Orillia Astronomy Club has sent us this find of the month for January 2012
The supernova in M101
 

     
 A supernova is a huge explosion of a large star (larger than our sun) at the end of its life when
most of it's fuel has been used up and the balance between gravity and the fusion reactions
 break down. The event is brighter than a billion suns and out shines all the other stars (billions of them)
 in the galaxy. At the same time many of the elements heavier than Iron, such as gold and lead
are created and this is the origin of these elements on earth so that we can say we are made up
 of star dust. We are seeing this supernova in M101 now, but it really happened 30 million years
ago, as this is how long it took the light to reach us.
    
M 101 is a galaxy like ours, about 30 million light years away ( 3x 10 to the 20th power, kilometres away)
 and is found just above the end of the handle of the big dipper. You can expect to see a supernova
about every 300 years in a galaxy. We are due for one in ours, the Milky way galaxy.

 The photo was taken by Steve Tate, of Barrie, of the recent supernova in M 101 ( it is marked by 2 white bars).
The picture was taken at the Torrance Barrens.

 

Text by Gord Michener, President of the OAC and Past President of the ONC

December 2011           Lichens of Copeland Forest

Because of the warm weather this fall, lichens have been particularly luxurious  -noticed by all because the
green plants are not distracting. This report and photos are from Troy McMullin, PhD., from University of Guelph , who did
 an inventory of the lichens of the Copeland forest for the Couchiching Conservancy in October.  

“I find myself inspecting little granules as it were on the bark of trees – little shields or apothecia springing from a thallus
 – such is the mood of my mind – and I call it studying lichens.” Henry David Thoreau

Walking through the forests of southern Ontario the keen observer will notice the gentle
 splash of colour on the bark and branches of older trees or minute gardens growing on
 sandy soils and rotting wood, these are typically lichens.

Lichens are composite organisms comprised of two primary partners, a mycobiont (fungus)
 and a photosynthesizer or photobiont, which is an alga, a cyanobacterium or both.
 Unlike the tundra and the boreal forest, where lichens often dominate the ground and
tree cover, lichens in the forests around Orillia are generally less conspicuous, but the number
of species is no less, nor is their beauty.

During a recent inventory of the lichens in the Copeland Forest many colourful and
inconspicuous species were found. Some of the variety in colour is captured in pictures
of the following species: 

Lichens are sensitive to disturbance and air pollution. One of the reasons for this sensitivity is because
 they get their nutrients directly from the atmosphere, precipitation and water that washes over them.
Unlike vascular plants, lichens lack roots and a waxy cuticle, which allows them to behave like sponges
 absorbing nutrients in the air. Unfortunately, if pollutants are in the air they will also be absorbed as well.
 There is a wide range of tolerances to air pollution among different species, which is one of the reasons
they are good bioindicators. You won’t see many lichens in the city, only the most pollution tolerant ones,
but when you get out to the forest and see them in high abundance, it is a good sign to take a deep breath.

Lichens are the pioneers of plant succession. Since they do not need soil to grow, lichens can colonize
 bare rock and start the process of turning a barren landscape into a forest. There are 17,500 species
 currently described by science, with many more yet to be discovered. When you are tuned into the
 often tiny world of lichens, you will start to see their brilliant diversity on most trees, rocks and soil.
 So get out there and appreciate the small things in life, and watch your step!
 

“A thick fog. The trees and woods look well through it. You are inclined to walk in the woods for objects. They are draped with mist,
and you hear the sound of it dripping from them. It is a lichen day. Not a bit of rotten wood lies on the dead leaves,
but it is covered with fresh, green cup lichens...” Henry David Thoreau

November 2011              Sandhill Crane Staging

Strongville Road, Clearview Township
 

O. E. Devitt (1967) in “ The Birds of Simcoe County” described the Sandhill Crane
as “a former transient with only one sighting in modern times”.
Presently the eastern population is expanding in size and breeding range and
now Sandhill Cranes can be found locally in Simcoe County from spring to fall
and it also breeds here.
 Historically, from the 17^th Century to the 19^th Century, large numbers of cranes stopped in Simcoe County
 en route to and from their wintering grounds, but that population was extirpated in the 19^th Century.
However, things have come full circle and once again large numbers of Sandhill Cranes are migrating
 through Simcoe County. 

A staging area is a location where migrating species always stop and feed for short periods,
 putting on fat, before continuing on their migration. Strongville Road and the surrounding area,
which is south of HWY 26 and east of Stayner in Clearview Township has become a staging place
for Sandhill Cranes in the last few years.
 This fall the numbers of birds began to build in mid-Oct. and by mid-Nov. had reached a peak
of approximately 1000 birds before dispersing and continuing their migration to Georgia and Florida.
The many corn fields in the area attract the cranes to stop and feed but as the corn is cut
 and harvested and the stubble ploughed under the birds disperse. This area is well worth a visit
in late Oct. as the large number of cranes is an impressive sight.
 

October 2011      Cormorants on Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching
 

Cormorant Colony on Lake Couchiching ( Ship Island). The trees will be able to support nests for some more years.

Roosting Colony on Lake Simcoe, near Orillia's dump. Will the nesting colony eventually move on here?

Photos and text by Joan Rosebush

September 2011         Great Plains Ladies' Tresses ( Spiranthes magnicamporum) on the Carden Plain

On Sept. 7, Linda found an orchid on the Carden alvar that was different from
 the common Nodding Ladies' Tresses orchid (Spiranthes cernua). She
 contacted botanist Mike Oldham, who in turn contacted Spiranthes
expert Paul Catling. They both agreed with Linda's identification of
Spiranthes magnicamporum (Great Plains Ladies' Tresses).
This is the first record of this species for the county of City
 Of Kawartha Lakes.
 It is a rare plant in Ontario (S3) with previous records from Southwestern
Ontario and the Bruce Peninsula. On Sept. 20, I had the
good fortune to observe and photograph this species on the Carden alvar
 (25 plants in total at 2 locations).
Some key identification features include: underside of flower
lip yellowish (visible in photo), flowers fragrant, lateral sepals
 spreading and curved resembling a "cow's horn" (visible in photo),
no basal leaves at flowering time.
Because S. magnicamporum closely resembles S. cernua, it is
 probably overlooked. Any Spiranthes flowering on the Carden alvar in
Sept. or later is worth a close look as it may be S. magnicamporum.
I would be interested in hearing
about any records of this species.
 

August 2011    Hummingbird Banding with Cindy Cartwright in Severn Township
 

The guest speaker for the March Orillia Naturalist’s Club meeting was Cindy Cartwright, coordinator of the Ontario Hummingbird Project. 
 Cindy is one of only 30 people in Canada who are trained to band hummingbirds, and only 1 of 4 active banders in the country. 
 Cindy started the Ontario Hummingbird Project in 2005 after realizing there had been very little research done on hummingbirds in Canada and the United States. 

