Toronto Ornithol ogical Club Newsletter - TaiwanTOC Newsletter 3 March 2010 Toronto Ornithological...

TOC Newsletter 1 March 2010

Toronto Ornithological Club

Newsletter

Snowy Owl showing tiny dark ear tufts. Photo by Jean Iron.

March 2010 Number 203


Annual General Meeting – April 12, 2010

The Annual General Meeting of the Toronto Ornithological Club will be held on Monday, April 12. Officers and Councillors will present their reports and financial statements will be presented to the membership for approval. The election of Council members will also take place. The agenda for the Annual General Meeting can be found on page 3. The process for electing members of the Council is set out in the TOC bylaws. Nominations must be made in writing, proposed and seconded by Active members in good standing, and delivered to the Secretary at least 10 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Only Active and Honorary Members who regularly attend meetings of the Club are eligible for office. You may contact the Secretary at cjharte”at”pathcom.com. A slate of nominated candidates can be found on the next page as part of the agenda. Once AGM and Club business has been completed, Yvonne Verkuil will be giving a talk on Why the Eurasian Ruff is immigrating into North America: The story of flexible flyways. Dr. Yvonne Verkuil has recently completed her PhD in the Netherlands on the population genetics and migration ecology of Ruffs. Yvonne is presently a post doctoral fellow at the Royal Ontario Museum. Please join us for a fascinating talk on the most handsome of all the shorebirds.

Table of Contents Agenda for the AGM Do Snowy Owls Have Ear Tufts? Taiwan: The Mystery of the Orient Exposed Barbados: Birding with a “Birding Pal” and Shorebird Shooting Swamps January talk summary Bird Atlas Quiz Membership Nominations Poetry Conservation Report Spring Warbler Count Grassland Bird Survey Minutes of the February 2010 TOC Meeting TOC Council Directory

3 4 5 9 11 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 19

Jim Baillie Memorial Bird Walks

Saturday, April 24 9:00 a.m. – early afternoon “Little Gulls and other migrants”

Oshawa Second Marsh

Leader: Tyler Hoar. Meet in the parking lot at GM Headquarters in Oshawa. Park in the west parking lot close to the marsh. Bring a lunch.

Sunday, April 25 8:00 a.m. – early p.m. “Early Migrants” – Leslie Street Spit

Leader: Hugh Currie. Meet at the foot of Leslie Street. Bring a lunch.


Toronto Ornithological Club

Annual General Meeting Monday, April 12, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

in Burgundy Room A, of North York Memorial Hall

AGENDA 1) Review and Approval of the minutes of the 2009 AGM (for 2008), published in April 2009 newsletter. 2) Review Financial Position of the Club (Bob Cumming) 3) Appointment of person to review the books (Bob Cumming to appoint John Catto) 4) Reports

• President (Kevin Seymour) • Membership (Jeremy Hatt) • Newsletter (Mark Field) • Outings (Sarah Box) • Programs (Mark Peck) • Records (Tyler Hoar) • Conservation (Margaret Kelch) • Website (Rob Miller) • Archives (Joan Winearls)

5) Election of Councillors

• President: Kevin Seymour • Vice President: vacant • Secretary: Celia Harte • Treasurer: Bob Cumming • Records: Tyler Hoar • Editor: Mark Field • Membership: Jeremy Hatt • Outings: Sarah Box • Conservation: Margaret Kelch • Programs: Mark Peck • Members-at-large: Marg Catto, Bob Kortright

6) Member of the Year and Special Long-term Member awards 7) Transaction of other business as may be brought before the meeting

Could this be your last TOC Newsletter?

If you have not already paid your annual dues, please do so at the March meeting to keep your name on our mailing list. The 2010 TOC Membership list is being prepared for distribution to members. Anyone wishing to update their contact information or keep some details private should speak to Jeremy Hatt at the AGM, or email him at membership<at>torontobirding.ca.


Do Snowy Owls Have Ear Tufts?

By Ron Pittaway

At the February TOC meeting, Margaret Kelch asked me if Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) have ear tufts. She had seen a Snowy with tiny ear tufts at Colonel Samuel Smith Park in Toronto. Margaret’s question intrigued me so I checked the literature, photos, and specimens in the Royal Ontario Museum. Most references make no mention of ear tufts. However, The Birds of North America (1992) online account from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology states that the Snowy Owl’s ear tufts are “indistinct or rudimentary”. Hinterland Who's Who (2006) online by the Canadian Wildlife Service says the ear-like feather tufts found on many species of owls are greatly reduced in Snowy Owls and are rarely visible. Snowy Owls can raise their tiny ear tufts (erectile feathers) like other eared owls because these feathers are under muscular control. Photo 2 and the cover page photo show Snowy Owls with raised ear tufts. Jean Iron and I examined specimens of Snowy Owls in the Royal Ontario Museum on February 16, 2010. We found vestigial ear tuft feathers that were slightly longer than adjacent feathers and barely discernable as shown in photo 1.

