December 2020

Summer Season Noteworthy Bird Records With several photos from our many fine photographers

Restoration Work at Short In Memoriam: Aerial Insectivore Hills Sanctuary Thelma Powell Conservation THE WOOD DUCK 73 Red Bat stuck on Burdock. The bat was subsequently freed and taken to a rehabilitation facilty where it was eventually released - photo Ian Smith. CONTENTS

DECEMBER 2020 • Volume 74 No. 4

28 HNC News and Updates 84 In Memoriam: Thelma Powell

77 Species of the Month 85 Aerial Insectivore Conservation 89 Stopping a Pipeline 77 On the Cover 90 Protecting Nature for Future 78 HSA Nature Note – Gray Treefrog Generations West Flamborough 93 HNC Letter to NEC regarding 78 Noteworthy Bird Records: June - Columbia College August (Summer) 2020 94 The Throwback 83 Trees from Seeds Workshop 95 Restoration Work at Short Hills

74 DECEMBER 2020 From the Editor

A Herring Gull Rescue DECEMBER 2020 Volume 74 No. 4

Editor in Chief I OFTEN STRUGGLE to think of anything significant to say in my editor’s Bill Lamond (Oct., Dec., Feb., Apr. issues) space. Today is no different. However, I thought I would relate a story that at Andrea MacLeod (Sep., Nov., Jan., Mar., May issues) least had a happy ending. I was overlooking the gulls loafing at Mohawk Lake Art Direction and Design in Brantford (14 November) when a Bald Eagle flushed the 400+ Herring Gulls Andrea MacLeod there into the sky. I was with Sarah Lamond and she noted that only one gull Editorial Inquiries stayed behind. While waiting for the gulls to return I noticed that this gull [email protected] tried to take off a few times and something was holding it back. With further watching I could see that a plastic bag was stuck to its one foot. It is a real hazard Correspondence and Canadian undeliverable copies: Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, P.O. Box 89052, for gulls foraging at the dump to become entangled with a plastic bag. I am sure Hamilton, ON, L8S 4R5 many of us have witnessed a flying gull trailing a bag. It is likely a doomed bird. Publications Mail Contract No. 40048074 For this bird at the lake, that once in the water, the bag filled with water making it impossible for the bird to take off. CN ISSN 0049-7886

I knew this bird could be rescued as it could be caught by canoe. I called Hamilton Naturalists’ Club Board of Directors

Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge and I was instructed to call the nearby Brantford President SPCA which I did. I relayed the particulars about the bird and they told me Chris Motherwell they would send someone out to assess the situation but that they are not Vice President equipped/trained for wildlife rescue on the water. I thought this odd. Soon a Bill Lamond wildlife agent from the SPCA was there and corroborated the situation with Past President Bronwen Tregunno waterborne rescues. However, the agent said that perhaps they would call the fire department to see if they might help out. Secretary Joyce Litster

I returned to the area at 3:30 and could see that the bird was still there by itself at Treasurer Jim Stollard the far end of the lake - no rescue today I thought. When I returned home much Bird Study Group later I sent out an email on BrantBirds and HSA Nature Notes about this bird’s Jackson Hudecki plight, wondering if someone might have a canoe or kayak to rescue the bird Conservation and Education the following day. I copied this email to Chantal Theijn at Hobbitstee to keep Gord McNulty her informed and in case she had some further suggestions. I soon received Field Events a reply from Chantal, “We have the gull here. He has already been rescued”. I Rachel Jones thanked her for her help and she then replied, “No problem. The Brantford Fire Director-at-Large Department did the job”. Rob Porter Membership So a “good news” story of sorts. Just a gull many might say. I might have thought Jill Baldwin that way several years ago. But now I consider it a duty to assist wildlife when Programs Lou Mitton I can. Especially when it is we humans who have placed wildlife in jeopardy. Publicity Andrea MacLeod

Sanctuary and Land Trust Brian Wylie

Volunteer Bill Lamond Mike MacLeod Editor in Chief

THE WOOD DUCK 75 Hamilton Naturalists’ Club News and Updates

Next HNC Monthly Meeting Next BSG Meeting

The speaker for the next “virtual” meeting is Michael Mesure, Due to the on-going pandemic, the HNC is not having its FLAP (Fatal Lights Awareness Program) Canada Executive normal Monthly Meetings. Instead the “virtual” meetings Director on the topic of “Your Pane is Their Pain”. The date will will continue. A link to join this webinar will be provided be 14 December and the link to the meeting will be provided in the President’s Message in December and on the HNC in the President’s Message, Mike Rowland’s Bird Study Group website: announcement e-mail and on the HNC website. 7 December at 7:30 p.m. Speaker: Toby Thorne Hamilton Christmas Bird Topic: Bats: The Real Stars of the Night Count

Toby’s talk will begin with the fascinating and diverse world The 100th Annual Hamilton Christmas Bird Count will be of bats as a whole, before narrowing in to the species found on 26 December (Saturday) Boxing Day. The Count area in Ontario, why they deserve our attention and some of the is a 15 mile diameter circle, centred on Dundurn Castle. projects being undertaken by the Toronto Zoo’s Native Bat There may be some areas available for new birders to join in. Conservation Program to expand our understanding. Contact Rob Porter, [email protected], to register and for more information. Toby caught his first bat at the age of eleven and hasn’t looked back. He spent his teenage years hanging around the woodlands and churchyards of southern England learning Peach Tree Christmas Bird about their biology and how to study them. He studied biological sciences at the University of Oxford, including an Count honours project examining social relationships among bats in a long-term banding study. He moved to Canada in 2013 Hello Peach Tree Christmas Bird Count Enthusiasts. The to undertake a research Master’s investigating bat migration Christmas Bird Count Season (CBC) is approaching and the around the Great Lakes, supervised by Dr. Brock Fenton. date for this year’s Peach Tree CBC is 3 January, 2021. Bruce Mackenzie has been the compiler for the last five years and Since completing his Master’s he has remained in Ontario, is looking to pass the torch. Contact Bruce at 905-973-4869 working on a variety of bat conservation programs, and if you would like to participate or become the new Count authoring a field guide to the bats of the province. Since 2016 compiler. he has worked on the Native Bat Conservation Program at the Toronto Zoo, leading projects focussed on monitoring and learning about Ontario’s bat fauna and improving Letters to the editor are always welcomed and will public perception of these remarkable creatures. be duly published. If you have something to say, positive or negative, send it in. We want your feedback on the journal or any other aspect of the HNC and its activities.

76 DECEMBER 2020 Species of the Month: Smooth Green Snake (Liochlorophis vernalis)

Family: Colubridae Identification: The unmistakable Smooth Green Snake is rarely seen. Rarely seen, as it is secretive and indeed rare. It is a red-letter day when you happen across this ‘jewel of a snake’. Although the Hamilton Herpetofaunal Atlas maps are dated, they at least give one a good indication of where the species can possibly be found in the HSA. However, actually finding one is a different matter. I have not seen one in over 25 years! Habitat: It inhabits grassy and forb fields, forest clearings, and open woods, often where it is moist. Range: Largely centred on the Great Lakes region and NE US and adjacent provinces, with many disjunct populations in the US mid-west. The Photo: Bob Curry took this photo at the Eramosa River in southeast Guelph on 6 September 2020.

On the Cover: Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)

Family: Nymphalidae

Identification: One of the easier butterflies to identify in the Hamilton area, if you can get a good look as they fly past at speed. On a flower, as this one is, they are easy to identify, and what a treat for the eyes. It has to have one of the greatest names of any butterfly. Everything about it is spectacular. Luckily it is not rare and can usually be found on any outing in July and early August. Habitat: This butterfly is most common in openings in well-wooded areas as it searches for mates or flowers for nectar, a food source. However, they range widely and can be found in many habitats, even your own backyard. Canadian Range: Occurs in all provinces except Newfoundland, from southern interior B.C., across the southern 2/3 of the prairie provinces, the southern 1/3 of Quebec and all of the Maritimes. In Ontario it occurs as far north as Sioux Lookout and Fraserdale. The Photo: Ian Smith took this photo at 8th Concession and Westover Road on 28 July 2020. THE WOOD DUCK 77 HSA Nature Note – Gray Treefrog West Flamborough We hear these frogs all through the summer but this year we hadn’t seen one until today (23 September 2020). We thought him better in the tree then on the back of our Muskoka Chair which is headed for the garage for the winter. Never get tired of them. Paul Smith

Note the intense yellow and black colour under the hindleg. It might be a warning pattern flashed to potential predators indicating how distasteful it is - Editor.

Climate action group, Hamilton 350, has been a vocal opponent of Enbridge’s plan for a new 10 kilometre natural gas pipeline across Flamborough. Here HNC members Lyn Hanna- Folkes (L) and Don McLean hold banner during protest (photo from globalnews.ca). Read Don McLean’s article about Enbridge’s withdrawal of the pipeline proposal on page 89.

78 DECEMBER 2020 Noteworthy Bird Records — June - August (Summer) 2020 by BILL LAMOND UNDERLINED SPECIES OR DATES require documentation to be submitted to the Hamilton Bird Records Committee [HBRC] (Barb Charlton, Bob Curry, Rob Dobos, Bill Lamond, Ross Wood). Those records where documentation has been received are marked with a double asterisk “**”. Records where documentation has not been received are marked with a double pound “##”. The new Date Guide to the Birds of the Hamilton Study Area gives documentation dates for all species. It can be obtained at HNC Monthly Meetings or Bird Study Group meetings for $5.00. They can also be ordered from me at [email protected]. I will mail you a copy. It can also be downloaded for free from the Club website. Underlined species below are geographic rarities in the Hamilton area. These rarities are listed in the new Date Guide but also in the Hamilton Area Bird Checklist 2019, which is available at Club meetings for $2.00 each. The Checklist can also be downloaded from the website for free. Capitalized species require documentation by the Ontario Bird Records Committee. For species marked with “#”, all reported records for the period are listed. For all other species, only highlights are listed. Note that the species order follows the most recent American Ornithological Society's (AOS) checklist and supplements.

Legend: Plumages, etc.: * - first occurrence for the year County/Region/City: F - first migration occurrence m. - male Brant [BR] L - last migration occurrence f. - female Haldimand [HD] {photo} - photographed ad. - adult Halton [HL] SM - singing male ba. - basic Hamilton [HM] NFC - nocturnal flight call alt. - alternate Niagara [NG] SWP - storm water pond imm. - immature Norfolk [NF] Conc - Concession juv. - juvenile Peel [PL] 1st yr. - first year ** - documentation received Waterloo [WT] ## - documentation not received yg. - young Wellington [WL]

