FLORA & FAUNA. Table of Contents

Transcription

1 FLORA & FAUNA Beaver photographed by Doug Ritter Table of Contents Eagle Lake Loon Survey Report 2015 The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey Report Turkey Vultures Selected Bird Species Heronry at Eagle Lake Turtle Species Snake Species Dragonflies & Damselflies Biodiversity at Eagle Lake Eagle Lake Property Owners`Association

2 2 Flora & Fauna FLORA & FAUNA Prometheus moth caterpillar / Photo by Martin Lee Eagle Lake Loon Survey Report 2015 Olivia Culver, Coordinator Although spring water levels in Eagle Lake were high again in 2015, four pairs of loons nested here and two pairs each successfully raised a chick. In the northwestern section of the lake a pair nested on a clump of vegetation in a marsh. When that nest failed, perhaps due to a substantial rise in the lake level after the nest was built, the pair nested again on an island. One chick hatched about July 20th, several weeks later than normal, but grew fast and by late fall was doing well. The pair in the northeastern section of the lake was not so successful. Their nest on an island failed, possibly due to disturbance by nearby nesting Herring Gulls. A third nest was discovered in a clump of cattails that had grounded against a small island in the north-central part of the lake (Figures 1 and 2). It is unknown when the clump had floated in there or if the loon nested before or after the clump grounded there. About a week after this nest was discovered the lake water level rose again, dislodging the cattail clump. It moved on, coming to rest against another island. One egg could still be seen in the nest and adult loons were present in the vicinity, but wave action soon moved the clump on again. It gradually disintegrated and was abandoned. The other successful loon pair nested in a marshy area in the back bay at Parham Landing, where they had a successful nest last year (Figure 3). In spite of the closeness of their nest site to the dock area, they were able to hatch (Figure 4) and raise one chick to maturity. Another loon pair were present in the Curl s Bay section of the lake, but apparently didn t nest. In all, five pairs of loons were present on the lake, four pairs nested, two pairs hatched single chicks and both chicks were doing well in early September (Figure 5). Figure 1. On June 11, 2015, lodged against the shore in the northwestern part of Eagle Lake is a floating clump of cattails (white arrow). Photographed by Olivia Culver. Figure 3. At Parham Landing Bay, a nesting loon turns its egg, June A pair of loons again nested in this area in 2015 and hatched a single chick. Photograph by Doug Ritter. Figure 2. The typical pose of a nesting loon can be seen on the floating clump of cattails depicted in Figure 1. Photographed by Olivia Culver. Figure 4. Newly hatched loon chick from the Parham Landing Bay nesting site on July 5, Photograph by Irv Dardick. State of the Lake Report Update 2015

3 3 Table 1. Record of Common Loon reproduction at Eagle Lake for a 15-year period TOTAL TOTAL Year Pairs Chicks Pairs Chicks Pairs Chicks Pairs Chicks Pairs Chicks Pairs Chicks ? ? ? ? NOTE 1: 1, Northwestern area, surveyed by Olivia Culver; 2, Northeastern area, surveyed by Olivia Culver; 3, Central area, surveyed Bonnie Krotkov; 4, Southwestern area, surveyed by Mary Ritter; 5, Southeastern area, surveyed by Tom Karlson. NOTE 2: Pairs denotes mated territorial pairs present during the nesting season whether or not they were known to have nested. Chicks denotes chicks that survived for at least six weeks to become large young. We now have a fifteen year record of loon reproduction on all of Eagle Lake (Table 1). Over that time period the number of breeding pairs has fluctuated from 3 to 5 and the number of chicks raised each year has varied from a low of 1 to a high of 5, averaging about 3. The over-all breeding success rate per pair over the last 15 years is.70. According to The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey : 32 years of monitoring Common Loons as indicators of ecosystem health [Reference 1], Average annual reproductive success of at least 1 young every other year (equivalent to at least 0.48 six-week-old young per pair per year) is considered good. If reproductive success is above this amount, the number of territorial breeders is unlikely to decline. For all of us who enjoy observing these fascinating birds going about their lives here on Eagle Lake this is good news indeed! We can all do our part in insuring the future breeding success of loons on Eagle Lake by working to preserve the wild parts of the lake, keeping shorelines natural, watching our boat wakes and steering clear of loons, keeping plastics, metals, fishing line, tackle and other refuse out of the lake, and working to reduce large water level changes during the nesting season (May to July). Figure 5. Juvenile loon on September 23, 2015 that had hatched in the northwestern part of Eagle Lake. Photographed by Olivia Culver. Thanks to our Eagle Lake loon surveyors, Mary Ritter, Robert and Bonnie Krotkov, Tom Karlson and Norman and Olivia Culver, we had complete coverage of Eagle Lake again this year for our report to the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, a part of Bird Studies Canada. Eagle Lake Property Owners`Association

