Some fun ups and downs of spring

 What a difference a few days make. Last Tuesday, April 19, I took this photo out the kitchen window. It's 'sno' fun being a robin in these conditions. How am I going to find any worms?

However that didn't deter them from doing what robins do. Two days later, it was well underway constructing a nest. It did most of it in a single day.

The finished product just a day or two later, as it was observed putting some final touches on the nest, and building it a bit higher. I haven't checked, but I suspect at least one egg is now lying in it, awaiting to be incubated. Usually 4-5 eggs are laid, with incubating starting on the day the next to last egg is laid.

I was out at Rondeau shortly after the snowy days. There wasn't an awful lot to report with respect to newly arrived migrants, but it was pleasant just the same. For anyone who had been to the park since April 12, one might have noticed some different changes to the grassy parts of the park, especially along the northeast side. What had looked like this first photo.....

was now looking like this. Finally, after about three or so years, the park staff were able to carry out a prescribed burn. These next few photos were taken about a week after the burn, so with the snow and rain, the black ash had been washed away, leaving it looking a bit less black. It was a bit too soon for any greenery to appear.

In the absence of several years of fire and the presence of a higher water table, the shrubs had really expanded, making it look less like an oak savanna that it should have appeared as.

However with there being enough fuel for the fire to enter the stands of shrubs, the intent is for the heat and flames to damage the sensitive bark, suppressing the shrubby growth and give the grasses and wildflowers a chance to rebound. Time will tell how effective this burn has been, and perhaps another one will be required next year. There were other areas that the park staff had intended to burn, but due to the conditions of the day, the fire was slower moving than hoped for, so the areas covered were limited.

The few days after the burn, and before the sudden upswing in temperatures, were still pleasant to get out for. A few Eastern Phoebes were around.....

...as were some Hermit Thrushes.

Pileated Woodpeckers were usually detected by their distinctive drum roll heard off in the distance, but on occasion I would catch a glimpse of one, and even get a heavily cropped photo.

While looking through pine trees for an elusive Pine Warbler, I noticed this ball of fur resting on a branch. I knew immediately what it was, but it was interesting to note that when I uploaded it to iNaturalist, the first choices they gave me were incorrect, and included things like Porcupine, and some mammals that don't even occur in North America. It is a Raccoon, having a rest while soaking up a bit of sun.

Eastern Gartersnakes were out soaking up a bit of sunshine, or at least hoping for a bit of sun.

While walking the Black Oak Trail, I flushed up this Turkey Vulture. I could smell something, and it wasn't the vulture. It was a decomposing raccoon not far off the trail, but I didn't bother with getting its photo.

Here is a bird quiz for you. I was busy trying to capture a different photo of this bird, but one of the photos turned out like this. Note the small size, olive-green lower back, and lighter coloured edges of the darker tail feathers. Any ideas?

Here is the same bird without the upraised wings. Obviously it is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a species which is fairly common these days.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet giving me a quizzical look

One of Rondeau best known denizens was out attempting to cross the road when it spied me. I could almost sense it deciding what its best options were, whether to race across or retreat.

It selected the former option and here I caught it with all four hooves in the air....

...just before it landed and leapt through a brushy tangle. This buck, as evidenced by its small black knobs which will grow into antlers in a few months, might have had a tougher time if its antlers were fully grown, likely snagging on some of the shrubby growth.

There are other things to see and photograph, such as this Common Greenshield Lichen.....

....and early spring wildflowers, such as this Early Buttercup.

Next is one of my favourites of early spring, the Round-lobed Hepatica, which differs slightly from a close relative, the Sharp-lobed Hepatica. As you might suspect, they have slightly different shaped leaves.

A few butterflies were out, although most weren't sticking around for a photo session like this Mourning Cloak was. This species overwinters as an adult, and a closer look shows some wear and tattering of its hind-wing.

 Fungi can be found in good condition, such as this Scarlet Elfcup, one of the earliest to be seen in spring.

A plant I am often on the lookout for in spring, before the forest floor greens up very much, is this orchid known as Puttyroot. The leaves are quite distinctive. It is a legally threatened species, so I won't divulge any details of where I found it. But it is part of a population that I have been watching for most of 40 years, and this year the leaves were the most abundant I have ever seen. I counted 117 of them, which is almost twice as many as I have seen in the past. It will be interesting to see how many send up a flowering spike, as typically only about 10-20 per cent do so.

