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The<br />

<strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong><br />

Quarterly Journal of the Kingston Field Naturalists<br />

ISSN 0382-5655<br />

Volume 56, No. 3 September 2009<br />

Celebrating our 60 th Anniversary in 2009<br />

Contents<br />

President’s Page Chris Grooms...................................75<br />

KFN Income Statement April 2008-March 2009 Larry McCurdy ...............................76<br />

KFN Balance Sheet April 2008-March 2009 Larry McCurdy ...............................77<br />

Summer Season June1 – July 31 2009 Ron D. Weir ....................................78<br />

KFN Field Trips July-Aug 2009<br />

Napanee Plain July 5 Joseph Benderavage .........................80<br />

Amherst Island August 9 Peter Good .......................................81<br />

Presqu’ile Provincial Park August 30 Owen Weir......................................81<br />

The Great Canadian BioBlitz 2009 Anne Robertson...............................82<br />

Vertebrates Erwin Batalla...................................84<br />

Invertebrates Shirley French .................................87<br />

Vascular Plants Barry Robertson ..............................95<br />

Non-Vascular Plants and Fungi Anne Robertson.............................101<br />

Diane Lawrence Wins Richards Education Award Anne Robertson.............................102<br />

Shunned by Some, Loved by Others Terry Sprague................................103<br />

Odonate Sightings April 1 to August 31 2009 Kurt Hennige.................................105<br />

The Kingston Field Naturalists at Fifty Mike Evans....................................108<br />

<strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> (1999) Volume 46 No. 2:36-38


2008/2009 Officers<br />

President: Chris Grooms<br />

613-386-7969<br />

groomsc@queensu.ca<br />

Honorary Faith Avis<br />

President: 613-542-4663<br />

avisf@kos.net<br />

Vice-President: Janis Grant<br />

613-548-3668<br />

janis.grant@kos.net<br />

Past President: Hugh Evans<br />

613-546-9145<br />

evans@sno.phy.queensu.ca<br />

Treasurer: Larry McCurdy<br />

613-389-6427<br />

larrymcc@kingston.net<br />

Recording Rose-Marie Burke<br />

Secretary: 613-549-7583 (winter)<br />

613-353-2463 (summer)<br />

rmbehr@istar.ca<br />

Membership John Critchley<br />

Secretary: 613-634-5475<br />

sharjohn.critchley@sympatico.ca<br />

The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> is the quarterly journal (published<br />

March, June, September and December) of the<br />

Kingston Field Naturalists, P.O. Box 831, Kingston,<br />

ON (Canada), K7L 4X6.<br />

KFN Information Line: (613) 389-8338<br />

Website: http://www.kingstonfieldnaturalists.org<br />

Send submissions to the Editor by the 15 th of the<br />

month prior to the month of publication (i.e. by the 15 th<br />

of February/May/August/November) to the address<br />

above, or to the editor via e-mail to:<br />

alerwin@kos.net. Please include contact phone<br />

number.<br />

Submissions should be in MS Word format or in “plain<br />

text” format (PC or MacIntosh) or unformatted in the<br />

body of an e-mail.<br />

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement<br />

#047128<br />

Nature Reserves Erwin Batalla 613-542-2048 alerwin@kos.net<br />

Conservation Chris Hargreaves 613-389-8993 hargreavescp@sympatico.ca<br />

<strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Editor Alex Simmons 613-542-2048 alerwin@kos.net<br />

Junior Naturalists Anne Robertson 613-389-6742 n8ture.anne@sympatico.ca<br />

Education Shirley French 613-548-8617 french_shirley@hotmail.com<br />

Field Trips Kurt Hennige 613-386-1772 khennige@sympatico.ca<br />

Bird Sightings Peter Good 613-378-6605 goodcompany@sympatico.ca<br />

Bird Records Ron Weir 613-549-5274 bar.ron@sympatico.ca<br />

Speakers Chris Grooms 613-386-7969 groomsc@queensu.ca<br />

Publicity John Diemer 613-389-9451 diemer@sympatico.ca<br />

Website/Slides Gaye Beckwith 613-376-3716 beckwithb@sympatico.ca<br />

Ontario Nature Jackie Bartnik 613-531-3736 thegrump@kos.net<br />

Member-at-large Connie Gardiner 613-545-2354 hconstance@sympatico.ca<br />

Archives Peter McIntyre 613-548-4738 klamp@cogeco.ca


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 75<br />

President’s Page<br />

Chris Grooms<br />

Happy 60 th Birthday Kingston Field Naturalists!<br />

Sixty years ago the KFN was born. The<br />

first general meeting was held on<br />

November 24, 1949. Nine people<br />

attended. The Club was originally called<br />

the Kingston Nature Club. Our<br />

objectives have always been "to acquire,<br />

record and disseminate knowledge of<br />

Natural History; to stimulate public<br />

interest in Nature, and in the protection<br />

and preservation of wildlife." You can<br />

read about our history online at<br />

www.kingstonfieldnaturalists.org and<br />

in articles reprinted in this year’s <strong>Blue</strong><br />

<strong>Bill</strong>.<br />

To celebrate this milestone, we have<br />

planned some special events. First, we<br />

are hosting Ontario Nature’s Eastern<br />

Regional Meeting on September 12 th .<br />

Second, we are reviving an old tradition<br />

and putting on a 60 th Anniversary<br />

Birthday Breakfast and field trips at the<br />

Helen Quilliam Sanctuary. It will be<br />

held on Sunday, September 27 th ; check<br />

your Newsletter or the KFN website for<br />

details. Thirdly, we have a special<br />

speaker for our October meeting: John<br />

Cartwright, a founding member of the<br />

KFN. His presentation will without<br />

doubt be nostalgic and entertaining.<br />

Perhaps as an anniversary gift (as well<br />

as the result of conservation efforts!), we<br />

were given two ornithological presents<br />

this year. One is the restoration of<br />

chimney swifts roosting in the Fleming<br />

Hall chimney at Queen’s University.<br />

Following our removal of an exclusion<br />

screen from the chimney’s mouth, a<br />

flock of about 100 swifts used it every<br />

night for most of the summer. It seems<br />

that we have restored important habitat<br />

for this threatened species.<br />

Another gift this summer was the<br />

successful nesting of a pair of peregrine<br />

falcons in downtown Kingston. Two<br />

young falcons fledged from a nest built<br />

on top of Princess Towers on the corner<br />

of Princess and Division Streets. Club<br />

members were aware of a pair of falcons<br />

in the area from late winter into the<br />

summer but did not realize there was a<br />

nest until the young were hopping<br />

about the top of the building. Building<br />

staff knew early on, of course. They<br />

were happy to be hosts and tolerant of<br />

the many pigeon carcasses scattered<br />

about the buildings’ roofs. Let’s keep<br />

our eyes on the Towers and the Fleming<br />

chimney next spring.


Page 76 September 2009<br />

INCOME<br />

KINGSTON FIELD NATURALISTS<br />

INCOME STATEMENT<br />

FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2009<br />

Book Auction 770.00<br />

Donations - Genera l 1,588.00<br />

Donations - Habitat Preservation 3,181.00<br />

Donations - Queen's Scholarship Fund 11,206.00<br />

Donated camera - Swift Monitoring 800.00<br />

Grazing Income - Amherst Island 1,900.00<br />

GST Rebate 423.87<br />

Interest Income 2,472.31<br />

May Dinner Meeting 2,592.00<br />

Memberships - Seniors 11,440.05<br />

Memberships - Juniors 1,340.00<br />

Other Income 2,000.00<br />

Net Sales - Old Books 40.00<br />

Net Sales - 2008 Books 1,744.75<br />

Sales - Other Merchandise 369.00<br />

TOTAL INCOME 41,866.98<br />

EXPENSES<br />

Administration-Seniors 166.91<br />

Administration - Juniors 902.80<br />

Awards 213.39<br />

Bank Charges 121.20<br />

Bioblitz Expenses -76.31<br />

<strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> 4,330.29<br />

Book Inventory Write-off - old books 396.00<br />

Book Publishing - 2008 Book 2,101.06<br />

Conservation Committee 56.19<br />

Donations 200.00<br />

Insurance 3,188.68<br />

Inventory Purchases 220.00<br />

May Dinner Meeting Expenses 2,480.00<br />

Membership Expenses 2,586.38<br />

Property Expenses -63.08<br />

Property Tax 682.99<br />

Publicity 1,318.61<br />

Queen's Scholarship Fund 18,547.00<br />

Room Rent - Junior Meetings 735.00<br />

Room Rent - Senior Meetings 304.50<br />

Speakers Expenses 401.17<br />

Subscriptions and Memberships 500.06<br />

Telephone Line + Website 741.36<br />

TOTAL EXPENSES 40,054.20<br />

SURPLUS ON 2008/2009 OPERATIONS 1 812.78


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 77<br />

ASSETS<br />

Bank Account 25,252.68<br />

Bond - HSBC (2011) 10,000.00<br />

Bond - Can. Tire Corp. (2010) 21,903.00<br />

GIC - Can. Western Bank (2011) 30,000.00<br />

Equipment 10,731.88<br />

2008 Book Inventory 5,206.00<br />

Property (at cost) 120,800.00<br />

TOTAL ASSETS<br />

LIABILITIES & EQUITY<br />

Habitat Preservation Fund 4,271.00<br />

Life Membership Reserve 7,600.00<br />

Marion Webb Fund 28,000.00<br />

Nan Yeomans Young Naturalists Fund 1,993.00<br />

Property Management Reserve 20,000.00<br />

Queen's Scholarship Fund 90.00<br />

--------------<br />

Total Committed Equity 61,954.00<br />

General Equity 161,939.56<br />

TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY<br />

KINGSTON FIELD NATURALISTS<br />

BALANCE SHEET<br />

FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2009<br />

** NOTE<br />

Total Liabilities & Equity - March 31, 2008 213,191.72<br />

Adjust Asset Value - Amherst Island 8,889.06<br />

Surplus on 2008/2009 Operations 1,812.78<br />

Total Liabilities & Equity - March 31, 2009 223,893.56<br />

223,893.56<br />

223,893.56 **<br />

We have reviewed the bank statements together with the supporting documents. We find the above<br />

statements accurately reflect the financial position of the Kingston Field Naturalists for the year<br />

ended March 31, 2009.<br />

Arthur Rowe<br />

Kathryn Innes


Page 78 September 2009<br />

Summer Season 2009 June 1 – July 31<br />

Ron D. Weir<br />

For the 2 nd summer in succession, the<br />

weather for the reporting period was a<br />

mixture of substantial rain and hot,<br />

sunny days with frequent alternation<br />

not unlike spring. Grass remained green<br />

and was not scorched. Roadside<br />

Breeding Bird Surveys yielded the usual<br />

finds with normal densities and<br />

distributions.<br />

A group led by Dan Derbyshire formed<br />

the Frontenac Bird Studies team. Their<br />

focus during summer 2009 was on<br />

breeding birds from Sydenham to<br />

Westport. With his permission, his<br />

report is appended to this summary.<br />

The northbound wader flight continued<br />

into early June as usual and departure<br />

dates from our area concurred with the<br />

60-year averages. The most numerous<br />

species included Black-bellied Plover,<br />

Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel,<br />

Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated<br />

Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Whiterumped<br />

Sandpiper, and Dunlin.<br />

However, three species posted record<br />

late departures:<br />

Latest-ever Departures Previous<br />

Am. Golden Plover 7 Jun (1)<br />

Kaiser X Road, Prince Edward<br />

JH Ellis, B Rowe<br />

Marbled Godwit 5 Jun (1)<br />

Kaiser X Road, Prince Edward P<br />

Stagg<br />

Red-necked Phalarope 2 Jun<br />

(1) Kaiser X Road, Prince<br />

Edward JH Ellis, B Rowe<br />

28 May 71<br />

30 May 08<br />

28 May 73<br />

& 97<br />

The first southbound waders arrived on<br />

8 Jul (Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs)<br />

and species returned on average by six<br />

days earlier than the 60-year averages.<br />

None put in an earliest-ever appearance.<br />

High water levels along Lake Ontario<br />

and at the Amherstview Sewage<br />

Lagoons have reduced the prime habitat<br />

for the waders for their autumn passage.<br />

Species Accounts<br />

Least Bittern – 13 Jun 09 Varty L.,<br />

Bioblitz, KFN.<br />

Great Egret – 12 Jul (2) Amherst I. and<br />

12 Jul (4) Kingston, JH Ellis, RD Weir.<br />

Brant – 11-26 Jul (2) Snake and Amherst<br />

I., DV Weseloh, JH Ellis, RD Weir.<br />

Rough-legged Hawk – 7 Jul (1) Amherst<br />

I., fide B Ripley.<br />

Peregrine Falcon – 1 Jun to 31 Jul,<br />

successful nest, downtown Kingston, 2<br />

young, E Batalla.<br />

Whimbrel – 1 Jun (1) Kaiser X Road,<br />

Prince Edward, RT Sprague.<br />

Marbled Godwit – 5 Jun (1) Kaiser X<br />

Road, Prince Edward P Stagg, 6 th spring<br />

in 60 years.<br />

Ruddy Turnstone – 2 Jun (15) Kaiser X<br />

Road, Prince Edward JH Ellis, B Rowe.<br />

Dunlin – 2 Jun (150) Kaiser X Road,<br />

Prince Edward JH Ellis, B Rowe.


