OSPREY THE. September 2006 Volume 37, No.3 NATURE JOURNAL OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

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1 September 2006 Volume 37, No.3 THE OSPREY NATURE JOURNAL OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR NATURAL HISTORY SOCiETY OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR Publication Mail Registration # 8302 ISSN

2 THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR P.O. Box 101 3, SI. John's, NLAIC 5M3 Editorial Policy: All members are encouraged to cootribute articles and materials In accordance with the society's mandatc for publication in M1be Osp,.,-" Anlcles should be submitted via 3.5" High-density ibm-formatted floppy disks or Compact Disk. Computcr ~ should prepare articles In Word Perfect or MS Word or text filc. Font, margins, and spacing can be adjusted by the editor. The editor reservcs the right to re-fonnat any materials received. Please noie that all matenal will be reviewed by the editorial staffand only those deemed appropriate will be publisbed. Jltustrations and photos are welcome, and should be provided in a format compatiblc wilh photocopying in black and white. SubmISSIons for publication can be mailed to: P.O. Box S1. John '5, NL A I C 5M3 or ed to the cditor at: czcdevuncsympatjcoca "The Osprey docs not pnnt advcrtising or solicitations without the expressed consent of thc cxecutive. Views expressed in "Letters to the E<hlOr" are noi necessarily the views of the editor or the executive ofthc Society. Natur.lllistory Society E,Iccutin (]\h r ). Website: ~ PastlAet. P~ident Rila Anderson rita@p!aypsych mun ca Vice President- John Jacobs Secretary- Don Steele Treasure-r Jackie Feltham Osprey Editor Elizabeth Zedel li~bs:@myd g d'il"l~myo!:a Ifdw!!.m@nw;llllDm:[D(D!::1 "1Igkl@n(SYlDPAtj!:Q!:iI Humber Rep. - Lois Bateman Ibaternan@Swg!: row! " Membe" at large (Spe<ial interest) Allan Stein (OHV) Mrujorie Evans (N LEN) Andrea Proctor - (Avolon N Ex.) arsl!:jn@lmun ca. manjeyans@nl roger:; mid aproctor@qlfmg R. J. Gibson (Fish. Indoor Prog.) rjgibwo@nfwnpatjcoca Carolyn Walsh (Membership) Kim Bell (WebmastCT) Len Zedel Rick Ballard cwalsh nlaypsych mud CD ze4e1@phnics IDYD g. Rballard@nl.rogers.com HOME e mai!:~ WORK FAX Cover Artwork: Linocut print owl by Diana Cordoso.

3 THE OSPREY NATURE JOURNAL OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR September 2006 Volume 37, No. 3 CONTENTS The nesting season (2006) in Saint-Pierre el Miquclon islands by Roger Etchcbcrry An incident of Tree Swallow nestbox predation by Red Squirrel by Mac Pilcher Seabird conservation: shifting the focus toward ecosystems by Alejandro D. Buren Three Lichenomphalis from the top of Cros Morne Mountain by Andrus Voitk What is Happening with Our Climate? by John D. Jacobs Steam Rising by Cheryl Staubitzcr

4 The Natural History Society Editor's Note Hello Everyone, This has been a busy summer for everyone, and so the Osprey is a linle late getting out. I am sure you will enjoy this edition with our regular bird report from St. Pierre to information on Seabird conservation and nest box predation. We also have information about lichens on Grose Morne and have questions answered about our climate. Finally we will enjoy a poem and photo from Cheryl Staubitzer. Many thanks to Diana Cordoso for a lovely piece of artwork for our front cover. I have been the editor for a few years now and enjoy seeing the submissions, but my concern with the Osprey is that we are getting less and less participation by our members. In order to have a great read we need contributors. I am also in need of an assistant editor. If you have an interested in nature, and have some time to contribute to our society, WE NEED YOU! I need an assistant to proof the article, beat the bushes for articles and keep our journal diverse and current. If you have an interest please consider dropping me an . e Finally, I have a new address. Itisezedel@nf.sympatico.ca. You may send articles to this address. l always send a note of conformation. Enjoy the Fall, Elizabeth Zedel.

5 The nesting season (2006) in Saint-Pierre et Miquelon islands Miquelon, September 1,2006 by Roger Etcheberry ~ ~ After a unusual nice earl y spring, June was awful, the weather office ~ has recorded some fog everyday!...july was almost as bad! Hence ( ~ ~ less birding activities which is obvious on this report. ~ 1 / I Red-throated Loon : Very discrete this year, one nest only. containing two eggs, was located on an usual site, on the northeastern comer of the Isthmus by LJ on June 13. One was off the :=--' S, W. coast ofsi. Pierre on June 15 and 16 (BL). Two were heard and seen in flight near the W. coast of Miquclon on July 20 (RE). Common I 000 : One breeding plumaged bird was still off the Isthmus on June 2 and 8. Four birds were, same arca on June 4; 16 immature were off the east coast of the Isthmus on June 15. One adult was on the salt pond near the village of Miquelon on July II and 15 (RE). Northern Fulma r : 3 off St. Pierre on June 2 (PB); 2 off the east coast of Miquelon on June 13 (RE); one off the south coast ofst. Pierre on June 14 (PHA); one only off Langlade's cast coast on July 4 (RE). Greater Sheaoyater : Numerous with Manx and sooties near Colombier island on June 3 (TV). One only with the other species off the east coast of Langlade on July 4 (RE). A few with numerous gannets off Langlade's east coast on July 23 (PB). No concentration reported. Sooty Sheaoyater : A few with the more numerous Manx off St. Pierre on June 2 (PB/U). Numerous with Manx and Greaters, off Colombier island on June 3 (TV). A few between St. Pierre and Langlade on June 13 (RE). A few with Manx off the east coast of Miquelon on July 4 (RE). Manl Shearwater : Several hundreds were ott the south coast of St. Pierre and ncar Colombier island on June 2 (PB/ U ). Numerous with sooties and greaters. North-east of Colombier island on June 3 (TV). There were about 12 between St. Pierre and Langlade on June 6 (RE). Northern Gannet : About 30 between Colombier island and Miquelon on June 6 (RE). Reported five times in low numbers between June 8 and July 10 (RE/DUBL). They were tenned numerous by PB along the east coast of Langlade on July 23. Several hundreds were off the south-east coast ofst. Pierre on July 3 1 (TV). Double-crested Cormorant: Common around Miquelon as usual throughout the season and nesting on the rocks east of that island! Not reported for St. Pierre!. Great Cormorant: Not present in Miquelon during the nesting season! Nesting as usual on Colombier island I presume, as I got no report for SI. Pierre! Snowy Egret One reported by Christian Gaspard near the vill age of Miquelon around June 22 was seen on June 29 (RE). Black-crowned Night-Heron : One immature was present in St. Pierre between June 1 and 7 (PBIPAI PHA). Canada Goose: A fairly good season for the species with alleast 20 broods! several with 5, 6 or even 7 young (RElLJIDUBL). There were 70 birds in one marsb of the Isthmus on July 8! Amerkan Black duck : There was a brood of6 young aged about 2 weeks on the Isthmus on July 8 (RElDL). 9 were already in Grand Barachois on July 21 (RE). Northern Pintail : There was a brood of 7 in SI. Pierre on June 10 and another one with 6 young near St. Pierre airport on June 14 (PB). A brood of 6 young about adult size were on the Isthmus on July 8 and an alanned female on another marsh the same day (RElDL). Ten were in Grand Barachois on July 30 (RE). Weather conditions are responsible for the limited number of observati ons. 69

