Brown Creeper 5 (8); Carolina Wren 1 (8); Golden-crowned Kinglet 23 (8); Eastern Bluebird he Fisherville Christmas Bird Count 17 (20); Hermit Thrush 1 (1 in 2013); American Robin 7 (2); Ttook a loss this year with the death of Northern Mockingbird 1 (10); European Starling 2446 (1806); two of its faithful bird counters: Jim Heslop Cedar Waxwing 47 (41 in 2013); American Tree Sparrow and Wes Raymond. Sincere condolences to 306 (266); Swamp Sparrow 2 (3); Song Sparrow 8 (6); White- both family and friends. They are and will throated Sparrow 8 (10); Dark-eyed Junco 407 [including one be greatly missed. Another reality has hit Linda Thrower at “Oregon Junco” – first time on Count] (265); Snow Bunting 1 me this year. I do not think “bird” very well. Ruthven Park, 29 April 2006 - photo (40); Northern Cardinal 76 (86); Red-winged Blackbird 50 I would have thought with all that warm Rick Ludkin. (196); Rusty Blackbird 1 (20); Brown-headed Cowbird 1286 weather leading up to this count, and count (1191); House Finch 79 (112); American Goldfinch 183 (227); day being the first really cold day, that the birds would have been House Sparrow 796 (812). out looking for food everywhere. Oh well, I was wrong again. It Total Species -79. Total Individuals - 14,361. was a very nasty cold, cold wind, so a big thank you to all who The 32 participants “who braved the cold day”: participated. I do find it amazing what species were found. The Jody Allair, Allan Aubane, Ron Campeau, Janice Chard, Rob following are the highs and lows of 2015 with last year’s results, Crawford, Rick Dowson, Neil Faulkenham, Denys Gardiner, or the last-year-recorded results, in brackets. Milou Geven, Jerry Gunther, Thomas Harrison, Audrey Heagy, Common Loon 1 (1 in 2012); Horned Grebe 9 (4); Sandhill Barry Jones, Adrian Juurlink, Fred Kopier, Pilar Manorome, Crane 2 (7); Great Blue Heron 3 (2); Canada Goose 2670 (2761); Reuven Martin, Hugh McArthur, David Okines, George Pond, Mute Swan 2 (2); Tundra Swan 172 (260); Wood Duck 1 (3); Beth Powell, Bill Read, Richard Skevington, Jeff Skevington, Bill Gadwall 94 (205); American Widgeon 4 (1); American Black Smith, Rob Smuck, Bob Stamp, Tom Thomas, Al Thrower, Linda Duck 4 (17); Mallard 436 (1604); Northern Pintail 1 (7 in 2013); Thrower (complier), Adam Timpf, Matt Timpf. Canvasback 1 (4 in 2013); Redhead 3 (805); Greater Scaup 63 Start: 12:00 a.m., finish: 6:00 p.m. Temperature: -4o C to -3oC. (3091); Surf Scoter 1 (80 in 1995); White-winged Scoter 2 (1 Winds: 20 to 40 km NE, no snow cover, cloudy, visibility: good; in 2013); Bufflehead 351 (401); Common Goldeneye 62 (224); water: open, waves ½ to ¾ metre. Hours on Foot – 35.84. Hours Common Merganser 81 (417); Red-breasted Merganser 262 by car – 45. Km on foot – 50.7. Km by car- 751.9. Hours owling (701); Bald Eagle 12 (9); Northern Harrier 34 (24); Sharp- - 2.25. Km owling – 20. Number of observers - 32. Number of shinned Hawk 1 (5); Cooper’s Hawk 4 (6); Red-tailed Hawk parties – 12. Number of feeders – 4. Feeder hours – 16. 