The landscape features of the park are attractive in their own way at this time of year, as one can see much more detail than when all of the leaves are out. This first one is of a slough along Bennett Ave.....

These next ones are of a slough along the west South Point Trail. Sloughs showing so much openness, and not being choked with either buttonbush or the invasive Phragmites are getting harder and harder to find.

This distinctive tree root is that of Yellow Birch, which typically begins its life sprouting on a log or other exposed organic surface.

A trip or two to the Erieau area can be a nice change. Along the Rail Trail there is usually a good variety of ducks, although not always close enough to get a good photo of. This next photo shows a pair of Blue-winged Teal, which may stick around to nest.

A sunny day will cause a lot of turtles to be basking, and at this stage, most will be Midland Painted Turtles, the only Ontario turtle species that as yet, is not considered legally at risk.

Forster's Terns are the most commonly seen tern at the moment.

At the outset of this blog post, I mentioned what a difference a few days makes, and it was just so evident in the weather of the past few days. A warming trend, caused by brisk southerly warm winds, brought a lot of migrant birds that were just waiting for the right conditions to leap forward on their migration pathways. On the weekend there were at least 10 species of warblers recorded, including lots of Yellow Warblers. Even the rare Prothonotary Warbler was seen and photographed, but most were the early species typically seen first. They weren't always easy to photograph, however.

Yellow Warbler

There was an abundant diversity of new arrivals, including species such as Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, White-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, Lincoln's Sparrow, Wood Thrush and Veery, several flycatcher types, etc., etc. One of the highlights for me was to have this stunning male Scarlet Tanager so cooperative, while feeding on some berries on this Red Cedar. The brilliant scarlet and black against a background of green and blue, made for a delightful time with the camera. While I was being dazzled by the cooperativeness of this beauty, I missed out on seeing an adult male Orchard Oriole that my birding companions saw. Such is birding.....and I shall not complain a bit after spend the time with this impressive bird.

So even though things are to cool down a bit over the next few days, I have no doubt that some of the birds that arrived on this warm period will stick around. I will be out trying to see and photograph as many as possible.

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Birds of Chatham-Kent, Then and Now, Part IV

 

Great Black-backed Gull

Then: it was not considered hypothetical, but Wood had only seen this species on one occasion, and made no reference to it any earlier.

Now: Clearly things have changed. Great Black-backed Gull was considered mainly a north Atlantic region species, but over the years, the species found at least the lower Great Lakes to its liking. It was first recorded on the Blenheim/Rondeau CBC in 1948. Beginning in 1965 it has been seen on every count, with typically up to a dozen or so recorded during the first couple of decades following. The numbers kept increasing, but fluctuated greatly depending on the seasonal weather and the conditions of the day. The maximum number recorded on this CBC was 380, in 1991.

This species is a 4-cycle one, meaning it doesn't attain full adult plumage and breeding until its fourth year. Therefore sub-adults can be found in C-K almost any time of the year, especially if there is some open water. The two photos above show a full adult first, with a sub-adult, likely a first winter bird, below. Both photos were taken in the Jan/Feb period.

Herring Gull

Herring Gull nest, 1987

Then: Herring Gull was considered a common transient and winter visitor, with numbers of non-breeding birds remaining in the summer. Even during the early winter, when numbers were most commonly recorded for the CBC, the maximum number was about 200 in 1939.

Now: Herring Gull is a large, fairly aggressive gull, eagerly defending its food against even other members of its kind, as the first photo shows. The numbers have increased considerably since the writing of Wood's manuscript. Since the early 1960s, seldom are there less than 100 birds recorded on a Christmas Bird Count, and typically there are several hundred. In the last 15 years, the numbers have averaged almost 900 birds, with as many as 3779 recorded in 2008. One of the reasons for this increase may be due to the presence of Ontario's largest landfill just a short flight away.

Herring Gull has become an occasional breeding species as well. When the water levels of Lake Erie are such that the south beach of Rondeau is a good breeding site, gulls can occupy parts of it, as the above photos show. The middle two photos were taken in June, 1987, while the fourth photo was taken in May, 2013. The latter one wasn't on the south beach, but was taken from my kayak while I was exploring some of the exposed small islands at the south end of the marsh.