The Snowy Owl, formerly the only species in the genus Nyctea, was recently placed in the genus Bubo based on new genetic evidence accepted by the American Ornithologists’ Union. This taxonomic change was published in the Auk 120(3):927, 2003. Except for the Snowy Owl, other owls in the traditional genus Bubo have prominent ear tufts like the Great Horned Owl (B. virginianus). The Great Horned Owl is the Snowy Owl’s closest living relative. The ancestral form of the Snowy Owl originated in the Americas. It likely had larger and longer ear tufts that became reduced as it evolved and adapted to open and windier habitats. Look for ear tufts on Snowy Owls and let me know about your observations. Email me at <jeaniron AT sympatico DOT ca>. Acknowledgements: I thank Jean-Pierre Tousignant of St-Lambert, Quebec, for his photo and Jean Iron for her photos. Jean-Pierre and Jean do not use baits to photograph owls. I thank Mark Peck for access to specimens in the Royal Ontario Museum. I particularly thank Michel Gosselin of the Canadian Museum of Nature for references and insightful discussions.

Photo 1: Concealed ear tuft lifted with a pen on specimen in the ROM. Photo by Jean Iron.

Photo 2: Adult male Snowy Owl showing tiny white ear tufts. Photo by Jean-Pierre Tousignant.


Taiwan: The Mystery of the Orient Exposed

By Geoff Carpentier Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to have visited places like Malaysia, Vietnam, Borneo and Hong Kong and I continue to be enthralled by the culture, the natural history and the people of southeast Asia. Last year, I was honoured by being awarded the first Canadian Visa to commemorate Taiwan’s new program to recognize its endemic bird species. As an adjunct to this, I began to work with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), Quest Nature Tours and the Taiwan International Birding Association (TIBA) to develop an eco-tour to introduce Canadians to Taiwan’s rich culture and wildlife. Simon Liao and Jo Ann Mackenzie (both of TIBA) provided invaluable insights into what one should do and see when visiting Taiwan and Jo Hsu and Ken Chiu, of TECO, facilitated a trip to Taiwan last November to research a proposed itinerary … and that’s where this story begins. November 16, 2009 – 24 hours after leaving Toronto, I arrive in Taipei and my guide, Simon, is there to greet me – all smiles and eager to go – but I am weary after so many hours in the air. I soon learn that his enthusiasm and character are not one to let me rest – in fact, he insists that our adventure begin immediately and so it does. A waiting car whisks us off southward at 6 a.m. (a mere ten minutes after I deplane, honestly!) along an excellent national highway. I catch glimpses of my first birds and wonder at their identity, but my focus is still unfocussed after the long flight. Simon prattles on happily about where we’re going, what we’ll do and what we’ll see. I listen intently and drink up the landscape. After a couple of hours, we turn eastward and head for Dongshih and the Dasyueshan National Recreation Forest. About 60% of Taiwan is still forested, a remarkable feat in today’s consumptive society. En route we stop at “85 Degrees Cafe”, a chain named after the ideal temperature to grow coffee beans, where we savour a cup of java that rivals the best North America or Europe has to offer. Soon Simon has me back on the road and he quickly proves himself to be not only a capable and personable guide, but also an excellent birder – in fact he’s one of the best in Taiwan. We bird along a 50 km stretch of highway, through disturbed habitats and eventually into cloud forest which yield 51 species, about 40% of which are lifers for me. Our first night is spent at Snow Mountain Lodge, nestled into the side of the Syueshan Mountains.

[L to R] Syneshan Lodge, Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Mona Lou Dow. Photos by Geoff Carpentier.

This idyllic stop finally allows me to rest my weary bones, while I fall asleep to the night sounds of the jungle and dream of today’s finds: Crested Serpent-Eagle, Silver-backed Needletail, Black-browed Barbet, Gray-chinned Minivet, Black & Bronzed Drongos, Black-naped Monarch, Jungle Crow, the rare and endemic Yellow Tit, Green-backed & Black-throated Tits, Plain Prinia, Collared Finchbill, Light-vented & Black Bulbuls, Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler, Yellowish-bellied Bush

Geoff Carpentier


Warbler, Rufous-faced Warbler, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Rusty Laughingthrush, Hwamei (Taiwan subspecies is endemic), Steere’s Liocichla (endemic), Gray-cheeked Fulvetta, Dusky Fulvetta, Taiwan Yuhina (endemic), Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Japanese White-eye, Formosan Whistling-Thrush (endemic), Eye-browed Thrush, Plumbeous Warbler, White-tailed Robin, Brown Dipper, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker and Yellow-throated Bunting. Wow, what a great first day!

[L to R] Alpine (Formosan) Accentor, Hehuanshan Pass. Photos by Geoff Carpentier.

