The Bold and Confiding Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

     Even though Christmas comes and goes without celebration or fuss, I received an amazing Santa gift.

      Louise de Kiriline Lawrence is unique in so many ways in the storied history of Canadian ornithology, the author of many books, both for adults and children.

      This book, an anthropomorphic account told by a Black-capped Chickadee named Peet, is written for a child, but it matters not, for good literature is good literature. To the extent that it is possible I put myself in the mind of a youngster, ten or eleven years old perhaps, and marvelled at the information gained about Canadian avifauna in so delightful a manner. I would have learned without knowing it.

     In addition the book is charmingly illustrated by Thoreau MacDonald, a leading exponent of black-and-white illustrations; the artwork is simply splendid. MacDonald gravitated towards black-and-white artwork as a way of coping with colour blindness.

     So, in one volume one has the impassioned outpourings of a distinguished (and since her death, revered) Canadian ornithologist and an equally exalted Canadian illustrator who has few equals in his chosen genre.

     Such a gift!

     But the purpose of this account is not to extol the virtues of the book, but to reflect on the pleasure of communion with chickadees. It was de Kiriline's statement in the Introduction that engaged my thoughts.

"I fell in love with Peet, my Black-capped Chickadee, the moment he curled his firm little claws around my finger to get the sunflower seed I held out to him. That elfin grip was like the handclasp of friendship from another world. From out of the mysterious spheres of Nature this elusive sprite had come to me of his own free will. Without fear or hesitation, with one airy gesture, he cancelled all the inherent distrust between man and the untamed bird. It was a wonderful moment that I shall never forget."

     It struck me immediately that this reflected my own experience, expressed so eloquently by de Kiriline, for whom English was not her first language. I don't remember my exact first experience, but the sense of joy has been embedded within me since the first moment a chickadee landed on my hand.

     There is a feeling verging on metaphysical that a bird weighing a mere 10 -14 grams (half an ounce), whose life I could extinguish merely by closing my hand and crushing it, is willing to trust me and share its world with me. I know of no one who has enjoyed the experience who does not feel the same way.

     You might be surprised (or perhaps not) at the number of people who have asked me to take them to where they can feed a chickadee. People young and old, from experienced birdwatcher to absolute novice, scientist and layman, man, woman and child. Their reaction is universal. Joy, pure unalloyed joy, a wellspring of emotion from deep within, themes of connection to our own origins.

     Surely little is more sorely needed during these terrifying days of environmental destruction and the daily experience of a world that is unravelling around us, than an intimate connection, or a reconnection, with nature. Therein lies sanity, therein lies peace, therein lies the fundamental truth that we are all connected. It is not "we" and "they", it is "us."

     In his indelibly prescient and visionary book Eaarth, Bill McKibben makes it very clear that the Earth we once knew no longer exists.  We are moving into the murky land of the unknown, where soaring global temperatures and all the disturbances that will result, will change the very nature of our lives. Indeed they are already occurring. Just ask the Californian whose forests and woodlands are ravaged by wildfires year after year, fires that start earlier and burn hotter and longer. Ask the citizens of Jasper, AB or Lytton, BC whose towns were destroyed. Ask the Inupiaq of Alaska as they watch the methane bubbling up in the waters of melted permafrost, who are forced to become spectators in the termination of their traditional way of life.

     Might I hold high the hope that a chickadee will remain a connection to all that I cherish? Is it too much to ask that we should permit this fellow traveller still to commune with us? Every foolish action we take, every failed climate conference, every denial of the truth before our eyes jeopardizes all life, not only our own.

     Louise de Kiriline Lawrence waxes poetic about "the handclasp of friendship from another world." 

     May it never be offered in vain.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandicaus)

"Whole ecosystems are threatened, and the losses have started to feed on themselves ."

Elizabeth Kolbert 

   Over many years I have searched every winter for Snowy Owls and have had great good fortune in finding them. Understanding the habitat they prefer in their winter quarters is the key to success, and we are fortunate that the Region of Waterloo and Wellington County have for many years hosted reliable and sometimes large populations of this magnificent bird.

     

     Last winter, Miriam and I were unable to find even one. This winter, so far, despite scouring the areas where they have taken up residence year after year, we have failed again. The winter is not over, of course but our initial forays do not bode well. We have also noticed severely reduced numbers of that other enigmatic raptor from the north, Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus).

     Climate breakdown is having very serious consequences for Snowy Owls and all other arctic species.