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 79<br />

Common Tern – 22 Jul (40) Snake I., DV<br />

Weseloh, post-breeding congregation.<br />

Snowy Owl – 6 Jun (1) Simcoe I., near<br />

Wolfe I., Y. Medina.<br />

Red-headed Woodpecker – 14-16 Jun<br />

(1) Wolfe I., K. MacDonnell; 1 Jul (1)<br />

Bath, N. Chapman<br />

Loggerhead Shrike – 9 nesting pairs,<br />

Kingston area, K .Hennige.<br />

Lark Bunting – Rock X Road Prince<br />

Edward fide RT Sprague (3 rd spring in 60<br />

years for Kingston area)<br />

Evening Grosbeak – 12 Jul (2)<br />

Elginburg E Batalla.<br />

Appendix: Frontenac Bird Studies Kicks Avian Research and Monitoring into<br />

High Gear!<br />

Dan Derbyshire<br />

Year one of the Frontenac Bird Studies<br />

(FBS) program has been a great success!<br />

Over 200 surveys of breeding birds were<br />

completed in June and July throughout<br />

the FBS study area, which encompasses<br />

over 15,000 hectares between Sydenham<br />

and Westport, Ontario.<br />

This substantial effort, which included<br />

roughly 42 km of walking in Frontenac<br />

Provincial Park, revealed an incredibly<br />

rich avian community. Several Species<br />

at Risk in the area were encountered<br />

including Whip-poor-will, Common<br />

Nighthawk, Louisiana Waterthrush,<br />

Golden-winged Warbler and a<br />

remarkably high number of Cerulean<br />

Warblers.<br />

We also established a new network of<br />

Monitoring Avian Productivity and<br />

Survivorship (MAPS) stations to index<br />

and monitor critical demographic<br />

patterns for breeding landbirds in the<br />

Frontenac Arch. Over 300 birds were<br />

banded and recaptured during the<br />

summer for this program, the most<br />

unusual of which was an adult Broadwinged<br />

Hawk captured at our Rock<br />

Ridge site in June.<br />

A nest monitoring effort was also<br />

initiated this summer to assist in the<br />

collection of demographic statistics for<br />

local bird populations. Over 70 nests<br />

were monitored in 2009, which included<br />

records of Winter Wren, Brown Creeper,<br />

Common Nighthawk, Whip-poor-will,<br />

Scarlet Tanager, Northern Waterthrush,<br />

Osprey and Red-shouldered Hawk.<br />

Project Whip-poor-will successfully<br />

took flight with over 30 roadside<br />

surveys conducted in late June and early<br />

July. These nocturnal surveys were


Page 80 September 2009<br />

timed to coincide with the full moon,<br />

peak time for vocalizing Whip-poorwills.<br />

Over 50 Whip-poor-wills, now<br />

classified as a threatened species, were<br />

detected during the surveys!<br />

These are highlights from our busy<br />

summer that further support the<br />

Frontenac Arch as a region of<br />

significance to bird populations in<br />

Ontario and Canada. Frontenac<br />

Breeding Birds in 2009 will serve as a<br />

foundation for us. The program was<br />

made possible by a network of spirited<br />

and generous volunteers, collaborators<br />

and donors. Staff and directors of the<br />

Migration Research Foundation extend<br />

a big thanks to the following for their<br />

support in 2009!<br />

Funding: The John Hackney Foundation<br />

for the Noosphere; The McLean<br />

Foundation<br />

Volunteers and Sponsors: Andrew Jano,<br />

Don Johnston, Friends and family of<br />

Gail Woolnough, Ian Sturdee, Jan<br />

Napanee Plain July 5<br />

Joseph Benderavage<br />

Kurt Hennige led this hike in search of<br />

dragonflies and butterflies. We visited<br />

several diverse areas, the first of which<br />

was the NCC Scheck site. Under a<br />

morning sun, we detected many<br />

dragonflies and damselflies, among<br />

them spreadwings, Marsh <strong>Blue</strong>ts,<br />

Twelve-spotted Skimmers (male and<br />

female), Eastern Forktails, Dot-tailed<br />

Whitefaces, a Lyre-tipped Spreadwing,<br />

KFN Field Trips July-August 2009<br />

McDonald, Julia Marko Dunn, Kerry<br />

Adams, Larry Menard, Matthew<br />

MacGillivray, Pierre Robillard, Sally<br />

Wills, Seabrooke Leckie, Steve Gillis,<br />

Wendy Derbyshire<br />

Support: Ontario Parks, Ontario MNR,<br />

Mark Peck (ROM ), Ron Weir (KFN),<br />

Don Ross & David Bull (Frontenac Arch<br />

Biosphere Reserve), Audrey Heagy &<br />

Jon McCracken (BSC).<br />

We are looking forward to 2010, and<br />

encourage everyone to visit our website<br />

www.frontenacbirds.ca or contact us at<br />

fbs@migrationresearch.org.<br />

Dan Derbyshire, Project Lead<br />

Frontenac Bird Studies Migration<br />

Research Foundation<br />

2386 Bathurst Concession 5, RR7 Perth,<br />

ON K7H 3C9<br />

fbs@migrationresearch.org<br />

www.migrationresearch.org<br />

www.frontenacbirds.ca<br />

613-264-5003<br />

and a Halloween Pennant. Many were<br />

in the environs of a shallow pond,<br />

where Whirligig Beetles bustled about<br />

the surface. Butterflies such as European<br />

Skippers and Bronze Coppers were<br />

present. We walked through<br />

widespread Viper’s Bugloss and<br />

Birdsfoot Trefoil on our way back to the<br />

cars, en route to the next destination.<br />

While on the road, we sighted a<br />

Kingbird, a <strong>Blue</strong>bird, Cedar Waxwings<br />

along the Salmon River, and a Sedge


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 81<br />

Wren. The last was so stealthy that,<br />

while others saw it on a rail fence two<br />

meters away, I could not.<br />

At the Menzel Centennial Conservatory<br />

grounds, we saw Widow Skimmers,<br />

Ebony Jewelwings, Slaty Skimmers,<br />

Dot-tailed Whiteface skimmers, and a<br />

Rainbow <strong>Blue</strong>t damselfly which had one<br />

of its tail segments showing as blue, and<br />

very orange eyes. Other dragonflies<br />

seen, netted, examined, photographed,<br />

and identified were Brush-tip Emerald,<br />

Kennedy’s Emerald, Chalk-fronted<br />

Corporal, Northern Cloudy Wing, and<br />

Frosted Whiteface skimmers.<br />

Brush-tipped Emerald Kurt Hennige<br />

A Little Wood-Satyr butterfly on a cedar<br />

tree branch was fussed over. Buterflies<br />

included Meadow Fritillary, Northern<br />

Broken-dash Skipper, Eastern Comma,<br />

Summer Azure, Least Skipper, Northern<br />

Crescent, and White Admiral.<br />

Spreading Dogbane, Crown Vetch,<br />

Chicory, Foxglove (or Northern Beardtongue),<br />

Bladder Campion, White Sweet<br />

Clover, Grass Pink Orchid, and<br />

Butterflyweed, and widespread<br />

Phragmites, form ed part of the botanical<br />

backdrop.<br />

Amherst Island August 9<br />

Peter Good<br />

There were nine birders and a not very<br />

promising weather forecast to start the<br />

day. We walked the KFN property to<br />

the bar first, then trekked through the<br />

Owl Woods later in the morning. The<br />

number of shorebirds was<br />

disappointing, but with high water<br />

levels on Lake Ontario and few<br />

mudflats behind the dike it wasn’t really<br />

a surprise. Killdeer, Spotted and Least<br />

Sandpipers were all that we found. Two<br />

Great Egrets were a nice bonus and we<br />

noted several broods of small ducklings<br />

despite the lateness of the season. The<br />

Purple Martins were still numerous<br />

around the houses.<br />

There is a bumper crop of honeysuckle<br />

berries in the Owl Woods so Cedar<br />

Waxwings and American Robins were<br />

abundant. There was a pair of Cooper’s<br />

Hawks in the jack pines and a single<br />

Ring-necked Pheasant on the Owl<br />

Woods Road. Driving back to the ferry<br />

we tallied a Red-tailed Hawk and two<br />

Northern Harriers. Like the shorebirds<br />

the number of swallows on the wires<br />

was considerably smaller than expected.<br />

Presqu’ile Prov. Park August 30<br />

Owen Weir<br />

The day began with an ominous threat<br />

of rain as 21 of us gathered on the<br />

tarmac of the Flying 'J' for our annual<br />

trip to the Brighton area. We arrived at


Page 82 September 2009<br />

the Brighton polishing ponds at 8:30<br />

a.m., and were immediately greeted by<br />

"Tiny" & Maureen with information<br />

about the presence of birds and<br />

butterflies. Shortly afterwards we saw<br />

one of the highlights of the day-which<br />

was spotted by our group- 2 RED-<br />

NECKED GREBES.<br />

We proceeded to Presqu’ile Provincial<br />

Park, looking for shorebirds. Once more<br />

we had a surprise bird: the Baird's<br />

Sandpiper, as well as Sanderlings, Semipalmated<br />

Plovers and Peeps. Time for<br />

lunch in Mr. <strong>Bill</strong> Gilmour's back yard – a<br />

The 11 th annual Great Canadian BioBlitz<br />

of the Kingston Field Naturalists was<br />

held on the lovely 125-acre property of<br />

Peter and Jane Good near Camden East.<br />

The aim is to record as many species as<br />

possible in 24 hours. This site has<br />

woodlands,<br />

wetlands,<br />

field, alvar<br />

and karst<br />

habitats,<br />

providing<br />

for a<br />

variety of<br />

plants and<br />

animals.<br />

The<br />

weather<br />

was good<br />

on the<br />

whole, not hot, not cold, not too wet nor<br />

windy<br />

The Great Canadian BioBlitz 2009<br />

Anne Robertson<br />

place any nature-watcher would die for:<br />

Fauna (birds, butterflies, and 4-footed<br />

visitors) and FLOWERS of just about<br />

every size, colour, and shape - truly a<br />

WOW garden to enjoy. Best birds here<br />

were, Wilson's Warbler, <strong>Blue</strong>-gray<br />

Gnatcatchers (2), and Red-Bellied<br />

Woodpecker. Thanks to the Gilmours<br />

for welcoming us to their one-of-a-kind<br />

garden. A special in the butterfly world<br />

was also seen by most: Question Mark.<br />

We left with fond memories and good<br />

weather. Owen Weir & Howard Bridger<br />

thank you for coming.<br />

Over 70 club members, friends,<br />

neighbors and professionals and a<br />

number of youths, all with a natural<br />

interest or expertise, came to record<br />

everything from night creatures to early<br />

morning birds. Field observers spread<br />

over the<br />

property from<br />

3p.m. Friday,<br />

June 12 to<br />

3p.m. Saturday<br />

June 13,<br />

collecting<br />

information on<br />

everything<br />

from mammals<br />

to minnows<br />

and ferns to<br />

frogs.<br />

Going pond-dipping at the Bioblitz by Janis Grant<br />

A variety of<br />

natural history topics was covered for<br />

those wishing to participate and learn


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 83<br />

about the ecology of the area. Guided<br />

walks took place to observe moths,<br />

butterflies, dragonflies, small mammals,<br />

snakes and birds. These walks were<br />

open to the public, and were well<br />

attended. The young and not so young<br />

enjoyed dipping in a pond for a variety<br />

of small<br />

animals to<br />

add to other<br />

invertebrate<br />

species.<br />

Nighttime<br />

activities<br />

allowed<br />

addition of<br />

species more<br />

active after<br />

dark. The<br />

evening walk<br />

included frog<br />

calls, owl calling,<br />

predator calling,<br />

invertebrate pitfall trap setting and the<br />

ever popular moth attracting Blacklight<br />

made a definite difference in bringing<br />

moths in compared with a Coleman<br />

lantern. After midnight, as the<br />

temperature cooled, fewer moth species<br />

were recorded.<br />

Anne thanks the Goods by Janis Grant<br />

Small mammal trapping yielded no<br />

specimens this year. Boards laid down<br />

for snakes showed their worth when<br />

several Garter snakes were revealed to<br />

the delight of the children! Plants<br />

varying in size from trees and shrubs to<br />

grasses and sedges and some sporebearing<br />

species like ferns, mosses and<br />

lichens were recorded. We also listed<br />

some algae this year.<br />

A delicious BBQ was held at noon on<br />

Saturday when sausage-on- a-bun and<br />

ice cream was enjoyed by all. Prizes<br />

were presented at this time for<br />

answering quiz questions. Anne<br />

thanked participants and presented the<br />

Goods with a cheque for their favourite<br />

charity.<br />

Many thanks<br />

are due to<br />

Peter and Jane<br />

Good who<br />

provided<br />

excellent help<br />

with all<br />

aspects of the<br />

organization.<br />

The committee<br />

for 2009<br />

consisted of<br />

Erwin Batalla,<br />

(ideas, tally board,<br />

signs, advice), Hugh Evans (guidance),<br />

Connie Gardiner (paperwork), Peter<br />

Good (host, map), Larry McCurdy<br />

(trails, finances), Darren Rayner (chef)<br />

and Anne Robertson (chair). This group<br />

was most effective in attending to all the<br />

details. The 10 volunteers on<br />

registration were essential and did a<br />

grand job. Once again almost half the<br />

participants volunteered in one way or<br />

another. Last but not least the compilers<br />

had a demanding job to generate the full<br />

