Book Review - Wildlife of New Zealand - Princeton University Press

 

     This is a vastly expanded version of Julian Fitter's 2010 work on the wildlife of New Zealand. It benefits from increased coverage and updated information on the status of species, especially those at risk.

     It is remarkable that in a pocket-sized volume that is clearly a field guide, so much can be included on such a wide range of organisms that comprise the flora and fauna of the country. Furthermore, photographs are included for every species covered, a significant achievement in and of itself.

     In the author's introductory comments many issues are discussed, including the swamping of New Zealand life forms with alien species, going back to the first Maori settlers and culminating with later European invaders. There were no native land predators in New Zealand, and faced with previously unknown threats from introduced animals such as rats, stoats, weasels, goats, pigs, cats and others, endemic species were eradicated - lost to the world forever. This situation continues to the present day, although its effects are being mitigated in many areas by various means, and New Zealand has become a leading authority in the removal of feral predators from islands where native wildlife is in serious jeopardy of extinction.

     Similar destruction of native forests and grasslands has occurred with the introduction of species from  abroad that outcompete indigenous trees and plants, and the conversion of vast swatches of land to sheep farming and agriculture.

     It is bitterly ironic that a small country, so isolated by its remoteness, has suffered so greatly in the diminution of the life forms that made it unique.

     In the section on birds, Fitter even breaks down the species by native and introduced groups. Native passerines, for example are represented by seventeen species and introduced species by fifteen, quite staggering really. The section on game birds reveals that every one is brought in from elsewhere with names like California Quail and Indian Peafowl, imposed on a landscape where none existed before.

     Mammals present an even more dire picture. There are only two native land mammals in New Zealand, both bats, whereas there is a dizzying array of introduced mammalian predators of birds, reptiles and amphibians.

     Fitter never shies away from commenting on this sad state of affairs, in addition to filling his principal role of offering a comprehensive field guide. For example, under Introduced/Alien Land Mammals, he says,  "....... they have thrived and caused widespread ecological and environmental damage".

     You will benefit greatly from excellent coverage of so many taxa from birds to liverworts and lichens! But do not hesitate to read the cautionary notes and applaud New Zealand's efforts to return some of its territory to its natural state.

     The book ends with a list of great places to visit. Go! Enjoy! Experience nature - and be sure to tuck this field guide into your pocket when you do.

Wildlife of New Zealand - A Field Guide Fully Revised and Expanded - Princeton University Press

Author: Julian Fitter

Paperback - US$24.95 - ISBN: 9780691212470

Publication date: 18 May 2021

304 pages - 600 colour photographs - 4.5" x7.5"

Local Sightings During COVID Restrictions

      There seems to be no end to the degree of backtracking, mind-changing, and the sewing of confusion by our abjectly inadequate provincial government, but one over-arching fact is clear, we are restrained from freedom of movement in one way or another. So I will continue to post about events that are occurring locally.

19 April 2021

 

Waterloo Corporate Campus, Waterloo, ON

     This location is a busy retail/commercial venue, with a large grocery store, drug store, restaurants, other retail establishments and offices, a dental practice, and all the vehicular and pedestrian traffic that goes with it.

     We found it nothing short of astonishing that a Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) has selected it as the best site for its nest!

     The area is quieter than usual due to COVID lockdown measures, but that will change in about four weeks, probably close to the time when the eggs will hatch, so I am not sure whether the nest is viable in the long term.

     Potential nest robbers such as Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) and American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) are frequently seen here, leaving eggs left unprotected even briefly, exposed to risk. Foxes, coyotes, raccoons and skunks also scavenge in the area.

     Someone has had a sign made to caution people about the presence of the goose at its nest, and we applaud this attempt to afford whatever protection is possible.

     If the eggs do hatch, as we hope they will, there is no body of water anywhere close, and given that newly hatched goslings are led to the relative safety of a pond or lake soon after hatching, one wonders what will happen in this case.

     It will be very interesting to keep an eye on the progress of the nest, all the while hoping for a successful outcome.

