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VOLUME 37 NUMBER 1 PAGES 1-40 JANUARY-MARCH 2003

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A Publication Concerned With

Natural History and Conservation

The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club

TRAIL & LANDSCAPE

Editor Production Assistant

Mailing Team

Karen McLachlan Sandra Gushue

Hamilton

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Co-ordinator

Associate Editor

Diane Lepage

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Karen McLachlan

Hamilton

Publications Mail Registration #09798

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publication
Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs.

The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club

— Founded 1879 —

President
Eleanor Zurbrigg

Objectives of the Club: To promote the appreciation, preservation and conser¬
vation of Canada’s natural heritage; to encourage investigation and publish the
results of research in all fields of natural history and to diffuse the information on
these fields as widely as possible; to support and co-operate with organizations
engaged in preserving, maintaining or restoring environments of high quality for
living things.

Club Publications: THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST, a quarterly
devoted to reporting research in all fields of natural history relevant to Canada,
and TRAIL & LANDSCAPE, a quarterly providing articles on the natural
history of the Ottawa Valley and on Club activities.

Field Trips, Lectures and other natural history activities are arranged for local
members; see “Coming Events” in this issue.

Membership Fees: Individual (yearly) $28 Sustaining (yearly) $50
Family (yearly) $30 Life (one payment) $500

Benefactor $500 Subscriptions to Trail A Landscape:

(libraries and institutions): $28 per year (volume)

Postage for U.S. and other foreign countries please add $5

Single copies of recent issues: $6 each postpaid

Index to Vols. 1 - 20: $10 postpaid; to Vote. 21-25 $5 postpaid.

Membership application, correspondence : Information:

THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS’ CLUB (613) 722-3050

Box 35069, Westgate P.O.

Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 1A2

Views expressed in Trail & Landscape are not necessarily those of the OFNC

TRAIL & LANDSCAPE

Published by

The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club
Box 35069, Westgate P.O., Ottawa, Ontario, K1Z 1A2

Volume 37 Number 1
January - March 2003

Welcome New Members.2

Volunteer Wanted / Dave Smythe .3

House of Commons Passes Species-At-Risk Act /

Federation of Ontario Naturalists .4

Ontario’s Endangered Species List - Another Kind of “Deficit.” /

Federation of Ontario Naturalists .5

Butterflies in Your Garden /Jack Holliday .6

Alfred Bog Fund-Raising Campaign - Interim Report II / Frank Pope .7

Oenothera cruciata - New to the Ottawa District / John Sankey .8

The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Year Two (2002): News from Region 24 - Ottawa /

Christine Hanrahan .9

Fall Bird Sightings 25 August - 15 November 2002 / Chris Lewis .30

Coming Events.35

Welcome New Members

Ottawa Area

Emily Coates
Philip Fry

Elizabeth Hargreaves
Stephen & Barbara Koch
Finley & Leydin Mullally
Debra O’Leary & family
Pat O’Malley
John & Barbara Peachey

Other Areas

Jon Hartley, Inverurie Aberdeenshire, UK
J. G. Woods, Revelstoke BC

Dave Smythe
Membership Committee
December, 2002

Volunteer Wanted

Dave Smythe

There is a need for someone to take over the responsibility for maintaining the
membership database. This is the Club’s record of names, addresses, membership type
(e.g., family), payment status, membership number, and e-mail address if applicable.
The database is used for producing mailing labels for membership renewal and Trail &
Landscape, various reports to Council, and reports for Trail & Landscape (new
members, Golden Anniversary List). We have been patiently expanding the list of e-
mail addresses enabling us to communicate with members, quickly and at low cost,
however, but do not have the appropriate software in place yet.

The database is in constant flux with the addition of new members, changes of address,
changes in payment status, and deletion of members who lapse their membership or
disappear for some reason. These changes must be made on a reasonable schedule to
ensure the integrity of the information and in particular to ensure that mailing labels
are correct. Anyone that misses a copy of Trail & Landscape can blame Canada Post or
the database, in that order. The addition of new members and changes of address occur
throughout the year, but the peak of activity occurs during membership renewal time,
November to March. Information arrives on paper, by telephone, and e-mail. The
person maintaining the database works closely with the Treasurer’s Assistant who
receives the mail and keeps financial records.

The computer software for this job was written specifically for the purpose about 15
years ago. It uses on-screen instructions and menus to guide the user and there is an
operations manual to assist. Its age is beginning to show however, and the Computer
Committee is working on a more modem replacement with the capability to link the
database with e-mail communication.

If you are interested in this work or would like to know more about it, please contact
me at 592-3011 or dsmythe@cyberus.ca.

House of Commons Passes
Species-At-Risk Act

Federation of Ontario Naturalists

For the 402 species officially listed as at risk in Canada, June 11, 2002 was a good day.
After many ups and downs, the House of Commons finally passed Bill C-5 (an act
respecting the protection of wildlife species at risk in Canada) and has referred it to the
Senate. The bill received first reading on February 2, 2001, and since then it has been
the subject of parliamentary debate, committee hearings and public scrutiny - including
input from Federation of Ontario Naturalists and many of the organization’s
supporters.

The fate of the bill itself had frequently seemed at risk, and improvements made at the
committee stage seemed to have been lost by the time the bill got back to caucus. A
back-bench revolt and the hard work of several Members of Parliament (including
Karen Kraft-Sloan, Clifford Lincoln and Charles Caccia) forced some significant
changes to the bill, which resulted in it getting enough votes to pass through the House
of Commons.

While Bill C-5 is not as strong as many people had hoped, enough last-minute gains
were made to make it worthwhile, and most conservation organizations are at least
modestly pleased and have congratulated the government. Canada is now poised to
fulfil an international commitment it made 10 years ago at the Earth Summit in Rio de
Janeiro. By signing and ratifying the United Nations’ Convention on Biological
Diversity, Canada made a legal commitment to conserve biological diversity.

Among the positive amendments to the bill is that listing of species will be left largely
to scientists rather than politicians (Cabinet would have to veto, within nine months,
decisions of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada).
Provisions to protect habitat - the loss of which is the greatest threat to wildlife - have
also been improved, and mandatory protection is now in place for areas of federal
jurisdiction, such as federal lands and aquatic species. Unfortunately, the bill contains
no specific additional provisions for birds, beyond the provisions already existing for
federal lands and provisions in the existing Migratory' Birds Convention Act.

The ultimate value of the new legislation will be determined by how effective it is in
helping wildlife and safeguarding habitats. Its effectiveness will depend, in part, on
the federal funding in place for implementation and on cooperation with the provinces

and territories to provide a meaningful safety net for species at risk.

Ontario’s Endangered Species List
- Another Kind of “Deficit.”

Federation of Ontario Naturalists

While discussions of species-at-risk legislation bring to mind the numerous federal
attempts to establish a federal act, Ontario does already have an Endangered Species
Act (ESA). The ESA, which came into effect in 1971, includes provisions to protect
listed species and their habitat and it will ultimately form part of a federal-provincial
safety net for species at risk. Ontario’s ESA, though, protects only some of the
province’s endangered species. While three additional species received protection in
2001 and decisions regarding seven other species are pending, as of July 2002 there
were still 31 Ontario endangered species missing from the provincial list, which also
does not include an additional 39 threatened species.

With representation from Sierra Legal Defence Fund (SLDF), FON filed an application
for review in 1999 of Ontario’s endangered species list and made a formal complaint
in March 2000 to the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario. The review was
declined, but SLDF and FON have now refiled their application for review and have
urged the commissioner to address the situation. In the meantime, a great many of
Ontario’s endangered and threatened species remain unprotected - bad news for species
such as Northern Bobwhite, Acadian Flycatcher, Bam Owl, American Ginseng, and
Wavy-rayed Lampmussel. FON urges Ministry of Natural Resources to address the
deficit in Ontario’s ESA.

Editor’s Note: The two preceding articles were obtained from the FON Fall Nature
Network News.

Butterflies in Your Garden

Jack Holliday

Here in the Ottawa area one can not expect to get exotic butterflies in one’s garden. So
the hope of beautiful Blue Morphos is out, as are most of our local large showy
butterflies.

The Monarchs, for example, are “rolling-stone” type creatures. They arrive from the
South usually about mid-June, lay their eggs on Milkweed plants and then die. The
second generation does not deem to live very long. Once emerging as adults, they
breed, search out suitable Milkweed plants, lay eggs and expire. The third generation
(and sometimes a fourth) is the one we notice most as they are the ones we are most
likely to see in our city gardens. They are “on the wing” in mid-August and can be
frequent visitors to our gardens until Thanksgiving, and perhaps if we are lucky, later.
They are visitors only, on their way to Mexico. The Monarch you see today is not the
one you saw yesterday. Yesterday’s Monarch has migrated (hopefully) many miles to
the south.

