Wildlife Galore!

 This is National Wildlife Week. While many parts of the province have a great diversity of wildlife, there is no question that southwestern Ontario is by far the most biodiverse of the province, and this includes Chatham-Kent which has the least forest cover of anywhere in Ontario! Nonetheless, the natural areas that still exist, have an amazing diversity of wildlife, whether it be of birds, mammals, insects, amphibians, etc., etc. Some species, of course, are common, whereas other species are very restricted and are even officially Rare, Threatened or even Endangered.

This post features a cross section of the above, as a reminder of what is here in southwestern Ontario, and all occur in Chatham-Kent.

As most readers will know, birds are one of my favourite groups of critters. The first four species shown are some of the rarest, and qualify as Rare, Threatened or Endangered (R, T, E).

Bobolink

King Rail

Prothonotary Warbler

Wood Thrush

This next one is not ranked as R, T or E, but could be, as it has never been officially recorded as breeding successfully anywhere in Ontario. A pair seemed to attempt to do so at Rondeau several years ago, but it was never confirmed, and may not have been successful.

Yellow-throated Warbler

A much more common species that nests in the far north is Long-tailed Duck, shown next. Sometimes large numbers will over winter in the lower Great Lakes and connecting rivers, depending on ice conditions.

Much more common are Great Blue Heron.

Although this next one, the Great Egret, is a regular breeding species in small numbers, and scattered in a few places.

Northern Mockingbird, next, is not a common breeding species, and some years one is fortunate to even see one, but they do occur although they don't have any official R, T or E status.

Black-crowned Night-Herons, next, nest in colonies in a few local areas, but can be more frequently seen throughout the southern parts of the province after breeding.

Immature Black-crowned Night-Heron

Bonaparte's Gulls nest to the far north part of Ontario, but can be seen by the hundreds or even thousands at certain times of the year when they are on migration and on the lower Great Lakes.

 A very rare gull species is this next one, the Little Gull, which was first confirmed nesting in Ontario and Canada at Rondeau. It has nested in a few other places since.

 And of course almost everyone would recognize an American Robin, although probably not everyone has seen a partially albino one like this next one.

Reptiles and amphibians are far less diverse than birds. Here are a few.

American Toad

Leopard Frog

Blanding's Turtle

Midland Painted Turtle (L) and Map Turtle (R)

Eastern Gartersnake

Insects are present in huge numbers, although not always seen or appreciated unless one specifically looks for them with specialize equipment such as black lights.

Rosy Maple Moth

Promethea Moth

Pink-shaded Fern Moth

Black-bordered Lemon Moth

Sooty-winged Chalcoela

And of course not just moths, but things like leafhoppers, beetles, and others will show up to the lights.

Long-necked Seed Bug

Butterflies of one type or another are more obvious to most folks, although some are considered quite rare such as this first one.

Giant Swallowtail on Bull Thistle

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Michigan Lily

Monarch on Milkweed

 Before the impressive looking adults appear, they go through a stage of being far less obvious, such as this caterpillar of the Black Swallowtail, next.

Not a creature that many people would encounter even in broad daylight is this next one, the Eastern Sand Tiger Beetle, which occurs primarily in the hot, dry sandy beach areas.

Mammals are not nearly as abundant or diverse as some of the ones shown above, but some can be some of the most visible if one is looking in the right place.

Muskrat

Eastern Coyote

Of course all of the diversity is only present due to the diversity of habitat, such as rich Carolinian Woodland....

...and the extensive wetlands that are still present, especially in the vicinity of Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie.

Let's celebrate National Wildlife Week!

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