Waterloo Region Nature Outing to the Mill Race, St. Jacobs, ON

 26 October, 2024

Leader: David M. Gascoigne

Members: Miriam Bauman, Y-T Chen, Beverly Church, Bob Fraser, Brenda Gyorffy, Steve Gyorffy, Lorne Harding, Beth Hobson, Dale Ingrey, Nina Ingrey, Alice Lee, John Lee, Leon Linseman, Sandy Linseman, Curtiss MacDonald, Pam Sadler, Andrea Smith, Don Voisin

Guests: Mary Ann Cassidy, Dave McCaughan, Ruth McCaughan

     Following an extended period of unseasonably warm weather, we had a typical late October morning to enjoy a stroll along the Mill Race

     Lest it escape my attention later, let me thank Bob Fraser for picking up Mary Ann Cassidy. I appreciated his kindness very much, and I know she did too.

     Almost as soon as we set foot on the trail a Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was chipping, and even though it remained close we did not see it.

     An Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) by contrast was anxious to let us know his whereabouts, in the hope of cadging a little food.

     Of all the rodents in the world this little creature must surely rank very highly on the cuteness index.

     Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) were quick to visit. Unusually, it was a nuthatch who first descended to a friendly hand bearing food.

     They were calling to us constantly, in that wonderful nasal way they have - instantly recognizable and very appealing.

     Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) were heard more than seen, and none came really close.

     It is a stunningly handsome bird, and even partly hidden is a show-stopper.

     Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) was ubiquitous, as might be expected, and even though they can push our limits of tolerance when around bird feeders, they are in fact quite adorable, and a welcome part of the ecosystem.

     The melanistic phase, found only in the northern part of its range, is common here but extremely rare or not present farther south.

     Along certain sections of the trail the trees were filled with American Robins (Turdus migratorius). They were vocal, and gathered in feeding parties on invasive buckthorn berries.

     In years past it would have been a safe bet to conclude that we witnessed a migratory flock, fattening up for the journey ahead, but so many American Robins now overwinter with us that's no longer a certainty.

     Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were equally vocal and seemed to be travelling with the robins.

     A female Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) was the source of universal admiration.

     Bob harangued me to find him a male, but I was unable to oblige! Don't you know a good looking female is hard to beat, Bob?

     Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) seems to find the Mill Race exactly to its liking and we were delighted to see one.

     Nuthatches were first to feed from the hand, but Black-capped Chickadees wasted no time in catching up!

     Nuthatches were never far away, however.

     I am always happy to see the various components of a healthy woodland ecosystem fulfilling their roles as nature intended. Decay and decomposition are essential.

   

       An Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) was doubtless seeking a sheltered spot to spend the winter.    

     This invasive insect has adapted so well to our environment that it is the most common lady beetle in Ontario. It is rapidly displacing native species.

     Human folly is on display once again.

     Beavers have been dining on corn dragged in from adjacent fields, and Mallards (Anas paltyrynchos) are no doubt greatly appreciative of the smorgasbord delivered to them.

     Beavers are not referred to as nature's engineers for nothing, and their dam is impressive.

     Nature's jewelry is nowhere more apparent than raindrops on fallen leaves.

     Is it not gorgeous?

     

     Winged Euonymus or Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) is yet another invasive species, originally native to N. China, Japan and Korea. 

     A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) was having great success securing mid morning snacks along the Conestogo River - all of the fishy variety!

     Isn't fall grand?

     One of the great attractions of a walk along the Mill Race is to drop into the Eco Café at the half way point, for coffee, scones, muffins - whatever takes your fancy - and warm, clean washrooms.

     Looks like they are ready for Halloween.

     I learned that this was Andrea's last outing with us, as she prepares to move to St. Thomas. We will miss her and hope that our paths may cross again.

     As always, I am very grateful to all who came out to enjoy this outing and bestow upon me the pleasure of their company. 

     You may rest assured we'll do it again soon. In the meantime, please take care of Nature. 

Book Review - The Little Book of Weather - Princeton University Press

      I remember well the first book that I ever consulted to try to understand weather more completely. It was Weather and Bird Behaviour by Norman Elkins, and it has been consulted many times since in my quest to better understand bird distribution, migration and their response to adverse weather events. That book, first published in 1983, now seems almost quaint in some sections, and Elkins could have barely envisioned the immense power of modern computers, coupled with artificial intelligence, to predict current weather with impressive accuracy. From long term forecasts, to the precise time and location of a hurricane making landfall, along with its wind speed, meteorology has advanced in quantum leaps.

     Adam Scaife in this Little Book of Weather does a tremendous job of bringing us up to speed with the latest technology and the projected sophistication still to come.

     Along the way he reviews the history of meteorology as a science, and notes the steps that have brought us to where we are today. We are introduced to weather luminaries, many of whom have given their name to atmospheric phenomena, e.g. Milankovitch Cycles, Hadley Cells, and others. 

     A full understanding is gained of events like El Niño and La Niña, terms bandied about at will, yet probably poorly understood by many. The hydrology cycle is  explained and the way in which anthropogenic practices are interfering with it. Deforestation is contributing to changes in the distribution of moisture around the world and increasing ocean temperatures are the forerunners of more intense and more frequent hurricanes and cyclones.

