Frontenac's Bounty Part III: The Kaleidoscope

 The Kaleidoscope

To be honest, several years ago I had no idea what a Cerulean Warbler was and I certainly didn't have an inkling to ever find out. I happened to take a course called "Natural History of Ontario" at Carleton. It was an elective. A friend had taken this course and thought I'd get something out of it; if only for the fact that it was taught by a mystical, humorous, freak-of-nature-in-a-good-way professor named Michael Runtz. So, I took the course and I remember seeing this man literally tripping into the room with a box in hand; within it, study skins, just barely able to brace the weight of what seemed like endless fur and claws protruding from every corner. Who the heck was this guy? He'd already cracked the entire room up by simply walking into it. His glasses - askew, brow - damp, hair - frizzled, smile - like that of a child, enjoyment - obvious. Throughout the next few months I learned all about the flora and fauna of ON and took great pleasure in taking a course taught by Michael Runtz. I remember going home to my apartment one night and wondering if Michael taught other courses. I checked Carleton Central - the online registration/personal portal for students. I saw that he taught a course called Ornithology Taxonomy. It was a 4th year Biology course and I was a second-year Environmental Studies/Geography major. I figured it was a total shot in the dark, but decided to email Michael for personal permission to override the prerequisites and take his course. In the email I mentioned my grade for the Natural History of ON course and I also mentioned that I promised to work harder than any other student in the Ornithology Taxonomy course in order to bridge the knowledge gap that I would face upon entering a 4th year Bio course coming from where I was at with my studies. At the time, Michael knew me as a student number, not as a person, but for whatever reason, he emailed me back, granting me permission to enter the course. I remember this being a big deal for me at the time. I especially liked the image of being a serious underdog in a course chalk-full of students used to a higher level of study.

I recall being taken aback the first day I entered the Ornithology lab. There were dead birds (study skins) everywhere - neatly organized by similar-looking type. Our class handout had, within it, words that I couldn't even pronounce. I certainly was in over my head. I remember going home that evening and locking myself in my apartment and slowly mouthing intimidating words like "Podicipediformes." I was butchering them pretty badly at first but then I slowly started to find my footing. Within days, my apartment was littered with course outline papers and PDF's of Bird Topography, etc. All my other courses began to fall by the wayside. I couldn't help it, I was falling madly in love with all these beautiful words and beautiful winged animals. I began to work well beyond the 4 hour lab session and Michael would, on occasion, see me off as he had to head home for the evening. I would sit there in the lab for up to 6 hours, completely consumed by this new world; enveloped in the sheer gorgeousness of it all. I fell for sparrows the hardest. They were all similar-looking and I had my gauge set on out-working and out-ID'ing all of my classmates so I gravitated to sparrows. For whatever reason, I always enjoy pitting myself AGAINST.

Michael began to give me little ID challenges via photos he had taken. He also dropped a copy of Pyle's in front of me one day and handed me a first-year female Summer Tanager which had recently been brought into the lab."Tuh, tuh.....um, I think this is a tuh, tan...tanager?" Michael simply put a hand on my shoulder, smiled, and then walked away. I loved stuff like that - smooth leadership - being given the chance to fight for the answer. I remember developing this insatiable hunger for details, especially minor differences between similar-looking species...I couldn't get enough and I couldn't get enough of the sense of challenge. Michael would constantly iron-out my rougher points such as the time I emailed him, describing something about an "Eastern Screech-owl." His reply to my email was simply a correction of what I'd written: "Jon, don't you mean Eastern Screech-Owl? Remember the capitalization on the O." 

A few years and many field outings later, I have to thank Michael Runtz for his guidance and for elevating my standards well beyond what I had previously thought I was capable of.