RIM Park, Waterloo, ON

     We are permitted out for exercise purposes so a visit to RIM Park, a large area alongside the Grand River, seemed like a great choice.

     A few other people were visiting the park, but mostly we were not in close proximity to anyone else.

     Several Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) were circling on the thermals, at times descending to barely treetop height.

     The object of our quest was Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), absent so far this year from familiar spots closer to home, and it was not long before we spotted our first bird carrying nesting material.

     It is generally the smaller male that delivers the building materials to the female who arranges them according to her preference. 

     All around us, the world is greening up, a little more each day.

     American Beavers (Castor canadensis) have emerged from their winter sojourn beneath the ice, and set to work immediately.

     We spotted a Raccoon (Procyon lotor) emerging from a hole in a tree, where it had perhaps been enjoying an afternoon nap.

     It climbed up the tree, showing considerable versatility and skill as it shimmied up vertically.

     It kept a watchful eye on us, but seemed unconcerned, knowing no doubt that it had the upper hand, secure on the tree, and able to escape its human observers if it needed to.

     We were quite entranced and enjoyed about ten minutes of observation before the Raccoon came back down to the hole, inserted itself in, rear end first, and glanced back at us before disappearing from view.

     Miriam is always behind the camera, but today I grabbed it, and she posed for a picture.

     At the entrance/exit to the park there is a working farm and recently the fence has been replaced around the orchard.

     That is a serious fence! Seems to me it would keep out a herd of bison!

     RIM Park is a large complex and in addition to the natural areas is home to skating rinks, other sports facilities and multi-purpose rooms of various kinds. The parking area for the buildings has for several years hosted a couple of pairs of breeding ospreys.

     And when two birds get together at this time of the year, anything goes!

     After all there has to be a reward for delivering those sticks!

     Better scan the area for more branches and earn a repeat performance. 

     We concluded that we saw at least three birds, possibly four, but we were unable to determine the makeup of the pairs. This male came in with a fish and perched a short distance from the nest.

     As often happens, it began to devour the head.

     Miriam managed a shot showing the zygodactyl feet of this species, equipped with a reversible outer toe permitting the fish to be held with two toes forward and two toes back, and spicules on the soles to lock into slippery, thrashing prey.

     When the male was sated the fish was delivered to the female on the nest, the male descending into the wind.

     We had just witnessed one male leave the female at the nest following copulation, and one wonders about a second male delivering food, and what clandestine rewards awaited him. Fish with benefits perhaps is the maxim at this nest! We did not tarry to find out! 

Conestogo, ON

     In nearby Conestogo a pair of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) has successfully nested for several years, and it appears that they are raising young again this year.

     The nest is a considerable distance from the road, and the pictures reflect this.

     We assume that by now the young are in the nest and are being fed by both parents.

     It is always a thrill to see this magnificent raptor.

Any Day in our Front Yard

     The moment we leave the house, the joyful sound of a male House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) rings in our ears, from high atop the American Linden (Tilia americana) that dominates our front yard.

     The song has been described as a "slow or disjointed jumble of musical notes". I am not persuaded that it is a "disjointed jumble" but it is without question musical, and very appealing to my ears, evoking intense pleasure on hearing it,

     When I hear birds sing, I am reminded of the words of Charles Hartshorne, American philosopher and bird lover who wrote:

"..... birdsong is recognizably musical by all basic human standards. It has nice bits of melody, charming rhythms, even bits of harmony (for birds, unlike us, can sing contrasting notes simultaneously); it has obvious examples of theme with variations, near examples of accelerando and rallentando, crescendo and diminuendo, internal inversion, even change of key and tempo contrasts, as, for instance, when the same pattern, e.g., a trill is given at half or double speed."

    Pay close attention next time you hear a bird sing and perhaps you will note some of this. A concert awaits you at the dawn of every day. And it won't cost you a cent. Encores are guaranteed!

A Sleeping Woodpecker and other Treats

      As travel continues to be severely restricted in the Province of Ontario, I am presenting once again tidbits from several local excursions.

11 April 2021, Benjamin Park Trail, Waterloo, ON

     As I have mentioned before, this trail is directly behind our house, and we have walked it scores of times over the years, in all its seasons.

