A Changeable Winter in Southern Ontario

28 December, 2022

Snow in the countryside

     In the days leading up to Christmas and the few days afterwards, a good deal of snow fell in southern Ontario as part of a blizzard that swept over much of the province. Initially many roads were impassable, and some provincial highways were closed, but conditions improved somewhat and we took a drive to gaze at our winter wonderland.

     It was really quite magical, with scene after scene worthy of a picture postcard.

     Snow was heavy on the boughs and the branches of conifers sagged beneath the weight.

     Shrubs and leafless deciduous trees had an icing sugar look about them.

     Snow was king!

     We cast about and searched for Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) while we were out, but had no success. There have been a few reports of birds sighted, but quite sparse, not even approaching the numbers usually recorded by this time of year. 

     It is a cause for great concern that Snowy Owl populations are diminishing rapidly throughout their northern breeding range, where melting permafrost destroys nesting habitat and interferes with the life cycle of Brown Lemmings (Lemmus sibiricus), their principal food, vital to breeding success. 

29 December, 2022

Bechtel Park, Waterloo, ON

     The woods at Bechtel Park are a lovely place to walk, marred ufortunately by the unceasing sound of nearby expressway traffic. 

     If one can shut that out, it is a glorious walk in winter, where a frozen creek adds beauty to the sylvan glade.

     Although it was not evening, it was not a stretch to evoke the timeless words of Robert Frost, "The woods are lovely, dark and deep."

     We find our beauty in woodlands, where nature in its changing seasons provides a far finer decoration than any Christmas tinsel could ever do. 

      What would you rather see, a synthetic bauble on a Christmas tree, or a Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) on the bark of a living tree?

     Why cut down those pine boughs to wither and die, to be tossed aside when festivities end? Left alone in the forest they will provide joy for all, and habitat for myriad creatures.

     I wonder what an Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) thinks of all the bipedal creatures that pass below his home?

     If he knows us well, he does not hold us in high esteem, of that I am sure.

     In Canada alone, a country with a modest population we throw away each year in excess of 500,000 tonnes of wrapping paper, tinsel, bows etc, much of it not recyclable (and what is recyclable is mostly not recycled anyway), and it winds up in the landfill. We do it year after year. Surely there is a better way.

02 January, 2022

At home, Waterloo, ON

     Snow has given way to rain, temperatures have gone from bone-chilling cold to body-penetrating damp, and the ground has lost its insulating coat of snow.

     Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) no doubt enjoy the warmer conditions, but overall it is not good for birds or humans alike.

03 January 2023

At home, Waterloo, ON

     There is something uniquely appealing about nuthatches; perhaps it's their habitat of moving down a tree head first, or simply their visual appeal. We are very fortunate that our two resident species visit our feeders daily.

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)

03 January, 2023

Wellington County, ON

     The following shot, taken on a dull, rainy day gives you a good impression of the extent to which the deep snow of a mere few days earlier has disappeared.

     We were in prime Snowy Owl territory and scanned for them without success. Any birds present would have stood out against a green or brown substrate.

     It was a good day for Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) sightings, but all were quite far off and we were shooting through light rain and mist, so we will not be entering these pictures into the local show!

     In one location, there were four Bald Eagles in one tree, and two more off to the side in another tree. I use this picture only to show you the concentration of birds.

     The weather continues to be unseasonable and miserable, with gloom, rain and poor light. I hope that soon we will return to a normal winter with cold temperatures and bright sunshine. Then we'll get some good shots! I promise!

Northern Cardinal (Cardinal rouge)

      A couple of days ago I was looking out at my bird feeders and a male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) was feeding on the ground on seed knocked down by other species who seem to scatter four seeds for every one they eat.

Northern Cardinal ♂

     It got me thinking about our good fortune in sharing our winter with these birds, and about the various adaptations they need to survive in all seasons, but especially during a Canadian winter that at times can be especially harsh.

Northern Cardinal ♀

     Bird feeders certainly help; birds quickly know where they can reliably find food, and it is particularly important when ice storms and extended periods of freezing rain render natural sources of food (hard enough to find in winter at any time) inaccessible.