6 70 Green-winged Teal: Only males were seen during the period: 1 in northern Miquelon on June 11 (U), 2 on the N.E. comer of the Isthmus on June 13 (U) and we had 7 males near Grand Barachois on July 8 (RElDL). Rjng-necked Dyck : 3 majes were in a pond of the Isthmus on June 2 and 28 (RE), and 2 only on July 8 (REIDL). Greater ScauP: A pair was on a pond of the Isthmus on June 2, Several males were, same area, as follows: 3 on June 3; 4 on June 7; 7 or 8 on June 28 (RE); Two males only were there on July 8 (REI DL). Common Eider: About 50 bi rds were off the S-W. coast ofmiqucjon on June 4. There were 11 immature birds off Cape Miquelon on July 7 (RE). Red-breasted Merganser: Only 8 broods reponed between July 7 and 27 (REIOUBUPB). There was a creche of at least 25 young on the salt pond near the village ofmiquejon on July 15 (RE)..Q.mr.n : One only. near the Isthmus on June 4 (RE). ~ : The nest on Cape Miquelon was not occupied again this year as seen on June 9 (LJ). There was a young on the nest ofeaslem Langlade on June 13 (BL) and July 21 (RElUIBL). The pair was present on south-western Langlade and presumably nesting, the nest in not visible from the sea (REIU/ SL). The new site reported in the spring migration report had a fully feathered young on July 3 1 (J-M. Quedinet, fide PA). The nest in St-Pierre reported with two young in the spring report was apparently not rechecked. Northern Harrier: Onc male in flight in northern Miquclon on Jul y I (RE). Northern Goshawk: There were 2 young visible in the nest near the east coast of Miquelon on June 30 (JCH). Rough-legged Hawk : A pair was present on Colombier island as usual seen on July 1 (U) and July 3 I (Ph. Hacala fide PAl, they presumably nested there! Mulin: One in Cape Miquelon was moderately alanned on July 2 (RE). There was a brood. of three on the east coast ofmiquelon on July 15 (fide PAl; one pair was quite alanned on a usual site of N. Miquelon on July 18 (RE). There was a nest with 4 downy young near the S-W. coast of Langlade on July 21 (LJ). An alanned adult was near the N-W. coast of Langlade on July 28 (BL). An adult was alanned in St. Pierre on July 3 I (PB). Sandhjll crane: One brownish bird was present near the S-W. coast of Miquelon between June 2 and 5, photo visible at hup'/lwww spmavjavis.comldiscuslrncssages{ IS0 87 html? I 8 (REiFPA). This is the third record for our islands. Black-belljed Ployer. There werc up to four birds, one only in breeding dress on the Isthmus on June 2, 15 and 20 (RE) and July 8, 23 and 26 (REIDUPBIBL). These were probably from the unusual influx we had this spring. First migrants (about 10 birds) appeared near the vi llage ofmiquelon on July 28 and seen on subsequent days (RE). Semjpalmated Plover: Very few seen during the breeding period and no breeding evidence. First migrants appeared in SI. Pierre harbour, II birds on July 21 (PS). There were 65 near Grand Barachois on July 65 (RfJBUU). about 15 were near the vi llage ofmiquelon on July 28 (RE). Piping Plover : We had a record high of 5 broods or nests this year on the Isthmus. While it was interesting, the fact that 3 nests were found with 3 eggs after June 13, suggests possible replacement clutches..killiiill. : A brood was seen in late May near the village of Miquelon. I bird was seen at St. Pierre on June 2 (PA). One adult only seen near the village of Miquelon on June 13 and July I (RE). Greater yellowlcgs : A few birds started to reappear on the Isthmus as early as June 28 (RFJDL). There were about 12 on July 8 (REIDL) and a few bere and there through the cnd of the period (RFJBUPA). "eufr yellowlegs : One was with the greaters on the Isthmus on July 8 (RE). Apart from spring sightings in April and May, this is the earliest fall migrant, record was July 9 (1999). e