4 4 Flora & Fauna The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey Report Despite successes at Eagle Lake, predictive models suggest a gradual future decline in loon populations across Canada. In The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, patterns in Common Loon reproductive success in Canada between 1992 and 2010 have been analyzed with respect to the influence of mercury pollution and acid precipitation [Reference 1]. As noted above, this is measured as the annual number of young loons produced per breeding pair. The Common Loon breeds on lakes throughout most of mainland Canada. Adults can live more than 20 years, but do not obtain a territory and breed for the first time, on average, until they are six years old. They tend to return to the same breeding territory year after year. Food for their young is almost exclusively fish from the nesting lake. One of the main factors restricting loon reproductive success is mercury poisoning. Loons are particularly sensitive to mercury and acid precipitation. Much of the mercury entering Canadian lakes is airborne, some of which results from the burning of fossil fuels, for example. In lake water, mercury is transformed to methylmercury that accumulates in fish and eventually in loons at the top of that particular food chain. As a result of the volunteer lake loon surveys across Canada, it is becoming evident that Common Loon reproductive success is lower in the eastern part of Canada with higher methylmercury concentrations compared to western lakes with a lower concentration of this toxin. Unfortunately, acid associated with rainfall, which lowers lake water ph, promotes the formation of methylmecury exacerbating conditions in eastern lakes. Now, the 32 years of loon breeding data suggests a continuing gradual loss of Common Loon population, in both eastern and western locations, if mercury pollution persists [Reference 1]. Since Canada hosts the majority of the world s loon population, this could have dire implications for this bird species. if there was a way to free this whatever it was. As I looked, it poked it s head out and I saw what this creature was.a bird! Further investigation identified it as a baby turkey vulture. So the question was, now what? I made some phone calls, first to Frontenac Animal Services. Their response was, we only handle domestic animals. My questions about their name and the fact that they serve a rural area where there are wild animals did not yield any more assistance, other than sir, you should call the Humane Society in Kingston. The Humane Society also stated they did not handle animals like this. Strike Two! They indicated I should call Animal Rescue in Napanee. So on to service number three. These folks were slightly more helpful, but indicated they were not staffed to come and rescue the little guy stuck under my cottage. So they gave me instructions as to how I could capture it and bring it to them. In other words, I had to rescue the animal and take it to Animal Rescue. The instructions included things like be sure to approach it from behind; compress it s wings, but not too hard to which I asked, what is too hard? I ve never captured a baby turkey vulture and have no idea how sturdy it may or may not be. Response: just be careful. Oh, and the final piece of advice was remember this is a bird of prey so avoid the talons and the beak..sigh! I went back outside and lo and behold, the baby bird had freed himself (we re going with him for no reason whatsoever) and was standing on our walkway. The photograph you see of him was taken at that moment (Figure 6). All this time, the parent vulture was circling overhead. This was a good sign since it meant the little one was being looked after. However, he was quite unstable on his feet and struggled as he walked. So Inga and I stood there trying Turkey Vultures: Our Experience at Eagle Lake Eric Reynolds Upon arriving from a paddle on a serene cottage day, my somewhat agitated wife informed me that there was something white and furry stuck under the cottage. Indeed there was glimpse of what looked like white fur showing from underneath a panel covering a propane line. As I got closer to inspect, there a hissing sound like that of a cat! Hmm We went on line looking for white furry animals in Ontario. While Inga explored the web, I went back out to see Figure 6. Turkey vulture chick on July 2, 2014 just emerged from below the cottage. Photograph by Eric Reynolds. State of the Lake Report Update 2015

