Mute Swan Nesting on Don Debris

Lakeshore Blvd. East bridge at mouth of Don

I was passing by the mouth of the Don recently and noticed something odd underneath the Lakeshore Blvd. East bridge. Next to one of the bridge abutments is a pile of sticks and debris that often collects beside the river. This stuff is eventually washed away during a heavy storm. However, this pile of sticks seems to have attracted the attention of a pair of Mute Swans and they have taken it over as their spring nesting site.


Nesting site

The Mute Swan is an introduced species in North America native to Europe and parts of Asia. There is some evidence to suggest that the species is becoming invasive in the Great Lakes region and control measures may need to be implemented. There is at least one group that claims the species is native to North America and needs to be protected but the U.S government disputes this assertion. So far these birds are not a big problem in the Don. Native species such as the Trumpeter Swan are also rare but this is due to lack of habitat.

For this pair of birds things appear to be OK for now but it could be bad news if there is heavy downpour in the next few weeks. If you're rooting for these swans, then cross your fingers and hope for the rest of May to be dry.


Mother appears to be doing fine. Swan lovers will wish for a dry spring

Candy Floss Flower

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

I've seen this flower in a couple of places in the Don. This one I found growing at the Elevated Wetlands. A member of the milkweed family, it is usually found growing beside ponds, marshes or other wet areas.

I call it the candy floss flower because the scent reminds me of that sweet fragrance of candy floss which is one of the aromas from my childhood, a fond remembrance of our family's annual trek to the CNE in August. I was wondering about this particular scent and did some investigation. The active ingredient is linalool which is a naturally occurring chemical that is used in perfumes. One study found that inhaling linalool can reduce stress. That makes sense since it is a very pleasant aroma.

Not many studies have specifically studied this species but there are several references in studies of the milkweed family since this plant shares characteristics with similar plants in the genera such as Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Unless you are an asclepiadologist(!), such things as self-pollination success, pollen grain coherence, and sympatrically flowering systems won't interest you.

The one thing that most people will relate to is that the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) needs plants like this to survive. It feeds on the nectar, lays its eggs on the leaves, and the caterpillar feeds on the leaves. Since this species appears to be in decline it is important to leave this plant where you find it and take away only the memories of the fragrance.


Monarch Butterfly on a Swamp Milkweed at the Don Valley Brick Works (I wonder if it can smell the flower?)

Wetland Watching

It was such a nice day on Sunday I decided to go on a bicycle trip in the ravines. An unintended consequence of the civic worker's strike is that the fields of grass are no longer mowed. As soon as I entered the ravine, I was pleasantly surprised by the fragrant fields of clover that now cover the grass. Maybe once the strike is over we can get Parks to mow less often. It will be cheaper and produce more flowers. The parks will smell better and the bees will be very happy!

One of the places I stopped at was the Goulding wetland. At the pond, the water level was lower but that was to be expected. The water source for this pond is solely from ground water so as it fluctuates, so does the pond. This is normal for a wetland of this type and many of the plant species that are found along the shoreline are adapted to these conditions.

Along with the plants I spotted a couple of mallard ducks as well as the usual coterie of butterflies, dragonflies, water striders and other assorted insects.



Goulding Wetland


Another view of the wetland

A pair of Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) forage for food along the pond edge.

I also visited my old stomping grounds at the Beechwood Wetland. I saw some frogs and turtles there which is a good sign of a healthy pond.


Beechwood wetland

A Green Frog (Rana clamitans) at the water's edge resting in a pile of what looks like raccoon crap. Scatologists: eat your heart out!

I noticed a turtle lurking just below this lily pad. This is the first turtle I've ever seen at Beechwood. I couldn't tell the species but I think it's a Painted Turtle (Chrymemus picta picta).

A single Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was growing at the water's edge.


Not far from the pond a cluster of Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata) was growing. This plant shares the name with the purple flowering plant but is in fact in a different family. Also this one is native while Purple Loosestrife is a non-native exotic.

Turtles on the Path

Snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) seen in Crothers' Woods

What should you do if you encounter a turtle on the trail (or the road)? Marnie at Beechwood Wetland and the Toronto Star have mentioned recent encounters with turtles. Mid June is a critical time for Ontario turtles because it is the one time of the year that turtles leave their aquatic homes to go and search for a place to lay their eggs. Chances are that if you see a turtle on the trail it is going to be female. It will either be burdened with eggs in search of a nesting site or on its way back to its home in the pond.

