Number 558 October 2008

Gaillardia and viper’s-bugloss, photographed by Marie-Thérèse Forand at the Leslie Street Spit on the July 12 TFN outing. (See inside cover.)

REGULARS FEATURES Coming Events 19 Extracts from Outings Reports 8 City Dwellers 9 From the Archives 17 In the News 14 85th Anniversary Nature Arts Exhibit 10 Keeping in Touch 13 Monthly Meetings Notice 3 True Tree Squirrel Colours 12 Monthly Meeting Report 7 President’s Report 6 TFN Outings 4

Weather – This Time Last Year 18 TFN 558-2 Field Naturalist October 2008

Toronto Field Naturalist is published by the Toronto Field BOARD OF DIRECTORS Naturalists, a charitable, non-profit organization, the aims of President Wendy Rothwell 416-762-5371 which are to stimulate public interest in natural history and Past President Pinky Franklin 416-488-3226 to encourage the preservation of our natural heritage. Issued Vice President Bob Kortright 416-699-8842 monthly September to December and February to May. Sec.-Treasurer Corley Phillips 416-923-6363 Views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those Nature Reserves George Bryant 416-762-6039 of the editor or Toronto Field Naturalists. Communications Alexander Cappell 416-663-7738 Outings Gail Gregory 416-538-4713 ISSN 0820-636X Outings and Margaret McRae 416-429-7821 Web-master Marcus Feak 416-658-8148 Elisabeth Gladstone 416-266-6347 IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER! Barry Mitchell 416-934-1705 We welcome contributions of original writing, up to 500 words, of observations on nature in and around Toronto, MEMBERSHIP FEES reviews, poems, sketches, paintings, and photographs of $30 STUDENT, SENIOR SINGLE (65+) TFN outings (digital or print, include date and place). $40 SINGLE, SENIOR FAMILY (2 adults, 65+) $50 FAMILY (2 adults – same address, children included) Include your name, address and phone number so submissions can be acknowledged. Send by mail or email. No GST. Tax receipts issued for donations. Send Deadline for submissions for November issue: Oct.10. membership fees and address changes to the TFN office. Please note: TFN does not give out its membership list.

NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Jenny Bull (co-editor), Eva Davis, Karin Fawthrop, Nancy Toronto Field Naturalists Fredenburg, Elisabeth Gladstone, Mary Lieberman, Ruth 2 Carlton St., # 1519, Toronto M5B 1J3

Munson, Marilynn Murphy, Toshi Oikawa, Wendy Rothwell Tel: 416-593-2656 (co-editor). Web: www.torontofieldnaturalists.org Printing and mailing: Perkins Mailing Services Email: [email protected]

Sycamore Maple Leaves drawn by Diana Banville ON THE COVER The gaillardia that has been thriving on the Leslie St. Spit for decades was likely planted, perhaps because in the early days the new spit was an “….apparently derelict area….:” (Toronto the Green, TFN, 1976). Firewheel, or Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) is an annual, southern species with reddish to purplish rays, and yellowish to purple or brown, often bi-colored, discs. Common gaillardia (G. aristata) is a perennial from the west that is found in the Toronto area as an ornamental escape. It has yellow or yellow-purple rays, and purple or purple-tipped, sometimes yellow, discs. Cultivars of G. pulchella or of hybrids between the two species are used horticulturally. October 2008 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 558-3

TFN MEETING

Sunday, October 5, 2008, at 2:30 pm

Contemporary Evolution in Invasive Plants Spencer Barrett, Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,

VISITORS WELCOME!

SOCIAL: 2:00 – 2:30 pm

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

Emmanuel College is just south of the Museum subway station exit (east side of Queen’s Park). Enter at south end of building, down a few steps on outside stairwell. Wheelchair entrance: Second door south on Queen’s Park (no automatic opener). Elevator inside to the right. Room 001 is one floor below street level.

For information: call 416-593-2656 up to noon on the Friday preceding the lecture.

Book Sale

We have received a donation of nature books from the late Diana Banville’s collection, and have recently been culling the TFN library. A book sale is planned at the October monthly meeting. Please come prepared to browse, and we hope you will find something of interest to buy.

Please do not bring books to sell!

Upcoming TFN Monthly Meetings

November 2 The Toronto Field Naturalists: An Illustrated History

Helen Juhola and Pleasance Crawford, long-time TFN members, will share memories from TFN’s slide collection – in celebration of our 85th anniversary.

December 7 Greening the Zoo... from invasive plant control to geothermal monkey exhibits

David Ireland, Curator, Conservation Programs, Toronto Zoo

TFN 558-4 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2008

TFN OUTINGS

• TFN events are conducted by unpaid volunteers. • The club assumes no responsibility for injuries sustained by anyone participating in our activities. • Children and visitors are welcome at all TFN events. Children must be accompanied by an adult. • If you plan to bring children in a stroller, be aware that there may be steps or other unsuitable terrain. • Please do not bring pets. • To get to outings on time, check TTC routes and schedules by calling 416-393-4636. • Outings go rain or shine: check the weather by calling 416-661-0123 so you will know what to wear. • Wear appropriate footwear for walking on trails which may be muddy, steep or uneven.

Wedn esday WILKET CREEK PARK – Mushrooms Oct. 1 Leader: Vello Soots 10:30 a.m. Meet at the park entrance on the west side of Leslie St., north of Eglinton Ave. E. Morning only.

Saturday WILKET CREEK PARK – Nature Arts Oct. 4 Leader: Cameron Coneybeare 10:30 a.m. Meet at the southwest corner of Leslie St. and Lawrence Ave. E. Bring what you need for sketching, painting, photography or writing. Bring your lunch and any work you wish to share with the group after lunch. + Saturday G. ROSS LORD PARK – Nature Walk – Toronto Walking Festival Oct. 4 Leader: Alexander Cappell 1:30 p.m. Meet at the north side of Finch Ave. W. at the end of Wilmington Ave. Walk will end at Steeles Ave. W. and Dufferin St. Bring binoculars.