5 5 Figure 7. Maturing turkey vulture on September 2, 2014 after exploring the cottage area (above) and just before ducking under the lattice at the cottage nesting site (below). to decide what to do. This called for a glass of wine! We got our vino and went down to the dock to stay out of the way of the baby and parent, as well as observe their interaction. We decided that these creatures live and die all the time in the wild and that our best course of action was to do nothing. Thus began our summer long adventure of living with a baby vulture underneath the cottage, complete with 4 am feedings from the parent (yes, noisy!) and ongoing observation of it s growth over the summer (Figure 7). Frankly it was a privilege to have witnessed something rarely seen and we will always enjoy the memory. By the way, we ve sealed up the access to the underside of the cottage. One adventure with nature was enough. Turkey Vultures: Curious Facts We see them all summer gracefully soaring over the lake and its country-side, wings outstretched and slightly elevated, riding the thermals (Figure 8). But two sightings of nesting turkey vultures at Eagle Lake in close proximity to cottages the one at the Reynolds`cottage and another on the South Shore Road piqued curiosity. How little most of us know of this large darkly feathered bird with its strikingly naked red head. Although they tend to roost in dead trees, often in reasonable numbers, we rarely see them up close. Figure 8. Adult turkey vulture with typical wing posture while soaring. Turkey vultures generally don t actually build a nest, but simply scrape a bare spot on the ground and lay one to three eggs. Nesting usually occurs on a rock ledge, at the bottom of a hollow tree trunk, in a cave or on the ground in a thicket. Unusual to nest beneath a cottage! Turkey vultures principal food source is, of course, carrion. Intriguingly, both James Audubon (1826) and Charles Darwin (1833) conducted experiments to determine whether vultures found food by sight or smell. Both concluded it was by their keen sight only. It turns out, however, that the two other North American vultures, condors and black vultures, find prey by sight exclusively and that only the turkey vulture has a keen sense of smell and relatively large olfactory organs relative to brain size among birds. Flying low, turkey vultures can detect even low concentrations of ethyl mercaptan, one of the gases produced with the onset of decay in a dead animal [Reference 2]. Vultures, of course, play an essential role in helping keep our woodlands, as well as our roadsides, free of carrion. They prefer mammals, especially herbivores such as deer, but will eat birds, fish, amphibians and even insects. They avoid carcasses that have reached an advanced stage of putrefaction. Vultures have a digestive tract and immune system that we should envy. Not only can they readily digest and tolerate rotting carcasses from sick animals, teaming with a variety of bacteria and viruses, but their excrement is sterile. The acid content of a vulture s stomach is 10 to 100 times stronger than the acid in the stomach of most other vertebrates. Recent investigations of healthy vultures intestinal tract organisms found high levels of Clostridium, an organism causing various severe illnesses (botulism, tetanus and colitis) and death in humans, as well as other animals [Reference 2]. Since turkey vultures generally avoid nesting near civilization, the experience last summer provided an opportunity to learn intriguing facts about this unique bird. Watch for them soaring over the lake. They are more frequent than eagles! Selected Bird Species Steve Burgess The clean, clear waters of Eagle Lake support healthy populations of fish and invertebrates, which in turn, provide a plentiful source of food for many species of birds, some of which we are all familiar with, such as the Common Loon, as well as other, perhaps less well-known species such as the Belted Kingfisher. In this article, you ll find a brief description of some of the bird species which you may encounter at Eagle Lake. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Eagle Lake Property Owners`Association

6 6 Flora & Fauna All About Birds website has been used as the principal source of information in this article [Reference 3]. Common Loon (Gavia immer) Most of us recognize the eerie calls of the Common Loon echoing across Eagle Lake. Every summer, several pairs of Loons can be observed at Eagle Lake diving for fish and raising their young. They are easily identified by their low profile on the water and by their dark heads and the black and white patterning on their backs. Juvenile birds and winter adults are plain grey above and white below. Common Loons spend almost all their time on the water and typically come ashore only to nest. A hungry loon family can put away a lot of fish. Biologists estimate that loon parents and their 2 chicks can eat about a half-ton of fish over a 15-week period. Osprey the eye. Hunting Ospreys are a picture of concentration, diving with feet outstretched and yellow eyes focused on their prey. Ospreys are unusual among hawks in possessing a reversible outer toe that allows them to grasp with two toes in front and two behind. Barbed pads on the soles of the birds' feet help them grip slippery fish. When flying with prey, an Osprey lines up its catch head first for less wind resistance. Common Loon While Loon populations in North America are reasonably healthy, they can be adversely affected by a number of human activities. For example, lead fishing sinkers, which loons ingest when they scoop up pebbles off the lake bottom to store in their gizzards, have been a significant cause of loon deaths from lead poisoning. Because loons normally nest very close to the water s edge, the wakes from motorboats can sometimes inundate nests, leading to egg mortality. As well, because very young loons are unable to dive, they can be killed if struck by quickly moving boats. To avoid these impacts, boaters should keep their wakes to a minimum when close to shore, especially in spring and early summer. As well, give adult birds a wide berth at all times, since young birds may also be close by. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Unique among North American raptors for its diet of live fish and ability to dive into water to catch them, Ospreys are common sights soaring over shorelines, patrolling waterways, and standing on their huge stick nests, white heads gleaming. Ospreys are brown above and white below, and overall they are whiter than most raptors. From below, the wings are mostly white with a prominent dark patch at the wrists. The head is white with a broad brown stripe through Ospreys are excellent anglers. Over several studies, Ospreys caught fish on at least 1 in every 4 dives, with success rates sometimes as high as 70 percent. The average time they spent hunting before making a catch was about 12 minutes something to think about next time you throw your line in the water. The Osprey often builds its nest on manmade structures, such as telephone poles, channel markers, duck blinds, and nest platforms designed especially for it. Such platforms have become an important tool in reestablishing Ospreys in areas where they had disappeared. In some areas nests are placed almost exclusively on artificial structures. Ospreys are a conservation success story. The species' decline was halted by pesticide bans and the construction of artificial nest sites. Osprey numbers crashed in the early 1950s to 1970s, when pesticides poisoned the birds and thinned their eggshells. As natural nest sites have disappeared due to tree removal and shoreline development, specially constructed nest platforms and other structures such as channel markers and utility poles have become vital to the Osprey s recovery. Sadly, a growing cause of death for Ospreys is entanglement at the nest. The adults incorporate baling twine and other discarded lines into their nests. These can end up wrapped around a chick's feet and injure it or keep it from leaving the nest. This is one reason why it is important to properly dispose of used or tangled fishing line. State of the Lake Report Update 2015