There are 8 species of turtles native to Ontario and six of them are listed as being threatened or endangered. The biggest threat to them occurs at egg laying time because they often cross roads while travelling on land. Because they are slow moving they are vulnerable to road traffic and often get hit. This is a tragedy because not only does the mother die but if she is carrying eggs her future offspring are lost too.

Turtles like to dig a nest in soft sand. However they often can't find this so they might try digging in gravel beside a road or a path. Depending on the species there might be 5-40 eggs in a clutch all about the size of a ping pong ball. Turtle eggs take about 60-80 days to hatch. Many eggs do not make it because they are a favourite food of foxes and raccoons. In places like Toronto with its large raccoon population, it is estimated that over 99% of clutches are predated.

Turtles, especially snapping turtles have a bad reputation as being aggressive. However this behaviour is evident only on land during the brief time they they travel during the egg laying season. Once back in their aquatic habitat, they are shy and docile and will often swim away when approached by a wading or swimming human.

So getting back to the question: what to do when you encounter a turtle on the trail? Please be respectful, keep your distance and wait for them to cross the path. If they are in danger of passing traffic, you might try be a good traffic cop and tell other trail users to slow down. Please don't pick them up as they might bite you. If the turtle is on a busy road, you could try to hurry them along but please keep your contact with them to a minimum. They are after all wild creatures and may see your help as a threat.

If you are interested in finding out more about Ontario's turtle species, the Toronto Zoo's Adopt-a-Pond program has a good website that provides a lot of information.

Turtle Encounter

Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrymemus picta picta)

I am working outdoors this summer doing much the same work I have been doing for the past ten years at volunteer outings. This time I am getting paid for it. It's hard, physical work but I enjoy it because it is satisfying work. This week I was working in Taylor Creek Park finishing off a volunteer planting that was poorly attended due to a heavy rainstorm. The location is a popular place for dog walkers and cyclists so we had lots of company while we worked. One of the passersby surprised us because she was carrying a turtle. It was an Eastern Painted Turtle which she had affectionately named Franklin.

Her story was that she had owned it for about a month and had been in someone else's possession for about a year. It had been picked up from a road location unknown but presumably in the local region. She had decided that it was time to release it back into the wild and had come down to the park to find a place for it. She had tried to place it in the creek but she said that it didn't seem to like it much. It's good that she decided against leaving the turtle in the creek since it is such a polluted mess.

I advised her that the best place to let it go was one of the ponds on the Goulding Estate. There is now considerable habitat for creatures such as turtles. The new ponds may eventually become a place to dump Red-eared Sliders so the addition of a native breed can only be a good thing. The woman walked off with the turtle so I have no way of knowing whether she released it since she seemed quite attached to it. I will certainly keep an eye out for it since I am leading a Community Stewardship team at the Goulding ponds this summer.

Honey Bee Security Guards

Warning sign

The Brick Works building complex has been derelict for close to 30 years with only one or two of the smaller buildings being reused. The larger buildings have remained empty and unused. This neglect has attracted all sorts of unwanted visitors. They've been a magnet for many novice and professional photographers who specialize in industrial settings. There has also been weekend raves and explorers of tunnels and abandoned places. The insides are filled with graffiti and garbage.

When I was on the Brick Works Public Advisory Committee (now disbanded), I advocated for a security guard presence to deter visitors. After much delay we ended up with a once nightly visit from a security guard who only drove into the front parking lot. This did little to reduce problem visitors.

Today when I visited the Brick Works I noticed a sign on the fence outside the Chimney Court. Inside was a collection of beehives. I don't know if they will prevent people from entering the buildings but the prospect of a bee sting may force potential visitors to think twice before entering. It sounds like a win-win solution - the honey bees pollinate flowers at the Brick Works, they deter unwanted visitors, and they produce loads sweet tasting honey.


Honey bee hives clustered next to honeycomb painted hut. The hut looks awfully similar to the ones constructed by the Holmes on Homes show that was filmed at the Brick Works last year.

Spring Butterfly

Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

On Monday it was a nice sunny day and I went on a bike ride through the valley. Among other things I encountered several Mourning Cloaks fluttering by. This one waited politely while I took several close-up photos.

