The Child Care Centre in North Waterloo

      It is at this time of year that new life abounds, in every taxon you can imagine. Our backyard has been host to many youngsters, and I am sure it is not yet over. This post covers activities from 1 July through 4 July and the images are posted in the sequence in which they were taken.

     One of our favourite Malbecs is called La Linda so when we spotted a first instar caterpillar of Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) on our Rue (Ruta graveolens) it seemed natural to call her Linda. And we grew quite fond of Linda, and watched her progress from one instar to another, plump and robust, full of vigour.

     So it was sad one day, when Linda was no longer present. Caterpillars are essential food for so many other organisms of course, and predators abound, from birds to wasps.

     It is possible that Linda became a food item for a young bird and we can take some solace in that.

     But we miss her!

     The legendary fecundity of rabbits is well known to all, and our backyard is host to regular congregations of hopping, jumping, chasing, gambolling kits. 

      They are not Miriam's friends!

      

     They unerringly know which are her favourite flowers and they home in on them like a laser-guided missile. They ignore the weeds and go straight for the flowers. The perversity of it all is that it is not always for food. They gnawed off her Lupines down to the ground, but ate not a bit, leaving wilting stems and flowers lying on the soil. 

     Lagomorphicide could easily become a fact of life in our backyard!

     The stars of the show have unquestionably been a male Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) and a very healthy offspring.

Hairy Woodpecker adult ♂

Hairy Woodpecker, juvenile ♂

      Once the young leave the nest, feeding duties are usually divided between the parents and it appears that this young male has the exclusive attention of his father.

     Hairy Woodpecker is an exceedingly handsome bird, and while they do attend our feeders from time to time, this is the first time young have been fed in our yard. 

     They are here every day, usually several times. Every night I take down my feeders, otherwise helpful Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are happy to do it for me, and this morning a little after 06h:00 when I went out to hang them up, father and son were already there.

     Quite often they occupy the feeder, one at either side, yet the adult, as though responding to some inner compulsion, will reach around and feed the young bird.

     These birds have entertained us royally, and we feel a great sense of privilege to share our garden with them.

     The final marquis performer is a young male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) who seems to get more handsome every day.

     Not for him dependence on an adult. He has become totally independent and is fully competent in taking care of himself.

     He is never far from our yard it seems, where there is food, shelter, cover and water. Just about everything a bird could need.

     It is a pleasure for us to share our lives with these creatures and we hope there are others to follow. Well, except for rabbits, that is!

Book Review - The Cow - Princeton University Press

 

     I was very happy when I received this book for review. Over several weeks previously I had been pondering and reading about the whole process of animal domestication and its impetus in the transition of humans from a hunter/gatherer society to one based on farming and animal husbandry.

     It is a fascinating book!

     One is given a tantalizing glimpse into the ancient Auroch, the ancestor of all modern cattle, already domesticated at the time the prehistoric art in the caves at Lascaux was created. So far back, cattle already provided primitive humans with a reliable source of dairy, and meat with its high quality protein component, spurring brain development and leading to ever greater levels of sophistication. 

     The genome sequence of modern cattle includes information on 22,000 genes, indicating the extent to which selective breeding for increased yields of beef and dairy, resistance to disease, the ability to cope with difficult climates, has progressed. There are in fact very few wild cattle remaining, and virtually all modern breeds are so dependent on their human keepers, they would find it impossible to exist as wild creatures. 

     There are ethical issues today associated with cattle farming, especially that conducted on an industrial scale. Issues such as animal welfare, rain forest destruction, the production of methane contributing to global warming, and the morality of raising an animal to be killed at an early age, purely to satisfy human dietary choices, are the subject of current discussion. Added to this is the question of the augmented (and seemingly ever increasing) application of anti-biotics, steroids and other pharmaceutical concoctions, and the manner in which residual traces potentially impact human health.

     It is conclusively accepted that cattle are subjected to stresses, quite easily in fact, and that they respond to kindness, and are able to recognize humans as individuals, even when wearing different clothes. Some cows are now kept as pets!

     In many countries around the world, especially in advanced democracies, meat consumption is declining, especially red meat. Consumers are expressing a willingness to cut back on meat, and pay higher prices for superior quality, with due regard to the way in which the meat was obtained. A marked preference for animals raised under as close to natural conditions as possible is a clear choice for many.

     There is not a single aspect of the cow that is not covered in this book from ancestry to anatomy, from pregnancy to the genome, from disorders to intelligence. 

     The final section provides a detailed account of the principal breeds extant in the world today, with salient facts and a distribution map.

      From cover to cover, the book is illustrated in colour, in a very appealing fashion, with the pictures bearing directly on the text.

     The book is dedicated to the cow, yes, but it will also stimulate your curiosity about issues of animal welfare, the morality of the consumption of meat, climate change, deforestation and other pressing issues of the day. It will raise questions as to how long pharmacology can continue to safeguard the quality of meat for human consumption. There is no more basic issue than our food supply; this text will make you examine it in important ways and help you to make wise choices.

     I highly recommend it. 

The Cow - Princeton University Press

Author: Catrin Rutland

Hardcover - US$27.95 - ISBN: 9780691198705

Published: 11 May 2021

224 pages - 250 colour photographs and diagrams

7.75 x 9.25 inches (19.375 x 23.125 cm)

     

Our Backyard and Beyond

 17 June 2021

Our Backyard, Waterloo, ON

     Our backyard continues to remain a safe haven for a range of wildlife, with food, water and shelter present, and native vegetation aplenty.