7 There was one juvenal in St. Pierre on July 30 (PA). Spotted Sandpiper : Fairly common as usual. One nest with 4 eggs was found by LJ on the east coast ofmiquelon on June 13. There were two separate alarmed birds near Cape Miquelon on Ju ly 7 (RE). lyhi.m.!!.tti. : The first birds (7) were spotted on the Isthmus by Thierry Gautier on June 24, The earliest ever! The record was June 25, They were about 20 on July 7 (RFJDL), and 70 in $1. Pierre on July 20 (LJ) Numerous flocks of birds were seen near St. Pierre on July 25 (TV). The maximum was 150+ individuals on the Isthmus on July 28 (Bl). Ruddy Turnstone: One near the village ofmiquelon and at least 5 on the Isthmus on July 30 (RE). ~ : At least 70 were at Grand Barachois on Ju ly 30 (RE). ~ : 4 unseasonable birds were on the Isthmus on June 15 (RFJDL). Semipalmated Sandpiper : A few were on the Isthmus on Ju ly 26 and 30 (RE). Leas' Sa ndpiper : Rather scarce this spring and summer. There were 3 birds on the Isthmus on July I and 26 and two near the vill age on July 30 (RE). White-Rumped Sandpiper: A few birds were on the Isthmus by July 30 (RE). Sbort-hjlled Dowitcher : There were 8 birds on the Isthmus on Ju ly 26 (RElBULJ), and 9 on July 30 (RE). Common Snipe: Few reports. One alarmed adult was with 2 young near Mirande lake on July 10 (RE). American WoodcQck : Two reports. One spent an evening near MJB's cottage at Langlade on June 26 and one was secn in flight by JCH on June 30 in Miquelon. ~ : One near St. Pierre on June 18 and two, same area on July 16 (TV). Laughing Gull : One adult in St. Pierre harbour on June 17 (PA), One sub adult was on the Isthmus on July I (RE) and one immature in St. Pierre on July I and 2 (PA). Ring-hjlled Gull : Numerous chicks near one March of the Isthmus on June 28 (RE). BlaCk-legged Kittiwake: About 20 nests only had chicks from downy young to feathered in Cape Miquelon. For several years now the reproduction is low, and adults less common, from about 2000 pa irs some years ago to only a few hundreds. Nesting as well on Colombier island (no data from St. Pierre observers! ). C aspia n Tern : One ncar Mirande lake on July 27 (SL). Common Tern : Significant increase in St. Pierre from none a few years ago to 2 or 3 pairs in recent years to 32 this year on a tiny islet on a pond as counted by PA on June 17. Fairly common as usual on the Isthmus. They did not nest on the islet of Mirande lake due to high level of water; An..tk...'ftrn: About as usual, nesting on the Isthmus. J had I nest and 2 eggs, on a gravel bank of the Isthmus on June 8. ~ One off the east coast ofst. Pierre on July 27 (LJ). Common Murre: A few flocks around Colombier island on June 2 (PB) and at least one on June 13 (RE)..B.!!zsu:W.ll : No reports from St. Pierre! Numerous around Colombier island on June 13 (RE). Black G uillemot : About as usual in Miquelon. Rather abundant along the coast of Langlade on July 21 (RElBUU). Allantic Puffin : No reports from St. Pierre! Numerous, about as usual on Colombier island on June 13 (RE). ~ : Nesting again in boxes in St. Pierre tbis year: One adult and I young, and one adult 4 eggs, on June 7 (PB/U/DG). Common Nighlhawk : One in Miquelon on June 12 was well described by Cyril Detcheverry. C himney Swift : One in flight near Mirande lake on June 20 (RE). Common Swift : One, photographed by PS in SI. Pierre on June 2 was obviously not a Chimney Swift. It would be the second record for our islands. Ruby-throated Hummingbird : One in Miquelon on Ju ly 3 reported by Ghislain Dctcheverry. 71

8 72 NQrt hern Flicker: Seems on the low side, 4 reports only between June 3 and July 16; One alarmed female was with a flying young near Mirande lake on July 7 (RE). yellow-hewed flycatcher: Appears also on the low side. 7 reports only between June 2 and 25 (PBI RFlPHA). Eastern Kinghird : One near the village of MiqueJon on June 1 (Vincent Detcheverry); One seen and photographed near Mirande lake on July 16 (PBIRE). Phjladelphia Vireo: One 10 two birds were in St. Pierre between June 2 and 21 (PBIPHA). and I at Langlade on June 10 (U) D.l..u..t..J..i : On the low side as well, two in St. Pierre on July 9 (TV) is the only report. Common Rayen : One pair with flying young in Cape Miquelon and one family. heard on North eastem Langlade on July 2 (RE). Two fl ying young were still on the nest in Cape Miquelon on July 7 (RE). Iree Swallow: Numerous in St. Pierre on June 2, one pair copulating (PB). Few seems to have remained in the area! There was one brood of 5 in St. Pierre on July 16 (PHA). Barn Swallow: Two near Mirande lake on June 3 (RE) and about 10 between the harbour and the town of St. Pierre the same day (PA). Boreal Chickadee: Few reports. One adult feeding a young in St. Pierre on June 8 (FPA). a few here and there from the coast to the interior of Miquelon on July 25 (RE). Very numerous in St. Pi erre on July 31 (PB). Red-breaded Nuthu'ch : Rare this summer, one heard in St. Pierre on July 31 is the only report (PB). Wln' er Wren: Also on the low side! One singing in Cape Miqueloo 00 July 2 (RE). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Quite common in spring, appeared rather scarce this summer. 5 reports only, few birds at a time, between June 3 and July 25 (RFJPAlPB). G ray-cheekcd Thrush : From common many years ago, it is now a RARE SPECIES!... One report : one calling individual was heard and seen in MiqueloD on July 25. This is the FIRST YEAR since 1974 that I did not hear a singing Grey-cheeked!. Hermit Th rush : One heard in Miquelon on July 17 and at least two singing in S1. Pierre 00 July 22 (PB). Amerjcan Robin: Common, about as usual. One flying young was in the village of Miquelon on June II, was adult was carrying food near Mirande lake on June 13 (RE). G ray Catbird: One bird was present in St. Pierre between June 4 and 13 (PHA/PB). Cedar Wnwing : 12 reports, between June 2 and July 26 in St. Pierre and Miquelon and once only at Langiade, for a maximum of about 30 birds on June 2 : 20 in St. Pierre (PB/PHA) and about 10 in Miqueion (Gilles Detcheverry). And about 20 near the village of Miquelon on JUDe 20 (Vincent Detcbeverry). Yellow Warbler: Fairly common, about as usual in the last years. We have one nesting chronology by PHA: One pair building a nest on a rose shrub in St. Pierre on June 23.5 eggs were laid by June 23, of which 4 hatched on July 6 and were fledged by July 16. One adult was carrying food in Miqueloo on July 7 (RE). One was carrying food at Langlade on July 19 (RE) and one also carrying food at Langlade on July 29 (PHA). Magnolia Warbler: 6 reports between June 3 and July 25, 1 bird at a time (PBIPAIPHAIRE). I male, quite nervous at Langlade on July 17 possibly had a brood (PB). I male was also in Miqueloo on July 25 (RE). C ape May Warbler: One male at Langlade on June 10 (U). Yellowrumped Warbler: One only seen on June 2 and 3 in S1. Pierre (PA). Black-throated Green Warbler: I in St. Pierre 00 June 3 and 4 (PA). 1 near Mirande lake on June 4 ~ Bay-breasted Warbler : One in S1. Pierre on June 2 (PHA), one in western Langlade on June 4 (FPA). BJackpoll Warbler: 7 reports only, few birds at a time except about loin St. Pierre on June 2 (PA). On.

