Winifred Wake - A Nature Guide to Ontario

Winifred (Cairns) Wake, Editor

John Cartwright, Anne Champagne, Kathy Parker, and Martin Parker, Associate Editors

From Hudson Bay to Pelee Island, from Rainy River to the Quebec border, Ontario offers a rich variety of experiences for nature-lovers of all ages and interests. A Nature Guide to Ontario showcases more than six hundred of the best sites for viewing the many forms of plant and animal life found across the province. All sites are open to the general public, most are easily accessible, and a surprising number are located in or near the provinces biggest cities.

The book is divided into seven regions, and sites are listed under county, district, or municipality. Entries contain instructions on how to reach sites, descriptions of the major landscape and habitat features, information about typical as well as important or unusual animals and plants to be found at the site, and an address to contact for more information. Introductory chapters give an overview of Ontarios natural history and its rich and diverse plant and animal life. The book also discusses environmental concerns, offers tips on how to get the most out of an outing, and lists the top ten nature sites in Ontario. There are lists of useful addresses and references, a site index, and an extensive glossary.

This volume is a project of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists, whose affiliates and individual members have contributed to the book. A Nature Guide to Ontario is an invaluable reference for all who want to experience and enjoy the best of Ontarios natural areas and wildernesses.

WINIFRED ( CAIRNS ) WAKE lives in London, Ontario, and is a member of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. She writes a nature column for the London Free Press and a column on endangered species for Nature Canada.

The Federation of Ontario Naturalists (FON), established in 1931, is a provincially based, non-governmental charitable organization which protects and increases awareness of Ontarios natural areas and wildlife.

The FON currently represents 15,000 members and a network of 80 local groups 63 community-based naturalists clubs and 17 associated groups. The FON is governed by a Board of Directors that represents the individual members, naturalists clubs, and associated groups.

The FON is Ontarios leading voice in promoting the preservation of wetland habitats, the creation and management of parks, protection for Ontarios rare, threatened, and endangered species, and responsible forest management. The FON publishes Seasons magazine, produces a range of environmental education resources for schools and youth groups, and has an extensive program of trips, tours, and summer camps. As well, over the past 30 years, the FON has assembled the provinces largest private nature-reserve system.

For more information on the FON, and to inquire about membership, please contact us at: 355 Lesmill Road, Don Mills, Ont M3B 2W8, or call 416-444-8419 or 1-800-440-2366, or FAX 416-444-9866.

FEDERATION OF ONTARIO NATURALISTS

edited by

Winifred (Cairns) Wake

associate editors:

John Cartwright, Anne Champagne, Kathy Parker, and Martin Parker

University of Toronto Press Incorporated 1997

Toronto Buffalo London

Printed in Canada

ISBN 0-8020-2755-5 (cloth)

ISBN 0-8020-6802-2 (paper)

Printed on acid-free paper

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

Main entry under title:

A nature guide to Ontario

Rev. ed. of: A naturalists guide to Ontario.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 0-8020-2755-5 (bound) ISBN 0-8020-6802-2 (pbk.)

1. Natural History Ontario Guidebooks.

I. Wake, Winifred Cairns. II. Federation of Ontario

Naturalists. III. Title: A naturalists guide to Ontario.

QH106.2.05N39 1996 508.713 C96-931728-X

University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial assistance to its publishing program of the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council.

In March 1956 Drs Carl and Aileen Cline, members of the McIlwraith Ornithological Club of London, went on a trip to Florida and took with them a copy of Olin Se wall Pettingills Guide to Bird Finding and found it a great help in locating birds in that state. On return to London, they attended one of the Audubon Screen Tours sponsored by the McIlwraith Club on April 16, 1956. The subject of the film was Penguin Summer, with commentary by Dr Pettingill.

After the meeting a coffee party was held in the YMCA in London attended by Dr and Mrs Pettingill and the executive of the McIlwraith Club. In the course of the conversation, the idea was bandied about that it would be a good idea to have a naturalists guide to Ontario. The Pettingills were most cooperative and declared that they would be glad to see Pettingills guide used as a model. Thus we can say that the idea for a naturalists guide to Ontario originated over cups of coffee in London in 1956.

The proposal for production of the guide was put before the executive of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists and was thoroughly discussed over the next two years. At its meeting of April 19, 1958, the FON executive appointed a committee composed of Aileen Cline, Bruce Falls, Fred Helleiner, W.W. Judd (chairman), Miss A.E. LeWarne, Frank Pammett, James Soper, and Walter Tovell to oversee the production.

After six years of work by the committee the first edition of A Naturalists Guide to Ontario was produced in 1964.

Thirty years have now gone by since the first appearance of the guide and great changes have taken place in the natural landscape of Ontario. Many of the natural areas alluded to in the guide have been transformed by development or have had their points of access much revised. The federal, provincial, and municipal governments, private organizations, and even individuals have been active in adding new parks, conservation areas, and other protected lands.

In view of these changes it is appropriate that the Federation of Ontario Naturalists has seen fit to produce a revision of its guide. The inclusion of the sites of interest in seven groups draws attention to the great diversity of landscapes to be explored in Ontario from the south shores of Hudson and James bays to the northerly limits of the Great Lakes.

With this guide in hand or available in the glove compartment of the car the practised naturalist in Ontario and visitors from elsewhere will be well equipped to explore what the world of nature has to offer in the province.

W.W. Judd

The Federation of Ontario Naturalists gratefully acknowledges the financial contribution of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Wildlife Policy Branch, to the production of this book.

A Nature Guide to Ontario is the successor to A Naturalists Guide to Ontario, published in 1964 and edited by W.W. Judd and J.M. Speirs. Thanks are extended to all contributors to the earlier work.

This book represents a collective effort by naturalists from across the province. In 1990, Anne Champagne undertook the monumental task of assembling background information and drafts. In 1993, one year after Anne had left the province, a committee consisting of Winifred Wake, Kathy Parker, Martin Parker, and John Cartwright set about reworking the material into its final form. Help came from a multitude of volunteers, who have been active in all stages of the books development. They represent the ranks of individual naturalists, organized naturalist and other groups, FON affiliates and activists, and staff from Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian Geoscience Information Centre, Parks Canada, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, conservation authorities, and allied agencies. These people have been involved in everything from visiting sites, checking directions, and verifying information to researching, writing, revising, and reviewing. Some played small roles while others contributed huge amounts of time and expertise, as well as out-of-pocket expenses. To all the knowledgeable and enthusiastic naturalists who laboured so diligently to put this book together, the Federation of Ontario Naturalists expresses deep appreciation. This book is indeed yours.