November 17, 2009 – Rested (well sort of), Simon has me up early in search of the endemic Mikado and Swinhoe’s Pheasants (which we never find), but we do have better luck birding around the lodge as we find Malayan Night-Heron, Ashy Wood-Pigeon, Spot-necked Dove, Ashy Drongo, Formosan Magpie (an endemic that is featured on my new visa), Gray Treepie, Striated Swallow, White-whiskered Laughingthrush, Taiwan Barwing (endemic), Streak-throated Fulvetta, Flamecrest (endemic) and White-eared Sibia. I also witnessed a very interesting and clever interpretive display that the staff built which involve “stick” insects … giant woodroaches, praying mantids, spiders and the like, fashioned from real wood, dot the landscape – an attractive and informative presentation that piques the interest of children and adults alike. That evening we hear Mountain and Collared Scops-Owls, Brown Wood-Owl and Collared Owlet right outside my cabin. Mammals are hard to find in Taiwan, but we do have glimpses of the Formosan Red-bellied and Formosan Striped Squirrels, both found only on this remote island. Simon’s enthusiasm is not waning as he talks at length about eco-initiatives in Taiwan and abroad, for he is also an advisor to St. Lucia on their eco-tourism programs. He tells me that much research is being done on Taiwanese birds and the promotion of Taiwan’s rich resources. He also speaks fondly of the government’s involvement in and commitment to wildlife. It is a refreshing story to hear. November 18, 2009 – It’s time to move on, so we head for the small town of Puli, where we search unsuccessfully for Painted Snipe in the rice fields, but we do have excellent looks at Brown Shrike, Zitting and Golden-headed Cisticolas and Striated and Yellow-bellied Prinias. We stop briefly at Kau Hsin to study a monument built to honour Mona Lou Dow, a legendary aboriginal, who led an uprising against invading Japanese troops during WWII. And so, late in the day, we arrive at Huisen Lodge, another jungle outpost, set on nicely manicured grounds. It has been mostly about birding so far on the trip, which is okay although I’m anxious to sample more of the culture. Time will ensure that happens, as I’m soon to find out. Today’s better birds include Maroon Oriole, Oriental Turtle-Dove, Fork-tailed Swift, White-bellied Yuhina and four species of wagtails (Eastern and Western Yellow, Gray and White). November 19, 2009 – Today promises to be very exciting as our itinerary will take us to another region of Taiwan. En route, we spend time birding the agricultural fields around Chingjing, where we are rewarded with excellent views of Chinese Bamboo-Partridge and Black-faced Bunting. Later, as we near Taroko National Park and climb in elevation along the Central Cross Highway to the Hehuanshan Pass (at 3275m, it is the highest road pass in east Asia), we find Yellow-browed Warbler, Pygmy Wren-Babbler, Alpine (Formosan) Accentor and Bevan’s Bullfinch. The cold clear air reveals a landscape not soon forgotten as the mountainous slopes unfold before us – a definite Kodak moment. It’s hard to comprehend how many wonderful things we have already seen as we head north towards Taipei, but more is to come. En route, we stop at San Xiu Temple, where we study the exquisite bird carvings built into the structure of the temple and where I ask Buddha to answer a life-impacting question – luckily, I like his answer! It is also San Xiu Bird Temple.

Photo by Geoff Carpentier.


here that I meet K. K. Kuo, a noted businessman and self-taught photographer, who annually publishes a coffee table book on Taiwan’s birds. He generously donates all of his proceeds from the sale of the book to eco-tourism initiatives in Taiwan. I am honoured when he gives me a signed copy of his most recent edition. It is also here that I leave Simon behind and continue the journey, focussing more on culture than wildlife.

[L to R] Marble Gorge in Taroko National Park, Taroko Aboriginals. Photos by Geoff Carpentier.

November 20, 2009 – My new guide, Luis Fong, was provided by the Taiwanese Government Information Office (GIO). He proved to be a wealth of information and an excellent companion. His knowledge of the area and organizational skills hint that the balance of the trip will continue to be both informative and enjoyable. We start off with a short flight to Hualien, near east central Taiwan, our jumping off point for a trip to Taroko National Park, where we visit the wonderful Marble Gorge. This was to be the start of the cultural adventure I have been anticipating – but first a bit more nature – rocks, not birds this time. It must be a Taiwanese thing, for like Simon, he keeps me busy all the time! Today’s itinerary includes a great presentation by Sandra Yu (a guide at Taroko), a wonderful traditional lunch at the Blue Blue Restaurant (which by the way is not blue at all) and then hiking – lots of it – the Shakedang Trail (which follows part of the gorge and treats one to spectacular views of the beautiful marble outcrops that give the area its name), the Chang Chun (Eternal Springs) Shrine, the Swallow Grotto (no swallows here – what’s up with these guys?) and the Tunnel of Nine Turns (well finally - there actually are nine turns). A busy but rewarding day! The best was yet to come for our place of residence for the night was the beautiful Leader House Lodge, situated in an idyllic forest setting and run by the local Taroko aboriginal tribe. Their dance and song troupe offered a wonderful presentation of traditional dance, “shouting” songs and bamboo harmonics after dinner. The presentation opened with a challenge to the audience “Ma Lu Su” (How are you?) – and we answered “Ma Lu Ku” (We are fine!) – and so we too became part of the tradition for we were instantly involved. It was inspiring to see the youth so engrossed in this wonderful cultural presentation. There aren’t many birds today but I do find several Plumbeous Water Redstarts to add to my list, some beautiful butterflies and the biggest orb spiders I’ve ever seen, including the Human-faced Spider, which is almost big enough to actually have a human face. It is here that I see my first and only Formosan Macaques of the trip, another endemic species.

Black-faced Spoonbills and Gray Herons. Photo by Geoff Carpentier.