9 Langladc on June 10 (U) are the only reports. pair was carrying food in S1. Pierre on July I (LJ). Black and While Wa rbler: One in St. Pierre on June 4 (PA) and one at Lang\ade on July 27 (PHA). Amerjcan Redsla rt : 2 females in St. Pierre on June 3 (PA) and one the next day (PHA); one at Northern Waterthrusb : Still a fairly common species and fairly well reported. A few alamlcd birds and one carrying food near the east coast ofmiquelon on June 30 (JCH). A few were still singing in the woods ncar Mirande lake on July 9 (RE). Moyrning Warbler : One male was singing near Mirande lake on June 13 and 17 (RE). One was carrying food at Langlade on July 27 (PHA). Common yellowthroat : Somewhat on the low side! A few singing here and there between June 2 and July 16 (PAlPB/RE). Wilson 's Warbler : A few in St. Pierre on June 2 (PS). A few singing here and there in Miquelon between June 3 and Ju ly 17. One male was carrying food near Mirande lake on July 13 (RE). Savannah Spa rrow : Common about as usual. I had a nest with 3 eggs on a fen of northern Miquelon on July 18. Fox Sparrow : Common about as usual. One young was at FPA's feeder on June II. Three were present, same area on June 16 (FPA). Song Spa rrow : Reported for 51. Pierre only, a few present throughout the season (PAIPHA). Swamp Spar row : Fairly common, about as usual. PB had two juvenals in 51. Pierre on July 31. W hite-throated Sparrow: A few here and there throughout the season mostl y in Miquelon and Langlade. (REIPAlPHA). Dark-cved Junco: A few everyday near PHA's property in S1. Pierre throughout the month of June. Rose-breasted G rosbeak : One adult male near the North-East coast of Lang lade was well described by Mrs Artano (RE). Brown-headed Cowbjrd : One female in 51. Pierre on June 4 (PHA). Pjne G rosbeak : Reported a few times and only for near Mirande lake, young males singing on July 7 and 16 (RElPB). ~ : One pair with young near PHA's property in SI. Pierre on June 4. A few birds were still there on June 14 (PHA). PB, reports that they were back at hi s feeder less than an hour after food was provided. American Goldfinch : This now resident bird is sti ll present in S1. Pierre and probably underreported. 4 in SI. Pierre on June 2, and 2 on June 17 (PA). One only. a male, was near Mirande lake on July 16 (RE). PB makes the same report as above concerning hi s feeder. Contributors : Frederic & Patricia Allen-Mahe (FPA); Jean-Paul Apesteguy (JPA); Pascal Asselin (PA); Patrick Boez (PB); Michel Borotra (MJB); Dominique Gouverne (OG); Patrick Hacala (PHA); Jacky and Christine Hebert (JCH); Laurent Jackman (LJ); Oanielle Lebollocq (DL); Bruno Letoumel (BL) ; Thierry Vogenstahl (TV). 73

10 74 An incident of Tree Swallow nestbox predation by Red Sq uirrel and a suspected swallow nest-sharing episode by Mac Pitcher At approximately 7AM, July 15, 2006, I observed agitated behaviour of a Tree Swallow at an occupied nestbox in my garden. The bird would repeatedly circle and dive-bomb the nestbox. On closer inspection, I could see a Red Squirrel looking out through the nest box entry hole. In an effort to avoid squirrel predation, my nestboxes are equipped with a piece of aluminium flashing installed over the entrance, with a t 3/8 inch diameter hole in this flashing. It was apparent that although the squirrel had managed to enter the box, it was not able to exit the hole. Using a stepladder and drill, I removed the nestbox. Once the roof was removed, the squirrel made a hasty retreat to a nearby tree. It appeared to be a full y-grown animal. In the nest box were one dead adult Tree Swallow,4 dead nestlings and 3 live, apparently healthy nestlings. Only one nestling showed evidence of trauma, and was partly decapitated. The young were sparsely feathered although partially-developed wing primary feathers were evident. The three surviving nestlings were placed back in the nest and the nestbox was replaced less than twenty minutes from the time it had been taken down. During the period that the nestbox was on the ground, and until its replacement to its former si te, one adult Tree Swallow remained nearby, within 4 metres, perched on an overhead telephone wire. There was no immediate attempt witnessed by the bird to approach the nestbox when it was placed back at its former site. At approximately 9AM, the adult was seen perched atop the box and occasionally perching at the entrance. By loam, the bird was seen to enter and exit the nestbox at regular intervals, suggestive of bringing food. Amazingly, by noon 2 individual adult Tree Swallow were seen to enter and exit the nestbox in succession on several occasions, suggestive of bringing food, while a third adult Tree Swallow was seen in company of these two birds, foraging overhead. It could not be determined whether the th ird individual entered the oestbox. e Both Godfrey ( 1966), and Peters and Burleigh (1951), report that the usual clutch size for this species is four to six, and neither makes any reference to nest sharing. However, Bent (1963) claims that any clutch numbering greater than five or six eggs may be the product of two females. Given the high number of nestlings, seven, combined with the observed multi-parenting behaviour, it is possible that several swallow pairs were sharing one nest. On July 25, a juvenile Tree Swallow was found a short distance from the nestbox. It was found to have only a stub for one of its wings, and this likely was a consequence of the squirrel invasion of July 15. Unfortunately this bird had to be euthanized. A follow-up check of the nestbox found 00 evidence of remains of the other two nestlings, and it is assumed that these were successfully fledged. RllimIw: Bent, A.C Life Histories of North American Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows and their allies. Dover Publications. New York. Godfrey, W. Earl The Birds of Canada. National Museum of Can ada. Ottawa. Peters, H.S. & T.D. Burleigh The Birds of Newfoundland. Department of Natural Resources. St. John's, Nfld. e

