BioBlitz at Wintergreen

Kingston Field Naturalists | Jul 08, 2015

Last month the Kingston Field Naturalists held their 17th annual BioBlitz at Wintergreen Studios on Canoe Lake Road.

The purpose of a BioBlitz is to list as many different species as possible in a 24-hour period, thus giving a snapshot of the biodiversity of the site.

Sixty-six field observers spread over the property from 3pm on Friday, June 12 to 3pm Saturday, June 13, collecting information on everything from night time moths to early morning birds and from beautiful dragonflies to forest ferns. Participants included Kingston Field Naturalists, fellow naturalists from further afield, professionals, neighbours and youth. The public was invited.

Guided walks were held on a variety of natural history topics for those wishing to participate and learn about the ecology of the area. Topics included bird watching, and pond dipping as well as moth identification and dragonfly and butterfly listing and a plant identification walk. A couple of canoes were available to explore some wetland habitats. Other participants waded up to their waists to access the bog mat for different species. This year our non-species-listing activity was a sketching nature workshop.

All observed species were noted - from those that are very common to those on the endangered end of the scale. Plants varying in size from plankton in the pond to ferns, grasses and all herbaceous and woody plants were added to the tally. Spore-bearing species including fungi were included. All identified invertebrates including insects (butterflies, damsel and dragonflies, moths, flies, beetles, bees) and non-insect species (including spiders, ticks, centipedes, millipedes, slugs and snails), that were observed were also added to the tally. All vertebrate species (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish) were noted.

The minnow traps left in the water overnight with bait and light sticks to attract species were well filled by morning. Observations enjoyed by participants included several Grey Ratsnakes, Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies pollinating Wood Lilies, an Arrow Spiketail (a lifer dragonfly for a professional naturalist), Luna Moth, Giant Leopard Moth and a Clearwing Moth. The Daisyleaf Moonwort and Rattlesnake Fern were new species for many. Three species of hawk were seen soaring about the same time. They were Red-shouldered, Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Active nests of Red-eyed Vireo and Rose-breasted Grosbeak were noted. Several special sightings of unusual or species-at-risk or of particular interest were added to the tally. A patch of 50 Showy Orchids was found, just past flowering. Several endangered Butternut trees were seen. A Fisher, a mid-sized mammal, was observed in the late evening. A Five-lined Skink (our only lizard) was an exciting find: a species of special concern. One Whip-poor-will, a threatened species, was heard calling.

How many species were found? The final tally is not in but we are hoping for about 600. We do know so far we have seven mammal species, 58 birds, three reptiles and four amphibians. Within the invertebrates 22 dragon and damsel flies, 16 butterflies and roughly 50 species of moth were recorded. The final tally of plants including seed and spore bearers is well over 200 including 11 species of fern and 24 sedge species.