 Cindy's report:

One of the goals of the Ontario Hummingbird Project is to find places in Ontario with large numbers of hummingbirds coming to feeders so we can find
out how long hummingbirds live and how many return to the same location year after year. We were blessed this year when we were invited to a couple's
 house to watch and band. It was obvious that there were at least 80 hummingbirds buzzing back and forth, chasing each other and drinking from the numerous
 feeders around their house. At any given time, there were 16-20 hummingbirds in sight. It was absolutely amazing and was the highlight of our summer!
 On our second visit, 18 hummingbirds were banded in approximately 2 hours - the most that we have banded at a single location on the same day!
We are grateful that this couple contacted the Ontario Hummingbird Project and invited us to visit them, and we look forward to returning many
times in the future.

A bird is caught and is being removed from the net

Getting ready to band

Males are caught too

Margo, Walter and Heather watch as Cindy bands.
 Her tools are around her. Book for records, weigh scale, ruler.

Update: Sept 5/11: About 30% of the birds still remain,
 but the adult males (with ruby throats) are rarely seen now
Update: The last bird was seen  about Sept 30/11

A very proud "father" of the feeding station.

July 2011    Harvester Butterfly and  Woolly  Aphids -
 The host for the only carnivorous butterfly caterpillar in North America

On July 6 a small group of us found a harvester butterfly on a trail near Victoria Bridge.
It was in a swampy woodland area, and a moose ( with diarrhea) had recently traversed this trail, as they
probably often do, after they stop feeding in a nearby swamp.  Since the butterfly's proboscis is very
short they do not feed on nectar, but instead sip from mud ( because of the chemicals probably),
aphid honeydew, dung and sap.
Since the Harvester butterfly is small ( wingspan 23 -32 mm), and  usually found singly, they are probably
overlooked by butterfly enthusiast who look mainly at flowers .

Margo and Nancy  have records of only 4 sightings, and all of them in the 44 degree latitude range.

Woolly aphids produce a filamentous waxy
white covering which resembles cotton
or wool probably to protect them from predators.
The harvester butterfly lays its eggs near
 colonies of woolly aphids -the prey of
 the larvae.
When the caterpillar is
formed, these carnivorous larvae eat
 the woolly aphids, and may cover
 themselves, with the remains of the
woolly aphids tied on with the silk of the
 aphid, possibly as a protection
from the ants that tend the aphids..
 

Butterfly Photo by Margo Holt. Aphid
 photos ( through dissecting scope)
 and text by Nancy Ironside

Colony of alder woolly aphids - note
the drop of honeydew at the bottom of the photo.

A alder woolly  aphid that has been
 dissected from the colony, about 2 mm long.
 

JUNE 2011 -THE PURPLE MARTIN STORY
 

The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario 2001-2005 reports that the Purple Martin sightings shifted 56 Km to the south from the Atlas done
20 years earlier.  Since then we do not know accurately where the northernmost colony remains.
  We do know that it is part of the known decline of the aerial insectivores.
Purple martins are North America’s largest swallow. They nest socially in artificial nest boxes, near bodies of large water.
Many empty nest boxes  are around – boxes that used to host active colonies.

Joan Rosebush has a nest box that is still active on Couchiching Point, near the Narrows in Orillia. This is her report.
 

The martins first arrived in the spring of 2004. We first enticed them in to the house by playing the martin song early in the mornings.
 Four pairs nested and on July 29^th there were 15-20 flying and swooping and chattering. The next few years they nested from late
April until early August. There were 3 to 6 nests and lots of hustle and bustle as they fed and swooped around.

The first house was a heavy wooden structure that was raised and lowered with great difficulty. The present one is metal and slides up
 and down like a flag. The balconies are much used. We “talk” to the martins and they know our voices. But strangers beware.
The dive bombing is fierce!

In 2010 only 2 pairs nested and the last flyby of about a dozen was July 22 (early).

This year the first martins arrived April 24^th. We recognized a female with odd markings. The next month was very busy opening
 and closing the holes. The martins had to defend their house against sparrows and starlings. The sparrows would sit outside a
 hole if the martin went in and peck mercilessly whenever he peeked out. We ripped out many sparrow nests and closed
the opening until the martins returned. Finally on May 27^th, the martins had won. 3 pairs nested.

July 25^th they fledged. About 20 martins chattered and flew about. There are a couple of other nearby nesting houses that
joined in the fun. After that the numbers dropped. We would see 2-6 stop at the house and feed above.

But then on August 4^th, we decided to see why martins were still around. Surprise!!! Another family was still there.
 There were 3 or 4 unfeathered black nestlings. We quickly sent them back up for feeding.

August 12^th still has the parents feeding this late batch. A few martins fly overhead daily.

May 2011                3 species of bumblebees seen on May 29, on Ajuga

Bombus ternarius - Tri-coloured Bumble Bee
two orange segments


 

Bombus impatiens - Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Only one yellow abdominal segment
 

Bombus bimaculata - Two-spotted Bumble Bee
Yellow vertex (forehead)

 

Al Sinclair reports and identifies:
About 10 bumblebees of 3 species were on Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed, Bugle Carpet, Carpet Bugleweed, Carpetweed)
 in Joan's flower bed today.
Ajuga was the most popular of all the perennials here currently blooming. ( It is an invasive alien commonly found in gardens)

Photos taken May 29, 8km east of Bracebridge, by Al Sinclair.

April 2011            Buxbaumia aphylla - Bug on a stick
 

During April showers, before they bring out the May flowers, we are grateful for the mosses –lush greens in a beige shaded forest.
 In fact, Bryologists choose to search for their mosses and lichens at the shoulder seasons, when they are not distracted by flowers
 and other greens.
A rare find (and new to the Simcoe County moss list) is Buxbaumia aphylla. Because of its size, it is easily overlooked.
 It seems to be mainly just a large sporophyte ( the spore bearing part of the moss), no (or inconspicuous) leaves, just protenema underground.
Surprisingly it has both male and female structures. In this case it was growing with another moss, producing sporophytes ( shown in the photo),
 and this caught my attention.
Buxbaumia may be saprophytic. It is possible that some of its nutritional needs are met by fungi that grow within the plant,
 or it may cooperate with a leafy liverwort for its chlorophyll.
The sporophyte begins its development in the autumn, and is green through the winter months. Spores are mature and ready for dispersal
by the late spring. (This photo was taken in early April.) The spores are ejected from the capsule in puffs when raindrops fall upon the capsule’s
flattened top.When first encountered 275 years ago, it was not known how to classify it – fungus, moss, lichen?, and this
 discussion continued for some years.
  It occupies disturbed habitats, such as soil banks beside paths.

It was exciting to find it in Matchedash, because it is so unusual, and has such an unusual life style.
What is its role in the ecosystem? There are so many things we don't know, even though we act as if we are free to tinker with our environment.
 