11 . Seabird conservation: shifti ng the focus toward ecosystems by Alejandro D. Buren MSc. Candidate, Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Programme Memorial University, SI. John's NL. 75 "In the end we wi ll conserve only what we love. We wi ll love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." (8aba Dioum, Senegal). Newfoundland is known as "the Seabird Capital of North America" due to ils numerous colonies where millions of bi rds nest each summer. Regrettably, seabirds are the mosi threatened group of birds worldwide'. The biggest lesson Newfoundlanders have learnt regarding the importance of conservation of wi ldl ife stems from the extinction of the Great Auk. It is at this majestic bird's last home, Funk Is land, where Leslie Tuck became absorbed by the study of seabirds, especially murres. Continued interest in common murre ecology and conservation has guided scientific endeavors at the Funk Island Seabird Ecological Reserve, the world's largest common murre colony. Although Funk Island is now a protected reserve, the murres still face several threats. Some are anthropogenic in origin (e.g. oil pollution! and exposition to the traditional Newfoundland "turr hunt"), and some arise indirectly from changes in their environment. The latter can have a big impact on the common murre populations since they are very sensitive to the health of fish stocks, especially those that are fed to the chicks 3 An unnerving example comes from the North Sea common murre colonies off Scotland where, during the 2004 and 2005 breeding seasons, they suffered an almost complete breeding failure. This fai lure has been ascribed to provisioning of the chicks with poor quality prey due to a low abundance of sandlance 4 (an energy rich fish that constitutes the main diet of seabird chicks). The most probable cause of this low abundance is the warming of the sea, but these effects are likely exacerbated by a large industrial fishery fo r sandlance throughout the North Sea. The North Sea is not the only system that has been subject to changes; during the last 20 years changes in oceanic variables have been pervasive across the Arctic Oceans spanning to all the seas that have arctic influx such as the Northwest Atlantic, which has also been under intense fishing pressure for the last 50 years. As a result, the Northwest Atlantic system has exhibited dramatic changes during the last decades. These include a centennially-significant cold-water event in 1991', the increase of some shellfish species like northern shrimp and crab and the collapse of several groundfish stocks, most notably nonhern cod 7 Capel in, the major forage fish species in this ecosystem, has also exhibited changes in its biology and ecology since the 1980's; they spawned later in the season and at a younger age and smaller sizei.'. What have these changes meant particularly for the Newfoundland common murre population? During the 1990's parental murres delayed breeding and delivered smaller and lower quality capelin in Funk Island resu lti ng in poor body condition of murre chicks 10, which ra ises concern about their well -being. My research is part ofa mu lti -disciplinary, NSERC supported project related to capelio and its importance in the ecosystem. This project is a collaborative effort among MUN, DFO, the University of Manitoba and local fishermen that pursues seabird conservation as one of its goals, and gives us the unique opportunity of having simultaneous data of prey availability and consumption. We spend the field seasons at the Funk Island Reserve recording murre and puffin chicks' diet, and at sea onboard of the vessels 'Wilfred

12 76 Templeman' and ' Lady Easton II' collecting information about prey densities as well as capelin behavior and physical oceanographic variables. The infonnation is integrated into an ecosystem framework, i.e. Dot only do we look at particular species within the ecosystem, but also at the relationships among them. I have developed two mathematical models relating the composition of common murre chicks' diets and prey availability, placing special emphasis on capelin. These mathematical models, like all models, are metaphorical descriptions of one ofthe biological processes (predation) that structure natural communities. One of the models is based purely on a statistical rationale while the second onc finds its foundation on ecological theory. Overall, both describe the data well, and the model with ecological roots captures the predation process patterns better than the onc based merely on statistical rationale. A thought provoking facet of my research is that the ecological model I developed examines issues embedded at the core of predator-prey relationships, which in tum, can be considered the building blocks of dynamic ecosystem models. One important aspect of ecosystem dynamic models is their potential for simulating multiple scenarios and exploring the fate of the species considered (including the interactions among them), which in many cases are counterintuitive. As an example, we could mention the case of the Cape fur seals off Namibia. The fur seals, as many other marine mammals, are perceived by fishermen as competitors, and culls have been called for increasing fisheries yields. Interestingly enough, through the implementation of ecosystem dynamic models it has been found that a cull of seals is more likely to be detrimental to total yields than it is to be beneficiajl '. The unpredictability of these outcomes highlights that all species are interwoven in a dynamic and complex system, a food web. Furthermore, it forces us to face the fact that we can', conserve individual species in isolation. Hence, if we are to fulfil the goal of conserving our wildlife we need to change the focus of our conservation efforts toward ecosystems. My research contributes to the knowledge base for understanding and conserving the Northwest Atlantic seabirds, focusing not only on the species of interest but also at species interactions and food web relationships. This kind of studies provides one of the tools needed for developing ecosystem-based management strategies, a direction in which Canada's efforts are currently moving. When conducting ecosystem research, we must bear in mind that even though the undertaking appears overwhelming, its rewards promise to be fruitful for both; the sustainable use of natural resources and wildlife conservation. On us lays the responsibility of embracing and carrying this task forward. Acknowledgements First and foremost I want to thank my supervisors Mariano Koen-Alonso and Bill Montevecchi, their support and guidance have been invaluable to the development of my research. Financial and logistic support was provided by NSERC, MUN, the University of Manitoba and OFO. I also want to thank the crew of the vessels 'Wilfred Templeman' and 'Lady Easton II', and to all the people who was out on the Funks, this work couldn't have been carried out without their great efforts. A very special thank you to Mariano Koen-Alonso, Caryn Smith, Chantelle Burke, Alain Lusignan and Sol Porta whose comments have greatly improved earlier versions of this manuscript. References I. BirdLife International State of the world's birds 2004: indicators for our changing world. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife international.. :I