Ring-billed Gull

Then: Ring-billed Gull was considered a common spring and fall transient and a summer and winter visitor. Up to 30 birds were reported periodically in spring and fall, with late fall being the time when the largest numbers were recorded. Up to 75 birds were recorded for the first few Christmas Bird Counts.

Now: as with the previous two gull species, the numbers have changed considerably. It is typically the most abundant gull species most of the year. The same CBC in the last 25 years has averaged over 3300 birds, with a high of 12510 recorded in 2001. One of the reasons for this increase may be attributed to Ontario's largest landfill just a short flight away.

When conditions are suitable along the south beach of Rondeau as a nesting site, they will use it as the above photos show. The first and third photos were taken in July, 1983, while the middle photo was taken in June, 1987. 

Forster's Tern

Then: Forster's Tern was considered to be formerly a common summer resident at the St. Clair flats, but at the time of writing (1945), a very rare visitant. There was only one record for this species at Rondeau, that being May 13, 1946.

Now: It is a regular, but not abundant migrant present in spring, summer and autumn. When the marsh water levels are suitable, it has been known to nest, with the first known nesting occurring in about 1980. The nesting photo above was taken in July, 1981. Forster's Tern is generally considered a mid-western species, but with some local habitats in the vicinity of Lake St. Clair showing similarity to the tallgrass prairies and wetlands of the mid-west, this species and others have been known to occur and breed in C-K with some regularity. With Rondeau being a bit farther east, such mid-western species are generally less common either as migrants or breeders.

Common Tern

Then: Common Tern was considered a common summer resident, breeding in colonies on a sand spit in the McGeachy Pond area near Erieau, as well as being fairly abundant in the marshes along Lake St. Clair. Flocks of two hundred were seen foraging along the water. However in several cases some of the eggs have been lost to Herring Gulls, Bonaparte's Gulls and skunks.

Now: While Common Tern is quite regular and sometimes fairly abundant in Chatham-Kent, nesting has diminished substantially. I have seen an occasional nesting attempt along the south beach of Rondeau a few decades ago, but no one has reported them nesting anywhere in recent years. There were no confirmed breeding records in C-K in either of the first two OBBAs, although they did rank as 'Probable' in two squares at Rondeau. The changes are likely the result of three things: (a) a large increase in gulls, which are predatory; (b) the higher water levels of Lake Erie, making nesting sites less available; (c) the increased usage of boaters illegally using the south beach, causing disturbances.

Black Tern

Then: Black Tern was considered a common summer resident, breeding in all the large marshes of the county. An average of about eighty birds were reported at Bradley's marsh in the early part of last century, and was considered more abundant than Common Tern.

Now: In the Rondeau/Erieau area it is regular, but not common at any time. The two photos showing Black Tern nesting were taken in the late 1970s and very early 1980s. The upper one was taken at McGeachy Pond; the lower one was taken at the south end of Rondeau. The water levels at McGeachy Pond used to naturally fluctuate, allowing for functional habitat, but about thirty years ago, a water control system was put in, so the habitat has declined. 

In some of the larger marshes along Lake St. Clair, it is more common, but certainly not abundant. Eighty birds would be a huge increase nowadays! During the second OBBA, there were 5 squares in C-K that had this species 'Confirmed' breeding. There are likely several reasons for the overall decline: (a) high water levels thus reducing cattail habitat; (b) a huge increase in the extent of highly invasive Phragmites, choking out some of the high quality habitat Black Terns prefer; (c) some relatively minor loss of habitat due to farming.

American Barn Owl

Then:  The American Barn Owl was considered a permanent resident, and the first Ontario nesting record was at Charing Cross. Wood goes on to give details of other records of them nesting, being shot, or being observed, at many locales in C-K.

Now: a very scarce, very occasional resident. I have seen it on a couple of occasions, once at Shrewsbury in 1973 and near St. Clair NWA a few years ago where one was seen periodically by various people over the course of about three years (2006-2008). We managed to get it on the St. Clair NWA CBC those three years. I do not have any photos, other than in my memory. In spite of searches, its roosting spot was never determined. There have been a few other records in C-K over the years, but details have been kept quite secret due to the potential disturbance by numerous birders who would descend on them in order to add the species to their life list.