Frontenac's Bounty Part III

 Fig 1: A neat-looking fly within the family Asilidae, or, Robber Flies. Prince Edward County, ON - June 28, 2013

 Fig 2: Wow - this surely is the ultimate Wolf Spider: Tigrosa aspersa, or, the Tiger Wolf Spider. This formidable female is currently on a diet which consists of store-bought crickets. Central Frontenac, ON - June 25, 2013

 Fig 3: The perils of road-side living: A freshly-road-killed Milksnake. Lanark County, ON - 

July 01, 2013

 Fig 4: These large lined June Beetles (Polyphylla variolosa) were found flying around the night-lights at the Travellodge in Trenton, ON. This species is the northernmost of the two northeastern species within the genus. Northumberland County, ON - June 29, 2013

 Fig 5: A fascinating and brightly-colored Deer Fly within the family Tabanidae. To the exact species, I do not know. Leeds & Grenville County, ON - June 30, 2013

 Fig 6: Behold, the ever-striking male Ebony Jewelwing! This male was caught while it was billowing over and under some cattail reeds. Hastings County, ON - June 22, 2013

 Fig 7: An ultra-photogenic juvenile Snapping Turtle. Frontenac County, ON - June 27, 2013

 Fig 8: The timeless, classic beauty of a White Admiral. Prince Edward County, ON - June 28, 2013

 Fig 9: One...big...Northern Leopard Frog! I don't think I've ever seen one so well-fed. Frontenac County, ON - June 27, 2013

 Fig 10: Canada Day Special: A juvenile Barred Owl that was found by the ever-shrewd Erika Hentsch. What a treat it was to see this little gem. Lanark County, ON - July 01, 2013

Fig 11: A classic Lanark County Slab! A friend caught this 9.25" bull Pumpkinseed. As he put it, it was "an honorable mention" in Lanark County's local newspapers' outdoors column. Lanark County, ON - July 01, 2013

 Fig 12: Sand like no other. Sandbanks Provincial Park, ON - June 28, 2013

 Fig 13: "The Lush Roadsides of Leeds & Grenville County, ON" - June 30, 2013

 Fig 14: The northern part of southern ON - Schomberg, ON - June 29, 2013

 Fig 15: Lovely Prince Edward County, ON - June 28, 2013

 Fig 16: A man-child in his element. Lanark County, ON - July 01, 2013

 Fig 17: The distinct charm of the Frontenac area really works itself into ones conscience. I will certainly miss early-morning views such as this one. Leeds & Grenville County, ON - June 30, 2013

 Fig 18: So long to the low-purring Chrysler 200. Smiths Falls, ON - July 02, 2013

 Fig 19: The sun sets on a very enjoyable 8 weeks living and learning always and in all ways.

Silver Lake, ON - June 30, 2013

Fig 20: "There's nothing quite like.........home." Barrhaven, ON - July 03, 2013

The Ember-eyed Gatekeeper

Northern Goshawk 

A Northern Goshawk is a powerful apex predator tied to large tracts of mature forests containing large pines, principally White Pine, and large deciduous trees, especially American Beech here in the east. Within these forests, a relatively under-developed shrub layer is desired, and, as well, sufficient space between trunks is a necessary characteristic to enable these hawks highly dramatic and violent pursuit after their preferred prey: snowshoe hare and Ruffed Grouse. 

Northern Goshawks have very broad, relatively short wings and a proportionally long tail; these attributes allow them to hunt in spaces that require continual contortions in-between-and-around the trunks of trees and tall shrubs; they have remarkable equilibrium and are perhaps one of the most doggedly determined of all the raptors. Certainly, when prey is caught, which is often the case once a pursuit is initiated, they tend to exhibit a display of mercilessness, and are often grotesquely ruthless.  Goshawks have long, needle-sharp talons and a very powerful hooked bill. Their principal method of detaining their victim is by grasp-and-puncture; they get a hold of their prey, and, in combination with menacing lashings to their victims delivered from their heavy bills, use a pressure-release-shuffle mechanism; "walking" through and piercing the vital organs of their prey.

Northern Goshawks are very reclusive in nature. They are drawn to deep-forest haunts and often remain motionless, silently observing from a snag/ tree-limb-perch. The times I've been lucky enough to see a goshawk (Feb 2012, October 2012, May 2013, June 2013) there have been Blue Jays present and sounding alarm. Blue Jays mob, which basically means, harass, goshawks with a fervour similar to that seen with American Crows mobbing a Great Horned Owl. 

