Fauna of the Jack Lake Watershed - January 2015 - Preface This compilation has been prepared to assemble and consolidate information on the fauna of Jack Lake and its watershed. Baseline information has been obtained from published books which delineate the distribution of various amphibians, birds, crustaceans, fishes, insects, mammals, molluscs, and reptiles. Additional information has been derived from the Jack Lake Strategic Plan, MNR records, the Ontario Herptofaunal Atlas, the Ontario breeding bird atlas, and reported observations by Jack Lake residents and members of the Peterborough Field Naturalists. I am also grateful to Drew Monkman and Bob Bowles for their assistance in providing additional information from their archives. It is hoped that this information can be used to monitor the quality of the Jack Lake ecosystem and prevent harmful alteration or destruction of habitat by land-based activities such as shoreline development and logging. Now that this baseline information is established, lake residents and visitors to Jack Lake are encouraged to report observations. It is my intent that this listing is a “living” document and I will strive to keep it updated as new information is provided to me. Steven J. Kerr Director - Environment Jack Lake Association (last updated January, 2015) Table of Contents Preface Table of Contents Maps of Jack Lake Summary of Records Fauna of the Jack Lake Watershed 1. Amphibians 2. Birds 3. Crustaceans 4. Fishes 5. Insects - Terrestrial and Aquatic 6. Mammals 7. Molluscs 8. Plankton 9. Reptiles 10. Summary References and Citations Additional Reading Appendix 1. Jack Lake Fauna at Risk Appendix 2. Species Guides and Identification Resources Appendix 3. Individuals who have contributed information and observations on Jack Lake fauna. Summary of Records Efforts to record information and observations of the fauna in the Jack Lake watershed were initiated in 2013. Since that time, volunteers have reported 1,265 sightings involving a total of 413 species. Twenty-three species designated as Species at Risk have been identified in the Jack Lake area (Table 1). Table 1. Observations of fauna from the Jack Lake watershed since 2013. # Species Documented Fauna (# Species at Risk) # Records/Sitings Amphibians 19 (0) 73 Birds 169 (14) 526 Crustaceans 5 (0) 5 Fish 20 (0) 60 Insects (Terrestrial) 109 (1) 313 Insects (Aquatic) 11 (0) 11 Mammals 46 (3) 156 Molluscs 5 (0) 6 Plankton 14 (0) 14 Reptiles 15 (5) 101 Summary 413 (23) 1,265 While the listing of some species (e.g., fishes and reptiles) may be relatively comprehensive, other groups (e.g., insects and molluscs) have not been adequately sampled and will require more intensive efforts in the future. Amphibians Species Date Observed Location Source Misc. Comments American toad Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Bufo americanus) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000), JLK (2009), Bowles (2012) August 26, 2007 Cottage parking lot in Rathbun Steven Kerr - Believed to be Bay young-of-the- year. July 9, 2008 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - Small young-of-year toad. August 29, 2008 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - Large specimen July 8, 2009 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - Small specimen. June 5, 2010 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - Observed near water’s edge. - July-August, 2011 Brooks Bay (northwest corner) Sheelagh Hysenaj - Regular visitor on dock at night. July 1, 2012 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - Small young-of-year toad. May 18, 2013 Brooks Bay (northwest corner) Sheelagh Hysenaj - Heard calling at 10:00 pm. June 2, 2013 Rathbun Bay (north shore) Steven Kerr - Small specimen observed at cottage. July 1, 2014 Rathbun Bay (north shore) Steven Kerr - October 3, 2014 Rathbun Bay (north shore) Steven Kerr - Blue spotted salamander Historic Lakewide Conant (1975), - (Ambystoma laterale) Bowles (2012) October 7, 2007 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - Speciman observed near water’s edge. May 23, 2010 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - Speciman found in moist debris. May 21, 2011 Brooks Bay Sheelagh Hysenaj - Speciman found behind cottage in leaf litter. Bullfrog Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Rana catesbeiana) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000), JLA (2009) May 22, 2011 Brooks Bay (northwest corner) Sheelagh Hysenaj - Heard calling at night. July 18, 2014 McCoy Bay wetland Amanda Smith - Eastern redbacked salamander Historic Lakewide Conant (1975), JLA - (Plethodon cinereus) (2009) Four toed salamander Historic Lakewide Conant (1975), - (Hemidactylium Oldham and Weller scutatum) (2000) Gray tree frog Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Hysa versicolor) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000), JLA (2009), Bowles (2012) May 17, 2008 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - Bright orange inside hind legs. - July 24, 2011 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - Observed on deck of boathouse. - Green frog Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Rana