7 7 Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) With its top-heavy physique, energetic flight, and piercing rattle, the Belted Kingfisher seems to have an air of selfimportance as it patrols up and down rivers and shorelines. These ragged-crested birds are a powdery blue-grey in colour. Males have one blue band across the white breast, while females have a blue and a chestnut band. It nests in burrows they dig along earthen banks near water and feeds almost entirely on aquatic prey, diving to catch fish and crayfish with its heavy, straight bill. The breeding distribution of the Belted Kingfisher is limited in some areas by the availability of suitable nesting sites. Human activity, such as road building and digging gravel pits, has created banks where kingfishers can nest and allowed the expansion of the breeding range. They are sensitive to disturbance, and may abandon territories if people begin frequenting the area. Belted Kingfisher: female Image courtesy Coastal Living Magazine Belted Kingfishers are common and widespread, but since1966, their populations have declined by an estimated 46 percent. People used to shoot and trap kingfishers, especially near fish hatcheries and along trout streams, to prevent them from killing fish. But hunting apparently did no longterm harm to the population, and has since been outlawed through migratory bird laws. Compared to other fish-eating birds, Belted Kingfishers seem to be relatively unaffected by environmental contaminants, possibly because their small prey accumulates only low levels of toxins. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) The Ring-billed Gull is the common seagull found at Eagle Lake. If you look carefully you ll see a black band encircling the yellow bill, which helps to distinguish adults from other gulls. Ring-billed Gull Ring-billed gulls build their nests on the ground near freshwater, usually on low, sparsely vegetated terrain. They may nest on sandbars, rocky beaches, driftwood, bare rock, concrete, or soil. They often choose sites near or underneath low plants to hide them from aerial predators. Nest sites tend to be used for multiple seasons, by new or returning pairs. Many, if not most, Ring-billed Gulls return to breed at the same colony where they hatched. Once they have bred, they are likely to return to the same breeding spot each year, often nesting within a few meters of the last year's nest site. Many individuals return to the same wintering sites each winter too. Able to thrive on almost any available source of nutrition, Ring-billed Gulls eat mostly fish, insects, earthworms, rodents, grain, and garbage. At Eagle Lake they can sometimes be seen scavenging on dead fish, and often wait for anglers to discard dead minnows, swooping down to pick them off the water s surface. Migrating Ring-billed Gulls apparently use a built-in compass to navigate. When tested at only two days of age, chicks showed a preference for magnetic bearings that would take them in the appropriate direction for their fall migration. The gulls also rely on landmarks and high-altitude winds to provide directional cues. After nearly succumbing to hunting and habitat loss, Ringbilled Gull populations have been increasing since Humans have generally helped Ring-billed Gulls by providing extra foods, including introduced fish, insects and grain exposed on farm fields, and discarded food and refuse. The Ring-billed Gull continues to extend its breeding range, likely fueled in part by the edible garbage available at open landfills. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) Common Mergansers are streamlined ducks that float gracefully down small rivers or shallow shorelines, and are sometimes mistaken for the Common Loon. The males are striking with clean white bodies, dark green heads, and a slender, serrated red bill. The elegant grey-bodied females Eagle Lake Property Owners`Association