     Snowy Owls breed on the treeless tundra and build their nests on the ground. The Arctic is heating up faster than almost any other region on Earth, and the permafrost, ground frozen for millennia, is thawing. The terrain is sinking and new ponds have formed. In addition to eliminating nesting habitat the meltwater is flooding the burrows of Lemmings (genus Lemmus), the principal component of the Snowy Owl's diet, essential to the growth of its young.

     So, in one stroke of human-caused catastrophe, we have robbed this iconic bird of home and food.

     This does not even begin to address the consequences of carbon and methane release. Or the madness of beginning to drill for more fossil fuels in areas like the Arctic National Wildlife refuge.

     It causes me immense sadness that I may have seen my last Snowy Owl, or at the very least may no longer have such familiarity with them. 

     Such are the distances the remaining members of their kind now have to wander in search of suitable breeding grounds, a bird banded in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario was recovered in Siberia.

     It is profoundly sad that humans have so affected the planet that extinction is proceeding at a pace that far exceeds anything that has ever occurred in the entire 4.6 billion year history of the Earth. Entire ecosystems are being obliterated and the Snowy Owl is just one victim of this human indifference.

     It will not end well for owls, but it will not end well for humans either. We have met the enemy and it is us.

     John Donne's truth is immortal:

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.” 

     Make no mistake, the bell tolls for us all and we are our own bellringers. As goes the owl, so go we.

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukkah - Chag Urim Sameach

Merry Christmas - Happy New Year

Peace - Shalom

Book Review - California Reptiles and Amphibians - Princeton Field Guides

      It seemed absolutely appropriate that hot on the heels of the review of a book on deserts and drylands that I should receive this work on California reptiles and amphibians. The desert environment looms large in California, and of course drought and wildfires have plagued the state for several years. 

     Over the past twenty-five to thirty years I have made several visits to California. My arsenal of natural history resources would have been greatly enhanced by this impressive work. It covers all 209 species of amphibians and reptiles found in the state, with meticulous detail and informed facts. 

     Many species are endemic.

     Generally, for each species, a standard format is used, with information on identification, similar species, habitat, range/elevation, activity/behaviour, diet, reproduction, and conservation/remarks.

     As might be expected, many species are facing threats of various kinds, generally related to habitat loss, environmental degradation, fragmentation, roadkill, and human indifference or hostility. Wildfires are eliminating coastal chapparal and other habitats, which are replaced by grassland. Climate change - or climate breakdown as Adam Welz terms it - is affecting populations of many species with ever decreasing options in the face of rising temperatures. Increased aridity is a challenge on the one hand and cataclysmic floods a potential death sentence on the other.

     The illustrations are first rate from an ID standpoint, with plain, morphologically accurate depictions on a white background, unadorned by details of vegetation or other habitat features.

     Each species account provides a link to the plate where the species is displayed and another link to a map. This I find quite cumbersome. It would have been far better to have the range map and image opposite the text in the common practice of modern field guides.

     When seeking information on a given taxon one has to refer to the plate in another section, and the map in yet another. Obviously one cannot have the book open at all three positions at the same time. This unwieldiness is compounded when comparing two species with each other; then one is at times compelled to juggle two species accounts, two maps and two plates - and that's just about impossible.

     If while performing this dexterous operation the species account has been closed, there is no cross reference back to the text on either the map page or the plate, so the only solution is to refer to the index again - yet another step. Be sure to have two or three bookmarks in use! 

     There are perhaps production reasons why this method is used, but it is not readily apparent to me, My misgiving is in no way related to the information provided, but concerns the awkwardness in accessing all the components for each species.

     The section on amphibian larvae (which is superb) is better treated, because the species description is on the left page and the plate on the right. One still has to go to a different section for the map, however.

      May I repeat, the quality of the information is impeccable - detailed, informative, laudatory, complete, from the introductory segments to the taxonomic notes, from the discussion of threats to the last page of the index.

      Whether your interest is as a professional herpetologist or as a novice embarking on the study of a realm of nature previously unexplored you will derive great benefit from this book.

     Arm yourself with patience and forbearance and you will be in for a treat as you explore the exciting world of reptiles and amphibians, some of which may not be extant for much longer. 

     This is a book for its time. Let us earnestly hope it is not a requiem for too many species.

