Number 604 May 2014 Showy lady`s slipper, Cypridpedium reginae, photographed by Lynn Pady near Brampton REGULARS FEATURES Coming Events 25 Summer Skies 15 Extracts from Outings Reports 14 For Reading 16 Toronto Wildflowers: Bellwort and Clintonia 17 Keeping in Touch 21 Toronto Zoo and Freshwater Mussels 18 3 Monthly Meetings Notice The Stinkhorns 19 Monthly Meeting Report 13 Monarchs and Bumblebees 20 President’s Report 12 TFN Grant Reports 22 TFN Outings 4 Nominating Committee Report 23 Weather – This Time Last Year 24 M E M B E R S H I P R E N E W A L 27 TFN 604-2 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist is published by the Toronto Field BOARD OF DIRECTORS Naturalists, a charitable, non-profit organization, the aims of President & Outings Margaret McRae which are to stimulate public interest in natural history and Past President Bob Kortright to encourage the preservation of our natural heritage. Issued Vice President & monthly September to December and February to May. Monthly Lectures Nancy Dengler Views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those Secretary-Treasurer Charles Crawford of the editor or Toronto Field Naturalists. The Newsletter is printed on 100% recycled paper. Communications Alexander Cappell Membership & Newsletter Judy Marshall ISSN 0820-636X Newsletter Vivienne Denton Monthly Lectures Lavinia Mohr IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER! Nature Reserves & Outings Charles Bruce- We welcome contributions of original writing of observa- Thompson tions on nature in and around Toronto (up to 500 words). Outreach Stephen Kamnitzer We also welcome reports, reviews, poems, sketches, paint- Webmaster Lynn Miller ings and digital photographs. Please include “Newsletter” Anne Powell in the subject line when sending by email, or on the enve- lope if sent by mail. MEMBERSHIP FEES Please re-name digital photographs with the subject and $20 YOUTH (under 26) your name (abbreviations ok); scale your photos to less than $30 SENIOR SINGLE (65+) 200kB each. In the accompanying email include location, $40 SINGLE, SENIOR FAMILY (2 adults, 65+) date and any interesting story or other information associat- $50 FAMILY (2 adults – same address, children included) ed with the photograph. Deadline for submissions for September issue, July 31 No HST. Tax receipts issued for donations. Send membership fees and address changes to the TFN office. NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE Jenny Bull (co-editor), Vivienne Denton, Karin Fawthrop, Toronto Field Naturalists 1519-2 Carlton St, Toronto M5B 1J3 Nancy Fredenburg, Elisabeth Gladstone, Judy Marshall, Ruth Munson, Toshi Oikawa, Wendy Rothwell (co-editor). Tel: 416-593-2656 Web: www.torontofieldnaturalists.org Printing and mailing: Perkins Services Inc. Email: [email protected] This is the last issue of the newsletter before the summer break. The next issue will be in September. The Editors would like to thank members of the Editorial Committee for all their hard work over the last year proof-reading the newsletter – especially the Outings! Thanks as well to members and others who have contributed their words and pictures. Please continue to send your nature observations, opinions and adventures. While you are out enjoying nature during the summer, please remember to send us your photos or drawings. See you on the trail! Jenny Bull and Wendy Rothwell Bee on sunflower in High Park. Photo: Wendy Rothwell May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-3 TFN MEETING Sunday, May 4, 2014 2:30 pm Sand Dune Conservation Geoff Peach, co-founder of the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation, will explore sand dune ecology and management VISITORS WELCOME! SOCIAL: 2:00 – 2:30 pm Room 003, Northrop Frye Hall, 73 Queen's Park Cres East Immediately southeast of Emmanuel College, south of the Museum subway station exit on the east side of Queen’s Park. Enter on either the west or north side of the building. The west entrance is wheelchair accessible. For information: call 416-593-2656 up to noon on the Friday preceding the lecture. TFN Lectures 2014 - 2015 Sept 7 Migration in a Changing World: A Bird’s Eye View of Geolocator Tracking Bridget Stutchbury, Conservation Biology Professor, York U Oct 5 Designing Toronto’s Open Spaces James Brown & Kim Storey, Brown & Storey Architects Nov 2 Origin of Modern Ecosystems Jean-Bernard Caron, ROM Paleontologist Dec 7 What is Happening with Monarch Butterflies? Donald Davis, Citizen Scientist Feb 1 Mosses, Moose’s & Mycorrhizas Terry Carleton, Forest Ecology Professor, U of T Mar 1 What the *#&! is a Bioblitz Shawn Blackburn, Programs Coordinator, Toronto Zoo Apr 12 Climate Change, Bees & Flowering Plants James Thomson & Sheila Colla, Conservation Biologists, U of T May 3 Toronto’s Urban Forests Janet