Observers: Alfred Adamo (AA), Hashem Ahmed (HA), Andrew Bailey (AB), Eric Baldo (EB), Cody Bassindale (CB), Robert Bell (RBe), Michelle Beltran (MBe), Andrew Bendall (ABe), Connor Bennett (CBe), Patrick Berens (PB), Myriam Berube (MBer), Elizabeth Birchall (EB), Kerri Blazek (KBl), Jerry Bloom (JBl), Jane Boccia (JB), Jim Bowman (JBo), David Brewer (DB), Heather Broddy (HBr), Andrew Brown (ABr), Rob Buchanan (RB), Kaelyn Bumelis (KBu), Peter Burke (PBu), Cindy Burley (CBu), Ken Burrell (KB), Mike Cadman (MC), Gordon Cameron (GC), Ezra Campanelli (EC), Lorenzo Campanelli (LC), Virginia Carey (VC), Gray Carlin (GC), Alain Carriere (ACa), Simon Carter (SCa), Alan Chandler (ACh), Mike Channon (MCh), Steve Charbonneau (SCh), Barb Charlton (BCha), Barry Cherriere (BCh), Dan Chronowic (DC), Abby Ciona (ACi), Curtis Combdon (CCo), Peter Coo (PC), Barry Coombs (BCo), Holly Corbett (HC), Rob Crawford (RCr), Rob Cumming (RC), Bob Curry (BC), Ken Dance (KD), Jeni Darling (JD), Sandy Darling (SD), Kieth Dieroff (KDi), Dennis Dirigal (DDi), Parker Dirks (PD), Rob Dobos (RD), Andrew Don (AD), Dave Don (DD), Chris Earley (CEa), Cheryl Edgecombe (CE), Gavin Edmondstone (GE), Christine Elliott (CEl), Kevin Empey (KE), Deena Errampelli (DE), Chris Escott (CEs), Neil Faulkenham (NFa), Luc Fazio (LF), Ishira Fernando (IFe), Mark Field (MF), Brett Fried (BF), Christian Friis (CF), Ella Fu (EF), Ida Furtado (IF), Carlos Furtado (CFu), Denys Gardiner (DG), Kathleen Gardiner (KG), David Gascoigne (DGa), Sophie Gibbs (SG), Marnie Gibson (MG), Ethan Gosnell (EG), Monica Grantham (MGr), Leanne Grieves (LG), Amanda Guercio (AG), Todd Hagedorn (TH), Dominik Halas (DH), Mike Hallett (MH), Jean Hampson (JHa), Lyn Hanna-Folkes (LHF), Pat Hare (PH), Daniel Hart (DHa), Marlene Hart (MHa), Sandra Hawkins (SHa), Eric Heisey (EHei), Bob Highcock (BHi), Shannon Hingston (SHi), Tyler Hoar (THo), Kathryn Hoo (KHo), Carol Horvat (CH), Frank Horvath (FH), Sandra Horvath (SH), Nathan Hood (NH), Jerry Horak (JH), Ellen Horak (EH), Jackson Hudecki (JHu), Peter Humele (PHu), Randy Husson (RH), Jean Iron (JI), Mourad Jabra (MJa), Marcie Jacklin (MJac), Simon Jeeves (SJ), Beth Jefferson (BJ), Mark Jennings (MJ), Dawn Johnson (DJ), Marc Johnson (MJo), Carol Jones (CJ), Braeden Judson (BJu), Terri Kershaw (TK), Rowan Keunen (RK), Michael Kirchin (MK), William Konze (WK), Burke Korol (BK), Bill Lamond (BL), Eric Lamond (EL), Sarah Lamond (SL), Peter Landry (PL), Greg Laverty (GL), Markus Legzdins (MaL), James Lees (JL), Mike Lepage (MLe), Ryan Leys (RLe), Jenny Lin (JLi), Debbie Loveridge (DL), Rick Ludkin (RL), Bruce Mackenzie (BMac), Rod MacDonald (RMac), Mike MacLeod (MMac), Dan MacNeal (DMac), Desmond MacNeal (DMa), Andrew Mactavish (AMa), Len Manning (LM), Rebecca Marshall (RMa), Jeff Martin (JMa), Reuven Martin (RM), Vicky Mason-Espin (VM), Sheldon McGregor (SMc), Kevin McLaughlin (KM), Nancy McPherson (NMc), Doug McRae (DMc), Janet Medelko (JMe), Marvin Medelko (MMe), Philip Menecola (PM), Dawn Miles (DMi), Jason Miller (JM), JW Mills (JWM), Kirsten Mills (KMi), Matt Mills (MM), Brian Mishell (BMi), David Moffatt (DMo), Angelique Mori (AM), Gerald Morris (GM), Ken Musgrave (KMu), Ryk Naves (RN), George Naylor (GN), Mark Nemadov (MN), Ken Newcombe (KN), Josh Nieuwenhuis (JN), Andrew Nguyen (ANg), Mike Norton (MN), Ben Oldfield (BO), Eila O’Neil (EO), Rebecca Owens (RO), Dianna Pakkala (DPa), Rob Palin (RPa), Mike Partridge (MP), Mark Patry (MPa), Nicholas Paul (NP), Daniel Pearson (DPe), Angelina Pereira (APe), Rose Petersen (RPe), Josh Pickering (JPic), Ron Pittaway (RPi), Jason Pizzey (JPi), Jon Pleizier (JP), Richard Poort (RPo), Anna Porter (APo), Rob Porter (RP), Dean Post (DP), Vinay Prakatoon (VP), George Prieksaitis (GPr), Patricia Quackenbush (PQ), Luke Raso (LR), Joanne Redwood (JR), Colleen Reilly (CR), Bert Richards (BR), Nicole Richardson (NR), Sarah Richer (SR), Garth Riley (GRi), Paul Riss (PR), Christine Roarke (CRo), Joe Rousseau (JRo), Greg Salter (GSa), Yves Scholten (YS), Caleb Scholtens (CSc), Eva Schorer (ESc), Foster Scott (FS), James Scott (JSc), Max Segler (MSe), Jennie Selva (JSe), Kevin Seymour (KSe), George Sims (GSi), Joan Sims (JSi), Janet Sippel (JSip), Glenda Slessor (GS), Nancy Smith (NS), Paul Smith (PS), Jay Solanki (JS), Peter Sproule (PSp), Laurie Stacey (LS), Bob Stamp (BS), Alex Stone (AS), Greg Stuart (GSt), Peter Thoem (PT), Tom Thomas (TT), Liam Thorne (LT), Rohan van Twest (RvT), Fred Urie (FU), Ron Valentine (RV), Josh Vandermeulen (JV), Mike Veltri (MV), Christopher Wagner (CWa), Phil Waggett (PW), Mike Waldhuber (MW), Rob Waldhuber (RW), Doug Ward (DWa), Jim Watt (JWa), Gord Watts (GW), David Welch (DWe), Joe Werba (JW), Karen Wood (KWo), Ross Wood (RWo), Brian Wylie (BWy), Scott Young (SY), Anthony Zammit (AZ), many observers (m.obs.). THE WOOD DUCK 79 Mute Swan: One at Grand River at Caledonia through reporting (MJ); one m. off South Shell Park [HL] 27 Jun (MJ); two m. off period (m.obs.); one at Haldimand Rd 17, W of Windecker Rd 23 Burloak Waterfront Park [HL] 2 Jul (MJ) – possibly same two males Aug (DHa). involved in three dates above. One m. at Burlington Ship Canal 29 Wood Duck: One f. with 16 yg. Jun (APo); two m. at Princess Point, RBG 20 Jun (KBu,JMa) and Powerline Rd SWP, Paris [BR] one there 3 Jul (DMo); one m. at Bayfront Park 30 June (HBr) 22 Jun (BL); 28 at Hendrie and one m. there 7 Aug (BCo). [It is very possible that the same Valley 6 Aug (CB); 21 at Scotch two males were involved in all the above sightings and that these Block Reservoir [HL] 25 Aug males may be the ones seen at Fifty Point C.A. on 19 May]. One f. at (YS); 40 at Valens C.A. [HM] Confederation Park [HM] 29 Aug (RPo). 28 Aug (RK); 33 at Grimsby Redhead: One f. with seven yg. at Windermere Basin 11 Jun (RD) Wetlands [NG] 29 Aug (CWa). Mute Swan at Haldimand Rd 17, 23 and with two yg. on 16 Jun (JP); one f. with four yg. at Tollgate Pond Blue-winged Teal: One m. at August 2020 - photo Daniel Hart. 6-20 Jul (RD) – assumed to be same brood from Windermere but Cootes Paradise 16 Jun (DMo); seven imm. at Grimsby Wetlands note only two yg. were observed at Windermere Basin on 16 Jun. One [NG] 15 Jul (CB) and 15 there 31 Aug (RCr); two at Green Lane m. at Windermere Basin 11 Jun – 21 Aug (RD); two birds at Tollgate Wetland, Paris [BR] 20 Jul (MH); one f. with 8 yg. at Powerline SWP, Pond 13 Aug (CB,LT) and one m. there 28-31 Aug (KDi/RD). Paris [BR] 2 Aug (BL); five at Windermere Basin 15 Aug (RD,CE); Ring-necked Duck#: One m. at 15 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 30 Aug (LR); five at Wilkes dam, Powerline Rd SWP, Paris [BR] 22 Brantford 30 Aug (ANg); 12 at Van Wagners Beach 31 Aug (SCh). June – 31 Aug (BL et al.). Northern Shovelor: Eight at Windermere Basin 4 Jun (CEs), two Greater Scaup#: One m. at there 22 Jun (MaL) and one there 8 Aug F (MCh,GC); f. with 8 yg. Windermere Basin 11 Jun – 21 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 13 Jul (SD/BMac); one at Valens C.A. Aug (RD,m.obs) and two there 31 [HM] 18 Aug (JL); four at LaSalle Park 19 Aug (RD); two at Hespeler Jul (LT,CB); two m. off Arkendo Ring-necked Duck at Powerline Mill Pond [WT] 22 Aug (AZ); one at 407 wetland at Britannia Rd Park [HL] 14 Jun (EO); one m. at Rd SWP, Paris - 22 June 2020 - [HL] 22 Aug (LF); two at Rattray Marsh [PL] 26 Aug (LF). Burlington Ship Canal 12-13 Aug photo Bill Lamond. Gadwall: One at Lake Medad [HL] 11 June (MMe,JMe); five at (APo); one m. at Tollgate Pond 26 Aug (CEs). Arkendo Park [HL] 21 Jun (EO); nine ad. at Burloak Waterfront Lesser Scaup#: One m. at Windermere Basin 1 Jun – 21 Aug (JP/ Park [HL] 29 Jun (MJ); one f. with 10 yg. 16-20 Jul Windermere KM/RD). Basin (HA/RD,BCh,RW) and 12 there 15 Aug (RLe); one at Surf Scoter#: Four off Spencer Smith Park [HL] 27 Jun ** (APo). Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 15 Aug (KDi). White-winged Scoter#: One at Oakville Harbour 2 Jun L (MJ); American Wigeon: Two at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 10 Jul one off Spencer Smith Park[HL] 27 Jun (APo); one at Van Wagners (SHi); one at Windermere Basin 4 Aug (RD); one at Alton Pond, Beach 15 Aug (CE,RD) and two there 31 Aug (JI,RPi). Burlington 15 Aug (MJ). Black Scoter#: One ad. m. off Green Rd [HM] 30 Aug (RD) and off American Black Duck: One at Windermere Basin 16 Jun (CB) Van Wagners Beach 31 Aug (RD,BCha). and four there 19 Jul (CB); one at Bronte Harbour 2 Jul (MJ); two Long-tailed Duck#: One off Rattray Marsh 4 Jun (SHa); two at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 19 Aug (MJa); 15 off Arkendo Park 28 birds at Burlington Ship Canal 7 Jun {photo} (APo) with one bird Aug (EO); one at Powerline Rd SWP, Paris [BR] 30 Aug (EL,BL). summering in this area throughout the period. This bird was also Northern Pintail: One m. at Cootes Paradise 5 Jun (DMo); one seen at Windermere Basin 22 Jun (RPo), Van Wagners Beach 22 at Windermere Basin 6 Jul (RD); one at Van Wagners Beach 15 Jul (RD) and on Harbour near Tollgate Pond 31 Aug (RD); one at Aug F (CE,RD), nine there 28 Aug (RD et al.) and 13 there 31 Aug Bronte Harbour 9 Jun L (MJ); one ad. m. off Burloak Waterfront (RD,BCha et al.); one at pond at Wellington Rd 35, S of Wellington Park 24 Aug F (MJ). Rd 34 (JSip); one at Rattray Marsh [PL] 31 Aug (PL). Bufflehead#: One at Hendrie Valley 24 Jun {photo} (JR); one at Green-winged Teal: Six at Windermere Basin 30 Jun (CB), nine Windermere Basin 11 Jun – 28 Aug (KM/RW/RD). there 19-21 Aug (RD) and 15 there 27 Aug (RPo); two at Grimsby Common Goldeneye#: One at Bronte Harbour 30 Jun (MJ); one at Wetlands [NG] 25 Jun (MJac), three there 8 Jul (JSc) and six there Cootes Paradise 27 Jul (CSc). 30 Aug (JI); two at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 7 Jul (JS), seven there Hooded Merganser: One f. with nine yg. at Hardy Rd-Oak Park 14 Aug (MC) and 13 there 24 Aug (ABe); one at Spottiswood Lakes Rd SWP, Brantford 2 Jun {photo} (BL); one f. with two yg. at Valens [BR] 1 Aug (BL); two at Tollgate Pond 13 Aug (LT,CB) and seven C.A. [HM] 15 Jun (JL); one f. with four yg. at Cootes Paradise 16 Jun there 26 Aug (RD); nine at Van Wagners Beach 15 Aug (RD,CE) (DMo); one f. with three yg. at Christie C.A. [HM] 22 Jun (NR); one and 30 there 31 Aug (RD et al.); nine at Valens C.A. [HM] 18 Aug f. with four yg. at Powerline Rd SWP, Paris [BR] 22 Jun (BL) and two (JL); three at Bronte Harbour 26 Aug f. with broods of four yg. and eight yg. there on 29 Jun {photo} (BL); (MJ); eight at Mountsberg Reservoir one f. with 7 yg. in pond at edge of York [HD] 30 Jun (RL). 30 Aug (MC,MLe); two at Powerline Common Merganser: Two at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 23 Jun – 8 [BR] Rd SWP, Paris 30 Aug (EL,BL); Jul (AZ/JBo); five at Grand River at footbridge, Brantford 24 Jun [BR] two at Glen Morris Rd Pond 30 (NFa), seven there 26 Aug (JPi) and 12 there 27 Aug (GSi,JSi); seven Aug (JH,EH). at Bronte Harbour 30 Jun (MJ); 16 on Speed River at Wellington Rd Canvasback#: One f. at Spencer 32 [WL] 3 July (DP); 17 at Crane Park, Guelph 12 Aug {photo} (LR); Smith Park [HL] 14 Jun {photo} Canvasback males at Burloak 22 females and juv. at Speed River at Niska Rd [WL] 14 Aug (MHa); (APo) and again on 27 Jun (APo); Waterfront Park, 2 July 2020 - [HD] photo Mark Jennings. two on Grand River at Caledonia 14 Aug (EG); 18 at Rattray one m. at Bronte Harbour 24-27 Jun Marsh [PL] 16 Aug {photo} (DPe); nine juv. at Oakville Harbour 80 DECEMBER 2020 16 Aug (MJ); five on Credit River at Riverwood Conservancy[PL] Aug (EL); five over Christie C.A.[HM] 28 Aug (AGu); four over 22 Aug (GL); five off Rhododendron Gardens[PL] 31 Aug (VC). Grimsby 31 Aug (MMac); four over Deer Run Court [BR] 31 Aug Red-breasted Merganser#: M. and f. at Sims Lock, Grand River (JSi,GSi). [HD] 28 Jun (GSa) and two on Grand River at Caledonia 21 Aug Chimney Swift: 215 at the Scottish Rite roost on King St, Hamilton (JPic); one at LaSalle Park 4 Aug (RD). 3 Jun (JHu,BCo); 80 over Grand River at Scarfe Ave, Brantford 19 Ruddy Duck#: One at Hendrie Valley 7 Jun (AB); one – two birds Jul (BL), 63 there 11 Aug (BL) and 87 there 27 Aug (BL); 24 over at Windermere Basin 1 Jun – 28 Aug (m.obs.); one at Smithville Canal Park, Dundas 16 Aug (JL); 25 over Dundas 17 Aug (RD); 24 lagoons 21 Jul (NS); one at Tollgate Pond 26 Jun-30 Aug (RD/KDi). over Strathcona St S, Hamilton 22 Aug (LC); eight over downtown Ring-necked Pheasant#: One at Mine Rd sod farm [HD] 23 Aug Burlington 22 Aug (DD); 120 over Burlington 25 Aug (CE,RD); 25 (AS). over Rattray Marsh [PL] 31 Aug (PL). Ruffed Grouse: Five at Britton Tract [HL] 21 Jul (DH); four at Virginia Rail#: One at Windermere Patterson Tract [HM] 6 Aug (BL). Basin 1 Jun (RPo); three ad. at Rattray Pied-billed Grebe: Ten at Marsh [PL] 17 Jun (SHa); one over Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 8 Jul Brantford (NFC ‘ki-dick’ call) 18 Jun (JSc); one at Oak Park-Hardy Rd (BL) and possibly same bird over St SWP [BR] 23 Jul (BL); one ad. George [BR] a short time later (JL); with six juv. at Niebaur’s Pond two at Starkey Hill Trail, Arkell [WL] [WL] 26 Jul (RD,CE) and 17 there 30 Jun (LR); one at Vance Tract, 9 Aug (MC); two at Green Lane Pied-billed Grebe on nest at Puslinch [WL] 8 Jul (MC); one ad. and Powerline Rd SWP, Paris - 22 three juv. at Kerncliff Park, Burlington Wetland, Paris 20 Aug (MH); four June 2020 - photo Bill Lamond. ad. and 17 variably-aged yg. at 19 Jul (MV); five ad. including one Virginia Rails at Kerncliff ad. with four yg. at Grimsby Wetlands Park - 24 July 2020 - photo Powerline Rd SWP, Paris 30 Aug (BL,EL). Mike Veltri. [NG] 28 Jul (DL) and one ad. with 6 Horned Grebe#: [HL] Two off Arkendo Park 12 Jun (EO); one yg. and two ad. with three yg. there 31 Jul (AMa); two ad. and six [HL] on Lake from Shoreacres Park to South Shell Park 26 Jul – 24 yg. at Valens C.A. [HM] 14 Aug (RK). Aug (KMu/MJ). Sora#: One at Rattray Marsh [PL] 13 Jun (PD); one at Valens C.A. Red-necked Grebe#: From previous period: Nest with four eggs [HM] 13 Jun (RK); one at Robertson Tract [HL] 25 Jun (RP); one at Bronte Marsh 24 Apr with one yg. present on 16 May but not at Cedar Haven, Eco-centre Hwy 97, Flamborough 3 Jul (LS); one seen subsequently (GE); one at Oakville Harbour 2 Jun (MJ); 10 at Slote Rd bog, Dundas Valley 21 Jul (KDi); one at Windermere [HL] off Spencer Smith Park 6 Jun (APo) and eight there 16 Jun Basin 22 Jul (KDi); one at Kerncliff Park, Burlington 25 Jul (MN); [PL] (APo); five off Rattray Marsh 11 Jun (NMc,GRi) and 56 there one at N shore Cootes Paradise 26 Jul (CSc); one at Bruce Trail at [PL] 13 Aug (CF); one off Jack Darling Park 11 Jun (GRi,NMc); Scotch Block [HL] 8 Aug (DWe); one at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] nest with four eggs at Bronte Harbour 5 Jul but no eggs observed 11 Aug (SHi); one at Valley Inn 15 Aug (PSp); three at Powerline [PL] subsequently (GE); one on Credit River at Streetsville 11 Jun Rd SWP, Paris 30 Aug (EL,BL). (AA); two at Burloak Waterfront Park [HL] 2 Jul (MJ); four at Common Gallinule#: One at Yates Ave pond, Cambridge 4 Jun Bronte Harbour 1 Aug (LF); one off Beachway Park, Burlington 12 (AZ); two at Robertson Tract [HL] 13-25 Jun (MN/RP); two at Aug (APo); one at Van Wagners Beach 28 Aug F (RPo,RD et al.). Safari Rd Marsh [HM] 16 Jun (BCo); one ad. at Grimsby Wetlands Yellow-billed Cuckoo: Four at [NG] 26 Jun (RD) and two ad. with four yg. there 23 Jul – 21 Aug Harrisburg rail trail [HM] 4 Jun (BL) and (m.obs.); one at Powerline Rd SWP, Paris 29 Jun (BL); one at Cootes seven there 1 Jul (BL); four along Dofasco Paradise 1 Jul (EC); one ad. with two yg. at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 26 Trail from 5th to 8th Rds E [HM] 14 Jul (CE,RD); two ad. with 4 yg. at Valens C.A. 23 Aug (RK). Jun (RPo); four at Gypsum Mine Track Railway Trail [HD] 21 Jun (RL); four at Martin Rd Trail, Dundas Valley 21 Jun (LT). Common Nighthawk: One at N shore Common Gallinule family at Grimsby Wetlands, 13 August 2020 - Cootes Paradise 4 Jun L (SR); one at photo Leanne Grieves. Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Dofasco Trail - 30 Springbank Rd, Mississauga 28-30 Jun Sandhill Crane: One over Westover Rd at 8th Conc [HM] 13 Jun June 2020 - photo Rob (PHu); one over Wilkes Dam, Brantford Buchanan. (PS); two in field W of Glen Morris Rd Pond[BR] 19 Jun (GSt,KSe); 12 Aug F (ACi); one over Hespeler Mill two at Gore Rd at Wellington Rd 35 [WL] 8-29 Jul (AF,CFu/HD); Pond [WT] 15 Aug (RCr); 40 over Hagersville quarry ponds [HD] two at Conc. Rd 2 S, E of Windecker Rd [HD] 22 Jul (RMa); two 21 Aug (BF); 10 over Dundas Valley 22 Aug (EB); seven over circling over Crieff[WL] 30 Jul (DB,ESc); three ad. along Hwy 24, Dundurn Stairs, Hamilton 23 Aug (JP) and seven there 25 Aug 1 km N of Howell Rd [BR] 2 Aug (BL); five feeding in field S of (JP); seven over Victoria Park, Hamilton 24 Aug (BCo); seven Spottiswood Lakes [BR] 3 Aug (KD); two along St George Rd, N of [PL] over Bayshore Park 24 Aug (HC); five over Rattray Marsh 24 Glen Morris Rd [BR] 8 Aug (EH,JH); two at Robertson Tract [HL] Aug (GL); seven over NE Flamborough 25 Aug (JBl); seven over 26 Aug (NP). Pinedale Ave, Burlington 25 Aug (BC,GS,CE); five over Valley Black-bellied Plover#: Two at Windermere Basin 21 Aug F Inn 26 Aug (JP); eight over Rockton [HM] 27 Aug (SD,JD); 49 (RD,CE/RW,m.obs); one at Tollgate Pond 26 Aug (CEs); one at over Hwy 6 in Flamborough 27 Aug (WK); five over downtown Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 30 Aug (JI). Burlington 27 Aug (DD); 12 over Waterworks Park, Brantford 28