     I cannot think of a day when at least a couple of Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) are not there from first light until the end of day, and at times in the winter there have been more than twenty.

     Its familiarity does not detract from its delicate beauty.

     Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is blooming prolifically at present and delights us when we sit out on the patio.

     Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) are regular visitors to the feeders, and it is not surprising that they have been bringing their young to visit.

     The fledglings lack the iridescent sheen and the yellow eyes of their parents.

     They are fully capable at this stage of taking care of themselves, but waste no opportunity nevertheless to cadge from mom and dad - usually with great success.

     A regular visitor is a male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) seemingly in the process of moulting his head feathers.

     We call him Scruffy - in the most affectionate way I hasten to add!

     This fledgling cardinal was constantly begging from its parents.

     And it worked every time!

     His patient, long-suffering and devoted mother is seen below.

18 June 2021

Laurel Creek Conservation Area, Waterloo, ON

     Other than for a few very common species, it was difficult to find birds; and the fact that the park was quite busy did not help the situation, so we applied our energies to insects primarily.

     The is a Hover Fly in the genus Cheilosia, commonly known as Blacklets.

     That's as far as I can get with the ID. There are almost 500 of these creatures worldwide, and they all look very similar to the uninitiated eye, and many of them are impossible to identify visually.

     Similarly, I am unable to name the species of the following Sweat Bee in the genus Lasioglossum.

     A very familiar Virginia Ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica) gave us no trouble at all.

     This is the larva of a Leaf Beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. A handsome little creature, don't you agree?

     Spotted Grass Moth (Rivula propinqualis) is quite common at this time of the year, but easily overlooked.

     Herb-Robert (Geranium robertianum) does not seem to host many insects or their larvae; in fact the odour of its crushed leaves is claimed to repel mosquitoes.

     This American Robin (Turdus migratorius) was gathering food to take back to the nest to feed its young.

     It is conventional wisdom that most bird species find the Gypsy Moth caterpillar distasteful but this individual seems to have included them on its menu. Miriam and I have also witnessed Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) battering Gypsy Moth larvae against the ground and either consuming them or flying off with a beak full.

     We were very happy to find a cooperative Hobomok Skipper (Poanes hobomok),

     Northern Crescents (Phyciodes cocyta) can be seen flitting everywhere.

     The caterpillar of the Gypsy Moth is quite beautiful but its impact on a deciduous forest is devastating.

     Following is a picture of a Long-legged Fly in the family Dolichopodidae.

     Shown below is a pond spreadwing in the genus Lestes , but I am unable to extend the ID beyond that.

     Spotted Spreadwing (Lestes congener) would be my educated guess, but if anyone feels confident to confirm or refute this supposition I would be happy to hear from you.

     Clemen's Skeletonizer (Acoloithus falsarius) is an impressive name for a tiny insect!

     This species is known from wineries, but I am not sure whether it is a great hazard to the grape crop.

     There are over 35,000 Long-horned Beetles (family Cerambycidae) in the world, and identification other than by an expert in this taxon is extremely difficult. I am fairly confident based on the research I have done, and on probability, this individual belongs in the genus Oberea.

     As I have mentioned in previous posts, Bluets (Genera Coenagrion and Enallagma) are also difficult to identify as to species without having the insect in the hand, and sometimes under a microscope.

     Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron pulchellus) is widespread and attractive.

     We caught movement out of the corner of our eye and were happy to find a Common Carpet Moth, also known as White-banded toothed Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata).

     It is not often that we see American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva) on the ground.

      It has a bill full of food, no doubt to be relayed back to hungry nestlings.

     Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa) is an exceptionally handsome dragonfly, and Miriam captured a couple of great shots of a male.

23 June 2021

RiverSong Banquet Hall, St. Jacobs, ON

       After a long hiatus when COVID restrictions prohibited lunch on the patio, it was finally possible to resume this very pleasant activity.

     I am quite sure that this newly fledged Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) was very happy to see us.

      Better it get up off the ground and into the dense bushes where it will be appreciably safer.

     A Red-spotted Purple (Limenthis arthemis astyanax) went about its business unconcerned, although it too would be wise to be vigilant. We saw both Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) and Eastern Wood Pewee (Contopus virens), both of whom would find a large butterfly a very tasty treat.

      Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) was quite common, and this is a male in prime condition.

     Much of the Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) was brown and withered and has been subjected to a full frontal attack by a beetle of some kind. I am unable to identify the larvae. (See YAM's comment below).

      The cheery song of the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) was seldom out of earshot, and it was a delight to be in the company of this ebullient musician.

26 June 2021

A drive through the country, Region of Waterloo, ON

     It was hot and sticky, not the kind of weather to go for a walk, so we decided on a drive through the country.

     And what could be more pleasant than this?

     This foal was sticking close to mom, but when the mare approached Miriam at the fence, obviously hoping for a carrot or an apple, the foal was not reluctant to make friends too.

     Scenes such as this are the stuff of pure delight.

     A Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) signified its approval.

     As might be expected in late June, young birds are popping up everywhere.

     This recently fledged Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) was waiting patiently for devoted parents to fly by and stuff an insect into its waiting bill.

     Looks like mom is coming right now!

     And young Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) were no less anxious to be fed.

     This Common Starling, bashing a Gypsy Moth caterpillar into submission, no doubt had hungry mouths back at the nest to take care of.

     Until the next time, be sure to get out and enjoy nature. There is nothing quite like it!