McKay, Executive Director, LEAF TFN 604-4 Toronto Field Naturalist May 2014 TFN OUTINGS TFN events are conducted by unpaid volunteers. The club assumes no responsibility for injuries sustained by anyone participating in our activities. Children and visitors are welcome at all TFN events. Children must be accompanied by an adult. If you plan to bring children in a stroller, be aware that there may be steps or other unsuitable terrain. Please do not bring pets. To get to outings on time, check TTC routes and schedules (www.ttc.ca or 416-393-4636). Outings go rain or shine: check the weather by calling 416-661-0123 so you will know what to wear. Wear appropriate footwear for walking on trails which may be muddy, steep or uneven. Sat EDWARDS GARDENS, TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDENS – Spring Flowers – Nature Arts May 3 Leader: Audrey Campbell 10:00 am Meet near the parking lot entrance to Toronto Botanical Gardens. Bring what you need for sketching, writing or photography. You may choose to sketch in the TBG area as there are steep stairs in Edwards Gardens. Bring or buy lunch. Bring any work you wish to share with the group after lunch. + Sat WILKET CREEK PARK – Trilliums and Spring Nature May 3 Leader: Mary Taylor 1:30 pm Meet at the northwest corner of Eglinton Ave E and Leslie St. This area features an impressive population of white trilliums and other spring wildflowers, and is also an interesting area for migrating birds. Sun LECTURE – Sand Dunes Conservation May 4 Speaker: Geoff Peach, co-founder of the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation 2:30 pm Room 003, Northrop Frye Hall, 73 Queen’s Park Cres E. See page 3. + Sun EIGHTH ANNUAL JANE JACOBS WALK – Evening Ramble May 4 Leaders: Pleasance Crawford and Helen Juhola 6:45 pm Meet at the north end of Glencairn subway station on the south side of Glencairn Ave. Walk includes neighbour- hoods near Allen Rd, Ben Nobleman Park, Everden Rd and Cedarvale Park and Ravine. It ends at St Clair West subway station. Duration 2 hours. Bring binoculars. Tues ROUGE PARK – Birds and Wildflowers May 6 Leader: Orval White 2:00 pm Meet at the east end of the parking lot at the Glen Rouge Campground, 7450 Kingston Rd, 1 km east of Port Union Rd and Sheppard Ave E for a 2-3 hour loop walk. Bring binoculars. Sat EAST DON PARKLANDS – Spring Wildflower Walk May 10 Leader: Phil Goodwin 9:30 am Meet at the Second Cup on Steeles Ave E at Laureleaf Rd for a circular walk. Morning only. Sun HIGH PARK – Walk for Wildlife May 11 Leader: Roger Powley 11:00 am Meet at the entrance to High Park at Bloor St W and High Park Ave for a walk to encourage everyone to get out and enjoy nature. + Sun AGGIE'S WILDFLOWER WALK – Nature Walk (Humber Heritage Committee) May 11 Leader: Madeleine McDowell 1:30 pm Meet at Lambton House, 4066 Old Dundas St. Rediscover the world of Agnes Dunbar Moodie Fitzgibbon, daughter of Susanna Moodie and illustrator of Canadian Wildflowers (published in 1867). All of Aggie's specimens were from the Baby Point and Humber Valley area. Many of these flowers still survive in the Magwood Sanctuary. Approximately 2 hours ending at Lambton House for tea and a talk about Agnes. Thurs HIGH PARK – Birds May 15 Leader: Wendy Rothwell 8:00 am Meet at the park entrance at Bloor St W and High Park Ave. Bring binoculars. About 2 hours. May 2014 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 604-5 Sat LESLIE STREET SPIT – Birds, Insects and Plants May 17 Leader: Bob Kortright 10:00 am Meet at the park entrance at Leslie St and Unwin Ave. Bring binoculars and lunch. A joint outing with the Toronto Bruce Trail Club. Sun LAVENDER AND BLACK CREEKS – Lost Rivers Walk May 18 Leaders: Richard Anderson and friends 2:00 pm Meet at the northwest corner of Weston Rd and Gunn's Rd. A joint outing with Toronto Green Community. Mon CROTHERS WOODS – Nature Walk May 19 Leader: Margaret McRae 10:30 am Meet at the northeast corner of Beechwood Dr and O'Connor Dr for a circular walk to check out the spring wild- flowers in Crothers Woods. Some dirt trails and steep hills. No washrooms available. Tues TORONTO WATERFRONT AND GARDENS – Evening Ramble May 20 Leader: Peter Iveson 6:45 pm Meet at the northwest corner of Bathurst St and Queen's Quay beside the war memorial in Little Norway Park. Walk will conclude at the Music Garden. Thurs OLD CITY OF TORONTO May 22 Leader: Linda McCaffrey 10:00 am Meet at St Lawrence Hall, southwest corner of Jarvis St and King St E for a 2-hour circular walk to see the post- industrial landscape, re-naturalized and reinvigorated; the Distillery District and Corktown Common. Coffee at the Balzac coffee house. Sat MORNINGSIDE PARK – Nature Walk May 24 Leader: Blair Campbell 10:00 am Meet at the first parking lot down the hill on the west side of Morningside Ave south of Ellesmere Rd.