JOURNAL OF THE HAMILTON NATURALISTS’ CLUB Protecting Nature Since 1919 Volume 72 Number 3 November 2018 Roundneck Sexton Beetle (a carrion beetle) in the Dundas Valley - 9 July 2018 - the beetle is covered in mites but the mites are just hitching a ride from one carcass to another - photo Joanne Redwood. In This Issue: Bon Echo P.P. and its Wonders A 5,000 Year History of Plant Use in Ontario Splash Pools of Neys Provincial Park Orthopteran HSA Nature Notes Member Profile - Sandy Darling Table of Contents Wings on a Cliff with Bruce Mackenzie Michael Rowlands 53 European Starling June Hitchcox 54 HSA Nature Note – Black-legged Meadow Katydid Paul Smith and others 55 HSA Nature Note – Two-spotted Tree Cricket David Moffatt and others 55 HSA Nature Note – Jumping Bush Crickets in Brantford Bill Lamond 56 Scottish GPs to Begin Prescribing Rambling and Birdwatching reprint from The Guardian 56 Trilliums of Ontario: Part Two — Red Trillium Bob Curry 57 City Council Approves Columbia College Student Residence Gord McNulty 59 Dates to Remember - November – December 2018 Rob Porter/Liz Rabishaw 60 Member Profile — Sandy Darling Bill Lamond 62 Those Wicked Wildflowers Ronald Bayne 63 Lake Superior Splash Zone Amphibian Breeding Pools Bruce and Laurie Mackenzie 64 You Have to Have Stones Bruce Mackenzie 65 Mothing Night in the Dundas Valley Bill Lamond 67 Plants and Archeology in Ontario: A 5,000 Year History of Plant Use Lou Mitton 69 Celebrating Trees Please Carolyn Zanchetta 70 HSA Nature Note – Northern Watersnake and Green Frog Barry Coombs 71 Sanderling, juvenile, at South Shell Park, Oakville - 11 September 2018 - photo Stewart Scott. Page 50 The Wood Duck - November, 2018 Volume 72 Number 3 November 2018 CN ISSN 0049-7886 - Publications Mail Contract No. 40048074 http://www.hamiltonnature.org [email protected] Publications Committee: Christine Bishop, Martin Daly, Rob Dobos, Kevin McLaughlin, Don McLean, Herman van Barneveld, Glenda Slessor, Jean Stollard, Jim Stollard and John Struger. The Wood Duck is the official publication of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and produced by members of the Club. It is published nine times a year from September to May, inclusive. Deadline for receipt of material is the 5th of the month preceding publication date. As long as credit lines are included, articles may be reprinted without permission, unless otherwise specified. Opinions expressed in the Wood Duck are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club. The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club promotes public interest in the study, conservation and appreciation of our natural heritage. Meetings are held monthly September to May inclusive and field events are scheduled throughout the year. Visitors are welcome. The HNC is a registered charity and all donations as well as membership fees are tax deductible. HNC BOARD 2018 - 2019 Executive Past President Maggie Sims 905 331 1496 [email protected] President: Bronwen Tregunno 905 637 7136 [email protected] Vice-President: Chris Motherwell *** *** **** [email protected] Secretary: Joyce Litster 905 627 1203 [email protected] Treasurer: Jim Stollard 905 634 3538 [email protected] Directors Bird Study Group: Bruce Mackenzie 905 973 4869 [email protected] Conservation & Education: Gord McNulty 905 525 9927 [email protected] Field Events: Rob Porter 905 920 3148 [email protected] Director-at-Large: Jackson Hudecki 905 516 4253 [email protected] Membership: Jill Baldwin 905 679 6447 [email protected] Programs: Lou Mitton *** *** **** [email protected] Publicity: vacant Sanctuary: Brian Wylie 905 627 4601 [email protected] Volunteer: Cleo Coppolino *** *** **** [email protected] Wood Duck Editor: Bill Lamond 519 756 9546 [email protected] Coordinators Website Coordinator: vacant Social Coordinator: Catharine Flatt 905 628 2030 [email protected] Junior Naturalists: Brian Wylie 905 627 4601 [email protected] Mailing: Jean Stollard 905 634 3538 [email protected] Land Trust Program: Jen Baker 905 524 3339 [email protected] Report rare bird sightings to: Cheryl Edgecombe 905-637-5923 Send Noteworthy Bird Records to: Bill Lamond, 238 St. George St, Brantford, N3R 1W7 email: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP FEES – Please remit to The Membership Director, HNC PUBLICATIONS - To order, contact Elaine Serena Hamilton Naturalists’ Club P.O.Box 89052, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4R5 905-639-2702 or [email protected] Life Membership $900.00 Hamilton Nature Counts 2003 $75.00 Single Membership $45.00 Hamilton Area Bird Checklist 2007 $2.00 Senior Single Membership $40.00 Head of the Lake Nature Guide $8.00 Student Single Membership (on-line-only ac- What’s Alive in Hamilton - from HCA website. free free cess to Wood Duck; for those 25 or under) Checklist of Ontario Butterflies $1.50 Senior Joint Membership $45.00 Birds of Hamilton and Surrounding Areas $45.00 Family Membership $50.00 (order from Glenn Barrett at [email protected]) Junior Naturalists - 1st child $80.00 Hamilton Mammal Atlas $15.00 Junior Naturalists - additional children $70.00 A Monthly Guide to Nature and Conservation $5.00 Honorary Life Member n/a Reptiles and Amphibians of Hamilton Area (check local library) The Wood Duck - November, 2018 Page 51 Editor's Notes..... Sometimes I struggle to find something useful to say in this space, especially with a deadline looming. However, today (14 October) only one thing occupies my mind and that is the death of a beloved pet. Our family dog, April, died this morning after a short illness. It was a long night and a devastating loss for our family. She was almost 16 years old, so there were unspoken thoughts that her time was coming in the near future. Still, it is almost impossible to prepare for this reality, especially when it happens sooner than expected. But it is only dog, right? I've even thought that before, but never again. It will take me a long time to accept this loss. I can only say that she was part of the family. She was a gift for my daughter Sarah when she was seven years old and April has always been with us since; on car rides and walks; coast to coast car trips; and always on our annual holidays at Point Pelee. April at Point Pelee - 30 Some people ridicule the emotional attachment we have to our pets, drawing a broad distinction Sept 2018 - photo Sarah Lamond. between humans and animals. I don't think this way. Of course I value human life above a dog's, but consciousness is impossible to define and I firmly believe there is some degree of consciousness in dogs and many other animals. Obviously not the same as in humans, but there is something there. I will quote former HNC President Christine Bishop, "dogs are totally underrated in their ability to think, feel, bond, and anticipate change based on cues, just like us". "Science finds mammals, birds, and even the underrated reptilian phyla are more social and value kin associations so much more than we preferred to imagine just 10 years ago"(Amorello and smith 2012; Mayntz,2017). Perhaps if more people start to think this way there will be less mistreatment of animals in this world; and the mistreatment that goes on is absolutely appalling. I will get off my high horse here and wish everyone a successful Alan Wormington Fall Bird Count - your cue to get involved if you are not! At the Next Monthly Meeting Important Bird and Monday, November 12, 2018 - 7:30 p.m. Biodiversity Areas (IBA) Environmental Commissioner Winter Bird Survey RBG, 680 Plains Rd. W, Burlington Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Dr. Dianne Saxe, will The IBA’s West End of Lake Ontario Survey provide an overview of Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights. She will also discuss topics from her recent annual reports, with an starts up again in mid November and goes update of the government’s progress on environmental protection to April. For one Saturday for each month, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The Environmental Commission of Ontario is a bridge between the public and the intrepid birders venture out along the lake government on environmental issues. front to record birds they encounter. The Before her appointment, Commissioner Saxe was one of scope of the surveys is the line stretching from Canada’s most respected and best-loved environmental lawyers. After 14 years in the Ontario public service, plus experience Port Credit on the north shore, to the mouth in two major Bay Street law firms, she ran one of Canada's top of the Niagara River on the south shore, and environmental law boutique law firms for 25 years. A Certified bounded on the west by the Burlington Bar. Specialist, Commissioner Saxe was recognized in every Canadian and international legal rating service, and as one of the world’s top 25 environmental lawyers by Best of the Best, 2008. She It has been divided into 23 sections, so you was Canada’s leading author on environmental law, through have a choice of where you would like to go, or her books, columns and envirolaw.com blog, and Toronto’s first Environmental Lawyer of the Year. She received numerous other I can assign you an area that needs coverage. tributes, including Ontario Bar Association Distinguished Service If you are interested, please email me, Chris Award and Osgoode Hall Lifetime Achievement Gold Key. Skilled writer and public speaker, with unparalleled experience writing, Motherwell, [email protected], and interpreting, and litigating Ontario's environmental laws. I will send you further details. Free. All welcome. Meet & greet at 7 p.m. Contact Lou – lou. [email protected] for more information. Page 52 The Wood Duck - November, 2018 Bird Study Group Meeting Summary – September 17, 2018 Wings on a Cliff with Bruce Mackenzie by Michael Rowlands fter the summer break, the Bird Study Group reconvened still used by climbers today.