Birds

Editor. Donald M. Fraser Design/Production: Franca Leeson Cofry Editor. Chip Weseloh Boole Review Editor: WilliamJ. Crins Editorial Assistants: Don Ford, WilliamJ. Crins, Donald A. Sutherland, Alan Wonnington

All items submitted for publication should be sent to: The Editor, Ontario Birds Reports ofrare birds (those for c/o Ontario Field Ornithologists which the OBRC requires documen­ Box 1204, Station B tation-see supplement to Ontario Burlington, Ontario Birds 5 [3]) should be sent to: L7P 3S9 Secretary, Ontario Bird Records Committee Material should be double-spaced c/o Ontario Field Ornithologists and typewritten if possible. Box 1204, Station B Burlington, Ontario L7P 389

Publication costs of Ontario Birds are partially offset by an annual grant from theJames L. Baillie Memorial Furid. OFO gratefully acknowledges this generous support.

Editorial Policy

Ontario Birds is thejournal of the material ofinterest on Ontario birds. Ontario Field Ornithologists. Its aim We do not accept submissions is to provide a vehicle for the dealing with "listing" and we documentation of the birds of discourage Seasonal Reports of bird Ontario. We encourage the sightings as these are covered by submission offull length articles or BirdFinding in and American short notes on the status of bird Birds, respectively. Distributional species in Ontario, significant records ofspecies for which the provincial or distributional Ontario Bird Records Committee records, tips on bird identification, (OBRC) requires documentation behavioural observations of birds in must be accepted by them before Ontario, location guides to they can be published in Ontario significant birdwatehing areas in Birds. On,tario, book reviews and similar

ISSN 0822·3890 Ontario Birds Volume 7 Number 3 December 1989 Pages 81-120

Table of Contents

In Memoriam Doris Huestis Speirs 1894-1989/ 81 NaomiLe Vay Wilfred Botham 1908-1989 / 83 Lynn H. Vernon

letters to the Editor Harassment ofowls on Amherst Island / 83 Bruce M. Di Labia Birding ethics / 85 Victoria Carley Further notes on Pine Grosbeaks at feeders/ 86 Bill Walker

Articles Are Pine Grosbeaks Increasing at Bird Feeders in Ontario? / 87 Erica H. Dunn Bird ObselVations on Fighting Island, Detroit River, Spring 1988/ 91 Martin K McNicholl

Notes Marsh Nesting by Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) in the Area / 108 Sandy R. Connell and Angusj. Norman Unusual Feeding Behaviour of the Great Blue Heron / III Marie A. Kubisz Burdock as a Hazard to Golden-crowned Kinglets and other Small Birds / 112 MarieA. Kubisz ObselVation ofa Bald Eagle Predation ofDouble-crested Cormorants / 114 George Naylor A Previously Unreported Breeding Colony ofCommon Terns / 115 Ron Pittaway

Book Reviews The Birds ofSouth America: Volume I. The Oscine Passennes / 117 reviewed by David Brewer Checklist ofthe Birds ofthe Leslie Street Spit / 120 reviewed by Donald M. Fraser