lists. Thank you Erwin (vertebrates),<br />

Shirley (invertebrates). Barry R.<br />

(vascular plants) and Anne (nonvascular<br />

plants).<br />

The cost to KFN was offset by donations<br />

for the BBQ and amounted to less than


Page 84 September 2009<br />

`$300.00. Many thanks to the<br />

Stewardship Council for the use of the<br />

tent and others for various gifts in kind.<br />

Our volunteer listers did a wonderful<br />

job. Outstanding listers were Paul<br />

Mackenzie with 97 species and David<br />

Bree with 106 invertebrates, including<br />

61 moths! Outstanding plant listers were<br />

Rob and Mary Alice Snetsinger with 132<br />

plants in one afternoon and the<br />

McMurray/ Robertson team with 182<br />

plant species overall. No endangered<br />

species were recorded, but special<br />

species include the alvar plants Geum<br />

triflorum (Three–flowered Purple<br />

Avens) and Senecio pauperculus<br />

(Balsam Ragwort).<br />

The Giant Swallowtail at the base site<br />

was a good sighting. Amongst the<br />

vertebrates, a Least Bittern was a good<br />

find, evidence of Black Bear was<br />

noteworthy and the Milk and Brown<br />

Snakes special sightings.<br />

What was found? The final count<br />

compares favourably with previous<br />

BioBlitzes. We recorded 94 vertebrates,<br />

213 invertebrates, 264 vascular plants<br />

and 20 non-vascular plants for a grand<br />

total of 591 species. Species lists follow.<br />

This snapshot of the biodiversity of this<br />

site will serve as a baseline for changes<br />

that may occur in the future.<br />

Balsam Ragwort by Paul Mackenzie<br />

Thanks to you all and do come again in<br />

2010!<br />

Vertebrates by Erwin Batalla<br />

Mammals<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.) Order<br />

Bat sp. Plainnose bats Vespertilionidae Chiroptera<br />

Black Bear Ursus americanus Bears Ursidae Carnivora<br />

N. Raccoon Procyon lotor Racoons Procyonidae Carnivora<br />

E. Gray Squirrel Sciurus<br />

carolinensis<br />

Squirrels Sciuridae Rodentia<br />

E. Chipmunk Tamias striatus Squirrels Sciuridae Rodentia<br />

Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus<br />

hudsonicus<br />

Squirrels Sciuridae Rodentia<br />

E. Cottontail Sylvilagus<br />

floridanus<br />

White-tailed<br />

Deer<br />

Birds<br />

Odocoileus<br />

virginianus<br />

Hares & rabbits Leporidae Lagomorpha<br />

Deer Cervidae Artiodactyla<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.) Order<br />

Canada Goose Branta canadensis Ducks & geese Anatidae Anseriformes<br />

Wood Duck Aix sponsa Ducks & geese Anatidae Anseriformes<br />

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Ducks & geese Anatidae Anseriformes<br />

Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus Grouse & ptarm. Phasianidae Galliformes


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 85<br />

Common Loon Gavia immer Loons Gaviidae Gaviiformes<br />

Dbl-cr Cormorant Phalacrocorax<br />

auritus<br />

American Bittern Botaurus<br />

lentiginosus<br />

Cormorants Phalacrocoracidae Pelecaniformes<br />

Herons/bitterns Ardeidae Ciconiiformes<br />

Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis Herons/bitterns Ardeidae Ciconiiformes<br />

Great <strong>Blue</strong> Heron Ardea herodias Herons/bitterns Ardeidae Ciconiiformes<br />

Green Heron Butorides virescens Herons/bitterns Ardeidae Ciconiiformes<br />

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Vultures Cathartidae Falconiformes<br />

American Kestrel Falco sparverius Caracara/falcons Falconidae Falconiformes<br />

Killdeer Charadrius<br />

vociferus<br />

Plovers Charadriidae Charadriiformes<br />

Spotted Sandpiper Acitis macularia Sandpipers/allies Scolopacidae Charadriiformes<br />

Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata Sandpipers/allies Scolopacidae Charadriiformes<br />

Amer. Woodcock Scolopax minor Sandpipers/allies Scolopacidae Charadriiformes<br />

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis Gulls and allies Laridae Charadriiformes<br />

Rock Pigeon Columba livia Pigeons & doves Columbidae Columbiformes<br />

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Pigeons &doves Columbidae Columbiformes<br />

Black-billed Coccyzuz<br />

Cuckoo<br />

erythropthalmus<br />

Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus<br />

vociferous<br />

Cuckoos Cuculidae Cuculiformes<br />

Goatsuckers Caprimulgidae Caprimulgiformes<br />

Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica Swifts Apodidae Apodiformes<br />

Ruby-throated Archilochus Hummingbirds Trochilidae Apodiformes<br />

Hummingbird colubris<br />

Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon Kingfishers Alcedinidae Coraciiformes<br />

Downy Woodpckr Picoides pubescens Woodpeckers Picidae Piciiformes<br />

Hairy Woodpckr Picoides villosus Woodpeckers Picidae Piciiformes<br />

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Woodpeckers Picidae Piciiformes<br />

E. Wood-Pewee Contopus virens Tyrant flycatchrs Tyrannidae Passeriformes<br />

Alder Flycatcher Empidonax<br />

alnorum<br />

Tyrant flycatchrs Tyrannidae Passeriformes<br />

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe Tyrant flycatchrs Tyrannidae Passeriformes<br />

Gr Crstd Flycatchr Myiarchus crinitus Tyrant flycatchrs Tyrannidae Passeriformes<br />

Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus Tyrant flycatchrs Tyrannidae Passeriformes<br />

Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus Vireos Vireonidae Passeriformes<br />

Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus Vireos Vireonidae Passeriformes<br />

<strong>Blue</strong> Jay Cyanocitta cristata Jays & crows Corvidae Passeriformes<br />

American crow Corvus<br />

brachyrhynchos<br />

Jays & crows Corvidae Passeriformes<br />

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Swallows Hirundinidae Passeriformes<br />

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Swallows Hirundinidae Passeriformes<br />

Bl-cpd Chickadee Poecoile atricapillus Chickadees Paridae Passeriformes<br />

R-brstd Nuthatch Sitta canadensis Nuthatches Sittidae Passeriformes<br />

W-brstd Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis Nuthatches Sittidae Passeriformes<br />

House Wren Troglodytes aedon Wrens Troglodytidae Passeriformes


Page 86 September 2009<br />

Wood Thrush Hylocichla<br />

mustelina<br />

Thrushes Turdidae Passeriformes<br />

American Robin Turdus migratorius Thrushes Turdidae Passeriformes<br />

Gray Catbird Dumetella<br />

Mockingbirds & Mimidae Passeriformes<br />

carolinensis thrashers<br />

Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum Mockingbirds &<br />

thrashers<br />

Mimidae Passeriformes<br />

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris Starlings Sturnidae Passeriformes<br />

Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla<br />

cedrorum<br />

Waxwings Bombycillidae Passeriformes<br />

Nashville Warbler Vermivora<br />

ruficapilla<br />

Wood-warblers Parulidae Passeriformes<br />

Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia Wood-warblers Parulidae Passeriformes<br />

Blck-&-wht Wrblr Mniotilta varia Wood-warblers Parulidae Passeriformes<br />

Amer. Redstart Setophaga ruticilla Wood-warblers Parulidae Passeriformes<br />

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla Wood-warblers Parulidae Passeriformes<br />

Com Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas Wood-warblers Parulidae Passeriformes<br />

Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea Tanagers Thraupidae Passeriformes<br />

Eastern Towhee Pipilo<br />

erythrophtalmus<br />

Emberizids Emberizidae Passeriformes<br />

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina Emberizids Emberizidae Passeriformes<br />

Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla Emberizids Emberizidae Passeriformes<br />

Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes<br />

gramineus<br />

Emberizids Emberizidae Passeriformes<br />

Savannah<br />

Sparrow<br />

Passerculus<br />

sandwichensis<br />

Emberizids Emberizidae Passeriformes<br />

Grasshopper Ammodramus Emberizids Emberizidae Passeriformes<br />

Sparrow<br />

savannarum<br />

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia Emberizids Emberizidae Passeriformes<br />

Swamp Sparrow Melospiza<br />

georgiana<br />

Rose-breasted Pheucticus<br />

Cardinals and<br />

Grosbeak<br />

ludovicianus allies<br />

Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea Cardinals and<br />

allies<br />

Bobolink Dolichonyx<br />

oryzivorus<br />

Emberizids Emberizidae Passeriformes<br />

Cardinalidae Passeriformes<br />

Cardinalidae Passeriformes<br />

Blackbirds Icteridae Passeriformes<br />

R-wngd Blackbird Agelaius phoenicus Blackbirds Icteridae Passeriformes<br />

E Meadowlark Sturnella magna Blackbirds Icteridae Passeriformes<br />

Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula Blackbirds Icteridae Passeriformes<br />

Brwn-hd Cowbird Molothrus ater Blackbirds Icteridae Passeriformes<br />

Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius Blackbirds Icteridae Passeriformes<br />

Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula Blackbirds Icteridae Passeriformes<br />

Finch sp. Carpodacus sp. Finches Fringilidae Passeriformes<br />

Amer Goldfinch Carduelis tristis Finches Fringilidae Passeriformes


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 87<br />

Reptiles<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.) Order<br />

E. Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta Box &pond turtles Emydidae Testudines<br />

E. Milk Snake Lampropeltis<br />

triangulum<br />

Colubrids Colubridae Squamata<br />

E. Garter Snake Thamnophis<br />

sirtalis<br />

Colubrids Colubridae Squamata<br />

Brown (DeKay’s)<br />

Snake<br />

Storeria dekayi Colubrids Colubridae Squamata<br />

Amphibians<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.) Order<br />

Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana Frogs Ranidae Salietia<br />

Green Frog Rana clamitans Frogs Ranidae Salietia<br />

N. Leopard Frog Rana pipiens Frogs Ranidae Salietia<br />

American Toad Bufo americanus Toads Bufonidae Salietia<br />

Gray Treefrog Hyla versicolor Treefrogs Hylidae Salietia<br />

Fish<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.) Order<br />

Brk Stickleback Culaea inconstans Sticklebacks Gasterosteidae Gasterosteiformes<br />

Rock Bass Ambloplites<br />

rupestris<br />

Sunfishes Centrarchidae Perciformes<br />

Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus Sunfishes Centrarchidae Perciformes<br />

Invertebrates by Shirley French<br />

Common Name Scientific Family<br />

Name (Comm.)<br />

Phylum Pyrrophyta, Class Dinophyceae, Dinoflagellates<br />

Ceratium sp. Ceratiaceae<br />

Division Bacillariophyta, Class Fragilariaceae, Diatoms<br />

Diatoma sp.<br />

Phylum Protozoa, Class Mastigophora, Flagellates<br />

Volvox sp.<br />

Phylum Coelenterata, Class Hydrozoa, Hydroids<br />

Hydra sp.<br />

Phylum Trochelminthes, Class Rotifera, Rotifers<br />

Keratella sp.<br />

Asplanchna<br />

sp.?<br />

Platyias sp.<br />

Family (Sci.) Order


Page 88 September 2009<br />

Phylum Annelida, Class Oligochaeta<br />

Earthworm sp. Lumbricus<br />

terrestris<br />

Earthworms Lumbricidae Megadrili<br />

1 Species Bloodworms Tubificidae Megadrili<br />

Leech sp. Leeches Glossiphoniidae Megadrili<br />

Phylum Mollusca, Class Gastropoda<br />

Clam 1 species Clams/Mussels Unionidae Unionoida<br />

Land Snail Euchemotrema<br />

fraternum<br />

Land Snails Succineidae Pulmonata<br />

1 Species Snails Lymnaeidae/<br />

Physidae<br />

Basommatophora<br />

Slug 2 species Slugs Limacidae Basommatophora<br />

Phylum Arthropoda, Subphylum Crustacea, Class Maxillopoda<br />

1 Species Harpacticoida<br />

2 Species Calanoida<br />

1 Species Cyclopoida<br />

Class Branchiopoda, Suborder Cladocera<br />

Ceriodaphnia<br />

sp.<br />

Daphniidae<br />

Daphinia pulex Daphniidae<br />

Scapholeberis<br />

sp.<br />

Daphniidae<br />

1 other species Daphniidae<br />

Class Ostracoda<br />

1 Species<br />

Class Malacostraca<br />

Bosmina sp. Bosmina<br />

Holopedium<br />

sp.<br />

Holopedium<br />

Polyphemus<br />

sp.<br />

Polyphemidae<br />

1 species Sow Bugs Oniscidae Isopoda<br />

Crayfish sp. Crayfish Astacidae Decapoda<br />

Subphylum Chelicerata, Class Arachnida<br />

Hogna sp Wolf Spiders Lycosidae Arneae<br />

Orb Spider Acanthepeira<br />

stellata<br />

Maple Spindlegall Vasates<br />

Mite<br />

aceriscrumena<br />

Maple Bladdergall<br />

Mite<br />

Vasates<br />

quadripedes<br />

Orb Spiders Araneidae Arneae<br />

Eriophyidae Acari<br />

Eriophyidae Acari<br />

Water Mite sp. (1<br />

species)<br />

Mites Hydrachnidae Trombidiformes<br />

Subphylum Hexapoda, Class Entognatha<br />

1 species Collembola


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 89<br />

Class Insecta<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.) Order<br />