13 77 2. Wiese, F.K. and p,c. Ryan Trends of chronic oil pollution in southeast Newfoundland assessed through beached-bird surveys, Bird Trends. 7: Russell, J. and D. Fifi eld. 200 I. Marine bird important bird areas on the northeast coast of Newfoundland: conservation concerns and potential strategies. Canadian Nature Federation, Bird Studies Canada, Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, 124 pp. 4. Wanless, S., M.P. Harris, P. Redman and l.r. Speakman Low energy values offish as a probable cause of a major seabird breeding failure in the north Sea. Marine Ecology Progress Series 294: Johannessen, a.m., L. Bengtsson, M.W. Miles, 5.1. Kuzmina. VA. Semenov, G.V. Alekseev, A.P. Nagumyi. Y.F. Zakharov, L.P. Bobylev, L.H. Peltersson, K. Hasselmann and H.P. Cattle Arctic climate change: observed and modelled temperature and sea-ice variability. Tellus 56A: Drinkwater, K.F Atmospheric and oceanic variability in the northwest Atlan tic during the 1980s and early I 990s. Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science 18: Lilly, G.R., D.G. Parsons and D.W. Kulka Was the increase in shrimp biomass on the northeast Newfoundland shelf a consequence of a release in predation pressure from cod? Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science 27: Carscadden, J.E., and Nakashima, 8.S Abundance and changes in distribution, biology, and behavior of capelin in response to cooler watersof the 1990s. In Forage fishes in marine ecosystems. Proceedings ofthelnternational Symposium on the Role of Forage Fishes in Marine Ecosystems.Alaska Sea Grant College Program Rep. No I. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska. pp Frank, K.T., J.E. Carscadden and J. E. Simon Recent excursions of capel in (Mal/o/us villosus) to the Scotian Shelf and Flemish Cap during anomalous hydrographi c conditions. Canadian Journal of Fisheri es and Aquatic Sciences 53: Davoren, G.K. and W.A. Montevccchi Signals from seabirds indicate changing biology of capelin stocks. Marine Ecology Progress Seri es 285: II. Yodzis. P Local trophodinamics and the interaction of marine mammals and fisheries in the Benguela ecosystem. Journal of Animal Ecology 67:

14 78 Three Lichcnomphalis from the top of Gros Morne Mountain by Andrus Voitk Within the genus Omphalina, there were two kinds of mushrooms, those that existed as mushrooms alone and those that existed as the fungal component of a lichen. When genetic studies showed that the DNA of the lichenized mushrooms differed from the rest of the genus, Canadian mycologist Scott Redhead proposed splitting these into a separate genus, Lichenomphafia. Lichens are organisms composed of two or more other organisms. One of these is always a fungus and the other(s) are either one (or more) alga or a cyanobacterium. The fungus is by far the major component of any lichen, gives its thallus its shape and the lichen is known by the name of the fungus. In some instances both component organisms exist separately as well as in their combined lichenized form. Of the thousands of lichens, very few have a basidiomycete as the fungal partner. Only about 20 species are formed with agarics (mushrooms with cap, stem and gills). It seems that in these uncommon cases, over time the basidiomycete has lost its ability to live independently and is an obligate lichen component, found only in its lichenized form. The associated alga may be similarly limited. Lichenized fun gi have their algal partner(s) trapped inside a film or pocket of fungal tissue in a somewhat unbalanced partnership: the partner that cannot exist without the other encapsulates the latter and lives off its produce. The poor soils of barrens, including mountain tops, are preferred habitats for many lichenized agarics. Three species of the genus Lichenomphalia were encountered on top of Gros Morne Mountain July 4, All three are associated with the same alga, Coccomyxa. All are whitespored mushrooms with a simi lar (omphalinoid) appearance -dimpled, wavy cap, decurrent gills, central stem. Only one specimen of L. umbellifera (aka Omphalina umbellifera, O. ericetorum) was seen atop Gros Marne during this survey (Figure I). Colour varies from nearly white to tan, the latter being more common on barrenland specimens; the stem is usually darker than the cap. The lichen thallus is a crust of green granules. If it grows on bare soil, the crust may be extensive but in moss or other vegetation it is often not noticeable, as on the picture. Season is from early spring to late fall, less common during the wanner part of late summer. It is a very Canadian mushroom, with a circumpolar distribution roughly north of the 49th parallel. e Most striking of the three is L. hlldsoniana with its white stem and yellow cap (Fig. 3). Its foliose, green, scaly or leaf like lichen thallus, seen at the foot of the specimen on the left, is diagnostic. By convention the lichen bears the name of the fungus but before the connection between this thallus and L. hudsoniana was known, this thallus was known as Corsicum viride and can be found still under that name in most lichen books. A bit smaller in stature with a shorter stem is L. alpina (Fig. 4). This mushroom is a deeper or more orange yellow, superficially resembling a tiny chanterelle in colour and shape. Cap, gills and stem are the same colour. Its lichen thallus resembles that of L. umbellifera, a green granular crust, called Botyrodia vulgaris, well seen in the photo. Both yellow lichenomphalias fruit in the early summer with a range considerably more northerly than L. umbellifera. The classical habitat for both is alpine, on top of barren mountains, more so for L. alpina than L. hudsoniana. Both are also found in heaths along coastal barrens and on barren northern coastal islands.