 June 21, 2013, or: A Beautiful Day

 I was in the middle of a long-ish hike in Central Frontenac. The weather was sensational: hot and muggy lending to that classic field work sweat-on-the-brow look and feel. In the middle of a point count, I could hear Blue Jays losing their minds over something perched near the crown of a massive maple that was several hundred meters away from where I was standing. The ruckus was, unfortunately, beyond a farm and property so I had to let it go and carry on with my walk. Roughly 15 minutes later, a heavy-appearing (thick bodied) hawk flushed from a perch that was roughly 80 meters north of where I was walking. Immediately, the brain starts to eliminate possibilities...."Red-tailed...no....Broad-winged...no...."...then this sensational hawk coasted... "Bingo!" One of two possibilities derived from the obvious droop to the wings as the hawk coasted through a wind-less sky: Red-shouldered Hawk or Northern Goshawk. I couldn't help but think, "...but those Blue Jays, they're going BoNkErS over this thing, it must be a Gos'." I continued on my way, and was nearing my final survey stop when this large bird casts a shadow on the ground in front of me. I spun around and the goosebumps started to cascade...an adult Northern Goshawk was hurriedly flapping, interspersing its flapping with prolonged glides, across a valley that was rimmed with forest-giant maples and pines. So close overhead was this bird, that I could just make out the sound of wonderfully choppy wing-strokes cutting through the air. I just stood there and stared until it was out of view; I never even thought to lift my binoculars; I was absolutely awe-struck. I mean, an azurian sky, insects hissing and buzzing, sweat beads dribbling down onto the side-burns and onto the lips; it was heaven. This mystical, I mean, a real, live, mystical beast, has a presence like no other; certainly, a moment I'll remember for good.

Happy Naturalizing and Happy Summer!
Jon

Image Source: Copyright Robert Bateman: http://www.artcountrycanada.com/bateman-robert-goshawk-and-ruffed-grouse.htm

Frontenac's Bounty: Part II

Fig 1: A female Tiger Wolf Spider (Tigrosa aspersa) with her brood. This species is the largest in the genus Tigrosa and is found in southern/south-central ON. As of Dondale (1990), their Canadian range was restricted to extreme southern ON. 

 Long Lake, Central Frontenac, ON - June 15, 2013.

,

 Fig 2: The conspicuous and undeniably-beautiful Luna Moth! I found this freshly-perished male in the early morn' outside of the men's washroom at a campground that we were staying in. 

 Long Lake, Central Frontenac, ON - June 16, 2013

 Fig 3: A Virgin Tiger Moth caterpillar that was found under a log. 

Parham, ON - June 15, 2013

 Fig 4: A female Widow Skimmer 

Parham, ON - June 15, 2013

 Fig 5: From left-to-right: Color morphs of  Northern Leopard Frog. Note, on the frog at left, the large, dark-brown rectangular-shaped markings suggestive of a Pickerel Frog, and, as well, the overall tone to the green has more of a chrome influence, and, to note, the light-green coloration along the thighs

Long Lake, Central Frontenac, ON - June 15, 2013

Fig 6: A freshly-emerged female Eastern Pondhawk that was caught while it was slowly patrolling the edge of a woodlot.

 Parham, ON - June 15, 2013

Fig 7: The ultra-menacing (looking) European Hornet. At 1.5" in length, these buggers appear to be the Devil's droogs. This species was introduced into ON during the early 1970's, where they were first recorded in the Thousand Islands area. Since their introduction, they have found their niche in southern ON and continue to expand north; they are now a relatively common entity throughout the Frontenac Axis. Who knows, one of these GENTLE GIANTS could appear at a family barbeque function in Barrhaven West! I stirred this brute to get this photo. My 100m sprint time improved upon its release from its temporary inclosure.