Sunday LECTURE – Contemporary Evolution In Invasive Plants Oct. 5 Speaker: Spencer Barrett, Professor, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University 2:30 p.m. of Toronto Emmanuel College, 75 Queen’s Park Cres. E. See page 3

Tuesday HUMBER RIVER – Nature and Heritage Oct. 7 Leader: Madeleine McDowell 10:00 a.m. Meet at Old Mill subway station. A loop walk with a stop at Lambton House for lunch or dropouts at Dundas St. W. around 1 p.m. Salmon should be running. Bring lunch and binoculars.

Saturday ROSETTA McCAIN GARDENS AND BLUFFS – Birds, Butterflies and Plants – Oct. 11 Toronto Walking Festival 10:30 a.m. Leader: Bob Kortright Meet on the south side of Kingston Rd. at Glen Everest Rd. Bring lunch and binoculars. A loop walk.

Tuesday CROTHERS’ WOODS – Rare Tree Species, Trail Management Oct. 14 Leader: Scott Laver 1:30 p.m. Meet at Loblaws trail head, 11 Redway Rd., at the south end of the parking lot. There are some steep hills. Bring binoculars.

Saturday UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, ST. GEORGE CAMPUS – Botany Oct. 18 Leader: Nancy Dengler 10:00 a.m. Meet at St. George subway station, St. George exit. The walk will finish at Queen’s Park subway station. Morning only.

October 2008 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 558-5

Tuesday THE BEACH AND ASHBRIDGE’S BAY – Birds – Toronto Walking Festival Oct. 21 Leader: Doug Paton 10:00 a.m. Meet in front of the Beaches Library on the south side of Queen St. E., west of Lee Ave. A circuit walk to Ashbridge’s Bay and back ending at a restaurant in the Beach. Bring binoculars.

Thursday HIGH PARK– Nature walk Oct. 23 Leader: Roger Powley 10:00 a.m. Meet at the park entrance at Bloor St. W. and High Park Ave. Bring lunch and binoculars.

Saturday WEST DON – Nature Walk Oct. 25 Leader: Marcus Feak 10:00 a.m. Meet at the southwest corner of Sheppard Ave. W. and Bathurst St. Bring lunch and binoculars.

Wednesday ROUGE PARK – Nature Walk Oct. 29 Leader: Orville White 2:00 p.m. Meet at Glen Rouge campground parking lot, 7450 Kingston Rd., east of Sheppard Ave. E. A 2-3 hour loop walk. Bring binoculars.

TFN 558-6 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2008

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

At our 85th Annual General Meeting on Sunday, cover, an opportunity to get to know many friendly September 7, Pinky Franklin completed her term as people, and satisfying volunteer opportunities.

President. I would like to reiterate here my words of The latter began when I responded to a request in the appreciation to Pinky, on behalf of all TFN members, newsletter for someone to do some typing. Little did I for the exceptional job she has done as President over know this would lead to the pleasure of working with the past three years. When she assumed that role, the Jenny Bull and the dedicated editorial committee to TFN was at a low ebb, having lost several of its key produce our newsletter, and an invitation to join the leaders. We are truly grateful to Pinky for taking on board. I have enjoyed every moment of these such a challenge and leading us so effectively. activities, and look forward to continuing in my new

role. It is reassuring to know that we have so many Pinky’s love of nature, her enthusiasm about the TFN conscientious and able volunteers on the board and and her warm personality fitted her perfectly for this working in the various committees. I am relying on role. She has worked incredibly hard, and we them, and on all TFN members, for your support over appreciate the time and energy she has devoted to her the next couple of years. responsibilities. We are also grateful to her family for their support of her in this role.

Pinky is a real “people” person – always getting to know the individuals she meets at TFN outings or events, recognizing their talents and encouraging them to participate more fully in the club. As a consequence, she has been able to build up a strong board, involve many willing volunteers, and attract new members. Working with Pinky is always fun, as she has such an optimistic outlook and delightful sense of humour. She is especially good at celebrations, and was Wendy Rothwell, Pinky Franklin, Anne Byzko, Nancy instrumental in ensuring that we observed this 85th Anderson and Gail Gregory, photographed by Barry Mitchell anniversary of the TFN. It was gratifying to see so many TFN members

enjoying the opening of our 85th Anniversary Nature I am grateful to Pinky for her help in preparing me to Arts Exhibit on August 27 (see page 10 for details). I succeed her, and am glad that, as Past President, she would like to thank Gail Gregory for initiating this will continue to provide guidance and support. wonderful idea and co-ordinating the arrangements

needed to bring it to fruition; Nancy Anderson and It seems appropriate in this, my first President’s Anne Byzko, who worked extremely hard and whose Report, to tell you a little about myself and my experience in organizing art shows was invaluable; involvement with the TFN. While I have always Ernie Baltz, whose promotional skills enabled us to enjoyed the beauty of nature, it was only 6 or 7 years publicize the event; Pinky Franklin, the driving force ago that I began to take an active interest in birds and, behind it all; and many others who worked behind the more recently, wildflowers. So I am very much a scenes to make this event a success. Most novice, and have TFN to thank for expanding my importantly, I thank the many talented artists and appreciation of nature. As I was approaching semi- photographers among TFN members who so retirement, a friend told me about TFN’s nature walks. generously allowed us to display their work. I hope I immediately joined, and found far more than I had many of you had an opportunity to come out and see anticipated. In addition to the enjoyable outings led this fine exhibition. by knowledgeable and enthusiastic leaders, I found fascinating lectures on a wide variety of subjects, an Wendy Rothwell appealing newsletter that I always read from cover to

