The Land Between Charity is helping to install two receiver towers to help track bird (and animal) movements. This will support migration research and help bird conservation initiatives.

In these days of technological progress and advances, we at the Land Between look to embrace new and exciting ways to fuel conservation efforts in all aspects of our fieldwork. Be it using apps to input data instead of writing them on paper or using live video feeds to showcase the happenings within our office instead of daily newsletters, we acknowledge that certain technologies help to create a more connected and conserved world. As ambassadors to conservation science and a world with less human impacts, we strive to create a more connected and conserved world by staying current with these advances. As such, I would like to take this moment to tell you about an exciting project we are working on which is a relatively new expansion into the world of animal tracking; Motus towers.

Motus, coming from the Latin word for “motion”, is the name of a wildlife tracking system which uses a receiver and antenna affixed atop a tower to track the movement of animals tagged with special radio transmitters. This system allows researchers to consistently track animals (mostly birds), without the need to handle them on the ground after their initial capture. This program, run through Birds Canada, is one of the largest migratory animal tracking networks in the world. The network encourages collaboration between scientists and with conservation groups.

The Motus transmitter tags are extremely small. At around 0.2 grams, the smallest tags can be attached to dragonflies. In order to deploy the tags, the animal must be captured to take initial information (such as age, sex, weight, etc.) and affix the tag. 

Most tags are affixed via harnesses, but some are glued onto the skin or inserted into the animal via a small incision. Each method of affixion has its pros and cons in terms of animal care, but the more permanent options provide the longest tag retention and as such, the longest data transmission. All tags are composed of a transmitter and antenna, with the antenna extending freely off the rear of the animal to ensure no impact on daily life (see picture to right).

The tower itself is composed of a mast with one to three antennae, all of which face different directions and have a detection range of 10-20 kilometers based on antenna. These antennae pick up the transmitter signal from any transmitter that enters the 10-20 kilometer range, as long as the animal crosses the direction the antenna is facing. The information from the transmitter is then relayed into a receiver on the tower, which stores the information until it is downloaded. These towers can be outfitted with a solar panel and battery, or attached to a permanent power source to ensure constant power, and some can even have internet or cell tower capability to remotely send the data obtained instead of needing a technician to go to the tower to download the data every few months.

Since it began in 2012, Motus has extended to4 of the 7 continents, with 917 receiver stations and 323 projects using Motus towers (https://motus.org/data/numbers). In Ontario there are more than 50 receiver stations supporting several different projects, but there is a notable gap of receivers within Central Ontario. We are excited to announce that The Land Between is now working to extend the Motus tower network by placing two new towers within our bioregion!

These towers will help support existing projects by tracking the movement of birds-at-risk such as the Common Nighthawk, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Loggerhead Shrike, and the Grassland Sparrow. While we will not be tagging these birds ourselves or conducting our own project (perhaps in the future!), our towers will receive signals from birds tagged  from other projects. Think of our towers as supplemental data in areas these projects could not afford to place towers. Because of the cost of towers (upwards of $10,000 if fully outfitted with the best gadgets) we will strategically place two towers in areas where there are gaps in coverage. This will benefit all projects whose tagged animals will cross near our towers, and therefore help inform migration research.As you can see from this picture (where yellow dots represent receiver locations), there is a significant gap in receivers in our bioregion (red outline). We are hoping that by placing our two towers, we will help fill in that gap and that others will follow suit.

Due to the high precision of these towers, as well as the ability to track animals in their area 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with little to no human disturbance, the Land Between sees Motus towers as a positive step towards a non-invasive, animal tracking world.

To learn more about Motus towers, please visit motus.org or feel free to contact us at info@thelandbetween.ca if you have any questions or have observed a species-at-risk bird on your property!

This majority of funding for this project is being supported by the Community Nominated Priority Places Project of Environment Canada and Climate Change, and by generous donors. Not all costs are fully covered- To succeed we need your help! If you can help us, in any amount, we would be very grateful! Visit www.thelandbetween.ca to donate.

Written by Xavier Tuson and Emma Halupka

References:

All images take from motus.org

With recent (since fall of 2019) changes to fish and wildlife and environmental protections in Ontario, including changes to fundamental procedures within the Endangered Species Act, changes to the Conservation Authorities Act, and undercutting of rights of the public and municipalities to protect features in their neighborhoods and communities through unilateral Provincial Ministerial Zoning Orders, the health of Ontario’s wildlife, ecosystems and ecosystem services are threatened. The erosion of the precious little of nature left in southern Ontario, then threatens our wellbeing- in the form of undermining secure food supplies; clean water; pest and disease control and also mental wellbeing – and which functions and benefits are only possible at necessary scales through nature’s processes.