November 21, 2009 – Luis now shuttles me southwards along the wave-swept coast of eastern Taiwan to Taitung County. The wonderful drive along this picturesque shore introduces me to more cultural marvels, including the Seven Star Pond (that neither has seven stars nor is it a pond (huh??)), the Buddha’s Cave (a roadside chapel carved out of the hillside) where I was greeted by soothing music seemingly emanating from the rock walls, the Terraces of the Three Immortals (where the locals honour the gods and where many go to pray for the future and to wed), and then on to Taitung, well south of the Tropic of Capricorn. It was here that I was treated to one of the most moving presentations of the trip. Another aboriginal troupe, from the Bunun tribe, performed an inspiring song and dance demonstration. The lead singer, was spellbinding to say the least – her voice was captivating. As it turns out she was the winner of an aboriginal singing contest, akin to American Idol – her singing proved her to be a deserving champion. The day ends at the Wetland of Chipen, an International Birding Area (IBA), where a local birder joins our party to share his knowledge of local avian life. Amongst our finds are Spot-billed and Ferruginous Ducks, Indian Black Eagle, Red Collared-Dove, nine species of shorebirds, Gray-capped Woodpecker, Oriental Skylark, Javan Mynah and Daurian Redstart. November 22, 2009 – Back in Taipei, after a late flight, we boarded the Fast Train to Tainan City, travelling at over 300 km/h. Luis had arranged an interesting itinerary for us, that included a tour of an old oyster kiln at National Anping Harbour Park, Fort Provintia (Chih Kan Lou), and the Confucian Palace – and that was only the morning! After lunch we boarded a small boat, where our guide led us to oyster growing pans, crab pot fishing stations and finally to another IBA at a large desalination pond. The significance of the latter is that this is where about 10% of the world’s population of Black-faced Spoonbills overwinter. About 200 of them were feeding and resting in the shallows. What a wonderful sight, but it is unnerving how fragile the future is for these magnificent birds. This was also where I saw my only Japanese Bush-Warbler of the trip. November 23, 2009 – The trip is winding down now as we return to Taipei, but two more treats were in store for me. The first was a visit to the Handicraft Centre in Taipei, where local artisans displayed their wares. And the second was a visit to the Yeh Liu Geopark. This is another IBA, but is more famous for its carved sandstone outcrops. Thousands of figures, including the Queen’s Head, the Fairy Shoe, the Ginger Rocks and the Sea Candles, will awe any observer. Above this display of wave-carved rocks, lies a three-tiered forest that abounds with birds. It was here that I added Pale Thrush, Japanese Robin, Siberian Rubythroat, Siberian Bluetail, Blue Rock-Thrush, Bull-headed Shrike and Elegant and Tristan’s Buntings to my trip list – what a finish! And so my journey ended – eight action-packed days that afforded me the opportunity to see and share in Taiwan’s beauty and wildlife. All told I saw 135 species of birds, about 77 of which were life birds for me. More important than the list was the adventure, the people and the experience of seeing Taiwan and its natural heritage. What a captivating adventure! For more information on trips to visit Taiwan, contact Quest Nature Tours in Toronto (416-633-5666 or www.worldwidequest.com).

Traditional Bunun Aboriginal dancer. Photo by Geoff Carpentier.

[L to R] Siberian Rubythroat, Queen’s Head at Yeh Liu Geopark. Photos by Geoff Carpentier.


Barbados: Birding with a “Birding Pal” and Shorebird Shooting Swamps

By Joan Winearls and Barbara Kalthoff

Following a January 2010 cruise to the eastern Caribbean we ended up with five days in Barbados, and we went out with a Birding Pal to see what we could of birds in Barbados. The trip was arranged by email ahead of time from a Birding Pal link on a Barbados birding web page. Barbados is a coral island and somewhat farther east and more isolated than the other islands in the Lesser Antilles. It is by now well-developed, relatively flat and there is little original forest left and consequently has fewer resident birds (including endemic birds) than other Caribbean islands. In addition, wetland areas are dependent on seasonal rains and some were dried up in January. However, during migration a lot of shorebirds and North American passerines come through and some water birds. At our Barbados resort and on other outings we had seen many of the resident birds: Zenaida Doves, Scaly-naped Pigeons, Bananaquits, Green-throated Caribs, Common Ground-Dove, Gray Kingbird, Carib Grackle and dozens of Barbados Bullfinches (formerly the Barbadian subspecies of the Lesser Antillean Bullfinch -- in which the males resemble the females that are found on other islands). But we were particularly anxious to see some water birds, the Antillean Crested Hummingbird and a few other specialities which had eluded us. On a Sunday morning in mid-January, Eddie Massiah, a well-known local birder, picked us up at our resort on the west coast and we went to four birding sites all in the southeastern area of the island and most in the parish of St. Philip. Our first stop was Bayfield Pond, a small pond covered with pink water lilies and an extremely important site for Masked Duck - in fact one of the most reliable sites for this Neotropical rare bird in the Northern Hemisphere. Eventually we were lucky to spot six Masked Ducks, both immature males and females, and at least one in breeding plumage. Here we also saw Blue-winged Teal, several Green Herons and Common Moorhens.

In terms of conservation one of the main problems on the island is the continuing tradition of hunting migrating shorebirds on privately owned wetlands. In fact according to Wayne Burke the author of several scientific articles on birds in Barbados, “the last certain record of Eskimo Curlew anywhere was of a bird shot in the St. Lucy Shooting Swamps IBA in 1963” (see note). We had a long talk with Eddie about the shooting of shorebirds which we did not know about and this was a real education for us. Our next stop was in fact a shooting swamp part of the St. Philips Shooting Swamps IBA and one of the most important sites for shorebirds and waterbirds on the island. This swamp was very rich in species and has hosted on and off for over a year two (Eurasian) Spoonbills, of which we had great views.

Gray Kingbird. Photo by Barbara Kalthoff.

Masked Duck. Photo by Joan Winearls.


[L to R] Cattle Egret, Eurasian Spoonbills. Photos by Joan Winearls.