15 79 Both are common finds in July along the Labrador coast, L. a/pina somewhat higher and more northerly than L. hudsoniana. Of the three, L. umbellifera is the only one that ex ists outside the specialized alpine and barreoland habitats. In richer habitats, it is considerably larger and lusher: Figure 2 shows some found in the woods on the trail to Gros Marnc Mountain. Because it fruits in the woods, L. umbellifera is the only one of the three to have made it into mainstream mushroom books. This is not because the others are not common - no, they are quite common in the described season and habitat; because we have a lot of both coastal and alpine barrens, they are common mushrooms in Newfoundl and and Labrador. They have not made it to mushroom books because authors of same are remarkably uncommon in said habitats. For most people lichenomphalias are somewhat exotic. For mycophiles it is a thrill to encounter these pretty mushrooms and many are willing to bear the cost of significant travel to do so. We are privil eged to have access to them and have something worthwhile to offer to mycophiles the world over. For those of a philosophical bent, lichenomphalias offer matter for contemplation. To date none of the Big Three - Plants, Animals and Mushrooms - can go it alone; all need each other. Mushrooms seem to be the closest to being able to live independently. All they lack is chlorophyll to capture the sun's energy. Is the formation of lichens the first step in the mushroom's evolution to total independence? Look at the progression. First there were atoms. These combined to form molecul es. These combined to the first form of primitive life. These combined to form uni cellular organisms with cell wa lls, nuclei and organell es. These combined to make complicated multicellular organisms with tissues and organs, namely us (plants, animals and mushrooms). Surely the next step is for such organisms to combine, so they have chlorophyll to harness the sun's energy as well as the ability to decompose, so that raw materials can be recycled to build new generations. Is the Li chen-mushroom the next giant evolutionary step, making plants and animals, including us humans, irrelevant? make strands of genetic material - Lichenompahlias offer equal fodder for contemplation to the ethicist. What kind of union is thi s, where both were free and now one or both are unable to survive without the other? Where is the freedom of choice in an obligate partnership? How fair is placing the smaller partner in a cage and feeding off its production? Surely there is no parallel with marriage here? Is it more a parallel with beekeeping? Is there a societal model here? Other mushrooms found on top of Gros Morne Mountain July 4, 2006, were, in order of frequency, Gymnoplls /oise/eurielorom, Mycena cf abramsii and a single Hygrocybe punicea.

16 80 Fig. 3 Fig. 4

17 W hat is Happening with O ur Climate? by John D. Jacobs Summer has passed, with temperatures over most of the province running some 2 C above the long tcrm avemges, and fa ll has begun much the same. Such has been the pattern in Newfoundland and Labrador in nearly every season of each year of this new millennium. Our current wann interval matches a global warming trend. But readers will not have to reach far back in their memories to recall periods of cool, wei summers and cold, hard winters. Viewed from the perspective of the period from the through the early 90s, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians might be excused for doubting the reality of rising global temperatures. So what is happening? 81 'Soft fa ll ' - Autumn colours, Terra Nova National Park, October 2006 The standard measure of temperature trends over decades and up to a century or so is the record of observations from official meteorological stations. Climatologists check individual station records for accuracy and consistency to produce reference series that are used collectively to create regional and global series. For Newfoundland and Labrador, the two longest such records are the Environment Canada historical climate series for St. John's and St. Anthony'. Although weather observations have not always been taken at the same spot at either place, reliable continuous records of over 100 years length have been constructed statistically using older records from nearby stations. These two records nicely bracket the island portion of our province. For other parts of the province, including Labrador, climate records are shorter but correlate well with these tw0 2. The following graphs, constructed using the historical data, show seasonal average daily temperatures by year for St. John's and St. Anthony from 1896 to 2005.

18 82 St. John'. a..aon.l A...,...,. TlIInJ*1It~ It is apparent that over the entire period, temperatures at both places have risen in summer and autumn and on an annual average basis. However, spring and especially winter temperatures have alternated above and below the long-tenn average, with no apparent trend. For example, winters were consistently wanner in the and 60s, but colder fro m the until the mid 1990s. This variab ility over periods of SLAnthony SeUONlIAwtagot Ten'l9W8tut. several decades has been found to be associated with variations in the strength of westerly winds over the North Atlantic and the pressure patterns that drive them. This phenomenon, known as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), is a dominant feature of the winter climate around the North Atlantic region 3, When the NAO index is in a positive mode, air temperatures as well as ocean temperatures around Newfoundland

19 83 and Labrador are colder than normal, while in northern Europe it is generally wanner and wetter than average. The was a period of generally strongly positive winter NAO index, while values have been weakly positive or negative since the winter of Rain and snowfall observations are less reliable in the early part of the century and there are many gaps in the record. As well, there is considerable variabili ty in seasonal precipitation patterns across the province, as in the summer of 2006 when most of Newfoundland had well above average rainfall while central and western Labrador were relatively dry. Shown below arc St. John's rain and snowfall for the period There arc large year-ta-year variations in both. There is no trend in rainfall, but snowfall is decreasing, as is the lotal annual precipitation (not shown). SL John'. Annual Rain and Snow So, as we move through the first decade of the Century, Newfoundland and Labrador arc becoming warmer and poss ibly somewhat drier. While a return to a strongly positi ve NAO mode would bring winter temperatures down again, history suggests that another reversal wi ll come after a decade or two. As for summer, there is no sign that the warming trend wi ll end. Climate modelers, factoring in the rise in greenhouse gases, have Newfoundland and Labrador warming with the rest of Canada, though at a lesser rate due to the moderating influence of the Labrador Sea. Globally. climate scientists are tracking temperatures that are now rising at an accelerated rate. James Hansen and colleagues at NASA have concluded that the Earth is now within one degree Celsius of its maximum temperature for the past million years, a threshold beyond which such impacts as sea level rise and the extinction of species will become truly dangerous s. Most climate change projections show this threshold being crossed before the end of the present century. That being the case, we should expect significant changes to be occurring in our natural landscapes.