And despite public outcry, more and continued cuts to protections and rights have continued. This is an excerpt of the latest news from the Canadian Environmental Law Association:

CELA Concerned Tribunal Amalgamation Will Undermine Access to Justice CELA recently presented to Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly on Bill 245, Accelerating Access to Justice Act 2021. Schedule 6 of the omnibus Bill, if enacted, will amalgamate five tribunals into a single tribunal which will be known as the Ontario Land Tribunal (“OLT”). Schedule 6 also sets out a number of new procedural and substantive provisions in relation to OLT proceedings. Schedule 10 of the Bill proposes a number of amendments to several provincial environmental laws, including the elimination of existing rights of appeal to the Minister under the Environmental Protection Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, and other statutes. CELA has recommended that Schedules 6 and 10 of the Bill be withdrawn. A more detailed analysis of the brief can be found on our website.

We are seeking turtle-monitors for summer 2021 and here is why…

It can take up to 60 years for one turtle to be replaced in nature. Turtles are keystone species that support entire ecosystems- and also the fish and wildlife within them.   Turtles cannot be relocated to new areas to repopulate areas as they imprint their home ranges when they are hatchlings and they cannot remake these “mind maps” of their feeding, hibernation and mating sites. When turtles travel in their home ranges, the younger turtles are eating carrion and other protein which helps to keep water free of harmful pathogens, and the older turtles are consuming seeds and vegetation, so as they walk to the next destination, they spread seeds which grow into new fish nurseries and habitats for wildlife. Without turtles in our environments, our health and wellbeing are at risk. Turtle populations are declining at unprecedented and unsustainable rates- It is estimated that more than 50% of turtles have been lost in Ontario already.  The major threat to turtles is road traffic and resulting injury or mortality. This summer Turtle Guardians are partnering with Peterborough and Haliburton County Road Departments to enable volunteers to monitor high mortality/road-crossing areas; and assist turtles in trouble, in these zones…saving essential species in our communities while building skills to help turtles everywhere! Training, including turtle ecology, safety protocols, identification, and safe-handling skills will be provided to volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering please complete this form. Thank you for your interest

Please submit your resume and cover letter to Leora at info@thelandbetween.ca

 

Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) are the most easily recognizable birds we have here in The Land Between (beyond, perhaps, BlueJays), and we think you might agree they are the “cutest” birds here. They are curious, energetic, and downright acrobatic!

Earning their names from both the black “cap” on their heads, and their chicka-dee-dee-dee call, Black-capped chickadees are among the most common and wide-spread bird species in Canada. Their range spans every province and territory except Nunavut, and includes the majority of the northern United States and Alaska.

Black-capped Chickadees live in a wide range of habitats from forests to suburban backyards, essentially anywhere there are trees or woody shrubs and a source of food. Black-capped Chickadees are among the easiest birds to attract to a feeder, eating sunflower seeds, peanuts, suet, and other offerings. When foraging for their own food, they will eat various insects, seeds and berries.

Black-capped Chickadees nest in cavities in dead standing trees or rotting logs. They often excavate and expand existing natural cavities, or take over old woodpecker cavities. They will also use nest boxes when they are provided. Female Black-capped Chickadees ensure the nest is nice and comfy for their offspring by creating a bed of moss, animal fur, or other soft fibers. Females lay 1 egg a day, laying 6-8 eggs, and incubate them for 12-13 days.

To add to their already well deserved appeal, here are 7 additional facts you may not know about Black-capped Chickadees:

1. They Have AMAZING Memories

Black-capped Chickadees will often hide or cache their food to consume at a later date. According to researchers, these birds can remember thousands of food hiding places and can maintain this level of recall for over 28 days! What’s more, it has been discovered that these birds have the ability to discard old neurons in their brains and replace them with new ones, therefore, allowing them to create space for additional important information as they age.

2. They Have a Very Rigid Pecking Order

Pecking order may be a term that you associate with chickens or even at work. If you have heard of a pecking order in the realm of business or employment your understanding of the term would be correct -a pecking order is a hierarchy within a flock of birds and, in this case, it relates to Chickadees. In the pecking order of Chickadees, the more aggressive an individual is, the higher or further along the pecking they are. Individuals at the top of the pecking order earn better access to food and safer places to occupy within the shrubs and territories where the group is colonizing. Adults also typically pair and then mate according to pecking order, with the highest ranked male pairing with the highest ranked female, and so on. Individuals will continue to vie for better spots in the pecking order, and therefore mating pairs may change and evolve as individuals outcompete and displace others.