     We came across this female Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) asleep on a branch, head tucked into its scapulars.

     We observed it for a few minutes until it awoke from its slumber and moved upwards ever so slightly.

     Perhaps a nearby male had something to do with it, perched on a stout branch with its stiffened tail feathers acting as a prop.

     This closeup of the zygodactyl configuration of a typical woodpecker foot (toes 2 and 3 forward, 1 and 4 backwards) is not the clearest illustration I might have hoped for, but it will serve the purpose.

13 April 2021, Benjamin Park Trail, Waterloo, ON

     It is rarely that we walk along this trail without seeing and/or hearing several Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis). This male was doing his best to impress a female, but at the time we observed she was having none of it.

     Eastern Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) have recently emerged from their hibernacula where they have spent the winter months below the ground, and we were very happy to see our first individual of the spring.

     These delightful snakes are harmless and should be left alone to go about their business, occupying their role in a healthy ecosystem.

     We were careful not to startle it with any sudden movement and it remained in position for several minutes, finally entering the narrow creek and swimming across to the opposite bank where it disappeared into the undergrowth.

     There were Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus) aplenty, including this handsome male.

     But the flickers that put on a show for us were two males, that we initially thought were a male and a female engaged in courtship displays.

     There was much head bobbing and ritualized shaking of the body and thrusting motions, with tail fanned.

     You can see the second bird, which we had concluded was the female, wedged in the fork of the tree. The individual on the left always seemed to initiate the movements, followed by an almost identical response from the other.

     Gradually the bird at the right emerged from its protected position, clearly revealing itself to be a male, and the posturing continued, but we never saw actual contact.

     Abruptly one bird flew off, and we observed what appears to be the cause for the dispute between two males.

     We are not sure whether possession is nine tenths of the law, or whether at some point one male acknowledged defeat in some manner lost to us, but no challenge was mounted once one male claimed the nest cavity.

     We watched this activity for close to fifteen minutes and were fascinated to witness behaviours we had not previously been privilege to, having seen hundreds of flickers over the years. 

      Between the Garter Snake and the flickers our day was capped with the seal of excellence.

     Our first Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpurea) of the year, a handsome wine-dipped male, was the olive in the martini, so to speak.

     A Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is an early bloomer and we were treated to a magnificent display.

14 April 2021, Lakeside Park, Kitchener, ON

     Today found us at Lakeside Park in Kitchener. We have two good friends whose homes back onto the park and under normal circumstances we could have dropped by for a visit, but COVID kills those opportunities. Damn this pandemic!

     A Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) was not concerned about COVID but nevertheless showed a great reluctance to show itself well and get close to us!

     A pair of Pied-billed Grebes (Podilymbus podiceps)

was courting out on the lake, but we were never quick enough with the camera to capture them together.

     Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) was the dominant picid and I don't think we were ever out of earshot and we saw several.

     It was very agreeable to see our first Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) hauled out on a log to catch the warming rays of the spring sun.

     The subject of urban tree cover and the range of species in a city is the subject of great debate in recent times, and the City of Kitchener is aggressively attempting to restore natural balance to the areas under its jurisdiction, an action to be greatly applauded.

     This Big-toothed Maple (Acer saccharum grandidentatum) looked like a monster tree that surges menacingly through the forest in an animated film for children.

     It has awakened from its winter slumber and is welcoming spring as it always does, and I suspect it will not be trundling anywhere!

     There were many pleasant side trails that invited exploration.

     Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a handsome bird that evokes the ire of many.

     It is not native to North America, but it was deliberately introduced by nostalgic immigrants and has thrived in ways that no one might have imagined.

Unfortunately, it is an aggressive species and fights tenaciously for nesting cavities and is adept at supplanting native species.

     Cavities are in short supply, and once a pair of starlings has successfully taken up occupancy they are impossible to remove.

     We witnessed a ferocious tussle going on between a pair of starlings and a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers over a cavity which the woodpeckers had excavated.

     There was no clear victor at the time we left, but neither side appeared ready to concede defeat.