Cover illustration: Pine Grosbeaks by Donald Fraser 81

In Memoriam Doris Huestis Speirs 1894 - 1989

Doris Huestis Speirs, besides being a naturalist and a nature-writer, was a painter, a poet, a translator and an editor. Nevertheless, she still found time to be a supremely congenial socializer. Her friendship was unfailing and her enthusiasm infectious. Her generous assistance to all manner of artistic, scientific and academic aspiran ts was legendary. Doris started her artistic career as a painter. As a young woman she became acquainted with a number of members of the Group ofSeven, particularly Lawren Harris, with whom she formed a lifelong friendship. She often went out sketching with Group members, and her style, while remaining Doris Huestis Speirs 1894 - 1989 essentially her own, came to have a distinct Group ofSeven flavour. and Other Poems, was edited by Doris Doris' deep and abiding interest Speirs, and published in 1985. This in nature began in her pre-teen union was dissolved in the spring of years, but it was on first seeing a 1939. In the fall of that year, Doris flock of Evening Grosbeaks, in her marriedJ. Murray Speirs, the now early twen ties, that she first began renowned ornithologist and author to take a serious interest in birds­ of Birds ojOntario. Their common an interest which stayed with her love ofnature, Murray's with unabated warmth to the end ornithological expertise, and Doris' of her days. ever deepening fascination with the In 1916, at the age of22, Doris world of birds combined to induce married the Eaton's executive and her to undertake a systematic study poet W. Gordon Mills, and became ofher favourite species, the the mother of two daughters, Evening Grosbeak. The results of Barbara and Iris. A collection of her research are recorded in A.C. Mills' poems, entitled Timberline Bent's Life Histories ojNorth

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American Cardinals, Grosbetiks and club came together at monthly Finches. meetings to pool their observations Two woman friends were ofbird life in the Toronto area. especially important in her life These meetings normally followed because of their great gifts in a daylong birding expedition. Doris interpreting nature and in herselfwas an especially careful communicating their observations recorder and minute observer of and insights to others. birds. She and Murray kept a well­ The first of these was the stocked and well-frequented eminent Swedish-born Canadian feeding station at their lovely rustic nature writer Louise de Kiriline place at Cobble Hill, Pickering. Lawrence, whose knowledgeable In 1979 the MNOC sponsored and beautifully written books on the publishing ofMargaret Nice's nature in general and birds in autobiography, Research is a Passion particular have found a wide and with Me. Doris Speirs was the appreciative readership among instigator, the editor and the literate nature lovers. Although moving spirit behind this Louise Lawrence lived in a rural publication. retreat north of North Bay, there The club also contributed to the was constant communication Dorcas Bay Nature Preserve between the two friends, and Doris (Federation of Ontario Naturalists) often regaled the members of her in the Bruce Peninsula, and was ornithological club with readings of influential in the preserving of the Louise Lawrence's delightful, Cranberry Marsh (Whitby), now nature-filled letters. part of the Lynde Shores The other special friend was Conservation Area. Margaret Morse Nice, an Doris Speirs was a notable enthusiastic and indefatigable patron of the arts. She donated a American naturalist, whose most number of important paintings and important contribution to sketches by members of the Group ornithology was Studies in the Life ofSeven and others to the Art History ojthe Song Sparrow, Gallery of Ontario in Toronto and published in two volumes. Doris to the McMichael Gallery in met this dedicated woman in 1938 Kleinburg. She was also a and a lifelong friendship was knowledgeable amateur of music formed. In 1952, in collaboration and drama, was widely read in with Margaret Marsh and Olive natural history and English Barfoot, Doris founded the literature, and was an accomplished Margaret Nice Ornithological Club reader ofverse. (MNOC), for women only, in Doris Speirs was a personality honour of Mrs. Nice. larger than life. A handsome The 12 charter members of the woman with sparkling blue eyes and

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an engaging smile, she looked and manifested itself too, ofcourse, in sounded like a duchess and usually her abounding love ofnature. dressed the part. Indeed, she once She died in the night of the 24th arrived at a winter woodland outing ofOctober, 1989, and was buried of the MNOC in a platinum mink on the morning oftlie 27th, which jacket, violet suede gloves and a Lily would have been her ninety-fifth Dache hat. Only Doris could have birthday_ Itwas a surprisingly carried this off- and she did, with golden morning, and a late robin, panache. On another occasion, she perched high over her grave, sang a fell down a steep wooded slope full-throated summer song which near her home at Cobble Hill and seemed to her assembled friends a sustained a badfy dislocated most appropriate requiem. shoulder, but she was alright, she Thinking fondly ofDoris at this said, because "the chickadees came moment offarewell, we could and ministered to me". almost hear her intoning those Everybody has a whimsical Doris lines ofLandor she used to like: story - the whimsicalities were part Nature I loved and, next to nature, arL­ and parcel ofher joie de viure, which I warmed both hands before the fire of also manifested itselfin her quick life; affection for all men and women of It sinJcs, and I am ready to deparL good will and in her generous Naomi LeVay recognition of their talents. It Toronto, Ontario