3. They Communicate With About 15 different Songs and Calls

Black-capped Chickadees have several other calls in addition to the highly recognizable call for which they are named “chicka-dee-dee”. One call sounds like a high pitched “see” which is used to warn others of an approaching predator. When others birds hear this call, they freeze and do not resume their activity until an “all clear” chicka-dee call is heard. Black-capped Chickadees will also emit a “gargling” call when a bird of a lower rank comes too close to a bird of a higher rank. A personal favourite is their ““hey sweet-ie” song which also sounds like “cheese-bur-ger”. This song has caused some staff at The Land Between to refer to Black-capped Chickadees as “the cheeseburger birds”.

To hear these and other calls, check out the Black-capped Chickadee page at allaboutbirds.org here.

4. The More dees in a Chicka-dee-dee Call, the Higher the Threat Level

The chicka-dee-dee-dee call is used to warn others about predators and threats. The greater the number of dees in the call, the greater the threat is.

5. They Provide an Important Form of Natural Pest Control

Approximately 90% of a Black-capped Chickadee’s diet in the summer is composed of insects, many of which are considered pests in forests and orchards. Included in the summer diet of the Black-capped Chickadee are caterpillars, weevils and lice, the eggs, larvae and pupae of various other insects, caterpillars and spiders.

6. It is the Official Provincial Bird of New Brunswick

The Black-capped Chickadee has been the official provincial bird of New Brunswick since 1983. It was also in the running (top 5) to be Canada’s Official Bird in 2016, but lost out to the Canada Jay. Other official provincial birds include the Steller’s Jay (British Columbia), the Sharp-tailed Grouse (Saskatchewan), and the Common Loon (Ontario).

7. They Know How to Handle the Cold

In an effort to conserve energy at night, Black-capped Chickadees will drop their body temperature by 10-12 degrees below daytime temperatures. They will also “lift” their feathers, puffing them out away from their bodies to trap warm air close to their bodies.

Each animal in your neighbourhood has a unique way of navigating the world and communicating within the world. Get to know more birds and wildlife in The Land Between by volunteering for a Citizen Science program, watching our webinars, or simply observing nature in your immediate area.

 

Sources:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/overview

 

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-capped-chickadee

 

https://www.hww.ca/en/wildlife/birds/chickadee.html

 

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Birds/Black-Capped-Chickadee

 

https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/encyclopedias/fauna/birds/black-capped-chickadee.html#:~:text=Description%3A,dark%20grey%20with%20white%20edging.

 

Unprecedented numbers of turtles have been “frozen” due to unusually cold weather in Texas. When the temperature of the ocean approaches 4 Degrees Celsius, turtles become stunned- They are alive but not able to move. Over 5000 turtles were recovered from beaches and brought to shelter by volunteers- and despite the may hardships faced by local volunteers due to snow storms and power outages, and which has included having no gas or potable water . Despite these obstacles countless people have been lending a hand to the turtles.Read about the story here

We want to do our part and support the amazing work of Texas charities and communities. We want to help the turtles recover and be cared for before they can be released (when the water is warmer). Supplies, utilities and food will be required. Therefore, we are walking for Texas Turtles!

Turtle Walks have been held since 2018- after The Land Between charity and Turtle Guardians (the charity program) declared a turtle crisis in Ontario, because unprecedented warm and wet weather on weekends meant that there were ten times the amount of turtles killed on roads that counted in any previous year for ten years! It can take up to 60 years for one turtle to replace itself in nature, and therefore, these numbers were devastating.

Each year the walk attracts kids, families, and nature-lovers who dress in turtley cool costumes, make and hold up creative turtle conservation signs, and who walk down main streets in turtle country (Ontario’s Highlands also known as The Land Between). The walks are  held during the peak nesting season for freshwater turtles in Eastern North America which falls between the end of May to mid June. It is at this time that more turtles, and mostly female turtles, are crossing roads, on road shoulders and are vulnerable to road traffic. Walkers raise pledges and the funds support the Turtle Guardians T-5 Campaign- a prevention and cure initiative to install turtle underpasses/tunnels, signs, and to support local wildlife rehabilitation centres including sending funds to the Ontario Turtle Trauma Centre.  In 2020 the walk was altered for COVID-19 and people walked in their own neighborhoods or stood on their lawns to warn vehicles that turtles were on roads.  This year people will also be walking in their communities to show they care. They will be raising pledges for each mile/kilometre that they walk or donations overall, and they will track their steps using smart apps and technology. Walkers also take pictures to share with us, and have them posted in our annual walk albums and on social media. However, in 2021, all pledges will be directed to support charities and nonprofits in Texas, to help them care for the sea turtles that have been debilitated by cold water temperatures, until they can be released back to the ocean when tides are warmer.

You can register for a 2021 Turtle Walk here to let us know that you are walking for turtles, and then we can send you your sticker and certificate! If you do, we thank you for helping our turtle friends!

