Summary

Here is a token, partial, and (caveat!) amateur listing of the native flora and fauna of Seymour township, the bird life excepted (see separate bird list with at least 144 species of bird, May 2023), with some 431 species identified, a steady advance on the 114 first listed in 2004. Eight more reported by third parties are listed in italics (see CBCA records, below), including a black rat snake and a rosy maple moth noted by Rob Wybourn, and turtlehead by Carol Robertson, for a township running-total of at least 584 species, as of 27 February 2024, not counting 8 species of bird reported in Seymour, or in an adjacent township (Percy or Rawdon, say), but not as yet confirmed by the writer nor close naturalist associate, within the boundaries of Seymour.

If you like, you can search this page for species, and/or slide down this page to view the species lists. The bulk of this page comprises a series of lists, plus a few illustrations:

• Flowers and plants, grasses and fungi
• Trees, shrubs and vines
• Fauna: mammals, reptiles & amphibians, fish, insects, molluscs, bryozoans and arthropods
• Preliminary CBCA bird list (see also the Seymour Township bird list)
• References and links

Numerous additional species are on record, e.g., spring wild flowers in Ferris park. Many other species, even common ones, have doubtless slipped from view, or are in areas I have yet to visit. Thus the pretty pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) occurs in large rafts along Eels Creek, some 50 km to the north. I've seen it at Otter Lake in Pontiac county, Quebec. It would be surprising were pickerelweed entirely absent from Trent Hills and finally, in 2020, I saw some on the Crowe River at Allan Mills, in the northeast corner of the area.

A less welcome find would be the water soldier (Stratiotes aloides), an invasive water plant that was reported near Trent River in 2008 but which appears to remain localized, as noted below. The water soldier has a colony of some 140 hectares in Lake Seymour, and another of 8.3 acres in Cordova Bay (Freeman, 2015). The section of the Trent River, from county road 30 downstream to county road 50, "has the dubious distinction of being the only known wild population in North America". The plant, native to Europe and northwest Asia, remains active in September and October. Since the native aquatic species go dormant in autumn, this is the optimal time to target the water soldier with an appropriate herbicide (Freeman, 2015). Another curious resident, identified at Trent River in 2019, is the colonial invertebrate rejoicing in the name Magnificent Bryozoan! This freshwater species forms large, rounded colonies. Thanks to Anne of the Friends of Ferris for pointing out this peculiar lifeform. Ancestral bryozoans more than 400 million years old are found in the local limestones.

As with the associated bird list, the degree to which this compilation reflects the natural history of the township is bound to be biased by the relative skills and interests of the compiler vis-a-vis the various classes of living things. There is also a geographic (and thus ecosystem) bias towards frequent haunts in the township, which include:

• The town of Campbellford
• The Trent river valley, including Ferris provincial park
• Trout Creek watershed west of Campbellford
• The Crowe Bridge conservation area in the Crowe river valley
• The Seymour conservation area south of town

There are plenty of gaps: ferns and mosses for example. Fish barely feature here either, but not for lack of fish - sport fishing is a popular seasonal pastime!

The listing rapidly grew and reached 500 species on 18 July 2015. The right-hand "list" column may be flagged "C" (species sighted at CBCA, Crowe Bridge Conservation Area, nominally up-to-date), "F" or "S". The "F" stands for Ferris Provincial Park. The Ferris list is being added episodically --- so far, apart from a few recent sightings which have been flagged, only the 2014 sightings are represented in full. The "S" is for Seymour Conservation Area. As with Ferris, this is a projected future addition, as time allows. Note that the companion bird list was fully updated for "C, F and S" sightings in June 2020 and remains current at time of posting. Starting in January 2024, "M" will refer to the Mary West property of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, 2 km west of Campbellford, on the west flank of Westben, in the northwest corner of Highway 30 and county road 35 ("West's Corners"). This list will be filled in shortly, and I'm making a start with a lovely tree, the yellow birch!

The first list includes 161 species of wild flowers and nonflowering plants, plus 16 grasses. 56 of these species were identified in the period 21 May to 25 August 2004, at the start of this project. They are presented in a crude alphabetical order, not arranged by any botanical taxonomy.