In Memoriam Wilfred Botham 1908 - 1989

The Ontario Field Ornithologists , Wilfwas for lost one ofits esteemed members the most part self-taught, studying and the Ontario naturalist birds, plants, mushrooms and community lost one ofits most mosses. beloved practitioners when Wilf Wilfred was motivated by a Botham passed away late last fall. fundamental love ofnature, Young and old naturalists from beholding the environment with around the province will remember curiosity, respect and love. He was Wilffor his keen love ofnature and inspired by the 19th century his willingness to pass on naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton, everything he knew to any whom he quoted to me often. It interested observer. Perhaps one of was Thompson's writing which the top field botanists in prompted Wilfred's study of plants

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his youth in Manitoba before moving back to Ontario in the late 193Os. Wilfred was tremendously active in conservation and environmental issues as a whole. He was a founding member of the Sun Parlour Naturalist Club and Essex County Field Naturalists Club. He was also a member of the Ontario Field Botanists, Canadian Nature Federation, Friends ofPoint Pelee and the Federation ofOntario Naturalists. Wilfred is survived by his wife Anna Marie and his daughter Lynn Imeson ofCottam; a sister Beth and brothersJohn and Edward. Wilfred Botham 1908 - 1989 On a personal note, I will miss Wilfred dearly. He taught me so in 1938 on his farm in Gosfield much, was always more than willing North, and which ultimately lead to to answer my myriad ofquestions, his donation ofover 2500 plants and generally treated me like a son. from his personal collection of A very dear friend will be sadly Essex County vegetation to the missed. National Museum ofCanada in Lynn H. Vernon . West Bloomfield, Michigan A Pelee Island native, Wilfspent Letters to the Editor

Harassment of owls on Amherst agencies as the North American Island Rare Bird Alert has enabled birders Amherst Island is well known to and photographers from allover birders as an "owl haven" in Canada and the U.S.A. to visit wintertime. With access to the AmhersL However, this same "owl island simple, and adequate haven", known and beloved by all, roosting sites limited, the owls are is becoming somewhat threatened easy to find. This gives many people by the lack of respect for nature the opportunity to observe and shown by these same people who photograph them close at hand. frequent the area. Branches strewn Better communication with such on the ground and trees showing

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signs of having been climbed are Birding ethics not hard to find. One Ontario Birds often publishes articles photographer/birder was recently on rare birds. The recent 0 BRC caught perched halfway up a tree in report was, ofcourse, essentially a which a Boreal Owl was roosting list ofrare birds. Unfortunately, if and was promptly removed from we birders do not improve our the tree, behaviour the only viewer ofa rare The intent of this letter is not to bird will be its discoverer. imply that all visitors to Amherst are The recent sighting of the irresponsible, nor are these Broad-billed Hummingbird is a activities restricted to the Amherst good example of the worst impacts area exclusively. Birds being flushed of"twitehing". The poor bird from perches and branches seemed to be heaven-sent to perk snapped offfor better angles are all up a slow weekend; it was common occurrences. extraordinarily rare and it was The Boreal Owl is the recipient reliable. Unfortunately, the bird ofmost of this abuse and unless and the property owners became so birders and photographers voice harassed by the crowds that the their displeasure at this lack of "event" was closed. respect for the habitat ofwildlife, it What did we do wrong? We appears the occurrences will didn't respect either the bird's or remain unreported in the future. the property owner's rights to food, Innocent photographers and shelter and privacy. birders also risk being painted wi th Perhaps the hot lines should the same brush as these consider assisting property owners unscrupulous "pros" who must have in similar situations. They could the photograph or view at any cost. help to organize a system of It is a si tuation that has been too volunteers to marshall car parking, long ignored. demarcate appropriate viewing A common philosophy must be distances, and control over-zealous reached amongst birders and photographers. We are, presumably, photographers alike if beauty, civilized adults. As such, we should tranquillity and, most importantly, not need to be told where to stand. wildlife habitat is to be preserved. But when we behave as a crowd of Common sense must dictate impatient preschoolers we should actions. These public areas are for be treated as such. the enjoyment of all, thus acts of Victoria Carley destruction and harassment only Toronto, Ontario serve to harm ourselves in the long run. Bruce M. Di Labio Ottawa, Ontario