     There are starling haters who despise them with a passion so intense it is hard to accept. I am not one of them, but I freely confess that I hope the woodpeckers maintained the home they had worked so hard to create.

     House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is another species introduced into North America by early acclimatization societies, and it too has become ubiquitous across much of the continent. It is equally proficient at displacing native species and represents a serious threat to Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) among others.

     A pair has claimed this nest box.

     I know you are all waiting for my next example of avian feet - so wait no more!

     Here is the palmate configuration of a male Mallard (Anas platyrynchos), with toes 2, 3 and 4 fully webbed, with 1 (the hallux) facing backwards. 

     And to enhance your pleasure even more, I present the foot of a female, and you also have a wonderful view of the speculum.

     How lucky can you get?

     I think that the drake had had enough of this voyeurism and sat down to conceal his feet from my prying eyes!

14 April 2021, Waterloo, ON

     Less than ten minutes from our home, behind the local library, a pair of Western Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) has successfully raised young for years.

     One might be forgiven when driving by to conclude that they have returned this year, but a close examination reveals that it is a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) that has been frequently seen.

     Ospreys have been reported from several locations but there has been no sign of them here, and I am wondering whether we are going to enjoy their presence this year. I am sure that a pair of ospreys would have no difficulty driving off a Red-tailed Hawk.

17 April 2021, Benjamin Park Trail, Waterloo, ON

     The trail was exceptionally quiet today, but just before actually entering it, we were happy to first hear, and then locate, our first Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) of the year.

     We expect them soon to be a fixture in our backyard.

     To miss an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) at this time of year I think you would have to walk blindfolded with your ears plugged!

     Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is always stately and beautiful.

19 April 2021, St. Jacobs, ON

     We decided to drive into the country a short ways and have our coffee and muffins there.

     A Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) doubtless approved of our choice and sang to us for a while.

     A Red-tailed Hawk meantime, scanned the terrain to see what might be on the menu for its mid-morning snack.

     A kind bird lover had hung a ball of suet on a tree and a Downy Woodpecker was taking full advantage of it.

     A Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) had also found food to its liking.

     A couple of farms along Three Bridges Road have erected substantial structures to attract Purple Martins (Progne subis) and I have no doubt that the owner of this condominium was happy to see a pair checking out the accommodation.

     Ironically the focus of our attention for a good part of the time we were out was the presence of two church services that were total contrasts in social and civic responsibility.

     The local Mennonite community, that rejects the trappings of what we would refer to as civilization, does not have the option to conduct on-line religious observance, so worship has of necessity to be actual.

The elders of the Old Order Mennonites have been in consultation with the local health department and have come to an arrangement to conduct open air services in a safe manner.

     Families are required to stay together and they may sit in their buggies and participate in worship in the same manner as they would indoors.

     We noticed that even when the Mennonites hitched their horses, they were led singly, and spacing was maintained so that members of different families did not come into close contact with each other.

     This behaviour was in total contrast with Trinity Bible Chapel, a local bastion of right-wing Christian extremism, that has defied COVID restrictions on assembly from the very beginning.

     The church has already been fined many thousands of dollars, yet continues to conduct services in total defiance of provincial regulations. The Attorney General of the Province of Ontario sought to have the doors barred, but this request was denied by a local judge, pending further clarification, and the case is due back in court.

     As you may see, there is no shortage of parishioners willing to flout the law and join with their pastor in this act of civil disobedience, and utter disregard for the health and well-being of the community.

     When the congregation left the church there was not a mask in sight.

     All of these people have been exposed to each other and are now going out into the community to potentially infect innocent citizens who are doing their best to ensure the safety of themselves and their neighbours. If the conduct of this group is not the very definition of a super-spreader, I am not quite sure what is.

     

     It is beyond my level of comprehension that people who are perhaps rational in other aspects of their lives will participate in conduct that is clearly reckless, not only to themselves but to the community at large.

     What we witnessed was the end of the first service, the second was about to take place.

     It is sheer madness, and I hope the authorities can shut down them down soon. Believe whatever you want, but don't inflict the folly of your stupidity on your fellow Canadians. Your conduct is nothing short of obscene.