8 8 Flora & Fauna have rich, cinnamon heads with a short crest. Mergansers are relatively uncommon at Eagle Lake, but have been seen in quiet bays leading groups of ducklings in search food. Common Mergansers usually nest in natural tree cavities or holes carved out by large woodpeckers. Sometimes mergansers take up residence in next boxes, provided the entrance hole is large enough. On occasion they use rock crevices, holes in the ground, hollow logs, old buildings, and chimneys. Bufflehead: Male & Female Unlike most ducks, the Bufflehead is mostly monogamous, often remaining with the same mate for several years. Common Merganser: Male & Female Image courtesy Young Common Mergansers leave their nest hole within a day or so of hatching. The flightless chicks leap from the nest entrance and tumble to the forest floor. The mother protects the chicks, but they catch all of their own food. They start by diving for aquatic insects and switch over to fish at about 12 days old. The Common Merganser population in North America has been fairly stable over the last half-century. Pesticides, toxic metals, and acid rain can degrade the habitat of Common Mergansers, thin their eggshells, and reduce their prey. Being at the top of the aquatic food chain, this species is particularly susceptible to such effects, and people sometimes use Common Mergansers as an indicator of environmental health. Though they are not prized as a game bird, some Common Mergansers are shot every year either for sport or by mistake. At times they have been targeted for eradication because they were thought to threaten salmon and trout stocks. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) The Bufflehead is a buoyant large-headed duck that dives for its food of aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans and molluscs. Males are striking black-and white from a distance. A closer look at the head shows glossy green and purple setting off the striking white patch. Females are a subdued grey-brown with a neat white patch on the cheek. Bufflehead nest in old woodpecker holes, particularly those made by Northern Flickers, in the forests of northern North America. As such, Buffleheads don t nest in the Eagle Lake area, but have been observed during spring and fall migration. In the early twentieth century Bufflehead had become scarce from overshooting, but they recovered under the protection of the Migratory Birds Convention between the United States and Canada. The Bufflehead s tendency to winter near to shore along coastlines tends to put it within range of hunters. Bufflehead are also losing nest sites as loggers clear-cut boreal forest, and as agricultural fields replace aspen parklands in western North America. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) If someone at a park is feeding bread to ducks, chances are they are Mallards. Perhaps the most familiar of all ducks, Mallards occur throughout North America and Eurasia in ponds and parks as well as wilder wetlands and estuaries, and is the duck most commonly seen at Eagle Lake. The male s green head, grey flanks, and black tail-curl arguably make it the most easily identified duck. Mallards have long been hunted for the table, and almost all domestic ducks come from this species. Mallard pairs form long before the spring breeding season. Pairing takes place in the fall, but courtship can be seen all winter. Mallards normally nest on the ground on dry land that is close to water. Nests are generally concealed under overhanging grass or other vegetation. Only the female incubates the eggs and takes care of the ducklings. The standard duck s quack is the sound of a female Mallard. Males Mallards State of the Lake Report Update 2015

9 9 don t quack; they make a quieter, rasping sound. Mallards, like other ducks, shed all their flight feathers at the end of the breeding season and are flightless for 3 4 weeks. They are secretive during this vulnerable time, and their body feathers moult into a concealing eclipse plumage that can make them hard to identify. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly beautiful of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches. Although sometimes seen in flight over Eagle Lake, Wood Ducks are more commonly seen around the ponds and marshes in the area. Wood Duck: Male Great Blue Heron heron with its subtle blue-grey plumage is commonly seen at Eagle Lake as it stands motionless searching for prey. They may move slowly, but Great Blue Herons can strike like lightning to grab a fish. In flight, look for this widespread heron s tucked-in neck and long legs trailing out behind. Great Blue Herons nest mainly in trees, but will occasionally nest on the ground. Herons normally nest in colonies which can consist of 500 or more individual nests, with multiple nests per tree built 100 or more feet off the ground. Thanks to specially shaped neck vertebrae, Great Blue Herons can curl their neck into an S shape for a more aerodynamic flight profile and to quickly strike prey at a distance. Despite their impressive size, Great Blue Herons weigh only 5 to 6 pounds thanks in part to their hollow bones a feature most birds share. Great Blue Herons in southern Canada have benefited from the recovery of beaver populations, which have created a patchwork of swamps and meadows well-suited to foraging and nesting. Natural cavities for nesting are scarce, and the Wood Duck readily uses nest boxes provided for it. The Wood Duck nests in trees near water, sometimes directly over water. After hatching, the ducklings jump down from the nest tree and make their way to water. The ducklings may jump from heights of over 50 feet without injury. Wood Ducks pair up in January, and most birds arriving at the breeding grounds in the spring are already paired. The Wood Duck is the only North American duck that regularly produces two broods in one year. Wood Duck populations increased between 1966 and 2010, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. This is good news considering their dramatic declines in the late 19th century. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Whether poised on the lake shore or flying with slow, deep wingbeats, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. This Great Blue Heron numbers are stable and have been increasing over the last 50 years. Most populations in Canada are present only during the breeding season. Because Great Blue Herons depend on wetlands for feeding and on relatively undisturbed sites for breeding, they are vulnerable to habitat loss and to impacts such as traffic, logging, motorboats, and other human intrusions that can disrupt nesting colonies. Other threats include chemical pollutants or other causes of reduced water quality. Although contaminant levels have declined in many areas, pollutants such as PCBs and DDT and newer types of industrial chemicals continue to affect heron habitats and can contribute to factors such as reduced nest site attendance. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) With its white head and tail, the Bald Eagle is one of the most iconic North American bird species and is well-known as the national symbol of the United States. While Bald Ea- Eagle Lake Property Owners`Association

