TORONTO FIELD NATURALIST Number 373, September 1985 COVER TO COVER: PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2 - UPCOMING OUTINGS 3 - JUNIOR CLUB REPORT 5 - ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT 6 - FROM THE SECRETARY-TREASURER 7 - KEEPING IN TOUCH 8 - OUTINGS REPORT 9 - TFN LIBRARY REPORT 10 - NATURAL RESOURCES PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE 11 - TORONTO REGION BIRD RECORDS 12 - FOR READING 18 - POEM 19 - ISSUES 20 - LESLIE STREET SPIT INFORMATION SOURCES 22 - WILD PLANTS UNSUITABLE FOR TRANSPLANTING 24 - WILDFLOWER GARDENING BOOKS 25 - TFN BOARD OF DIRECTORS 25 - BEECH TRZE SPRING 26 - BIRD REPORT APPRECIATION 27 - SPECIES OF THE SPIT 27 - IN THE NEWS 28 - A VICTORY FOR THE ESCARPMENT 32 - THIS MONTH'S COVER 33 - PROJECTS 33 - REPORTS 36 - CONCERN FOR NATURAL ENVIROtTMENT GROWS 37 - STORAGE SPACE NEEDED 37 - MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF TOROHTO 37 - THE WEATHER THIS TIME LAST YEAR 38 - IN CASE YOU WONDERED 38 - COMING EVENTS 39 - WINTER COURSES 40 - FAR-AWAY PLACES 40 - TFN MEETINGS 41 TFN 373 President's Report One morning I had occasion to go to the Cabin in Sunnybrook Park. I went early, by bicycle, and found myself uttering paeans for this marvellous park. It was calm and still, grass and leaves sparkled with dew and the air was sweet and fresh . Robins flew up as I passed by (have you noticed how many robins there are this year?), "gray" squirrels hopped across the grass and a little red squirrel scampered out of my way to the safety of a tree. The MTRCA has completed and published Phase 1 of the Aquatic Park Master Plan which is a survey of Tommy Thompson Park (a new sign is at the entrance) with plans and options for development. We wrote in response reiterating that we would like to see the park left to develop naturally, that private cars be prohibited and suggesting that, if a marina is developed, as the Harbour Commission has proposed, it be at the north end with all the "businesses" on Harbour Commission lands, on the adjacent mainland. Although Toronto City Council voted against it, the Toronto Harbour Commission which has jurisdiction over the harbour decided to ignore the wishes of Council and it went ahead with the hydroplane races. Noise at certain points in Tommy Thompson Park was deafening; noise could be heard by members living up to two miles away. We have loaned to the Black Creek Project {see page 36) our file of outings reports which they will use to fill out their habitat survey of the valley. We have accumulated a large store of information and when we can share it in this way our standing as a source for environmental and ecological information is enhanced. A group, "Friends of the Valley" has been formed to exert pressure for preserving the brickyard lands as parkland. The existing use as a brickyard is permitted but a rezoning is necessary for any other use. Much of the Don Valley is zoned "conservation", but the owners of the site are filling the pit and are pressing for a rezoning to residential/commercial. East York has suggested "Urban Valley" which would permit some sort of urbanization. The TFN made a presentation at a public meeting attended by several hundred people. (see page 37) We had displays in three places this summer: one at Scarborough Town Centre, just before World Environment Week, another at Toronto City Hall where enlarged prints of many of our slides were mounted on panels, captioned and related to older maps of Toronto, and the third at the Scott Mission, pictures of nature . for children. As there were no nominations received from the membership, the nominees listed in the May Newsletter will be elected by acclamation at the September Annual Meeting. I wish to thank Billie Bridgman and James H~dgins who are retiring this year, and the new members who have agreed to serve: Tom Atkinson and Eva Davis. Karin Fawthrop will complete the term of Ann Reynolds, and Robin Powell will serve a second three-year term. Without dedicated people willing to commit time and effort, we could not function. Thanks also to the board members whose terms are continuing. Jean Macdonald (425- 6596) 2 TFN 373 Upcoming TFN OUTINGS - RAIN Everybody Welcome! SEPTEMBER Bird migration is well underway by now and almost anything is possible~ Remember in fall cold air triggers movement and warm air halts it, Hawks, as well as large flocks of blue jays, tend to move westward along the lakeshore. Mudflats, wet fields and shorelines should be checked over carefully for shorebirds. Marshes will yield herons and dabbling ducks while the lake can be productive for gulls, terns and early returning grebes and diving ducks. Look for a good mushroom crop if the first cool