Snowy Owl

Then: Considered an irregular winter visitant, but the numbers fluctuate. Even as recent as in the first part of last century, birds of various species were shot for the taxidermy trade, or whatever, and this owl species was a common target. Wood goes on to say that the winter of 1945-46 was the heaviest visitation in recent years, and " Twenty birds were definitely known to have been shot in the vicinity of Chatham and hunters told of many others killed and left in the fields." An unfortunate entry.

Now: up until recently the species was still considered an irregular winter visitor due to the cycle of breeding success, which in itself, was based on the population of lemmings and other rodents available to them during the nesting season. Abundance of food was a critical factor in the courtship display and therefore nesting activity and success. When larger numbers of young were raised, more would migrate south to survive the winter. Those cycles continued, more or less, up until 2010, where for the St. Clair NWA CBC, 1-3 birds would be seen in successive years, and then missing them for one or two years. However beginning in 2011, Snowy Owls have been seen each year, with sometimes a dozen or more birds being counted. The 2022 CBC had an incredible all time high of at least 23 owls recorded. The Blenheim/Rondeau count has shown a similar trend, although overall in smaller numbers except for an amazing 26 birds reported in 2014. This trend begs the question of what changes occurred in their breeding territory to presumably make their food source more readily available.

Short-eared Owl

Then: This species was described as an irregular winter visitant and very rare summer resident. However there were some incredible numbers given for them at times, as about 50 were reported at St. Luke's Marsh (immediately to the north of SCNWA) in March of 1940, and in January of 1943, there were about 100 birds reported there! There was only one confirmed nesting record known at the time, in June 1944, in a large pasture in the former Raleigh Township.

Now: While Short-eared Owls continue to appear in late fall, through the winter and into early spring, it is rare to see even one bird without a lot of effort during those times. Clearly their numbers elsewhere have fallen off so that there are few to appear in C-K during these non-breeding seasons. Getting 1-3 birds is at best, the norm for CBCs in the area, and in some years one does not get them at all. There have been some blips in these numbers, as an amazing 24 were tallied on the Blenheim/Rondeau CBC in 2010.

There is breeding habitat present, especially in the vicinity of the larger marsh complexes associated with Lake St. Clair. The amount of pasture or hayfield habitat elsewhere in C-K has declined in the last few decades, although some remains. However there have been no breeding records at any level for either of the first two OBBAs.

Chuck-will's-widow

Then: considered hypothetical, based on a single encounter in a woodlot in the former Raleigh Twp in 1920.

Now: Currently a very rare species, although in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was heard and seen annually at Rondeau. Indeed on one occasion there were up to 7 birds calling at various places along Harrison Trail both north and south of the Visitor Centre. It is believed that at least some of those birds were the progeny of the previous year or two. However in spite of efforts to try and locate any nesting evidence, this very cryptic species was never confirmed. There have been occasional records since that time, but very rarely, and almost entirely in May/June.

Whip-poor-will

Then: Considered as a common spring and fall transient and a rare summer resident.

Now: It is a regular spring migrant, but never common. A few can be heard under the right circumstances at Rondeau, for a couple of weeks in late May/early June. On occasion one or more will continue well into the breeding season, as they can be heard from the wooded ridges east of the Marsh Trail as well as along Harrison Trail. No doubt some have attempted to nest, perhaps successfully, although confirming this crepuscular creature would be difficult. The above photo was taken on Nov 4, 2012, of a bird high up in a White Pine along the South Point Trail. It is late in the season for an insect eating bird!
  

Common Nighthawk

Spring migrant

Autumn migrant

Then: it was considered an abundant summer resident, commonly nesting on flat, tarred and graveled roofs in cities and towns.

Now: while it is a regularly occurring species, it is anything but abundant. The open pine forests they breed in farther north are not available to them in C-K, so any attempts at breeding would still require the flat, tarred and graveled roofs. One used to be able to detect their 'boom' in the evening in cities and towns but not recently. Undoubtedly a few spring arrivals remain to at least attempt to nest. There were several atlas squares in both of the first two OBBAs recording them up to the 'Probable' level, but no 'Confirmed' records. Common Nighthawks are typically a bit more common in the autumn as they migrate southward from more productive breeding grounds.

 

Birds of Chatham-Kent, Then and Now, will continue in a future post.

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