If you wish to donate directly to the Texas Turtle cause, please go to: https://seaturtleinc.org/

Invasive Phragmites is a large grass-like plant that is taking over Ontario’s wetlands and reducing biodiversity. The plant colonizes ditches, bays and wetland pockets. It grows in such thick mats that turtles, frogs, and other animals cannot move through their native habitats. The plant is also tall, and blocks sight lines along roadsides. In the spring Phrag Fighters locate areas where the plant is growing and harming local habitats. Then, as are part of a team of 3-4 people, Phrag Fighter teams adopt one or two wetland areas where they are responsible for removing the invasive plant using best practices (so that the seeds don’t spread). Phrag Fighter teams go out between one and three times each summer between June and early August to spade the plants, bag them in dark bags, and transport them to locations or landfills to be deposited.

We offer Phrag Fighter workshops to help train volunteers, who are important defenders of these vital habitats: The first workshops teach Phrag Fighers how to identify the plants, record locations of the plants in EDDMaps. The second teaches how to remove the plants using the best practices which help to stop the spread of the plant. Phrag Fighting is hard work but also fun and rewarding!

Join individually or as part of a Phrag Fighter team-   Join a Phrag Fighers here

Sign up for a workshop. See our events pages for details.

Phragmites australis australis, otherwise known as European Common Reed or Invasive Phragmites, is a fast-spreading, perennial aquatic grass found growing in wetlands, shorelines and roadside ditches. This aggressive plant crushes biodiversity by outcompeting our native plants. In 2005, Invasive Phragmites was named Canada’s worst invasive plant species by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada.

What Does It Look Like?

Invasive Phragmites is a tall (up to 5 meters), densely growing grass. It has broad, flat, blue-green leaves and purple-yellow plumes (flowers) that grow on the end of each stalk. Stalks produced in previous years are brown-yellow and stay standing for many years after they die. For more information on how to identify Invasive Phragmites, as well as information on how to distinguish Invasive Phragmites from the closely related native Phragmites, visit the Phrag Fighter page of our website and watch the Invasive Phragmites Surveying webinar.

Where Is It Found?

Invasive Phragmites can be found all across Ontario, with stands reported as far north as Sudbury. Check out this EDDMapS Ontario map for a snapshot of its distribution across Ontario (and the rest of North America).

How Does It Spread?

According to the NCC, Invasive Phragmites spread by nearly 30% between 2010 and 2017 in Ontario. This figure is likely an underestimate, as Phragmites stands are known to be underreported in regions such as The Land Between.

Invasive Phragmites spreads easily to new areas through both seed (2000+ seeds per flower) and rhizome (underground horizontal stem) fragment dispersal (Short et al. 2017). The plant’s rhizomes often become damaged as a result of improper maintenance techniques. The fragments are then spread by the wind, animals, or human movement (cars, shoes, etc.).

New stands of Invasive Phragmites often establish first in disturbed areas such as roadside ditches or recent construction sites, and then spread quickly into nearby, less disturbed areas such as lake shorelines and wetlands (Short et al. 2017).  

Why is it a Problem?

Invasive Phragmites is a problem for several reasons. First, it has detrimental impacts on biodiversity and the natural environment. Establishment of the invasive grass in an area often results in the elimination of most other plant, animal and insect species. The aggressive plant outcompetes most all native plants, producing dense stands that make areas completely unsuitable for the turtles, amphibians, birds and other animals that depend on beech, wetland and shoreline habitats.

Further, the rhizomes (root systems), which account for the majority of the mass of the plant (up to 80%), can grow to be so large and so dense that they block water channels, and slow or redirect runoff, increasing the risk of flooding in some areas (Short et al. 2017)

Invasive Phragmites also poses a significant threat to human health and well-being. Able to grow as tall as 5 meters, Invasive Phragmites can block driver site lines along roadways, and ruin aesthetic lakefront views. The plant can also grow to be so dense that it blocks waterfront access, impeding recreational activities such as boating, swimming and fishing. It also has a significant impact on the economy, with Ontario municipalities collectively spending an average of nearly $3 million per year on Invasive Phragmites management (Vyn 2019).

How Can You Help?

Invasive Phragmites is an undeniable threat, and we here at The Land Between want to do everything in our power to minimize the devastating effects of this invasive species in our region. But we need your help.

Phrag Fighters is a volunteer community science program designed to collect information on where stands of Invasive Phragmites are located across The Land Between, and to remove select stands using manual, accessible methods. By registering as a Phrag Fighter, you will be part of an amazing team of volunteers dedicated to protecting their home, or home away from home, from Invasive Phragmites.

What’s Involved?