MARCH 2011       WINTER STUDIES:   YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER HOLES, A TREE AND A FUNGUS

YELLOW BELLIED SAPSUCKER HOLES

THE FUNGUS: ALEURODISCUS OAKESII     ( above photos by Margo Holt)

THE TREE: IRONWOOD
on the left a large , healthy tree, and on the right, a very old,
partly broken, but still living tree.
We identified the fungus on this tree in 2006.

Plot 1, which is my property in Matchedash, ( Lat 44 47 and Long 79 35 ) was the initial site studied, and casual observations there led to our winter project.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker holes have been observed in this area so frequently on Eastern Hemlock trees that we considered
 the holes diagnostic of this commonly found tree. These holes are usually found in rows, most often horizontally, but often vertically,
as well as casual holes sprinkled throughout. The holes are commonly at eye-level, and above, and can be found almost to the
snow-covered base. The sapsucker is looking for the phloem (sap), which attracts insects, especially ants. The bird bundles up the
ants in the phloem, and flies the food to the nestlings.  It is reported that the birds reopen these holes when they return in the spring.
 Most local observers would be aware of these holes –there is even an interpretive sign at Grant’s Woods.

We studied the Ironwood, or Hop Hornbeam Tree. The bark is grayish, and loose at both ends.
According to “Trees in Canada”, they are small trees, up to 12 meters high and 25 cm (9.8 inches) in diameter, occasionally larger.
 
The fungus was Aleurodiscus oakesii, which is rarely reported. Until this winter we only knew of 2 sites in our area near Orillia.
According to Tom Volk (Fungus of the Month) Aleurodiscus oakesii is a small but a very commonly overlooked crust fungus.
 The food source for the fungus is actually the dead bark of the tree – a saprophyte. The outer bark of woody trees
 is no longer functioning in the transport of sugars. This task is taken by the inner bark with its functional secondary phloem.
While this fungus is reported to grow on oak trees, it is most commonly found in the Northeastern USA
on Ironwood trees (report of Sam Ristich from Maine).
Our fungus was confirmed by Bernhard de Vries of the Netherlands.

 We also noted that the large Ironwood trees with this fungus were covered with Yellow-bellied Sapsucker holes. 

HYPOTHESIS: The fungus made the tough tree suitable for Yellow-bellied sapsuckers.
The question: must the Hop-hornbeams be infected before the YBSS is interested, or is the size of the tree the determining
 factor for both the fungus and the bird, with no relevance to each other? 

OBSERVATIONS: YBSS holes were found on Eastern Hemlocks, American Elms, and Ironwoods. 
We only looked at and measured trees easily accessible beside the trails because of the snow cover.
 The depth of the holes, as measured was about 0.3 cm..

Hemlocks appear to be the preferred trees for YBSS, both in groves and singly. They prefer mid size trees 10.8 – 14.6 inches diameter at breast height( DBH) .
 Almost all hemlocks in this size range have been used by the birds. Most holes are horizontal lines, occas. some vertical lines, but also random holes. 

3 American Elms with a circumference of greater than 12.8 inches DBH were found with abundant holes, often horizontally, as well as random holes.
Because of the Elm die off in the last 30 years, there were few trees to study. 

 Ironwoods (Hop-Hornbeams) are also used. There were 2 large trees with abundant holes.
First tree was split near to the ground, and each trunk was measured 18.8 inches (DBH) and 14.9 inches (DBH).
 Another tree was measured at 8.91 inches (DBH). Both these trees were abundantly covered with Aleurodiscus oakesii
Although we had not previously realized it, there are many more Ironwoods when we continued on the trail, which are favoured  by YBSS.
YBSS holes were  found  on all trees greater than 8.28 inches DBH.
  Although trees greater than 5.09 (DBH) had no holes, most of this size had the saprophytic fungus.

CONCLUSION:
Ironwoods are favoured trees for Yellow-bellied sapsucker holes, and for Aleurodiscus oakesii
 but their use depends on the size of the tree, rather than the presence of the fungus.
 (Nevertheless, no Ironwoods that were not host trees to the fungus were used by the Sapsuckers, so maybe .. ) 

We have spent 1-3 hours at 6 other sites, and observations and discussion can be found link here.
 Other areas and other forest types have been studied in the literature, and have been conducted during the season when the Sapsuckers are nesting. 
One of us (MH) may do further studies when the birds arrive back, depending on her tolerance for the black flies.

Studies by Nancy Ironside, with assistance from Mary and Omer Mick, Joan Rosebush, Wendy Hutchings, Ellen Dennig,
Leonore Wianko and Margo Holt (who is especially involved in the literature search).
 Editorial assistance from Tony Wright ( Mycological Society of Toronto)

FEBRUARY 2011
 

OVERWINTERING PINE WARBLER - A TOUGH LITTLE GUY, I HOPE

This bird, which was recorded on the Xmas bird count, was new for the winter list.
The northern race of Pine Warbler (that includes Ontario breeding birds) are short-distance migrants and mainly winter in the
 southeastern United States,
with a few reaching northeastern Mexico, Bermuda, and Cuba. It is one of the first warblers to arrive in the spring,
arriving together with, or even before, the Yellow-rumped Warblers. It is one of the earliest breeding warblers too,
starting in late April or May. I hope he finds a  friend who will appreciate him.

update: March 28 -he is still alive and well.

JANUARY 2011
 

December 2010 - Common Merganser Rafts
 

One of the pleasures of Orillia in November used to be the rafts of ducks in the open areas of Lake Couchiching between 
 Couchiching Park and Ramara. Since 1999 the rafts have been disappointingly rare.
 The gulls cruise the lake to find ducks so that they can steal their fish. The gulls seem to be disappointed too.
Maybe this year is better.
There were a few flocks, but on December 6/10 Donald Macdonald photographed this raft ( photo on the left) off
Chiefs Island and Caroline Vardy photographed another raft, with the gulls harassing, off south Bay Street.
Both groups were all male Common mergansers. December 7^th the lake was frozen; the ducks left during the night.
Are there more ducks this year ( Common Goldeneyes ), an indication that the fish are coming back to Lake Couchiching?

The Common Merganser has been found on all of the Orillia Christmas Bird Counts –often in large numbers,
where there is still open water (the narrows or Lake Simcoe).
 We have no record of the ratio of males to females (or to immatures).This year the observers made an estimate
that there were a few females ( or immatures)  among the Mergansers seen on Lake Simcoe - maybe 10-20%.
The Common Merganser is a cold-hardy, fish-eating duck that nests worldwide near large lakes and rivers
in northern forested habitats. As a top predator in aquatic food chains, this species has served as an indicator
 of environmental health both for contaminants and acidification.

They are often the last waterfowl migrant to move south in fall and first to return north in the spring; they may winter as far north
 as open water permits. Adult males return north first as soon as open water is available, followed by females a few weeks later. 
  In our photos it  seems that the males are the last to leave.