A colony of Cattle Egret was nesting in the lone tree at the edge of the swamp and we also saw Snowy Egret, Little Blue Herons, a Tricolored Heron, Great Egrets, Brown Pelican, Black-bellied Plovers, Least Sandpipers, and Barn Swallows. At another swamp that was being managed in terms of water levels, we added Little Egrets, Osprey, Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Plovers, and a Western Sandpiper to our list. Nearby we heard a Grassland Yellow-Finch. Our final stop was the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary where in an area of dry scrub land we had good looks at Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Yellow Warbler (Lesser Antilles race) and Caribbean Elaenia. Efforts at conservation have resulted recently in the creation of Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge from a former shooting swamp. This has been done with the financial and other support of various people including ex-hunters, conservationists, and a growing group of 'hunter-conservationists' from Barbados and among other groups Bird Studies Canada (a BirdLife International Partner). Hunters are also being more selective in what they shoot. According to Burke and BirdLife’s news release, “One leading swamp no longer hunts American Golden-Plover which is much reduced in numbers worldwide, and most swamps no longer use tape lures to attract birds”. As well, “some of the hunters must be commended for starting to release shooting data to BirdLife International for analysis by the Canadian Wildlife Service”. Needless to say our Barbados birding trip was both very productive and highly educational. Birding with a local birder is very rewarding. Not only did we see many more birds than we could find alone, but we learned a lot from Eddie about life in Barbados as well. At the end of the trip we paid for the gas and made a contribution towards conservation efforts on the island. We also wished the Barbadian conservationists well in trying to provide safe havens for “Canadian” shorebirds on their southwards migration. For general information on birding in Barbados see: http://www.fatbirder.com/links_geo/america_central/barbados.html For further information and articles by Wayne Burke on conservation efforts in Barbados see http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/11/barbados.html To donate to Bird Studies Canada for the BirdLife Barbados - Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge click on http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s22991 and select the project. Note: The Eskimo Curlew specimen ended up in the hands of Captain Maurice B. Hutt of Harrison College, Barbados who put it in his freezer. James Bond (1900-1989) the author of Birds of the West Indies (1936 and later editions) and Curator of Birds at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (ANSP) visited to identify it and eventually acquired the specimen for the ANSP in 1965 (#169796). See Mary W. Bond “Did a Barbados Hunter Shoot the Last Eskimo Curlew?” Audubon Magazine 65 no. 5 (Sept-Oct, 1965) for the whole story and two photos of the skin. (Ian Fleming, the author, saw a copy of Birds of the West Indies and appropriated Bond’s name for his better known fictional spy 007).


Quality of Selection-logged and Unlogged Forests for Breeding

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers

The speaker at the TOC’s January meeting was Doug Tozer, a PhD candidate at Trent University in Peterborough. The following is a summary of his talk, prepared by Mark Peck. There are four species of sapsuckers found in North America; Williamson’s Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-naped Sapsucker and Red-breasted Sapsucker. All four are easily recognized by their woodpecker appearance and the broad white stripe on the wing. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is the only species found in eastern North America. Males arrive back into southern Ontario in late April, females a week or two later. They have a large wintering area throughout much of southeastern United States and a large breeding range throughout much of eastern Canada. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers may forage on the surface of tree trunks feeding on insects and other arthropods. They also forage on leaves and will actively “fly catch”. Doug also provided detail on sapsucker sap wells and their origin. Spring sap wells are drilled into the xylem and tend to be erratically placed around the surface to pick up the sap as it moves up the tree. In the summer and fall, sapsuckers drill into the phloem of the tree and the holes are usually positioned in a more concentrated rectangular pattern. The trees selected in the summer are often in early stages of disease or decline. Many other animals also use the sap wells including birds, mammals and invertebrates, both day and night. Doug also suggested that the saliva of the bird may act as a “sap anticoagulant” allowing the sap to run for longer periods. In Algonquin, Doug is studying sapsucker nests in maple and aspen stands. In the latter, the trees chosen, although alive, are usually infected with heart rot. In maple stands, cavities are usually placed in dead trees. In most cases new cavities are used each year. Previous information has focussed on aspen and there remains very little information available for nests in maple stands. Using the variation in forest stands to identify the best habitat quality for sapsuckers, including sap well trees, food, nest sites and vulnerability to predators, Doug is researching breeding success and productivity in different forest regimes. He has divided his research into several different forest stands including single selection, uncut and group selection cuts allowing him to explore variation in habitat quality. To determine habitat quality Doug is using a number of different factors:

• The abundance and density of sapsuckers in an area.

• The habitat location chosen by the first birds to arrive back in spring.

• The age of birds in a given habitat. Birds can be aged using bands or aged based on the pattern of wear on the wing. Older birds should get better sites.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Photo by Sam Barone.