days of fall are accompanied by rains. This could be a perfect opportunity to buy a good field guide such as Orson K. Miller Jr.'s MUSHROOMS OF NORTH AMERICA and get some practice at mushroom identification. The field trip on September 14 would be an excellent introduction. Even if you're not overly interested in learning about them.you will probably enjoy just observing the incredible varieties of shapes and colours which make up this fascinating kingdom. Everyone, I'm sure, has seen woolly bear caterpillars. They're the furry ones -- black at each end and red-brown in the middle. These insects are most con­ spicuous in the fall (September and October) as they cross roads and paths in search of good overwintering spots. The woolly bear is actually a species of tiger moth (Isia isabella) so named because many have bold patterns of stripes on their wings. Larvae of the tiger moth family (Arctiidae) are about the only caterpillars common in fall that are large and covered with long hairs. It may be interesting to see how many different types of tiger moth caterpillars you can spot on your next fall outing. Consult A GUIDE TO OBSERVING INSECT LIVES by Donald W. Stokes for help in identification, While we're on the subject of lepidoptera don't forget to watch for monarch butterflies migrating along the lakeshore. Phil Joiner {i) DARK OF THE MOON (Sept. 14) Q FULL MOON (Sept. 29) All outings are within Metro Toronto and accessible by public transit unless indicated otherwise. (Remember TTC RIDE GUIDES are free at subway stations.) (Call 484-4544 TTC if you're not sure how to get to ~of our outings.) For other outings and events of interest this month, see pages 39 to 41. Sunday Lambton Woods - BIRDS Humber, !tobicoke Sept. 1 Leader: Ilmar Talvila 11 am Meet at the park entrance on Edenbridge Drive east of Royal York Road (halfway between Dundas Street West and Eglinton Avenue West). Bring lunch. Monday Central Toronto - DEVIANT FLORA Toronto Sept, 2 Leaders: Aarne and Helen Juhola 2 pm Meet on the northwest corner of Dundas St. West and University Avenue. t> 3 TFN 373 Upcoming Outings (cont'd) Wednesday East Don south of Finch - NATURE WALK East Don, North York Sept, 4 Leader: Cathy Heynes 11 am Meet in the shopping plaza on the north side of Finch Avenue East halfway between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street. Bring lunch. Saturday Jim Baillie Nature Reserve - WORK DAY OUT Sept. 7 Leader: Ann Reynolds OF 10 am to Call Eva Davis (694-8928) if you want to attend. Bring lunch, 5 pm work gloves, clippers and rubber boots. Sunday Toronto Island - BIRDS Lakeshore, Toronto Sept. 8 Leader: Howard Battae 10 am Meet at the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street to take the 10 am ferry. Bring lunch and membership card. Wednesday Downsview Dells - Nature Walk Black Creek, North York Sept. 11 Leader: Elly Elder 11 am Meet at the park entrance on Sheppard Avenue West where the road crosses the creek (between Keele and Jane), Bring lunch, Saturday Edwards Gardens - SKETCHING Wilket Creek, North York Sept. 14 Leader: Geraldine Good.win 10 am Meet at the park entrance on Lawrence Avenue West just west of Leslie Street. Bring stool, sketching materials and lunch. We will be sketching late summer plant life (perhaps fungi?). 10 am Edwards Gardens and Wilket Creek - MUSHROOMS Leader: Jack Parkin of the Mycological Society Meet at the park entrance on Lawrence Avenue West just west of Leslie Street. Bring lunch. This is a joint outing with the Mycological Society of To ronto. (See page 37.) Sunday Tommy TJ:!.£:mpson Park - BIRDS Lakeshore, Toronto Sept . 15 Leader: King Baker 10 am Meet in the parking lot at the foot of Leslie Street • .A1.§.Q. Morningside Park - NATURE WALK Highland Creek, Scarboro~gh 1 pm Leaders: Gay and Phil Joiner Meet at the park entrance on the west side of Morningside Avenue about halfway between Lawrence Avenue East and Ellesmere Road. Wednesday Toronto City Hall - SKETCHING Toronto Sept. 18 Leader: Betty Romano 10:30 am Meet at the information desk on the main floor. (City Hall is on northwest corner of Bay and Queen.) Lunch optional. Bring stool, sketching material and/or cameras. Everyone welcome. Saturday High Park - FALL FLOWERS Toronto Sept. 21 Leader: Emily Hamilton 9 am Meet at the park entrance on Bloor Street West at West Road (opposite High Park Avenue). 4 TFN 373 Upcoming Outings (cont'd) Saturday Rockwood - NATURE WALK Sept. 21 Leader: Eva Davis 8:30 am Meet at the York Mills subway station to catch the 8:45 bus to Rockwood Conservation Area. Fare is $5.70 each way. Bus returns at 2:35 or 5:35. Journey takes about 1~ hours each way. Bring ~ lunch. Interesting rock formations (kettles) to observe. Entrance fee.