If you grow Milkweed and are fortunate enough to have a Monarch lay eggs on your
plants (they seem to be very choosy, examining many plants before laying one or two
eggs on the right plant), you will have the pleasure of watching the larvae grow and
pupate. Although once it emerges from the pupa and dries its wings, it will fly away
never to be seen by you again.

If you must have Monarchs, plant a Buddleia shrub. When in bloom in August and
September, migrating Monarchs can not resist its attraction and will pause to “fuel up”
on the plant’s nectar. Buddleias also attract Cabbage Whites, Red Admirals, Painted
Ladies and Milberts Tortoise Shells.

The butterfly you will see in your garden all summer and into the fall is that standby,
Pieris rapae, the Cabbage White. When provided with the right food source, these
butterflies will stay in your garden. Of course, one has to make available its preferred
food, mostly plants belonging to the Cabbage family. The larvae feed on cabbage,
Cauliflower, various mustards. Nasturtium and, I believe. Sweet Alyssum. So plant the
lovely so-called Flowering Cabbage and Flowering Kale. These plants are attractive to
look at in the garden and a perfect food source for the butterfly larvae. Since these
plants will not be a food source for you, they will not need to be “sprayed” or “dusted”
and the larvae will thrive thus supplying succeeding generations of lovely white
butterflies all summer long.

The males have regular routes which they patrol for hours on end. When they meet
other “Whites” they go into an intricate whirling flight, often high in the sky before
dropping down and resuming their patrol. Sometimes when they are plentiful, one can
see a hundred or more in a virtual white “tornado” go high into the sky. On a lazy
summer afternoon one can sit quietly and watch the “whites” grace your garden with
their magical presence.

Just remember to plant your Flowering Cabbage and Buddleia shrubs early.

Alfred Bog-Fund Raising Campaign-
Interim Report II

Frank Pope

In the last issue of T&L I indicated that I hoped to have a full report for this issue.

Acquiring 3000 acres of bog land and raising $2,500,000 is not, however, without its
challenges. As of 1 November, the deadline for this issue, the Nature Conservancy of
Canada is still working out some details of financing and of title and boundary
verification. The Nature Conservancy has informed the owner that they intend to pick
up the option and they expect to close the deal before the end of the year.

For our part, I am pleased to report that in the first week of October the Club sent the
Nature Conservancy $55,000, representing contributions by 260 people. I expect
donations to continue to come in over the next few months and they will be needed to
repay the loan that will surely be required to close the deal.

OFNC members have recognized this great opportunity to save a priceless natural area.
Your support is appreciated very much.

Oenothera cruciata - New to the
Ottawa District

John Sankey

The meadow to the north of the Dolman Ridge, the ridge west of Anderson Road, is
copiously supplied with our common evening primrose, Oenothera biennis. So for a
month I walked right by a plant of similar form but with a totally different flower
without noticing it. True, this plant was almost buried by goldenrods ( Solidago
canadensis) and I was concentrating on a flora of a new interpretive trail to the west
and ignoring other areas... but still!

O. cruciata has four stringy sepals, four thin recurved petals, and the usual anthers.
The cross-shaped stigma characteristic of Oenothera sticks out a mile in front and is
the flower's most visible feature, hence the common name Cross-shaped Evening
Primrose. But unlike O. biennis, it seems to flower from the top down and easy to spot
once you know what to look for.

It is a common native some 500 km to the south, from New England to southern
Michigan. It obviously does not travel very well -1 thank Dan Brunton for alerting me
to the fact that this may be only the third Canadian record. I could find only one plant,
so rather than take the usual complete voucher specimen, I have taken solely one
flowering branch containing an over mature flower, two open flowers, a bud and leaf.
That, in addition to photos in situ, seems sufficient to establish its identity. I note that
the seed capsules do not look fertile, but we can always hope as IVe moved a few to my
garden and left the rest.

It is not sold as a horticultural species, and to be honest, no gardener would wax
ecstatic over it any more than over our native O. biennis. This plant was some three
meters off a well-used ski trail, and probably the seeds were transported by a skier who
picked them up while visiting one of the popular skiing spots within its normal range.
So, I assume that it was accidentally introduced and that the chances it will survive
here are low.

The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas
Year Two (2002): News from
Region 24 - Ottawa

Christine Hanrahan

Introduction

With the successful completion of our second field season, the Ontario Breeding Bird
Atlas (OBBA) is now close to the half-way mark in this project which runs until 2005.
As always, the success of such a venture relies entirely on its participants. We really
are lucky to have an enthusiastic, dedicated and knowledgeable group of atlassers in
this region. Thank you!

In year one many atlassers told me they spent more time familiarizing themselves with
their squares, searching for good habitat, and learning the techniques of atlassing, than
actually surveying for birds. Year two, however, has clearly been a time of serious data
gathering. Most squares reported big increases in numbers of species recorded. Many
more point counts were done and some atlassers participated in the Atlas Nocturnal
Owl Survey which was initiated by the OBBA in 2002 and will run until 2005.

Special funding enabled the OBBA to produce and distribute (free of charge to
registered atlassers) a bird song identification CD-ROM, the Bluebird. It is hoped that
with this tool more birders will feel confident about doing point counts which rely
primarily on sound rather than sight. All Ottawa region atlassers had the opportunity
to obtain one of these CD’s.

Region 24 Information

For the new folk, here is a quick overview. Our region contains 86 squares, most of
which are 10 km X 10 km in size. Squares which lie along the Ottawa River are
usually smaller and are known as ‘partial squares.’ The region extends roughly from
Casselman in the east to Westmeath in the west, south to Flower Station, Winchester
and Finch, and with the Ottawa River as our northern boundary (Figure 1). The
habitat diversity is great, from dense forests to extensive agricultural areas, and from
wetlands to alvars. The bird life found on the atlas thus far reflects this variety.

Only one square, 18VR14, a sliver of land along the Ottawa River near Dunrobin has
not yet received any coverage. However, it now has a volunteer ready to go for next
year. Eight squares were not atlassed this year, but were surveyed in 2001 and will be
again in subsequent years.

Figure 1. Map of Region 24.

Several of last year’s atlassers moved on to new ventures. We wish them well and
thank them for their significant contributions to the atlas. At the same time we
welcome all the new volunteers who have now brought the number of participants to
95 (up from 81 last year). We continue to have two natural history clubs, the
MacNamara Field Naturalists of Amprior and the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists
of Carleton Place taking part.

More Information can be obtained by contacting me at: vanessa@magma.ca, or by
checking the local atlas pages on the OFNC website www.home.achilles.net/ofiic/, and
the main atlas website: www.birdsontario.org.

Canada Goose Family. Photo by Peter Blancher

Atlassing Results

Breeding evidence has now been found for 177 species, with confirmed breeding for
139 species (Table 1).

Of the 85 squares that have so far been atlassed, 13 have recorded more than 100
species; the highest number recorded is 124 species in 18UR80. Twenty-four squares
have recorded between 80-99 species. To date, only ten squares have reported 45 or
more species with breeding confirmed. The highest total thus far is 72 species in
18VR30, followed closely by 70 species in 18VR52.

While Cape May Warblers were not recorded in Region 24 on the last atlas, they were
found on two squares in 2001 and on five more in 2002. There was no confirmed

breeding and both the Tennessee and Cape May Warblers are essentially birds of
northern coniferous forests. However, the last atlas saw scattered records for both
species south of Algonquin Park and local Ottawa birders have generally anticipated a
more southerly range expansion for these species as nesting birds. It will be interesting
to see if the trend towards increased sightings of these warblers during breeding season
continues during the next three years of the atlas. Keep your eyes and ears open for
these species, but don’t forget that they are also common migrants through our area in
the spring. If in doubt, check the Migration and Nesting Dates section on the atlas
pages at: www.home.achilles.net/ofhc/birding/bbanestdates.

Species of Regional and Provincial Significance in Region 24
Birds not recorded in this region during the previous atlas, or recorded on only a few
squares, were designated Regionally Significant. Together with Provincially Rare
species, they require completion of a Rare Bird Report Form (RBRF). However, in the
20 years since the first atlas, some of the Regionally Significant species have become
increasingly common, particularly in recent years. Two such examples are Merlin and
Wild Turkey where we will probably lift the requirement for RBRFs.