Productivity and nesting success may also be measured by determining where the most young are raised. Doug and his team have been able to find 130 nests on average per year and, by using the “treetop peeper” determine the number of eggs and young in the nest. They are also measuring food productivity by recording how often adults return to the nest and how much food they are bringing with them. They are also recording nest and sap tree availability in the immediate area. Results - The more exciting ones anyway, according to Doug, included numerous nests depredated by black bear. The cause of predation was initially confusing but by using infrared cameras the culprits were eventually caught on video. Predation rates were higher in maples (17%) versus 0% in aspen. The predation is thought to be related to the loudness of the young and their begging calls. Hairy Woodpeckers showed very little predation in the same area. Further research into the problem found that nest survival increased as trees increased in age and tree hardness. Sapsucker nests built in harder, healthy trees such as aspen, or beech are likely to suffer less predation than dead maples. Nests are also more successful when built in trees greater than 60 years between harvests because birds are more likely to find an ideal site. False Tender Fungus creates heart rot in aspen making the tree more accessible to excavation. Sapsuckers prefer trees with heart rot or, in the case of maples, softer trees that are dying or already dead. Increasing the number of heart rot trees per hectare should help woodpeckers increase their nesting success. It has been shown that populations in selective harvested forests increase after harvesting has occurred. Harvested trees are selected by tree markers and not lumber companies. Trees selected are of declining health and are spaced out throughout the forest. The process is meant to mimic natural processes. And finally, sapsuckers are increasing steadily in Ontario based on breeding bird surveys. However, most of the increase is occurring in southern Ontario and there appears to be a negative trend in the Algonquin Park area.

Bird Atlas Quiz By George Bryant

1. The massive ice storm that

devastated forests in eastern Ontario in 1998 resulted in huge swaths of regenerating forest and now the most extensive area of high-density habitat for this species in the province.

2. Many colonies of this species are adjacent to the Trans-Canada and other large highways but point counts were not run for safety reasons.

3. The occurrence of this species is closely tied to heavy seed crops and Spruce Budworm outbreaks thereby rendering seasonal presence somewhat cyclical.

4. With an average of 10 nests per colony, this bird likes cedar and spruce.

5. Recent molecular work suggests that these species are possibly conspecific.

Answers on page 16


Membership Nominations Amelia K. Whitear Amelia first discovered a passion for birds on a field course to the Amazon and Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Seeking greater understanding, she took Dr. J. Rising’s Avian Biology course, which toured the Royal Ontario Museum. Instantly she was captivated with the wealth of knowledge held within the museum’s collections and volunteered her free time to the institution under the supervision of Mark Peck. Mark has kindly introduced her to the joys of bird watching, nest searching, specimen preparation and sharing these common interests through the Toronto Ornithological Club. The volunteerism grew into a series of contract positions; first surveying the coastal marshes for Yellow Rails, tidal mudflats for Red Knots in James Bay, Ontario, then digitizing Ontario Nest Records Scheme data for Ontario’s endangered and threatened species. This summer, Amelia will continue to pursue contract research positions in Virginia where she will be surveying the Delmarva Peninsula for flagged Red Knots under the supervision of Fletcher Smith. By becoming a member of TOC, she hopes to continue to gain insight into current ornithological research through the club’s monthly presentations and most of all learn from the accumulated expertise of the club’s members. Proposed by Mark Peck Ivor Williams Ivor has been a birder and naturalist from a very young age. He spent his teenage years in Bristol, U.K. watching badgers by night and birding by day with his school's birding club, specializing in waterfowl. Since moving to Canada in 1986, Ivor has gotten to know North American birds by birding whenever he can locally and through annual trips to Point Pelee. Ivor likes all birds but especially enjoys the challenges of hawk watching, identifying shorebirds and birding by ear. Ivor is married to TOC member, Lynne Freeman and introduced her to birding when they first met. Lynne is pleased to nominate Ivor for membership.

Searching for an Ivory Gull at Cherry Beach. Photo by Lynne Freeman, poem by Jeremy Hatt.

failing light - no miracle tonight – this rare visitor avoids my gaze like she has once before – this heavenly form – this delicate winter-white angel – an ephemeral rest on the lakeshore – a brief appointment yielding disappointment – the shelves of ice carry a congregation – black backed, great and lesser, ring billed iceland glaucous herring – but despite my silent prayer – she is no longer here – yet still my eyes rise skyward - for I cannot bear to miss her once more


February 2010 Conservation Report

By Margaret Kelch

City of Toronto Draft Report on Wind Turbines and Wildlife TOC recently received this draft report and was offered the opportunity to review its contents before Toronto City Planning finalizes. Bob Kortright and Tyler Hoar volunteered to review the document and prepared the response to the City jointly on behalf of TOC and the Toronto Field Naturalists. Several technical suggestions were made. In particular comments were offered on the materials related to the potential impact of small or rooftop turbines. Concern here relates to the fact that “potentially thousands could be installed and result in higher risk to wildlife than a smaller number of larger turbines that could contribute the same amount of energy”. In fact we believe “that rooftop turbines are likely to have a greater impact on wildlife (per kWh generated) than large scale wind power developments in locations where average wind speeds are higher”. Accordingly “we would oppose approval of small wind turbines until their impact is better understood”. In addition Friends of the Spit have submitted their input on the report. In particular John Carley, co-chair, states “The City should adopt a policy that unambiguously prohibits wind turbines in all natural areas, public parks and green spaces and that the City adopt stringent setback measures for turbines proposed for lands adjacent to natural areas.” Tommy Thompson Park In late February a special meeting of the Tommy Thompson Park Advisory Committee was held to review the detailed design drawings for the Entrance Gate, Staff Booth, Environmental Shelter and Ecological Research Station. The Committee was very encouraged by the progress made in these designs and the incorporation of many of the earlier observations made. The major outstanding issues relate to the Environmental Shelter and the placement of exhaust and skylight stacks. The drawings will be presented to the City Design Review Panel on March 10

th and upon approval, construction

drawings will be prepared for construction implementation scheduled for late summer 2010.