THE WOOD DUCK 81 Semipalmated Plover#: One at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 8 Jun L (DMo) and five there 14 Jul (DMo); one at Grimsby Wetlands[NG] (APe); one at Windermere Basin 31 Jul F (GPr), three there 2 Aug 12 Jul (DE), seven there 20 Jul (CB), 25 there 1 Aug (AD,MJa,RPa), (RvT) and five there 16 Aug (AGu); seven at 407 wetland at Britannia 14 there 19 Aug (SH,FH) and 13 there 30 Aug (GS,BC); 12 at West Rd [HL] 1 Aug (KE); two at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 1 Aug (SHi) Niagara Agricultural Centre pond [NG] 15 Jul (NS); 14 at S Grimsby and eight there 3 Aug (MJa); one at Rattray Marsh [PL] 14 Aug (PL); Rd S, S of Mud St [NG] 17 Jul (MJac); seven at Green Lane Wetland, two at Green Lane Wetland, Paris 17-22 Aug (MH et al.); one on Paris 21 Jul (BL), 13 there 3 Aug (MH), 27 there 18 Aug (MH) and Grand River at S.C. Johnson Trail, Brantford 20 Aug (NFa); three at 14 there 24 Aug (MH); 12 at 407 wetland at Britannia Rd [HL] 1 Aug Christie C.A. [HM] 28 Aug (AGu); one at Bronte Harbour 29 Aug (KE) and nine there 14 Aug (Peel portion) (DDi), 25 there 20 Aug (MJ); one at Valens C.A. [HM] 30 Aug (JL); one at Tollgate Pond 31 (DDi) and 16 there 24 Aug (DDi); 10 at Glen Morris Rd Pond [BR] 1 Aug (RD). Aug (MH) and nine there 24 Aug (EH,JH); six at Powerline Rd SWP, Killdeer: 25 at Grimsby Wetlands Paris 2 Aug (BL); seven at Grand River at Kinsmen Park, Caledonia [NG] 1 Aug (MJa,AD,RPa); 53 at [HD] 14 Aug (EG); six at Christie C.A. [HM] 15 Aug (SCa) and 32 Green Lane Wetland, Paris 6 Aug there 29 Aug (RPa,AD,MJa); seven at Bronte Harbour 24 Aug (MJ); (MH) and 87 there 22 Aug (BL); eight at Rattray Marsh [PL] 25-28 Aug (GL/MN). 38 at African Lion Safari [HM] 10 White-rumped Sandpiper#: One ad. at Windermere Basin 30-31 Aug (DC); 95 at Haldibrook Rd at Jul (RD,BCh/KDi,m.obs.). Semipalmated Plover at Green Glancaster Rd 23 Aug (RD); 77 at Lane Wetland, Paris - 22 August Buff-breasted Sandpiper#: One at Windermere Basin 14-17 Aug 407 wetland at Britannia Rd [HL] 2020 - photo Jerry Horak. (JP,m.obs.); one at Unity Side Rd, 600m W of Hwy 6 [HD] 22-24 23 Aug (RPa); 41 at Windermere Aug {photo} (RC,EF/AS/DWa); one at Grimsby Wetland [NG] 30 Basin 24 Aug (RW); 37 at Christie C.A. [HM] 28 Aug (JL). Aug (GS,BC). Upland Sandpiper#: Three at S Grimsby Rd 15, S of Mud St [NG] Pectoral Sandpiper#: One at West 10 Jun (RW) and again on 13 Jun (CB,m.obs.); one at Smithville Rd, Niagara Agricultural Centre [NG] 25 N of Conc Rd 2 [NG] 13 Jun (NS); one over Stoney Creek (NFC) 23 Jul F (BCo); two at Grimsby Wetlands Jul (LM); one over Cambridge (NFC) 30 Jul L (JV). [NG] 2 Aug (BCha) and two there 8 Whimbrel#: One at Bronte Harbour 3 Jun L (MJ); two at Aug (DE); two at Windermere Basin Windermere Basin 4 Aug F (PT). 2 Aug (RvT); two at Glen Morris Rd Ruddy Turnstone#: Three at South Shell Park[HL] 2 Jun L (MJ); Pond [BR] 4 Aug (BF); one at Tollgate one at Tollgate Pond 12 Aug F (JP) and one there 26 Aug (CEs); Pond 12-13 Aug (JP/LT,CB); one one at Green Lane Wetlands, Paris 20 Aug {photo} (MH); one at at Green Lane Wetland, Paris [BR] Burlington Ship Canal 21 Aug (APo); one at Windermere Basin 28- 18 Aug (MH) and three there 21 Buff-breasted Sandpiper at 31 Aug (RW/KDi/RD). Aug (EL,BL); two at 407 wetland at Unity Side Rd, Haldimand Britannia Rd [HL] 20 Aug (JB); one - 24 August 2020 - photo Red Knot#: One juv. at Rattray Marsh [PL] 31 Aug* {photo} (PL). Andrew Mactavish. Stilt Sandpiper#: Two ad. at at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 21 Aug Windermere Basin 10 July (CE,RD,m. (MBe); one at Rattray Marsh [PL] 24 Aug (LF); one at Christie C.A. obs.) and two there 1 Aug (AZ); one at [HM] 28-31 Aug (JL,m.obs.). Cootes Paradise 14 Jul (DMo); one at Semipalmated Sandpiper: One at South Shell Park [HL] 2 Jun Grimsby Wetlands 21-31 Jul (DE,m. (MJ); two at Windermere Basin 9 Jun L (LT,EO), two there 14 Jul obs.), two there 8 Aug (DE) and two F (RW), 15 there 4 Aug (RD), 20 there 31 Jul (BCha,GRi,NMc), 20 there 27 Aug (MJa). there 8 Aug (SCa,MM), 15 there 16 Aug (RvT), 20 there 17 Aug [NG] Stilt Sandpiper at Windermere Sanderling#: One at Bronte Harbour (RW) and 18 there 27 Aug (RW); one at Grimsby Wetlands Basin - 1 August 2020 - photo 4 Aug F (KMu); one at Tollgate Pond 21 Jul (AM), six there 29 Jul (CB), 10 there 1 Aug (AD,RPa,MJa), 25 Rich Poort. 12 Aug (JP), one there 28 Aug (KDi) there 2 Aug (BCha) and eight there 29 Aug (CEs,BK); three at Green and two there 31 Aug (RD); two at Windermere Basin 15 Aug (JP,m. Lane Wetland, Paris [BR] 20 Jul (MH); 10 at Powerline Rd SWP, obs.); two at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 22 Aug (AZ); three juv. at Van Paris 2 Aug (BL); five at Glen Morris Rd Pond[BR] 4 Aug (BF); 12 at Wagners Beach 28 Aug (RD et al.) and 34 there 31 Aug (RD); five at wetland at 407 and Britannia Rd [HL] 23 Aug (RPa); five at Tollgate Rattray Marsh [PL] 29 Aug (PM); five Beachway Park, Burlington Pond 26 Aug (CEs); nine at Christie C.A. 28 Aug (JL) and 12 there 27 Aug (APo) and 22 there 31 Aug (DH). 29 Aug (DMc,GC). Dunlin#: Two at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 5 Jun L (PB); three at WESTERN SANDPIPER#: Windermere Basin 5 Jun L (KSe,GSt). One ad. at Windermere Basin 30 Jul – 1 Aug {photo} Baird’s Sandpiper#: One at Windermere Basin 15-23 Aug F (BC,RPo/m.obs.); one juv. (BMi,m.obs.); four at Christie C.A. [HM] 18 Aug (CRo); one at 407 at Christie C.A. 28-29 Aug wetland at Britannia Rd [HL] 20-23 Aug (JP/RPa); one at Rattray {photo} (JL,m.obs.). Marsh [PL] 21 Aug (PL) and one there 31 Aug (PL); one at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 20 Aug (MaL); one at Green Lane Wetland, Paris 21- Short-billed Dowitcher#: 23 Aug (EL,BL/DG); one juv. at Tollgate Pond 26-31 Aug (CEs/RD). One at Cootes Paradise 3 Jul F (DMo); one at Windermere Least Sandpiper: One at Windermere Basin 29 Jun F (KDi), five Western Sandpiper at Christie C.A. - Basin 9 Jul (KDi), eight there 28 August 2020 - photo Doug Ward. there 11 Jul (MJa), six there 14 Jul (RW), nine there (including juv.) 9 Jul (JP), 13 there 10 Jul 30 Jul (BC), 15 there 15 Aug (EB), and 12 there 27 Aug (RPo); one at (RD,CE) and three there Powerline Rd SWP, Paris 30 Jun (SL,BL); one at Cootes Paradise 3 Jul (continued on page 87) 82 DECEMBER 2020 Trees from Seeds Workshop by CLARA VUILLIER-DEVILLERS