From the quick research I did, I found out that they hibernate through winter in their adult stage and wake up in early spring. They quickly feed on the nectar of early flowers or feed on exposed tree sap. They mate and then lay their eggs on willow trees to begin their cycle again. This is another example of how some species are adapted to take advantage of a period of the year when there isn't much competition.

If you look closely (click on picture), you might notice a bunch of long hair that is growing lengthwise along its abdomen. It's possible that this is another adaptation to protect it against the winter cold during hibernation.

Emerald Ash Borer Arrives in Toronto

We knew it was on the way but didn't expect it to get here so fast. An article in the Toronto Star says that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has found some ash trees infested with the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in the Highway 401/404 area. This is in the northeast section of the Don watershed so it definitely concerns us.

I remember attending a seminar last year on forest pests and the talk was about the Asian Long-horned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) which infested a large area in northwest Toronto. The Emerald Ash Borer had been found in Windsor and was advancing steadily east. The thinking was that the beetle would probably arrive in Toronto in about 5-10 years so it's a surprise to find it so soon.

Once it infests a tree it eats into the sapwood. This is the part of the tree that transfers water and nutrients to the top of the tree. When this is gone the tree dies quickly. If this finds its way into the Don Valley this could have serious implications for our forests. Ash trees constitute about 10% of the trees in our forests so this could have a big impact on our forest canopy.

Efforts are underway to contain the outbreak but there is little anyone can do. They are very difficult to detect. As an introduced insect it has no natural enemies and no pesticides are known to kill it. Unless a miracle fix is found, we may be looking at a permanent change to our forest.

Bird Banding Demonstration

Bird Banding Demonstration

Two weeks ago I attended a bird banding demonstration in Milne Hollow, a park in the Don Valley just south of Lawrence Ave. East. It was given by Seabrooke Leckie, a volunteer with the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station. Bird banding is used to track birds on their migration paths. If the bird is recaptured then its band information can be used to identify the bird and find out where it was first banded. This information is logged in a North American database managed by the USGS and Canadian Wildlife Service.

It was a fascinating demonstration and was worth waking up at 6:30 AM. During the 90 minutes I was there, they captured 2 hermit thrushes (Catharus guttatus), 1 black capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), 1 song sparrow (Melospiza melodia), and 1 immature male cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) (see video). The birds had their wing length measured, were weighed, and were aged and sexed where possible. They also were examined for fat content which is an indicator of where they are in their migration. Apparently birds only store fat during migration periods. A tiny plastic band was placed around one leg and then they were released.

The birds were caught in mist nets which don't harm the birds. They were transported to the banding area in cloth bags. The entire banding process took less than 5 minutes per bird.The process is designed to cause a minimum of stress on the birds.

Anyone can get their own bird banding demonstration if they visit the TTBRS station on the Leslie Street Spit. Check the website for details.

Note about the video: there's a lot a background noise due to the proximity of the Don Valley Parkway. Also Seabrooke's voice is very soft so you have to listen carefully to hear her explanation. Enjoy!


Seabrooke handles a hermit thrush

Spreading the wing feathers. This checks for age, signs of moulting, and general health of the bird

Placing a band on the leg

Birds store fat for long migrations. The fat is stored in the chest area. By blowing gently on the chest feathers, the fatty tissue is exposed. The amount of fat is rated on a scale of 1-7.

A Black-capped Chickadee is held securely in the hand as it awaits its measurements

A very scruffy looking immature cardinal waits his turn

Snakes Also on the Move

Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnopis sirtalis) in Warden Woods

Salmon aren't the only creatures heading to a fall destination. During a bike ride on Saturday, I spotted four snakes, three garter snakes and one brown snake (Storeria dekayi). It appears that in the fall snakes are on the move searching for a hibernaculum where they can survive the winter. In our climate cold-blooded reptiles need to hibernate during the cold winter months.

All of the sightings were on the bike path. Presumably while crossing they pause to soak up some heat from the pavement so if you are out cycling in the next couple of weeks please keep a sharp eye out for these creatures so they don't become roadkill. If you're like me you might even pause to take some photographs. If you do please urge the snakes nicely off the path and on their way.


A close-up shot of its head. I was lucky enough to catch it flicking its tongue. A snake's tongue is very sensitive and can sense movement, odours and even temperature changes.