October 2008 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 558-7

MONTHLY MEETING REPORT

Bird Research On Akimiski Island, Sunday, September 7, 2008, speaker: Jean Iron

Jean Iron, renowned Canadian birder, captivated a large audience with spectacular photographs of the rich flora and fauna, especially shorebirds, of Akimiski Island in James Bay. Her wonderful pictures were “hot off the press”, since Jean had just returned from the second of two trips she took this year to this interesting southern extension of Inuvut territory. The spring trip involved a group of 16 research scientists and, in August, Jean We saw marvelous pictures of many other avian visitors returned for a 3-week visit with a group of 6 scientists. such as Snow Bunting, Horned Lark, American Pipit, These two visits offered interesting contrasts. Hudsonian Godwit, Whimbrel (formerly known as the Hudsonian Curlew), Short-billed Dowitcher, Black- The focus of the scientists’ research for both visits was bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, and even a resident the huge populations of shorebirds that use the large Merlin. mudflats lying off the north side of the island as feeding grounds to prepare for their flights, in spring to their There were also pictures of beautiful sub-arctic plants: breeding ground in the high Arctic, in late summer for mastadon flower (marsh fleabane), three-toothed their migration south to wintering territories in the saxifrage, Arctic gentian, Arctic daisy, white mountain southern United States, the Caribbean and South avens. Jean pointed out that the characteristic thicker America. At low tide, the mudflats can be 2 km wide. leaves allow them to survive in a sub-arctic climate. They sought more precise data on the number of birds, Jean showed us snowshoe hares (in their changing spring the length of time the various species stayed on the Island colour and then in their full brown August pellage), a and what food the birds found on the mudflats, beaches wood frog, a red fox, and a lynx. But the most dramatic and the low ridge just back from the beach. pictures were of polar bears. None had been seen during Jean showed us photographs of the scientists at work the spring visit, but when the group returned in August with migratory Canada Geese (somewhat smaller than they were immediately greeted by polar bears that had the goose we see in Toronto), returned to land when the sea ice Snow Geese (both the blue morphs melted. The bears never showed any and the more familiar white aggressive behaviour. In fact, they morphs), Brant Geese, the seemed somewhat bemused to have Semipalmated Sandpiper, and the these humans in their territory and White-rumped Sandpiper, the bird studied the humans as assiduously as with the greatest population on the the humans studied them. Jean did not Island. deny the potential danger the bears posed, but her group’s experience was Jean spoke of “the mystery of the one of mutual respect. Marbled Godwit.” This bird breeds principally in the prairies from Finally, something should be said of Alberta to western , southward to Montana and the incredible quality of Jean’s photos. Her use of a South Dakota, but there is also a separate population in digital camera attached to a birding scope allows her to James Bay. There were really two mysteries: did the take photo-graphs from a considerable distance, and she birds breed in the James Bay area or were they on their was able to show us the difference between the worn, way somewhere else; and where did they overwinter? It abraded feathers of mature adult birds and the vibrant, turned out that the birds did breed on the Island. fresh feathers of the juveniles. Although their nests were virtually impossible to spot, Jean Iron gave a wonderful start to our 2008-09 lecture the scientists did see juvenile birds. And by placing radio series. transmitters on several pairs, they discovered that the Barry Mitchell Marbled Godwits did not go south to the Caribbean, as Photos of Marbled Godwit and Polar Bear by Jean Iron had been thought, but to the west, and then down to Mexico.

TFN 558-8 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2008

EXTRACTS FROM OUTINGS REPORTS

July 16 Evening Ramble at Warden Woods lush with native rushes, sedges, boneset, Joe-pye-weed Leader Dianne Dietrich reported:…..we noted areas and narrow-leaved goldenrod….. As we entered E.T. where the hill to Warden is very steep and many Seton Park we stopped to look at elecampane and meadow flowers near the path provide unique viewing Deptford pink. We had lunch at the shelter where of goldfinches, butterflies and insects at close range. Margaret photographed a pair of barn swallows feeding We saw tawny crescent butterflies, monarchs, commas their young right above our heads! …. and cabbage whites. Wildflowers included Michigan lily. We also saw Chimney Swifts, cardinal, catbirds, August 9 Nature Walk at Lower Don Merlin, and two juvenile Coopers Hawks. That Leader Margaret McRae reported: …..Participants afternoon I saw a male Indigo Bunting but he did not were interested in the Ailanthus (tree-of-heaven) with appear for the Outing. its colourful hanging seeds, and buttonbush in seed at Riverdale ponds. The ponds were full of duckweed and July 15 Trees and Nature at York Cemetery totally green….. and West Don Leader Jack Radecki reported: Walking in the August 13 Evening Ramble at West Don woodlands, we saw a mix of native and non-native Leader Alexander Cappell reported: …..we found a trees: Amur cork-tree, Japanese lilac, dawn redwood, maple-leaved goosefoot (Chenopodium hybridum) red oak, hemlock, sugar maple, basswood, butternut, taller than a person and also, a sign of the coming ironwood, black cherry, American beech and a fern- autumn, goldenrod and New England aster in flower. leaved beech. Capsicum “black pearl” (a pepper Years ago we used to walk the hillside along the fence cultivar) was in flower and fruit in a planter at the of the Canadian Forces College, but now it’s forested reception area. We also discovered the graves of Tim and hard for a group to negotiate. We observed the Horton and Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna. waterfall under Donino Avenue as bats flew overhead – it had just become night…. July 29 Birds and Butterflies at Derrydowns Park Leader Carol Sellers reported: The riverbank is being shored up so the path was closed just north of Grandravine. However, the workers moved the tractor for us twice so we could get by – the foreman was a naturalist and very interested in our sightings. We saw many damselflies, mostly ebony jewelwings, and several variable (violet) dancers. Birds included Chimney Swifts, Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawks, New England Aster, drawn by Mary Cumming kingfisher, Red-eyed Vireo, and two Indigo Buntings. August 19 Birds and Butterflies at East Don Carol Sellers reported: ….. we found gumweed*, a August 5 Wildflowers at Taylor prairie plant which I hadn’t seen before, and a little Creek to Edward Gardens Brown Snake (DeKay’s). Leader Melanie Milanich reported: …..because the group was not large and *Grindelia squarrosa, p.98, Vascular Plants of all promised to step tenderly, we Metropolitan Toronto, 2nd edition, TFN. See the Royal headed a short distance toward the fen Saskatchewan Museum website for a photograph, distribution map and this comment: “As the name where we enjoyed the sight of the implies, Gumweed has been used as a chewing gum delicate hooded ladies- substitute. But beware! Disguised below its pretty tresses…..along the hydro yellow flower is a sticky resinous sap which is difficult path we saw the woodland to remove from skin and clothing.” sunflowers that had just come www.royalsaskmuseum.ca/education, click on Kids out two days before and the Domain fields of wild bergamot still Nodding ladies’ tresses, in full flower. The area was drawn by Mary Cumming October 2008 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 558-9