20 84 'Climate moderator' - The Labrador Sea at Cape Norman, Great Northern Peninsula Notes I. The Adjusted Historical Canadian Climate Data (AHCCO) of Environment Canada are described and made available for download at: http'/iwww,cccma be ec.gc calbccdl 2. An analysis of regional climate patterns and trends for Newfoundland and Labrador was published by Colin Banfield and this author. (Banfield, C. E., and Jacobs J. D., 1998, "Regional patterns of temperature and precipitation for Newfoundland and Labrador during the past century", The Canadian Geographer 42(4): The NAO index is usually defined as the nonnalized pressure difference between a meteorological station in the Azores and one in Iceland. Data sets and a discussion of the index are avail able from the Climate Research Unit, University of East Angli a: http'/lwwwety uea ac uk/-limo/projpages/nao uodate htm 4. Maps of seasonal temperatures and precipitation are found on the Climate Trends and Variations web page of Environment Canada: http-t!wwwrosc-sme ee ge ea/ccanlbulletjnlnatjonal e efm 5. Hansen, 1. et ai., 2006, "Global Temperature Change", Proceedings oj the National Academy oj Sciences, 103 (39): available at: wwwpnason cgi doj pnas ).

21 Steam Rising by Cheryl Staubitzcr The tall grass doesn't sway stands straight and proud A mist rises off the floor of the fen The birds chirping all around The yellow trees set the backdrop while those with leaves year round prepare to meet their match A periodic tick, singles leaves fa ll the ye ll ow drips softly on the reeds below The bluest of blues- the one of his eyes has made friends with the sky The suns radience caresses thy face On the cool autumn morning when the Sleam is rising. 85

22 The TucklWalters Award This award is named in memory of Dr. Leslie M. Tuck and Captain Harry Walters Dr. Les Tuck was Newfoundland's first Dominion Wildlife Officer, and Harry Walters was the Director afthe Newfoundland Rangers Force. Following Confederation with Canada, Dr. Tuck headed the Canadian Wildlife Service in the province a position he held for morc than twenty-five years. In the laner part of his long and distinguished career, Dr. Tuck held the L. 1. Paton Research Professorship in the Psyschology Department of Memorial University. He was instrumental in the reactivation afme Natural Hi story Sociery in the 1950's. Captain Harry Walters served for many yean> as the Head afthe Newfoundland Wildlife Division, which he was instrumental in establishing. Both Walters, working provincially. and Tuck, working federally, were insuumeotal in establishing our province's first seabird reserves (Funk Island, Cape SI. Mary's, Witless Bay. and Hare Bay) and the fonner Avalon Wilderness Area. Their combined efforts put natural history awareness, protection and appreciation on a solid fooltng in Newfoundland and Labrador. Although they Wert employed in resource conservation and management careers, their enthusiasm and dedication transcended their duties, and it is for these qualities that the society bas chosen to bonor their memory with this award. TbeTuckIWaltersAward is discretionary - it does not have 10 be given out every year. 00 the other hand, it may be given to more than one recipient if the Nominating Committee feels this is appropriate. Successful undidates Ire individuals who have made outstanding and enduring eontributions to the advancement of natural bistory appreciation and protection in Newfoundland and La brador, outside the parameters of their employment responsibilities. Dr. Don Bar10n George Brinson Bill Davis Dr. John Gibson Dr. Leslie Harris Stephen Herder Charlie Horwood Bernard Jackson Henry Mann Tuck/Walters Award Winners Gregory M itchell Michael Nolan Dr. Harold Peters Dr. Roger Tory Peter son Tony Power Dr. Don Steele ClydeThck For mo~ infonnation or to make a Domination for tbe TuekI\Valters Award, contact Dr. Bill Montevecchi, Chair TucklWalttm Awards Committee Cognitive and Behavioml Ecology Program Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John 's, NL AIB lx9 Telepbone: monl@morgan.ucs.mud.ca

23 A Ndamdree:s-s The Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador Membership Application =-== Date: -=:-Cityffown: Province: Code: :-;-:- CountryIStatc if not in Canada, E~mail address: =- --:- Telephone - home: office: fax: Renewing members: _ continue Osprey ftom last received issue _ continue Osprey with next issue Mailing address for Society publication " The Osprey" (if different from above): Postal I would like to become more actively involved in the activities of the Socicl)': _ Planning outdoor activities _ Outdoor Education Programs _ Indoor Education Programs Environmental Advocacy Letter writing Planning monthly meetings Contributing to the Osprey Other _ My interests are: (Please be specific, to help us with our program planning.) birds? wildaowers? animals? marine mammal s? indoor events? indoor work shops? outdoor events? walking? interpretive walks? hiking? cross-country skiing? canoeing? cycling? back-pack camping? winter camping? Other: Annual membership fee enclosed: $ My donation to the society (a tax receipt will be issued): Society Lapel 53.00each Society Jacket $4.00 each Bird Checklists SO.SO, 3/ $25.00 Total to cheque/money.order enclosed: Pleas~ mak~you, chequ~ payahle to: "The Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador" and send it together with this form to: The Membership Coordinator The Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador P.O. Box St. John's, NLAIC 5M3 Bring tbis form to the next regular Society meeting at The Memorial University Botanical Garden on the THIRD THURSDAY of each month from September to June. No meetings during July and August.

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