Long Lake, Central Frontenac, ON - June 17, 2013

The Face of Beauty

The Sun sprinted down the corridor, how could it have forgotten to salute the night, "am I too late?" it pondered nervously. A turn of the Night's bedroom door-handle without a knock revealed a world unknown, a world wild, a world in the midst of a full-blown depraved heave; the calm creatures of the day, those resting and pondering and basking, had become writhing, hungry silhouettes swaying in the cool breeze of desire; the Night's plan unfolding in a smooth transition from light to dark...


"Whaa, uh, I, uh, pardon me, but I, uh, forgot to wish you, uh, well" fumbled the Sun. 


"Ah, HELL-ohh, no knock, eh? Ha! Nev-er--a-worry, oh, dearest, sincerest Sun, come on in and have a drink" the Sun watched as the Night's blood-tipped fingers firmly clasped a bottle of reserve, diamonds and jewels draped across its wonderfully dishonest disposition. 


"It's, uh, well....it's getting late, you, you see. I, uh, I...." nervously stammered the Sun.


"Sun, ha-ha-ha, my SUN, you worry too much; always in that head of yours" said the Night, gasping a big in-breathe while playfully biting its bottom lip, its fingernail, slowly tracing the cusp of an inviting proposition.


The Sun bashfully lifted its eyes to meet the Night's; the Night was in full-grin, welcoming, easy. The Sun, weighted down by morality, couldn't help but smile back; intrigued by the Night's endless ease.


"Listen, look here" said the Night, pointing towards a star-stricken marsh. 


"Watch, just, um, watch this, my dear Sun. Your creatures are creatures, after-all. Watch and listen, my dearest, sincerest Sun." 


...and so the Sun apprehensively glanced down towards the land....


Olivier the Bullfrog entered the marsh, proud in stroll, twisting ever-so-slightly at the hip as to accentuate his masculine posture; his eyes falling gently upon his onlookers, absorbing their loving gazes. He looked into the twilight-lit water's surface, eyes sparkling like a distant sunlit tide; one final reassuring glance before he unravels the quiet one's illusion of composure and locks her into a state of hope and caring. 


The Night's eyelids drooped down, hardening its expression...


"The Face of Beauty, do you have something against it?" inquired the Night.


"Well, no, no, it's, it's, well..." choked the Sun.


"Then why don't you come and have a drink, oh dearest, sincerest Sun? Your travels along eternity road, ha!, what travels, what weight....there's nothing to find, you're chasing your own mind, your own delusions" described the Night as it stroked its flowing mane of amorality.


The Sun glanced down towards the land once more, watching as Olivier gripped the hand of his quiet one, all clockwork now; rhythm swayed into motion. 


A great wave of exhaustion billowed up from the pit of the Sun's heart; eyes, dampened, shoulders, relinquishing.


"I, uh, I think it's getting a little late, I, um, I best be on my way" said the Sun as it nervously twisted its bottom lip with its fingers.


The Night dropped its chin and raised its glass "as always, a pleasure, my, my dearest, sincerest Sssss'un."


"Yes, it's uh, it's always, always, uh, nice to see, to see you" muttered the Sun as it took one last  glance around the Night's room.


"Goodnight", saluted the Sun.


"You mean, GOOD-DAY, my dearest, sincerest!" introjected the Night.


"Oh, er, yes, yes, that's true. Well, bye" and the Sun slowly closed the Night's bedroom door and began to walk, hands-in-pockets, eyes intensely fixated on the ground in front of it. Unbeknownst to it at the time, its next phase of self-appraisal would be its most challenging.

Frontenac's Bounty

Hi there:

Here's a collection of photos that I've taken of some of North/South Frontenac's finest inhabitants. I certainly am  enjoying Cerulean Warbler surveys in the morning and I am equally enjoying stuffing, cramming, disorientating myself with the challenge of trying to learn about and ID everything under-the-sun come afternoon. There isn't much commentary to this post; it's all about the photos this time around.