17 (128); Rough-legged Hawk 7 (24); American Kestrel 12 Before I finish I must tell you about the story of our day. We were (34); Peregrine Falcon 1 (2 in 2013); Wild Turkey 24 (68); on top of the ash hill at Ontario Power Generation watching a Killdeer 1 (2 in 2012); Bonaparte’s Gull 312 (152); Ring-billed Bald Eagle when all of a sudden it spotted a Red-tailed Hawk. It Gull 2378 (1792); Herring Gull 44 (191); Great Black-backed and the Red-tail ended up talon to talon spinning in the air until Gull 8 (4); Rock Pigeon 367 (374); Mourning Dove 163 (252); they were both very close to the ground and then they let go, just Eastern Screech-Owl 4 (16); Great Horned Owl 5 (5); Snowy in time to right themselves and the Bald Eagle landed safely on Owl 2 (4); Long-eared Owl 8 (9); Short-eared Owl 2 (2); Red- the ground. Not something I see everyday! bellied Woodpecker 28 (47); Downy Woodpecker 53 (77); Thanks to Ontario Power Generation Plant for allowing access to their property. Page 164 The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Minutes Summary of HNC Board of Directors Meetings by Bronwen Tregunno

Jan 7, 2016 Meeting & Education Director has attended several meetings and Volunteer Engagement Team is seeking volunteers for Social read review. He noted that this review had many problems in Committee, Hawk Watch (Friday, March 25th, 2016), and as hike process and conclusions. Planning Committee voted to accept leaders. Volunteer Appreciation Night Date is April 13th and staff recommendation to remove parcels from Greenbelt. will be held at Dundas Museum. Orientations continue for new Hamilton City Council voted to accept Planning Committee volunteers before Monthly Meetings. recommendation. Question still holds as to whether Province Fiscal Report: Jim Stollard reported that HNC finances continue will agree to changes. Paul is looking into mechanism for public to be healthy (January 2016). Donations still required to complete input to provincial decision. Heslop/Crooks memorial bench. The Crombie Report: Gord McNulty, Director-at-Large received Conservation Update: Paul Smith reported that Giuliana link to Crosby Report and forwarded to board. HNC members Casimirri will be supporting the Urban Forest Strategy (UFS) for can read the panel’s final report online :Planning for Health, the City of Hamilton on behalf of the HNC on Feb 9 at City Hall Prosperity and Growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe: 2015 prior to council vote on the 2016 budget. Regarding Cambridge East - 2041’— “It contains 87 recommendations for ‘responsible Boundary Road: The Environmental Report was issued December, growth’. Paul Smith noted that it is generally supportive of a strong 2015. The by-pass will cross Mill Creek upstream from the Shade’s Greenbelt. There is some concern regarding its recommendations Mills C.A. and cut through wetlands south-east of the City. for the Oak Ridges Moraine Plan. Further study is needed to determine appropriate comments to Province. HNC needs to Paul continues to review and update HNC on the following: keep current with Ontario Nature’s response to the province to Waterdown Road & Waterdown East-West By-Pass, City of ensure recommendations are implemented. Hamilton Greenbelt Review, Crombie’s Greenbelt Report, & Provincial Wetland Review. Volunteers are needed to assist Paul Urban Forest Strategy for the City of Hamilton: HNC continues to review policies & rules of multiple levels of government. to urge City of Hamilton to develop an Urban Forest Strategy. Giuliana Casimirri forwarded suggestions for how members can Membership Update: Jill reported there are approximately 400 support an Urban Forest Strategy including a draft letter to be memberships which represent over 500 HNC members which sent to Stephanie Paparella. include a number of student and honorary members. A club computer was purchased for the membership program. Nov 12, 2015 Meeting Land Trust Program