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