 Update:
The flocks arrived on Lake Couchiching about December 6/11, increasing to good numbers.
A flock was seen on McLean Lake December 2/11.
Last raft to be recorded on Lake Couchiching  December27, Lake froze Dec 28/11

Source material: Birds of N America online – Authors: Mallory, Merk and Metz                           

November 2010 - Rock Bass

October 2010   SPIDERS

We asked people to send us photos they had
taken of spiders- since they, and their webs, represent such a photo opportunity.
 The people who responded were all able
to name their spiders.
 Naming a spider may be a major challenge, however it doesn't prevent us from
 simply enjoying their colour and diversity.

Spider awaiting dinner -Margo Holt

Six Spotted Fishing Spider - Margo Holt

This is a spider photo taken in Muskoka September 6. It hitched a ride, we think, on some grapes we picked in Niagara.
 Bold Jumper, Phidippus audax. Note the iridescent chelicerae (jaws)
 - Al Sinclair. 

"Bridge spider - Larinioides sclopetarius is an extremely successful
 colonizer of cities worldwide and inhabits buildings near water in
 huge numbers. The spiders feed on insects that emerge from the water and are attracted to artificial lights, where the spiders build their webs." –from a Google search, - Al Sinclair

Black and yellow garden spider, taken at Rattray Marsh - Jon Clayton

Araneus marmoreus - Marbled Orbweaver
photographed here in Muskoka today Oct 9, 2010
- Al Sinclair

Another spider photo attached. Photographed in Muskoka
July 22, 2010.
Araneus trifolium - Shamrock Orbweaver (juvenile)  -Al Sinclair

Long-bodied Cellar Spider. Pholcus phalangiodes.
This not only took up housekeeping in my
bathroom, but produced  several hundred babies.
- Nancy Ironside

September 2010

This photo of Purple Bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea) was taken at the Torrance Barrens in Muskoka.

Photos by Rod Lee, of Brighton, taken at the Torrance Barrens
 

August 2010     FEMALE GIANT ICHNEUMON WASPS

Mid June 2010, Ed Glanert discovered on his dying maple tree with boreholes, 2 of 4 species of North
American Megarhyssa (Giant Ichneumon Wasps also called Stump Stabbers). 

Looking at the photos:  black and yellow Wasps are “atrata” species and the brown and yellow are “macrurus”. 

This fascinating insect is approximately 3” in length with a  5” to 6” egg laying ovipositor
 extending from the end of the abdomen.  

The ichneumon somehow discovers the location of Pigeon Horntail Wasp Larvae by pressing its long
antennae against the bark of the tree.  She then drills up to several cm. into the wood to reach the
 grub then delivers and attaches the nearly fluid egg to its target host. 

The ovipositor is 3 filaments, 2 form a sheath to brace its abdomen.  If needed as she drills,
 a disc (dime size) forms at the end of the abdomen and provides tension/pressure
so the ovipositor can be driven deeper. 

After the egg hatches it will wait until the host reaches a near mature size and then begin to consume it. 
 The adult female will vary in size according to the size of its host. 

Thank you Ed for sharing this  learning experience with Joan, and now all of us,
 and thank you  Joan ( Nixon ), for the remarkable photos and the concise and informative write up.

 July 2010       DADDY WATER BUG
 

This Daddy water bug, which is likely
 Belostoma flumineum ,
was caught in a dip net by Bob Wright on the
 Aquatic Wildlife  trip at the Carden Festival.
 All the giant water bugs we caught at this time
 (June 4 and 5) were egg laden.

This photo was sent to us by Richard Aaron.

Steve Marshall’s book , Insects, their Natural History and Biodiversity, has a plate  ( 133.3)
 showing the male Belastoma flumineum  with eggs similar to this photo.
 The eggs are  deposited on its back, by females, following courtship and copulation.
 Encumbered males must swim at reduced speeds –which increases possible predation. The males
remain near the water surface, ostensibly to expose the developing
 eggs to atmospheric oxygen and to prevent drying out, again increasing the possibility of predation.
 Can we learn something from the evolution of sex-role reversals in other
 species, or is it too late? (or do we want to?)

June 2010            Map Turtle

Ellen Dennig sent us these photos and this report :
 May 31 I was biking along the Tay Trail, as I sometimes do, and I saw this turtle sitting along the side in the gravel.
  I was about 1 km west of Pine Street in Waubaushene.  When I looked closer I saw that it wasn't a snapper,
 too small and scalloped carapace at the back.  The colouring on the head and forearms reminded me of the map turtle,
 but the hind legs were so huge!  It was still covering it's eggs.  I didn't want to turn it over as I thought it might
 distress the animal.  At home I confirmed that it was a Northern Map Turtle. 

Note that the edge of the carapace at the rear is serrated.
Ellen was very lucky ( in the right place), and observant to recognize this map turtle laying eggs.
They are rarely seen in the wild since they are extremely wary.
It is a species of special concern Provincially and Nationally
In southern Ontario, it is found primarily on the shores of Georgian Bay, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario,
and along larger rivers including the Thames, Grand and Ottawa.

   May 2010     Unusual Trilliums
 

A double flower - 6 of everything

Yellow trillium -compare with red on right ( often called a Wake Robin)

A variegated red and yellow Trillium - a colour form o0f the red.

The Trillium is one of the plants whose seeds are
 dispersed by ants. The ants collect the seeds and
 feed a nutrient rich part to their larvae
 in the nest. The undamaged seed is then
available, and thus dispersed from the
 original plant.

Beautiful fields of Trilliums are found in the rich deciduous forests on the Oro Morraine
 - the double flower is on Mike
 Pidwerbecki's property. 
 The commonest unusual trillium is
 a green and white. There are many photos of
this on the net, including a photograph of
 a green and white trillium, which can be seen among the photos at the top of the Membership
 and Contact page of this website.
 I can find no other photos of trilliums such as these, -
 found and photographed by Mike Pidwerbecki.

May 2010  BROWN CREEPER NEST
 

On April 13th, Dianna Wolfe of Kilworthy (south of Gravenhurst) reported that  her resident Brown Creepers
 were acting agitated, in their back woods. Upon closer inspection, they found what appeared to be their
nest: a jumble of old hemlock twigs, spider webs, and thin strips of dead wood jammed under a raised flap
 of bark on a rotting tree. She tells me that she has been checking the nest frequently but has not seen a bird
 actually fly into it. That said, there is often a creeper in the vicinity, so she is certain it's still being used.

This is typical of the type of nest built by a Brown Creeper. Many of us have searched for the nest, with Brown
 Creepers in the vicinity, but have failed. The surreptitious behaviour of the adults makes the nests exceedingly
 difficult to find. The Breeding Bird Atlas tells us that only 6% of all records are of occupied nests.

                                                          We thank Dianna Wolfe for letting us use her photo, and for her report.