Salmon Running in the Don

Salmon in river just north of Pottery Road

The past couple of weeks I've noticed salmon swimming in the Don. I've also seen them in the Humber. These salmon aren't native to Ontario, they are actually Coho or Chinook Salmon from the Pacific Ocean. The Ministry of Natural Resources stocks them in Lake Ontario for the sports fishing industry. After a lifespan of about four years they follow some instinctive drive and start to swim up a river to spawn.

Unfortunately those that choose the Don River don't have much hope. They have to contend with flood control dams such as the G. Ross Lord Reservoir or weirs left over from 19th century industrial activities. Even if they do get far enough north the eggs won't last because of storm water that scours the river bed clear of most stones and gravel where they might lay their eggs.

The TRCA embarked on a barrier mitigation program which is slowly reducing barriers to fish travel. Some people have reported seeing salmon as far north as Highway 7 so it sounds like it is working. Optimistically it will be at least 10 years before the Don supports a fish population such as trout that travels upriver to spawn. Only the Credit River has reported such success so far. The Don will have to wait a bit longer.

If you want to see them yourself, get on the Lower Don Trail. Travel north of Pottery Road for about 500 m and you will get to a series of rapids. Just below the final weir you should be able to see some fins sticking out of the water. They are best viewed mid to late afternoon when the light strikes the water at the right angle to see them as they float just underneath the surface. If you see any leave a comment with your observations.


Dead salmon spotted in East Don River just south of Lawrence Avenue East. I smelled this one before I saw it.

Attack of the Giant Woolly Bear!

Woolly Bear (Pyrrharctia isabella) caterpillar [click photo for a really close-up view]

Ha, ha, just kidding. This is just a close-up photograph with no frame of reference. I was cycling in the Don on the weekend and came across many of these making their way across the bike path, unfortunately some of them have been squished by inattentive (or very attentive) cyclists.

These creatures are the larval form of the Isabella Tiger Moth. Most moths lay their eggs in the the fall which then hatch in the spring. With this species, the eggs hatch in September and the caterpillars feed up until the first frost when they go into hibernation, usually under a rock or a log. When spring arrives they wake up and start to feed. I've seen them crawling across melting banks of snow in March when the first warm thaw hits. This adaptation gives them a bit of a head start on the rest of the bunch as they get first crack at spring vegetation.

According to Wikipedia, they are celebrated in Ohio during an event called the Woollybear Festival. I suppose their fuzzy appearance makes them kind of cute. I wonder if they hold woolly bear races?

Bird Watching at the Brick Works

Cedar Waxwing at the Brick Works

If you're into bird watching, spring and fall are the best times to be out looking for birds. That's because many species that migrate are passing through on their way to breeding grounds or winter resting places. If you can't get out of the city to known bird watching places such as Long Point or Point Pelee then the Don Valley Brick Works is not a bad alternative. The quarry ponds are a good place to find birds that are looking for a rest stop.

My camera isn't the best for taking bird photos but there are several examples around of birders who have better cameras and know how to take bird photographs. I found this website called Canada Bird Photography and they have a recent entry about the Brick Works.

Spring Animal Blogging

There is plenty of wildlife in the Don and I thought I'd pass on a few photos that I took as well as some sent to me by friends. Just from my own journeys this spring, I've seen quite a few rabbits and chipmunks, more so than in previous years. I don't know whether this is a trend or part of a cycle.

I had a brief glimpse of a fox in the Moore Park Ravine and there are at least two families of wood ducks that have taken up residence in the Don. I have also heard of numerous deer sightings.

Marnie over at Beechwood Wetland weblog also has several good pictures of ducks, raccoons, rabbits, chipmunks, and frogs.


An Eastern Cottontail Rabbit hides in the brush near Chester Springs Marsh


I photographed a mouse (not sure what species) beside the trail just north of the viaduct


I found this snake, unfortunately dead, on the pavement of the path. Snakes like to sun themselves on the hot asphalt which makes them targets for fast moving bicycles.


Snapping turtle seen at the dirt jump (DJs) area near Crothers' Woods


This insect landed on a Goldenrod plant and was nice enough to let me take some photos of it. I'm no insect expert so if anyone knows what it is, send me a note.

Trumpeter Swan Spotted in the Don Valley

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

I noticed this picture on one of the mountain biking forums. Someone there asked me if I knew what it was. They thought it might be a Trumpeter Swan but I thought it unlikely since these birds while native to this area were extirpated due to overhunting in the early 1900s.