CITY DWELLERS

Fungi can pop up anywhere. They look fragile, but they And I must not are astonishingly powerful. Consider the Sidewalk forget the long Breaker, Agaricus squamosa. A family of them once white sproutings rendered a concrete sidewalk in my area tip-tilted and of Pleurotus quite unsafe. And there is the much sought-after ulmarius (also Meadow Mushroom, Agaricus campestris, which known as fruited en masse one year in the grassy grounds of Hypsizygus , alas, rendered inedible due to their tessulatus) on proximity to the McLaughlin-Toronto highway which a branch in ensured that they certainly absorbed all the vehicular Peel Park, exhausts that were going. which has one of the tributaries of Etobicoke Creek running Then there are the wood-dwellers. At the corner of through it. It was noteworthy because a ‘park’ in this Steeles West and McLaughlin in Brampton, frantic with area has the creek on one side but the back gardens of traffic fumes, the gas station owner recently gave up on private homes on the other, with all that this means of an attempt at flower borders and ‘planted’ woody mowing and pesticiding to keep weeds and fungi firmly fossils in exotic shapes, one of which sprouted a huge in their place. I also have two woods near me – one mass of the lovely lemon-yellow mushrooms of completely ruined, in the nine years I have been here, Myceana leiana, a fungus that only presents itself on by the local youth with their beer parties, smashed glass wood. I remember I once had the delightful experience and litter; the other more safely off the beaten track and of a solitary “bloom” arising out of a piece of driftwood still capable of producing mounds of purple and yellow which I had put on my windowsill. A live mushroom in violets and even patches of spring beauty. one’s living room is quite an addition to any exotica one might have assembled over a lifetime. Grayish-black mushrooms are not that frequent and I shall never forget the harvest which arose from my son’s newly sodded lawn. They were Coprinus disseminatus, one member of the inky cap family which does not stain hands and clothing coal black. Eva Davis

Mysteries of the Great Lakes

Extracted from Ontario Science Centre website

This powerful new IMAX® film, a Science North Production, will take you on a journey through the greatest lake system in the world! You will experience an amazing showcase of the unique geography, ecology, science, and history of this region.

Dubbed ‘inland seas’ by early European explorers, the Great Lakes have some of the most spectacular wilderness scenery on earth, and an astounding fifth of all the planet’s fresh water. All across the Great Lakes basin, there is a renewed interest in the health of the Lakes, and an increased awareness of the importance of this fresh water resource to the social and economic vitality of North America.

Spanning two countries, today, 25% of all Canadians, and 10% of Americans live on the Great Lakes. In addition, one in every three Canadians and one in every seven Americans rely on the Great Lakes for their fresh water.

For information on show times: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca or call 416-696-1000 TFN 558-10 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2008

85th ANNIVERSARY NATURE ARTS EXHIBIT

On August 27th, an enthusiastic group of TFN members and friends gathered at the Papermill Gallery, Todmorden Mills, for the opening of the Nature Arts Exhibit in celebration of our 85th anniversary. We were thrilled with the diverse collection of artwork – ink drawings, oil and watercolour paintings, pastels, photographs and ceramics – depicting various aspects of nature in Toronto. These included 125 works contributed by 25 talented artists and photographers, all members of the TFN. There was also a print, Canada Geese with Young by Robert Bateman, which he had generously donated in support of the Toronto Field Naturalists.

Three special contributors to the Nature Arts aspect of the TFN were honoured at this event:

Mary Cumming, a graduate of the Ontario College of Art who joined the TFN in 1968, was the initiator and long-time leader of the Nature Arts program. We are grateful to Mary for sharing her knowledge and encouraging artists in the TFN. She contributed beautiful watercolours and ink drawings to the Exhibit, and it was a delight for her many friends to see her at the opening.

Diana Banville, who joined the TFN in 1975, combined the talents of a knowledgeable and dedicated naturalist and a gifted artist. When Diana passed away in January of this year, the TFN lost a dear friend as well as a generous contributor to the work of the club. We are grateful to her family for allowing us to display examples of her art – ink drawings, watercolours and a dramatic block print. It was a pleasure to have Diana’s sister, Grace Somers (pictured here with Mary), and other members of her family, Gord Humphrys and Mary Bernard, at the opening.

Eva Davis, a member of the TFN since 1976, has an infectious enthusiasm for nature and art. She is a keen member of the newsletter committee, and writes captivating articles, often about fungi or wildflowers, which combine fascinating information with a delightful sense of humour and her own charming illustrations. We were pleased to show some of Eva’s lovely watercolour paintings in the exhibit, and that she was able to join us for the opening celebration.

We are also grateful to the following contributors to the exhibit: Alexandra V. Canto Thaler, Anne Byzko, Barry Singh, Cameron Coneybeare, Edward Boucher, Elizabeth Block, Eric H. Lin, Gail Gregory, Heidi Holmes, Helen Juhola, Inta Ridler, Jeffrey E. Canto Thaler, Jim Allan, Judy Gibbs, Les Tibbles, Marie-Thérèse Forand, Melanie Milanich, Michael Kononoff, Nancy Anderson, Soledad Avellaneda, Susan Weiss and Wendy B. Rothwell.

Over the years, TFN artists have contributed a vast collection of drawings which are an invaluable resource for the newsletter committee. We feel it is important to continue to grow this collection, and would appreciate receiving contributions from current members of the Nature Arts Group and others who enjoy depicting nature through art or photography. Small drawings and paintings can be scanned to our computer, and digital photos can be e-mailed to us. Please share your enjoyment of nature art with your fellow TFN members!

October 2008 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 558-11

TFN’s NATURE ARTISTS UP IN LIGHTS!