April 2010   3  INVASIVE SPECIES: NEW  AND WORRISOME AROUND ORILLIA

Dog-strangling vine (Vincetoxicum nigrum), a member of
 the milkweed family, is distinguished by its perennial vine
 habit, opposite leaves, purplish flowers, slender seedpods
 with parachute seeds, and somewhat milky juice. It can
 grow 1–2 m (3–6 feet)in height. Like other milkweed
 species, dog-strangling vine produces pods that split
open lengthwise to disperse their seeds in the late
 summer. These pods are abundant in July and August
 and appear smooth and slender with a light green color.

The pods are shown here, in the winter, and are
 abundant along the Lightfoot Trail.

This tree killer, Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonicum)
 or Japanese Bamboo (Polygonum  cuspidatum)
 forms dense thickets that exclude other vegetation.
Clusters of creamy-white flowers appear in late
 summer in the upper leaf axils, the hollow stems have
 raised nodes, and stems can grow to 3 m tall (10 ft) .
It reproduces mainly by vigorous creeping rhizomes
 that can form large dense patches.
 Japanese Bamboo is particularly difficult to kill because
 of the rhizomes it sends down deep into the soil. Pulling or
 digging out can control it, but because of the depth of the
 rhizomes, results are not too satisfactory.

This problem plant has become common in Orillia, on the
Lightfoot Trail, and on peoples’ front lawns and gardens.

Giant Hogweed ( Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a member  of the carrot family. It may grow up to 5 or 6 meters tall and the stem can grow to be 10 cm in diameter.   The leaves might be 1 meter wide.
 Except for its size ,it closely resembles cow parsnip. The “flower” is a compound umbel, up to 120 cm across. It exudes a clear watery sap, which may cause a severe and persisting dermatitis.This
 tenacious perennial, which is difficult to eradicate, was introduced to North America as a garden plant from southwestern Asia.

Brendon Ackert took these photos of the Giant Hogweed, last month, on the Uhthoff Trail.

FOR MARCH  2010  PRAIRIE HORNED LARK

February 2010     HEAD RIVER KEYHOLE
 

This was seen on the Carden Bird Count - the Head River drops through a little rapids into a pool with a right-angle turn
 - the open water goes in a constant circular motion, creating these round chunks of ice in a keyhole - very neat.

Photo and observation from Ron Reid.
 

January 2010     THE OUTLIERS

This Fox Sparrow spent 5 days, December 11-15,  at 258 Bay St , in Orillia.
It came when Muskoka had a major snowstorm, and left when Orillia had a storm.
On the web this year, birders have reported Fox Sparrows in Huntsville Oct 26,
 in Hamilton Dec 4, and in Stratford Dec 13 .
                                                                                  Photo by Carrie Vardy

Orange represents summer breeding grounds
Yellow represents migrating routes
Blue represents wintering grounds.
Map adapted from Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Most birds move through the county rather quickly during April, on their northward flight. The greatest number of southbound migrants
 travel from about October 15th to 30th. Why are there these outliers? ( In statistics an outlier differs markedly from the rest of the data.)
 Many people consider that  northern migrants who reach  breeding grounds early, may get the best nesting sites,
 but, alternatively, they may starve or freeze to death. There are  several possible ideas about the
 benefits of leaving their breeding grounds late in the fall. Malcolm Gladwell in his current best selling book "The Outliers",
 postulates why some people, who are outliers, do well ( some don't).
Maybe my little bird, who ate and ate while it was here, may be destined for great things; or it may die during the migration.

December 2009

November 2009

Entomophthora muscae  “The Fly Destroyer” 

In July, near Newmarket, Michael Warnock found several flies on maple leaves, which had been parasitized by the “ Fly Destroyer”. At the Cain
Foray near Huntsville in September, he found another and showed it to several members of our club.

It looked like an immobile honeybee, or wasp, due to the striped pattern of mycelium emerging from the abdomen. It was actually
a dead fly, parasitized by a fungus, (as shown microscopically).
A spore of the fungus is acquired by the fly, in its natural environment, on the exterior of its body. The spore then germinates
and penetrates into the body of the fly (several families of Diptera are affected by this pathogen).
Inside the body of its host, the fungus heads for the brain and tells it to climb to the top of the leaf , so that it can release the
 spores as high as possible ( almost like science fiction). The insect climbs upwards until
 the fungus has consumed a sufficient quantity of its body that it dies.
 Sporangiophores emerge from the abdomen of the fly, and produce spores, which are discharged in a radial pattern
 around it, so that it looks like a honeybee.  Other flies that enter into this area of spore dispersal
 do so at their own peril, because of  Entomophthora muscae  “ The Fly Destroyer”.
To learn more about this, go to:
http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/mar2000.html

Thanks to Michael Warnock, vice-president of the Toronto Mycological Society, for the photo and information.

 .

October 2009 ( second find of the month)

How does a ( Midland Painted ) Turtle grow?

 There are two main parts to the shell of a turtle: the upper portion is called the "carapace" and the bottom half is
 called the "plastron." These two parts are joined by a bridge.
The shells are covered with a layer of keratin (the same type of material that makes up our fingernails or horses' hooves).
 The keratin is arranged in patches called scutes, or shields. As a shell grows, the number of scutes does not change, but their size does.

It is common for a turtle to peel its scutes as a cleaning process and turtles that are particularly fond of basking do this.
 When a turtle basks in the sun, its body temperature rises and if there is anything on the turtle's shell (like algae),
it has a harder time absorbing heat and moving around in the water. Peeling the scutes sheds
 the layer that is dirty or clogged and replaces it with a fresh and clean layer. Peeling can
 happen at any time during the year. Some turtles start to peel when they start to hibernate and then, when they
emerge from hibernation in the spring, they will often peel very rapidly. 

On September 13, some members of the Orillia Naturalists’ Club were on a field trip to the Torrance Barrens, in association with the Field Botanists’ of Ontario’s
AGM. When we looked up from seeing a rare plant, we saw this Midland Painted Turtle loosing its scutes. The photo is by Rod Lee, of Brighton

October 2009 - a SLIME MOULD : Arcyria denudata

 - animal or vegetable or -
Slime moulds (Myxomycetes) have two main life stages. In the first stage, the slime mould is a plasmodium,
a slimy mass of protoplasm that slowly moves over substrates engulfing and feeding on bacteria, fungal spores, and small
 bits of organic matter. Like a giant amoeba, the plasmodium is very animal-like.
 When conditions are right, the plasmodium transforms into fruiting bodies which are immobile and produce spores,
 making slime moulds very plant-like.
These beautiful fruiting bodies ( much enlarged in this photo)  were found on a log at Grant's Woods.
Touching these plumes produced masses of pink spores.
 Traditionally, slime moulds have been studied by mycologists (fungi people). However, slime moulds are
neither animals, plants, nor fungi. They are slime moulds, in their own Kingdom.