Cricket sp. True Crickets gryllidae orthoptera<br />

Grasshopper sp. Grasshoppers acrididae orthoptera<br />

1 species (nymph) Stoneflies plecoptera<br />

Spring Fishfly Chauliodes<br />

Common<br />

panorpidae mecoptera<br />

rastrinicornis Scorpionflies<br />

Panorpa sp.? Common<br />

panorpidae mecoptera<br />

latipennis or debilis Scorpionflies<br />

Green Lacewing Chrysopoda sp. Lacewings chrysopidae mecoptera<br />

Mayfly sp. May Flies ephemerida ephemeroptera<br />

Northern<br />

Spreadwing<br />

Emerald<br />

Spreadwing<br />

Taiga <strong>Blue</strong>t Coenagrion<br />

resolutum<br />

Lestes disjunctus Spreadwing<br />

Damselflies<br />

Lestes dryas Spreadwing<br />

Damselflies<br />

lestes odonata<br />

lestes odonata<br />

Pond Damselflies coenagriidae odonata<br />

Eastern Forktail Ischnura verticalis Pond Damselflies coenagriidae odonata<br />

Sedge Sprite Nehalennia irene Pond Damselflies coenagriidae odonata<br />

Dusky Clubtail Gomphus spicatus Clubtails gomphidae odonata<br />

Racket-tailed<br />

Emerald<br />

Dorocordulia libera Emeralds corduliidae odonata<br />

Comm. Baskettail Epitheca cynosura Emeralds corduliidae odonata<br />

Calico Pennant Celithemis elisa Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

Common<br />

Erythemis<br />

Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

Pondhawk simplicicollis<br />

Frosted Whiteface Leucorrhinia frigida Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

Hudsonian<br />

Whiteface<br />

Dot-tailed<br />

Whiteface<br />

Belted/Redwaisted<br />

Whiteface<br />

Leucorrhinia<br />

hudsonica<br />

Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

Leucorrhinia intacta Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

Leucorrhinia<br />

proxima<br />

Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

Slaty Skimmer Libellula incesta Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

Chalk-fronted<br />

Corporal/Skimmer<br />

Pied Skimmer,<br />

Widow Skimmer<br />

Libellula julia Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

Libellula luctuosa Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

Comm. Whitetail Libellula lydia Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

12-Spottd Skimmer Libellula pulchella Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

Four-Spotted<br />

Skimmer<br />

Libellula<br />

quadrimaculata<br />

Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

<strong>Blue</strong> Dasher Pachydiplax<br />

longipennis<br />

Skimmers libellulidae odonata<br />

Water Strider sp. Gerris sp. Water Striders gerridae hemiptera


Page 90 September 2009<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.) Order<br />

Water Scorpion sp. Ranatra sp. Water Scorpions nepidae hemiptera<br />

Water Boatman sp. Water Boatman corixidae hemiptera<br />

Tarnishd Plant Bug Lygus lineolaris miridae hemiptera<br />

Diamond backed<br />

Spittle Bug<br />

Meadow<br />

Spittlebug<br />

Lepyronia<br />

quadrangulans<br />

Spittle Bugs cercopidae hemiptera<br />

Philaenus spumarius Spittle Bugs cercopidae hemiptera<br />

2 species Spittle Bugs cercopidae hemiptera<br />

Okanagana<br />

Canadensis<br />

Cicadas cicadidae hemiptera<br />

Oncopsis variabilis Leafhoppers cicadellidae hemiptera<br />

Draeculacephala zeae Leafhoppers cicadellidae hemiptera<br />

Leafhopper sp. Leafhoppers cicadellidae hemiptera<br />

One-spotted Stink Euschistus<br />

pentatomidae hemiptera<br />

Bug<br />

varioclarus<br />

Two-spotted Stink Cosmopepla<br />

pentatomidae hemiptera<br />

Bug<br />

bimaculata<br />

Stinkbug sp. Banasa dimiata pentatomidae hemiptera<br />

Zelus longipes Assassin Bug reduviidae hemiptera<br />

Aphid sp. Aphids aphididae hemiptera<br />

Soldier Beetle sp. Podabus sp. Soldier Beetles cantharidae coleoptera<br />

Cantharis sp. senso<br />

lato<br />

Flower Longhorn Pseadogaurotina Long-Horned<br />

Beetle<br />

abdominalis<br />

Beetles<br />

Elm Borer Beetle Saperda tridentate Long-Horned<br />

Beetles<br />

Soldier Beetles cantharidae coleoptera<br />

cerambycidae coleoptera<br />

cerambycidae coleoptera<br />

Purple Tiger Beetle Cicindela purpurea Tiger Beetles cicindelidae coleoptera<br />

Six-spotted Tiger<br />

Beetle<br />

Red-blue<br />

Checkered Beetle<br />

Predacious Diving<br />

Beetle<br />

Cicindela sexguttata Tiger Beetles cicindelidae coleoptera<br />

Trichodes nutalli Checkered<br />

Beetles<br />

cleridae coleoptera<br />

Colymbetes sp. dytiscidae coleoptera<br />

Whirligig Beetle sp Dineutes sp. Whirligig Beetles gyrinidae coleoptera<br />

Firefly sp. Photinus sp. Fireflies lampyridae coleoptera<br />

Firefly sp. Lucidota atra Fireflies lampyridae coleoptera<br />

Calopteron<br />

Net-Winged lycidae coleoptera<br />

reticulatum<br />

Beetles<br />

June Beetle Phyllophaga sp. Scarab Beetles scarabaeidae coleoptera<br />

Nicrophorus<br />

orbicollis<br />

Nicrophurus<br />

pustulatus<br />

Carrion Beetles silphidae coleoptera<br />

Carrion Beetles silphidae coleoptera<br />

Sumac Leaf Beetle Blepharida rhois Leaf Beetles chrysomelidae coleoptera


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 91<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.) Order<br />

Fifteen-Spotted<br />

Lady Beetle<br />

Anatis labiculata Ladybug Beetles coccinellidae coleoptera<br />

One sp. Flower Weevils curculionidae coleoptera<br />

1 Species phryganeidae trichoptera<br />

2 Species phryganeidae trichoptera<br />

Helcystogramma<br />

fernaldella<br />

Twirler Moths gelechiidae lepidoptera<br />

Viper's Bugloss<br />

Moth<br />

Ethmia bipunctella ethmiidae lepidoptera<br />

Casebearer Moth Coleophora sp. coleophoridae lepidoptera<br />

Coruscana group Epiblema sp. tortricidae lepidoptera<br />

Epiblema sp group Olethreutes sp. tortricidae lepidoptera<br />

Formosana group Phaneta sp. tortricidae lepidoptera<br />

White-spotted<br />

Sable Moth<br />

Anania funebris crambidae lepidoptera<br />

Nymphula ekthlipsis crambidae lepidoptera<br />

Pondside Pyralid Munroessa icciusalis crambidae lepidoptera<br />

Large-spotted<br />

Evergestis<br />

Evergestis<br />

unimacula<br />

crambidae lepidoptera<br />

Splendid Palpita Palpita magniferalis crambidae lepidoptera<br />

Double-banded<br />

Grass Veneer<br />

Crambus agitatellus crambidae lepidoptera<br />

Eastern Grassveneer<br />

Moth<br />

Crambus<br />

laqueatellus<br />

crambidae lepidoptera<br />

Glyptocera<br />

consobrinella<br />

pyralidae lepidoptera<br />

Tetracis crocallata pyralidae lepidoptera<br />

1 Species Plume Moths pterophoridae lepidoptera<br />

Common Gray Anavitrinella<br />

pampinaria<br />

InchWorm Moths geometridae lepidoptera<br />

Powder Moth Eufidonia sp. InchWorm Moths geometridae lepidoptera<br />

Pero sp.(?<br />

morrisonaria)<br />

InchWorm Moths geometridae lepidoptera<br />

Metarranthis sp. InchWorm Moths geometridae lepidoptera<br />

Pistachio Emerald Hethemia<br />

pistasciaria<br />

InchWorm Moths geometridae lepidoptera<br />

Leptostales<br />

ferruminaria<br />

InchWorm Moths geometridae lepidoptera<br />

Eupithecia sp. InchWorm Moths geometridae lepidoptera<br />

Bad-wing Dyspteris abortivaria InchWorm Moths geometridae lepidoptera<br />

Pale Beauty Campaea perlata InchWorm Moths geometridae lepidoptera<br />

White Slant-line Tetracis cachexiata Inch Worm<br />

Moths<br />

E. Tent Caterpillar<br />

Moth (larva)<br />

Malacosoma<br />

americanum<br />

geometridae lepidoptera<br />

lasiocampidae lepidoptera


Page 92 September 2009<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.) Order<br />

Forest Tent<br />

Caterpillar (larva)<br />

Malacosoma distria lasiocampidae lepidoptera<br />

Hog Sphinx Darapsa myron sphingidae lepidoptera<br />

Waved Sphinx<br />

Moth<br />

Ceratomia undulosa sphingidae lepidoptera<br />

Io Moth Automeris io Silkworm Moths saturniidae lepidoptera<br />

Polyphemus Moth Antheraea<br />

polyphemus<br />

Silkworm Moths saturniidae lepidoptera<br />

Double-toothed<br />

Prominent<br />

Nerice bidentata notodontidae lepidoptera<br />

Linden Prominent Ellida caniplaga notodontidae lepidoptera<br />

Heterocampa sp. notodontidae lepidoptera<br />

Isabella Tiger Moth<br />

(Woolly Bear)<br />

Yellow Bear Moth<br />

(Virginia Tiger)<br />

Pyrrharctia Isabella arctiidae lepidoptera<br />

Spilosoma virginica arctiidae lepidoptera<br />

Anna's Tiger Moth Grammia anna arctiidae lepidoptera<br />

Hickory Tussock Lophocampa caryae arctiidae lepidoptera<br />

Virbia ferruginosa arctiidae lepidoptera<br />

Saltmarsh Moth Estigmene acrea arctiidae lepidoptera<br />

Pink-legged Tiger<br />

Moth<br />

Spilosoma latipennis arctiidae lepidoptera<br />

Fall Webworm Hyphantria cunea arctiidae lepidoptera<br />

Virginia Ctenucha Ctenucha virginica arctiidae lepidoptera<br />

8-Spotted Forester Alypia octomaculata Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Spottd Grass Moth Rivula propinqualis Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Toothed<br />

Somberwing<br />

Zale curema Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Zale horrida Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Euclidea cuspidea Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Zanclognatha sp. Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Lascoria ambigualis Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Marathyssa basalis Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Eyed Baileya Baileya ophthalmica Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Black-dotted<br />

Lithacodia<br />

Maliattha synochitis Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

The Brother Rafia frater Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Ochre Daggr Moth Acronicta morula Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Olive-shaded Bird Tarachidia<br />

Dropping Moth candefacta<br />

Cloaked Marvel Chytonix<br />

palliatricula<br />

Bristly Cutworm<br />

Moth<br />

Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Mythimna oxygala Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Lacinipolia renigera Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 93<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.) Order<br />

Flame-shouldered<br />

Dart<br />

Ochropleura<br />

implecta<br />

Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Xestia dolosa Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Xestia adela Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Corn Earworm<br />

Moth<br />

Helicoverpa acesias Owlet Moths noctuidae lepidoptera<br />

Arctic Skipper Amblyscirtes vialis Skippers hesperiidae lepidoptera<br />

Common Roadside<br />

Skipper<br />

Juvenal’s<br />

Duskywing<br />

Columbine<br />

Duskywing<br />

Carterocephalus<br />

palaemon<br />

Skippers hesperiidae lepidoptera<br />

Erynnis juvenalis Skippers hesperiidae lepidoptera<br />

Erynnis lucilius Skippers hesperiidae lepidoptera<br />

Indian Skipper Hesperia sassacus Skippers hesperiidae lepidoptera<br />

Long Dash Polites mystic Skippers hesperiidae lepidoptera<br />

Peck’s Skipper Polites peckius Skippers hesperiidae lepidoptera<br />

Tawny-Edged<br />

Skipper<br />

Polites themistocles Skippers hesperiidae lepido ptera<br />

Hobomok Skipper Poanes hobomok Skippers hesperiidae lepidoptera<br />

N. Cloudywing Thorybes pylades Skippers hesperiidae lepidoptera<br />

European Skipper Thymelicus lineola Skippers hesperiidae lepidoptera<br />

Northern Broken Wallengrenia Skippers hesperiidae lepidoptera<br />

Dash<br />

egeremet<br />

Giant Swallowtail Papilio cresphontes Swallowtails papilionidae lepidoptera<br />

Canadian Tiger<br />

Swallowtail<br />

Papilioglaucus Swallowtails papilionidae lepidoptera<br />

Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice Whites/Sulphurs pieridae lepidoptera<br />