Photos provided by Jenny Bull, Anne Byzko, Barry Mitchell and Wendy Rothwell TFN 558-12 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2008

TRUE TREE SQUIRREL COLOURS

We often assume our tree squirrels come in just two colours—black and grey. But with a little field A previous TFN newsletter featured a picture of a squirrel observation and literature searches we can actually by Peter Money with still another colour—white. Exeter, identify no less than six distinct colours. Ontario, northwest of London, is famous for its substantial populations of white squirrels. They are not For starters, five species of squirrels have been recorded true albinos as these white squirrels have dark eyes; I in or around Toronto: red, grey, northern flying, southern believe the colour is the result of a recessive gene. The flying and eastern chipmunk. The first four species can be odd white squirrel in Toronto parks is likely a true albino considered tree squirrels while the chipmunk is clearly a with pink eyes. Perhaps the black phase is more prone to ground squirrel. Despite being abundant in some albinism. On a personal note I have visited Exeter on woodlands, flying squirrels are nocturnal and are rarely three occasions to see white squirrels, failing each time. If encountered. If you are fortunate to observe one, you will you see a white squirrel, please don’t tell me! appreciate their huge eyes (adapted for night vision) and beautiful smooth fur. In colour they are a lustrous brown. So we are now up to five squirrel colours (brown, red, black, grey, and white) but my introductory note Like many other mammal species (mink, beaver, coyote, promised six. In fact, the answer will be apparent next white-tailed deer), red squirrels have become increasingly time you look at an assembly of feeding squirrels—black common in Toronto in the past squirrels come in two variations. few decades. Despite One is coal black, in which the competition from our coat appears to be made up solely abundant grey squirrels, the of black hairs, often with a shiny reds seem to be doing well— cast to them. The other variation in my view a welcome is a black-to-brownish colour, addition to our wildlife. Like which, when the hairs are the red fox and red bat, red examined, shows that many of squirrels are not really red, but the black hairs have yellow tips. orange or rust-coloured. If you This is called “grizzled”. The late study a red squirrel up close, Robert H. Stinson, a zoologist you will note it is orange on with the University of Western top and on the tail, brown on Ontario, spent several years the sides and, like many other looking at squirrel colours in mammals, white or gray on Victoria Park, London. He found the belly. For our purposes we 243 black, 282 grizzled and 84 will call them “red”. One grey. interesting feature of the red squirrel is a black line that divides the side from the belly. This is present only in the In the November 2002 Cardinal (newsletter of the summer, disap-pearing in the fall as the squirrel moults McIlwraith Naturalists Club), Dr. Stinson wrote an into winter pelage. interesting article on squirrels. He provided an analysis of squirrel moult which, of course, has a significant Having eliminated four of five squirrel species and only impact on the appearance and hence colours of squirrels. two colours, we are left with four colours. One of the Here is what he had to say: most characteristic features of Toronto parks is the omnipresent eastern grey squirrel, represented by both “Most mammals moult their hair during the course of grey and black phases—in almost equal proportions. It is the year. In the squirrel the moult begins in the latter believed that black is an adaptation to colder climates, so part of January in our region. It starts at the head and the farther north you go, the greater the proportion of proceeds down the body to the end of the tail. Through black squirrels. The black phase is much more common the spring months the moult moves down the body often than grey in the Ottawa area, about equal in Toronto and in the black as a visible line. In the grizzled squirrels, very rare in the U.S. In fact, some U.S. birding tours have toward the anterior end of the animal, the new summer listed “black” squirrels as a highlight of a visit to hair is dark; the old hair toward the posterior is Toronto! …continued on page 18. October 2008 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 558-13

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Just a note to express my appreciation for being able to crowd gathered. Eventually, the hawk took off, still participate in the wonderful art exhibit in celebration of clutching the squirrel. It flew along the sidewalk, only your 85th year. The tribute to your artists was moving about 4 feet off the ground – perhaps the weight of the and the show opening was delightful. It’s a wonderful squirrel was too much for it to rise any higher – for exhibit. Kudos to all who made it possible. about 60 yards, coming to rest in a tree in front of the Inta Ridler corner house. By this time, school was out, and there was a passing parade of moms and tots at the corner, Congratulations to Broger Browley* for his Bending of all of whom stopped to look at the hawk. The hawk the Brother Brogue we all Bear. What gave him such a remained motionless for another half hour, until it clever idea? Just to try it, as I have, with any other finally dropped the squirrel. After a few minutes of letter of the alphabet is to realize that this requires not uncertainty, it flew up to the ridge of the roof of an only Brains but Brilliance. It is these adventures into adjacent house. It stayed there for more than an hour, language as well as The Great Outdoors which make no doubt hoping to retrieve its prize when all was the TFN Newsletter such a Bonanza. quiet. However, the corner remained busy, and Yours Badinagishly, Eva Davis eventually the hawk flew away, sans prize. We never *aka Roger Powley saw it again all summer, nor any other hawk.

I took this picture Although in previous years we have seen the of a Red-tailed occasional hawk circling way up high above the oak Hawk in front of and maple trees in our back yards, this was the only my house in the time in 25 years that we have ever seen one close-up. Bayview/Eglinton Mary Lieberman area in April this year.

I had just come WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE home to find the NATURE BOOK? hawk perched about 7 or 8 feet Please send in your favourite nature book off the ground, in or magazine titles (including field guides) a branch of a with one or two sentences on why you like Locust tree that them. Preferably, they should still be in stands no more print. We will publish a list in the than 3 feet from the sidewalk. In its claws, it was November issue, in time for Christmas clutching a dead squirrel. I ran into the house, grabbed shopping. (See contact information on my camera, and immediately snapped its picture, page 2.) thinking that I was lucky to have caught it before it flew off. However, it stayed there motionless for nearly half an hour while we watched, and a small

• For every 3 litres of water used by the bottled water industry, only 1 litre ends up as bottled water.

• Most water bottles are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which comes from crude oil. The manufacture of 1 tonne of PET produces approximately 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

• Fill a water bottle of any size one-quarter full with oil. According to Pacific Institute estimates, this amount of oil is equivalent to the total amount of energy required to produce, ship and sell the same bottle of water.

From ON Nature, Summer 2008 TFN 558-14 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2008

IN THE NEWS

Community Right to Know Bylaw Extracted from ON Nature, Autumn 2008, and Toronto Environmental Alliance website.

A City of Toronto bylaw requiring that small and likely to have a powerful impact. When companies medium-sized businesses report the use and release of spend time and energy to track the toxins, they find certain toxic chemicals would, if it passes, be ways to be more efficient. precedent setting. Currently, federal regulations exist only for large companies. In October, the Community We need to do all we can to encourage Councillors Right to Know Bylaw will be voted on at City Council. to vote YES for this precedent setting toxics The new bylaw will force polluters to publicly report disclosure policy. Let your Councillor know that their use and release of 25 toxic chemicals including you support this proposed bylaw. For more benzene, trichloroethylene and lead. While the bylaw information visit www.torontoenvironment.org/ does not include targets for reducing toxic chemicals, newsroom and click on E-bulletin archives the fact that the information will be made public is Councilwatch 4 September 2008.