                                                                                                         Information supplied by Richard Aaron of the Mycological Society of Toronto

September 2009 - Ragged Fringed Orchid

August 2009 - a look at what is inside

Meadow Spittlebug ( Philaenus spumarius) nymph:  A European insect that was accidentally introduced and is now abundant.

Dogwood Spittlebug ( Clastoptera cf proteus) nymph: We found this on both Red osier Dogwood and Gray Dogwood.
 

Spittlebugs are not rare, but they can be exciting to watch under a hand lens, or a microscope.  They feed by inserting their straw like beak into
 the plants, and sucking up the sap. But since they suck up the sap on the way up from the roots, instead of down from the leaves they suck
in an enormous amount of excess water, which must be pumped out to form the characteristic bubbles. The bubbles are formed when the
 nymph contracts its muscles, squeezing  the air canal, on the underside of the body , which opens out of the insects hind end. This is easily
 observed with a hand lens, after the spittle is scraped away. To find out more details of this interesting behavior, it is worth reading
Stephen Marshall's book - Insects  Natural History and Diversity..

July 2009

June 2009            Black Bear

May 2009              Spotted Turtle

  The Spotted Turtle is one of the first reptiles to emerge on the first warm days of spring, often when there is still ice and snow yet to
 be melted.  Their shells, black with an adorning of yellow polka-dots, shine like jewels in the shallow and clear waters that they
 spend much of their time in.  However, when they crawl out onto grass tussocks and logs to bask in the spring when the water
 is still very cold, their shells turn to a chalky grey as they dry in the April sun.  Once the turtle has basked enough to
rejuvenate all it has lost during it's arduous hibernation under the water, the Spotted Turtle leads an unusual life.  They partake
 in a flurry of activity (involving feeding, mating, and egg-laying) until early June, then they often enter a form of
"summer-hibernation" called (a)estivation.  Then, as fall rains fill the shallow pools that they reside in, they are active again
 for a few weeks, before the snow and ice arrives in November or December.
The turtle in question was found in a shallow alder and sphagnum hollow, near Matchedash Bay.  My attention was drawn to it, as it's electrifying shell
 pierced through the clear water atop the sunken red maple leaves of last autumn.
 

Thanks to Peter Mills of Barrie for the  information and the photos of the plastron  and the carapace of the spotted turtle.
 

April 2009                   Striated Leafhopper

On a bright, sunny, & warm (13'C) St. Patrick's Day (Mar 17), about 40 of these Striated Leafhoppers (Cuerna striata)
 were seen at Matchedash Bay. This brightly striped species overwinters as an adult & in early spring can often
be found in the leaf litter & grass thatch. They are only about 8 mm long & were observed jumping or flying
short distances to land in the leaf litter where the snow had melted away. Some were seen mating,
 as shown in the photographs. Leafhoppers are common jumping insects with about 2500 species
 in North America. Many are brightly coloured & they live & feed on all kinds of plants.
Update 2010
In the same location, near St Patrick's Day, Striated leafhoppers  were seen jumping around as they did the previous year
UPDATE 2011
In the same location, March 29, Striated leafhoppers  were seen jumping around as they did the previous year. We have not seen them elsewhere at Matchedash Bay.

Thanks to Margo Holt for the photo and information.
The insects in the photo are magnified by about 5x

March 2009

Lichens in Winter

Lichens can be found on the ground, on rocks or on trees.  They can be divided into 3 growth forms - Crustose, Foliose and Fruticose.
 These photographed lichens were found on a bare granitic cliff face during the brief thaw this month. When everything else is brown or white,
 colourful lichens on trees and rocks stand out . Some of the technical words can be daunting at first, but they can be learned. Even if we cannot
make accurate identifications , it is fun to look.

Cladonia chlorophaea ( which can grow on  bark, soil or rock), has goblet shaped pixie cups arising from the
thallus ( or vegetative body). Then more brown cups form on short stalks arising from the cup margins, almost like a castle.

Xanthoparmelia cf. cumberlandia is an example of a foliose lichen,
which  forms large radiating patches, and has abundant brown discs
 ( apothecia), with inrolled margins. The apothecia, or cup-shaped
 sexual structures, where the spores develop, crowd the centre of
 the thallus.

This Dust lichen (?Lepraria) is an example of a crustose lichen
 -the hardest type to collect or study. It has no apothecia, but
instead of sexual structures, it is a mass of soredia- the asexual
structure- which may detach and land on another rock
 to propogate

Photos by Margo Holt

 February 2009

Marcescent  (i.e. senescent leaves still attached to the branches)
 Beech Leaves
A beech woods is easily recognized in the winter, because of  the
retained leaves on the young beech trees .These leaves are not
 shed until spring. This is also true of ironwood (hornbean ) and oaks.
A Danish study showed that  ironwood and beech were browsed
 significantly more when the leaves were removed. Chemical
analysis showed that the stems of the beech and hornbean had
 a higher food quality than the leaves, which had a higher lignin
content.   The marcescent leaves reduced the nutritive value of winter
 browse and so protected the young trees from browsing by
moose and deer.
( This was not true of oaks, but they have a different mechanism
 for release of leaves.)

January 2009

NORTHERN
 HAWK OWL

This photo, taken by Donald Macdonald, of a Northern Hawk Owl, on the Monck Road, near the 20^th sideroad ,
on  December 14/08. It was first sighted on December 9, but seems to be still hanging around this area.

On Wed 17^th it was observed by Wendy Hutchings and Nancy Ironside. While we watched  3 Ravens flew by
 and landed. They commenced to call and fly around the Hawk-Owl, even causing the Hawk-Owl
to duck its head at one point. After several minutes of this harassment, after 2 of the Ravens had flown away,
 the Hawk Owl took after the remaining Raven, and chased it into lower bushes. Obviously size is not
everything, since the Northern Hawk-Owl is 41 cm (16 inches) and the Raven 61 cm (24 inches).

This is one of Ontario’s rarest owls, but is a casual winter visitor to our area. There are periodic invasions of this
species into southern Ontario, such as 1906-7 when several were brought to Ottawa taxidermists. Apparently
 there was a flight of major importance in the winter of 1962-63.

It has been recorded on Barrie Christmas Bird Counts in 1961 and in 1964. In 1966 a bird was observed
 (and photographed by W.E. Cattley) at Guthrie.
In 1991-92 a Hawk Owl was observed by Wendy Hutchings, and others at McMurchy’s farm, on Line 15,
Oro/Medonte and it stayed at least until March 4/92.

The Orillia Xmas Bird Count (initiated in 1991) has 4 records –one in 1991, 2 in 1995, 1 in 2000, and 1
in the count week of 2001. This Owl on the Monck Road will not be in a Christmas bird count area.
It is rare for Northern Hawk Owls to breed south of the boreal forest (most commonly found
 breeding in the Hudson Bay Lowlands and Northern Shield, in Ontario).

POST SCRIPT:
A  HAWK OWL WAS FOUND DEAD ON THE ROAD, WITH A MOUSE IN ITS CLAWS, ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN.

