Toothwort (Cardamine diphylla)
Whites, Ceruleans and Louisianas
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Great to be back in Frontenac this week! My first memorable observation of the season was of two black bears encountered along Devil Lake Road on an early morning commute – interesting start. This week I began revisiting stream and swamp woodland sites for Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla). This will be our third and final season of inventory and monitoring for this species of concern. In spring 2010 and 2011 we emphasized the maximization of coverage for potentially viable breeding sites in the study area. We have a handful of hitherto unexplored locations to check this year but most of our available time in May will be dedicated to historically occupied sites to procure assessments of breeding status in 2012.
These West Virginia Whites (Pieris virginiensis) have been faithful companions on my travels to mature forested ravines and swamps in the region. Once considered a Species at Risk, they remain quite rare, known to occur in only about 50 sites in Ontario. They are common in Frontenac Provincial Park on warm days in April and May. West Virginia Whites are threatened by habitat loss and the invasive Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), which is a close relative of their host plant, the Toothwart (Dentaria diphylla). Adults will lay their eggs on Garlic Mustard but the hatched larvae will not feed on the invasive plant and perish.
The birding was excellent this week thanks to the recent warm front. Cerulean Warblers were particularly numerous. Eleven males were counted en route to one of our Louisiana Waterthrush sites. Over the years I’ve amassed an impressive collection of hopelessly blurry photos of Ceruleans or the perches they left behind. This is the best I’ve managed to come up with so far – sadly. It was pleasing to find that Louisiana Waterthrushes have returned to the breeding site we first described in 2010! A pair has been detected here for three consecutive years, which makes this site in Frontenac Prov. Park one of just a few annual breeding locations in the region. High fidelity to these sites make them important “footholds” at the range limit where contraction and expansion can be marked. These Frontenac louies are true pioneers!
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Frontenac Bird Studies in 2012
Migration Research Foundation is excited to announce that fieldwork for the Frontenac Bird Studies program will recommence in early May 2012! Here is the lineup of activities for the spring and summer field season.
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Prairie Warblers
This year will find us back in familiar territory, the expansive granitic rock barrens in Frontenac Provincial Park. Swept by intense fires in the 1930s, the barrens have been a refuge for several bird species in decline such as, Common Nighthawk, Prairie Warbler, Field Sparrow and Eastern Towhee, to name a few. Our efforts in 2011 were successful – male Prairie Warblers were located and colour-banded and nests were found. It wasn’t exactly easy, though. The late spring, extreme heat, abundant biting flies and hundreds of kilometers walked made for a challenging month of June (there’s a reason these barrens are explored by few!). Fortunately, the experience will make our studies substantially more efficient and productive for our return this year. Prairie Warblers are exceptionally rare in Canada and Frontenac remains a significant stronghold for the Ontario population clinging to life along the southern edge of the shield.
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M.A.P.S
In addition to our work in the barrens, we are looking forward to our fourth year of Monitoring Avian Productivity & Survivorship (MAPS). Our data indicate a short-term but marked reduction in forest bird abundance, perhaps owing to late spring and/or summer weather anomalies in recent years. A thorough analysis of demographic rates will be conducted following the 2013 season. Here is a snapshot of one of “our” thrushes from the Maplewood Bog (MABO) station in South Frontenac, ON:
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Rare Species Inventory and Monitoring
For a third spring in-a-row we will survey high potential breeding locations for Louisiana Waterthrush within the study area. Additionally, targeted area searches will be conducted in Frontenac Provincial Park for other rare/sensitive bird species and habitats such as Golden-winged Warbler and Red-headed Woodpecker. This exercise is part of an annual initiative to inventory and map distribution and abundance of breeding avifauna within the study area, particularly the park itself. This year our efforts will be focused on meadow/shrubland and wetland environments.
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The Frontenac Biothon fundraiser returns for another blitz in 2012! This year our biothon team will be racking up the species in Frontenac Provincial Park for 24 hours on June 9-10. Thanks to everyone who supported the biothon in 2011! We hope you will consider sponsoring one of our biothon participants this year. Visit our biothon page for more information or to make a donation.
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FBS Online
As always, you can follow our progress throughout the spring/summer field season via our blog, twitter and Facebook.
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Remembering Andrew Jano
We were deeply saddened to learn that Andrew Jano, a champion and regular supporter of Frontenac Bird Studies (FBS), passed away peacefully on February 5, 2012, at the age of 73. Andrew was passionate about birds and a dedicated proponent of conservation projects that he believed in. His yearly sponsorship and encouragement was invaluable in the development and evolution of our field programs in the Frontenac Arch. He was a terrific man and will be missed by many.
The 2012 field season will be dedicated to Andrew Jano, our dear friend.
Frontenac Bird Studies – 2011 Report
Year three of Frontenac Bird Studies was officially completed with the draft of the final report yesterday. The document, with over 40 pages of data summaries and analysis, will be available on the Migration Research Foundation website in the coming weeks. It was a fascinating season – cold and wet then hot and dry, always buggy but so choc-full of wonder and discovery.
Thanks to all of the volunteers, donors and supporting staff from Ontario Parks for another successful year!
All the best to you and yours in 2012
Dan Derbyshire, FBS Coordinator
Frontenac Bird Studies 