clamitans melanota) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000), JLA (2009), Bowles (2012) September 1, 2007 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - July 8, 2008 Jack Lake outlet Steven Kerr - August, 2012 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - Large specimen. October 5, 2013 Callahan Bay wetland Bob Bowles - September 20, Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - 2014 Mink frog Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Rana septentionalis) Post 1982 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000) Mudpuppy Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Necturus maculosus) Northern leopard frog Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Rana pipiens) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000) September 1, 2007 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - April 26, 2011 Not recorded Bob Bowles, Neill - Lanz and Denyse Martial July 24, 2012 Rathbun Bay Steven Kerr - Speciman observed near water’s edge. October 5, 2013 Callahan Bay wetland Bob Bowles - October 14, 2014 Forest Glen Marina Neill Lanz and - Steven Kerr Northern redback salamander Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Plethodon cinereus) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000) April 26, 2011 Not recorded Bob Bowles, Neill - Lanz and Denyse Martial Pickerel frog Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Rana palustris) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000) Red spotted newt Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Notophthalmus viridiscens) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000) Spotted salamander Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Ambystoma maculatum) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000), JLA (2009), Bowles (2012) April 26, 2011 Finger Bay Bob Bowles, Neill - Egg masses and Lanz and Denyse adults were Martial observed. April 27, 2011 Little Jack Lake trail Bob Bowles, Neill - Two dead Lanz, Denyse specimens Martial and Ruth observed. They had Pezzack been run over by ATVs in a vernal pool. Spring peeper Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Pseudacris crucifer) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000), JLA (2009), Bowles (2012) Historic McCoy Bay road Sheelagh Hysenaj - Heard many at night in small ponds during the spring. April 26-27, 2011 Finger Bay Bob Bowles, Neill - Approximately 100 Lanz and Denyse peepers calling. Martial May 22, 2011 Brooks Bay (northwest corner) Sheelagh Hysenaj - May 4-5, 2013 Brooks Bay (northwest corner) Sheelagh Hysenaj - More than twenty frogs heard calling at night. - Still calling on May 18. October 5, 2013 Callahan Bay wetland Bob Bowles - Striped chorus frog Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Pseudacris triseriata) Two lined salamander Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Eurycea bislineata) Western chorus frog Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Pseudacris triseriata) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000) April 26-27, 2011 Not recorded Bob Bowles, Neill - Approximately 50 Lanz and Denyse frogs calling. Martial Wood frog Historic Lakewide Conant (1975) - (Rana sylvatica) Post 1983 Lakewide Oldham and Weller - (2000), JLA (2009), Bowles (2012) April 26-27, 2011 Finger Bay Bob Bowles, Neill - Frogs were heard Lanz and Denyse and seen. Martial - Egg masses observed. - Approximately 20 frogs calling May 4-5, 2013 Brooks Bay (northwest corner) Sheelagh Hysenaj - Several frogs heard calling at night. - Still calling on May 18. October 5, 2013 Callahan Bay wetland Bob Bowles - Birds Species Date Observed Location Source Misc. Comments Acadian flycatcher Historic Lakewide Hysenaj (2009), - Designated as a (Empidomax virescens) JLA (2010) Species at Risk (Endangered). Alder flycatcher Historic Lakewide Peterson (1947), - (Empidonax traillii traillii) JLA (2010) American bittern Historic Lakewide Peterson (1947), - (Botaurus lentiginosus) JLA (2009, 2010) July 6, 2010 Brooks Bay (southwest corner) Sheelagh Hysenaj - Saw the bird twice in the wetland next to the Court’s cottage. May 4-5, 2013 Brooks Bay (northwest corner) Sheelagh Hysenaj - Bird was heard calling. American crow Historic Lakewide Peterson (1947), - (Corvus brachyhynchos) JLA (2010), Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas January 4, 2009 Western portion of lake 2008-09 Christmas - Two birds were Bird Count observed. April 26, 2011 Not recorded Bob Bowles, Neill - Lanz and Denyse Martial December 22, 2012 Unknown Jones (2013) - Eight birds observed during the 2012-13 Petroglyphs Christmas bird count. January 2, 2012 West side of lake 2011-12 Christmas - Five birds were Bird Count observed. September 19, 2014 Sharpe Bay (southwest) Steven Kerr - December 27, 2014 Area south of lake Parker (2015) - Seven birds observed during the 2014-15 Petroglyphs Christmas bird count. Not recorded East Bay (Kodak Island) Hugh Spence - American egret Not recorded End of Redmond Bay Sheelagh Hysenaj - (Casmerodius albus egretta) American goldfinch Historic Lakewide JLA (2010) - (Carduelis tristis) January 4, 2009