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Further notes on Pine 15 October, the earliest visit to my Grosbeaks at feeders feeder was 20January, lending Ron Pittaway's note on Pine support to Pittaway's suggestion Grosbeaks at feeders (Ontario Birds that a shortage of natural food is a 7:65) sent me searching through factor. my computer records and notes to A better illustration of that can see whether or not 1985 was the be seen from my 1986 records. The first big year in preceding summer had seen a for such visits. Briefly, the answer is particularly heavy production of "no", if Deep River is included in crab apples that attracted more that geographical region. Bohemian Waxwings than usual Table 1 shows a summary of my and sustained at least one American records for Pine Grosbeaks at my Robin throughout the winter. feeder. Within a week of their first There appears to be little appearance (23 October 1986), correlation between the number of there were two Pine Grosbeaks birds present in the area and the feeding on my crab apples, with number visiting my feeder. It is also infrequent visits thereafter until 13 interesting that, although Pine January 1987, when 10 to 15 began Grosbeaks began arriving as early as feeding there almost daily for the

Tabu 1: Summary of records for Pine Grosbeaks at feeder, Deep River, Renfrew County

Deep River area At feeder

No. of No. of No. of No. of Winterl records birds records Date(s) birds/visit 1970 41 200 - 1971 - - - 1972 50 300 - 1973 47 80 1 2 Mar. 2 1974 22 100 1 2 Feb. 3 1975 33 150 1 2 Mar. 1 1976 55 380 12 22 Feb.-19 Mar. 2 to 15 1977 32 140 - 1978 41 400 6 20Jan.-12 Mar. Ito 10 1979 26 270 1 4 Feb. 1 1980 1 2 - 1982 14 134 10 30Jan.-18 Mar. Ito 15 1983 - - -

"* Centred onJanuary ofyear shown (15 Oct. to 15April).

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next month, then less frequently, certainly possible there were other but in larger numbers (up to 30), visits that went unrecorded. for another month. In that time, Bill Walker my notes mention visits to the Deep River, Ontario feeder only four times, the first on 31 January (two birds), but it is Are Pine Grosbeaks Increasing at Bird Feeders in Ontario?

by Erica H. Dunn

A suggestion has been made that Methods Pine Grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleatm-) OBFS counts were obtained from may now be using bird feeders to a the organizing body, the Long greater degree than in the past Point Bird Observatory. Each year, (Pittaway 1989). Most of the 400-500 people across the province supporting observations, however, tallied the birds observed at their were from a restricted area between feeders during a one to two day Lake Simcoe and Algonquin Park. period, every second week from Here I look at the entire province, November to April. Observers for the period 1976-88, using data recorded the peak count ofeach from Christmas Bird Counts species seen in the observation (CBCs) and the Ontario Bird period. For further details, see Feeder Survey (OBFS). These Dunn (1986). resources allow us to say whether OBFS counts and CBCs were Pine Grosbeaks are now attending divided into three regions: feeders in greater numbers relative Southern Ontario extended to their abundance in the wild (as roughly to a line through Lake measured by CBCs) , as well as to Simcoe to Belleville, including the comment on the hypotheses Bruce Peninsula, and proposed by Pittaway to explain his Peterborough. was observations. defined as the area between the South and a line north ofParry Sound that passes through

Erica H. Dunn, 30 Davidson Road, Aurora, Ontario L4G 2B1

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