 DECEMBER 2008    California Gull

Dr Kirk Zufelt of Sault Ste Marie, was visiting his father, Dr Bill Zufelt in Orillia on Nov 1. ( seen again Nov 4rth by Bill).
Of course, they headed for the dump, where they found a first year California Gull, probably never identified before in Simcoe County.
 If you wish to look for it, these features will help you with the identification . Photos and  descriptions supplied by Kirk, thanks.

 NOVEMBER 2008

 OCTOBER 2008

Four-toed Salamander

     This salamander. one of our smallest, (6-8 cm)( cf oak leaf beside it),
was found on Sept 10/08, in northern Severn Township -"The Land
Between. "It has a white belly dotted with black spots. Unfortunately
 it refused to stay on its back to be photographed. It was found
 in a rich woodland, near a dried up ephemeral pool, associated
with Sphagnum moss.
     The males court females in the fall, and leave a sperm packet in
front of the female. She picks this packet up in her cloaca, and
 retains it there, through hibernation, until April, when she looks
for a suitable pond, where she can lay the eggs at the edge,
above the waterline. The female stays  with the eggs, maybe
 for 40 days.

SEPTEMBER 2008

Black Trumpet / Horn of Plenty
- Craterellus cornucopiodes

What a wonderful mushroom year we are having.
Anyone who has been in the woods this August cannot
 fail  to notice the great fungal fruitings,
with their interesting shapes and colours.
While most people have bemoaned the wet summer,
 the mycophiles have been secretly thrilled
-their season has started early.
 This is the best year since 1993 for Black Trumpets,
(in the Chanterelle group). They are one of the best
 edibles, with a lovely fruity odour, especially en
masse in a bag. And there are no poisonous
 lookalikes. One Simcoe county picker collected,
in one day, enough to make $200,  when she sold them
to local restaurants. (Of course, she has a solid
                        reputation .)                                                                     

FOR AUGUST 2008   Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake

FOR JULY 2008    Piping Plovers

  Last summer, for the first time since 1977, a pair of Piping Plovers successfully nested in Ontario. Surprisingly, this summer
there are four pairs of this endangered species nesting in the province. The Piping Plover pair that nested at Sauble Beach
last year  returned, two additional pairs  settled at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, and there is a pair at Oliphant Beach. All
 four nests are "protected" from predators with exclosures, and are monitored by volunteers. Beach users are asked to stay
 outside of the fenced areas that surround the nests.
     Members of the Orillia Naturalists' Club have visited Wasaga Beach, including Margo Holt, Leonore Wianko, and Nancy
 Ironside , and were delighted by the little balls of sand, that would suddenly start running around and peeping.
     However,a terrible, freak storm hit Wasaga Beach at 5:30pm, on June 22. Ten minutes of
 lightening, heavy rain and heavy large (quarter sized) hail. The beach was blanketed in hail.
In places it was 6 inches deep. All 3 chicks from the first brood (nest A)  perished. (One chick
 was predated by a Merlin on Saturday.)
Although nest B sustained damage,  2 chicks have survived, so far. Updates are regularly
 posted on the Simcoe Nature Board.

Above photos by Enrique Photo Art

Above photos by Margo Holt. The photo on the right includes members of a Wasaga Beach Probus Club
 who have bicycled out to see the little birds .
 

FOR JUNE 2008        Olympia Marble  Butterfly

     Among the common, relatively uninteresting, white and yellow butterflies that fly among us, is the beautiful Olympia Marble (Euchloe Olympus)
 It is named for its marbled wing pattern. Since it flies mid May to early June, it is not recorded in the 1^st of July butterfly counts, so its abundance
is not being tracked. While it is local and uncommon (although common where found), it lives in most of our dry barren areas –alvars, granite
barrens, sandy areas. It is chalky white on the upperside, but has greenish-yellow marbling on the underside of the hindwing. The caterpillars
 feed on Rock cress and other plants of the Mustard family.
      Its range is mainly in the Midwestern U.S. but ranges into Canada in the southern prairies (Alberta to Manitoba), and also from north of 
Lake Huron to western Quebec.  We find it in most of our areas, especially north of Orillia.

FOR MAY 2008       Beaked Hazel

FOR APRIL 2008   Ducks in Flooded Fields of West St.N.
 

The  flooded fields of West St  North ( Burnside Line) have a short window of opportunity for seeing migrating ducks.
 If you go too early the fields are snow covered ( and the road may be flooded, and impassable) or too late and the ducks have gone.
April 11 was an excellent date for birdwatchers this year. The flooded fields were covered with ducks.
 As the morning progresses the ducks move further back, away from the passing cars. About 75% of
the ducks were Ring-necked Ducks, along with Mallards , Buffleheads, and Wood Ducks ( which are
 dependable in the wooded swamps near the fields).
Ring-necked Ducks , a bird of the boreal region, favour shallow marshes, fens and bogs, feeding primarily
 on aquatic invertebrates and emergent vegetation.

FOR MARCH 2008    Virginia Chain Fern
 

 Virginia Chain Fern (Woodwardia virginica) is which is found in boggy places along the trail to & shores of Horseshoe Lake in Severn Township, where this
 winter photo was taken. It is found in boggy places, often with its roots under water.
 This deciduous fern is easy to recognize in the fall before the leaves drop, because of the chain-like rows of sori (spore sacs) along the midrib of the leaflets,
shown in this photo, on the left, taken by Margo Holt. The leaves grow in close masses from creeping rhizomes, compared with the Cinnamon Fern, which may
 grow in similar habitats, but grows from clusters from individual crowns.
This fern is primarily confined to the coastal plain of eastern North America but does make its way inland in the Great Lakes area

FOR FEBRUARY 2008     Mink
 

FOR JANUARY 2008    Short-eared Owl

    SHORT-EARED OWL

photo by Bob Bowles, map from the Breeding Bird Study

 On Xmas morning, Bob Bowles was notified by his friend Brad Whittacker, of Ramara Township, that there was an owl in a field in front of his farmhouse. Bob
 identified and photographed this beautiful owl. It was seen again on Boxing Day by Larry Durkee, but has not been reported since.
     This owl is a rare spring and fall transient, but there are no summer records. The map on the left shows its usual breeding range. The owls fly low over fields
and marshes at dawn and dusk.
     From 1907 to 1957 there were 5 specimens taken in the County, and 5 sight records ( including one at Collingwood on Dec 30, 1951). Although individuals birders
have kept records since then, no compilation of bird sightings for the County has been done.

To the enjoyment of everyone, in early December, hundreds of Bohemian Waxwings
 were found feeding on berries on Orillia. People were reporting flocks of up to 500.
These birds are common in the west, breeding in the Yukon and Alaska. People speculate about the reasons for their unpredictable winter wanderings.
Some berries still remain in Orillia, but the birds did not, and so they were not around for the day of the Xmas bird count and so will not be on the chart to the left, unfortunately.
Where have they gone? There are a few reports from Uxbridge and Norfolk County,
but not large numbers. Muskoka, Barrie and Carden CBcounts all had small numbers of 
Bohemian waxwings.