California Amphibians and Reptiles - Princeton Field Guides

Robert W. Hansen and Jason D. Shedd

Paperback - US$49.95 - ISBN: 9780691249070

528 pages - 5.875 x 8.25 inches (14.69 x 20.625 cm)

Publication date: 14 January, 2025

Book Review - The World Atlas of Deserts and Drylands - Princeton University Press

      Following on the success of The World Atlas of Trees and Forests, and The World Atlas of Rivers, Estuaries and Deltas, both of which I enjoyed immensely and benefitted from in myriad ways, I was both delighted and excited to receive The World Atlas of Deserts and Drylands.

     This series is phenomenal! Each volume is the work of several experts who succeed in joining together as a single voice, providing comprehensive coverage of their subject, from antiquity to modernity, in a pleasing, flowing style which encourages interest and facilitates understanding.

     The accompaniment of a sensational selection of photographs furnishes magical enhancement - such is the gift of digital photography.

     Over my lifetime I have spent a considerable amount of time in some of the principal deserts of the world. I have always been mesmerized by the harshness and the beauty, the strategies for survival of flora and fauna, the daily struggle for life, and the sheer beauty of desert flowers in all their magnificent profusion. Who could fail to marvel at the ephemeral perfection of a Saguaro in bloom, a Cactus Wren nesting deep in a spiny Cholla? 

     Few of us would choose to live in a desert, but we are moved by it and relish its uniqueness. Linked by the common characteristics of scarcity of water and extreme temperatures, deserts around the world vary immensely and are found in the hottest and the coldest regions of the globe. I have trod the sands of the Kalahari, felt the scorching sun of the Mojave and experienced the chill winds of Patagonia. I have seen the shifting dunes of the Sahara. Every moment is etched on my brain.

     The book is a complete desert manual, beginning with the very origins of deserts based on the geology of the Earth. Throughout history deserts have not been static, at times harbouring a rich variety of life, with even the most arid regions experiencing periods of fertility. Deserts are now being affected by anthropogenic activity, as is every other habitat on Earth for that matter, often with catastrophic consequences. Of particular concern is the constant drawing down of subterranean sources of waters at a rate greater than replenishment. Scarcity and salination follow this unchecked profligacy, with land subsidence not far behind. Desertification around the world advances at a rate that should concern us all.

     Indigenous people, resourceful and knowledgeable, skilled in exploiting the riches of the desert and surviving by remarkable ingenuity, are being forced from their ancestral lands by what we incorrectly term "progress."

     The great, glaring, malevolent, rampaging elephant in the room is Global Warming. There are winners and losers in this scenario, but the overwhelming likelihood is that increasing global temperatures caused primarily by surging levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane, presage a terrifying future. We are already experiencing catastrophic weather events on a global scale with daunting frequency, and financial impacts that are off the charts. Every year is hotter than the previous year.

     There seems to be little universal will to tackle the problem, climate conferences routinely end in failure, and some leading politicians around the world actively deny that the problem even exists. 

     The final section of the book is devoted to Global Warming and its (mostly) predictable impacts. It is stomach-churning reading.

     In summary this is a terrific work, comprehensive, well planned and superbly executed. I cannot recommend it too highly.

The World Atlas of Deserts and Drylands - Princeton University Press

Edited by David Thomas, with contributions by Nicholas Drake, Troy Sternberg, Sallie Burrough, and Marion Meyer

Hardcover - US$60.00 - ISBN: 9780691251974

400 pages - 9 x 12 inches (22.5 x 30 cm) - 250 Colour illustrations

Publication date: 07 January, 2025

   

Waterloo Region Nature Outing to the North Shore of Lake Ontario

 14 December, 2024

Leader: David M. Gascoigne

Members: Miriam Bauman, Betty Brechun, Dave Collins, Mary Collins, Lisa Den Besten, Tina Den Besten, Heather DeYoe, Helen Fowler, Steve Gyorffy, Victoria Ho, Christina Koenig, Elaine La Ronde, Leon Linseman, Greg Michalenko, Roger Suffling, Selwyn Tomkun, Mary Ann Vanden Elzen, Shelley Watters

Guests: Priscilla Bliss, Mary Ann Cassidy, Don DeYoe, Nasreen DeYoe, Ellen Klein, Ruthanne Snider 

     When we left home at 07h:00 it was minus 14.5 degrees C, but the forecast was for improving temperatures and pleasant conditions so we looked forward to a great day's birding. It turned out to be a beautiful day, and other than a little wind here and there, it was classic December delight in Ontario. It was the kind of day to make us rejoice in our good fortune to be living in the north, with an exciting array of birds on our list for the day.