TREES PLEASE, an initiative of Environment Hamilton permission on private lands. Once you have access to a and the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, was delighted to have plant, you want to make sure that it is flowering and being Stefan Weber lead a free ‘Trees from Seeds Workshop’ pollinated properly so that it will produce seeds. Next, you for the community on Saturday October 17th. Stefan is must identify when the seeds will ripen. Ripening times a biologist who has vast experience caring for seeds and range from species to species, therefore it is important to plants. He works for Carolinian Canada and used to work do your research. Once this is established, you must make for St. Williams Nursery and Ecology Centre, a nursery sure that your seed is viable. There are many ways to do that specializes in biodiversity conservation. this depending on what kind of seed you have Two back-to-back workshops were held at Eastwood Park in your possession. In to an enthusiastic group of participants. At the workshops, the workshop, Stefan Stefan discussed the importance of planting native trees, demonstrated with red as well as how to grow your own native plants from seeds. acorns. A water test is The Carolinian Zone in southern Ontario is home to the one simple way to tell highest plant biodiversity in Canada, and gardens in this if an acorn is healthy: zone are therefore key to maintaining biodiversity and can if the acorn sinks, it is help combat the decline of native wildlife, thus keeping the viable; if it floats, it’s ecosystem healthy. The potential impact is large, given that an indicator that your over 25% of Canada’s total population lives in this zone. So acorn may be rotten what we do with our gardens in Hamilton matters! on the inside. Once you have established that your seeds are A workshop participant cleaning healthy, you should dry native seeds -photo Clara Vuillier- them and keep them Devillers) in a Ziplock bag in your fridge until the spring, when they germinate and you can start planting.

Collecting seeds is an easy yet lengthy process. If you don’t want to grow your tree from seed, you can also stop by a local nursery and purchase a native seedling. When buying Red acorns cross-sections: the two lower right specimens exhibit rot and are not viable seeds - photo Clara Vuillier-Devillers. a native tree, it’s important to ask your supplier where the seed came from. Unfortunately, a lot of trees labeled ‘native’ are grown from imported seed. When planting and Stefan champions the importance of planting native trees growing a native tree in Ontario, it is important that that that are accustomed to local soil and weather conditions. seed also be from Ontario. This way, the seed’s genetics are These are typically more disease resistant, live longer, and already adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, support more wildlife than non-native species. Stefan resulting in a healthy tree. guided participants on a short walk through Eastwood Park, pointing out different native and non-native tree Carolinian Canada and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) species and examining their seeds. Canada have partnered with local businesses and communities to create the ‘In The Zone Program’, to In the workshop, Stefan walked participants through the encourage homeowners and gardeners to plant native four main steps to growing your own native trees from species. When connected to other greenspaces or gardens collected seeds. First, you must find a plant on the landscape in your neighbourhood, clusters of ‘pocket forests’ can be and harvest its seeds. Collecting seeds from street trees formed. These pocket forests allow trees and biomass to and trees growing in municipal parks does not require any grow faster, and serve as an important habitat for wildlife. special permission. However, keep in mind that you must It’s an easy way to help improve the overall health of the obtain a permit to collect seeds on conservation lands and Carolinian ecosystem.

THE WOOD DUCK 83 The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club is doing its part to conserve and protect Hamilton’s native flora and fauna. By promoting the enjoyment of nature through environmental appreciation and conservation, the Club engages public interest and encourages the appreciation and conservation of natural resources in our city. As mentioned in the Native Tree Seed Collection article published in the summer issue of the Wood Duck, Trees from Seeds is an ongoing project and is still interested in having members of the HNC collect suitable seeds and try growing trees for themselves (Zanchetta & Lee 2020). If you have a native tree on your property, we would greatly appreciate receiving a few seeds throughout the year. Trees from Seeds is interested in a variety of native species from our Carolinian Zone, including (but not limited to) hickories, oaks, maples, and sycamore (Zanchetta & Lee 2020).

References: Zanchetta, C., & Lee, J. (2020, Summer). Native Tree Seed Stefan Weber (standing) explains the process of collecting seeds - Collection. Wood Duck “In The Summer”, 73: 9-12. photo Clara Vuillier-Devillers.

In Memoriam: Thelma Powell

Long-time Club member Thelma Powell passed away in September. She was pre-deceased by husband David. Her obituary is reprinted below:

Powell, Thelma Joyce 1927 - 2020 On September 15, 2020 Thelma Joyce Powell passed away peacefully at home in her 94th year. Wife for 60 years of the late David Kenneth Powell. Very proud mother of Mark (Mary), Nancy Smith (Philip) and Christine (late Dave Bottles). Grandmother of Jennifer Ryan (Andrew), Evan (Holly) and Nathan Powell, Amy Smith and Nicole Bottles. Great grandmother of Maxwell, Jack and Samuel. Daughter of Reg and Charlotte Boorman, predeceased by sister Phyllis McEvoy and brother Bob (Maureen). Survived by brother Jack (late Shirley).

For decades Thelma and David were often birding together. Besides countless Ontario locations, they climbed mountains, waded through swamps and wandered in jungles including Central America, the Caribbean, Appalachia and Arizona. Closer to home they helped build and maintain the Bruce Trail where they hiked and met people who became lifelong friends.

If desired, donations to Bruce Trail Conservancy or Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation would be appreciated.

84 DECEMBER 2020 Bird Study Group Zoom Meeting Summary – 19 October 2020 “Aerial Insectivore Conservation” with Kaelyn Bumelis by MICHAEL ROWLANDS

BIRD STUDY GROUP DIRECTOR JACKSON HUDECKI opened other group of birds in the October 19th virtual meeting with some general Canada. In fact, the trend announcements and then laid out some of his goals for the is the same across North BSG: to keep our minds on birds beyond what we see and hear America, especially in the in the field; to allow for a broader conversation about bird northeast, with declines ecology, threats, efforts, trends, and predictions; to amplify in nine species since the the voices of people making a difference; and, to bring the mid-1980s documented average person and the expert birder to the same space. by Nobel et al. in a 2010 paper. Declines have Next Jackson brought Liam Thorne on-line for an update been more acute for Kaelyn Bumelis. on his September birdathon: 121 species were seen and long-distance migrants over $2000 was pledged to his team, the HBO Harriers! He that go to South America to overwinter as opposed to those thanked everyone who participated in this effort. Hotspots shorter-distance migrants that stay in the United States or during the day were Woodland Cemetery and Edgelake Park, go only to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America. It’s in both locations over 20 species of warblers were spotted. unclear whether the losses are mostly during migration or in Most abundant birds were Cedar Waxwings, sparrows, and the overwintering grounds (or on the breeding grounds, i.e., thrushes. producing fewer young - Ed.).