     We know that the digestive efficiency of cardinals varies with temperature, with efficiency an average of 16% higher at 25 degrees Celcius than at zero degrees. More food is required at low temperatures merely to maintain core body temperature. Digestive efficiency also varies with the type of food consumed and oil type sunflower seeds are markedly superior at bird feeders.

     Northern Cardinals consume a range of animal matter too with the caterpillars of moths and butterflies being especially favoured during the period of their emergence.

     They will also consume beetles, grasshoppers, ants and a range of other insects, but this rich source of fat and protein is denied them in the winter.

     Cardinals are generally agreeable based on my observations, but if a male has its crest raised it may be signalling aggression or is making overtures to a female.

     One of the highlights of my year occurs when male cardinals start to sing in late February, high atop the bare branches of a tree. Spring may not have arrived according to the calendar, but Northern Cardinals responding to lengthening hours of daylight and the changes that occur in their bodies know better! It is surely one of the most joyful sounds in all of nature and I thrill to it anew every year.

     Females pay attention when serenaded by males, but they are fickle and take their time to select a mate.

     He has to be robust, have vivid red plumage, especially on the breast, and a fine song. The female is anxious to choose a partner who displays all the signs that he will be an attentive partner and a suitable father to her young.

     There is obviously more - much more - to know about these wonderful birds, but it is not my intention to go on at length here. 

     This post was triggered by a simple observation outside my family room window at the peak of the recent blizzard, so let me conclude with a couple more pictures of birds in winter.

    Someone has left black oil sunflower seeds along the rail at Riverside Park in Cambridge, and the male looks in the peak of good health with bright body plumage and a crisp black mask.

     And the female is willing to share with others.

     There are many other species to evoke delight in the winter and we appreciate them all. Thank goodness I learned to love birds - what would my life be like without them?

Book Review - Remnants of Ancient Life - Princeton University Press

      There is perhaps in all of us a subliminal desire to be a paleontologist, or a member of an affiliated discipline, whose daily challenge is to uncover hitherto unknown secrets from the past. Now paleobiologists, armed with an arsenal of ever more sophisticated equipment, and computer algorithms that organize and interpret reams of complicated evidence in mere minutes, experience excitement and anticipation at a level higher than ever before. At times it seems that discovery and new evidence arrives almost faster than it can be processed, and novel inter-disciplinary science with focused specialization proliferates. 

      It was once an accepted article of faith that fossils were composed of rocks and minerals, with not even a hint of molecular evidence. Clearly, this definition is inadequate in 2022, and in a touch of whimsy the author states, "I prefer the definition provided by Britannica Kids: 'Fossils are the remnants or traces of plants and animals that lived long ago." The discovery of biomolecues in deep time illustrates the need for a more inclusive definition of what constitues a fossil.

     Greenwalt has shown himself to be one of an increasing cadre of scientists who espouse the value of communicating complex science to the general public and has mastered that rare skill of making a scientific text easily readable, without losing any of its integrity. 

     As might be imagined, fast-moving science of this nature accentuates the historical rivalries between scientists, academics and their institutions, and internecine quarrels can become vicious, and at times even hinder progress. Reputations are made, at times broken and easily besmirched. Greenwalt does not shy away from this sordid by-product of cutting edge research.

     In addition to the eternal quest for the past and answers to the questions about our own origins, biomolecular research has important implications for progress in climate regulation, medical innovation and a host of other aspects of modern life - "..... the potential for ancient biomolecules to inform us about the phylogeny, physiology, pigmentation, and behaviour of deep time organisms has been a primary and eye-opening theme." Even Martian rovers are hunting for biomolecules in the surface soil, in an attempt to reveal clues as to the presence of life, past or extant, on the Red Planet.

     The book provides a fascinating journey through the very latest in research into the origins of life on Earth, and the ways in which ancient organisms coped with climate fluctuation, catastrophic weather events and other disasters that befell them - all relevant to the warming planet that we occupy today. No one should be intimidated by this highly readable work, and you will advance your knowledge exponentially.

     What better way to start a New Year?