DesJardins Canal, Dundas, ON

     In winter, the target bird at this location is the enigmatic and beautiful Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). Even as we rounded the corner at the canal we saw a sizeable flock of them and our spirits were instantly buoyed. 

     This attractive little duck is a veritable benchmark of enchantment.

     They seemed to favour the company of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).

     

     You will forgive me if I overload you with pictures, of these charming birds, but Dave Collins was busy with his camera, and the results are too pleasing not to feature here.

     As you will see the males were posturing and displaying, no doubt trying to impress the females, who for the most part seemed decidedly unmoved by the whole performance. Shades of hormonally charged teenaged youth perhaps?

     Okay, just a couple more; that's all, I promise.

     I bet that by now you wish you had been there with us!

     Perhaps this Canada Goose was beating its wings in enthusiastic approval of the choreographic ensemble taking place in front of it.

Photo - Dave Collins

     We walked alongside the canal with birds to see but few pictures to record the moment. 

     At the end of the canal one finds the Urquart Butterfly Garden, always worth a visit to pay homage to a true Canadian hero, and at times very productive for birds, insects and flowers.

     Some were unfamiliar with the story of Fred Urquart and I was delighted to have a chance to tell them.

     Heather has heard it before and was anxious for that perfect shot.

     The garden retained a certain appeal even during the winter when all is brown and lifeless.

     Hoar frost added its own sparkle to the brilliance of the morning.

Grindstone Creek, Hamilton, ON

     Dave worked his magic again almost immediately with this first class shot of a Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa).

     The little bird is barely bigger than a hummingbird, and if you would like a fuller understanding of the way it survives our cold winters see Winter World by Bernd Heinrich, chapter 8, The Kinglet's Feathers.

     I am not sure whether one of our group had dispersed sunflower seed along a rock, or whether other people had done so, but it was a magnet as you might expect.

     Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), both male and female, were happy to partake of the buffet.

     It was no surprise to see a bold little American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) muscle his way onto the table, driving off all competitors.

     Most White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) leave here for the winter months, but there are increasingly more frequent scattered reports of this species remaining in its breeding area. We were delighted to see this one.

    The water was frozen so the anticipated Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) did not materialize at this location, but we all chatted amiably, wandered around, cajoled chickadees to land on our hands, and generally had a good time. 

    We were strung out as we meandered back to our vehicles, but finally we all joined up again and headed to our next stop on this intrepid day of birding.

LaSalle Park and Marina, Burlington, ON

     The wind was keen coming across the bay, but there was too much action on the water for it to matter at all. 

     Large numbers of Canvasbacks (Athya valsinaria) have settled in for the winter and it was a pleasure to see so many of them dozing (and just 'hanging out') in between bouts of feeding.

     A few Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis) were  interspersed with the other waterfowl, none of them positioned well for a photograph, but this female was a little closer than most.

     Overhead, a small squadron of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) was awe-inspiring to say the least.

     It reminded me that there was a time when the word "awesome" actually meant something. Now an item as trivial as your milkshake is deemed awesome. I understand that language evolves, but at times it degenerates too.

      A few Gadwalls (Mareca strepera) punctuated the flocks of Canada Geese and Canvasbacks, but mostly they were far out, partly hidden by larger birds, or shimmering in bright sunlight - or all of the above.

Dave managed this picture.

     Miriam got this nice shot of a male.

     This is THE place to see American Coot (Fulica americana) in winter and again we call on Dave for a couple of very agreeable shots.

     The ice against the shore was starting to build up, and as long as the weather remains cold it will expand outward into the lake. 

     There were a few Redheads (Ayhtya americana) in among the flocks, sometimes hard to pick out, and Miriam did well to get this picture.

     Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) was present in small numbers and Dave's camera captured this handsome male against the seawall.

     A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) cruised overhead.

Photo - Dave Collins

     There were other species out on the water, too far for photography, but certainly stimulating much discussion about waterfowl. 

     Lisa and I were focused on a duck that looked ostensibly like a Redhead, but there were aspects of it that were not "right." Later we learned that an odd hybrid believed to be a cross between a Redhead and a Canvasback had been seen earlier in the week. We suspect this is the bird we saw.