Coordinator Jen Baker introduced herself Dec 10, 2015 Meeting to new Board members and summarized her activities with Bruce Mackenzie, Bird Study Director noted that the Wood Duck land stewardship at sanctuaries, working with Hamilton & is an excellent resource and includes articles pertinent to decision Halton Conservation Authorities and the Cootes to Escarpment makers like local politicians and senior staff. Starting in January partnership. She implements Hamilton Community Foundation 2016 until May 2016 the Wood Duck will be distributed to funded projects including outdoor education for youth in downtown Hamilton and Burlington mayors and councilors. HNC President Hamilton and working in classrooms. She is working closely with Maggie Sims, will follow up with recipients to measure response. City of Hamilton to develop an Urban Forest Strategy, works on Crooks/Heslop Memorial bench: Some funding has been Pollinator Paradise Project, and works closely with HNC Volunteer received but $1,500 is needed to complete bench. A location is Engagement Team including Kim Fowler and Pritom Dey. yet to be determined. The Senior and Junior HNC Volunteer of the Year (VOY) award Fiscal Report: Jim Stollard, Treasurer noted in fiscal report two recipients were chosen. The VOY of year awards are for HNC donations in form of shares. Some additional membership fees members who have contributed significantly to HNC activities helped. HNC fiscal position remains healthy. and who are not on the HNC Board. HNC Senior VOY has been Town of Grimsby Biggar Lagoons Update: A list of over 210 a member of HNC for at least 15 years. Junior VOY has been a species has been recorded on the property. In 2003, the HNC member for less than 15 years. John Fischer, member for over 25 presented the Town of Grimsby, the Department of Defense years, was chosen for Senior VOY. Peter Scholtens, member for and Region of Niagara a proposal to restore and manage the eight years, was chosen for Junior VOY. property and create a natural area for wildlife enhancements and HNC has sent comments regarding Ontario’s provincial demonstration projects. In 2014, the Region of Niagara presented Conservation Authority Act which is currently under review. HNC Grimsby $1M for waterfront trail development. Part of trail will go emphasized the benefits of having strong local conservation to the east part of property. A bird blind overlooking the lagoons authorities and the need for continued healthy funding. Wetlands will be constructed. BSG Director Bruce Mackenzie assisted in and Greenbelt reviews are also up coming. design of tower. HNC is continuing discussions with the Town of Fiscal Report showed that HNC finances (November 2015) Grimsby to manage the naturalization of this property. healthy and in good standing. City of Hamilton Greenbelt Review: Paul Smith, Conservation The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Page 165 (Noteworthy Bird Records - continued from page 161) Burloak Dr./Great Lakes Blvd. [HL] Nov 10 (MJ); 120 in field at Tyneside Barn Swallow: One over Dundas Sewage Treatment Plant Oct 22 Road between White Church & Chippewa Roads [HM] Nov 22 (RP). (MM); one at Princess Point Oct 31 L (RD,CE). Cedar Waxwing: 175 at RPBS [HD] Oct 6 (RL). Tufted Titmouse#: At Ruthven Park [HD]: Four Oct 23 and two Lapland Longspur#: Two over Barton St, Stoney Creek Nov 18 F (LM). Nov 16 (RL). One at Lions Park, Brantford [BR] Sep 23 (DG); one at Snow Bunting: One at Green Road at Lake Oct 24 F (BH); 11 at Millen Pleasantview, Dundas Oct 17 (JG); one at Van Wagners Beach Nov Road at Lake [HM] Oct 31 (LM); 140 at Confederation Park Nov 14 (RP). 