These photos were taken by Doug Scott, On December 4, in the front yard of his home on
Frontier Avenue. They were eating juniper berries and the front porch decorations of high bush cranberries. The photo on the left was taken by Joan Rosebush on Couchiching Point.

  The chart on the left shows the reports of Bohemian Waxwings on Xmas Bird Counts in Orillia since 1981, demonstrating their irruptive behaviour. No Bohemian Waxwings were seen in Orillia on Dec 15/07.

FOR NOVEMBER 2007    Bird's Nest Fungi
 

Janet Grand found these Bird's Nest Fungi, or Crucibulum laeve, near the Black River, near Fairgrounds Road.. They are not rare, but are
often overlooked since the tiny vase may be only about one cm high. There may be dozens, or even hundreds growing on rotten wood, or other decomposing materials.
 On the left  the operculum, or lid, which covers the top of the nest, is still intact. On the right, it has ruptured to reveal the little eggs, or peridioles, which
contain the spores. A single rain drop can then splash the eggs out of the nest, the outer wall of the egg is eaten away by insects, and the spores are
 ready to reproduce.

FOR OCTOBER  2007    American Millipedes

FOR SEPTEMBER 2007    Monarchs in Migration

Monarch migration

Everyone is talking about the Monarch sitings this summer .
Trees laden with  1- 200  Monarchs clinging to several different branches
 in clusters, have been reported from Holcroft Road, in Orillia
(photo on the left), and Matchedash Bay area  - many more
 are probably unreported.
Many milkweed plants had been covered with caterpillars in July
 ( there are 3 caterpillars showing in the lower photo  -and many
more are hidden).

In Ontario, migration of Monarchs are monitored at  Long Point,
 Point Pelee and Prince Edward Point, all sites that are known to
 concentrate large numbers in the fall. Volunteers at Long
Point Bird Observatory conduct a one-hour daily census
between the beginning of August to early November,
 and their results are shown on the right.
 The last 3 years have been below average ( broken line).
  The results of 2007 and not in yet, but  it probably will be a record year.

So, what does this mean?
Speculation is rampant, but it is all speculation at present.
Interesting, nevertheless.

FOR AUGUST   2007    Hine's Emerald Dragonfly

 Chris Evans, although not a member of our club, is known to some of us because he has been on some outings with us. As you can see, he was EXCITED by his find  (of the Month)
The dragonfly -Hine's Emerald.

"Just when you are having self doubts and beginning to think all of those funny looks you get when you are out catching dragonflies might be
justified, something incredible happens.  You catch the first recorded specimen of Hine's Emerald, Somatochlora hineana, in Canada.  Of course,
you're too inexperienced to know that, and with your novice zeal, miss-identify it as a Clamp-tipped Emerald, Somatochlora tenebrosa.  None of
your references have Hine's Emerald.  After all, it is unknown in Canada and while Clamp-tipped Emerald isn't a perfect match, it is still an uncommon
and exciting find and "close is good enough.  There must be some individual variation, right?" 

Unfortunately, he doesn't survive the capture and hoping to donate his remains to science, you submit your record with photos and offer him to
Colin Jones at the Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC).  Jaws hit the floor and emails fly back and forth, phone tag ensues and finally you get
the news that your specimen is "not S. tenebrosa but something far more exciting, Hine's Emerald, Somatochlora hineana!"  "Could you spell that?  How
is this so exciting?", you ask.  "Hine's Emerald is the only dragonfly officially listed in the USA as federally endangered and has never been
recorded in Canada ... until now!"  "I killed the first record of Hine's Emerald in Canada, a critically endangered species!  Aaaarg!"  Yep, that is
more exciting than S. tenebrosa!

Start questioning the value and sanity of your pursuits and you may be rewarded beyond your wildest expectations.  (I haven't heard from the Nobel
Foundation yet, but I'll keep you posted.)  "

There is more to the story - a colony was found, but this involved Chris getting lost in the Minesing Swamp etc -too long a story.
Dragonfly people carry long nets, chase fast flyers with vigour, and look at the appendages with a hand lens. Some are easy to identify on the wing. All are beautiful, and can be
appreciated whether you can name them or not.
 The quoted story and the photos are thanks to Chris Evans.

 

Hine's Emerald - male

Hine's Emerald - male ( appendages)

Clamp-tipped Emerald - male ( appendages)

FOR JULY  2007
 

"A BEAR IN MY BACK PORCH"

FOR JUNE   2007    Power of a burst beaver dam

FOR MAY  2007      Blanding's Turtle

FOR MARCH   2007       Grub - Beetle larva

FOR FEBRUARY  2007   Fisher

Fishers are large members of the weasel family- about the size of a medium sized dog, with short legs. While their favorite prey seems to be Snowshoe Hare, they are famous for their ability to kill and eat porcupines (by going at their face). When fishers are absent porcupines climb to large numbers.

By the 30’s and 40’s trapping had almost wiped out fisher.  Today the martens and fisher are very common in much of forested southern Ontario. This change is attributed to Ontario’s system of registered trap lines. The trapper has exclusive access to an area, and therefore it is in his interest to leave some animals to produce future crops. “My “ trapper, in Matchedash District of Severn Township, had his quota of 5 early in the season, but many footprints can still be seen in the area.

DNA studies done at Trent University show that our Ontario fishers originated from animals that dispersed from the Adirondacks in New York State, and another eastern group is of Quebec origin. There were 3 remnant populations that made it through the long years of over-trapping: one in the southern Georgian Bay area, one near Bancroft, and one in the Algonquin Park refuge.

Excerpted and plagiarized from the Raven, August 2006, the visitors’ newsletter of Algonquin Park.

These remarkable photos were taken by Eleanor Kee Wellman, using a bait station outside her window in Muskoka

FOR JANUARY 2007

THE GARDEN IN THE CANOPY

In October/06 the Couchiching Conservancy decided to cut the "Grandfather  Tree"  at Grant's Woods . They feared for visitors when the dead pine fell. 3 Days before the tree was to be cut, it fell on its own, exactly where they wanted it to fall -a majestic end to 250 years.

This gave an unusual opportunity to make collections of the lichens and mosses on the bark at the 60 foot height. ( This is the height of the canopy walk in Haliburton). 7 species of mosses were identified, 3 of them new to the Grant's Woods list ( they may be there but had not previously been identified ),  numerous lichens which are still being studied, and  a wealth of Rotifers and other small insects. A lot depended on that tree, but other trees will take its place, and many of these Bryophytes will continue to live on, on the forest floor.

FOR DECEMBER 2006    Red-Bellied Woodpecker

FOR NOVEMBER  2006  Carolina Wren