     It was time for lunch. Even though in cold weather we often eat outdoors, the wind was a little too biting to entertain that possibility and we ate in the car. Betty Brechun had carpooled with us and she brought delicious homemade ginger cookies, and dispensed them liberally. I will insist that she ride with us forever more!

     Just to prove that we never grow up, nor should we, the inner child was in full operative mode as the sheer delight of feeding wild birds was irresistible. No comment is required.

     The feathers of this Canada Goose are frayed and worn. Spring moult will be a welcome event.

     How about a closeup?

     A pair of American Black Ducks (Anas rubipres) swam daintily just offshore.

     It is hard not to be continually impressed by the sheer majesty of a Trumpeter Swan.

     As we walked along Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) skittered in front of us.

     A female Hooded Merganser is perhaps ready for a visit to the salon!

     The predominant gull was far and away Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) but we did see a couple of American Herring Gulls (Larus smithsonianus) too.

     Although the temperature overall was quite pleasant, the wind remained cruel and a head tucked under the wing seemed like a sensible thing to do.

     Just as we were leaving an adult Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucephalus) soared overhead and Miriam quickly hopped out of the car and managed to get a picture.

Paletta Park, Burlington, ON

     This is always a popular spot, especially for the ladies, for there are warm, comfortable, fully-supplied washrooms - highly desirable on a cold, windy winter's day when using Nature's Bathroom is distinctly unappealing.

     There was not much to see from a birding perspective, but we were happy to be welcomed by an American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos).

     A Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) was at the water's edge.

     There were large rafts of ducks way out across the lake, too far to identify them, let alone take pictures.

     Ice has a unique beauty all its own, sometimes harsh, but never dull.

     A Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) entertained us for a while; in fact, it was the only woodpecker of the day.

Bronte Harbour, Oakville, ON

     

     Canada Geese were resting on the ice.

     Miriam's eye was drawn to this grate and felt compelled to take a picture.

     I am glad she did. It's intricate for a utilitarian object, isn't it?

     The most exciting moment of the day, perhaps of the whole year, was the discovery of an Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus) on the harbour side of the breakwater.

     I think it was Tina who first spotted it, and we had but a minute at the most before it dived and did not reappear. I suspect it may have moved out into the open water of Lake Ontario. It dives efficiently and can travel some distance underwater. 

     This diminutive auk (family Alcidae) is a pelagic species normally found off the west coast of North America, through the Aleutian chain to eastern Siberia. It is an incredible rarity on the Great Lakes. How it found its way here is anyone's guess.

     Ironically, I have only seen this species once before, in Port Weller, ON about thirty years ago. I have taken pelagic trips from the west coast and have scanned the ocean off Vancouver Island, but Ancient Murrelet has eluded me in the places where one might expect to find it.

     There is no reference in the literature, at least none that I can find, that indicates that this species exhibits a proclivity for overland migration to large bodies of freshwater, so I am unable to offer any rational explanation for its presence here.

     It was an incredibly satisfying discovery and one that left us all elated.

     A female Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) seemed very pedestrian by contrast!

     We were delighted to discover a Common Loon (Gavia immer), not unheard of on Lake Ontario in winter, but far from common.

     Don and Nasreen, upon first meeting before we all carpooled to set off, expressed the desire to see Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis). We had not seen this species at any of our other likely spots, so we were delighted when we were able to satisfy their wishes.

Long-tailed Duck ♂

Long-tailed Duck ♀

     Common Mergansers and Mallards favoured a sheltered area between the outer breakwater and the harbour.

     A few Double-crested Cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) tough it out on Lake Ontario, plentiful food no doubt being a factor in their decision not to migrate.

     A striking male Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) was very pleasing.

     It was time to bid everyone farewell. It been a fine day of birding indeed, punctuated emphatically by the Ancient Murrelet.

     Thanks to everyone who joined us to contribute to the common joy of naturalists doing what they do best.

     Christina had hitched a ride with us from Waterloo and when we dropped her off Miriam noticed the commanding presence of the moon.

     Upon doing a little research we discovered that this moon appears full on 14, 15 and 16 December. It is quite unusual and was referred to by the Mohawks as the Cold Moon, since it marks the days when the weather is getting colder. It is also referred to as the Christmas Moon or the Long Night Moon.

     It seemed like an auspicious end to a wonderful day.

References:

Auks: An Ornithologists Guide, Ron Freethy, Facts on File, Inc. (1987)

The Auks, Anthony J. Gaston and Ian L. Jones, Oxford University Press (1998)