December 2013 Volume 71 Number 4

BLUE Volume 71 Number 4 JAYDecember 2013 Publication Mail Agreement #40063014 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Administration Centre Printing Services 111-2001 Cornwall Street Regina, SK S4P 3X9 Email: [email protected] Front Cover: Dung roundhead Protostropharia semiglobata - C.R.J Hay Back Cover: Mystery photo - the smile! - Harvey Schmidt A "bolete" mushroom of the genus Leccinum C.R.J Hay Winter - Vicky Kjoss Left - Figure 2: Yellowish-green blister galls on top surface of a leaf of the perennial sow-thistle produced by the larvae of the sow-thistle midge Right - Figure 3: Reddish blister galls on top of a leaf of the perennial sow-thistle Orange rock-posy - Bernard de Vries produced by the larvae of the sow-thistle midge. Photos by D. Peschken Blue Jay Vol. 71 No. 4 December 2013 165 - 228 Birds NEST SITE USE, BREEDING SUCCESS, AND REPRODUCTIVE RATES OF CHIMNEY SWIFTS IN ST. ADOLPHE, MB, 2010-2013 Barbara E. Stewart, Robert E. A. Stewart .............................................................166 Insects CYSTIPHORA SONCHI AND C. TARAXACI (DIPTERA: CECIDOMYIIDAE) - SISTER SPECIES WITH SIMILAR MORPHOLOGY BUT DIFFERENT POPULATION DYNAMICS Diether P. Peschken .............................................................................................183 Fungi AN INITIAL SURVEY OF MUSHROOMS IN GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK, SASKATCHEWAN C. R. J. Hay ......................................................................................................190 Notes and Letters VOLE FREEZES FROM WINTER EXPOSURE Philip S. Taylor ......................................................................................................201 Book Review BIRDS OF WESTERN CANADA. 2013. DAVID M. BIRD (CONSULTING EDITOR) Rob Warnock .............................................................................................................204 THE COMPLETE BOOK OF North AMERICAN OWLS. 2013. JAMES R. DUNCAN. Rob Warnock .............................................................................................................207 Lichen Series Rhyzoplaca chrysoleuca (Sm.) Zopf. Bernard de Vries ......................................................................................................211 Mystery Photo .........................................................................................................212 Index to Volume 71 Rob Warnock .........................................................................................................215 71 (4) December 2013 165 BIRDS NEST SITE USE, BREEDING SUCCESS, AND REPRODUCTIVE RATES OF CHIMNEY SWIFTS IN ST. ADOLPHE, MB, 2010-2013 BARBARA E. STEWART, ROBERT E. A. STEWART, Sila Consultants, 1218 Marchand Rd., Howden, MB, R5A 1J6; email: [email protected] Chimney swift (Chaetura St. Adolphe the “Chimney Swift pelagica) populations have Nesting Capital of Manitoba”.7 declined since the mid-1960s, Situated approximately 15 km as have populations of other south of Winnipeg, St. Adolphe is aerial insectivores.1,2,3 In 2009, near the northern periphery of the the chimney swift was listed as chimney swift breeding range.6 The Threatened (Schedule 1, Species sequence of entry and exit events At Risk Act).4 The reduction of at a chimney, plus the associated chimney swift populations has duration-in and between-visit been attributed primarily to the loss time intervals reflected different of nesting and roosting habitat, nesting stages.6,8 Feeding rates pesticide use, and the associated of non-brooded juveniles were decline of aerial insects.1,2,5 It higher in St. Adolphe compared is, therefore, important to have to chimney swifts nesting at data on the reproductive rates southern latitudes.6,9,10 Based on of chimney swifts occupying behavioural data, St. Adolphe the remaining limited habitat as chimney swifts had lower rates continued breeding success is of successful nesting attempts necessary for the perpetuation of and lower numbers of fledglings this species. produced per successful attempt compared to birds in Data from chimney swifts more southerly portions of the nesting in five chimneys on four range.6,9,10,11,12 historic buildings in St. Adolphe, MB, between 2007 and 2009 The St. Adolphe nest sites have been reported.6 The five were monitored through four chimneys represent the highest additional seasons (2010-2013) to concentration of known nest increase the size of our data set on sites in the province, which led breeding success. We also used the Manitoba Chimney Swift our behavioural observations to Initiative (MCSI) to designate assess whether there is variability 166 Blue Jay in feeding rates with respect to given day. Simultaneous multi-site weather and prey availability, roosting hour observations, timed and other factors associated to the