Provincially Significant
species found in our
region in 2001-2002 are
listed with the highest
breeding status found for
each. These are: Black-
crowned Night Heron
(FY), Merlin (NY),

Wild Turkey (FY),

Herring Gull (P),

Yellow-billed Cuckoo
(H), Black-backed
Woodpecker (H), Gray
Jay (P), Philadelphia
Vireo (T), Tennessee
Warbler (B), Cape May
Warbler (T), Bay¬
breasted Warbler (H).

For a list of breeding
codes see Appendix A
on page 29.

Species of Provincial Rarity recorded in 2001-2002 are: Least Bittern (NE), Ruddy
Duck (FY), Bald Eagle (NY), Red-shouldered Hawk (NY), Peregrine Falcon (NY),
Wilson’s Phalarope (FY), Black Tern (NE), Short-eared Owl (FY), Red-headed
Woodpecker (CF), Loggerhead Shrike (H) (See Appendix A).

—
New Species

Four species not recorded as breeding in Region 24
during the last atlas were found this year, two of
them were upgrades from Observed Only (‘X’) in
2001 to breeding status in 2002: Black-crowned
Night-heron (1 square). Black-backed Woodpecker
(1 square), Tennessee Warbler (3 squares), and Le
Conte’s Sparrow (1 square).

Breeding evidence was also found during 2002 for
the following species which were recorded on the
last atlas, but not in 2001: Least Bittern (4
squares), Philadelphia Vireo (2 squares). Northern
Parula (1 square), and Lincoln’s Sparrow (2
squares). Additionally, three other species were
upgraded from Observed Only in 2001 to breeding
status: Double-crested Cormorant, Lesser Scaup and
Black Tern.

A family of Merlins nested in Carleton Place.

Photo by Arnie Simpson

Grosbeak was found on 22 squares in 2002 (11 last year)
noted on six.

Species present in higher

than usual numbers in 2002

Species known to be
irruptive are ones which are
present in some years but
absent in others. Such
irruptions are generally
thought to be triggered by
food shortages forcing these
species to disperse widely in
the quest for more abundant
food supplies. This is
particularly true of crossbills
which feed almost
exclusively on conifer seeds.
While reports of crossbills
were almost non-existent
this year compared to last
year, another member of the
Fringillidae, the Evening
Grosbeak, was widely
reported in 2002. While this
species is also of sporadic
occurrence, it is less certain
whether their presence or
absence in any given year is
tied as closely to food
supplies as it is for
crossbills. Evening
with confirmed breeding

Another species whose widespread appearance this year was linked to an abundant
food source was the Black-billed Cuckoo. Birders know that when tent caterpillars
proliferate. Black-billed Cuckoos are usually around to exploit the situation. They
were recorded on 33 squares this year (10 last year) with confirmed breeding on four.

Merlins continue to expand into Region 24 and are especially conspicuous in 18VR42,
Ottawa Centre, where at least five nests were reported along with numerous sightings
of single birds throughout the season. They seem to have taken to urban life with a
vengeance! Cumulative data for 2001-2002 shows Merlins recorded with some
breeding evidence on 16 squares and observed (‘X’) on four more.

Northern Cardinals have now been recorded on 54 squares (37 last year), and House
Finches on 43 (31 last year). This is a remarkable increase over the first atlas when
Cardinal was found on 19 squares and House Finch on four.

Last year I mentioned the relative dearth of grassland species found in 2001 and
wondered what subsequent years would yield. While Bobolink and Eastern
Meadowlark are present on most squares (75 and 74 respectively), some sparrow
species such as Vesper, Field, and Grasshopper, continue to be reported in low
numbers. Grasshopper Sparrow was found on 27 squares during the first atlas, on four
squares in 2001 and three more in 2002 for a total of only seven squares. Results thus
far from the atlas database, show Grasshopper Sparrows as more widespread in
southwestern Ontario than in eastern Ontario coinciding with results from the first
atlas and reflecting, to a large extent, the more suitable habitat found south of the
Ottawa Region. Grasshopper Sparrows prefer well-drained fields with low grass cover,
scattered tall weeds to serve as perches, and few shrubs. This specific habitat has been
reduced over time by natural succession and of course by development of old field sites.
However, Grasshopper Sparrows will utilize less than ‘perfect’ old field locations. I
suspect that they continue to be uncommon but are also under-recorded because their
thin, insect-like trill is either overlooked or confused with that of Savannah Sparrows
with whom they are often found. The latter species, on the other hand, is common
and has been recorded on 71 squares to date.

Predictions?

It’s always hazardous to make predictions because if you’re wrong you risk looking
foolish. Of course, if you don’t mind looking foolish then predict away. The Region
24 Committee is predicting that Carolina Wren will be the next new breeding species
for the atlas in this area. These wrens are increasingly found here in the winter and
rumors of summer sightings have reached our ears but nobody has actually turned
rumor into fact for us as yet. Another species that might turn up is Tufted Titmouse.
And while Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is not a new breeding species for the area, it wasn’t
recorded during the last atlas. So how about it? Who is going to be the first atlasser to
find one (or all!) of these species breeding in this region?

Looking Ahead: 2003-2005

Thanks to all our great volunteers, Region 24 is blazing ahead in terms of coverage.

We want to keep things rolling along just as smoothly for the next three years, so I’ve
identified areas where we can use some extra work. Watch for postings on the OFNC
website for more details of square bashings, and other ploys to help us achieve our goal
of full coverage. In the meantime, the following list pinpoints the areas where we want
to focus our energies.

Increased Coverage of Squares - Region 24 goals

Based on our knowledge of the region and results from the last atlas, the local atlas
committee has set a goal of at least 80 species per square east of Ottawa and at least 90

species west of the city.

Quite obviously this is not
a hard and fast rule, but a
general guideline. For
example, some squares east
of Ottawa have a greater
habitat diversity than
others, and finding a 100
species or more is not only
probable, it has already
been done. In others,
however, getting 70 species
will present a challenge.

Furthermore, some squares
have less than 50% of their
land mass in Ontario;
expectations for these 13
squares will be somewhat
different. A number of
squares require more work
in order to achieve the
goals we have set out. See Table 2 for number of species per square.

Confirming Breeding Evidence - Go for 50

Confirmed breeding evidence is very low on many of the squares, even when total
species numbers are high (Table 2). Atlas Central has set a goal of a 50%
confirmation rate per square and we know that Ottawa atlassers can meet that goal, no
problem! We all need a challenge in life, and this is ours - meet or exceed the 50%
goal and show that Ottawa atlassers are tops! We’U be offering a workshop in early
July to offer some hands-on pointers to help you confirm more birds on your squares.
Watch for a notice next year. We’ll also be posting more helpful tips on the local atlas
pages of the OFNC website. We do know that atlassers who spent time in the field
through July and early August generally had higher confirmation rates than others who
stopped atlassing in June. However, birding at the right time is only part of the story,
the other half is learning how to find concrete breeding evidence. Good luck and
patience play a part too!

Finding Night Birds

Owls and crepuscular species (birds that are active at dusk and twilight) are certainly
difficult to census, but the challenge they represent makes it all the more satisfying
when they are finally found. Hearing these denizens of dusk and night calling from
field and woods is, to say the least, enchanting. We’ll be looking at organizing some
nocturnal square bashes and possibly resurrecting the Owl Prowl again, in order to
increase coverage of these neglected species. During the early part of 2002 Jeff and

—
Species recorded on 80 or more squares in
Region 24:

American Robin (85)

American Goldfinch 84)

Mourning Dove (83)

American Crow (83)

Song Sparrow (83)

Red-winged Blackbird (83)

Red-eyed Vireo (82)

Blue Jay (82)

Black-capped Chickadee (82)

Common Grackle (82)

Ovenbird (81)

Common Yellowthroat (81)

Tree Swallow (80)

Chipping Sparrow (80)

Angela Skevington invited atlassers to join them on their several owling expeditions.
As these were quite popular we encourage other atlassers to link up with each other
and go on owl prowls together. Watch for emails and notices on the OFNC website for
tips on looking for crepuscular species such as Woodcock and Whip-poor-will.

In 2002 the folk at Atlas Central developed the A tlas Nocturnal Owl Survey to (1)
coordinate data collection with Bird Studies Canada’s Nocturnal Owl Survey, and (2)
provide a more systematic method for atlassers to approach owling. A CD or set of
cassettes with owl calls, along with data forms and an instruction booklet were
produced and are available to any atlasser wishing to participate in this survey. For
additional information about owling, please check the atlas pages of the OFNC website
( http://home. achilles. net/ofnc/birding/owlfaqs. html).