Note that these lists are based on observations far less-detailed and extensive than for the birds. There are many more species of flowers, grasses, fungi, trees and animals in the region than recorded here: these are merely some of the more obvious examples.

The spring and early summer of 2004 was relatively mild and wet, culminating in a destructive flood in the city of Peterborough on 15 July, brought about by the fall of some 170 to 200 mm of rain in a 24-hour period. The unusual summer contributed to a very fine display of wildflowers. On 21 July, at least 32 of the flower species on this list were easy to find, some (such as white sweet-clover and great mullein) close to 2 metres in height. The first half of 2008 was marked by a relatively long snowy winter, with a brief hot spell in early April followed by a slow spring period extending into June, and finally a rapid spurt of plant growth into July. The rain kept stream levels high, vegetation lush, and so it was no surprise to see at least 36 species of wildflowers on a short walk on 10 August.

Seymour and CBCA Species Lists: The Crowe Bridge Conservation Area

This township compilation is being updated at frequent intervals. You may want to print a copy and then check off / add species for yourself. The "List" column includes "C" entries that refer to the Crowe Bridge Conservation Area (CBCA). For a related slide-show on the natural history of this beautiful and interesting 10-hectare area in the valley of the Crowe River, see either of two overlapping editions of a PowerPoint presentation flagged (in .pdf format) on the Turnstone web site. The information on CBCA included in that on-line show was collected in 2007 and 2008, and later extended and updated into October 2010, hosted initially on the "Save The Crowe" web site. The latest edition is May 2013.

A wonderful account of the local history of this stretch of the lower Crowe, of the swimming holes and the local community, has been written by life-long resident and farmer William (Bill) Petherick in The Tribune, May 2021 issue.

The Crowe Bridge Conservation Area list includes at least 174 species: 72 species of flowering and non-flowering plants and 7 grasses; 38 birds; 27 trees and shrubs; 26 assorted mammals, reptiles and amphibians, insects, molluscs and crustaceans, and 4 fungi. A more inclusive CBCA list would also include small frogs and small (5- to 8-cm-long) thin fish (fingerlings) which are olive-green with orange and black markings near the tail (juvenile trout?) and bottom-dwelling fish up to 6" (15 cm) in length [see below for the note on fish species reported at nearby Hastings on the Trent River upstream from the mouth of the Crowe].

The CBCA list remains very much a work in progress: as of 31 August 2008 it already contained 35% of all species noted in Seymour township, including 60% of the flowers but just 16% of the birds. The eagle, bat and salamander, Dobson fly (shown in italics), milk snake, pileated woodpecker and black bear at CBCA were variously reported by the Humphries family and Lisa Winegarden, the salamander documented by photos in August 2008. The Humphries also noted a family of foxes on site in 2009. The crayfish (a large individual, 10 cm long) was discovered by Fran Manns in August 2010 in a shallow pool at the CBCA. An even larger example was found dead beside the Trent canal in early April 2012.

The current CBCA roster includes 35% of all species on the township lists at that time, in just 0.033 percent of the township land area. This little list is doubtless not unique in Trent Hills but, combined with the geological features of the conservation area, argues for preserving CBCA for future generations, and avoiding inappropriate development.

To aid biological census-taking at CBCA, all species noted there are flagged here (C); the under-represented birds are listed separately at the end of this compilation.

Note that the Trent Hills area lies in the Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Lowland forest region, on the north margin of the relatively limited area of deciduous forests along the north shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario. It is transitional from plant hardiness zones 4 to 5 (see maps in Farrar, 1995, pp.482-483). By way of explanation, the flora of North America can be divided into ten zones from 1 (tundra) to 10 (tropical). Campbellford is sufficiently far south, low in elevation and sheltered, that it supports a number of southern species near the north limits of their range, such as smokebush and catalpa. Northwards of highway 7 can be considered zone 4, while Trent Hills is plausibly zone 5, and areas to the south and west (e.g., Prince Edward county, Toronto) are zone 6.