Photos

Fig 1: Lancet Clubtail (M): Silver Lake, ON - May 29, 2013

Fig 2: Io Moth (M): Queens Biology Station, Elgin, ON - May 28, 2013

Fig 3: Harlequin Darner: Charleston Lake Provincial Park, ON - May 27, 2013

Fig 4: Wolf Spider, presumed genus: Lycosa: Murphy's Point Provincial Park, ON - May 23, 2013

 

Fig 5: Racket-tailed Emerald (M): Murphy's Point Provincial Park, ON - May 24, 2013

 Fig 6: Common Baskettail (M): Murphy's Point Provincial Park, ON - May 24, 2013

 Fig 7: Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - the early-flying swallowtail of deciduous woodland edges. Toledo, ON - May 25, 2013

 Fig 8: A Common Gartersnake gradually warming up to the idea of another day playing the part of the hunter/hunted. South Frontenac, ON - June 09, 2013

 Fig 9: A Long-horned Beetle, known as the Whitespotted Swayer, landed on my shirt as I was filling up the ol' Chrysler 200 at a gas station. The locals looked on as I excitedly took a few photos of this borer of dead/rotting pine and fir trees. Sharbot Lake, ON - June 10, 2013

 Fig 10: A car-struck male Juvenal's Duskywing. These butterflies are tied to eastern Oak woodlands. Eagle Lake, ON - June 10, 2013

 Fig 11: A forest giant! This remarkable Sugar Maple was the largest I'd ever seen; it must've pushed over 100 ft in height. It really was goreousness and gorgeousity made flesh. Mill Pond Conservation Area, Portland, ON - May 26, 2013

 Fig 12:  A Gnaphosid Spider - these spiders are quite nocturnal but can be found during the daytime by turning over rocks and logs in suitable habitat.

 Fig 13: A Dimorphic Jumping Spider: Its name originates from the fact that some males are black, like this one, and other males are gray! This species shows a 'Bart Simpson' tri-spiked hairdo.

 Fig 14: A female Amber-winged Spreadwing that was caught just before sundown. Shortly after this moment, a distant Yellow-billed Cuckoo let out its wild-man-in-the-trees song which seemed to echo off the rugged cliff-sides of Bob's Lake; regardless of the apparent nearby lunatic, the crickets continued their ensemble deep into the night. Bob's Lake, ON - June 05, 2013

Fig 15: A pair of Common Loons keeping a close eye on Erika and I as we canoed past their nest. North Frontenac, ON - June 05, 2013

 Fig 16: A Dung Beetle (Subfamily: Scarabaeinae) found while "Black Lighting" at Mark Conboy's place on the Queen's University Biology Station property. Elgin, ON - May 30, 2013

Fig 17: Sunset over Bellamy Lake: Todelo, ON - May 27, 2013

Happy exploring!
Jon

The Joys of the Frontenac Axis

General comments/update

The past few days have been a blur! We have had better weather and, as such, better opportunities to seek and find Cerulean Warblers singing on their territories. We have been able to locate 6 individual Cerulean Warblers since the 21st of May; importantly, we have been able to confirm, on some occasions, Cerulean's still frequenting the same haunts that they used to as per survey data from the 2001-2005 Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas.

The habitat we are surveying through is like nothing I have ever seen before. The trees that Cerulean's sing from, and subsequently nest in, are absolutely outstanding. The range in height of these forest-giants is 80-100 ft, though, I'm sure a few are stretching towards the sky at a height of 100 ft +. This particular type of forest is also home to Scarlet Tanagers, which, in song, are the raspy, sped-up-in-tempo counterpart of an American Robin, Eastern Wood-Pewees, which are a relatively large flycatcher that sings its name "peeeeeee-weeeeeeeeeee" from a conspicuous tree-top perch, and, one of my favorite birds, the Yellow-throated Vireo, in mature hardwood-stands that show more of a riparian influence.

Fig 1: Stand of mature Sugar Maples, Charleston Lake Provincial Park - May 28, 2013

 An example of classic Cerulean Warbler habitat. Very large, mature hardwoods, especially Sugar Maples, with canopy gaps and a relatively under-developed understory. 


Cerulean Warblers and Yellow-throated Vireos: What could be better?