Clarifying Breeding vs. Migration Dates:

Deciding whether a bird is still migrating or already on breeding territory can
sometimes be problematical. To obtain a general idea of early and late nest dates and
migration dates, check the Migration and Nesting Dates for Ontario Bird Species
posted on our local atlas web page and become familiar with who does what when.
More information can be obtained at: http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/wildspace/
intro-e.html and the Ontario Nest Records Scheme (ONRS) at: www.birdsontario.org.
In addition to gathering information about migration and nesting dates, we need to use
a degree of judgement, for birds don’t know that we have set ‘first and last nest dates,’
or migration periods for them! These dates are only guidelines, to be used together
with observations of behaviour, habitat, etc.

Point Counts :

Significantly more people did point counts in 2002 than in 2001. Most were surprised
by how enjoyable it was and by how many birds they were able to tally for their square
by this method. Point counts allow us to collect abundance data which gives a more
accurate picture of breeding bird populations in the province. For example we know
that House Finches have now been found on 43 squares in Region 24. Without
collecting abundance data we cannot determine whether each square has a few birds or
many and, therefore, we don’t really know how abundant or not the species is. We
certainly get a relative idea of their range, but it is also important to look at numbers as
well.

This year several atlassers offered to help with point counts in squares other than their
own. This kind of cooperative effort is something we want to encourage over the next
three years.

How You Can Get Involved with the Atlas

It is never too late to volunteer for the atlas. Although we currently have no
unassigned squares in this region, squares do become available as atlassers migrate to
other areas or other pursuits - check out the local OFNC website for details. We are

always looking for Casual Observers (CO). As a CO you can submit data from
anywhere in our region and if you choose to be registered as part of the atlas project
you will receive much the same information package as atlassers assigned
responsibility for a square. You will get an ID number, be put on the mailing list for
both the local atlas group and for the OBBA newsletter and be able to access that part
of the main atlas website available only to registered atlassers. However, you don’t
have to be an ‘official atlasser’ to submit observations.

Some casual observers are diffident about contributing observations to the atlas, for
they think that common nesting birds have already been recorded. Let me assure you -
ALL observations are valuable. You’d be surprised how many gaps casual
observations fill. Let me give you an example: someone contacted me with a report of
nesting Eastern Phoebes near her house. Although a common species, and recorded on
the square, it had not been confirmed. Her observation elevated the record to
confirmed breeding status, which is what we’d like for all the birds recorded.

Therefore, I can’t reiterate enough that all observations, YOUR observations, are
important to the success of this project. Backyard bird watchers can help by telling us
about birds they find in their backyard and in their neighbourhood.

What to look for :

You don’t have to find nests! Simply noting which birds are present throughout the
breeding season is great. If you can observe whether they are defending their territory,
carrying nest material, carrying food back to a possible nest site, and so on, this is even
better. Note it all down and contact me -1 prefer if you don’t wait until summer’s end
to do this, because I can then pass the information on to the person responsible for the
square, and I can also update my own records as the season progresses.

Taking the Initiative

I’m always impressed when atlassers get so involved in this project that they go that
extra step to gather more data, help other atlassers, or develop interesting suggestions
for making things work better. I’ve already mentioned Jeff and Angela Skevington
inviting people to go on owling excursions with them, and not just to their own square,
but to other parts of the region. In Carleton Place, Cliff Bennett and the Mississippi
Valley Field Naturalists developed a letter explaining the atlas project and asked for
interested recipients to contact them with information. This letter was then hand-
delivered to rural residents in much of their square (18VR10). It worked! People were
interested and happy to report their observations. Way to go Cliff and MVFN! Last
year Alan and Carol German developed a letter which could be hand-delivered to
residents in any local neighbourhood asking for reports of species such as nesting
Hummingbirds, Cardinals, House Finches, etc. A brilliant suggestion. This letter is
stored on our atlas web pages on the OFNC website and can be printed off. Other
atlassers have volunteered to help with point counts wherever they are needed (Thank
you Erica Dunn, Paul Schoening, and Mick Panesar), or have taken the time to help
gather breeding evidence or perform point counts with birding pals atlassing far-flung

squares (Thank you Bemie Ladouceur and Steve Gawn). We have offers of more help
for next year (Thanks, Mick Panesar and Steve Gawn). We’re hoping to see more of
this cooperative effort which makes of this project something extra-special. Thanks to
all of you!

Acknowledgments

Heartfelt thanks to every one who participated in the Breeding Bird Atlas this year.
Thank you for spending so much time and effort surveying your squares, contributing
casual observations, helping out fellow atlassers, doing point counts, taking part in owl
surveys, sharing your sightings and your enthusiasm. Without your help we simply
wouldn’t have an atlas. Many thanks to my local Atlas Committee: Mark Gawn, Paul
Jones, and new member, Mick Panesar. They’re always ready with comments,
suggestions, thoughts, and plans for helping guarantee that our region runs smoothly.
Mark organizes our workshops (this year at Jack Pine Trail), while Paul is our front
man, talking to other local natural history groups about the atlas. Thank you also to
Pete Blancher, Gord Belyea and Amie Simpson for use of their superb photos. To see
more great photos by these guys and others, visit the OFNC atlas pages and click on
the Photo Gallery. Many thanks to the following individuals for contributing their
observations. Tony Beck, Kathy Bissett, Bruce Di Labio, Georgina Doe, Dan Brunton,
and Sandy Garland.

Table 1: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas - Region 24, Ottawa Cumulative Results
(2001-2002). Species in boldface are new for 2002. Under the heading “# of squares
recording each species,” the number in brackets includes species recorded as observed
only.

Species

# of squares recording
each species

# of squares recording
confirmed breeding

Common Loon

23 (26)

Pied-billed Grebe

14 (16)

Double-crested Cormorant

5(14)

American Bittern

Least Bittern

Great Blue Heron

29 (69)

Green Heron

30 (35)

Black-crowned Night-
heron

1(4)

Turkey Vulture

39 (60)

Canada Goose

47 (59)

Table 1 con’d

Species

# of squares recording
each species

# of squares recording
confirmed breeding

Wood Duck

Gadwall

American Wigeon

American Black Duck

22 (24)

Mallard

69 (70)

Blue-winged Teal

Northern Shoveler

6(7)

Northern Pintail

2(3)

American Green-winged
Teal

Ring-necked Duck

6(7)

Lesser Scaup

2(3)

Hooded Merganser

19(21)

Common Merganser

9(13)

Ruddy Duck

Osprey

21 (27)

Bald Eagle

1(2)

Northern Harrier

50 (52)

Sharp-shinned Hawk

26 (27)

Cooper’s Hawk

12(14)

Northern Goshawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

17(18)

Broad-winged Hawk

27 (29)

Red-tailed Hawk

56 (59)

American Kestrel

Merlin

16 (20)

Peregrine Falcon

Gray Partridge

Ring-necked Pheasant

Ruffed Grouse

Table 1 con’d

Species

# of squares recording
each species

# of squares recording
confirmed breeding

Wild Turkey

18 (20)

Virginia Rail

Sora

Common Moorhen

American Coot

Sandhill Crane

2(4)

Killdeer

75 (77)

Spotted Sandpiper

52 (54)

Upland Sandpiper

Common Snipe

American Woodcock

41 (43)

Wilson’s Phalarope

Ring-billed Gull

10 (64)

Herring Gull

4(20)

Common Tern

4(10)

Black Tern

3(8)

Rock Dove

Mourning Dove

Black-billed Cuckoo

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Eastern Screech-Owl

Great Homed Owl

Northern Hawk Owl

Barred Owl

22 (23)

Long-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Common Nighthawk

8(10)

Whip-poor-will

OFNC

PLACE: St. Basil’s Church

Maitland Ave. just north of the Queensway.

RESERVATIONS: To order tickets, fill in the order form and send it
along with remittance before April 19 to:

The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club
35069, Westgate P.O.

Ottawa, Ontario, K1Z 1A2

DIREE

Wine & Cheese Party

Saturday, April 26, 2003, 7:30 p.m.

■ selection of wines ■ cheese & crackers ■ non-alcoholic punch
■ tea & coffee ■ fruit

Help make this another festive evening by coming to our annual party and
mingling with fellow naturalists

Join us in honouring The Member of the Year and recipients of the Service
Award, Anne Hanes Natural History Award, Conservation awards and the
President’s Prize.

Members are invited to exhibit photographic prints and original art on a
natural history theme. The best overall colour or B. & W. Photograph will be
selected by ballot and a prize awarded to the lucky winner.

Mount display items for easy handling and bring them to the Unitarian Church between
4 and 7 p m. on Friday, April 26 th Everything is to be taken home at the end of the
evening. To reserve exhibition space and for further information contact Philip Martin
(729-3218)

Prizes will also be awarded for the best Macoun Field Club displays. Children
(primary or high school) who are OFNC members but not Macoun Field Club
members are also encouraged to compete.