The snowfall in the township can be considered moderate, the average estimated (based on Campbellford, for the most part) at roughly 1.4 metres (range 0.7 to 2.6 metres) per winter over the 14 winters from 2007-2008 to 2020-2021. Ignoring the occasional flurry of small flakes, appreciable snowfall occurs as early as the first week of November and can come up to the latter half of of April. This pattern can be ascribed to a position between the lees of the Great Lakes (Erie-Ontario to the south and Huron to the northwest). Lake-effect snows impact the shore of Prince Edward county to the southeast, and also areas to the north, east from Georgian Bay. Some basic, unofficial snow data (pdf file, 321 kb) are presented here, from Q4-2007 through Q2-2023. Note that these are based on simple metric measurements of mean snow depths, and do not reflect variability in snow types, from light powder to heavy wet snow (which is critical to the equivalent rainfall amount).

Many species of flowers occur far and wide, beyond North America. A small example: species such as marsh marigold, self-heal, ox-eye daisy, bird's-foot trefoil and bladder campion are all found in Ireland. I have so far limited the number of obvious imports, such as the pretty yellow shrubs of the genus Forsythia, unless they occur wild, or at least in settings such as former farmland, reverted to the wild. Being a hardy European import, Forsythia appears capable of growing beyond its familiar garden setting. Beneath the water, a good example seen in both Crowe and Trent rivers in Trent Hills is the rusty crayfish which is an invasive species introduced to the Kawarthas in the 1960s, most probably by fishermen from the Ohio- Kentucky- Tennessee region, south of the Great Lakes. It now competes with and replaces smaller local species such as the eastern crayfish.

The region lies within the 12,400 km² Trent River drainage basin, administered by four conservation authorities, The watershed includes the Lower Trent area downstream of Rice Lake (2,121 km², including Campbellford and much of Trent Hills), and the Crowe river drainage (circa 2,000 km²). The Lower Trent area is composed of 12 sub-watersheds, including those drained by Trout Creek (45 km²) and Cold Creek (261 km²).

The Ferris Fungi Walk returned, with Jan Thornhill, Phil Careless, a cast of about fifty people plus several dogs, on 30 September 2012, which accounts for the final 11 entries above. These are only a selection of the 40-odd species which were identified (on the walk or subsequently), despite a damp grey day (but not rainy, unlike 2011) and the preceding, uniquely drought-parched summer in 2012. Prior to this day, I had seen few fungi in the local woods, though there was a remarkable abundance of giant puffballs in mature woodlands, some of which appeared for sale, and/or as soup! Covering my tracks somewhat, several of the day's finds are left at the genus level... A third day out, on a flawless Sunday, 29 September 2013, with an overlapping, and even larger cast of characters, brought forth more fascinating fungi, including at least four species new to this list. So, back to the woods with my new copy of Barron (1999) [see references at end].

Above: two local botanical (well, mycological) wonders. Left: A thin-stemmed example of a fine gilled mushroom, a (?) club-footed clitocybe, growing in a moist garden location in Campbellford on 20 August 2011. The mushroom is delicate, with a gently concave top, the gills extending down the stalk. Right: this outlandish object, roughly 5 cm in width, is an example of cedar-apple rust, investing a small red-cedar tree in May 2010. The jelly-like horns or "telia" grow from a woody gall and serve to propagate the spores of the fungus. This rust affects red cedar and common juniper, but not white cedar.

The 67 species of trees, shrubs and vines listed below include some beautiful examples, easily accessible to visitors in such areas as the Rotary Trail around the canal in Campbellford, on the hills of nearby Ferris park, and the conservation areas of Seymour and Crowe Bridge. A few of these are notable for being near the northern edge of their range, such as the northern catalpa and smokebush. Thanks to Irwin Kennedy and Jim Connor for pointing out some of these in Ferris park!