Remnants of Ancient Life - Princeton University Press

Dale E. Greenwalt

Hardcover - US$27.95 - ISBN 9780691221144

288 pages - 5.5 x 8.125 inches (13.75 x 21.25 cm) - 28 black-and-white illustrations - 1 table

Publication date: 17 January 2023

Birds in Winter

      Winter has shown the worst of itself over the past week, so there is not much to report from any one location.This post is a collection of unrelated sightings from a couple of outings, and activities in the backyard where the feeders are well stocked, no matter how deep the drifts or how fierce the wind.

20 December, 2022

Hillside Park, Waterloo, ON

     We enjoyed a pleasant walk with Judy, but photographic opportunities were not great, due at least in part to the wind adding considerably to the frigid conditions and Miriam was reluctant to expose her fingers.

     A Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) is a tiny little bird, weighing from 4 - 7.8 grams, (barely more than a quarter of an ounce at best), yet it survives our winters here - a remarkable feat. For a comprehensive account of its survival strategies see Bernd Heinrich's excellent book Winter World.

     Our only decent shot is a dorsal view unfortunately, but it does show you the crown from which the bird gets its name.

     These birds are not easy to photograph under any conditions; they are constantly in motion and usually partly hidden behind leaves.

     American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) has little difficulty dealing with winter conditions and exploits every opportunity for food and shelter.

     They come into the city at night to exploit its island heat effect and it is a great spectacle to see them streaming in by the hundreds. By the time they have all settled in for the night it is estimated that around 10,000 birds are nestled in the trees.

21 December, 2002

A Drive Through the Hinterland

     We set off to see whether we could find our first Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) of the winter, but failed to do so. In fact, we saw few signs of life at all in the cold and snowy landscape that is southern Ontario.

     A Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) was conveniently perched on a building not far from the road, and showed no intention of moving.

     It had perhaps recently eaten and was was digesting its meal.

     The wildlife may have been absent but the sparkling magic of the winter landscape was there to bring us joy.

23 December, 2022

At Home, Waterloo, ON

     The wind was fierce and we stayed inside where we were snug and warm. There was no such luxury for a Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus), buffeted by the winds, but feeding determinedly on the suet feeder, at times swinging to and fro but tenaciously holding on.

     Who cannot but admire the perseverance and fortitude of birds in winter? 

     Again, let me give a shout out to Bernd Heinrich - "Heinrich is a scientist and naturalist of the first rank, champion ultramarathoner, woodsman of skills, seldom seen in modern times...and a nature writer of uncommon talent," (E.O. Wilson).If you have not read Ravens in Winter you owe it to yourself to do so. 

24 November, 2022

At Home, Waterloo, ON

     In a behaviour for which I have no ready explanation, a White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) - and possibly two - has been showing an inordinate amount of attention to one of the nest boxes in the backyard. It enters at will, sometimes stays in for a while, exits, and frequently re-enters. We obviously don't watch it all day long, but even based on our observations, there seems to be no discernible pattern to the activity. 

     Perhaps the bird is simply seeking shelter from the wind. This nest box, by the way, was used by Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) during the last breeding season, and they successfully fledged four young from it.

     You will forgive that our pictures are not as clear as we might like, but they are taken through a window often coated with patches of snow.

     Here is an extreme case.

     And here is what it looks like when the visibility is a little better.

     More normal behaviour for a nuthatch is to stash seeds for later retrieval, a hedge against hard times when food is concealed beneath snow and ice.

     Perhaps it says, "Thank goodness for bird feeders and kind humans."

     I suspect it does!

     Every day a dozen or more Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) spend much of their time in our backyard. They are generally the first birds to arrive as the darkness yields to the first glimmer of daybreak.

     I strew cracked corn for the Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) but the juncos seem to relish this too.

     Numerically, American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is  the most abundant species.

     Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is also a daily guest; today when topping up the feeders three individuals were present.

     You too can enjoy birds in your backyard, and by simple observation learn a great deal about their lifestyle and adaptations to survival in a Canadian winter.

     Other species visit too, but we were unsuccessful in getting pictures. Perhaps we'll have those for next time.

Merry Christmas

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Happy Hanukkah

 

Happy Hanukkah

Chag urim sameach

     It was especially wonderful to see the giant menorah erected in Kiev; it moved me to tears.

     You may temporarily have the upper hand Mr. Putin, but you will not succeed in repressing freedom and democracy. We will prevail.

Happy Hanukkah to all.