Today, June 6, 2020 is National Tallgrass Prairie Day. At least if you live in the USA, where the first Saturday of June was established by the Missouri Prairie Foundation as a state recognized day, and eventually gained national recognition. Tallgrass prairie doesn't have nearly the same profile in Ontario, or even Canada, as it does in the US. However there are significant prairies scattered across parts of Ontario and Canada, with some amazing colour and diversity. They are considered ecological treasures by anyone interested in significant natural areas protection.
They occur at places like Walpole Island, as in the next two images......
....and also in the greater Windsor area, such as at Ojibway Prairie and nearby....
...or even on a smaller scale, at places like Rondeau, where the relatively sterile, sandy soils were largely the result of the prairie habitats occurring here....
...as well as savanna vegetation, not because of being the result of fire.
Some occur as far east as Alderville, in the Peterborough area.
All of them have their own character, and while fire may not have been the reason for their occurrence, either in the past or the present, fire may be used as a 'tool' to maintain them.
A good quality tallgrass prairie will support myriad species of flora and fauna. In fact some of the only known locations for some species of insects are in tallgrass prairies. But the wildflowers are the most appealing feature to many observers. Even the most casual observers can appreciate the colour and diversity. The first few photos above featured iconic species such as Dense Blazing-star, Culver'stoot and Colicroot. Other species are shown below.
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| Tall Ironweed |
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| Giant Swallowtail on Wild Bergamot |
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| Flowering Spurge |
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| Whorled Milkweed |
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| Virginia Bush-clover (endangered) |
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| Monarch |
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| Lily-leaved Twayblade (threatened) |
With the loss of so much of the original prairie in Ontario, it is not surprising that some species have been lost along the way, including the Yellow-fringed Orchid.
This next one only occurs on First Nations lands, as well as a single site in the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve.
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| Pink Milkwort (endangered) |
This next one, Grey-headed Coneflower, is common on prairies, but quite uncommon anywhere else.
Wild Lupine is a rare prairie/savanna species.
Some of the grassland species of birds are rare and declining, and are often legally a Species At Risk, protected under the Endangered Species Act. The first three species are in that category.
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| Bobolink |
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| Eastern Meadowlark |
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| Henslow's Sparrow |
This next one, Savannah Sparrow, is common on grasslands, but not restricted to the quality tallgrass prairies that the first three are. so fortunately their populations are in relatively good shape.
Fortunately the interest in tallgrass prairie in Ontario is increasing, with both public and private landowners intent on restoring or even establishing tallgrass prairie habitat, so hopefully some of the prairie species at risk will have a little more security in the future.
Next time you see a grassland, and especially a quality tallgrass prairie, take a few moments to enjoy it!
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