10 10 Flora & Fauna gles are most common found along the west and east coasts of North America, they have occasionally been observed in the Eagle Lake area. Canada Geese Bald Eagle Bald Eagles are much larger than most other raptors, including the more common Turkey Vulture. To distinguish eagles from vultures in flight, vultures have much smaller, darker heads than Bald Eagles and they hold their wings in a pronounced V-shape when soaring. They are not steady on the wing and often teeter as they soar, whereas soaring Bald Eagles hold their broader wings flat like a board and are more steady in the air. While adult Bald Eagles are recognized by their white heads and tails with dark brown bodies and wings, immature birds have mostly dark heads and tails. As well, their brown wings and bodies are mottled with white in varying amounts. Young birds attain adult plumage in about five years. Despite their size and fearsome appearance, Bald Eagles scavenge many meals by harassing other birds or by eating carrion or garbage. They eat mainly fish, but also hunt mammals, gulls, and waterfowl. Eagles are well known for their habit of harassing Osprey until the smaller raptor drops its prey in midair, where the eagle swoops it up. A Bald Eagle may even snatch a fish directly out of an Osprey s talons. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) The Canada Goose is the most abundant and widespread goose in North America, and is easily recognizable with its black head and neck, white chinstrap, light tan to cream breast and brown back. Its population has increased substantially in urban and suburban areas in recent years. The Canada Goose does not commonly breed at Eagle Lake, but can be found in the surrounding ponds and marshes, and is most often seen during spring and fall migrations. Canada Geese live in a great many habitats near water, grassy fields and grain fields. Canada Geese are particularly drawn to lawns for two reasons: they can digest grass, and when they are feeding with their young, manicured lawns give them a wide, unobstructed view of any approaching predators. So they are especially abundant in parks, airports, golf courses, and other areas with expansive lawns. The Canada Goose nests on the ground, usually on a muskrat mound or other slightly elevated site, near water. They prefer a spot from which they can have a fairly unobstructed view in many directions. Female selects the site and does much of nest construction. She adds down feathers and some body feathers beginning after the second egg is laid. She does all the incubation while her mate guards her and the nest. (Unless otherwise indicated, all photographs in this section are by Steve Burgess.) Heronry at Eagle Lake Martin & Elizabeth Lee Great Blue Herons have been nesting at the north end of Eagle Lake since They began building their bulky nests in standing dead trees in an area flooded by beavers. We noticed two nests the first year, and more every year until 2013, when there were 13 plus an osprey nest. Unfortunately, strong winds brought down the ospreys support tree, and the young were lost. There were 13 nests again in 2014, but most were abandoned after severe weather, and only one pair raised chicks to maturity. There were 3 active nests in Adult birds are so skittish that it is very hard to approach the nest area. With the least disturbance, they take off and fly around, sometimes lighting on a nearby tree, sometimes back on the nest. Most of the nests seemed to have 2 or 3 chicks (Figures 9 and 10), but we have no idea of survival rates. Great Blue Herons return to eastern Ontario in early March. Courtship and nest building begin in early April with both males and females contributing to the construction or repair of the nest. The parents take turns incubating the eggs with females incubating during the night and males during the day. After hatching, both parents also contribute to the feeding of their young. State of the Lake Report Update 2015

11 seen most often is the Northern Map Turtle with its habit of basking in the sunshine in groups on shoreline rocks or fallen trees angled into the water (Figure 11). Northern Map Turtles are recognized by the low oval upper shell (carapace) with its fine yellow lines that resemble the contours on a topographical map. The carapace may have a low central ridge with a serrated rear edge, features clearly evident in young turtles of this species (Figure 12). 11 A B Figure 9. A. Typical Great Blue Heron nest of dead branches and twigs in the local heronry. B. Three developing Blue Heron chicks in one of the heronry nests. Photographs by Martin Lee. Figure 11. Three northern map turtles of differing ages sunning on fallen tree. Figure 12. Two young northern map turtles about 3 to 4 inches in length. Note the central ridge and rear serrated edge of the upper shells. Parham Landing. The colourful features of the Midland Painted Turtle with its bright red lines bordering the outer edges of its shell and red and yellow markings on the head and legs account for its name (Figure 13). A B Figure 10. A. Great Blue Heron chicks on June 5, 2015 at the local heronry at Eagle Lake. B. Great Blue Heron chicks on June 21, 2015, 17 days later, giving an appreciation of their growth rate. Photographs by Olivia Culver. Turtles at Eagle Lake At Eagle Lake, three species of turtles predominate, Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata), Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographical) and Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) [Reference 4]. Of these, the species Figure 13. Note the red markings on the edge of the carapace and front legs of this Midland Painted Turtle at the Southshore waterfront. Snapping turtles generally only leave the lake when seeking a nesting site in late May or June (Figure 14). So they are most often observed slowly swimming along the shoreline in search of food. Our largest turtle, they are long-lived (possibly to 100 years!), generally weigh in the range of 4.5 Eagle Lake Property Owners`Association