Trees, Shrubs and Vines of Seymour Township

English	Latin	Notes / Alternative Names	List
Tag alder	Alnus incana rugosa	speckled alder, grey alder, hoary alder	FM
Black ash	Fraxinus nigra
American mountain ash	Sorbus americana	Dogberry
European mountain ash	Sorbus aucuparia	Rowan tree, dogberry
White ash	Fraxinus americana		F
Red ash	Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Common prickly-ash	Zanthoxylum americanum	spiny shrub	FM
Quaking aspen	Populus tremuloides	trembling aspen	C
Bigtooth aspen	Populus grandidentata	largetooth aspen	C
Japanese barberry	Berberis thunbergii	common barberry	F
American basswood	Tilia americana	a linden	CF
American beech	Fagus grandifolia		FM
Blue-beech	Carpinus caroliana	American hornbeam, musclewood, ironwood, bois de fer	CF
Paper birch	Betula papyrifera	canoe birch, white birch	CFM
Yellow birch	Betula alleghaniensis	swamp birch, curly birch, merisier jaune	M
Climbing bittersweet	Celastrus scandens	American bittersweet (long vine, red berries in orange 3-fold casings)
American bladdernut	Staphylea trifolia		C
Butternut	Juglans cinerea	white walnut
Northern catalpa	Catalpa speciosa
Western redcedar	Juniperus virginiana		CF
Northern white cedar	Thuja occidentalis		CFM
Black cherry	Prunus serotina	Cerisier tardif
Choke cherry	Prunus virginiana	eastern choke cherry, Cerisier de Virginie
Eastern cottonwood	Populus deltoides	a poplar
Siberian crab apple	Malus baccata	flowering crab apple: Pyrus baccata
Wild crab apple	Malus coronaria	sweet crab apple: Pommier odorant
American black currant	Ribes americanum
Alternate-leaf dogwood	Cornus alternifolia	pagoda dogwood	CF
Red-osier dogwood	Cornus stolonifera		CF
American elder	Sambucus canadensis		C
White elm	Ulmus americana	American elm	C
Chinese elm	Ulmus parviflora
Slippery elm	Ulmus rubra	red elm	C
Siberian elm	Ulmus pumila
Balsam fir	Abies balsamea	Canada balsam	M
Ginkgo	Ginkgo biloba	oriental ornamental import
Witch hazel	Hamamelis virginiana		F
Eastern hemlock	Tsuga canadensis		C
Bitternut hickory	Carya cordiformis	swamp hickory	F
Shagback hickory	Carya ovata		C
Hobblebush	Viburnum alnifolium	clusters of small fruits on red stems	C
Highbush cranberry	Viburnum trilobum	American cranberrybush, Viburnum opulus americanum	F
Fly honeysuckle	Lonicera canadensis	shrub, cf. vine-like hairy honeysuckle	CF
Hop-hornbeam	Ostrya virginiana	ironwood, eastern hophornbeam	CF
Horsechestnut	Aesculus hippocastanum	chestnut (A.h. is a common urban import, native to the Balkans)
Common juniper	Juniperus communis	dwarf juniper	C
Common lilac	Syringa vulgaris
Honey-locust	Gleditsia triacanthos		F
Black locust	Robinia pseudoacacia	False acacia
Norway maple	Acer platanoides
Silver maple	Acer saccharinum		C
Sugar maple	Acer saccharum		CFM
Manitoba maple	Acer negundo	boxelder, box-elder, ashleaf maple	F
Red mulberry	Morus rubra
Bur oak	Quercus macrocarpa	blue oak, mossycup oak	CF
Chinquapin oak	Quercus muehlenbergii	chinkapin oak, yellow chestnut oak	F
Northern red oak	Quercus rubra	chêne rouge	CFM
Red pine	Pinus resinosa	Norway pine	CFM
Eastern white pine	Pinus stroba		CFM
Canada plum	Prunus nigra	On karst limestone platform at CBCA	C
Balsam poplar	Populus balsamifera
Multiflora rose	Rosa multiflora	Japanese rose, introduced (now invasive!) species	C
Smokebush	Cotinus coggygria
Blue spruce	Picea pungens	Colorado spruce, silver spruce
White spruce	Picea glauca		C
Tamarack	Larix laricina	American larch	F
Staghorn sumac	Rus typhina		C
Black walnut	Juglans nigra
Weeping willow	Salix babylonica	import from China, popular worldwide
Yew, sp.	Taxus	imported cultivars common in gardens

Above: two vignettes of local trees. Left: a cone with the twisted, paired needles of red pine, seen in November 2009. Right: the damage down the trunk of an American cottonwood, caused by a lightning strike in July 2004. The track of the electricity, in its incredibly short and intense passage to ground, has stripped the bark from the tree, one of a noble line of cottonwoods planted on the west bank of the canal near the time of its completion some 85 years earlier. These gentle giants are now succumbing to age, but happily the Municipality is planting new trees to replace the old, along Grand Road in Campbellford. Those interested in seeing what lightning can do to soil, sand and rock can look at the first of four pages on this site devoted to fulgurites, natural glasses formed by melting induced by lightning.