More Good News for Kirtland’s Warblers From Bird Studies Canada (www.bsc-eoc.org/organization/bscnews, 21 August 2008)

With a population numbering about 1700 breeding population there last year. Meanwhile, birds returned pairs, the Kirtland’s Warbler is one of North America’s again this year to nest successfully at CFB Petawawa, most endangered songbirds. The core of its population Ontario, following last year’s first documented nesting is restricted to a fairly small area of suitable Jack pine for Canada. Perhaps even more amazingly, one of the habitat in lower Michigan, where intensive management three Canadian birds had been originally banded in and recovery efforts have been underway for several February 2007 while on its wintering grounds in the decades. These efforts are paying off as evidenced by Bahamas! Visit the Canadian Forces website, substantial population increases locally. Success is also www.army.forces.gc.ca/ CFB_Petawawa and click on being signalled by the recent discovery of small but “News and Events” for more information. (The CFB significant breeding populations in at least two new Petawawa Kirtland’s Warbler Survey and Monitoring sites in Wisconsin and eastern Ontario. This summer, Program is part of a larger Species at Risk program Wisconsin biologists reported the first successful occurring on Dept. of National Defence lands and nesting for the state, following the discovery of a small funded by them.)

New Condo on the Waterfront

July 10 was the official opening of a new condominium on Toronto Island but don’t bother to check if there are any units available. Ownership of units in the pink “building” is restricted to the 6-legged – specifically native, solitary bees and wasps. Located at Franklin Children’s Garden on Centre Island, the condo is equipped with a camera to gather data on the insects’ behaviour. Quoted in the Globe and Mail, July 19, Laurence Packer, professor of entomology at , said: “Some bees love the colour pink. They sometimes get lost, so with colour, they can find their home.”

Note: Prof. Packer will be giving a public lecture Oct. 26. See Photo by Jenny Bull. Coming Events, Science on Sundays, p. 19.

October 2008 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 558-15

Bat Deaths at Windmills From a University of Calgary news release, 29 August, at www.ucalgary.ca/news/aug2008/batdeaths

A bat mortality study supervised by University of explains. The respiratory systems of bats and birds Calgary biology professor Robert Barclay that began in differ in important ways, in terms of both their structure 2006 has determined that the vast majority of bats found and their function. Bats' lungs, like those of other dead below turbines near Pincher Creek suffered severe mammals, are balloon-like, with two-way airflow injuries to their respiratory systems consistent with a ending in thin flexible sacs surrounded by capillaries, sudden drop in air pressure – called barotrauma – that the researchers explained. When outside pressure drops, occurs when the animals get close to turbine blades. those sacs can over-expand, bursting the capillaries The study shows that 90 per cent of the bats examined around them. Bird lungs, on the other hand, are more after death showed signs of internal hemorrhaging rigid and tube-like, with one-way circular airflow consistent with barotraumas while only about half of the passing over and around capillaries. That rigid system bats showed any evidence of direct contact with the can better withstand sudden drops in air pressure. blades. Baerwald said there is no obvious way to reduce the "Because bats can detect objects with echolocation, they pressure drop at wind turbines without severely limiting seldom collide with man-made structures," said PhD their use. Because bats are more active when wind candidate and project leader Erin Baerwald. "An speeds are low, one strategy may be to increase the atmospheric-pressure drop at wind-turbine blades is an wind speed at which turbine blades begin to rotate undetectable—and potentially unforeseeable—hazard during the bats' fall migration period. The paper for bats, thus partially explaining the large number of “Barotrauma is a significant cause of bat fatalities at bat fatalities at these specific structures,” Baerwald wind turbines” is at www.current-biology.com

FLAP Honoured by Canadian Urban Institute From Touching Down, Fall 2008

The Canadian Urban Institute has honoured FLAP’s The Swiss Ornithological Institute, inspired by BFDG, Bird-Friendly Development Working Group (BFDG) is producing its own brochure outlining solutions to with its Urban Leadership Award 2008 for City bird-building strikes that have been tested in Europe. In Initiatives. BFDG has received attention from the meantime, the City of Toronto’s Planning Depart- organizations and governments around North America, ment is developing a Light Pollution Policy that will most notably Cook County (which includes Chicago) address not only ecological issues but also energy whose Commissioners are preparing an ordinance to conservation, human health, quality of life and dark ensure that all Cook County buildings comply with the skies for the benefit of amateur and professional options and strategies outlined in Toronto’s guidelines. astronomers.

Tommy Thompson Park Nest Records From Ontario Nest Records Scheme Report # 39 (2007)

In 2007, 300 nest records were submitted of 28 species. Colonial species were not part of the survey. Included were 4 nests of Gadwall, 19 nests of Willow Flycatcher, and 60 nests of Yellow Warbler.

There were 45 instances of parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds, and 50% of Yellow Warbler nests were parasitised.

Chipping Sparrow feeding young Cowbird, photographed by Norah Jancik, June 2008 TFN 558-16 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2008

Practising how to Repair a Turtle Shell Extracted from Amphibian Voice, Spring 2008, newsletter of the Adopt-a-Pond Wetland Conservation Programme. www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond

At a workshop earlier this year, participants of a turtle participants cracked rehabilitation practicum enjoyed several presentations and then repaired on aspects of injured turtle care and rehabilitation the shell to simulate methods from Toronto Zoo vets and Dr. Kristy Hiltz the repair of a turtle from the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre. In the shell. afternoon they applied some of what they learned to an actual rehabilitation session. Coconut shells were halved by the maintenance staff at the Toronto Zoo and Repaired shell using brackets and wire. Photo by M. Karch, courtesy of Adopt-a-Pond, TorontoZoo.