2 (LM); two near Wolverton Road and Ridge Road W [HM] Nov 14 Ovenbird: One at RPBS [HD] Oct 2 (RL); one at Cootes Paradise Oct (JVR); one at Spencer Gorge [HM] Nov 15 (RPo). 2 (NH); one at Sherwood Forest Park [HL] Oct 3 (DD); one at Erindale Brown Creeper: One at Erindale Park [PL] Sep 13 F (RM); 25 at Park [PL] Oct 6 L (RM). Shoreacres Park [HL] Oct 15 (GN). Northern Waterthrush: One at Erindale Park [PL] Oct 8 L (RM). Carolina Wren: 62 tallied in the HSA on the HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.). Golden-winged Warbler#: Birds at RPBS [HD] (all banded): one Sep House Wren: Thirteen at Confederation Park [HM] Oct 4 (RD,CE,DD); 1, Sep 5 and Sep 21 L (RL). One at 15 SR and Nassagaweya 4th Line area one at RPBS [HD] Oct 12 L (RL). [HL] Sep 8 (LM); one at Woodland Cemetery Sep 12 (RD). Winter Wren: One at Edgelake Park [HM] Sep 20 F (RW); one at RPBS Blue-winged Warbler: One at RPBS [HD] Sep 9 (RL); one at River & [HD] Sep 24 (RL). Ruins Trail, Bruce Trail [HL] Sep 15 L (BO). Marsh Wren#: One at Slote Road bog [HM] Sep 1 (RP); one at Black-and-white Warbler: One at Sedgewick Park [HL] Oct 10 L (CC). Windermere Basin Sep 5 (RD et al.); one at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] Sep Tennessee Warbler: One at RPBS [HD] Oct 22 L (RL). 24 (AZ); one at Van Wagners Ponds Oct 4 (RD,CE,DD); one at Great Orange-crowned Warbler: Three at Confederation Park [HM] Oct 4 F Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] Oct 6 (MJ); two at Cootes Paradise Oct 6 (RD,CE,DD); one at RPBS [HD] Oct 6 and one there Oct 17 (RL); one at (DPr); one at Erindale Park [PL] Oct 8 (RM); one at Barrie’s Lake, west end of Dundas Valley Nov 1 (SM); one at Sedgewick Park Nov 8 (BO). Cambridge [WT] Nov 1 (JB,KB,MB). Nashville Warbler: One at RPBS [HD] Oct 22 L (RL). Sedge Wren#: One at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] Sep 16 (DPr). Connecticut Warbler#: One at Middletown Marsh [HM] Sep 3 F (BCha); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: One near Iroquois C.A. [HM] Sep 8 (WB); one one at Edgelake Park [HM] Sep 10-11 (BS,PMc). Birds at RPBS [HD] (all at RPBS [HD] Sep 9 (RL); one at Churchill Park [HM] Sep 14 (JM); one banded): one Sep 5, one Sep 13, at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] Oct 5 L (AZ). one Sep 14, and one Sep 15 L (RL). Golden-crowned Kinglet: One at Confederation Park [HM] Sep 20 F Mourning Warbler: One at (RD,CE,DD); 50 at Fifty Point C.A. [HM] Oct 26 (RB). Preservation Woods, Guelph Sep Ruby-crowned Kinglet: One at Edgelake Park [HM] Sep 10 F (JR) and 2 F (FU); one at Edgelake Park 45 there Oct 10 (LM); one at RPBS [HD] Nov 4 (RL); one at Arkendo [HM] 11 Sep (TT); two at Rattray Sewage Treatment Plant [HL] Nov 14 (RM); one at Erindale Park [PL] Marsh [PL] Sep 13 (SS); one at Nov 16 (RM); two at Sedgewick Park [HL] Nov 23 (JR). Princess Point Sep 16 (BWy); Eastern Bluebird: Five at Lowville Park [HL] Sep 22 (BO); 120 birds at one at RPBS Sep 27 L (RL). RBG Arboretum Sep 25 (DMo); 18 at McMaster Forest Oct 17 and 22 Connecticut Warbler, 13 Sep 2015, Common Yellowthroat: One at there on Oct 18 (RP); 15 at Woodland Cemetery Oct 17 (RD et al.); three RPBS - photo Ethan Gosnell. Rattray Marsh [PL] Oct 22 (RM); at Oak Park, Oakville Oct 27 (DH); 26 over RPBS [HD] Nov 7 (RL); three two in York Road area, Dundas