The Phrag Fighter program has two parts: Surveying and Removal. Surveying involves reporting and mapping Phragmites stands in an assigned area of The Land Between using either the EDDMapS Ontario mobile app, or provided field sheets. Removal involves cutting one or more stands of Phragmites (according to the specific technique), and properly disposing of the stalks. Each stand will be cut three times throughout the season, once per month from June to August. You can choose to participate in surveying, removal, or both!

Sound like this might be for you? Visit our website to find out more about the Phrag

Fighter program or to register as a volunteer. Once you are registered, you can sign up for one of our live, online training webinars. Dates and details are available here.

 

Sources:

https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/where-we-work/ontario/our-work/stewardship/fighting-phragmites.html#:~:text=Other%20areas%20at%20risk,cent%20between%202010%20and%202017.&text=In%202017%2C%20over%2020%2C000%20square,on%20conservation%20and%20private%20land

 

https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Final-Report-2019-Survey-Results-No-Appendix-A.pdf

https://www.opwg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Summer-2017-Phrag-Research-Report-Humber.compressed.pdf

 

There are 291 species of birds known to breed within the province. Of these 204 species that breed in The Land Between. But over 300 species visit this area. Despite such a large number of bird species that can be seen here, the amount of bird watchers in The Land Between is relatively low. Birding appears to be a “dying” art…but perhaps we can reinvigorate it!

According to Lang Research Inc. (2006), people who view wildlife are slightly more likely to be female (52.9%) and are between 25-54 years old. Of this age range, most are within the 35-44 and 45-54 age range and are more likely to be married with dependent children (LRI, 2006) (CCC, 2011). As of 2013, 25% of Canadian households had bird feeders or houses on their property, and houses with children were 29% more likely to have them (Statistics Canada, 2013). If the household is located within a major urban area, the household is 16% less likely to purchase bird-related products than those in a less urban area (36% vs 20%) (Statistics Canada, 2013). That said, Statistics Canada noted that in households with people aged 25-44 and with no younger or older people, only 12% of these households provided food or shelter for birds (Statistics Canada, 2013).

With wildlife viewing being the second most common outdoor activity in Canada (Birdwatching making up 7.5% of these people), why is it that the number of birdwatchers are so low and the average birdwatcher is middle-aged?

I personally think that it has something to do with the lack of outreach, that we as dedicated birders provide to non-birders. It could also be something to do with the distractions of modern technology or the diminishing amounts of and access to nature. That is why we here at The Land Between are making an effort to reach out and attempt to get people of all ages into the awesome hobby of birdwatching. Not only is it a fulfilling pastime but the region as a natural refuge, provides ready access to so many birds.

Like many other kids growing up, I found myself hooked on collecting things, playing hide and seek, as well as those fun “spot-the-difference” or find the hidden object games we’ve all played at some point or another. Quite frankly, bird watching is no different than those childhood games we all loved. It’s a matter of finding things in nature, sometimes playing hide-and-seek with that tricky Warbler, or sometimes its being able to check off a species observation on your life list. Of course, people bird watch for various reasons; some, to photograph the beauty of our flighted friends, some to see how many species they can find in various areas or over various lengths of time, and some to broaden their understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Whatever your reason to bird watch, it remains an easy to do hobby that opens the world to us.

The daunting task of learning to identify the birds around us can be quite the deterrent for some people who are interested in entering the hobby, but it shouldn’t be the reason they don’t join. That is why we are making an effort to get people into birding within The Land Between. Currently, we have a video on our website of birding basics, as well as a slideshow on how to identify the 25 most common bird species within our bioregion. We are working on a large, “how-to-identify”-video of all of the common and uncommon bird species in The Land Between, which should be on our website in the coming months. After that, we will create another video on the identification of the rare bird species. Phhheww it is a lot of work…but we hope that it can support your interest and help you develop the identification skills you need over many years!

Additionally, we have created a life checklist for The Land Between. To help keep track of what birds are observed, birders use what is called a “life list”. Quite simply, it’s a checklist of species- a form that we use to track whether or not we’ve seen the target bird species. Therefore, to help you keep track of the birds you see in The Land Between, we’ve created a comprehensive list of all 305 species that regularly occupy The Land Between, all in an easy-to-carry field-ready booklet. This checklist breaks down the species into families and is a tri-fold guide so it’s easy to store in a backpack or pocket. Carrying and completing a checklist not only helps keep track of the species you’ve seen, but it transforms birdwatching into a challenge to “complete the list” which can inspire you individually or that you can use as a team contest.