Protecting Warden Woods From the Taylor Massey Project, www.thetmp.org

On March 29, the Taylor Massey Project (TMP) Read the report at www.thetmp.org. TMP welcomes released a report, Protecting Warden Woods. Following comments, requests for more information, and/or extensive volunteer effort, fantastic support from Parks, discussion of the report and its recommendations Forestry and Recreation, and an excellent study by a with its members, partners, the City, the TRCA, and consultant commissioned by the City, the TMP report other community-base organizations. See also the includes a drawing of the main Ecological Zones of the article “Group working to protect Warden Woods: park and focuses on solutions to protect and enhance Ecologically sensitive designation sought for area” by Warden Woods for future generations. The solutions Danielle Milley in the Scarborough Mirror, April 4, include three over-arching recommendations, three key 2008, at www.insidetoronto.ca/News/Scarborough/ sub-recommendations, and 16 additional suggestions. article/45051

Shoreline Cleanup and Cigarette Butts Extracted from www.vanaqua.org/cleanup/impacts.php

The Vancouver Aquarium started what has become the to break down, all the while emitting harmful chemicals TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup 15 years ago on into our fresh water and ocean waterways. If you a beach in Vancouver, removing a few bags of shoreline smoke, make sure to dispose of your cigarette butts in litter. Last year, 50,000 volunteers removed 87,489 kg the proper bins, or carry a personal cigarette disposal of shoreline litter from 1,240 shoreline sites across the unit (visit: BUTTsOUT - Canada). If you don't smoke, country spanning a collective distance of 1,772 encourage your friends to dispose of their cigarettes kilometres. Cigarette litter of all types topped the list of responsibly. You might also consider starting or getting type of garbage, with 270,756 pieces. involved in community campaigns to end cigarette litter! Cigarette butt litter is the world's greatest environmental litter problem. It is estimated that 1 in 3 cigarettes end Ed.: If you have received this issue before the end of up as litter, and once littered, they can leach chemicals September, it may not be too late to join the 15th TD such as cadmium, lead and arsenic into our environment Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, September 20-28. within an hour of contact with water. Year after year, Call 1-877-427-2422 or see www.vanaqua.org/cleanup cigarette butts are the most commonly found item for a location near you. If you participate, please drop us a line and tell us how it went. Remember clean-ups during the Shoreline Cleanup, and last year participants can be done any time – such as on a TFN outing. Just collected over 214,000 of them. Cigarette filters are bring along a bag to collect in. made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that contains many toxic chemicals. Cigarette butts take about 5 years . October 2008 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 558-17

FROM THE ARCHIVES

AMERICAN PIPITS First appeared in TFN Newsletter No. 102, October 1951. We assume it was written by R. M. Saunders. Ed. note - We think the "Don Alda Wood" mentioned here might be in the area that is now the Donalda Golf Club

On a lovely warm and sunny afternoon at the end of in thousands every autumn, and having a long September Earl Stark and I were reveling in the hordes migration period from mid-September to late of warblers, vireos and sparrows that were working November. Nevertheless no other common migrant is their way southward through Don Alda Wood. so frequently missed by many observers as this one. Bordering the eastern edge of the wood is a series of The superb camouflage which enables it to vanish into fields. Some of these had been recently plowed. the earth is no doubt one of the reasons why this is so. Yet by the same token the watcher of birds is offered a As we came abreast of one of these fields I raked its challenge. Why should he know so little about a native grey clods with my binoculars. My impression was dry bird that, if only sought out, gives him every chance to and dull, made up of a wide expanse of barren mud. know much? Doubtless I would not have paid any further attention to such bleakness had Earl not spied several small birds Indeed this pipit is a very characteristic bird of this flying over the field which disappeared suddenly down country. Its summer homeland, except for mountain amongst the furrows. My second survey did finally tops further south, is the Canadian north where it detect two obscure birds walking across the tumbled frequents the Arctic tundra from Alaska to Greenland, clay. These were in truth the birds we sought, and the moss-covered rocky hills of the Labrador coast. American Pipits. As we A member of the large family watched, three more of wagtails, it has numerous walked into our line of relatives all over the world, vision, then two more. many of them well-known to Intrigued by this people from Britain and procession, the first Europe. Perhaps it will seem inkling of the presence of more familiar to readers of other birds on the field, English literature if I call it we crawled under the the titlark of America. Indeed, fence and though the titlark is one of its common tangled hedgerow, to names, less used now than step out into the field formerly. Like its European where we could get an relatives, and like the horned unhindered panoramic lark, it has an impressive view. Now when we flight song in the breeding swung our binoculars season, but if you wish to hear slowly in an arc we this you must journey to the could see that here, there American Pipit photographed on Akimiski Island in 2008 far north or climb the and everywhere among by Jean Iron mountain tops in the Rocky the grey-brown clods Mountains. Though common pipits were walking! At a clap of our hands at least in the fall, pipits are rare, indeed very rare, with us in fifty flew into the air, fluttered around a few moments, the spring. The sight of one or two in May is a real calling plaintively, then settled again amid the clods. event. It is in the fall that you will have your chance to Instantaneously, as each bird touched the ground, it study this bird. Why miss it? vanished from view. Only the most careful looking would thereafter determine its whereabouts. How many Pipits are primarily ground birds, spending most of pipits were present over the whole surface of this large their time in fields, meadows, marshes, on mud flats, field we did not ascertain, but we certainly saw a beaches or stretches of bare rock. It is unusual to see hundred in the section nearest to hand. How easy to them alight on fences or trees, but occasionally this pass them by! We nearly did so. Yet in reality what happens. I remember last year seeing pipits, roused seemed but a bare field, to all appearances empty of from a plowed field near Green River, settling on life, was teeming with birds. telephone wires until we had passed. For all their

This experience of almost missing a field full of pipits obscurity, if examined closely, they will be seen to be is a characteristic one with this bird. The pipit is one of coloured in delicate hues of green and brown and buff. our common fall migrants, passing through our region The white outer tail feathers, flashing in flight, remind one of a vesper sparrow, but the slender bill and the

TFN 558-18 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2008

WEATHER (THIS TIME LAST YEAR)

OCTOBER 2007

October was exceptionally warm this year, possibly a event except by contrast with the preceding summer- downstream effect of the record-low sea ice. Summer like weather. heat and thunderstorms characterized the Thanksgiving Overall, if one subtracts the urban heat island effect, weekend. Pearson Airport hit 31.6° and downtown this October probably would not be warmer than 1963 recorded 30.8° on Thanksgiving Monday (October 8). in the Greater Toronto Area; however, it would This was the hottest October day on record, and the certainly be in the top two or three. This is its rank in latest ever 30° reading. Pearson Airport’s mean of terms of mean monthly daytime maximum 14.2° beat the monthly record set in 1963 by 0.6°. temperature. The Thanksgiving weekend heat wave, However, downtown’s 14.5° was 0.1° cooler than however, is unchallenged by any earlier years. 1963. Temperatures dipped closer to normal thereafter for a while, but another very warm spell from October Rainfall was slightly below normal in the 40-50 mm 17-22 clinched the month for the record books, as range; thus the summer’s drought eased only slightly Pearson topped out at 26.3° on the 21st. Sharp cooling this month. later in the month brought frost to suburban and mid- Gavin Miller town areas on the 28th and 29th: an unremarkable