Cabbage White Pieris rapae Whites/Sulphurs pieridae lepidoptera<br />

Juniper Hairstreak Callophyrs gryneus Harvesters/Copp<br />

ers/Hairstreaks &<br />

<strong>Blue</strong>s<br />

Silvery <strong>Blue</strong> Glaucopsyche<br />

lygdamus<br />

Harvesters/Copp<br />

ers/Hairstreaks &<br />

<strong>Blue</strong>s<br />

Banded Hairstreak Satyrium calanus Harvesters/Copp<br />

ers/Hairstreaks &<br />

<strong>Blue</strong>s<br />

Common Ringlet Coenonympha tullia Brush-Footed<br />

Butterflies<br />

Viceroy Limentis archippus Brush-Footed<br />

Butterflies<br />

Little Wood Satyr Megisto cymela Brush-Footed<br />

Butterflies<br />

Northern Crescent Phyciodes cocyta Brush-Footed<br />

Butterflies<br />

lycaenidae lepidoptera<br />

lycaenidae lepidoptera<br />

lycaenidae lepidoptera<br />

nymphalidae lepidoptera<br />

nymphalidae lepidoptera<br />

nymphalidae lepidoptera<br />

nymphalidae lepidoptera


Page 94 September 2009<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.) Order<br />

Question Mark Polygonia<br />

Brush-Footed<br />

interrogationis Butterflies<br />

Eastern Tailed <strong>Blue</strong> Cupido comyntas Brush-Footed<br />

Butterflies<br />

Brown Scoopwing Calledapteryx<br />

dryopterata<br />

nymphalidae lepidoptera<br />

nymphalidae lepidoptera<br />

uraniidae lepidoptera<br />

1 species Anthomyiid Flies anthomyiidae diptera<br />

1 species Robber Flies asilidae diptera<br />

Dioctria baumhauer Robber Flies asilidae diptera<br />

Mosquito sp Mosquitoes culicidae diptera<br />

Rhamphomyia<br />

longicauda<br />

Dance Flies empididae diptera<br />

(one species) Muscid Flies muscidae diptera<br />

Flesh Fly species Sarcophaga sp. Flesh Flies sarcophagidae diptera<br />

. Sciomyza sp Marsh Flies sciomyzidae diptera<br />

Hover Fly (1 sp.) Hover Flies syrphidae diptera<br />

Deer Fly Chrysops sp. tabanidae diptera<br />

Chrysops excitans tabanidae diptera<br />

Horsefly species Tabanus sp.s tabanidae diptera<br />

Gymnoclytia<br />

occudua<br />

Parasitic Flies tachinidae diptera<br />

Parasitic Fly (2 sp.) Parasitic Flies tachinidae diptera<br />

Crane Fly (2 sp.) Tipula sp. Crane Flies tipulidae diptera<br />

Black Carpenter Camponotus Ants formicidae hymenoptera<br />

Ant<br />

pennsylvanicus<br />

Ant sp. (1 species) Ants formicidae hymenoptera<br />

Theronia hilaris Ichneumon Flies ichneumonidae hymenoptera<br />

Paper Wasp Polistes sp. Vespid Wasps vespidae hymenoptera<br />

Sweat Bees Lasioglossum sp. Halictid Bees halictidae hymenoptera<br />

Green Bee sp. Halictid Bees halictidae hymenoptera<br />

Bumblebee Bombus sp. Bumblebees apidae hymenoptera<br />

Bioblitz Balsam Ragwort<br />

photo by Paul Mackenzie


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 95<br />

Vascular Plants by Barry Robinson<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.)<br />

Horsetail, Field Equisetum arv ense horsetail equisitaceae<br />

Horsetail, Water Equisetum fluviatile horsetail equisitaceae<br />

Spleenwort, Ebony Asplenium, platyneuron spleenwort aspleniaceae<br />

Fern, E. Hay-scented Dennstaedtia punctilobula bracken fern dennstaedtiaceae<br />

Wood Fern, Marginal Dryopteris marginalis wood fern dryopteridaceae<br />

Fern, Ostrich Matteuccia struthiopteris wood fern dryopteridaceae<br />

Polypody, Common Polypodium virginianum true fern polypodiaceae<br />

Fern, Sensitive Onoclea sensibilis maidenhair fern pteridaceae<br />

Tamarack Larix laricina pine pinaceae<br />

Spruce, Norway* Picea abies pine pinaceae<br />

Spruce, White Picea glauca pine pinaceae<br />

Pine, Jack Pinus banksiana pine pinaceae<br />

Pine, Red Pinus resinosa pine pinaceae<br />

Pine, Eastern White Pinus strobus pine pinaceae<br />

Juniper, Common Juniperus communis cypress cupressaceae<br />

Cedar, Eastern Red Juniperus virginiana cypress cupressaceae<br />

Cedar, Eastern White Thuja occidentalis cypress cupressaceae<br />

Cattail, Narrow-leaved Typha angustifolia cattail typhaceae<br />

Cattail, Broad-leaf Typha latifolia cattail typhaceae<br />

Pondweed, Sago Potamogeton pectinatus pondweed potamogetonaceae<br />

Pondweed, Slender Potamogeton pusilus pondweed potamogetonaceae<br />

Water Plantain, South. Alisma subcordatum water plantain alismataceae<br />

Arrowhead, Grass-leavd Sagittaria graminea water plantain alismataceae<br />

Arrowhead, Broadleaf Sagittaria latifolia water plantain alismataceae<br />

Arrowhead, Sessile-frut d Sagittaria rigida water plantain alismataceae<br />

Frog's-bit, European Hydrocharis morsus-ranae* frog's bit hydrocharitaceae<br />

Bentgrass, Creeping Agrostis stolonifera grass poaceae<br />

Brome, Awnless Bromus inermis ssp. Inermis grass poaceae<br />

Canada <strong>Blue</strong>joint Calamagrostis canadensis grass poaceae<br />

Grass, Orchard Dactylis glomerata grass poaceae<br />

Fescue, Meadow Festuca pratensis* grass poaceae<br />

Manna-grass, Fowl Glyceria striata var striata grass poaceae<br />

Grass, Reed Canary Phalaris arundinacea grass poaceae<br />

Timothy, Meadow Phleum pratense* grass poaceae<br />

<strong>Blue</strong>grass, Kentucky Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis grass poaceae<br />

Sedge, Shining Bladder Carex intumescens sedge cyperacae<br />

Sedge, Slender Carex lasiocarpa sedge cyperacae<br />

Sedge Carex normalis sedge cyperacae<br />

Sedge, Pennsylvania Carex pensylvanica sedge cyperacae<br />

Sedge, Rosy Carex rosea sedge cyperacae<br />

Sedge, Pointed Broom Carex scoparia sedge cyperacae<br />

Sedge, Sprengel's Carex sprengelii sedge cyperacae


Page 96 September 2009<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.)<br />

Sedge, Stalk-grain Carex stipata sedge cyperacae<br />

Sedge, Tussock Carex stricta sedge cyperacae<br />

Sedge, Fox Carex vulpinoidea sedge cyperacae<br />

Cotton-grass, Sheathed Eirphorum callitrix sedge cyperacae<br />

Jack in the Pulpit Arisaema triphyllum arum araceae<br />

Duckweed, Lesser Lemna minor duckweed lemnaceae<br />

Pickerelweed Pontederia cordata pickerel-weed pontederiacea<br />

Rush, Soft Juncus effusus rush juncacae<br />

Rush, Path Juncus tenuis rush juncacae<br />

Chive<br />

Allium schoenoprasum var<br />

schoe lily liliaceae<br />

Trout Lily Erythronium americanum lily liliaceae<br />

Lily of the Valley, Wild Maianthemum canadense lily liliaceae<br />

Solomon's Seal, Starry<br />

False Maianthemum racemosum lily liliaceae<br />

Solomon's Seal,<br />

Starflower False Maianthemum stellatum lily liliaceae<br />

Solomon's Seal, Downy Polygonatum pubescens lily liliaceae<br />

Twisted-stalk, Rose Strepopus roseus lily liliaceae<br />

Trillium, Red Trillium erectum lily liliaceae<br />

Trillium, White Trillium grandiflorum lily liliaceae<br />

<strong>Blue</strong> Flag, Larger Iris versicolor iris iridaceae<br />

<strong>Blue</strong>-eyed Grass, Comm Sisyrinchium montanum iris iridaceae<br />

Helleborine , Eastern Epipactus helleborine* orchid orchidaceae<br />

Poplar, White Populus alba willow salicaceae<br />

Poplar, Balsam Populus balsamifera willow salicaceae<br />

Cottonwood, Eastern<br />

Populus deltoides ssp.<br />

deltoides willow salicaceae<br />

Aspen, Large-tooth Populus grandidentata willow salicaceae<br />

Aspen, Trembling Populus tremuloides willow salicaceae<br />

Pussywillow Salix discolor willow salicaceae<br />

Willow, Meadow Salix petiolaris willow salicaceae<br />

Sweetgale Myrica gale bayberry myricaceae<br />

Hickory, Bitternut Carya cordiformis walnut juglandaceae<br />

Hickory, Shagbark Carya ovata walnut juglandaceae<br />

Butternut Juglans cinerea walnut juglandaceae<br />

Alder, Speckled Alnus incana birch betulaceae<br />

Birch, Paper Betula papyrifera birch betulaceae<br />

Beech, <strong>Blue</strong> Carpinus caroliniana birch betulaceae<br />

Hop Hornbeam, Eastern Ostry a virginiana birch betulaceae<br />

Oak, White Quercus alba beech fagaceae<br />

Oak, Bur Quercus macrocarpa beech fagaceae<br />

Oak, Red Quercus rubra beech fagaceae<br />

Elm, American Ulmus americana elm ulmaceae<br />

Elm, Slippery Ulmus rubra elm ulmaceae


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 97<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.)<br />

Hops, Common Humulus lupulus* hemp canabaceae<br />

Nettle, Stinging Urtica dioica ssp.gracilis* nettle urticaceae<br />

Bastard Toadflax, Comandra umbellata sandalwood santalaceae<br />

Dock, Curled Rumex crispus* knotweed polygonaceae<br />

Sandwort, Thyme-leavd Arenaria serpyllifolia* pink caryophyllaceae<br />

Chickweed, Mouse-eard Cerastium fontanum* pink caryophyllaceae<br />

Lychnis, Evening Silene latifolia pink caryophyllaceae<br />

Campion, Bladder Silene vulgaris* pink caryophyllaceae<br />

Stitchwort, Lesser Stellaria graminea* pink caryophyllaceae<br />

Water Lily, Yellow Nuphar variegata water lily nymphaceae<br />

Hepatica, Round-leaved Anemone americana buttercup ranunculaceae<br />

Anemone, Canada Anemone canadensis buttercup ranunculaceae<br />

Thimbleweed Anemone virginiana buttercup ranunculaceae<br />

Columbine, Wild Aquilegia canadensis buttercup ranunculaceae<br />

Buttercup, Kidney-leavd Ranunculus abortivus buttercup ranunculaceae<br />

Buttercup, Tall Ranunculus acris* buttercup ranunculaceae<br />

Buttercup, Early Ranunculus fascicularis buttercup ranunculaceae<br />

Meadow Rue, Early Thalictrum dioicum buttercup ranunculaceae<br />

Celandine, Greater Chelidonium majus poppy papaveraceae<br />

Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis poppy papaveraceae<br />

Corydalis, Golden Corydalis aurea fumatory fumariaceae<br />

Mustard, Tower Arabis glabra mustard cruciferae<br />

Yellow Rocket Barbarea vulgaris* mustard cruciferae<br />

Mustard, Wormseed Erysimum chieranthoides* mustard cruciferae<br />

Dame's Rocket Hesperis matronalis* mustard cruciferae<br />

Peppergrass, Field Lepidium campestre* mustard cruciferae<br />

Pennycress, Field Thlapsi arvense* mustard cruciferae<br />

Early Saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis saxifrage saxifragaceae<br />

Black Currant, Wild Ribes americanum gooseberry grossulariaceae<br />

Gooseberry, Prickly Ribes cynosbati gooseberry grossulariaceae<br />

Black Currant, Bristly Ribes lacustre gooseberry grossulariaceae<br />

Currant, Bristly Black Ribes lacustre gooseberry grossulariaceae<br />

Agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala rose rosaceae<br />

Serviceberry, Downy Amelanchier arborea rose rosaceae<br />

Chokeberry, Black Aronia melanocarpa rose rosaceae<br />

Strawberry, Wood Fragaria vesca rose rosaceae<br />

Strawberry Wild Fragaria virginiana rose rosaceae<br />

Avens, White Geum canadense rose rosaceae<br />

Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum rose rosaceae<br />

Apple Malus pumila* rose rosaceae<br />

Cinquefoil, Silvery Potentilla argentea* rose rosaceae<br />

Cinquefoil, Tall Potentilla arguta rose rosaceae<br />

Cinquefoil, Ashy Potentilla inclinata rose rosaceae<br />

Cinquefoil, Rough Potentilla norvegica rose rosaceae<br />

Cinquefoil, Sulphur Potentilla recta* rose rosaceae


Page 98 September 2009<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.)<br />