Name:_

Address:

__Phone:__

Please send me_tickets to the OFNC Annual Soir6e at $9 ($4 for

students under 18) per person Enclosed please find my cheque or money
order for $

Table 1 con’d

Species

# of squares recording
each species

# of squares recording
confirmed breeding

Chimney Swift

13 (15)

Ruby-throated

Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

63 (65)

Red-headed Woodpecker

5(6)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

62 (64)

Downy Woodpecker

68 (69)

Hairy Woodpecker

Black-backed

Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Alder Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

62 (63)

Eastern Phoebe

Great Crested Flycatcher

Eastern Kingbird

Loggerhead Shrike

Yellow-throated Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Philadelphia Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Gray Jay

Blue Jay

American Crow

Table 1 con’d

Species

# of squares recording
each species

# of squares recording
confirmed breeding

Common Raven

46 (50)

Homed Lark

Purple Martin

28 (30)

Tree Swallow

Northern Rough-winged
Swallow

Bank Swallow

Cliff Swallow

34 (35)

Bam Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

House Wren

Winter Wren

Sedge Wren

Marsh Wren

22 (23)

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Eastern Bluebird

Veery

Swainson’s Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Wood Thrush

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird

Brown Thrasher

61 (62)

European Starling

Cedar Waxwing

Table 1 con’d

Species

# of squares recording
each species

# of squares recording
confirmed breeding

Golden-winged Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

3(4)

Nashville Warbler

53 (54)

Northern Parula

1(2)

Yellow Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Cape May Warbler

7(8)

Black-throated Blue

Warbler

Yellow-nunped Warbler

46(47)

Black-throated Green
Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Pine Warbler

31 (32)

Bay-breasted Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

American Redstart

Ovenbird

Northern Waterthrush

Mourning Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Canada Warbler

Scarlet Tanager

44 (47)

Eastern Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Clay-coloured Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Table 1 con’d

Species

# of squares recording
each species

# of squares recording

confirmed breeding

Grasshopper Sparrow

Le Conte’s Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrow

2(3)

Swamp Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

10 (16)

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

56 (58)

Bobolink

Red-winged Blackbird

Eastern Meadowlark

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Baltimore Oriole

Purple Finch

House Finch

Red Crossbill

2(5)

White-winged Crossbill

Pine Siskin

21 (25)

American Goldfinch

Evening Grosbeak

33 (38)

House Sparrow

Species in Region 24 observed only (X)

♦Note: these species were observed in suitable habitat in breeding season and may be
elevated to breeding status in future. Species that were obviously migratory, such as
northern-nesting shorebirds, are not included.

-Redhead
-Boreal Chickadee

Table 2: Number of Species Found and Confirmed, and Number of Hours Spent
Atlassing per Square Cumulative for 2001 - 2002

Legend:

NOT ATLASSED - Square not assigned or atlasser unable to atlas this year.

2002 only - Square first atlassed in 2002

2001 only - square atlassed in 2001 but not in 2002

Species total shown in brackets () includes species coded ‘X’ as ‘observed only’

Square Name &

Number

Number of
Species

Number

confirmed

Number of
Hours in Square

VR00 Almonte

77 (79)

10 (2002 only)

VR01 Blakeney

86 (93)

37.5

VR02 Kinbum

102 (104)

29.5 (2001 only)

VR03 Fitzroy Harbour

108(113)

75.5

VR04 Quyon (5%)

78 (84)

VR10 Appleton

103 (104)

51.5

VR11 Corkery

109(113)

45 (2002 only)

VR12 Marathon/Carp

89 (92)

23.5

VR13 Constance Bay

73 (75)

12.5 (2002 only)

VR14 Eardley (5%)

NOT ATLASSED

VR20 Munster

105(113)

VR21 Kanata/Stittsville

83 (90)

VR22 S. March

63 (74)

42.5

VR23 Dunrobin

107 (108)

35 (2002 only)

VR30 Richmond

114(123)

VR31 Bells Comers

88 (92)

VR32 Britannia

49 (54)

3 (2001 only)

VR40 Manotick

74 (79)

28.5

VR41 Uplands Airport

103 (108)

111

VR42 Ottawa Centre

83 (85)

VR43 Rockcliffe

55 (60)

10.5

VR50 West Osgoode

81 (97)

VR51 Greely

85 (86)

24.5

VR52 Ramsayville

115(120)

192.5

Table 2 cont’d

Square Name &

Number

Number of
Species

Number

confirmed

Number of
Hours in Square

VR53 Greens Creek

64 (69)

VR60 Vernon

68 (70)

VR61 Edwards

70 (74)

VR62 Carlsbad Springs

70 (76)

VR63 Martin’s Comers

61 (62)

10.5

VR64 Cumberland (5%)

VR70 Morewood

63(66)

19.5

VR71 Russell

78 (88)

24.5

VR72 Vars

99 (105)

100.5

VR73 Sarsfield

86(93)

72.5

VR74 Rockland

2.5

VR80 Crysler

53 (54)

2.5 (2001 only)

VR81 Gagnon

79 (82)

14 (2001 only)

VR82 Cheney

84 (85)

30.5

VR83 Bourget

78 (83)

VR84 Clarence

78 (81)

VR90 Berwick

77 (78)

VR91 Mayerville

83 (84)

VR92 Lemieux

7.5

VR93 Pendleton

23 (26)

9 (2001 only)

VR94 Jessups Falls

49 (50)

13 (2001 only)

UR50 McCreary
Mtn./Norcan Lake

UR51 Ferguson’s Lake

79 (84)

UR52 Shamrock

UR53 Balsam Hill

2 (2002 only)

UR54 Bromley

2.5 (2002 only)

UR55 Cobden

64 (69)

18.5

UR56 Beachburg

54 (58)

UR57 Westmeath

78 (83)

9 (2002 only)

Table 2 cont’d

Square Name &

Number

Number of
Species

Number

confirmed

Number of
Hours in Square

UR58 Flannagan Bay

42 (43)

UR60 Flower Station

86(88)

UR61 Calabogie

84 (86)

UR62 Ashdad

104 (107)

UR63 Renfrew

69 (76)

UR64 Haley Station

70 (74)

UR65 Queensline

72 (78)

UR66 Norman Rapids

2.5

UR67 La Passe

UR68 Davidson

0.5 (2001 only)

UR70 Darling Long

Lake

24 (26)

UR71 Bagot Long Lake

74 (79)

UR72 Bumstown

77 (79)

UR73 Goshen

74 (75)

UR74 Castleford

34 (38)

7.5

UR80 Tatlock

122

77 (2001 only)

UR81 Lowney Lake

92 (95)

UR82 White Lake

93 (99)

UR83 Sand Point

74 (77)

15.5

UR84 Rhoddy’s Bay
(5%)

31 (33)

4 (2002 only)

UR90 Clayton

93 (96)

UR91 Cedar Hill

81 (85)

26.5

UR92 Pakenham

90(91)

UR93 Amprior

108(112)

VQ19 Black’s Comers

91 (94)

VQ29 Dwyer Hill

88 (92)

VQ39 Malakoff

113 (114)

33.5

VQ49 North Gower

58 (62)

17.5

Table 2 cont’d

Square Name &
Number _

VQ59 Osgoode
VQ69 Winchester Bog
VQ79 Winchester
VQ89 Chesterville
VQ99 Finch

Number of

Species

78 (88)
60(63)
82 (83)
87 (89)
89 (91)

Number

confirmed

Number of

Hours in Square

15.5

18.5

Atlas Volunteers 2002

Ken Allison, Ruth Allison, Robert Alvo, Ted Baldwin, Ron Bedford, Lisa Benedetti
Cliff Bennett, Lynda Bennett, Marg Benson, Peter Blancher, Celia Bodnar, Ludmi a
Borshevsky, Brian Bowen, Colin and Pat Bowen, Rob Bowyer and Catherine Smith,
Tracy Bridges, David Britton, Richard Brouillet, Peter Browne, Gerhard Bruins Emily
Burton, Janet Castle, Bob Cermak, Laurie Consaul, Daryl Coulson, Dave Cntchlow^
Dale Crook, Ron Curtis, Anthony and Gretchen Denton, Erica Dunn, Peter Fuller, Bill
Fyfe Marcel Gahbauer, Colin Gaskell, Jessica Gawn, Mark Gawn, Carol and Alan
German, Jim Gillick, A1 Graham, Marc Gravel, Anne Hackston, Christine Hanrahan,
Mark Hovorka, Terry Huzarski, Roy John, Paul Jones, Michael Kahn, Anthony Keith,
Rick Killeen, Maryanne Koot, Bemie Ladouceur, Roland Lamarche, Sandy Lang,

Mike and Judy Lascelles, Chris Lewis and Bob Bracken, Dick Mabee, MacNamara
Field Naturalists, Paul and Michelle Martin, Barb Martinovic, Bev McBnde,
Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists, Dave Moore, Carolyn Murphy, Mick Panesar Bev
Peterkin, Remy Poulin, Eric Ridgen, Jack Romanow, Mary Rothfels, Linda Ryan, Paul
Schoening Bev Scott, Amie Simpson, Dan and Chris Simpson, Langis Sirois, Jeff and
Angela Skevington, Dave Smythe, Daniel St. Hilaire, Mark Stabb and Caroline
Schultz, Blair Stevens, Austin Taverner, Eve Ticknor, Kathryn Warner and Mike
Enright, Sloane Watters, Laurie L. Wood, Eleanor Zurbrigg.

