Number 606 October 2014 Shamrock Spider at the Brick Works on Sept 2, 2013. Photo by Norah Jancik REGULARS FEATURES Coming Events 23 Leaf-cutter Bees 2 Extracts from Outings Reports 8 TFN Financial Report 11 From the Archives 21 Nomination Committee Report 16 In the News 22 Keeping in Touch 15 TFN Publications 16 Monthly Meetings Notice 3 Native Dogbanes 17 Monthly Meeting Report 7 Nature Arts: Drawing Waterfowl from Life 18 President’s Report 6 Cedarvale Ravine 18 4 TFN Outings The Turkey Tail 19 22 Weather – This Time Last Year Ravine Edge Trees 20 TFN 606-2 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist is published by the Toronto Field BOARD OF DIRECTORS Naturalists, a charitable, non-profit organization, the aims of President & Outings Margaret McRae which are to stimulate public interest in natural history and Past President Bob Kortright to encourage the preservation of our natural heritage. Issued Vice President & monthly September to December and February to May. Monthly Lectures Nancy Dengler Views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those Secretary-Treasurer Charles Crawford of the editor or Toronto Field Naturalists. The Newsletter is Communications Alexander Cappell printed on 100% recycled paper. Membership & Newsletter Judy Marshall ISSN 0820-636X Newsletter Vivienne Denton Monthly Lectures Lavinia Mohr IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER! Nature Reserves & Outings Charles Bruce- We welcome contributions of original writing of Thompson observations on nature in and around Toronto (up to 500 Outreach Stephen Kamnitzer words). We also welcome reports, reviews, poems, Webmaster Lynn Miller sketches, paintings and digital photographs. Please include Anne Powell “Newsletter” in the subject line when sending by email, or on the envelope if sent by mail. MEMBERSHIP FEES Please re-name digital photographs with the subject and $20 YOUTH (under 26) your name (abbreviations ok); scale your photos to less than $30 SENIOR SINGLE (65+) 200kb each. In the accompanying email include location, $40 SINGLE, SENIOR FAMILY (2 adults, 65+) date and any interesting story or other information $50 FAMILY (2 adults – same address, children included) associated with the photograph. Deadline for submissions for November issue, October 2 No HST. Tax receipts issued for donations. Send membership fees and address changes to the TFN office. NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Jenny Bull (co-editor), Vivienne Denton, Karin Fawthrop, Toronto Field Naturalists 1519-2 Carlton St, Toronto M5B 1J3 Nancy Fredenburg, Elisabeth Gladstone, Judy Marshall, Toshi Oikawa, Wendy Rothwell (co-editor). Tel: 416-593-2656 Web: www.torontofieldnaturalists.org Printing and mailing: Perkins Services Inc. Email: [email protected] LEAF-CUTTER BEES To encourage biodiversity, the Pollination Canada website hosted a contest over the summer called “Insect Art in the Garden”. The contest asked us to see beauty in the work of these often maligned creatures in our gardens. Contestants were asked to submit examples that show off the beauty of additions to garden plants by insects, e.g. galls, leafmines, or the sculptures of leaf cutting bees. Here is a picture of leaf-cutter bee “art-work” on showy tick trefoil in my garden. My bees don’t show great talent and sometimes leave their little rolls of curled leaf behind. Learn more about leaf-cutter bees on the Pollination Canada website, at www.pollinationcanada.ca, click on “learn”, “bees”, “beeprofiles”. You can also find information about providing nests for native bees and designing pollinator gardens. And watch for the upcoming City of Toronto biodiversity booklet on bees. Vivienne Denton October 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 606-3 TFN MEETING Sunday, October 5, 2014 2:30 pm Designing Toronto’s Open Spaces James Brown & Kim Storey, Brown & Storey Architects, will link biodiversity through design of Toronto’s open spaces, including rail and hydro corridors VISITORS WELCOME! SOCIAL: 2:00 – 2:30 pm ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: 2:30 - 2:45 pm Room 003, Northrop Frye Hall, 73 Queen's Park Cres East Immediately southeast of Emmanuel College, south of the Museum subway station exit on the east side of Queen’s Park. Enter on either the west or north side of the building. The west entrance is wheelchair accessible. For information: call 416-593-2656 up to noon on the Friday preceding the lecture. Upcoming TFN Lectures Nov 2 Origin of Modern Ecosystems Jean-Bernard