Cinquefoil, Common Potentilla simplex rose rosaceae<br />

Plum, Canada Prunus nigra rose rosaceae<br />

Cherry, Black Prunus serotina rose rosaceae<br />

Cherry, Choke Prunus virginiana rose rosaceae<br />

Rose, Smooth Rosa blanda rose rosaceae<br />

Raspberry, Red<br />

Rubus idaeus ssp.<br />

melanolasius rose rosaceae<br />

Raspberry, Black Rubus occidentalis rose rosaceae<br />

Ragwort, Balsam Senecio pauperculus rose rosaceae<br />

Meadowsweet, Narrowleaved<br />

Spiraea alba rose rosaceae<br />

Barren Strawberry Waldsteinia fragaroides rose rosaceae<br />

Trefoil, Birdsfoot Lotus corniculatus* pea leguminosae<br />

Black Medick Medicago lupulina* pea leguminosae<br />

Alfalfa Medicago sativa* pea leguminosae<br />

Clover, Yellow Sweet Melilotus officinalis* pea leguminosae<br />

Locust, Black Robinia pseudo -acacia pea leguminosae<br />

Clover, Hop Trifolium agrarium* pea leguminosae<br />

Clover, Alsike Trifolium hybridum* pea leguminosae<br />

Clover, Red Trifolium pratense* pea leguminosae<br />

Clover, White Trifolium repens* pea leguminosae<br />

Vetch, Tufted Vicia cracca* pea leguminosae<br />

Vetch, Slender Vicia tetrasperma* pea leguminosae<br />

Wood Sorrel, Yellow Oxalis stricta wood sorrel oxalidaceae<br />

Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum* geranium geraniaceae<br />

Prickly Ash, Northern Zanthoxylum americanum rue rutaceae<br />

Sumac, Fragrant Rhus aromatica cashew anacardiaceae<br />

Sumac, Smooth Rhus glabra cashew anacardiaceae<br />

Sumac, Staghorn Rhus typhina<br />

Toxicodendron radicans ssp.<br />

cashew anacardiaceae<br />

Poison Ivy<br />

Negundo cashew anacardiaceae<br />

Bittersweet, Climbing Celastrus scandens staff tree celastraceae<br />

Maple, Manitoba Acer negundo maple aceraceae<br />

Maple, Silver Acer saccharinum maple aceraceae<br />

Maple, Sugar Acer saccharum maple aceraceae<br />

Jewelweed, Spotted Impatiens ca pensis touch-me-not balsaminaceae<br />

Buckthorn, Common Rhamnus cathartica buckthorn rhamnaceae<br />

Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus inserta grape vitaceae<br />

Grape, Riverbank Vitis riparia grape vitaceae<br />

Basswood, American Tilia americana linden tiliaceae<br />

Marshmallow Althea officinalis* mallow malvaceae<br />

St. John'swort, Common Hypericum perforatum St. Johnswort guttiferae<br />

St. Johnswort, Spotted Hypericum punctatum St. Johnswort guttiferae<br />

Violet, Canada Viola canadensis violet violaceae<br />

Violet, Northern Marsh viola epipsila violet violaceae


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 99<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.)<br />

Loosestrife, Purple Lythrium salicaria* loosestrife lythraceae<br />

Enchanter's Nightshade<br />

Circaea lutetiana ssp.<br />

canadensis<br />

evening<br />

primrose onagraceae<br />

Sarsaparilla, Wild Aralia nudicaulis ginseng araliaceae<br />

Goutweed Aegopodium podagraria carrot umbelliferae<br />

Hemlock, Bulb-bearing<br />

Water Cicuta bulbifera carrot umbelliferae<br />

Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota* carrot umbelliferae<br />

Parsnip, Cow Heracleum lanatum carrot umbelliferae<br />

Aniseroot Osmorhiza longistylis carrot umbelliferae<br />

Parsnip, Wild Pastinaca sativa* carrot umbelliferae<br />

Snakeroot, Black Sanicula marilandica carrot umbelliferae<br />

Water Parsnip Sium suave carrot umbelliferae<br />

Dogwood, Silky Cornus amomum dogwood cornaceae<br />

Dogwood, Gray Cornus racemosa dogwood cornaceae<br />

Dogwood, Round-leavd Cornus rugosa dogwood cornaceae<br />

Dogwood, Red Osier Cornus stolonifera dogwood cornaceae<br />

Loosestrife, Tufted Lysimachia thyrsiflora primrose primulaceae<br />

Ash, White Fraxinus americana olive oleaceae<br />

Ash, Black Fraxinus nigra olive oleaceae<br />

Ash, Red Fraxinus pennsylvanica olive oleaceae<br />

Lilac Syringia vulgaris* olive oleaceae<br />

Dogbane, Spreading<br />

Apocynum<br />

androsaemifolium dogbane apocynaceae<br />

Indian Hemp Apocynum cannabinum dogbane apocynaceae<br />

Milkweed, Swamp Asclepias incarnata milkweed asclepiadaceae<br />

Milkweed, Common Asclepias syriaca milkweed asclepiadaceae<br />

Swalowwort, European Cynanchum rossicum* milkweed asclepiadaceae<br />

Swallowwort, White Cynanchum vincetoxicum milkweed asclepiadaceae<br />

Bindweed, Upright<br />

Calystegia spithamaeus ssp.<br />

spithamaeus morning-glory convolvulaceae<br />

Phlox, <strong>Blue</strong> Phlox divaricata phlox polemoniaceae<br />

Hound's Tongue Cynoglossum officinale* borage boraginaceae<br />

Viper's Bugloss Echium vulgare* borage boraginaceae<br />

Gromwell, European Lithospermum officinale* borage boraginaceae<br />

Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea* mint labiatae<br />

Motherwort Leonurus cardiaca* mint labiatae<br />

Water Horehound Lycopus americanus mint labiatae<br />

Bergamot, Wild Monarda fistulosa mint labiatae<br />

Catnip Nepeta cataria* mint labiatae<br />

Heal-all Prunella vulgaris mint labiatae<br />

Basil, Wild Satureja vulgaris mint labiatae<br />

Skullcap, Common Scutellaria galericulata mint labiatae<br />

Hedge Nettle, Marsh Stachys palustris mint labiatae<br />

Nightshade, Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara* nightshade solanaceae


Page 100 September 2009<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.)<br />

Butter-and-eggs Linaria vulgaris* figwort scrophulariaceae<br />

Lousewort, Early Wood Pedicularis canadensis figwort scrophulariaceae<br />

Beardtongue, Hairy Penstemon hirsutus figwort scrophulariaceae<br />

Mullein, Common Verbascum thapsus* figwort scrophulariaceae<br />

Bladderwort, Greater Utricularia vulgaris bladderwort lentibularacea<br />

Plantain, Common Plantago major* plantain plantaginaceae<br />

Cleavers Galium aparine madder rubiaceae<br />

Bedstraw, Rough Galium asprellum madder rubiaceae<br />

Licorice, Wild Galium circaezans madder rubiaceae<br />

Madder, Wild Galium mollugo* madder rubiaceae<br />

Bedstraw, Marsh Galium palustre madder rubiaceae<br />

Bedstraw, Small Galium trifidum* madder rubiaceae<br />

Bedstraw, Fragrant Galium triflorum madder rubiaceae<br />

Honeysuckle, Bush Diervilla lonicera honeysuckle caprifoliaceae<br />

Honeysuckle, Fly Lonicera canadensis honeysuckle caprifoliaceae<br />

Honeysuckle, Hairy Lonicera hirsuta honeysuckle caprifoliaceae<br />

Honeysuckle, Tartarian Lonicera tatarica* honeysuckle caprifoliaceae<br />

Elderberry, Common<br />

Sambucus nigra ssp.<br />

canadensis honeysuckle caprifoliaceae<br />

Elder, Red-berried Sambucus racemosa honeysuckle caprifoliaceae<br />

Horse Gentian, Orangefruited<br />

Triosteum aurantiacum honeysuckle caprifoliaceae<br />

Tinker's Weed, Perfoliate Triosteum perfoliatum honeysuckle caprifoliaceae<br />

Viburnum, Maple-leavd Viburnum acerifolium honeysuckle caprifoliaceae<br />

Nannyberry Viburnum lentago honeysuckle caprifoliaceae<br />

Arrowwood, Downy Viburnum rafinesquianum honeysuckle caprifoliaceae<br />

Bellflower, Creeping Campanula rapunculoides* harebell campanulaceae<br />

Common Yarrow<br />

Achillea millefolium ssp.<br />

millefo aster compositae<br />

Ragweed, Common Ambrosia artemisiifolia aster compositae<br />

Pearly Everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea aster compositae<br />

Pussytoes, Field Antennaria neglecta aster compositae<br />

Burdock, Common Arctium minus ssp. minus* aster compositae<br />

Aster, Heart-leaved Aster cordifolius aster compositae<br />

Aster, New England Aster novae-angliae aster compositae<br />

Aster, Panicled Aster simplex aster compositae<br />

Thistle, Plumeless Carduus acanthoides aster compositae<br />

Thistle, Field Cirsium discolor aster compositae<br />

Fleabane, Daisy Erigeron annuus aster compositae<br />

Fleabane, Common Erigeron philadelphicus aster compositae<br />

Aster, Large-leaved Eurybia macrophylla aster compositae<br />

Hawkweed, Orange Hieracium aurantiacum* aster compositae<br />

Hawkweed, Field Hieracium caespitosum* aster compositae<br />

Hawkweed, Mouse-eard Hieracium pilosella* aster compositae<br />

Hawkweed, Tall/Smooth Hieracium piloselloides* aster compositae


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 101<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (Comm.) Family (Sci.)<br />

Daisy, Oxeye Leucanthemum vulgare* aster compositae<br />

Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia serotina aster compositae<br />

Goldenrod, Tall Solidago altissima aster compositae<br />

Goldenrod, Canada<br />

Solidago canadensis var.<br />

canadensis aster compositae<br />

Goldenrod, Zigzag Solidago flexicaulis aster compositae<br />

Goldenrod, Late Solidago gigantea aster compositae<br />

Goldenrod, Early Solidago juncea aster compositae<br />

Tansy, Common Tanasetum vulgare aster compositae<br />

Dandelion, Common Taraxacum officinale* aster compositae<br />

Goat's Beard, Fistulous Tragopogon dubius * aster compositae<br />

Goat's Beard, Meadow Tragopogon pratensis* aster compositae<br />

Non-Vascular Plants and Fungi by Anne Robertson<br />

Bacteria<br />

Crown Gall Agrobacterium tumefaciens<br />

Non-Vascular Plants<br />

Common Name Scientific Name Family (comm.) Family (scientific)<br />

Phylum Chlorophyta , Class Chlorophyceae Green Algae<br />

Pediastrum sp. Hydrodictyaceae<br />

Spirogyra sp. Zygnemataceae<br />

Microspora sp.? Microsporoceae<br />

Stonewort Chara sp. Characeae<br />

Phylum Bryophyta, Class Bryopsida<br />

Plagiomnium<br />

ellipticum<br />

Phylum Bryophyta, Class Sphagnopsida<br />

Mniaceae<br />

Peat Moss Sphagnum sp. Sphagnaceae<br />

Fungi<br />

Fungi are classified somewhat differently and the classification is constantly changing,<br />

so the true fungi are presented in alphab etical order of scientific name.<br />

True Fungi<br />

Apiospora morbosa (Black Knot)<br />

Calvatia excipuliformis (Pestle-shaped<br />

Puffball)<br />

Climacodon septentrionale (Shelving Tooth)<br />

Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae<br />

(Cedar-Apple Rust)<br />

Hemitrichia sp. (Slime Mould)<br />

Inonatus obliquus (Clinker Polypore)<br />

Lactarius deliciosus (Delicious Lactarius)<br />

Morchella esculenta (Yellow Morel)<br />

Polyporus squamosus (Dryads Saddle)<br />

Puccinia coronata (Buckthorn Crown Rust)<br />

Sircoccus clavignenti-juglandaccarum<br />

(Butternut Canker)<br />

Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail)<br />

Lichens<br />

Cladina Sp. (Reindeer moss)<br />

Peltigera po nojensis (Pale-bellied Dog-lichen)


Page 102 September 2009<br />

Diane Lawrence Wins Richards Education Award<br />

Anne Robertson<br />

We are delighted that Diane Lawrence<br />

has won a well-deserved award from<br />

Ontario Nature, presented to her on<br />

June 13, during at this year’s BioBlitz.<br />

The Richards Education award is<br />

presented to an individual who has<br />

succeeded in helping people understand<br />

the natural world and become<br />

enthusiastic supporters of conservation<br />

and environmental protection.<br />

Anne Robertson presents Richards<br />

Education Award to Diane Lawrence.<br />

Photo by Gaye Beckwith<br />

Diane has been a volunteer coordinator<br />

for the KFN youth program for 28 years.<br />

She is extremely inspiring, her<br />

enthusiasm is contagious, and her<br />

reliable nature and long term<br />

commitment are exemplary. Diane helps<br />

with both the Junior and Teen<br />

naturalists. The junior program consists<br />

of about fifty 6 to 12 year olds, who<br />

meet twice monthly indoors, and once a<br />

month in the field. We have ten to<br />

fifteen Teen naturalists, who meet once<br />

a month in the field.<br />

Diane has a wonderful ability to keep<br />

students focused, and to maintain a<br />

pleasant and instructive atmosphere<br />

throughout the meetings. She plans<br />

activities which emphasize hands-on<br />

experiences, such as tagging Monarch<br />

butterflies and studying bird skins.<br />

These activities are instructive and<br />

enjoyable, both for the young naturalists<br />

and for the university students who<br />

help as junior leaders, many of whom<br />

have limited previous experience in the<br />

natural environment.<br />

The activities developed by Diane are<br />

also used in her teaching at Queen’s<br />

University Faculty of Education, and are<br />

carried by her students across Ontario<br />

and beyond. Our youth programs have<br />

been running continuously since 1972<br />

and their continued success would not<br />

have been possible without Diane’s<br />

contributions. It has been a pleasure to<br />

work with Diane, and to see how she<br />

has helped many young people grow up<br />

to become dedicated naturalists and<br />

professional biologists.