Creating such a list took time! To make the list first, we had to look through all of the 500 or so bird species reported in Ontario, and then narrow them down to species observed within The Land Between. From close to 500 birds, we calculated nearly 350 species for the region. Next, we had to look at observation dates and numbers, to determine whether the observation was a one-time rarity or regularly occurring species. If the species had not been observed within the last 20 years, it was not included on the checklist. This ensured the checklist was smaller and more accurate, which brought us down to 305. As well, if the bird had been spotted recently, but numbers of observations (known as “counts”) were less than 20, the bird was considered a rarity (such as with the Carolina Wren, which is a more southern species that rarely occurs here in The Land Between). These rare birds were given a red dot to indicate their uncommonness. The checklist was then assembled and designed. It is now available for download on our website or for purchase from our online store (if you desire stock quality paper)!

Birdwatching is a rewarding hobby that stimulates your eyes and ears to open to the world around- even in urban areas, birds abound! Before I became an avid birdwatcher, I was not mindful of them, simply because I did not know what species they were or what behaviours they had. However, after learning to identify a few of them and learning a bit about their patterns and movements, I can now understand the “language of birds”- I can foretell if the weather is changing, if there is an owl nearby because of the cackling of crows, that there may be a wetland over the hill, and I can also tell if something is “amiss” in the woods- all from the species and behavior of the birds. Birds can help us interpret and understand the natural world around us. For me, the allure of birdwatching isn’t simply to gather the most species for my life list or to be the best in terms of identification, but it is the joy of learning, exploring and sharing the experiences with others. Sharing the joy in connecting to nature and others is the simple reason we are working to create a more beginner-friendly tools that are easily accessed.  

If you are a new birder, or are interested in learning more about the birdwatching world, please don’t hesitate to watch our videos, visit our website to learn more about what The Land Between has to offer, or book an excursion with us. You can also contact us if you have questions related to birding that you want answered. If you’re a veteran birder or have suggestions for ways to make birdwatching more accessible to people, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at info@thelandbetween.ca with all of your tips and suggestions!

We hope that you use and enjoy our new birding life-list/checklist, and that your binoculars are clear and your enjoyment soars!

Written by Xavier Tuson

 

References:

Carolinian Canada Coalition, EarthTramper Consulting Inc. and Pier 8 Group. [CCC] 2011 (May). Birding in Southwestern Ontario, Premier Birding Destinations and Tourism Marketing Opportunities, Product and Regional Marketing Plan. Prepared for the Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation.

Lang Research Inc. [LRI] (2006). TAMS 2006. Canadian Activity Profile, Wildlife Viewing While on Trips. Prepared for: Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation, Quebec Ministry of Tourism, Travel Manitoba, Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourism Saskatchewan, Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership, Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture, Department of Canadian Heritage, Tourism British Columbia, Parks Canada Agency, Government of Yukon, Government of Northwest Territories.

Statistics Canada. 2013. Canadians and Nature: Birds, 2013. <https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/16-508-x/16-508-x2015001-eng.htm>. Accessed 12 Dec 2020

What is Happening to Our Loons in Ontario?

 

The Common Loon (Gavia immer) is Ontario’s provincial bird and a well-known character in cottage country – its mournful wails and uplifting laughter play the song of summer for many who retreat to the wilderness for peace and relaxation. With their striking appearance, magnificent diving skills (watch this if you have you never seen a loon diving underwater) and the way in which they effortless glide across the water’s surface,  it is no wonder they are often looked upon with awe. It would be difficult to picture Ontario’s wilderness without them as Ontario currently hosts more than one third of the global population of breeding Common Loons. However, it has become known among scientists that something quite troubling has been happening to the loon population in Ontario for many years now, and it may get worse if we continue on the same way.

 A recent study (2020) conducted by Bianchini et al. found that the reproductive success of loons has been on a consistent decline in Ontario. (The decline is by 0.10 six-week-old young per pair per year. The data includes 38 years of observations from over 1500 lakes that were monitored by citizen scientists since 1981 as part of the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, a program run by Birds Canada.) By carefully analyzing long-term reproductive data in conjunction with long-term lake health data, scientists have confirmed that the cause of the decline can be linked to two major factors – acid rain and mercury. Other factors related to human-born disturbances including noise and habitat loss are also leading to decreases. But before we delve into how these factors it is important to understand a little bit about the loon lifecycle.

A Little Bit About Loons

Loons are long-lived species, living up to 30 years in the wild. They typically mate for life, however, some studies say it is for 20 years and therefore some loons may have 2 mates in their lifetime. They like to return to the same breeding grounds in the early spring right after ice-break and will often reoccupy the same lake and nesting area year after year to raise their young. Loons are excellent swimmers but do not fair well on land so they build their nests very close to the water’s edge, often along the shoreline in mats of reeds, mud and sticks where they can hide from mammalian predators on land. Once the young hatch in late June, they can swim virtually immediately but sometimes rest on their parents’ backs to conserve heat and hide from predators such as large fish. After 11-12 weeks, the chicks start diving for their own food, and by the time they are adults, they feed almost exclusively on fish from the lake, diving up to 80 m deep to catch their prey. As with other migratory birds, loons also take off in the fall and head further south to the Gulf of Mexico or towards the east or west coasts of North America for the winter.