March 8 TOC Meeting The TOC’s Geoff Carpentier will be speaking on “Building the Perfect Polar Bird”. Seabirds live on, over or near every ocean of the world. Millions of them frequent the waters surrounding southern South America and the Antarctic. They are a diverse and adaptive group of birds whose lives intermesh and overlap. Learn how these species are adapted to life in one of the harshest places on Earth. Explore why they can fly long distances with almost no effort, why they have hooked beaks or fringed bills, what they have in common with football players, which ones can fly through waves, what they eat and why, which nesting birds can actually take their nest with them and much more. Join Geoff as he guides you through the biological and morphological aspects of these fascinating families of birds.


TOC Spring Warbler Count The Spring Warbler Count is an attractive project for those who enjoy morning bird walks during spring migration and would like to see some results from their outings. The study is aimed at those who can visit a park or wooded area for up to an hour each morning May 1 through June 5. Some participants go out every morning for the full 36 days but most find it convenient to split the task between two or three observers. Participation involves picking out a small area of woodland and walking the same route through it each morning. The length of the route should be what can be covered in an hour on a day of heavy migration. This keeps the areas to roughly equal size. Swainson’s Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and all warblers are counted. Twenty-one of the warbler species have been found in sufficient numbers to be included in the averaging, but all warbler species are counted. The results from Toronto go back to 1970, though we missed 1985 and 1986. We have always had several plots covered each spring, allowing us to average the results and increase the accuracy of our data. The short-term purpose of the project is to record the songbird migration each spring. The longer term purpose is to determine the rise and fall of populations of northern passerines that are not well measured by other projects such as the Breeding Bird Survey. Study areas that have been active in recent years are:

• Brookbanks Ravine • Cedarvale Ravine • High Park • Moore Park • Mount Pleasant Cemetery • Unwin Avenue • Wychwood Park

If you would like to add an area or participate in a current area please email Bob Kortright. Please see http://www.torontobirding.ca/projects/warblersurvey.php for more details and results of past surveys.

Black-throated Green Warbler. Photo by Mark Field.

New Member’s Night Coming soon in April

Did you become a TOC member after January 1, 2008? If so we’d like to invite you to a special event! Get to know some of the other new members, tour the Royal Ontario Museum, learn more about the club and how you can get involved, and then join us for drinks at the end of the evening. Please keep your eyes out for invitations to this event, which will be emailed to you shortly.

Need to learn more about the TOC?

Check out our website at:

http://torontobirding.ca/index.php There you can find: a list of upcoming meetings, events, and outings, Club bylaws, Council and Committee members, a Checklist of birds for the Greater Toronto Area, information about local birding hotspots, galleries of photos by club members, links to the websites of relevant groups, as well as information on projects the TOC runs or participates in such as the Christmas Bird Count, Mid-Winter Waterfowl Inventory, the Greater Toronto Raptor Watch, and the Spring Warbler Survey.


2010 Grassland Bird Survey The deadline for participant registration in the 2010 Grassland Bird Survey (GBS) is soon approaching! Keen birders from all over Ontario have signed up to volunteer this spring and summer and we'd like to invite you to join the effort! This project is being run as a joint effort between Wildlife Preservation Canada, Bird Studies Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service. The main goal of the project is to locate Loggerhead Shrike and incidentally, a suite of grassland bird species in Ontario mainly on habitat that has been previously identified through associated recovery activities. The information gathered will provide a greater understanding of bird species composition and linkages in Ontario’s remaining short-grasslands. The GBS will focus on short-grassland habitats in these key areas: the Carden, Napanee and Smiths Falls limestone plains, the area around Pembroke/Renfrew, Grey and Bruce Counties in the Bruce Peninsula and on Manitoulin Island. Depending upon interest and skill level, participants can choose to complete a survey of ALL grassland bird species or a SUBSET of species that are of special interest to the project and readily identifiable. Surveyors will conduct 15 minute road-side surveys along assigned ‘sites’ from which high quality short-grassland habitat is visible. A survey kit containing detailed survey methodology, data forms and survey maps will be provided to all participants and can be delivered via post or email. If you are interested in participating in this project and would like more information, please contact the GBS coordinator at Wildlife Preservation Canada by phone at 519-836-9314 or 1-800-956-6608 (toll free) or through email at [email protected]. We ask that you confirm your participation prior to March 19, 2010. Thank you in advance for your support!


TORONTO ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB MINUTES OF THE 773rd MEETING Date: February 8, 2010 Place: Memorial Hall, 5110 Yonge St. Chair: Kevin Seymour, President Attendance: 67 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion (John Catto/Alison Paul): To approve the minutes of the 771

st meeting of the TOC held on December 14, 2009.

Carried. WELCOME & INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Members Guests John Carley John Grant McLoughlin Tyler Hoar Cedric Juillet Denby Sadler Yvonne Verkuil Amy Whitear Kevin Seymour Jeff Warren Anne Shaw Peter Shaw Ainslie Willock Karen McDonald WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Kevin welcomed Katherine Pawling, Lucy Saruyama and Graydon Saunders to the TOC. He also welcomed Alex Kovaloff and Marie Macfarlane, who became new members last month. REPORTS Treasurer • Kevin advised members that in Bob Cumming’s absence, John Catto would be accepting any membership renewals. • Kevin also reported that the December silent auction raised over $500 for the TOC. He also noted that in addition to

membership renewals, TOC members have donated approximately $1800 to the club, double the amount from the previous year.