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 103<br />

This column is about snakes. You know,<br />

the foul and loathsome in the animal<br />

kingdom. I will be up front about that,<br />

for the benefit of the lady who stood<br />

beside me in the Picton Gazette office a<br />

few weeks ago, and told the receptionist<br />

across the counter that the newspaper<br />

was excellent, but there were far too<br />

many snakes in one issue. As I recall,<br />

that was the issue which featured,<br />

among other things, a local conservation<br />

day camp and its visit from a<br />

herpetologist who captivated the young<br />

audience with the less-appreciated<br />

among our wildlife.<br />

Why some people recoil whenever a live<br />

snake (or a photo of one!) appears has<br />

always mystified me. They are no more<br />

revolting than slugs, worms, maggots,<br />

salamanders, or the high school student<br />

some years back who yelled an<br />

expletive in my ear as she shouted to a<br />

classmate across Picton's Main Street.<br />

Except for the latter, all are part of the<br />

wildlife makeup in this world that form<br />

an important link in the natural scheme<br />

of things, and keep this world purring<br />

along. They belong, as surely as do bats,<br />

mosquitoes, bees, skunks and a host of<br />

others who haven't yet managed to<br />

endear themselves to all of us.<br />

The late herpetologist, Tom Huff, with<br />

his gentle, soothing voice and ways<br />

changed many a person's attitude about<br />

snakes, and dispelled numerous myths<br />

about them through touch and<br />

Shunned by Some, Loved by Others<br />

Terry Sprague<br />

interpretation. He, couldn't understand<br />

the fear of snakes some persons have,<br />

but accepted it, as long as they didn't<br />

hurl a stone at them, and understood<br />

their place in nature.<br />

Their fear, he believed, was handed<br />

down, for he could not explain it any<br />

other way. The mother screams, the<br />

child instinctively screams, and the<br />

child goes through life with a fear that<br />

has been imprinted. If kids escape this<br />

misdirected imprinting, they eventually<br />

discover snakes by themselves, and<br />

learn on their own that these cold<br />

blooded animals are pretty cool.<br />

Through Tom's involvement with the<br />

defunct Reptile Breeding Foundation at<br />

Cherry Valley, and later, his work at the<br />

Cataraqui Region Conservation<br />

Authority, he dispelled many a fear<br />

during his short time with us.<br />

There were no kids in the group I<br />

ushered around Jones Falls, north of<br />

Kingston, a few weeks ago as we<br />

explored the history of the area, prior to<br />

an interpretive kayak paddle to<br />

Chaffey's Lock. However, there were no<br />

screams either as I picked up a feisty<br />

smooth green snake, and held it in my<br />

hands for all to see. They were<br />

fascinated, not so much by my ability to<br />

comfortably hold the creature, but more<br />

by the outstanding colour on this tiny<br />

specimen. It was a soft, emerald green,<br />

and it was amazing that I found it at all


Page 104 September 2009<br />

given the rich, green vegetation along<br />

the path where it turned up.<br />

Green snakes lay eggs, like so many<br />

other reptiles and amphibians, but<br />

unlike water snakes and garter snakes<br />

that are viviparous - bear live young.<br />

They do not start out green, but rather<br />

grey or even blue, which explains the<br />

excitement of a Madoc resident some<br />

years ago, when he was certain he had<br />

found a blue racer, normally confined to<br />

Pelee Island, in southwestern Ontario.<br />

Once green snakes settle on green, they<br />

stay that way, even after death<br />

apparently, as evidenced by several I<br />

have found dead along roadsides over<br />

the years, victims of cars.<br />

Despite their small size, green snakes<br />

have the same weaponry as larger<br />

counterparts - chemical welfare, and<br />

they're not afraid to use it. The tiny<br />

individual I handled wasted no time in<br />

bathing my hands with its obnoxious<br />

odour, faint compared to that of garter<br />

and milk snakes, but nonetheless,<br />

powerful. Later that day, the odour was<br />

still evident, even after repeated<br />

scrubbings with hand sanitizer I carry<br />

for such occasions.<br />

Through the years, I have become quite<br />

comfortable handling and being around<br />

snakes. One of my fondest recollections<br />

is the day a small child at Sandbanks<br />

delivered to me the largest garter snake<br />

I had ever seen. Because it was closing<br />

time at the Visitor Centre where I<br />

worked, I lowered the huge snake into a<br />

spare terrarium we had on display. Next<br />

morning, the reason for the snake's size<br />

became apparent. The bottom of the<br />

terrarium was a seething mass of 80+<br />

miniature garter snakes, almost surely a<br />

record for a female snake of any species.<br />

Just a snake in the grass - a garter<br />

snake. Photo by Terry Sprague<br />

I have always been a bit leery of water<br />

snakes though, after being rather<br />

aggressively bitten by a northern water<br />

snake as a young lad when I<br />

inadvertently stepped on one while in<br />

swimming, not so much by the memory<br />

of that day, but due to the infection their<br />

bite can cause, from their diet of carrion.<br />

Still, five years ago, while leading tours<br />

to Main Duck Island where water<br />

snakes still abound as their own little<br />

disjunct population, I would willingly<br />

lead the interested to their whereabouts,<br />

and conversely, the uninterested far<br />

away.<br />

Terry Sprague is a naturalist, free-lance<br />

writer and KFN member who lives in<br />

Prince Edward County. See his website<br />

at www.naturestuff.net


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 105<br />

Odonate Sightings April 1 to August 31 2009<br />

Kurt Hennige<br />

This report includes records in the<br />

Kingston Checklist area and Charleston<br />

Lake & Menzel Provincial Parks. Cool<br />

weather delayed the appearance of<br />

many species by one to two weeks, and<br />

numbers for some common species were<br />

lower than in past years.<br />

A new species was added to the<br />

Checklist when 3 Brush -tipped Emerald<br />

were seen along Roblin Road, 3km east<br />

of the Menzel Gate. This species was<br />

also seen in at least three more locations<br />

just outside the Kingston Checklist area<br />

and at least 15 were seen at Menzel.<br />

The list includes several species of<br />

sought-after Emeralds in the group<br />

Somatochlora including Kennedy’s,<br />

Williamson’s and Brush-tipped<br />

Emerald. All were found at Menzel<br />

Centennial Provincial Park.<br />

Williamson’s Emerald by Kurt Hennige<br />

Even more surprising was the discovery<br />

of 1 male and several female Ebony<br />

Boghaunters, our smallest Emerald, also<br />

at Menzel Centennial. It‘s rare anywhere<br />

in Ontario; even records in Algonquin<br />

Park are few and scattered.<br />

Bog Haunter by Murray Seymour<br />

Other highlights include the second<br />

record of Saffron winged Meadowhawk,<br />

our third and fourth records of Swamp<br />

Darner, also on Charleston Lake, 3km<br />

from the 2007 location, a new<br />

population of Rainbow <strong>Blue</strong>t along<br />

Millhaven Creek, and 3 records of the<br />

rare Harlequin Darner.<br />

Contributors: M. Burrell, D. Bree, Mark<br />

Conboy, K. Hennige, V. P. Mackenzie,<br />

John Poland, J. Seus, C. & M. Seymour.


Page 106 September 2009<br />

First Sightings 2009<br />

Date Latin Name Species Location<br />

4/26/2009 Anax junius Common Green Darner Menzel & Bayview Bog<br />

5/4/2009 Tetragoneuria canis Beaverpond Baskettail Third Depot Lake Rd<br />

5/4/2009 Leucorrhinia hudsonica Hudsonian Whiteface Third Depot Lake Rd<br />

5/12/2009 Ischnura verticalis Eastern Forktail Brady Rd near Newburgh<br />

5/13/2009 Cordulia shurtleffi American Emerald Charleston Lake Prov Pk<br />

5/13/2009 Chromagrion conditum Aurora Damsel Chrlston L Pr Pk Quiddity Trlhd<br />

5/13/2009 Ladona julia Chalk-fronted Corporal Charleston Lake Prov Pk<br />

5/13/2009 Leucorrhinia intacta Dot-tailed Whiteface Charleston Lake Prov Pk<br />

5/13/2009 Epitheca spinigera Spiny Baskettail Charleston Lake Prov Pk<br />

5/15/2009 Basiaeschna janata Springtime Darner Charleston Lake north shore<br />

5/18/2009 Enallagma boreale Boreal <strong>Blue</strong>t Bullen Rd<br />

5/18/2009 Libellula quadrimaculata Four-spotted Skimmer Burns Ln SW shore Chrleston L.<br />

5/18/2009 Enallagma cyathigerum Northern <strong>Blue</strong>t Burns Ln SW shore Chrleston L.<br />

5/19/2009 Gomphaeschna furcillata Harlequin Darner Charleston Lake Prov Pk<br />

5/19/2009 Dorocordulia libera Racket-tailed Emerald Gananoque Conserv Area<br />

5/22/2009 Tetragoneuria cynosura Common Baskettail Tr off Opin Rd 1k E of Rock L Rd<br />

5/22/2009 Calopteryx maculata Ebony Jewelwing Millhaven Cr 581 County Rd #4<br />

5/22/2009 Didymops transversa Stream Cruiser Tr off Opin Rd 1k E of Rock L Rd<br />

5/23/2009 Leucorrhinia proxima Belted Whiteface Third Depot Lake Rd<br />

5/24/2009 Gomphus spicatus Dusky Clubtail QUBS Pangman Trail<br />

5/24/2009 Ischnura posita Fragile Forktail Collin's Creek<br />

5/26/2009 Williamsonia fletcheri Ebony Boghaunter Menzel Nature Reserve<br />

5/30/2009 Plathemis lydia Common Whitetail Frontenac Prov Pk<br />

5/30/2009 Arigomphus furcifer Lilypad Clubtail Frontenac Prov Pk<br />

5/30/2009 Lestes disjunctus Northern Spreadwing Frontenac Prov Pk<br />

unknown Lestes eurinus Ambr-wngd Spreadwing QUBS<br />

5/30/2009 Nehalennia irene Sedge Sprite Frontenac Prov Park<br />

6/2/2009 Coenagrion resolutum Taiga <strong>Blue</strong>t Portland Cons Area<br />

6/12/2009 Lestes dryas Emerald Spreadwing KFN Bioblitz Camden East<br />

6/13/2009 Celithemis elisa Calico Pennant KFN Bioblitz Camden East<br />

6/14/2009 Erythemis simplicicollis Common Pondhawk Burns Ln SW shore Chrleston L<br />

6/15/2009 Gomphus exilis Lancet Clubtail Cat Tr Opin Rd to Maple Leaf Rd<br />

6/15/2009 Enallagma ebrium Marsh <strong>Blue</strong>t Cat Tr Opin Rd to Maple Leaf Rd<br />

6/15/2009 Libellula luctuosa Pied Skimmer Cat Tr Opin Rd to Maple Leaf Rd<br />

unknown Arigomphus cornutus Horned Clubtail QUBS<br />

6/15/2009 Epitheca princeps Prince Baskettail Cat Tr Opin Rd to Maple Leaf Rd<br />

6/15/2009 Libellula pulchella Twelve-spotted Skimmer Cat Tr Opin Rd to Maple Leaf Rd<br />

6/17/2009 Pachydiplax longipennis <strong>Blue</strong> Dasher KFN- Helen Quilliam Sanctuary<br />

6/17/2009 Nannothemis bella Elfin Skimmer KFN- Helen Quilliam Sanctuary<br />

6/17/2009 Leucorrhinia frigida Frosted Whiteface KFN- Helen Quilliam Sanctuary


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 107<br />

Date Latin Name Species Location<br />

6/17/2009 Enallagma hageni Hagen's <strong>Blue</strong>t Third Depot Lake Rd<br />

6/17/2009 Libellula incesta Slaty Skimmer KFN- Helen Quilliam Sanctuary<br />

6/17/2009 Nehalennia gracillis Sphagnum Sprite KFN- Helen Quilliam Sanctuary<br />

6/22/2009 Aeshna canadensis Canada Darner Frontenac Prov Pk<br />

6/22/2009 Hagenius brevistylus Dragonhunter Burns Ln SW shore Chrleston L<br />

6/22/2009 Enallagma vesperum Vesper <strong>Blue</strong>t Burns Ln SW shore Chrleston L<br />

6/24/2009 Celithemis eponina Halloween Pennant Rideau Trail off Opinicon Rd<br />

6/24/2009 Argia moesta Powdered Dancer Rideau Trail off Opinicon Rd<br />

6/24/2009 Enallagma exsulans Stream <strong>Blue</strong>t QUBS Pangman Trail<br />

6/24/2009 Enallagma signatum Orenge <strong>Blue</strong>t Charleston L Prov Pk Boatramp<br />

6/25/2009 Somatochlora walshi Brush-tipped Emerald Menzel Nature Reserve<br />

6/25/2009 Calopteryx aequabilis River Jewelwing Salmon River Forest Mills<br />

6/26/2009 Macromia illinoiensis Swift River Cruiser Salmon River Forest Mills<br />

6/27/2009 Argia fumipennis violacea Violet Dancer Collins Creek N of Taylor -Kidd<br />