Nov 1 (BWy); one at Mountsberg [WL] at Churchill Park [HM] Nov 9 (JM); four at Shaver & Sawmill Roads [BR] Nov 8 L (RVT). Nov 25 (GB); three at Olympic Woods [HM] Nov 27 (CS). Hooded Warbler#: One at RPBS Veery: One at Edgelake Park [HW] Sep 8 (BH); one at RPBS Sep 25 L (RL). [HD] Sep 6 (RL). Gray-cheeked Thrush: Three at Shoreacres Park [HL] Sep 8 F (RWo); one American Redstart: Nine at at Edgelake Park [HW] Sep 8 F (BH); seven overhead (nocturnal flight Shoreacres Park [HL] Sep 8 (RWo); calls) Stoney Creek Sep 24 (LM); three overhead (nocturnal calls) Stoney 20 at Rattray Marsh [PL] Sep 13 Creek Sep 30 (LM); one at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] Oct 15 L (AZ). (SS); one at Bayshore Park [HL] Oct Swainson’s Thrush: 20 at Shoreacres Park [HL] Sep 8 (RWo); ten calling 1 L (JR). (night) over Sunrise Cres, Dundas Sep 26 (RD); one at Hendrie Valley Cape May Warbler: One at Sheridan [HL] Oct 23 (CC); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] Nov 2 L (AD). College, Oakville Oct 6 L (AGu). Hermit Thrush: One at Confederation Park [HM] Oct 4 F (RD,CE,DD). Cerulean Warbler: One at Wood Thrush: One at Edgelake Park [HM] Oct 4 (RW); one at RPBS Princess Point, Cootes Paradise Sep [HD] Oct 11 L (RL). Mourning Warbler at Edgelake Park, 16 L (BWy). 11 Sep 2015 - photo Tom Thomas. Gray Catbird: One at RPBS Northern Parula: Five at [HD] Oct 9 (RL); one at St Confederation Park Oct 4 (RD,CE,DD); one at Churchill Park [HM] Lawrence Cement plant [PL] Oct 26 (JM); one at Beachway Park [HL] Oct 31 L (LM). Nov 1 (LF); one at Jack Darling Magnolia Warbler: 14 at Shoreacres Park [HL] Sep 8 (RWo); 15 at Park [PL] Nov 18 (RM). Rattray Marsh [PL] Sep 13 (SS); 12 at Shell Park [HL] Sep 17 (RWo); Northern Mockingbird: Only one at Nipegon Trail, Oakville [HL] Oct 8 L (DH). nine recorded on HFBC on Bay-breasted Warbler: One at Paddy Greene Road [HM] Oct 6 L (NM). Nov 1 (m.obs.); one at RPBS Blackburnian Warbler: Eight at Rattray Marsh [PL] Sep 13 (SS); one at Snow Bunting at Van Wagners Beach, [HD] Nov 7 (RL). 27 Oct 2015 - photo Len Manning. Confederation Park [HM] Oct 10 L (BH). Brown Thrasher: One at Yellow Warbler: One at South Shell Park [HL] Sep 13 L (BCha/AD); RPBS [HD] Sep 26 (RL); two at Confederation Park [HM] Oct 4 L two at Erindale Park [PL] Sep 13 L (RM). (RD,CE,DD). Chestnut-sided Warbler: 12 at Rattray Marsh [PL] Sep 13 (SS); one at American Pipit: Seven at Tollgate Pond Sep 20 F (LM); 16 in field E of

Page 166 The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Confederation Park [HM] Sep 20 (RD,CE,DD); one at J.C. Saddington White-crowned Sparrow: One at Windermere Basin Sep 23 F (LM); 23 Park [PL] Oct 10 L (RLa). at Confederation Park Oct 4 (RD,CE,DD); 61 recorded in the HSA on Blackpoll Warbler: One at RPBS [HD] Oct 21 L (RL). the HFBC on Nov 1 (m.obs.). Black-throated Blue Warbler: Seven at Morrison Valley Trail, Oakville [HL] Sep 30 (AGu); one at Nipegon Trail, Oakville [HL] Oct 11 (DH); one at Rattray Marsh [PL] Oct 22 L (RM). Palm Warbler: Two at Edgelake Park [HM] Sep 8 F (LM); one in field east of Burloak Dr./Great Lakes Blvd.