Close behind Liam in eBird posts for the Hamilton Study Area Kaelyn showed us several maps from the second Atlas of is James Lees, who was the next guest on the webinar. He looks the Breeding Birds of Ontario (2001-05) in which there at weather patterns to predict what birds may next appear in were clearly more observation squares reporting no aerial our area. This time of year is good for finding rarer species insectivores than in the first Atlas (1981-85). Graphs for and vagrants that often mingle with groups of related birds, he specific species clearly showed declines in five geographical claimed. Count every bird in a flock with your binoculars and areas of the province, from north to south, and overall. you may find these outliers. There are many possible drivers of aerial insectivore decline: Our main speaker was Kaelyn Bumelis, M.Sc., who works for land use change; climate change; predation by cats or raptors; Birds Canada as the Aerial Insectivore Program Coordinator loss of physical structures (e.g., barns, quarries, chimneys); and will also be the Assistant Coordinator for the upcoming light pollution; effect of invasive species; toxic chemicals Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas 3 (2021-25). In 2020, Kaelyn affecting the birds or the insects (e.g., pesticides, dioxin, ozone, received her Master of Science degree from Western University particulates, mercury, etc.); genetically engineered crops; in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She previously worked changes in the human ecological footprint (including roads); with Environment and Climate Change Canada as a biologist insect control (e.g., for mosquitoes) that affected the diet of in early 2020 and as a wildlife technician during the summers the insectivores; a primary reduction in insect numbers; and/ of 2016 and 2017; she was also a summer intern with the or changes in seasonal natural phenomena such as wind, rain, Hamilton Naturalists’ Club in 2015. Her topic was Aerial temperature. Insectivore Conservation: what can be done to understand and reverse the declining populations of the guild or group Next Kaelyn discussed population monitoring of swifts and of birds that catch and eat flying insects while they are flying: swallows. Barn and Cliff Swallows prefer structures such as swifts, swallows, nightjars, and flycatchers. barns and bridges for their nests, so nest totals and number of young per nest are recorded. Birds captured safely in mist The 2019 version of the ‘State of Canada’s Birds’ report clearly nets are examined for overall condition and banding is used to documented that since 1970, populations of aerial insectivores determine if birds return annually to the same nest sites. Tree have experienced an overall 59% decline — more than any Swallows and Purple Martins live in man-made houses and

THE WOOD DUCK 85 can be monitored relatively easily. flies) but isotope analyses revealed that Tree Swallows fed their young a more aquatic diet and Barn Swallows a more Chimney Swifts, as determined by SwiftWatch volunteers terrestrial diet. in 115 communities (including Hamilton) monitoring 1100 chimneys, prefer taller and wider chimneys. Large groups Another researcher (Nocera et al. 2012) studied an will roost together in the larger chimneys, whereas breeding abandoned roosting chimney in Kingston that had been pairs will find a chimney of their own in which to build a nest active nightly with thousands of swifts from 1928 to1992, and raise their young. Kaelyn showed us a video of a chimney when it was capped. A core of material representing 48 in London at dusk where about 800 swifts were returning years of accumulated guano (1944 -1992) was studied to to roost for the night. SwiftWatch observers monitor new reconstruct the historical diet of the Chimney Swifts that had or existing roosts for up to one hour between May 15 and roosted there. The analysis of insect remains, stable isotopes, September 15. Roosting swifts are best detected at dusk in and pesticides indicated there was a steep increase during the the spring and fall; nesting swifts can be seen during the day 1940s and 1950s in DDT that correlated with a decimation of or evening in July when swift parents make frequent trips in the beetle population and therefore beetle remains (higher in and out of chimneys to feed growing young or in June during caloric value) and an increase in true bug remains (lower in daytime nest-building. caloric value) thereafter, even after the banning of DDT.

Bank Swallows like vertical sand banks and have been studied With that information as background, Kaelyn suggested for 10 years along the north shore of Lake Erie between Long several ways for interested parties to help in aerial insectivore Point and Rondeau, where about 10% of the Canadian and conservation. First of all, you could help by signing up 35% of the Ontario populations live. Bank Swallows may be as a SwiftWatch volunteer to do chimney monitoring as captured safely by lowering drop-nets – special mist nets on described above. To find out more and get involved, contact: two poles – over a bluff’s edge. Fitting some of these swallows [email protected]. with lightweight transmitters allows them to be tracked with the Motus system so that a record of their habitats can be Similarly, the Canadian Nightjar Survey in this area focuses formed. We were shown an animated map that tracked the on Common Nighthawks and Eastern Whip-poor-wills, flights of about 40 tagged Bank Swallows in the summer which are both “threatened” under the federal Species at Risk of 2015: many of the birds returned nightly to roost in the Act (SARA). Volunteers would follow a route with multiple marshes at Long Point. This underscores the importance stops on summer evenings to listen for Common Nighthawk of having viable wetlands in close proximity to breeding and Eastern Whip-poor-will calls. To find out more and get colonies. involved, contact Andrew Coughlan, Director, Québec at: [email protected]. The Motus system has also been used to determine the survival rate of young Barn Swallows near Guelph in a study Finally, you could apply to help with the Ontario Breeding Bird by Falconer et al. (2016). Fewer than half (40–44%) of the Atlas 3 by gathering data from 2021-25. You can volunteer tagged fledglings in the study survived to migrate. Young to be an atlasser who documents evidence of breeding birds birds with better body condition showed higher apparent in one or more squares, or conduct point counts in squares, survival – assumedly because they were better suited to which requires more advanced birding-by-ear skills. To find withstand inclement environmental conditions or evade out more, visit: https://www.birdsontario.org/. predators. To conclude the meeting, Kaelyn answered a number of Diet is critical to the health and survival of aerial insectivores, questions submitted by audience members, then Jackson so the type of insects being eaten is very important. Some thanked her for being on the webinar. Although most of insects, like aquatic emergents or beetles, offer more fat and us were muted, I suspect many of us at home applauded or calories than others. The relative proportions of isotopes of thanked Kaelyn aloud for her fine presentation. After all, carbon, hydrogen or nitrogen in the blood or feathers of a during our isolation in the current Covid-19 pandemic, we’re bird will indicate whether the bird’s diet in the last weeks or free to “dance like nobody’s watching!” months was mostly from aquatic or terrestrial insects. Fecal samples can be analyzed for DNA to determine specific types of insects that have been eaten in the short term. For her master’s project, Kaelyn used these two methods to compare the diets of co-occurring swallows. DNA barcoding showed that both diets contained mostly Dipterans (flies, including mosquitoes, horse flies, black flies, midges, and crane