TRUE TREE SQUIRREL COLOURS continued from page 12. grizzled. In some black squirrels the moult can go on are common along the Niagara Parkway and in the until well into summer. In the fall, there is another Experimental Farm at Ottawa. Once in a while we see change in colour, this time with the winter coat one in Toronto. growing in. This begins at the tail and moves up the body to the head and forepaws” Virtually everybody likes squirrels. They are attractive, And yet one further point on squirrel colour: Squirrels confiding fellow denizens of our city, quite prepared to are not uniformly coloured. As in most mammals, belly share a meal with us. Indeed everyone, young and old, fur is lighter than the back. In addition, the black phase of occasionally enjoys sitting on a park bench feeding our Eastern Grey Squirrel often has a different tail colour, peanuts to the squirrels. Considering colour variations as generally a foxy red, but sometimes a pale blond. This is we watch them can only increase our enjoyment of the presumably another recessive gene. Squirrels like these squirrels. George Bryant

FROM THE ARCHIVES continued from page 17 more graceful proportions of the bird give it away. As weed seeds and harmful insects. They spend the winter too does the practice of walking rather than hopping, chiefly in the middle and southern states though and the frequent tail-wagging, from which comes its some go as far as Guatemala. But they will be with us family name. Not only is this somewhat retiring and until the frosts and snow of late November drive them mysterious bird worth your investigation for its own on. Any bird that can claim modesty, delicate beauty sake, it is also a highly useful associate of man, since and usefulness among its qualities certainly deserves to its enormous flocks consume vast quantities of noxious be better known than it is. Why not look it up?

Ed. As shown in the Toronto Region Bird Chart (TFN, 1983), the most likely time for keen observers to find them in the Toronto area is from mid September through October. October 2008 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 558-19

COMING EVENTS If you plan to attend any of the following events, we recommend that you contact the organizing group beforehand to confirm time and place.

Jim Baillie Memorial Bird Walks - Toronto Ornithological Club These outings are aimed at the intermediate birder but beginners are also welcome. Oct. 4, 8:00 am (all day) - Late Migration – Toronto Islands. Leader: Bruce Ferry. Meet at Toronto Islands Ferry Docks at the foot of Bay St. to catch the 8.15 a.m. ferry to Hanlan’s Point. Bring lunch. Information: www.torontobirding.ca

Toronto Entomologists’ Association (TEA) Sat. Oct. 25, 1:15 pm. Moths at Large. Speaker: Jim des Rivieres. Room 006, Northrop Frye Hall, Victoria College, 73 Queen’s Park Cres. E., University of Toronto. Information: www.ontarioinsects.org

Rouge Valley Guided Nature Walks Sun. Oct. 26, 1:30 pm. Meet at the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre at 1749 Meadowvale Rd., east on the Toronto Zoo on- ramp. Information: 416-282-8265, www.rougevalleynaturalists.com/news

High Park Walking Tours 2nd and 4th Sundays, 10:30 am to 12 noon. Meet at the benches across the road south of Grenadier Café. Free. Information: 416-392-1748 ext. 5 or [email protected] or www.highpark.org • Oct. 12 – Tramping the Trails • Oct. 26 – Autumn Splendor – Photo-buff walk

High Park Volunteer Stewardship Program 1st and 3rd Sundays, 10 am to 1 pm. Meet in front of the Grenadier Café. Information: [email protected] or www.highpark.org. • Oct. 5 – Buckthorn cutting along Howard Park Blvd. • Oct. 19 – Fence repair/trail work/seed collecting

Science on Sundays Sundays at 3 pm. Royal Canadian Institute, J.J.R. Macleod Auditorium, Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto, 1 Kings College Circle, Toronto. Free. Information: www.royalcanadianinstitute.org or 416-977-2983 • Oct. 19 – Deep Ocean Discoveries: Fire, Ice and Life on the Seafloor. Verena Tunnicliffe, Department of Biology and Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria; Canada Research Chair and Director of the VENUS Project • Oct. 26 – Losing the Buzz: The Disappearance of Bees and Why It Matters. Laurence Packer, Department of Biology, York University

The Market Gallery South St. Lawrence Market, 2nd floor, 95 Front St. E. Free. Note: Gallery is closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays. • Until Oct. 19: Art and Artefact: Fine and Decorative Art from the City of Toronto’s Collections. • Oct. 25 – Feb. 22, 2009: Over Any Distance Imaginable. An exhibition chronicling letter writing and the postal system in Upper Canada.

Lost Rivers Walks • Sun. Oct. 19. The Urban Water Cycle, a storytelling bike parade following the path of the buried Garrison Creek. Information: humanriver.ca. • Sat. Oct. 25, 2 pm (2 hours). Mystery & Geology of Grenadier Pond. Leader: Ian Wheal. Meet at the northwest corner of Windermere Ave. and The Queensway. Walk will end at the Grenadier Café in High Park. • Sun. Oct. 26. A walk is being arranged, to be led by TFN member Nick Eyles, Professor of Geology, University of Toronto, Scarborough. Information: www.lostrivers.ca

Ian Wheal Walks • Sat. Oct 11, 2 pm – 5 pm. Irish Immigrant Trail Walk, Corktown to Don Pinnacle to Wexford Settlement, 1847-1886. Meet at the southeast corner of Queen St. E. and Power St. Free. Bring water.

“A Reflection of Mums” Oct. 24 – Nov. 2, 10 am to 8 pm. Annual Chrysanthemum Show, Gage Park, Hamilton. Admission fee $5 (children and seniors $4). Information: www.hamilton.ca/mumshow

TFN 558-20 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2008

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

TFN outing on Leslie Street Spit, October 2007, photographed by John Yuen