     The book is nicely illustrated by Claudia Myatt, a British illustrator with a particular penchant for scenes of the sea.

     Scaife discusses the inextricable link between weather and the food supply, the health of the soil, the frequency of pest outbreaks. Sadly, past mismanagement, outright abuse and profligacy of the most egregious kind seems unlikely to change any time soon. We seem resolutely determined to resist learning from our mistakes and correcting course.

     There are nations where absolute denial of the climate crisis is the default position of the day, and even in those where our perilous position is acknowledged, remediation is slow to occur. In the meantime, consideration is being given to adding a Category 6 to hurricanes, in recognition of the  manner in which we have altered the the structure of the biosphere, making the potential for such terrifying storms an exponentially increasing possibility.  

     There is much more in this little book. Since weather affects all of us and no one is immune from climate systems gone awry, it is essential reading. Be sure to get your copy.

The Little Book of Weather - Princeton University Press

Adam Scaife

Hardback - $15.95 USD - ISBN: 9780691259994

160 pages - 3.75 x 6 inches (9.375 x 15 cm)

140 Colour illustrations

Publication date: 22 October, 2024

Book Review - The Little Book of Dinosaurs - Princeton University Press

      Most children have a fascination with dinosaurs, and even into adulthood the fascination does not quite go away. In recent years movies such as Jurassic Park fuelled the imagination of young and old alike, and the spate of exciting discoveries since then has spawned a whole generation of armchair paleontologists. 

     Luminaries such as documentary filmmaker Sir David Attenborough have produced several shows devoted to fossils, their discovery, their role in the progression of life on Earth, and with sophisticated computer graphics ancient creatures are brought to life. Attenborough's obvious delight in revealing the past is infectious and stimulates an interest in all of us.

     It is an ideal time, therefore, for Rhys Charles to create this Little Book of Dinosaurs, a volume that may be appreciated by young and old alike, to serve as a dinosaur primer. Everything is covered, from their origins to their diversity, and their role in dominating life on Earth before catastrophic events overtook them and consigned most of them to extinction.

     I say most of them, because we know of course that all did not become extinct. Birds, long thought of as being descended from dinosaurs, are in fact extant dinosaurs, not merely descended from them. We all see dinosaurs every day.

     We also now know from the fossil evidence that some ancient creatures were feathered, and their methods of locomotion fuel the debate as to whether first flight was initiated from the ground up or treetop down.  

     It is likely that some species were socially organized and travelled in groups, mirroring the behaviour of many mammal species today. There is safety in numbers where the danger of becoming the victim of a single predation event is minimized.

     The book covers the facts, the fables and the fiction, the truth the near-truth and the fallacies, the legacy of a time still shrouded in mystery and wonder, a vision into our past, and perhaps even a glimpse into the future, as climate change imposes more uncertainty on our lives.

     I recommend it highly - read, enjoy and learn. There is no better combination that that!

The Little Book of Dinosaurs - Princeton University Press

Rhys Charles

Hardback - $15.95 USD - ISBN: 9780691259895

160 pages - 3.75 x 6 inches (9.375 x 15 cm) - 140 colour illustrations

Publication date: 22 October, 2024

The Little Book of Whales - Princeton University Press

      Most people in the world will never see a whale, yet are fascinated by them, and even knowing nothing about them, are in favour of their conservation. Indeed, for those who have the chance to participate in whale watching tours, it is one of their most cherished memories.

     Two distinguished marine biologists have joined forces to produce a compendium of information compressed into 160 pages that will enable you to to go from ignorance to knowledge in one easy read. It is remarkable how much information can be provided in one of these "Little Books" and there is a fairly extensive bibliography for those eager to know more. For even the casual reader, it is possible to go from a warm, fuzzy feeling that cetaceans should be protected, to knowing which species are most threatened and how specifically to intervene on their behalf. The power of an informed citizenry should never be underestimated.

     Tugce Okay, in her usual way, embellishes the text with a range of scintillating illustrations.

     She has illustrated all but one of the books in this series, ranging from dinosaurs to mushrooms, from spiders to trees - and all done incredibly well. It is a noteworthy achievement to achieve this level of quality over such a diversity of subjects.

     Some species of cetaceans have been making a comeback from the brink of extinction in recent years, as international legislation is respected by most nations most of the time, but perils remain. Let us not forget that the Yangtze River Dolphin has been driven to extinction in our lifetime, entirely due to anthropogenic actions.

      It has been established that acoustic communication is vital to the lives of whales, with sound travelling over vast distances. Numerous human activities such as drilling and mining, shipping and military exercises all interfere with this essential faculty of cetacean lives.  Add to these disturbances increased atmospheric CO2 levels, ocean warming, acidification, bycatch, plastic pollution, diminished marine productivity and you realize quickly that many species are living on the edge.

     Young and Berta are impassioned in their pleas for the conservation of these magnificent ancient mammals; we should be too.

      If the bell of extinction tolls for them, it tolls for us too.

The Little Book of Whales - Princeton University Press

Robert Young and Annalisa Berta

Hardback - $15.95 USD - ISBN: 9780691260129

160 pages - 3.75 x 6 inches (9.375 x 15 cm)

140 colour illustrations

Publication date: 22 October, 2024