6/28/2009 Cordulegaster obliqua Arrowhead Spiketail Burns Ln SW shore Chrleston L<br />

6/28/2009 Sympetrum obtrusum Wht-face Meadowhawk KFN Helen Quilliam Sanctuary<br />

7/7/2009 Dromogomphus spinosus Blk-shouldered Spinyleg Salmon River Forest Mills<br />

7/7/2009 Stylogomphus albistylus Eastern Least Clubtail Salmon River Forest Mills<br />

7/7/2009 Somatochlora kennedyi Kennedy's Emerald Menzel Nature Reserve<br />

7/7/2009 Lestes unguiculatus Lyre-tipped Spreadwing N of Newburgh NCC Sheck site<br />

7/7/2009 Enallagma antennatum Rainbow <strong>Blue</strong>t Salmon River Forest Mills<br />

7/9/2009 Sympetrum semicinctum Bnd-wngd MeadowhawkMenzel Nature Reserve<br />

7/9/2009 Somatochlora willamsoni Williamson's Emerald Menzel Nature Reserve<br />

7/15/2009 Enallagma civile Familiar <strong>Blue</strong>t Kingston Waterfront<br />

7/19/2009 Aeshna tuberculifera Black-tipped Darner Menzel Nature Reserve<br />

7/19/2009 Lestes vigilax Swamp Spreadwing. Salmon River Forest Mills<br />

7/20/2009 Lestes rectangularis Slender Spreadwing Charleston L Pr Pk <strong>Blue</strong> Mt Trail<br />

7/21/2009 Aeshna umbrosa Shadow Darner Burns Ln SW shore Chrleston L<br />

7/28/2009 Sympetrum costiferum Sffrn-wngd Meadowhwk Goodyear Rd Napanee<br />

7/30/2009 Tramea lacerata Black Saddlebags Bayview Bog(Lost Lake)<br />

7/30/2009 Sympetrum internum Chrry-facd Meadowhwk Bayview Bog(Lost Lake)<br />

7/30/2009 Enallagma carunculatum Tule <strong>Blue</strong>t Bayview Bog(Lost Lake)<br />

8/1/2009 Sympetrum vicinum Autumn Meadowhawk QUBS Pangman Trail<br />

8/5//2009 Enallagma geminatum Skimming <strong>Blue</strong>t Frontenac Prov Pk<br />

8/5/2009 Lestes congener Spotted Spreadwing Frontenac Prov Pk<br />

8/21/2009 Epiaeschna heros Swamp Darner Charleston Lake N shore


Page 108 September 2009<br />

The Kingston Field Naturalists at Fifty<br />

<strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> (1999) Volume 46 no. 2: 36-38<br />

Mike Evans<br />

In its fiftieth year, the Kingston Field<br />

Naturalists is pleased to host for the<br />

sixth time the annual conference of the<br />

Federation of Ontario Naturalists. The<br />

last occasion on which the conference<br />

was held in Kingston marked the KFN's<br />

fortieth anniversary. The special edition<br />

of The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> published for that<br />

conference included a history of the<br />

club's first forty years written by Dr.<br />

Bob Stewart. 1<br />

It was on November 24 th , 1949, that nine<br />

people attended the inaugural meeting<br />

of what was first known as the Kingston<br />

Nature Club. One of these nine<br />

founding members was a young Robert<br />

B. Stewart. To describe his many<br />

contributions to the club and to the FON<br />

would require an article far longer than<br />

this one. Needless to say, his knowledge<br />

of the early days of the club is unique,<br />

and it would be pointless for one far less<br />

qualified than Bob to try to give a<br />

history of the first forty years yet again.<br />

Instead, only major milestones of those<br />

years will be mentioned, and the more<br />

recent history and present activities of<br />

the KFN will be described here.<br />

It should also be mentioned that in her<br />

introduction to History of the Birds of<br />

Kingston, Helen Quilliam gave a highly<br />

readable account of the club's early<br />

days, and also some carefully<br />

researched details of the history of<br />

ornithology of the Kingston area dating<br />

back to the 1850s. 2 There is even a<br />

reference to birds seen in the Kingston<br />

area by members of Champlain's<br />

entourage in 1615.<br />

Much credit for the founding of the club<br />

must go to Dr. George M. Stirrett, who<br />

came to Kingston in 1948 as Dominion<br />

Wildlife Biologist. In five years the<br />

membership had increased to 50, and it<br />

exceeded 100 by the early 1960s.<br />

By this time Helen Quilliam had become<br />

a central figure in many of the KFN's<br />

activities. Her weekly articles on birds<br />

published in the Kingston-Whig<br />

Standard were read by members and by<br />

numerous non-members, many of<br />

whom were introduced to the club<br />

through them. Helen continued this<br />

endeavour for nine years, her last<br />

column appearing towards the end of<br />

1968. Mention has already been made of<br />

her book, History of the Birds of<br />

Kingston, originally published in 1965.<br />

A second edition appeared in 1973 as<br />

the KFN's contribution to the City of<br />

Kingston's tercentenary celebrations.<br />

By this time the checklist of birds seen<br />

within a 50 km radius of Kingston<br />

contained 303 species. In his book Birds<br />

of the Kingston Region published in<br />

1989 on the club's 40 th anniversary, Dr.<br />

Ron Weir described the status of 343<br />

species that had been observed up to<br />

that time in the Kingston area. 3 This


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 109<br />

number continues to rise slowly, and<br />

now stands at 360.<br />

Birding was then, and continues to be,<br />

by far the most popular club activity.<br />

However, since the early days of the<br />

KFN members have felt that one of its<br />

major interests should be the<br />

preservation of natural areas in the<br />

Kingston region. In 1963 the club<br />

purchased 200 acres (approximately 80<br />

hectares) of land north of Sydenham<br />

with shoreline on Otter and Rothwell<br />

Lakes. The acquisition of the property<br />

necessitated the club becoming<br />

incorporated, at which time it changed<br />

its name from the Kingston Nature Club<br />

to Kingston Field Naturalists.<br />

Three further purchases of land adjacent<br />

to the original property have been made<br />

possible by generous donations from<br />

club members. The original Otter Lake<br />

Sanctuary grew by 40 hectares in 1967,<br />

by a further 80 hectares in 1981, giving<br />

access to Gould Lake, and most recently<br />

by the purchase of the 6.6 hectare<br />

peninsular on Otter Lake known to<br />

members as Vanluven Point. On 11 June<br />

1995 the Otter Lake Sanctuary was<br />

renamed the Helen Quilliam Sanctuary<br />

to honour a lovely and talented lady<br />

who had guided the KFN for close to 40<br />

years.<br />

The club also owns approximately 100<br />

hectares of pasture and marsh at the<br />

eastern end of Amherst Island<br />

purchased in 1986 with the aid of funds<br />

from Wildlife Habitat Canada. Under an<br />

agreement with Duck's Unlimited part<br />

of the area is managed to maintain<br />

water levels in the marsh to protect<br />

nesting Wilson's Phalaropes and other<br />

marsh dwelling species. An Osprey<br />

platform on the property is one of<br />

several that have been erected in the<br />

Kingston area by the KFN in the past<br />

few years. Each has been quickly<br />

occupied by a pair of Ospreys.<br />

As was stated earlier, many of the KFN's<br />

members are active birders. A Kingston<br />

area Christmas Count has been<br />

conducted since the club was founded,<br />

and members have organized other<br />

counts in the surrounding area for many<br />

years. Last year counts were conducted<br />

in Kingston, Napanee, Amherst Island,<br />

Westport, Prince Edward Point and the<br />

Thousand Islands. Christmas Count<br />

species totals for Kingston rival those of<br />

Long Point, Rondeau and Hamilton.<br />

Other birding events that have become<br />

KFN traditions are the Spring Roundup<br />

in late May, which started in 1960 as the<br />

Big Day, and since 1966 the Fall<br />

Roundup, formerly the Owl Hunt, in<br />

early November. These events have<br />

generated a wealth of data over the<br />

years, as well as contributing greatly<br />

towards building a camaraderie and, at<br />

times, a little rivalry between club<br />

members.<br />

Other field trips are held throughout the<br />

year, again mostly to well known<br />

birding areas such as Wolfe and<br />

Amherst Islands and Prince Edward<br />

Point. Recently, field trips for beginning<br />

birders have been held as part of what is<br />

referred to as a Field Studies program.<br />

Each trip focuses on a group of species<br />

such as hawks and owls, or ducks, to<br />

allow new birders to learn about these<br />

species at a more leisurely pace than is


Page 110 September 2009<br />

usually experienced on regular field<br />

trips and roundups.<br />

A number of more scientifically<br />

conducted surveys have also been KFN<br />

projects over the years. Breeding Bird<br />

Surveys were first undertaken for the<br />

Canadian Wildlife Service and US Fish<br />

and Wildlife Service in 1966. More<br />

recently several members have<br />

participated in the Forest Breeding Bird<br />

Monitoring program. Some of the other<br />

surveys in which members are involved<br />

are mentioned later in this issue.<br />

However, without doubt the KFN's<br />

biggest project started in 1971 when<br />

daily surveys of the Spring migration at<br />

Prince Edward Point were organized by<br />

Dr. Ron Weir. The survey was repeated<br />

the following year and later grew into a<br />

Spring and Fall migration banding<br />

program which continued until 1981.<br />

Between 1975 and the end of 1980 over<br />

78,000 birds were banded. This massive<br />

effort allowed the KFN to establish the<br />

importance of Prince Edward Point as a<br />

major migration stop-over, and<br />

persuade the Canadian Wildlife Service<br />

to set aside the area as Canada's first<br />

National Wildlife Area for non-game<br />

species.<br />

Fall banding of Saw-whet Owls also<br />

determined that this species migrates<br />

through the area in considerable<br />

numbers each year. This activity is still<br />

carried out intermittently as part of the<br />

KFN's educational program. To date<br />

over 5000 Saw-whet Owls have been<br />

banded at Prince Edward Point. In 1998<br />

the area became the fourth in Canada to<br />

be designated an Important Bird Area<br />

(IBA).<br />

Education has always been one of the<br />

club's objectives. The greatest effort has<br />

been directed towards programs for the<br />

young. The Kingston Junior Naturalists<br />

has operated under the KFN's umbrella<br />

for 35 years. In its early days the group<br />

met in Earl Hall, the home of the<br />

Biology Department at Queen's<br />

University, under the direction of a KFN<br />

member. In 1972 the junior naturalists<br />

group became part of a new venture<br />

known as the West End Boys and Girls<br />

Club which met at Polson Park School. 4<br />

This arrangement lasted only a short<br />

time before the Kingston Junior<br />

Naturalists resumed meeting at Earl<br />

Hall once again.<br />

Under the enthusiastic leadership of<br />

Anne Robertson with strong support<br />

from Diane Lawrence, the group<br />

thrived, and was subdivided into two in<br />

1987. The younger members meet twice


The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> Volume 56, No. 3 Page 111<br />

a month from September to April in<br />

McArthur Hall at Queen's, where they<br />

participate in a variety of natural history<br />

activities under the guidance of Anne,<br />

Diane and a number of student<br />

volunteers from the Faculty of<br />

Education plus several KFN members.<br />

Field trips are also held regularly and<br />

are well attended.<br />

The teens group, also led by Anne<br />

Robertson, has a more extensive<br />

outdoor program that includes<br />

canoeing, cross-country skiing and<br />

helping with activities such as the Bio-<br />

Blitz and the annual cleanup of the<br />

Helen Quilliam Sanctuary.<br />

As the club has grown the membership<br />

has taken part in an increasing number<br />

of projects, some of which have already<br />

been described above. In the December<br />

1997 issue of The <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong>, Bud Rowe<br />

described thirty projects in which<br />

members had recently been involved. 5<br />

Many of these projects continue to this<br />

day. Some of the non-bird ones that are<br />

still active are amphibian call counts,<br />

butterfly, moth and lady beetle surveys<br />

and an invasive plants survey. Last year<br />

saw the club's first Bio-Blitz, an event<br />

that will be repeated in June this year.<br />

Currently the membership list shows<br />

that there are over 180 individual<br />

memberships and over 150 family<br />

memberships. Since each of the latter<br />

represents at least two persons, the total<br />

number of people involved in the club is<br />

over 480. The Executive of the KFN feels<br />

strongly that to keep a club healthy it is<br />

important to have members involved in<br />

a wide variety of projects. At fifty, we<br />

believe there are many signs indicating<br />

that the club is in good shape. One<br />

hopes that this will still be the case for<br />

many years to come, and the FON will<br />

also flourish so that we will be able to<br />

welcome its members to Kingston yet<br />

again in the not too distant future.<br />

References<br />

1. Stewart, R.B. 1989. The Kingston Field<br />

Naturalists - Forty Years. <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> 36(2):<br />

205-208.<br />

2. Quilliam, H.R. 1965. The History of<br />

the Birds of Kingston, Ontario.<br />

Published privately.<br />

3. Weir, R.D. 1989. Birds of the Kingston<br />

Region. Quarry Press, Kingston.<br />

4. Robertson, A. 1990. Natural History<br />

Education in the KFN: Part II. <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong><br />

37(4), 79-83.<br />

5. Rowe, B. 1997. Projects, Projects,<br />

Projects. <strong>Blue</strong> <strong>Bill</strong> 44(4), 144-151.

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