Alder Flycatcher on nest, 18VR52. Photo by Gord Belyea
Appendix A

Breeding Evidence Codes

Observed:

X- Species observed in its breeding
season (no evidence of breeding)
Possible:

H - Species observed in season in
suitable nesting habitat
S - Singing male present or breeding
calls heard in breeding season in
suitable nesting habitat.

Probable:

P - Pair observed in their breeding
season in suitable nesting habitat
T - Permanent territory presumed
through registration of territorial song
on at least 2 days, one week or more
apart at the same place
D - Courtship or display between a male
and a female or 2 males including
courtship feeding or copulation
V - Visiting probable nest site

A - Agitated behaviour or anxiety calls
of adult

B - Brood patch on adult female or
cloacal protuberance on adult male
N - Nest building or excavation of nest
hole

Confirmed:

DD - Distraction display or injury
feigning

NU - Used nest or egg shell found
(occupied/laid during atlas period)

FY - Recently fledged young or downy
young

AE - Adults leaving or entering nest site
in circumstances indicating occupied
site

FS - Adult carrying faecal sac
CF - Adult carrying food for young
NE - Nest containing eggs
NY- Nest with young seen or heard

Fall Bird Sightings
25 August -15 November 2002

Chris Lewis

After one of the hottest and driest summers on record, the cool clear days of autumn
were a welcome relief. .. until El Niflo struck again, bringing below normal
temperatures and snow in early November and leaving many of us longing for a bit of
tha t summer heat. However, the influence of prolonged periods of warm days and
southwest winds, interspersed with a few tropical storm residuals from the southeast as
well as cold fronts from the northwest, did create some interesting conditions for fall
bird migration. Both the seedathon (1 September) and the annual Fall Bird Count
(19-20 October), sponsored by the Birds Committee of the OFNC, also provided some
stimulation for birders to "get out there." The results were excellent. The seedathon
team found 123 species and again raised a substantial amount of money to supply the
OFNC bird feeders. A record high total of 139 species was found during the Fall Bird
Count by 51 participants within the 50 km radius on both the Ontario and Quebec sides
of the Ottawa River.

LOONS, GREBES, GANNETS, PELICANS & CORMORANTS

The fall birding season started with a bang! An exceptional sighting of TWO
JUVENILE AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS was reported from Shirleys Bay on
28 August. Later on, we were up to our necks in NORTHERN GANNETS. It started
on 9 October when a stray juvenile was spotted by two birders (in separate vehicles)
who just happened to be driving on the Queensway near the Westgate Shopping Centre
as it flew over, through to 11 November when another bird was seen flying up the
Ottawa River between Dick Bell Park and Shirleys Bay, and continued on to 15
November when yet another report came of a bird heading east past the Parliament
buildings. Another juvenile Gannet was found on 27 October, this time along a
roadside in Wakefield and was brought to the Wild Bird Care Centre. According to
WBCC staff, aside from being thin and dehydrated, the bird was quite active and began
ravenously devouring fish and almost anything else that was offered to it. "Garnet the
Gannet" was still being fattened-up as of mid November, while awaiting its
complimentary flight (via commercial airline) back to the Atlantic coast.

Otherwise, there was single report of a Red-throated Loon on the Ottawa River from
McLaren's Landing on 20 October, and Common Loons were sparse, as were both
Horned and Red-necked Grebes. Double-crested Cormorants were in evidence in

large numbers especially at Shirleys Bay until the end of October.

HERONS & BITTERNS

TWO GREAT EGRETS found at Shirleys Bay on 17 August lingered until 27
September, frequently providing excellent views and creating a Floridian ambiance as
they hunted in the reeds and mudflats west of the dyke. Green Herons were seen
repeatedly at Mud Lake in the Britannia Conservation Area until the third week of
September, and a pair nested at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden. Black-crowned Night-
Herons lingered very late this fall, with five present on Mud Lake on 20 October and
at least two juveniles still here on the 27*.

WATERFOWL

From mid-October onwards, waterfowl were "the story" this fall. Two GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were among the thousands of Canada Geese on the
Ottawa River east of Andrew Haydon Park on 18 October, and a single bird was
observed among the Canada's in a pond along Moodie Drive south of the Trail Road
landfill on both 12 and 20 October. Canada Goose numbers were impressive, with a
record 46,867 counted during the Fall Bird Count, reflecting a significant increase in
this species in Ontario over the past few years. At least one of the tiny northern
subspecies, Branta canadensis hutchinsii, a.k.a. Richardson s Goose, was reported
from the Moodie Drive pond on 12 and 14 October. The largest collection of Snow
Geese was a flock of 28 that spent a few days at a pond on Earl Armstrong Road south
of the Ottawa International Airport in early October; several smaller flocks were
reported from the Ottawa River and Moodie Drive until early November. The cool
crisp weather in early to mid-October brought in the Brant, with 300-400 seen on the
Ottawa River on 6 October, followed by tight and restless flocks of 40-50 during the
next two weeks, also a group of 14 on 30 October at Andrew Haydon Park.

A male EURASIAN WIGEON in eclipse plumage was found at Shirleys Bay on 20
October and was seen again the following day but became elusive afterward. A male
Redhead lingered at the Moodie Drive pond until at least 20 October. Sea ducks
including small groups of Long-tailed Ducks and good numbers of all three species of
scoters were seen on the Ottawa River during their typical time (mid-October to
November). Barrow's Goldeneyes began appearing on the river in late October. Two
males and one female were seen from the Remic Rapids Lookout on 3 November,
among the hundreds of Common Goldeneyes which started to congregate here in late
October. At least 200 Hooded Mergansers were happily feeding on Mud Lake in the
Britannia Conservation Area until a sudden freeze-up on 3 November, and both
Common and Red-breasted Mergansers were present (albeit in small numbers) on
the Ottawa River from 1 October onward. Ruddy Ducks are now widespread breeders
in the Ottawa area, as was proven again this fall with reports of numerous adults and

juveniles from most of the eastern sewage lagoons and other locations such as Shirleys
Bay and the Moodie Drive pond. A female Common Shelduck raised some eyebrows
this fall. She was reported by several observers at the Dechenes Rapids Lookout along
the Ottawa River Parkway from August 26 through the end of the period. A tame and
obviously healthy bird, this duck was most likely an escapee from a waterfowl
collection. In spite of the outside chance that she may have made her way from Europe
all on her own, this species is NOT countable in North America except as an "exotic.

For those who keep bird-lists, sorry but "them's the rules."

HAWKS & EAGLES

Due to obvious geographical differences, raptor migration in eastern Ontario never
reaches the magnitude of what is seen along the Great Lakes. However, a few
moderate flights of Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks were observed in mid-
October. Rough-legged hawks began arriving during the third week of October A
couple of spectacular eagle sightings included an immature Golden Eagle migrating
over the Russell sewage lagoon on 20 October and an immature Bald Eagle that spent
several days feeding on gull carcasses and spooking the waterfowl. The eagle provided
excellent views for many who saw this bird at various locations including Britannia
and the east end of Andrew Haydon Park from 29 October until at least 13 November.

Merlins were again prosperous local breeders (again mostly in urban and suburban
areas) and one or more was frequently seen harassing the shorebirds at Shirleys Bay
and Andrew Haydon Park this fall. The downtown Peregrine Falcon pair successfully
raised two out of three chicks (refer to Eve Ticknor's comprehensive summary of the
2002 Falcon Watch in the October - December issue of T&L 36(4):141-144).

RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS & CRANES

The eastern sewage lagoons again hosted several families of American Coots - five
adults and 12 juveniles were observed at the Embrun lagoon on 1 September. At least
25 coots were at Shirleys Bay on 22 October and two were still here on 10 November.
The Alfred lagoon was another great breeding site for both coots and Common
Moorhens. The number of breeding pairs of Sandhill Cranes in the Mer Bleue bog is
still unknown, but this species has obviously done very well in eastern Ontario. A
record high number of 32 individuals was found on 20 October, most of them were
often seen feeding in the cornfields along Milton Road west of Navan during the
following weeks.

SHOREBIRDS

An excellent number and variety of shorebirds made birding on the Ottawa River a real
pleasure this fall. Extensive mudflats on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River from

Shirleys Bay to Lakeside Gardens attracted some uncommon yet very conspicuous and
accommodating visitors including two HUDSONIAN GODWITS and three Long¬
billed Dowitchers. These birds remained until mid-October at Shirleys Bay. Sixteen
species of shorebirds were found on the Fall Bird Count, and Lesser Yellowlegs,
Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Baird's
Sandpiper and Stilt Sandpiper lingered into the following week. One hundred and
eight Dunlins were found on the Fall Bird Count; a late group of nine was at Shirleys
Bay on 11 November. The almost annual occurrence of PURPLE SANDPIPER at
this time of year in Ottawa was repeated again this fall, with a single bird found in the
Deschenes Rapids on 11 November. A RED PHALAROPE appeared briefly at
Constance Bay on 7 November.

GULLS

The most exciting gull sighting was an unprecedented number of Bonaparte's Gulls
on 19-20 October. A flock of 102 were seen at the Winchester sewage lagoon, feeding
intensely in the ponds and apparently oblivious to the close approach of non-avian
observers. Seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls were reported from the pond on Moodie
Drive south of the landfill on 20 October, and Ring-billed and Great Black-backed
Gulls continue to increase each fall.

OWLS

The dedicated owl-banders at the Innis Point Bird Observatory netted 36 Northern
Saw-whet Owls from 3-19 October Otherwise, no owl species were reported.

WOODPECKERS

After raising two young in a burnt area in Constance Bay this summer, a pair of Red¬
headed Woodpeckers were last reported on 29 August. Considering the ideal habitat,
it is hoped that they will return here next year. One of the many good birds discovered
on the Fall Bird Count was a male Black-backed Woodpecker in the Larose Forest.

PASSERINES

Generally speaking, songbird migration was uneventful with the most significant
numbers reported in mid-September. Hundreds of Swainson's Thrushes and several
Veerys were heard calling almost continuously during the nighttime hours of 14-15
September. A record high number of 2,253 American Robins were counted on 19-20
October and many remained at Britannia and Shirleys Bay through the end of the
period. Most of the four species of vireos and 18 species of warblers reported from
early to mid-September were found in the Britannia Conservation Area and the woods
at Shirleys Bay. Despite the lack of rarities or significant warbler fall outs this fall, an

impressive total of 184 Yellow-rumped Warblers were still in the area in the third
week of October.

A rare immature BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER hung out with the warblers at
Britannia from 14-18 September. A surprisingly early Olive-sided Flycatcher
appeared briefly in a backyard north of the Royal Ottawa Hospital on 25 August, and a
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher put on a good show for several birders at Britannia on 17
September. A late Eastern Wood-Pewee was still singing at Shirleys Bay on 1
October. Swallows had vacated the Ottawa area by mid-September, just as the
Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets began to arrive - good numbers of both
kinglets were reported until the last week of October.

Corvids, particularly Blue Jays and American Crows, were a hot topic this fall due to
the media reports of West Nile virus in southern Ontario. Although both species were
reported to be quite reduced in southern Ontario, the numbers of crows found in
Ottawa-Gatineau during the Fall Bird Count were nearly double those of last year, and
Blue Jay numbers were average for the season. Sparrow numbers, on the other hand,
were nowhere near as high as last fall. Forty six Fox Sparrows and plenty of White-
throated and White-crowned Sparrows as well as Dark-eyed Juncos were reported
throughout the month of October. Ninety five Lapland Longspurs were reported on
the Fall Bird Count, most of them from agricultural fields near Manonville; at least
one was among a flock of 40 Horned Larks at the Central Experimental Farm on 8
November. Snow Buntings began to appear at the end of October. Rusty Blackbirds
broke the Fall Bird Count record with 451 reported, and huge flocks of Common
Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds began to gather in late August and were
prevalent until mid-October. Conversely, a general decline in House Finches has been
noted on Fall Bird Counts since 1995.

There was no indication by mid-November whether or not this would be an invasion
winter" (i.e. northern owls, Bohemian Waxwings or winter finches) so stay tuned to
the OFNC Bird Status Line for updates!

The bird sightings mentioned in this article were derived from various sources
including reports to the OFNC Bird Status Line as well as personal communications.
Many thanks to all who made the effort to share their observations. The results of the
Fall Bird Count can be found on the OFNC Web site.

To report bird sightings as well as listen to reports from the Ottawa-Gatineau area, call
the Bird Status Line at (613) 860-9000. For more information about great birding
locations as well as field trips and other birding events organized by the OFNC, call
(613) 722-3050 or visit the OFNC web site at http://www.achilles.net.qfhc/

Coming Events

arranged by the Excursions & Lectures Committee.

For further information,

call the Club number (722-3050) after 10:00 a m.

Times stated for excursions are departure times. Please arrive earlier; leaders start
promptly. If you need a ride, don 7 hesitate to ask the leader. Restricted trips will be
open to non-members only after the indicated deadlines.

ALL OUTINGS: Please bring a lunch on full-day trips and dress according to the
weather forecast and activity. Binoculars and/or spotting scopes are essential on all
birding trips. Unless otherwise stated, transportation will be by car pool.

REGISTERED BUS TRIPS: Make your reservation for Club bus excursions by
sending a cheque or money order (Payable to The Ottawa Field-Naturalists ' Club) to
Box 35069, Westgate P.O., Ottawa, Ontario, KIZ 1A2, at least ten days in advance.
Include your name, address, telephone number and the name of the outing. 1 our
cooperation is appreciated by the Committee so that we do not have to wait to the last
moment to decide whether a trip should be cancelled due to low registration. In order
for the Club to offer a bus trip, we need just over 33 people to register. If fewer than
30 register, we have the option of cancelling the trip or increasing the cost. Such
decisions must be done a week in advance so we encourage anyone who is interested
in any bus trip to register as early as possible. We also wish to discourage postponing
the actual payment of bus fees until the day of the event.

EVENTS A T THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF NA TURE: The Club is grateful to the
Museum for their cooperation, and thanks the Museum for the use of these excellent
facilities. Club members must be prepared to show their membership cards to gain
access for Club functions after regular museum hours.

BIRD STA TUS LINE: Phone (613) 860-9000 to learn of recent sightings or birding
potential in the Ottawa area. This service is run on behalf of the Birds Committee and
is available to members and non-members.

Tuesday
14 January
7:00 p.m.
Social & Club
Business

7:30 p.m.

Formal

program

Sunday
19 January
9:00 a.m.

Sunday
9 February
8:00 a.m.

OFNC 124* ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

Meet: Auditorium, Canadian Museum of Nature, Metcalfe and

McLeod Streets.

The President and Council for 2003 will be elected at this
meeting and a brief review of the activities during 2002 will be
given, as well as a statement of the Club’s finances. Following
this. Exclusions and Lectures Committee will add some
humour to the evening with a short talk on entitled “Bizarre
Moments.” Come early to read minutes and committee
reports. All members are welcome so also take this
opportunity to meet the Council and fellow Club members

WINTER BIRDS
Leader: Ken Allison

Meet: Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre, northeast comer of the
parking lot, Richmond Road at Assaly Road.

Ken offers a full day outing to observe a number of birds that
stay over the winter. Gulls, waterfowl and other seasonal
species in the vicinity of Ottawa will be seen. Bring a snack
and a drink, and be sure to dress warmly.

WINTER FINCHES
Leader: Bemie Ladoucer

Meet: Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre, north-east comer of
the parking lot, Richmond Road at Assaly Road.

Our destination will depend upon the arrival of winter finches
in their traditional areas in Quebec. If these birds are scarce
there, other birding spots will be chosen. These could include
several locales along the Ottawa River to observe winter
waterfowl and other wintering species. Bring a snack and a
warm drink.

Tuesday

11 February

7:00 p.m.

Social & Club
Business

OFNC MONTHLY MEETING

INSECTS IN MY BACKYARD

Speaker: Henri Goulet

Meet: Auditorium, Canadian Museum of Nature, Metcalfe and
McLeod Streets.

7:30 p.m.