I looked into it further and found out that there is a program by the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre in Midland to reintroduce these birds into Southern Ontario. The website says that they band the birds plus attach a large yellow tag to the bird's wing. The picture shows one of these tags which I think says "915".

The bird was spotted in a pond near Crothers' Woods. I am not sure if it is a migrant or if it is looking for a nesting area but it is certainly significant that it has made its way to Toronto. It would be nice if they became reestablished here.

The wildlife centre is keeping track of where these birds show up. If you spot one you can report it using this form.

Beaver Update: Gone to Hospital

Another reason why dogs should be banned from the Brick Works Quarry area. The beaver that I spotted a couple of weeks ago wasn't moving very well for a reason. It had been severely injured by a dog bite on its tail.

Animal services came and removed it and hopefully will a) nurse it back to health and b) find it a good home. The Brick Works is currently too inhospitable.

Salmon in the Don (reprise)

I got a call this morning from CFRB, the talk radio station asking me if they could interview me about the salmon sightings. I said "Sure!". The interview took place at 12:45 PM today and boy was that tough! It was all OK up until the last moment and than she asked me all these questions!

Suddenly I was nervous and stumbling over my words, but eventually I got through it. It lasted less than five minutes. I didn't say all the right things but I got most of the message across. I am not sure what good it will do but you never know. Any publicity about the the river is a good thing.

Salmon in the Don

A reporter from the National Post called up yesterday and asked me a bunch of questions about salmon seeing swimming in the Don. I answered her questions but she didn't say anything about writing an article nor did she ask permission to quote me. Now I find that she published an article in the paper this morning and touted me as "John Routh, who heads the Bring Back the Don task force".

It's actually an easy mistake to make. The name of the chair is actually John Wilson, I'm just a lowly citizen member.

Anyways, the article goes on to describe this phenomenon and tries to answer the question, why are there salmon in the Don? You can read the article but briefly, the MNR stocks Lake Ontario with Chinook or Coho salmon for the sports fishing industry. They dump them in rivers including the Don and the fish swim away to live out their life in the lake. Any fish that aren't caught return a few years later hoping to spawn. Unfortunately a combination of stormwater runoff and manmade barriers conspire to make this a futile effort.

Still it's an inspiring sight to witness as these fish leap the rapids on the Don. The best place to see it happening is on the Lower Don Trail, just north of Pottery Road where there is a short series of rapids.

Update: Marnie at Beechwood Wetland Blog took a picture of a dead salmon. Visit her blog for a picture.

Leave baby birds alone

While surfing the blogosphere I came across this posting from Bootstrap Analysis. The article deals with what to do if you find a baby bird. Baby birds alone on the ground may appear to be orphans and our natural human response is to protect them but the best thing for them is the opposite - do nothing!

Some of the points in the article relate to American regulations but overall the article takes a common sense approach to the issue. So if you see a baby bird in the valley or in a local park, let nature (and its parents) take care of its own.

Another Invasive Species for the Don

School of goldfish in Brick Works pond (click to expand)

Goldfish (or koi or carp) have been present in the Brick Works ponds for a number of years, but this spring there appears to have been a population explosion. This is likely due to the mild winter we experienced so it looks like more than the usual number survived. I took these pictures last week and there were hundreds of goldfish.

The problem of people dumping goldfish has always been a problem in urban ponds and wetlands. I am not sure why people do it- maybe they think a pond isn't complete without a few goldfish. I've also heard that for some Asian people, releasing goldfish into the wild is a way of increasing your luck or good fortune.

Whatever the reason, it is bound to cause ecological chaos for the ponds. These fish will grow very large and will likely outcompete native fish. They are also bottom feeders so they stir up the mud and make the ponds cloudy and dull.

Getting rid of them is a big problem. One fisheries management tool is electrofishing. Basically you stick a cattle prod like device in the water and send out an electric charge. This stuns any fish in the vicinity and they float to the surface. You can then scoop them out easily. Another option is to drain the pond. This is more drastic and will harm other fish species as well. This actually happened a couple of years ago at Riverdale Farm Ponds. The lower pond dried up and this solved the koi problem there. However the Brick Works have a steady supply of water so it is unlikely to happen.

Fortunately for the goldfish, nothing is likely going to happen until a new management plan for the quarry ponds is finished. At that time they may decide to do something. Until then we are left contemplating a pond full of scum sucking goldfish.



A closeup view (click to expand)