[HL] Nov 1 (MJ); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] Nov 30 (GD). Pine Warbler: One at LaSalle Park [HL] Oct 8 L (JR); one at Blythe Cres, Oakville [HL] Nov 21 (JW). Yellow-rumped Warbler: One at Preservation Woods [WL] Sep 5 F (FU); 130 at RPBS [HD] Sep 30 (RL); five at Beachway Park [HL] Nov 14 (LM); one at Nipegon Trail, Oakville Nov 16 (DH); one at Princess Point Nov 26 (RP); one at Olympic Woods [HM] Nov 27 (CS). Yellow-throated Warbler: One at South Shell Park [HL] Sep 13* (MJ, m.obs). Immature White-crowned Sparrow, 2 October 2015, La Salle Park - Prairie Warbler#: One at Millen Road photo Joanne Redwood. at Lake [HM] Oct 21 L (LM). Dark-eyed Junco: Two at north Burlington [HL] Sep 2 F (HD,BD); 80 Black-throated Green Warbler: One at Confederation Park Oct 4 (RD,CE,DD). at RPBS [HD] Oct 11 (RL); five at Scarlet Tanager: One ad. feeding fledgling at RBG Arboretum [HM] Sep Morrison Valley Trail, Oakville [HL] 14 (BCo); one at Erindale Park [PL] Sep 15 (MJo); one at Morrison Valley Sep 30 (AGu); one at Churchill Park Trail, Oakville [HL] Sep 30 (AGu); one at RPBS [HD] Oct 2 (RL); one at [HM] Oct 15 (JM); one at Bayfront Park Rattray Marsh [PL] Oct 7 (RM); one at Grimsby [NG] Nov 1 L (PP,KP). [HL] Oct 26 L (LM). Yellow-throated Warbler, 13 Rose-breasted Grosbeak: Eight at Erindale Park [PL] Sep 13 (RM); five Canada Warbler: One at Shoreacres Sep 2015, South Shell Park - photo Joanne Redwood. at Riverwood [PL] Sep 19 (LF) and one there Sep 26 (JWM); one at Park [HL] Sep 16 L (TM). RPBS Sep 24 (RL); two at Fifty Point C.A. [HM] Sep 27 L (RPo). Wilson’s Warbler: One at Confederation Park Sep 20 (RD,CE,DD); one Indigo Bunting: One at Burloak Waterfront Trail [HL] Oct 6 L (MJ). at RPBS Sep 24 (RL); one at Erindale Park [PL] Oct 6 (RM); one at Dickcissel#: One at 36 Winter Way, Brantford [BR] Oct 4 (DG). Arkendo Sewage Treatment Plant [HL] Nov 14-30 (RM/DP). Bobolink: One at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] Sep 30 L (DPr). Eastern Towhee: Birds at RPBS Red-winged Blackbird: Three at RPBS [HD] Nov 23 (RL). [HD]: one Sep 27 F, one Oct Eastern Meadowlark: One at RPBS [HD] Sep 22 (RL); one at Green 9, and one Oct 15 (RL). Three Lane, Paris [BR] Nov 16 (DG). at Confederation Park Oct 4 Rusty Blackbird: Twenty at Sudden Tract [WT] Sep 26 F (WVH); birds (RD,CE,DD); one at Shellard Lane area, Brantford [BR] Nov 9 (DG); at RPBS [HD]: one Oct 3, 275 Oct 22 and 20 Nov 4 (RL). Five at Hendrie one at Pinetum Trail, Cootes Valley [HL] Oct 14 (BK). Paradise Oct 16 (BCu); one at Baltimore Oriole: One at Green Road at Lake [HM] (BH) and one at Edgelake Park [HM] Oct 21 (RPo); Shoreacres Park [HL] (BM), both Oct 5 L. Prairie Warbler, 21 Oct 2015 at Purple Finch: Three at Woodland Cemetery Oct 10 (RD,CE,DD); one Millen Road - photo Len Manning. one at Confederation Park Oct 23 (RPo); one at west end of Dundas at Creek Path Trail [HL] Oct 27 (MJ); one at feeder at Plains Road, Valley Nov 1 (SM); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] Nov 4 (EH,JH). Burlington [HL] Oct 30 (GN); one over New St, Burlington Oct 30 American Tree Sparrow: One at Riverwood [PL] Oct 17 F (LF). (GS); five at Erindale Park [PL] Nov 8 (RM); two at Arkendo Sewage Chipping Sparrow: Six at RPBS [HD] Oct 26 (RL); two in Coldspring Treatment Plant [HL] Nov 14 (RM). Valley [HM] Nov 1 L (RP). Common Redpoll#: 18 in field at Millen Road at Lake/four at Green Clay-colored Sparrow#: One at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] Sep 30 L (DPr). Road at Lake Oct 31 F (LM/BH); two fly-overs at Valens Reservoir [HM] Nov 22 (RP); one at Powerline Road, Brantford [BR] Nov 28 (DG). Field Sparrow: Three at Van Wagners Beach area Oct 15 (LM); four at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] Oct 17 (AGu); five at McMaster Forest [HM] Pine Siskin: Two in Beverly Twp [HM] Sep 20 F (BL); two at Oct 17 (RP); three