86 DECEMBER 2020 (continued from page 82) 17 Aug (RW); one at West Niagara Agricultural Centre ponds [NG] (DH); nine at Van Wagners Beach 31 Aug* (RD et al.). 13-20 Jul (NS,m.obs.); one at S Grimsby Rd 15, S of Mud St [NG] 17 Parasitic Jaeger#: One juv. at Van Jul (MJac); five at Grimsby Wetlands[NG] 19 Jul (AM), eight there Wagners beach 15 Aug* (RD) and 12 20 Jul (CB) and two there 29 Aug (CWa); one at 3598 Grimsby Rd there 31 Aug (RD et al.). [NG] 19 Jul {photo} (RB); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] Long-tailed Jaeger#: One ad. at Van 28 Jul (MJ); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 16 Aug (LR). Wagners beach 15 Aug* (RD,BCh), Wilson’s Snipe#: Two at 5th Road E, N of Green Mtn. Rd [HM] one juv. there 28 Aug (DD et al.) and 3 Jun (RD); one at Puslinch Rd Sideroad 10, just N of CPR tracks two there (subad.&juv.) 31 Aug (RD [WL] 4 Jun (CFu,IF); one at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 10 Jul F (NS) et al.). and one there 30 Jul (RB); one at Windermere Basin 11 Jul (RvT); Black-legged Kittiwake#: One juv. one at Glen Morris Rd Pond [BR] 1 Aug (MH); one at Guelph on Aug 31 F (RD et al.). Red-necked Phalarope at Van Arboretum 14 Aug (MHa); one at Christie C.A. [HM] 15 Aug Sabine’s Gull#: Two (ad.&juv.) off Wagners Beach - 31 August (SCa); three at 407 wetland at Britannia Rd [PL portion] 16 Aug Van Wagners Beach 28 Aug* (RPo et 2020 - photo Garth Riley. (DDi); one at Green Lane Wetland, Paris [BR] 25 Aug (ABr). al.) and four juv. there 31 Aug (RD et Spotted Sandpiper: One (NFC) over Carolina Park, Brantford 11 al.). Jun (BL), two there (NFC) 18 Jun (BL) and one there (NFC) 24 Jun Bonaparte’s Gull: One 1st summer at Oakville Harbour 5 Jun (BL). (MJ); one 1st summer off Burloak Waterfront Park 11 Jun (RD); one Solitary Sandpiper: One at Powerline Rd SWP, Paris 11 Jul F (BL); 1st summer at Windermere Basin 6 Jul (KDi); one ad. on Lake at 21 at Glen Morris Rd Pond [BR] 23 Jul (MH), 25 there 1 Aug (MH) Green Rd [HM] 22 Jul F (RD) and one juv. there 31 Jul F (RD); one and 23 there 24 Aug (MH); seven at Green Lane Wetland, Paris 23 juv. at Valens C.A. [HM] 3-4 Aug (RK); one at Hespeler Mill Pond Jul (EHei), 19 there 18 Aug (MH) and 15 there 21 Aug (BL,EL/MH); 25 Aug (ABr). eight at Christie C.A. [HM] 1 Aug (RD), nine (including 4 juv.) BLACK-HEADED GULL#: One ad. off Burloak Waterfront Park there 16 Aug (RD) and 10 there 19 Aug (RN); six at Windermere [HL] {photo} 10 Jun* ** (MJ). Basin 17 Aug (JMe,MMe); six at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 21 Aug Laughing Gull#: One ad. at Grand (MBe). River at Scarfe Ave, Brantford 10 Jun* Lesser Yellowlegs: One at Windermere Basin 29 Jun F (KDi), 15 ** (BL). there 9 Jul (JP), 38 there 15 Jul (RD), 20 there 8 Aug (SCa,MM) and Ring-billed Gull: 495 at Grand River at 14 there 26 Aug (RW); one at Cootes Paradise 3 Jul (DMo); eight at Lorne Bridge, Brantford 19 Jun (SL) and Powerline Rd SWP, Paris 7 Jul (BL) and 14 there 2 Aug (BL); five at 1120 there 13 Aug (BL). Binbrook C.A. [HM] 11 Jul (NR); 15 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 11 st Lesser Black-backed Gull#: One 1 Black-headed Gull, adult, Jul (CCo), 26 there 18 Jul (AZ) and 27 there 15 Aug (PC,DMi); six summer at Grand River at Scarfe Ave, at Burloak Waterfront Park at West Niagara Agricultural Centre pond [NG] 13 Jul (NS) and 20 Brantford 31 Jul {photo} (BL), two there - 10 June 2020 - photo Mark Jennings. there 20 Jul (JHa,BHi); 22 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 19 Jul (CB), (1st and 2nd summer) 7 Aug (BL), two 35 there 23 Jul (RD,CE) and 40 there 2 Aug (BCha); seven at Green (1st summer) there 13 Aug {photo} (BL) and one ad. there 31 Aug Lane Wetland, Paris 21 Jul (BL), 12 there 3 Aug (BL) and 31 there (BL); one 1st summer at Bronte Harbour 11 Aug {photo} (MJ). 18 Aug (MH); seven at Christie C.A, [HM] 1 Aug (RD), 10 there 16 Great Black-backed Gull: One at Aug (RD) and nine there 28 Aug (JL); nine at Glen Morris Rd Pond Rattray Marsh [PL] 14 Jun (YS); one [BR] 4 Aug (BF) and nine there 22 Aug (CE,RD); eight at Tollgate at Van Wagners Beach 20 Aug (KMi) Pond 4 Aug (RD) and 18 there 28 Aug (RD); 16 at 407 wetland at and one ad. there 28 Aug F (RD). Britannia Rd [HL] 23 Aug (RPa) and 16 there [PL portion] 24 Aug Caspian Tern: (DDi). 82 at Oakville Harbour 5 Jun (MJ); 185 at Willet#: One at Cootes Paradise 30 Aug {photo} (PT,m.obs.). Windermere Basin 11 Jun (RW), 202 Greater Yellowlegs: One at Grand there 11 Jul (NR), 175 there 1 Aug River at S.C. Johnson Trail, Brantford Lesser Black-backed Gull on (AZ), 130 there 15 Aug (RW) and Grand River at D’Aubigny 30 Jun F {photo} (GSi); nine at 72 there 30 Aug (BR); 104 at Bronte Creek, Brantford - 31 July Windermere Basin 13 Jul (LT,CB) Harbour 22 Jul (MJ), 98 there 30 Jul 2020 - photo Bill Lamond. and nine there 26 Jul (GSt,KSe); four and also on 11 Aug (MJ) and 35 there 29 Aug (MJ). at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 1 Aug Black Tern#: Two ad. on Lake at Forty Mile Creek [NG] 5 Jun (RPa,MJa,AD) and five there 2 Aug (BMi); one ad. at Windermere Basin 16-17 Jun (KDi,m.obs.); one at (BCha); five at Hespeler Mill Pond Van Wagners Beach 31 Aug (RD et al.). [WT] 16 Aug (CFu,IF); nine at Green Common Tern: Lane Wetland, Paris [BR] 18 Aug 30 at Port Credit Harbour 3 Jun (PL); 120 at Windermere Basin 4 Jun (CEs); four at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] Willet at Cootes Paradise - 30 (MH); six on Grand River at footbridge Aug 2020 - photo Simon Carter. [BR] 27 Aug (GSi); four at Christie 11 Jun (JV) and three there 19 Jul (MC); 30 at Bronte Harbour 24 C.A. [HM] 28-30 Aug (JL/BCo). Jun (MJ); 260 at LaSalle Marina 30 Jul (RD) and 170 there 4 Aug (RD); nine at Valens C.A. [HM] 14 Aug (RK), 14 there 20 Aug (JL) Wilson’s Phalarope#: One at Windermere Basin 22 Jun (KDi/ and one there 28 Aug (RK); 103 past Van Wagners Beach 28 Aug CE,RD) and one there 17 Aug (CB); one at Tollgate Pond 19 Aug (RD) and 25 there 31 Aug (RD). (KDi). Forster’s Tern#: One 1st sum. at Windermere Basin 11 Jun (RD/ Red-necked Phalarope#: One at Burlington Ship Canal 31 Aug* THE WOOD DUCK 87 MJa). attempting to nest on tower at Olympic Arena, Dundas 15 Jun – 22 Common Loon: Thirteen off Oakville Harbour 2 Jun (MJ) and Aug (RD); two at nest at Middletown Rd and Christie C.A, [HM] one there 30 Jun (MJ); one at Valens C.A. [HM] 5 Jun (JL); three 19 Jun – 29 Aug (RD); one ad. and one juv. at nest at Hwy 8, W off South Shell Park[HL] 9 Jun (MJ); one at Puslinch Lake [WL] of Middletown Rd [HM] 28 Jun – 22 Aug (RD); two ad. and two 11 Jun (MW); one off Spencer Smith Park[HL] 11 Jun (APo); one yg. on nest at Hwy 24 and East River Rd [WT] 4 Jul (GSi,JSi); one over Skyway Bridge 30 Jun (RW); one at Mt. Nemo quarry pond ad. at nest along Hwy 403 just E of Jerseyville Rd [BR] 9 Jul – 10 [HL] 2 Jul (BO); five off Green Rd[HM] 22 Jul (RD) and nine there Aug (BL,SL/RD); two ad. & two yg. at nest near Grass Lake [WT] 30 Aug (RD); three past Van Wagners Beach 15 Aug F (RD). 11 Jul (CFu,IF); two ad. and two yg. at nest just W of Green Lane American White Pelican#: One at Beachway Park 11 Jun {photo} Wetland, Paris 11 Jul (JSi,GSi); two at nest at Hwy 97, W of Clyde (APo) – this bird was likely the Rd [WT] 26 Jul (RD,CE); seven at Woodland Cemetery 18 Aug same bird seen at Columbia (RD,CE,AMa). Lake in Waterloo at 8:00 a.m. Northern Harrier: One at 1st Line, Nassagaweya, S of Side Rd 28 when it took flight in a SE [HL] 26 Jun (JSip); one at 10th Road E, S of Ridge Rd [HM] 18 Jul direction. The same bird was (RB); one at Glen Morris [BR] 8 Aug (EH,JH); one at Kinsmen likely over Woodland Cemetery Park, Caledonia [HD] 14 Aug (EG); one at Van Wagners Beach 15 on 13 Jun (KN). Aug (CE,RD). American Bittern#: One at Sharp-shinned Hawk: One at Currie Tract [HL] 20 Jun (LF et Rattray Marsh 6 Jun L (DPa); al.); one at Rail Trail, just N of Stoney Creek Rd [HD] 24 Jun (RL); American White Pelican at one at Windermere Basin 27 one at Fletcher Creek E.P. [WL] 30 Jun (JL) and again on 13 Aug Beachway Park, Burlington - 11 Aug F (RW). (JL); one at Windermere Basin 17 Aug F (KDi). June 2020 - photo Anna Porter. Least Bittern#: Two SM at Northern Goshawk#: One at Grimsby Wetlands 28 Aug (BMac). Cootes Paradise 5 Jun (DMo) and one SM there 3 Jul (DMo); one Bald Eagle: Two ad. and two juv. at Cootes Paradise 5 Jun (DMo). at Windermere Basin 11 Jun (RD) and on 22 Jun (CE,RD); one SM Red-shouldered Hawk#: One at Robertson Tract 28 Jun at Valens C.A. 12 Jun (RD,CE) and two SM there 19 Jun {photo} 19 (AMa,PR). Jun (RK); two SM at Safari Rd Marsh [HM] 16 Jun (BCo,CBe); one Broad-winged Hawk: One over Valens C.A. [HM] 4 Jun (JL) and at Grass Lake [WT] 25 Jun (CFu,IF). one there 21 Aug (JL); one over Merrick Field, Dundas Valley 5 Great Egret: Two over Van Wagners Ponds 7 Jun (RD); one at Jun (RD); one over Beverly Swamp C.A. [HM] 6 Jun (TH,KHo); Cootes Paradise 16 Jun (DMo), one at Westover Rd at 8th Conc [HM] 20 Jun – 11 Jul (PS); two at six there 1 Jul (EC), 12 there 18 Nassagaweya-Esquesing Townline Trail [HL] 28 Jun (RP); one over Aug (RH) and 12 there 30 Aug Headwater’s Trail, Dundas Valley 28 Jun (SJ,MGr); one at Speyside (SCa,MM); six at Grand River at Resource Mgmt. Area [HL] 28 Jun (THo); one at Sideroad N 10 at Brantford Golf & Country Club 3 Lafarge pond [WL] 28 Jun (RH); two at Starkey Hill Trail, Arkell Aug (NFa) and nine there 13 Aug [WL] 30 Jun (LR); one at Hanlon Creek Park, Guelph 18 Jul (FU); (BL); seven at Hespeler Mill Pond three at Sudden Tract [WT] 25 Jul (KSe,GSt); one at Rattray Marsh [WT] 3 Aug (PB); 11 at Green F 19 Aug (JMe,MMe). Lane Wetland, Paris 17 Aug (MH) Barred Owl#: One at Dundas Valley 20 Jun (JL); one at Sudden and 13 there 18-24 Aug (MH/ Tract [WT] 21 Aug (BF). DG/m.obs.); five at 5th Conc at Red-headed Woodpecker#: Pair at Fuciarelli loam pits [HM] 19 Aug Least Bittern at Grass Lake - 25 Bruce Trail near Scotch Block [HL] June 2020 - photo Carlos Furtado. (RMac); six at Guelph Arboretum 26 Jun – 18 Jul (JRo/DWe); one S of 27 Aug (CEa). Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 28 Jun {photo} Green Heron: Four at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 12 Jul (MP); three at 28 Jun (SY); one at No. 6 School Rd [BR] Green Lane Wetland, Paris 20 Jul – 14 Aug (MH/EL,BL); three at 3 Jul (CJ); one at Trinity Church Rd, N of Cootes Paradise 1 Aug (SCa); four at Valens C.A. [HM] 8-14 Aug Guyatt Rd [HM] 4 Jul (CR); two ad. and (RK); four at Christie C.A. [HM] 18 Aug (CRo) and five there 28 one juv. at Conc 4 W, W of Hwy 6 [HM] [NG] Aug (RK); three at Grimsby Wetlands 30 Aug (RPo). 24 Jul {photo} (MJ). Red-headed Woodpecker Black-crowned Night-Heron: 110 ad. on 82 nests at Tollgate Pond Yellow-bellied Sapsucker#: One at at 4th Conc W, Hamilton 26 Jun (RD), 62 active nests there on 6 Jul (RD) and 35 juv. there - 24 July 2020 - photo Hespeler Mill Pond 2 Jun L (PB); one at Mark Jennings. on 9 Aug (RD); one on Grand River at Caledonia 19-29 Aug (EG/ 8575 1st Line, Campbellville [HL] 17 Jun JPic); eight at Alton Ponds, Burlington 15 Aug (MJ); one at Grand (KWo,RWo); pair at Martin Rd Trail, Dundas Valley 28 Jun (DWe). River at Lorne Bridge, Brantford 26-30 Aug (BL); one at Franklin American Kestrel: Two over Woodland Cemetery 25 Aug F (RD); Pond, Cambridge 30 Aug (AZ). one at Coronation Park [HL] 25 Aug F (KMu). Plegadis ibis sp.: One over Credit River at Streetsville [PL] 27 Peregrine Falcon: Three yg. at Burlington Ship Canal lift bridge Aug ## (AA). nest 11 Jun (APo); three at Vinemount quarry [HM] 5 July (BMac). Osprey: Two ad. and two yg. on nest along Hwy 54, S of Sims Merlin: Family group (2ad.&2yg.) at St Joseph’s Cemetery, Locks [HD] 6 Jun (RN); two on nest at Nebo Rd and White Church Brantford 31 Jul (MH). Rd [HM] 8 Jun (TK); three at nest along Hwy 24, N of Blue Lake Eastern Kingbird: Rd [BR] 12 Jun (JL); one at nest S of Valens C.A. [HM] 12 Jun Eight at Rattray Marsh 19 Aug (MMe,JMe); (RD); one at nest at Plains Rd W, Aldershot 14-15 Jun (RD); two eight at Iroquois Heights (continued on page 91) 88 DECEMBER 2020 Stopping a Pipeline by DON MCLEAN

ENBRIDGE’S ABANDONMENT of its planned fracked gas fracking in Pennsylvania – an extraction process which some pipeline across the Beverly Swamp is good news, but their researchers argue is worse than burning coal. blaming of the pandemic is unconvincing. In the end, the OEB decided that climate change is not part of Last May, Enbridge was facing over 850 intervenor questions its mandate – after all what could fossil fuels have to do with in the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) hearings and instead of climate and why would the provincial government agency answering, the company asked the OEB for a hearings pause overseeing pipelines have that in its mandate? However, it allegedly because of the pandemic. The OEB readily granted did concede that some issues related to climate could be the request. None of the 16 intervenors opposed the delay. questioned such as the source of the gas. So why hasn’t Enbridge just asked for a further ‘pause’ in the The extraction source turned into a bigger public relations hearings? The pandemic is still going on and the OEB would problem for Enbridge when its OEB application explained the almost certainly have agreed. expected market for the gas included the New England states. Perhaps it was the strong public opposition to the route of the They are practically right next door to Pennsylvania so why proposed pipeline through one of the most important wetland pipe the gas hundreds of kilometres west and north to Sarnia, complexes in Southern Ontario. Opponents included the then hundreds more across southern Ontario to Quebec only HNC, the Ontario Wilderness Society, Dundas Turtle Watch to be sold back to the US? and others concerned about the habitat of dozens of rare floral Enbridge didn’t offer details of the difficulties but they are easy and faunal species. Tom Beckett, the founding Chair of the to determine. New York State, which lies along a long border Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA), publicly opposed immediately north of Pennsylvania, has banned fracking. the project and pointed out the permanent easement was the They’ve also been blocking new gas pipelines through New construction equivalent of an 8-9 lane highway. An additional York. In fact, while the OEB hearings were going on earlier this similar sized area was sought for construction staging. year, New York ruled that a proposed new gas pipeline posed The HCA promises that its lands – frequently funded by the an unacceptable risk to New York waters and was inconsistent HNC – “will never be developed or bulldozed”. A delegation with the state’s climate commitments. from Hamilton 350 convinced them to delay providing an Using Ontario as a bypass for US gas to the US was jumped easement across its conservation lands at least until Enbridge on by multiple intervenors who demanded to know why provided a full ecological study which was also subjected to an Ontario gas users should pay for such a marketing scheme. independent peer review. These questions came from groups representing businesses and residents who pointed to Enbridge’s plan to raise gas rates Both of those documents were completed before Enbridge in Ontario by $120 million to cover the largest part of the pulled the plug on the pipeline. Why go to that trouble and projected $205 million cost of the pipeline. expense if the pandemic was the only obstacle facing its project? The other market opportunity that Enbridge identified was the Ford government’s plan to replace some nuclear electricity The day after the HCA voted on the easement delay, Hamilton generation with gas-burning power plants. That would reverse City Council also voted unanimously to support the HCA the huge gains in emission reductions achieved by shutting position and to maintain its own role as an intervenor. Both down all of Ontario’s coal-fired generation plants and would the HCA and City Council advocated that the OEB consider push up greenhouse gas emissions by 300-400 percent. upstream and downstream climate impacts of the pipeline and the gas scheduled to flow through it. The HNC and nine other Not surprisingly, that brought on a lot more public opposition Hamilton citizen groups plus over 150 individuals pushed the and exposed Ontario cabinet ministers to public outrage. The OEB to include climate change. Ontario Clean Air Alliance jumped into the fight against the pipeline with a billboard and flyer campaign that saw over This was a long shot. The OEB has never examined climate 15,000 “protect our climate” brochures distributed to homes change in its hundreds of hearings on fossil fuel pipelines. in the Hamilton area. More than 50 organizations have already And Enbridge demanded that this not be allowed and that signed onto to the OCAA demand for a cap on existing gas- intervenors be forced to stop asking about it. But the OEB fired power generation, and a complete phase out by the end cracked open the door and asked for comment on inclusion of the decade. of climate issues. This part of the stop-the-pipeline campaign has been endorsed Climate change was the last thing Enbridge wanted examined. by major national and provincial organizations and is now The gas it planned to pump through the pipeline comes from recruiting municipal governments, including Kitchener and

THE WOOD DUCK 89 Hamilton. Why promote electric cars or buy electric buses if opposition than the company might reasonably have expected the electricity supply is made with the fossil fuels you are trying for its 10 kilometre pipe through a low-population rural area. to avoid? They would have expected no serious problems from the city A large part of the pipeline route lies within the watershed of or the conservation authorities, and a relatively short and easy Spencer Creek, the largest stream in Hamilton which flows ride through the OEB process for a pipeline of allegedly “clean through and frequently floods urban Dundas. Opponents didn’t natural gas”. have any difficulty convincing residents that the construction But times have changed for the fossil fuel sector, including gas. project would likely make that worse – and that the clearing of Some US cities are now banning new gas lines into homes. The hectares of forested area would exacerbate the climate change State of Maine has committed to installing at least half a million which has been driving increased flooding. residential electric heat pumps by 2025 to cut gas use. Provincial Green Party leader Mike Schreiner was an early vocal And yes, we’re in a pandemic and at least temporarily it has cut opponent. The Greens generated one of several multi-thousand fossil fuel use, especially oil, and battered prices and demand. name petitions against the pipeline. The MPP for Dundas area, Likely that helped push Enbridge to abandon the pipeline. It’s a NDPer Sandy Shaw, was a vocal opponent too. little harder to swallow their prediction that this is just a delay All of this meant that Enbridge’s pipeline was facing far more for a few months.