As top predators on the lake food chain, loons are highly connected to other animals in a lake ecosystem. For example, when a loon eats a fish it is not just connected to that fish, but also all the food which that fish ate, plus all the food which the fish’s prey ate and so on all the way down the ladder. As such, each time an animal eats another animal, pollutants and contaminants can gather in greater concentrations inside the feeding animal – this concept is called biomagnification. Top predators are highly susceptible to biomagnification because they are at the end of the chain and have consecutively consumed large amounts of pollutants from the organisms below them on the food chain. So how does this all relate to acid rain, mercury and declines in loon reproduction?

 

Likely Causes of Decline in Loon Reproduction Rates

Sulfur oxides from acid rain help feed sulphate-reducing bacteria in lake ecosystems, which then convert mercury into a more bioavailable form, known as methylmercury, for uptake by animals. This process becomes more rapid as climate change increases the frequency and severity of flooding and precipitation events. As a result, lakes that have been exposed to acid rain but are not large enough or do not have enough nutrients, such as calcium, to buffer the acid will turn more acidic. This leads to more methylmercury production, the contamination of aquatic organisms such as fish, and the subsequent contamination of birds, such as loons, who eat the fish. Mercury compromises the immune system and behaviour, making loons spend less time hunting for fish and chicks more susceptible to predators. The acidification of lakes also negatively affects the size of fish populations and the level of biodiversity, leaving less food for loons and their young. Essentially, acidic lakes lead to the contamination of fish and other organisms with mercury, causing declines in these species and cascading effects up the food chain to loons.

Even though air pollution levels (sulfur dioxide) have declined in recent years, many lakes have been slow to recover and thus remain acidic due to little buffering capacity. Climate change only worsens this scenario by warming our lakes and preventing cold water-loving fish species (a food source for loons) from re-establishing. Droughts are also becoming more common and further contribute to the acidification of lakes and the production of methylmercury by re-exposing sulfur in sediments and wetlands. In addition, changes in temperature and precipitation have caused an increase in black fly abundance in the spring which torment chicks and can lead to nest abandonment. Droughts and flooding have also made nest sites inaccessible in some areas. In conclusion, sulfur oxides from acid rain, in combination with multiple climate change stressors, have led to an increase in methylmercury levels in lakes, resulting in lower reproductive rates for Ontario loons.

But acid rain, mercury and climate change are not the only problems. Shoreline development has been cited as a large threat to loons who rely on healthy, vegetated shorelines for nesting and raising their young. Studies have shown that hatchling success decreases as cottage prevalence increases, mainly because disturbed shorelines remove nesting habitat and make loons more vulnerable to predators. Boating can also result in collisions and direct loon mortality, as well as nest abandonment due to disturbance.  Finally, excessive noise and at key times during after nesting season can also lead to nest-abandonment.

Although the Common Loon population is relatively stable in Canada, compared with species that are listed at risk, the decline in their reproductive success in Ontario means a steady decline in their population size over years (Tozer et al., 2013). It is also predicted that there will be a 56% loss in their current breeding range by 2080 as loons head north to evade the effects of climate change (National Audubon Society, 2015).

 

The Decline in Loons Means So Much More

Reproductive success of loons is used as a bioindicator for how healthy lake ecosystems are since loons are at the top of the food chain and rely on a plethora of organisms lower on the food chain. Healthy food webs are needed to successful fledge chicks, therefore declining loon reproduction rates also correspond to declining lake health.

 

How Can You Help the Loon?

A major portion, if not all, of the projected losses of the loon population can be avoided if we take action now. There are many simple steps that the average person can do to support the conservation of loons and restoration of their habitats right in our own backyards!