at Highland Gardens Park [HM] Oct 18 (WO); three Confederation Park Sep 20 F (RD,CE,DD); 11 at Woodland Cemetery at York Road area, Dundas Nov 1 (BWy). Oct 10 (RD,CE,DD); 15 at Confederation Park Oct 19 (RD); 20 at Rattray Marsh [PL] Oct 23 (LF); 30 at Fifty Point C.A. [HM] Oct 24 Savannah Sparrow: 35 in field east of Burloak Dr./Great Lakes Blvd. (RPo); 27 at Creek Path Trail [HL] Oct 27 (MJ); 42 over McMaster [HL] Oct 6 (MJ); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] Oct 30 L (TM). Forest [HM] Oct 30 (RP). Birds at RPBS [HD]: eleven Oct 15, twenty Nelson’s Sparrow#: One in marsh in field east of Burloak Dr./Great Oct 31 and two Nov 4 (RL). Lakes Blvd. [HL] Oct 6 * (MJ); three at Cootes Paradise Oct 6* (DPr) and two there Oct 10 (AD). Please send your bird records for Dec 2015 – Feb 2016 by Mar 10 to: Fox Sparrow: One at Britton Tract [HL] Oct 8 F (BRe); one at Olympic Bill Lamond, 238 St. George St., Brantford, Ont., N3R 1W7 ph: 519- Woods [HM] Nov 27 (CS). 756-9546; e-mail: [email protected] Lincoln’s Sparrow: One at Waterworks Park, Brantford Sep 10 F (DG). White-throated Sparrow: One at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] Sep 9 F (RVT); 25 at Confederation Park Sep 20 (RD,CE,DD), 220 there Oct 4 (RD,CE,DD); 40 at Edgelake Park [HM] Oct 10 (LM). The Wood Duck - March, 2016 Page 167 “Charity Chill” Over ! The Toronto Star has reported on 20 January that one of the first acts of the new Federal Government was to disband the Canada Revenue Agency’s anti-charity “hit squad”. Club members are familiar with this squad that targeted charities that disagreed with the policies of the previous Harper Government, especially environmental charities, most notably well-known groups such as the David Suzuki Foundation and the Environmental Defence Fund. Readers will remember the article in the December 2014 Wood Duck about the warning letter the Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists received from the CRA telling them to curb political activities shortly after they had sent a letter to two Federal Cabinet Ministers to complain about government-approved bee-killing pesticides. The intent of the Harper Government by way of the CRA was clear: to silence environmental groups by threatening to revoke their coveted charitable status. PM Justin Trudeau, in a mandate letter to Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier made it clear that he expected her to take it from there: “Allow charities to do their work on behalf of Canadians free of political harassment,” he wrote. “Modernize the rules governing the charitable and not-for-profit sectors, working with the Minister of Finance. This will include clarifying the rules governing ‘political activity’ with an understanding that charities make an important contribution to public debate and policy.” Welcome news indeed!

Dovekie at Bronte Harbour on 30 November 2015 - photo Robert Secord. Unfortunately the news of this bird did not get out to the birding community until long after this bird was photographed. This was a first record for the Hamilton Study Area and one of only a handful for Ontario. Only four previous records have been accepted by the Ontario Bird Records Committee although there are a few other undocumented Ontario records...clearly a very rare bird for Hamilton despite being one of the world’s most abundant birds.

40048074 Return undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club Westdale P.O. Box 89052 Hamilton, ON L8S 4R5