AND NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS Protecting Nature for Future Generations Couchiching Conservancy

We know you have been waiting to hear any news on the Cedarhurst development for a long time and we thank you for your patience.

We have good news to share. The owners of the 1,350 acre property have decided to sell the property to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Kudos to them for making this decision.

When we heard, we couldn’t wait to share the news with you, but of course there were still details to work through before saying anything publicly. This is a collective sigh of relief. When the original owners purchased the property, they intended Cedarhurst Alvar property at the heart of the Carden Alvar, located 35 to build a gun range. Less was known when kilometres northeast of Orillia, contains some of the most significant natural ownership shifted, but any development would habitat in the province. have been detrimental to such a rare landscape. Being able to protect such a large portion of the alvar with We all know and love the alvar. Many of you reading this direct connections to neighbouring Nature Reserves will have been united in protecting the alvar for the species who make all the difference to Moose, who move regularly thrive here like Eastern Loggerhead Shrike. Over the past through the area, and for Common Nighthawks (Special 25 years, together we have protected well over 9,000 acres Concern) and Eastern Whip-poor-wills (Threatened), in Carden with other organizations. The Carden Alvar is grassland bird species who rely on the area for nesting. thought to be one of the richest in the province with a great This area also connects to Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands diversity of species. Provincial Park, a critical part of the conservation corridor.

90 DECEMBER 2020 (continued from page 88) C.A. [HM] 25 Aug there 22 Jun (BL) and 108 there 29 Jun (BL); 50 excavating nests at (LT); eight at Woodland Cemetery 25 Aug (RD); 11 at Grimsby Cootes Paradise 16 Jun (DMo); 110 at Bronte Harbour 13 Jul (MJ); Wetlands [NG] 21 Aug (RCr). 400 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 23 Jul (RD); 60 at Glen Morris Rd Eastern Wood-Pewee: One in Stoney Pond [BR] 3 Aug (MH); 50 at Grand River at Caledonia [HD] 10 Creek backyard 3 Jul (LM). Aug (EG). Olive-sided Flycatcher#: One at Martin Cliff Swallow: 16 at Glen Morris bridge [BR] 29 Jun (JH); 20 at Rd Trail, Dundas Valley 4 Jun (PW); one Bronte Harbour 9 Jun (DGa); 18 at Burloak Waterfront Park [HL] at Merrick Field, Dundas Valley 5 Jun 10 Jun (GPr); 20 at Water St, Cambridge 29 Jun (JH); 24 at Kelso L (RD); one at Iroquoia Heights C.A. C.A. [HL] 13 Jul (DP,PQ); 20 at Erindale Park [PL] 20 Jul (MJo); [HM] 18 Aug F (LT); one at Shaleback 40 over Harrisburg rail trail [HM] 9 Aug F (BL); 11 at Cainsville Hollow Park [PL] 22 Aug (PH); one at sewage ponds [BR] 16 Aug (MH). Woodland Cemetery 25 Aug (RD); one Olive-sided Flycatcher Barn Swallow: 75 at Bronte Harbour 29 Jul (MJ) and 70 there 20 at Rattray Marsh [PL] 25 Aug (PL); one at Iroquoia Heights C.A. Aug (MJ); 100 at Windermere Basin 21 Aug (RD,CE). at Lakeshore Rd, Oakville 26 Aug (JWa); - 18 August 2020 - photo [HD] Doug Ward. Tufted Titmouse#: One at York 12 Jun (RL); one at Ruthven one at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 26 Aug Park [HD] 20 Jun (RL); one at Headwaters Trail, Dundas valley (JMe,MMe); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 27 Aug (RW); one at River 28 Jun (MGr,SJ); one at Paddy Green Rd trails, Dundas Valley 1 & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 28-30 Aug (BO) with two there 31 Jul (MGr,SJ); two at Gilkison Flats, Brantford 3 Jul (KG,SL); one at Aug (LT,BO). Kincardine Ave, Caledonia [HD] 8 Jul (SG); three at River Rd, S of Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: One at Shoreacres Park [HL] 3 Jun Indiana Rd [HD] 4 Aug (EG); one at Mineral Springs Trail, Dundas (BC); two at Rattray Marsh [PL] 4 Jun L (EO); one at Edgelake Valley 25 Aug (JL); one at Cootes Paradise 30 Aug (MM,SCa); two Park [HL] 19 Aug F (RW,RD,CE); one at Shaleback Hollow Park at Beach Rd, Brantford 31 Aug (BL). [PL] 20 Aug (PH). Red-breasted Nuthatch: One at Margaret Ave, Stoney Creek 8 Acadian Flycatcher#: One SM at Robertson Tract [HL] 18 Jul Aug F (RW); two at Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail, W of Jerseyville (RP); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 19 Aug (RD,RW,CE). Rd [BR] 16 Aug (BL et al.); 10 at Falkirk West Park [HM] 25 Aug Least Flycatcher: One at Tom Longboat Trail, Brantford 23 Jun (IFe); 12 at Woodland Cemetery 26 Aug (MM,RD). (BL); one at Oak Park Rd at trailhead, Brantford 2 Jul (BC,BL); one Marsh Wren#: 31 SM (canoe census) at Cootes Paradise 5 Jun at Fifty Point C.A. 6 Aug F (HA); five at Woodland Cemetery 18 (DMo), 37 SM there 16 Jun (DMo) and 47 there (including 43 SM) Aug (RD). 14 Jul (DMo); one at Frank Tract [HL] 6 Jun (YS); six SM at Van Blue-headed Vireo: One at Arkell Springs Loop [WL] 14 Jun (RvT). Wagners Marsh 7 Jun (RD,CE); six at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 7 Red-eyed Vireo: Fifteen at Woodland Cemetery 26 Aug (MM,RD). Jun (GM); three at Rattray Marsh [PL] 7 Jun (MK); one at Bronte Philadelphia Vireo: Five at Woodland Cemetery 27 Aug F (AMa) Marsh [HL] 8 Jun (MJ); one at St. George Rd, N of Howell Rd [BR] and five there 28 Aug (MM); four at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville 8 Jun (JV); three at Safari Rd Marsh [HM] 16 Jun (BCo,CBe); one [HL] 28 Aug (BO). at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 17 Jun (DE); one at Erindale Park [PL] 29 Jun (PL); 15 at Cootes Paradise 1 Jul (EC); four at Valens C.A. Purple Martin: Seven at 10th Rd East [HM] 1 Jun (BCo); 14 at [HM] 1 Jul (RK); three at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 1 Jul (JRo); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 20 Jun (RL); 12 at Oak Gables Golf Course, Cedar Haven Eco-Centre, Hwy 97 [HM] 3 Jul (LS); two at Bruce Ancaster 20 Jun (FS); seven at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 22 Jun Trail at Scotch Block [HL] 12 Jul (DWe); three at Kerncliff Park (BC); two at Olympic Park, Dundas 19 Jul (LT); one over Scarfe [HL] 15 Jul (JSe); two at Cowan’s Lake [WT] 24 Jul (AZ); one at Ave, Brantford 4 Aug F (BL); 10 at Ridge Rd Winery [HM] 8 Aug Powerline Rd SWP, Paris 3 Aug (BL); one at New Credit sewage (CE,RD); 10 at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 9 Aug (RP); five over Sunrise ponds [BR] 23 Aug (MH); one at Christie C.A. at Middletown Rd Cres, Dundas 11 Aug (RD); 10 at Devils Punch Bowl C.A. [HM] 11 [HM] 30 Aug (MF/JWM). Aug (JL); 20 over Glen Morris Rd Pond [BR] 15 Aug (BJu); four at New Credit sewage ponds [BR] 23 Aug (MH); 45 over St George Sedge Wren#: One at Springbank [BR] 28 Aug (JL); 32 over Mohawk Lake, Brantford 28 Aug (BL). Park [PL] 2-4 Jun (RM,m.obs.). Tree Swallow: 50 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 15 Jun (LG) and 50 Carolina Wren: One at Scotch there 16 Jul (LT); 72 at Windermere Basin 23 Jun (JPic), 80 there Block at Bruce Trail [HL] 18 Jul 12 Jul (MN et al.) and 50 there 3 (DWe). Aug (MM,SCa); 49 at Valens C.A. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: One at [HM] 1 Jul (RK); 35 at Powerline Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 31 Jul F Sedge Wren at Springbank Park, Rd SWP, Paris 11 Jul (BL); 120 at (RD); six at Woodland Cemetery Peel - 4 June 2020 - photo Jim Watt. Cootes Paradise 14 Jul (DMo); 110 18 Aug (AMa,CE,RD). on Grand River at Caledonia [HD] Golden-crowned Kinglet: One at Silver Creek ravine, Brantford 29 Jul (JPic); 100 at Glen Morris Rd 1 Jun L (NR); one at Starkey Hill Trail, Arkell [WL] 10 Jun (MBe); Pond [BR] 5 Aug (JH). three at Arkell Springs Loop Trail [WL] 15 Jun (JSip); two SM at Lafarge Trail, N of 8th Conc. [HM] 16 Jun (CE,RD); two at Patterson Northern Rough-winged Northern Rough-winged Swallow: 25 at Windermere Basin Swallow at Cootes Paradise Tract [HM] 25 Jun (BL); two at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 26 Aug (WK). 21 Jul (RW); 28 at Cainsville sewage - 1 June 2020 - photo Peter Ruby-crowned Kinglet#: One at Guelph Arboretum 3-6 Jun L (JLi/CCo). Thoem. ponds [BR] 26 Jul (MH). Veery: One at Sheldon Creek Trail [HL] 22 Aug F (MG); one at Bank Swallow: 30 at Powerline Rd SWP, Paris 3 Jun (SL,BL), 47 Edgelake Park [HM] 26 Aug (JMe,MMe).

THE WOOD DUCK 91 Swainson’s Thrush: One at Arkendo Park [HL] 3 Jun L (EO); one at Currie Tract [HL] 21 Jun (MW); two SM at Mineral Springs over Brantford (NFC) 3 Jun L (BL,SL); one at Edgelake Park [HM] Trail, Dundas Valley 27 Jun (JL); one at Nassagaweya-Esquesing 20 Aug F (RW); two over Brantford (NFC) 20 Aug F (MH); four at Townline Trail [HL] 28 Jun (RP); one at Speyside Resource Mgmt River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 26 Aug (BO). Area [HL] 28 Jun (THo); one at Bruce Trail – Adam Dopko side Hermit Thrush#: One SM at Robertson Tract 17 Jun ** (WK); trail [NG] 5 Jul (JM); one at Bruce Trail and Fifty Rd[HM] 19 Jul one SM at Little Tract, Puslinch 22 Jun ** (MC). (MW,RW); two at Hilton Falls C.A. 23 Jul (MN). Cedar Waxwing: 145 past Woodland Cemetery 25 Aug (RD). American Redstart: One at 40 Mile Creek Park, Grimsby 4 Jun L Purple Finch: One at Waterdown yard [HM] 9 Jun (TT); one (CEs); three at Iroquoia Heights C.A. [HM] 18 Aug F (LT); three at at Shell Park [HL] 11 Jun (BJ,VM); one f. and fledged yg. at NE Woodland Cemetery 18 Aug F (RD,CE,AMa). Flamborough feeder 17 Jun (JBl) and one m. and Brown-headed Cape May Warbler: Nine at Woodland Cemetery 18 Aug F Cowbird fledgling there 29 Jun (JBl); one over Carolina Park, (CE,RD,AMa) and 12 there 26 Aug (MM). Brantford 31 Jul F (BL) and one there 12 Aug (BL). Cerulean Warbler#: One at Currie Tract [HL] 20 Jun (LF et al.). Chipping Sparrow: 20 at Woodland Cemetery 26 Aug (RD,MM). Northern Parula: One at Confederation Park [HM] 24 Aug F Clay-colored Sparrow#: One at 2077 Lower Baseline Rd [HL] 1 (RPo); one at Woodland Cemetery 27 Aug (AMa). Jun (PBu); two at Dragonfly Park Hills, Guelph 1 Jun (MC); one at Magnolia Warbler: One at South Shell Park [HL] 2 Jun L (MJ); hayfield at 1467 Valens Rd[HM] 9 Jun (RK); two at Arkell Springs one at Bronte Harbour 2 Jun L (MJ); one at Westwood Cres, Loop Trail [WL] 14 Jun (RvT); three at hydro corridor, N of 6th Cambridge 15 Aug F (RO). Conc, Flamborough 9 Jun (BCo,CBe); two in Perched Fen area, Bay-breasted Warbler: One at Woodland Cemetery 18 Aug F Brantford 19 Jun (ACi); one at Brant C.A., Brantford 21 Jun (AZ); (CE,AMa,RD) and 10 there 26 Aug (RD,MM); one at Iroquoia one at Victoria Rd, E of golf club [WL] 27 Jun (FS); one at Puslinch Heights C.A. [HM] 18 Aug F (LT). Sideroad 10 N [WL] 16 Aug (RH). Blackburnian Warbler: One at Rattray Marsh [PL] 5 Jun (GL); Grasshopper Sparrow: Eight SM at Westover drumlin [HM] 19 one at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 10 Jun L ## (CBu); one at Jun (RD). Robertson Tract 14 Jun ** (RP) and two SM there 25 Jun (RP); White-throated Sparrow: One at Windermere Basin 10 Jun L seven at Iroquoia Heights C.A. [HM] 18 Aug F (LT); five at