• Do your best to prevent acid rain. The acidic part of rain comes from sulfur dioxide and mono-nitrogen oxides which get released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels. You can reduce the level of these gases in the atmosphere by opting for more eco-friendly choices such as reducing your gas emissions (carpool, ride your bike or walk where possible instead of driving, paddle your boat when you want to cruise across a lake), saving energy (using energy-efficient appliances and turning off lights and electronics when not in use), or opting for green technologies (solar, wind, and water). You can also support the research of alternative energy sources by donating to energy organizations and charities.
• Participate in monitoring loon populations and become a lake steward. Becoming a citizen scientist is extremely valuable to the work that scientists do – it allows them to learn much more about loon populations on a much larger scale than what would be feasibly possible using just their own resources. You can become a steward on your own lake to advocate for better boating, fishing and shoreline practices at the same time as monitoring loon populations by signing up to be a participant of the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey.
• Be mindful of boating and fishing practices. There have been many reports of loons being killed from colliding with boat motors, especially because loons are diving birds and are therefore more difficult to locate when travelling on the water at fast speeds. If you know there are loons on your lake, do your best to keep your eye out and reduce your speed. Try to avoid areas where you know loons frequent. Large boat wakes can also damage a loon’s nest along the shoreline and dislodge eggs from nests, causing them to be lost in the lake. Reducing your boating speed to under 10 km/h within 30 m of the shoreline can mitigate these risks to loons. In addition, ensure your unwanted tackle, fishing line and plastics are disposed of correctly to avoid loons and other animals such as turtles from becoming entangled and injured.
• Restore your lakefront property. Loons depend on shorelands for nesting opportunities. These areas must be relatively free from human disturbance and should be well-vegetated to provide refuge from predators. Leaving fallen logs in place will also encourage fish (food for loons) to inhabit the area, as well as provide a base for a potential nest. Need help deciding how to restore your shoreland? You can attend a Design Your Own Shoreline Garden workshop or contact us for a site visit. We can help you with a habitat stewardship plan to identify options for loon conservation.
• Keep the trees and shrubs. Natural vegetation within shorelands, and including downed or dead trees, shrubs and even leaves, contribute to calcium levels in lakes. Calcium helps buffer against acidification from acid rain, which in turn helps reduce mercury levels and ensures the base of the food chain in the lake is healthy. Natural vegetation at the shore especially also provides habitat for loons and other declining wildlife such as skinks, salamanders, and songbirds.
• Limit use of fireworks. Loons, like many other wildlife species, are frightened by loud erratic noise, which may lead them to abandon nests and offspring. Silent fireworks are available for sale in the UK- and can be purchased online. Use laser light shows to celebrate events. Alternately choose to celebrate in more developed areas such as community parks. Finally, wildlife is not as vulnerable at certain times of year- especially in the winter.

 Article by Angela Vander Eyken

 Sources:

Bianchini, T., Tozer, D., Alvo, R., Bhavsar, S., & Mallory, M. (2020). Drivers of declines in common loon (Gavia immer) productivity in Ontario, Canada. The Science of the Total Environment, 738, 139724–139724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139724

Evers, D.C., Paruk, J.D., McIntyre, J.W., & Barr, J.F. (2020). Common Loon (Gavia immer). https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/comloo/cur/introduction

Heimberger, E. (1983). The Impact of Cottage Development on Common loon Reproductive Success in Central Ontario. The Wilson Bulletin (Wilson Ornithological Society), 95(3), 431–439.

National Audubon Society. (2015). Audubon’s Birds and Climate Change Report. http://climate.audubon.org/sites/default/files/Audubon-Birds-Climate-Report-v1.2.pdf

Nature Canada. (2015). How much do you know about the Common Loon? https://naturecanada.ca/news/blog/how-much-do-you-know-about-the-common-loon/

Tozer, D. C., C. M. Falconer, and D. S. Badzinski. 2013. The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey 1981-2012: 32 years of monitoring Common Loons as indicators of ecosystem health. Published by Bird Studies Canada. 14 pp. https://www.birdscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CLLSsummary.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sources:

Bianchini, T., Tozer, D., Alvo, R., Bhavsar, S., & Mallory, M. (2020). Drivers of declines in common loon (Gavia immer) productivity in Ontario, Canada. The Science of the Total Environment, 738, 139724–139724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139724

Evers, D.C., Paruk, J.D., McIntyre, J.W., & Barr, J.F. (2020). Common Loon (Gavia immer). https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/comloo/cur/introduction

Heimberger, E. (1983). The Impact of Cottage Development on Common loon Reproductive Success in Central Ontario. The Wilson Bulletin (Wilson Ornithological Society), 95(3), 431–439.

National Audubon Society. (2015). Audubon’s Birds and Climate Change Report. http://climate.audubon.org/sites/default/files/Audubon-Birds-Climate-Report-v1.2.pdf

Nature Canada. (2015). How much do you know about the Common Loon? https://naturecanada.ca/news/blog/how-much-do-you-know-about-the-common-loon/

Tozer, D. C., C. M. Falconer, and D. S. Badzinski. 2013. The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey 1981-2012: 32 years of monitoring Common Loons as indicators of ecosystem health. Published by Bird Studies Canada. 14 pp. https://www.birdscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CLLSsummary.pdf