12 12 Flora & Fauna to 16 kg (9.9 to 35.3 lb) and can have a carapace 25 to 47 cm (9.8 to 18.5 in) in length. Figure 14. Ancient looking snapping turtle at Eagle Lake. Photographed by Martin Lee. A fourth species, Blanding s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) with it helmet-shaped dark brown carapace with irregularly shaped yellow dots is infrequently seen at Eagle Lake. One was photographed at the northern part of the lake in 2012 (Figure 15). Figure 15. Blanding s Turtle with characteristic dome-shaped carapace with many small yellow spots. Photograph by Olivia Culver. Snakes at Eagle Lake The commonest snake in our area, generally seen curled or stretched out on rocks, logs and docks, the Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon), can occasionally be found basking on branches of shoreline trees (Figure 16). They are somewhat variable in colour, but generally are brownishblack, darkening with age to become almost completely black. They have dark crossbands on their necks and dark stripes and blotches on the rest of their bodies. They can grow to 1.3 metres (4.4 feet) in length. They do not lay eggs, but give birth to free living young in late summer or early fall. The rare, and only occasional, visitor to Eagle Lake is the Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides), also known as the Black or Eastern Ratsnake. Canada s largest snake, reaching lengths of 2.5 metres (8.2 feet), it made a striking appearance at a local cottage in 2013 (Figure 17). Older, adult individuals become increasingly black with only faint patterning. The Gray Ratsnake has a throat region that is a uniform cream or white colour, a feature absent in the Northern Water Snake. In our region, the Gray Ratsnake is currently listed as Endangered under both the Ontario Figure 17.Climbing skills of a Gray Ratsnake on a screen door. Photograph by Mary Ritter. Endangered Species Act and the Federal Species at Risk Act [Reference 4]. Although one occasionally sees an Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) in our region, a close relative, the Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus) is less often observed (Figure 18). Both snakes are black with three yellow stripes, but the Eastern Gartersnake lacks a small white crescent-shaped spot in front of the eye. The Eastern Ribbonsnake is also more slender and has a longer Figure 16. Two different sized Northern Water Snakes basking on branches of a dead tree at the shoreline at Eagle Lake. Photograph by Lisa Hickey. Figure 18. The narrow bodied Eastern Ribbonsnake. Note the small white spot in front of the eye (arrow in the enlarged inset). Photographed by Martin Lee at a roadside adjacent to a wetland near the Ducharme Road. State of the Lake Report Update 2015

13 13 tail than the Eastern Gartersnake. In addition, the Eastern Ribbonsnake is semi-aquatic and is generally found close to water in wetlands or the shores of lakes and rivers. The specimen illustrated was photographed in the Eagle Lake area. Local Dragonflies & Damselflies In the spring, we have an ally in our annual battle with black flies and mosquitoes, the dragonfly. Some species emerge early in abundance, followed by waves of other species throughout the summer and even into fall. Adult and nymph (the aquatic larval phase) dragonflies eat mainly insects of considerable variety (nymph diet can also include tadpoles and small fish). Since their diet consists of a good proportion of both larval and adult mosquitoes and black flies, dragonflies and damselflies are quite beneficial in cottage country. As a further statement of their value, it has been suggested that an adult dragonfly can eat food equivalent to its own body weight in 30 minutes. Quite a dietary feat! So they and their aquatic habitat need to be protected. The larva of mayflies, stoneflies, damselflies and dragonflies are excellent predictors of lake and stream water quality. A variety of pollutants cause an early marked decline or absence of such insect larva (referred to as benthic organisms) and so can signal a decline in the health of a lake. Sampling streams or lakes for benthic organisms is done by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority [Reference 5]. Table 1. Species of dragonflies and damselflies observed at Eagle Lake from 2012 to Dragonflies Common Baskettail Aurumn Meadowhawk Common Green Darner Cherry-faced Meadowhawk Canadian Darner White-faced Meadowhawk Mottled Darner Ruby Meadowhawk Swift River Cruiser Black Meadowhawk Stream Cruiser Common Whitetail Harpoon Clubtail Widow Skimmer Damselflies Slaty Skimmer Northern Bluet Twelve-spotted Skimmer Stream Bluet Halloween Pennant Vesper Bluet Eastern Pondhawk Taiga Bluet Chalk-fronted Corporal Orange Bluet Frosted Whiteface Familiar Bluet Belted Whiteface Tule Bluet Hudsonian Whiteface Powdered Dancer Blue Dasher Violet Dancer Ebony Boghaunter Sedge Sprite Four-spotted Skimmer Eastern Forktail Racket-tailed Emerald Spotted Spreadwing Fortunately, however, there appears to be numerous dragonflies and a reasonable number of different species at Eagle Lake. In the Ottawa region, the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club has recorded 120 species of dragonflies and damselflies. To date, 38 species have been identified at Eagle Lake (Table 1). Many have intriguing and fanciful names, often referring to some prominent bodily feature or coloration (Table 1). In some species, such bodily features or colours, as well as wing patterns, are particularly striking (Figures 19 and 20), an aspect not readily appreciated as they zoom by the shoreline and around cottages. Males and females of most species differ in coloration or wing markings making identification even more challenging. Commoner varieties of damsel and dragonflies are readily identifiable, but other species require detailed analysis to confirm their identity. A number of excellent field guides are available for this task [References 6, 7]. Images for each of the damselflies and dragonflies listed in Table 1 are posted on our website: Figure 19. Ornately spotted wing pattern and powdery appearing abdomen of a male Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) dragonfly. Figure 20. Male damselflies of Orange Bluet (Enallagma signatum), above, and Northern Bluet (Enallagma annexum), below. Eagle Lake Property Owners`Association