Formal

Program

Dr. Goulet, Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada, has taken
some remarkable digital photographs of insects in his own
back yard. He will give a vivid account of some of the more
visible “bugs” which form but a small proportion of the insects
and related creatures that reside in his garden. We will see the
role of dandelions and other “weeds” as providers of pollen
and nectar for several important insect predators such as
ladybirds and lacewings - a convincing argument as to why our
natural allies should not be destroyed by herbicides or
pesticides!

Sunday

23 February

8:00 a.m.

WINTER RAPTORS

Leader: Mark Gawn

Meet: Greenboro Shopping Centre (in front of the Second Cup
at the northern end of the parking lot). This location is close to
public transit (transitway, O Train). Note: We do not have an
agreement with this shopping centre to park cars all day,
therefore, cars will be left at your own risk.

On this excursion we will probably be heading either south or
east to locate various species of hawks and owls that may be
seen in fields and woodlots in the Ottawa region. Warm
clothing, binoculars, a snack and a hot drink are strongly
recommended.

Friday

February or
March

Date and time to
be determined

MUDPUPPY NIGHT

Leaders: Fred Schueler and Philip Martin

Meet: Oxford Mills at the parking lot just below the dam at
the bridge in the village - not the Hanlan Bridge outside (west
or downstream) of the settlement.

Directions: Follow the Leeds-Grenville County Road 18 south
from Kemptville or north from Prescott to Oxford Mills.

This is an opportunity to see our giant aquatic Salamanders at
the only place in Ontario where they are known to be easily
viewed during their winter activity. We will walk around the
shore or ice shelves and hope to see from five to maybe 60
Mudpuppies prowling the bottom or feeding on fish or
crayfish. Afterwards, we retire to the nearby Brigadoon
Restaurant for hot drinks, desserts, and telling of tall tales. For
more information contact <bckcdb@istar.ca> or call 258-3107
or 258-3016. Two other sources of information are:
http://www.geocities.com/dungwarrior_2000/fred-david3.jpg
and http://www.geocities, com/dungwarrior 2000Zmudpup3.jpg

This trip is limited to the first 20 to register at 722-3050
(before February 6, please). Final details will be given to the
registrants. You will need rubber boots, a flashlight and a dip
net (if you have one). Children are welcome.

Tuesday

11 March

7:00 p.m.

Social & Club
Business

OFNC MONTHLY MEETING

PRESQU’ELE PROVINCIAL PARK

Speaker: Don Shanahan

Meet: Auditorium, Canadian Museum of Nature, Metcalfe and
McLeod Streets.

7:30 p.m.

Formal

Program

Shorebirds are almost constantly on the move commuting
between their Arctic breeding ground and wintering areas as
far south as Patagonia. Presqu’ile Provincial Park is an
important yet vulnerable haven for these traveling birds.
Brighten resident and frequent haunter of the Presqu’ile
beaches, Don Shanahan, will introduce you to many of the
forty shorebird species that have been recorded at Presqu’ile.

Don will also talk about the incredible voyages made by many
of those shorebirds and why their time at Presqu’ile is so
important. This talk will prepare us for the Club’s traditional
spring trip planned for April 6 th (see below).

Saturday
22 March.
8:30 a.m.

Saturday
29 March
6.30 a.m.

Sunday
6 April
6:30 a.m.
to

6:30 p.m.

WINTER PLANTS
Leader: Albert Dugal

Meet: Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre, north-east corner of
the parking lot, Richmond Road at Assaly Road.

Join in the challenge to identify trees and shrubs by their
shapes and other less conspicuous features. Albert will
introduce us to a plant community in one of our local
conservation areas. Please REGISTER WITH THE CLUB
NUMBER (722-3050) after 10:00 a.m. by March 15.

SPRING ARRIVALS AT BEAR BROOK
Leader: Ken Allison

Meet: Elmvale Acres Shopping Centre, northwest comer of
the parking lot at the junction of St. Lawrence Blvd. and
Smyth Road. (Please note the Club only has parking
arrangements at Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre - that is they
will not tow away a car with an OFNC card on the dash. This
is not the case with other shopping centres, so if you leave your
car it is at your own risk.)

The flat clay lands in this area flood annually and are slow to
drain. This attracts large numbers of waterfowl as well as other
early migrants. Join Ken in identifying this wonderful variety
of birds. A telescope would be useful if you have one. Because
of the variation in climate and arrival dates of birds you should
check the Club website or phone the Club number (722-3050
after 10:00 a.m.) close to the date for last minute information.

SPRING BIRDING AT PRESQU’ILE
Leader: Roy John

Meet: Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre, northeast comer of the
parking lot, Richmond Road at Assaly Road.

Cost: $30.00 (PLEASE REGISTER EARLY; see the
introduction to Coming Events for information.)

The Club’s traditional spring outing to Presqu’ile Provincial
Park offers an ideal opportunity to study the diverse assortment
of waterfowl that congregate in the surrounding waters during
their northward migration. Transportation will be by a
comfortable motor coach equipped with washroom. Anyone
thinking about attending this excursion should consider
attending the 11 March meeting.

Tuesday

OFNC MONTHLY MEETING

8 April

UNDER THE ICE

7:00 p.m.

Speaker: Kathy Conlan

Social & Club

Meet: Auditorium, Canadian Museum of Nature, Metcalfe and

Business

McLeod Streets.

7:30 p.m.

Formal

Program

See the penguin and the Polar Bear perspectives! Dr Kathleen
Conlan, a Research Scientist in marine biology at the

Canadian Museum of Nature, will share some of her research

and diving experiences under the sea ice in the Arctic and
Antarctic.

BASIC BOTANY

Teachers: Phillip Martin and Roy John

Meet: Canadian Museum of Nature, Metcalfe and McLeod

Streets, room number to be determined.

This is a parallel course to the introduction to Birdwatching
given previously. It will cover the basics of field botany and is
intended for beginners.

OFNC SOIREE WINE AND CHEESE PARTY AND

ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

Meet: St. Basil’s Church. Maitland Ave. just north of the

Queensway.

PLEASE NOTE change of venue and change of day. See
centrefold for further details.

SPRING EXCURSION TO POINT PELEE
The Club is planning its biennial four day bus excursion to
this protected area to coincide with the peak of spring bird
migration. This trip is tentatively scheduled for the dates
listed, and plans will proceed if there is a sufficient and
early response from the membership. Accommodation has
been reserved so if you are interested, please call the Club
number (722-3050) as soon as possible. Full details of the
itinerary and the cost will appear in the April - June issue
oiT&L.

Saturday
19 April
1:00 p.m.
to

5:00 p.m.

Saturday
26 April
7:30 p.m.

15 May
to

18 May

NOTE: Concerning Bus Trips

When the Excursions & Lectures Committee organizes a bus
trip it needs to observe certain principles. First, by Council’s
direction, we are not to make a loss. Second, by Club policy
we are not to make a profit either. This means we try to break
even on each trip, and if we do not, we aim to balance the
books over each season. A bus typically costs about $1000/day.
If we charge $30 each we need just over 33 people to register.
We are allowed some discretion. If only 31 or 32 people have
registered then trip would go, but at a slight loss. We would
hope that another trip would make a small profit and we would
balance out. Several trips lately have had around 25 people
sign on. This leaves us with a choice of canceling the bus or
raising the price to $40. We have checked with other bus lines
(we typically use Carleton) and there are smaller buses avail¬
able, but they also cost $1000/day so there is no saving. We
could use vans but these come out to $54/head. School buses,
while cheaper, are no longer used by us because we had too
many complaints of discomfort. Excursion & Lectures tries to
provide outings in acceptable comfort, to interesting places, at
reasonable cost. To do this we need to make a decision at least
a week in advance of the trip date as to whether we should pro¬
ceed, cancel the bus or, as we did with two recent trips, contact
a few people planning to go by private car and persuade them
to join the bus (and so help us to balance the books!). We hope
this clarifies the way we organize our bus trips.

DEADLINE: Material intended for the April - June 2003 issue must be in the
editor's hands by February l, 2003. Mail your manuscripts to:

Karen McLachlan Hamilton

2980 Moodie Drive, Nepean, ON K2J 4S7

H: (613) 838-4943 e-mail: hamilton@storm.ca

ANY ARTICLES FOR. TRAIL & LANDSCAPE?

Have you been on an interesting field trip or made some unusual observations
recently? Is there a colony of rare plants or a nesting site that needs protection?
Write up your thoughts and send them to Trail & Landscape. We accept e-mail,
IBM-compatible diskettes, or submissions in traditional form- typed, written,
printed or painted!

URL of our site:
http:/Avww. achilles. net/ofnc /

WEBMASTER’S e-mail
ofnc@achilles.net

ISSN 0041-0748

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