Caron, ROM Paleontologist Dec 7 What is Happening with Monarch Butterflies? Donald Davis, Citizen Scientist New bridge on the East Don north of Sheppard & Leslie (1991) Drawing by M. Faibish TFN 606-4 Toronto Field Naturalist October 2014 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 (www.ttc.ca or 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. Wed GOLDIE FELDMAN RESERVE, HAPPY VALLEY FOREST – Nature Walk Oct 1 Leader: Mark Stabb, Central Ontario Program Director, Nature Conservancy of Canada 10:30 am Come and enjoy early fall in the Oak Ridges Moraine as we explore the maple-oak woodlands and other head- water habitats of the Goldie Feldman Nature Reserve. In 2011, TFN funds supported the acquisition of the reserve property, and development of a public trail system is now complete. Bring drinking water and lunch. Contact Margaret McRae at by Sept 26 re car pooling arrangements. Sat CEDAR RIDGE CREATIVE CENTRE – Nature Arts Oct 4 Leaders: Anne Leon and Margaret Ure 10:00 am Sketching in the garden at the historic 1912 mansion housing Cedar Ridge Creative Centre at 225 Confederation Dr, Scarborough. Meet at the southwest corner of Susan St and Lawrence Ave E (TTC #54). Eight-minute flat walk to Cedar Ridge. Car parking on site; use first lot. Group will assemble in front of the main house at approximately 10:15 am. Morning only. Bring art supplies. Washrooms available. Options: Take an independent walk (steep short path down to Highland Creek), bring lunch and stay longer. Sun TFN AGM and LECTURE – Designing Toronto’s Open Spaces Oct 5 Speakers: James Brown and Kim Storey, Brown & Storey Architects 2:30 pm Room 003, Northrop Frye Hall, 73 Queen’s Park Cres E. See page 3. Thurs WILKET CREEK PARK – Nature Walk, Mushrooms and Other Fungi Oct 9 Leader: Pat Burchill 10:00 am Meet at the southwest corner of the parking lot for the Toronto Botanical Garden (Leslie St and Lawrence Ave E) for a morning only circular walk. There is a TTC bus stop on Leslie St at Lawrence Ave E. Sat GUILD INN - Birds, Fungi, Plants, Insects Oct 11 Leader: Bob Kortright 10:00 am Meet in front of the Inn, 201 Guildwood Pkwy for a loop through the woods and gardens and down to the lakeshore and back. Bring lunch and binoculars. Sun WILKET CREEK, SUNNYBROOK AND SERENA GUNDY PARKS – Nature Walk Oct 12 Leader: Ken Sproule 1:30 pm Meet in the parking lot at the entrance to Wilket Creek Park on Leslie St just north of Eglinton Ave E for a circular walk (2 1/2 to 3 hours). If the dirt paths are dry, there will be some steep hills to climb. Otherwise we will walk on level paved paths. Wed HURRICANE HAZEL AND THE HUMBER – Nature and Heritage Oct 15 Leader: Madeleine McDowell 10:00 am Meet at Old Mill subway station. Eventual destination Lambton House and tea. Visit the Humber and learn about Hazel's impact and legacy for Toronto. This walk takes place sixty years to the day after the remnant hurricane and flood. The salmon should be leaping. Bring lunch or snacks if you wish. Sat HUMBER BAY PARK – Plants and Fungi Oct 18 Leader: D. Andrew White 10:00 am Meet at the southwest corner of Lake Shore Blvd W and Park Lawn Rd. Bring lunch and water. Walk will end between noon and 1 pm. October 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 606-5 Sun DORIS MCCARTHY TRAIL, GATES GULLY, BELLAMY RAVINE – Lost Rivers Oct 19 Leaders: John Wilson and Helen Mills 2:00 pm Walk begins and ends at Kingston Rd and Bellamy Rd S (south side at Ravine Dr). An autumn walk on a forest trail in a secluded cut through Scarborough Bluffs. The gully guards its mysteries well – stories of shipwrecks and smugglers, marauding soldiers and buried treasure – but also reveals a landscape and lakefront that inspires artists in several media. A joint outing with the Toronto Green Community. Tues OAK SAVANNAH PLANTS IN LATE FALL – Nature Walk Oct 21 Leader: Joanne Doucette 1 pm Meet at the main entrance to High Park, Bloor St W and High Park Ave for a circular walk. Thurs GATES GULLY – Nature Walk Oct 23 Leader: Linda McCaffrey 10:00 am Meet at the entrance to the Doris McCarthy Trail just southwest of the intersection of Kingston Rd and Bellamy Rd S (turn south at the gas station). We will walk through Gates Gully, along the Scarborough shore to Guildwood Pkwy and back along the bluffs to our starting point. Learn about soldiers, smugglers and the wreck of the Alexandra. Bring binoculars. About 2.5 hours with no serious obstructions. Linda can drive up to 3 passengers from Woodbine subway station, picking up at 9:20 am.