Programs

• In Mark Peck’s absence, Kevin noted Geoff Carpentier would be presenting “Building the Perfect Polar Bird” at the March meeting.

Outings

• Recent walks: On behalf of Sarah Box, who could not attend tonight, Bob Kortright thanked Bob Cumming and the hardy group that participated in the Toronto lakeshore walk on January 24, despite the steady rain. Thanks also to Rayfield Pye, who led approximately 25 participants on the Durham Region walk on January 31.

• Upcoming walks: Garth Riley will be leading the West Lakeshore / Burlington walk on Sunday, March 7; it begins at 9:00 a.m. at Humber Bay East. Bob K. also announced a new walk will be held at Oshawa Second Marsh on April 24, led by Tyler Hoar; participants who arrive very early in the morning have a good chance of seeing Little Gulls.

• Tommy Thompson Festival: Bob K. also noted the Tommy Thompson Festival is being held on May 8. The event attracted approximately 2,000 people last year and the TOC’s participation is again being sought. Bob Cumming and Anne Marie Leger led walks last year; additional volunteers would be welcome as this event attracts many beginner birders. Bob K. invited interested TOC members to speak with him after the meeting or contact Sarah.


Newsletter • Hotspots: Mark Field drew members’ attention to the list of birding hotspots noted in this month’s TOC Newsletter

and encouraged members to contribute brief write-ups about any of them. Submissions should be sent to Bob Kortright, who coordinates the Hotspots page on the TOC website.

Membership

• New Members Night: Jeremy Hatt reported plans are underway for a new members’ event, a new initiative of the club. Although the date has yet to be confirmed, it will be held at the Royal Ontario Museum and new members (since January 2008) will have an opportunity to view the ornithological collection.

Conservation

• Public Consultations: Margaret Kelch reported there were several public meetings in January attended by TOC members related to: Point Pelee National Park Plan (attended by only 8 people); East Point Park; and the Lower Humber River Wetland Complex. The latter two are in the early stages of public consultation.

• Second Marsh: Margaret reported the TOC learned in mid-January that the application to build an ethanol plant near Second Marsh had been withdrawn so no further action is required at this time.

• Report on Turbines and Wildlife: Margaret thanked Tyler Hoar and Bob Kortright for reviewing the draft Report on Turbines and Wildlife, commissioned by the City of Toronto; the TOC’s comments will be summarized in the March TOC Newsletter.

• Carden Alvar: Val Jacobs announced this year’s dates for the Carden Alvar bird census are May 29 and June 12. Dan Bone, who coordinates the census, has asked that volunteers give some indication of their expertise or role, i.e., team leader, team member or recorder. Sign-up sheets were circulated.

ANNOUNCEMENTS • Kevin reported the TOC had received $150 as a result of Andrew Keaveney’s participation in the 2009 Baillie

Birdathon. Kevin thanked Andrew, who raised a total of $650, and encouraged TOC members to participate in this event.

• Kevin reminded members the club is still looking for a candidate for the position of Vice-President. • The 2

nd Annual Walking Information Fair, hosted by the Bloor/Christie Community Centre, is scheduled for May 8 and

is seeking the TOC’s participation. (The TOC has pointed out this is the same day as the Tommy Thompson Festival so consideration may be given to choosing a different date.)

• Kevin reminded members they are welcome to get together at the Frog & Firkin prior to the monthly meetings; 21 people attended tonight. The pub is located across the street from the Sheppard subway.

• Kevin invited members to send their best wishes to Fred Bodsworth and Ed Johns. PROGRAM Don Barnett introduced Fletcher Smith, research biologist with the Center for Conservation Biology, College of William and Mary / Virginia Commonwealth University, in Virginia. Fletcher presented his work on “Whimbrel Migration Ecology & Satellite Tracking”, including its connections with Toronto’s Colonel Samuel Smith Park and Tommy Thompson Park. A question and answer period followed the presentation, after which Jean Iron thanked Fletcher on behalf of the TOC. For more information about the Whimbrel project, go to: www.wildlifetracking.org/?species=whimbrel http://www.ccb-wm.org/programs/migration/Whimbrel/whimbrel.htm SIGHTINGS Members noted recent sightings. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. ___________________________ Celia Harte, Secretary

Bird Atlas Quiz Answers

1. Wood Thrush 2. Brewer’s Blackbird 3. Purple Finch 4. Common Grackle 5. Hoary and Common Redpoll


TOC Councillors and Contact Information

President Kevin Seymour 416-429-8568 kevin.seymour”at”sympatico.ca Vice President Vacant Secretary Celia Harte cjharte”at”pathcom.com Treasurer Bob Cumming robert.cumming”at”rogers.com Conservation Margaret Kelch 416-769-7557 margaretkelch”at”sympatico.ca Publications, Acting Mark Field mark.field”at”rogers.com Records Tyler Hoar thoar”at”rogers.com Outings Sarah Box birdingsarah”at”hotmail.com Membership Jeremy Hatt 416-909-9209 hattjeremy”at”hotmail.com Programs Mark Peck markp”at”rom.on.ca Web Master Rob Miller robm”at”live.ca Councillor Marg Catto 416-485-5188 jcatto”at”sympatico.ca Councillor Bob Kortright 416-699-8842 bobwsk”at”sympatico.ca The « at » replaces @ symbol in the e-mail addresses.

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