(MN); one at Spencer Creek Trail [HM] 17 Aug F (RV); one at Van Woodland Cemetery 18 Aug F (AMa,RD,CE); one at Westdale Wagners Beach 20 Aug (KMi). Ravine 18 Aug F (BWy). Bobolink: 25 at S Grimsby Rd, S of Chestnut-sided Warbler: One at Hillcrest Park [HM] 4 Jun L Mud St [NG] 12 Jun (LT); one over (RPo); three at Iroquoia Heights C.A. [HM] 18 Aug F (LT). St. George [BR] 12 Aug F (JL); eight Blackpoll Warbler: One at Beverly Swamp C.A. [HM] 6 Jun at Valens C.A. [HM] 20 Aug (JL); 25 at (TH,KHo); one at Stoney Creek 9 Jun L (RW); one at Falkirk West Lowville Park [HL] 26 Aug (BO). Park [HM] 30 Aug F {photo} (IFe). Baltimore Oriole: [HD] Bobolink at Grass Lake, 22 at York 12 18 June 2020 - photo Tony Black-throated Green Warbler: One at Iroquoia Heights C.A. Aug (RL) and 11 there 21 Aug (RL); 10 Zammit. [HM] 19 Aug F (LT). at Woodland Cemetery 18 Aug (CE,AMa,RD). Black-throated Blue Warbler: One at Rhododendron Gardens Orchard Oriole: Ten at Oxbow Rd [BR] 7 Aug (BL); 11 at York [HD] [PL] 3 Jun L (PL); three SM at Mahon Tract [HL] 10 Jun (MSe); 8 Aug (RL); one at Green Lane Lafarge pit, Paris 26 Aug L (MH). one at Curie Tract [HL] 20 Jun (LF et al.); one at Westdale Ravine Ovenbird: One at Rattray Marsh [PL] 8 Jun L (EO); one at 18 Aug F (BWy); one at Falkirk West Park [HM] 26 Aug (IFe); Iroquoia Heights C.A. [HM] 18 Aug F (LT). one at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 26 Aug (LT,BO); one at Northern Waterthrush: One at Glen Morris Rd Pond [BR] Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 26 Aug (WK). 4 Aug F {photo} (EH,JH); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 19 Aug Yellow-rumped Warbler: Two at Smith Property Loop [WL] 16 (RW,RD,CE). Jun (ACa) and six there 25 Jul (MC); one at Erindale Park [PL] 19 Blue-winged Warbler: One at Woodland Cemetery 21 Aug F Aug F (PL). (SCa,MM). Canada Warbler: One Black-and-white Warbler: One at 40 Mile Creek Park, Grimsby at Sheldon Creek Trail 4 Jun L (CEs); four at Woodland Cemetery 18 Aug F (RD); three [HL] 7 Jun L (MJ); two at Iroquoia Heights C.A. [HM] 18 Aug F (LT); one at Caledonia at Iroquoia Heights C.A. [HD] 18 Aug F (KBl); one at Beachway Park, Burlington 18 Aug F [HM] 18 Aug F (LT); one (MBer); one at Erindale Park [PL] 18 Aug F (VP). at Westdale Ravine 18 Tennessee Warbler: One at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 13 Aug F (BWy). Aug F (RBe). Wilson’s Warbler: Canada Warbler at S.C. Johnson Trail at One at Martin Rd Trail, Powerline Rd, Brant -19 August 2020 - Nashville Warbler: One at Woodland Cemetery 29 Aug F (SCa). photo George Sims. Mourning Warbler: One at Howell Rd, St George [BR] 2 Jun L Dundas Valley 3 Jun L (JN); one at Windermere Basin 19 Aug F (KMi). (SJ,MGr); one at Dundas 5 Aug F ** (DMo); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 19 Aug (RW). Common Yellowthroat: One at Burloak Waterfront Park [HL] 3 Jun L (BC). Scarlet Tanager: One at Pinedale Ave, Burlington 25 Aug F (BC). Hooded Warbler#: Two SM at Mahon Tract [HL] 6 Jun (RP); one Rose-breasted Grosbeak: Two at Edgelake Park [HM] 28 Aug F at Kelso C.A. [HL] 8 Jun (CEl); one at Crawford Lake C.A. [HL] (RW). 16 Jun (CEl); one at Turner Tract [HL] 21 Jun (MW); three SM Indigo Bunting: One at Sunrise Cres, Dundas 27 Aug F (RD).

92 DECEMBER 2020 HNC letter to NEC re Columbia College application to amend NEP Re: Niagara Escarpment Plan Amendment Application - 574 Northcliffe Avenue, Dundas

On behalf of the 600-member Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, we are writing to advise you that we do not support the application by Columbia College for a site-specific policy amendment to allow conversion of the former Sisters of St. Joseph Convent at 574 Northcliffe Avenue to a high school with up to 1,000 students, with the addition of a gymnasium with a capacity of 1,300 people.

We share the concerns expressed by a growing number of Dundas residents, who believe the project is much too large for this environmentally sensitive area. There will almost certainly be detrimental consequences for the ecology and the community if a project of this size is approved.

The area in question is an ecological and wildlife corridor between the Niagara Escarpment and Cootes Paradise. As noted in the initial Niagara Escarpment Commission staff report, the valley lands along the western border of the site are designated Escarpment Natural area, the most sensitive resources of the Escarpment. Key natural features on the property include wet- lands, significant woodlands and significant valleylands. The lands in question are in the vicinity of several Niagara Escarp- ment Parks and Open Space System parks, including Pleasant View and Cootes Paradise.

The HNC places much importance on the value of this sensitive area, as our 46-acre Cartwright Nature Sanctuary is within Pleasant View. This year, we were delighted to add the 53-acre Sheelah Dunn Dooley Nature Sanctuary in Pleasant View to our sanctuaries. This new sanctuary, considered among the priority acquisitions in the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System (www.cootestoescarpmentpark.ca), will strengthen our efforts to protect the area from large projects that are best directed to areas more compatible with urban development.

In our view, the parks and open spaces in this vicinity have provided invaluable opportunities for citizens to enjoy unspoiled nature just minutes from the city. Wildlife corridors provide diverse habitat for many species including White-tailed Deer, Coyote and Wild Turkey, in addition to rare species of wildflowers including a large colony of American Columbo.

The Cartwright Sanctuary features a well-established forest community. It is also an important groundwater discharge area, feeding streams such as Hickory Brook that flow into Cootes Paradise. Our HNC stewardship activities have included ecolog- ical inventories, breeding bird surveys and invasive species control.

Preservation of the natural resources in this area is essential to ensuring that the Ontario government will protect the Niagara Escarpment from excessive development to the benefit of present and future generations. In our view, a project on the scale proposed is incompatible with sustainable best practices to preserve and enhance the Niagara Escarpment and the Greenbelt.

The proposed development also would entail much-increased car and school bus traffic on York Road. This significant- in crease in traffic would not only raise safety issues, it would also increase habitat fragmentation, believed by many researchers to have by far the greatest detrimental impact of all impacts on nature. We also have concerns that a considerable expansion of the septic system would be required. The site drains toward the Long Pond on the property of the Royal Botanical Gardens.

In conclusion, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club cannot support the Columbia College application and we urge the NEC to reject it as inconsistent with the goals of the Niagara Escarpment Plan and the Greenbelt.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Chris Motherwell, Gord McNulty President, Conservation & Education Director Hamilton Naturalists’ Club Hamilton Naturalists’ Club Protecting Nature Since 1919 Protecting Nature Since 1919

THE WOOD DUCK 93 The Throwback | 1966

1966 Audubon Wildlife Films (Screen Tours) pamphlet. From 1947 until 1974, the HNC in partnership with the RBG, co- sponsored the touring Audubon Wildlife Films in Hamilton.

94 DECEMBER 2020 Restoration Work at Short Hills by CAROLYN ZANCHETTA AND JEN BAKER

SHORT HILLS NATURE SANCTUARY has been the focus of sanctuary. Oaks, cherries, maples, pines, tulip trees, and more a lot of land management this year. This gem within the will reclaim these footprints. The area will be monitored Fonthill Kame Moraine is a unique old growth Carolinian over the next three years to gauge its success. Along with the forest filled with Tulip Trees, oaks, and beeches. Its 42 acres saplings that have been able to take advantage of the open are a key component of the North Pelham Valley Area of space and the existing sumacs and towering trees, we hope Natural and Scientific Interest. these new plantings will be able to grow and shade out less A defunct Ontario Hydro desirable species that will also take advantage of the new corridor runs through the sunlight reaching the forest floor, including Garlic Mustard. property. Hydro One needed Nearby, a mature Cucumber Magnolia drops its seed pods, to remove these towers all and perhaps with a bit of sun we might see some new growth. across the corridor as they This planting is combined with continued invasive species could become hazardous management efforts. over time with eventual The interior of this nature sanctuary is a beautiful rolling disrepair. After discussions Carolinian forest, but it requires some effort to maintain with the HNC, it was this ecosystem. At the periphery, invasive species threaten arranged for Hydro One to creep in and disrupt the to remove the three metal balance. A lot of work has towers from Short Hills been done over the past few in February 2020. It was years to manage buckthorn, an impressive effort by honeysuckle, privet, Norway Helicopter tower removal. Hydro One staff, requiring Maple, and other species. the clearing of wild grape Smaller plants are pulled out growing up the towers and shrubby vegetation that had of the ground by hand or by grown in. Helicopters were needed to lift out the large pieces using Extractigators, and of metal, rather than driving trucks in and risking greater larger stems are girdled. In damage to the forest. Left behind in the wake of the towers select areas, these plants are was a tangle of cut grape, blackberry, Multiflora Rose, and cut and treated chemically. shrubby sumacs. This was a disturbed area where large trees This work continued through Putting up deer exclosure couldn’t be allowed to grow while part of the hydro corridor. 2020, building on years of fencing. management helping to keep invasives out of the interior. It is important to manage these invasives as they will out- compete our native species and form a monoculture, threatening the biodiversity of this sanctuary that is home to many species at risk. It takes time to truly contain these threats, but the effects are already being seen at Short Hills. A big team has been involved to make this unique project happen. Thanks to Hydro One for removing the towers. Thanks to Kevin Kavanagh and his team from South Coast Gardens for leading the tree planting and Dana Boyter for his help planting and watering the new trees. Thanks to the View of area from helicopter. fencing team who installed fencing around the trees to protect Since the towers were removed, Tulip Tree and Sassafras them from deer: Rob Baker, Jocelyn Neysmith, Warren saplings have been popping up, which is much more Beacham, John McAuley, Jason Hindle, and James Byrne. desirable than the Garlic Mustard and abundant bramble We are grateful to all volunteers who help with invasives that have previously laid claim to the disturbed patches. John management, here and at other HNC locations, chipping Fischer helped to clean up this area by clearing thick stands away at these species one stem at a time. There is a lot of work of bramble, opening it up to new growth. To help restore the to do, and we are always looking for more help! For more areas in the footprint of the three hydro towers, 100 native information or to get involved in the future, get in touch with trees and shrubs were planted in the summer of 2020. They Jen at [email protected]. were selected based on the existing plant community in the YOU CAN HELP PROTECT THE NATURAL WORLD

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