second with synchronized with nest failures. We used the digital watches, allowed us fallen nesting remains at two to count chimney swifts in St. nest sites, each autumn and Adolphe. the following spring, to estimate reproductive rates. Clutch sizes, Fledging success was estimated hatching rates, and fledging rates for all five nest sites using were confirmed at these sites. behavioural data: the number of Estimates of fledging success juveniles observed in the air or based on physical evidence were entering chimneys; roosting totals compared to those based on within 48 hours of fledging; and behavioural observations. simultaneous multi-site roosting totals. At two chimneys which Methods have accessible clean-outs, Daytime and roosting hour (½ Brodeur Bros. and Main St., hour before sunset to ½ hour after the fallen remnants of nesting sunset) observations were made attempts (nests, eggshells etc.) following our previous studies.6,8 were recovered each autumn and Nesting occurred in five chimneys the following spring. Whole eggs in St. Adolphe designated as (1) and egg fragments were used SE Club Amical, (2) NE Club to estimate the number of eggs Amical, (3) Brodeur Bros., (4) in the clutch. Intact eggs were Church, and (5) Main St. (see used to estimate the proportion Stewart and Stewart 2010 for of the clutch that hatched. The details).6 The times of entries number of nestling carcasses and exits were recorded, and was subtracted from the number notes on associated behaviour of hatchlings to estimate the (direction and speed of approach/ maximum number of fledglings departure, vocalizations, presence possible. In other words, if there of other chimney swifts), weather was no in-chimney evidence of (temperature, wind speed and mortality, a hatched egg was direction, precipitation, cloud assumed to have produced a cover) and other notable fledgling. However, this number environmental events (e.g., crop was retained only if there was dusting on fields adjacent to St. no other evidence suggesting Adolphe) were documented. unobserved mortalities. Daytime observations were made at more than one site on any 71 (4) December 2013 167 Recently hatched chimney swifts and unhatched egg. Hatchlings cannot regulate their body temperature and require brooding until they are 6-7 days old. -Bruce Di Labio Results 2010-2013 data, increasing the All five chimneys were occupied sample size from 10 to 30 nesting by a nesting pair in each year attempts (Table 1) with known from 2010 through 2013. Three outcomes. times, two nests were started in the same chimney in the same We used the phenology over all season. To describe overall years to calculate median dates nesting patterns, we selected for the onset of each nesting the more ‘typical’ of each for stage (Table 1). Sample sizes further analysis (see Table 1 for for median dates vary as nests details). The phenology of the fail and because there are some remaining 20 nesting attempts missing data. The median arrival did not differ appreciably from that date of nesting pairs was May previously described for 2007 to 18, although arrival dates ranged 2009.6 Therefore, we combined from May 10 to June 25 (46 days). data from 2007-2009 with the In five attempts, the second 168 Blue Jay bird of a pair arrived several Feeding rates in 2010-2013 days after the first, skewing the varied more within years than median arrival date, and were not reported previously for 2007- included in this calculation (see 2009.6 Minimum feeding rates Table 1). A secondary arrival of of 1 entry/h were seen in most chimney swifts typically occurred nest sites prior to nest failure. in the third week of June. It is not Maximum feeding rates were known whether these birds were highly variable among years. In relocating from nearby areas or 2013, all non-brooded juveniles migrants arriving from the south. in the three successful nest sites Since 2009, all five sites have were fed six to eight times per been used and breeding pairs hour from mid-July through to typically occupied the Church, fledging. The maximum feeding NE Club Amical, and Main St. rate for non-brooded juveniles chimneys first. The SE Club was 22 entries/h at Main St. in Amical and Brodeur Bros. sites 2013. were the last to be occupied. Our behavioural observations Nest building started soon after indicated that 19 of 30 nesting arrival (median date: May 22) attempts (63%) failed. The 11 and also spanned a wide range successful nesting attempts of dates (May 12-June 25, 44 produced an estimated 19 d). In the absence of a partner, fledglings (median: 2; range: 1-3 nest building proceeded with a per nest; Tables 1, 2). single bird (e.g., SE Club Amical, 2013). Nest building tended to We used the nesting debris start immediately if a pair arrived observed

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