14 14 Flora & Fauna Biodiversity at Eagle Lake Since publication of the State of the Lake Report in 2011, a number of additional wildflower species have been identified, some of which are presented in the following montage plates. The most striking example is the infrequently encountered orchid plant, Large-flowered Purple-fringed Orchis (Figure 21), adding to the five previously identified orchid species at Eagle Lake [Reference 8]. An excellent example of a successful bioblitz is the one held in our region in the summer of 2012 at Otty Lake in fact, their second such exercise following one in the spring of 2010 [Reference 9]. As their well documented report indicates, a considerable number of local residents and cottagers as well as their families, joined a variety of experts in recording a total of 553 species of flora (364) and fauna (189) of many differing types at Otty Lake [Reference 9]. Contributions: Olivia Culver Eric Reynolds Irv Dardick Steve Burgess Martin & Elizabeth Lee Doug & Mary Ritter Figure 21. An example of the habitat, plant structure and flowering head of the Large-flowered Purple-fringed Orchis (Platanthera grandiflora) found at the north end of Eagle Lake. Photographed by Martin and Elizabeth Lee. As the preceeding species descriptions and the following two plates of a combination of photographs indicates, our area abounds with many varieties of animals, wildflowers, ferns, trees, reptiles, birds, fungi and insects. These provide some evidence to the extent of what the natural environment of Eagle Lake has to offer. As an action plan, perhaps it is timely to consider a more formal, as well as scientific, assessment of our natural heritage at Eagle Lake. This could take the form of what is referred to as a bioblitz, generally a 24-hour period in which local scientific experts and naturalists gather to catalogue as many species of flora and fauna as possible in a designated area. References: 1. Tozer, D. C., C. M. Falconer, and D. S. Badzinski, The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey : 32 years of monitoring Common Loons as indicators of ecosystem health. Published by Bird Studies Canada. LSsummary.pdf 2. Strycker N, The buzzard s nostril. In The Thing with Feathers. Riverhead Books, New York, pp The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All About Birds: 4. Ontario Nature website: Reptiles and Amphibians. ( nd_amphibians/index.php) 5. Benthic Invertebrate Sampling of Streams and Lakes. Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. October 2015, ter_biology.html 6. Dunkle SW: Dragonflies through Binoculars, A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America. Oxford University Press, Paulson, D: Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East. Princeton University Press, Wildflowers & Other Flora, Eastern Ontario Region & Eagle Lake Otty Lake Association. Otty Lake BioBlitz, July 17-18, documents/bioblitz2012_report.pdf State of the Lake Report Update 2015

15 15 Bur Oak Io Moth Banded Hairstreak New England Aster Cinnibar Polypore Fungus Morel Mushroom Yellow Lady s Slipper Orchid White Admiral Swallowtail Caterpillar Mink Grey Tree Frog Wild Bergamot Wild Turkey Hen & Chicks Square Stemmed Monkey Flower Turtlehead Eagle Lake Property Owners`Association

16 16 Flora & Fauna Ribbon Snake Pileated Woodpecker White Pine Bolete Mushroom Speyer s cucullia caterpillar Wood Betony Gilled Bracket Fungus Yellow Birch Common Yellowthroat Five-lined Skink Rosebreasted Grosbeak Northern White Violet Kingbird Cecropia Moth Cow Wheat Sundrops State of the Lake Report Update 2015