Today, May 28th, we visited Charleston Lake Provincial Park near Junetown, ON. We were treated to several Cerulean Warblers uncharacteristically low-to-the-ground; there were several males really battling it out for some lovely-looking (I'm assuming this) mature hardwoods that rimmed the E side of the marsh boardwalk that we were walking along. I was flabbergasted when one of the males ripped by right over our heads and landed, at eye-level, in a young Red Maple! Luckily, Erika has a camera, so she was able to take some photos!

Fig 2: Adult male Cerulean Warbler. Note the azure color to the head and the back, the white wing bars (slanted horizontal bars along the folded wing), the dark-blue neckline, and, its pot-bellied, short-tailed profile. Charleston Lake Provincial Park - May 28, 2013

A few minutes into the Cerulean melee, an inquisitive Yellow-throated Vireo dropped in to join in Charleston Lakes' own "Festival of Fisticuffs."

Fig 3: Adult male Yellow-throated Vireo - one of the staples of the Frontenac Axis' mature hardwood/swamp forests.


 Closing Comments

We are currently stationed at the Queen's University Biology Station (QUBS) just outside of Elgin, ON. Our next survey area is the ever-famous Opinicon Road and adjacent areas. In terms of numbers, this is as good as its going to get for us this summer; we expect many singing Ceruleans and we're both hoping for a mild night on Wednesday and a warm, sunny morn' on Thursday after the thunderstorms roll through this area tonight. I'm happy to say that Michael P. Runtz will be joining us on Thursday morning as we traipse around in seemingly endless mature hardwood forest listening for the ever-enigmatic Cerulean Warbler.

Cheers,

Jon 

Dear Lianne Frontenac

Hi there:

This is my new blog address. I will update as much as I can!

About the Cerulean Warbler

Cerulean Warblers are enigmatic birds. Their preference for massive, mature hardwoods and foraging within the crown of these trees shrouds them in mystery. Males are a stunning azure color along the head and back, and, from below, show a tidy blue neckline, porky body, and very short tail. Females are drabber but emanate a sophisticated blend of green coloration; they show a trim very-light green eyebrow (supercillium) which disrupts a mid-green cap (top of the head) and mid-green cheeks (auriculars). More on Cerulean's:

 http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.php?doc_type=fact&id=124

The Cerulean Warbler Species At Risk Project

Involves examining the current distribution and abundance of Cerulean's across the Frontenac Axis using standardized point counts (5 minute survey of birds by sight/sound, including tree basal area-by-species within the survey area, and survey effort (hours spent) per square (10x10 KM grid). Also, we are to determine the occupancy of Cerulean Warblers at formerly occupied sites since the last Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (2001-2005)

Commentary

The past few days have been ROUGH. The weather here has not cooperated. Since the 21st of May, we have experienced 3 days of rain and 2 thunderstorms. Last night, May 23rd-May 24th, there were really strong winds that had us both worried about falling trees, especially after hearing one crash down some distance away.

Lianne Frontenac has greeted us on her terms, and, well, we accept that. The endless rugged topography, stunning stands of mature hardwoods, fish-filled lakes, and, Yellow-throated Vireos which are, in my opinion, one of the most intriguing birds in the area because of their stunning beauty, raspy voices, and mysterious disposition; they forage way up in the canopy and are hard to see. So, the ying of beauty balances with the yang; the nastiness of Ms. Frontenac's mood swings and temper tantrums.

We have found two separate Cerulean's so far; I'm happy to say that I was able to hear one myself. On the morning of the 23rd of May, I took to an old snowmobile and came out of the bush along the shoreline of a marsh. There were really large maples rimming the E side of the marsh. Just over 4 minutes into a 5-minute Point Count (survey by sight and sound) I heard a Cerulean sing, just once. I was beside myself and impulsively ran towards that side of the marsh, losing both L and R-foot Crocs in the guck in the process. I subsequently had to take off my shirt and dang-ol-dive right down into the mud in search of them. Luckily, I "felt" my way around the blurry, muddy water and found my shoes (and not the jaws of a Snapping Turtle).

 Photo: Myles Falconer heard a Cerulean along this stretch of road, way up in the crown of one of those massive maples! (May 23, 2013)

Until next time!
Jon