The third table lists some 23 mammals, 18 reptiles and amphibians, and a token start on the list of butterflies, moths and other insects (circa 67 species, including 23 butterflies and moths and 11 damselflies and dragonflies), plus two fish, two molluscs and a crustacean. The small-footed bat and the salamander have been reported from the CBCA. Currently unlisted / unidentified critters are easy to pick out by their absence in the catalogue: native fish, tiny and medium-sized ants, spiders, black maple leafspot fungus, flies and worms, for a start! The Monarch butterfly is a welcome seasonal visitor: look for it near milkweed plants in the later summer and autumn.

Fish species are something of a mystery to me: it seems reasonable to think that the Trent downstream through Campbellford, and the lowest reaches of the Crowe River, contain much the same fish populations as the Trent at Hastings. In an article on fishing at Hastings, Cecilia Nasmith (2012) notes the popularity and economic importance of fishing in the town. She quotes the following fish species: muskie, pickerel, small-mouth bass, large-mouth bass, catfish, perch, crappie and bluegill. The article was spurred by the World Fishing Network's naming of Hastings as the Number 5 fishing spot in all Canada (Chapleau came first, then Port Colborne, Port Renfrew, Port Hardy and Hastings).

The Fauna of Seymour Township

English	Latin	Notes / Alternative Names	List
Mammals
Little brown bat	Myotis lucifugus
Eastern small-footed bat	Myotis leibii		C
Black bear	Ursus americanus		C
Beaver	Castor canadensis		C
Porcupine	Erethizon dorsatum
Striped skunk	Mephitis mephitis
Eastern chipmunk	Tamias striatus		C
Coyote	Canis latrans	most often detected by its scat
White-tailed deer	Odocoileus virginianus		C
Short-tailed weasel	Mustela erminea	stoat (summer) / ermine (winter)
River otter	Lontra canadensis		C
Mink	Mustela vison		C
Red fox	Vulpes vulpes		C
Eastern cottontail rabbit	Sylvilagus floridanus		C
Groundhog	Marmota monax	woodchuck
Deer mouse	Peromyscus maniculatus
Masked shrew	Sorex cinereus
Northern short-tailed shrew	Blarina brevicauda
Muskrat	Ondatra zibethicus
Raccoon	Procyon lotor
Grey squirrel	Sciurus carolinensis		F
Red squirrel	Tamiasciurus hudsonicus		F
Meadow vole	Microtus pennsylvanicus	field mouse
Reptiles and Amphibians
Common garter snake	Thamnophis sirtalis		CF
Milk snake	Lampropeltis triangulum		C
Northern water snake	Nerodia sipedon		C
Brown snake	Storeria dekayi	DeKay's snake
Northern redbelly snake	Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata
Black rat snake	Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta
Midland chorus frog	Pseudacris triseriata
Northern spring peeper	Pseudacris crucifer	Hyla crucifer	C
Northern leopard frog	Rana pipiens	(green & brown* forms, *cf. pickerel frog)	C
Wood frog	Rana sylvatica
Green frog	Rana clamitans
American toad	Anaxyrus americanus	Formerly Bufo americanus	F
Midland painted turtle	Chrysemis picta		CF
Snapping turtle	Chelydra serpentina
Northern map turtle	Graptemys geographica	Malaclemys geographica	F
Eastern spiny softshell turtle	Apalone spinifera	Trionyx spiniferus spiniferus (seen in August 2020, but photos leave room for doubt)
Blanding's turtle	Emydoidea blandingii	(seen in 2005 )
Blue-spotted salamander	Ambystoma laterale		C
Eastern red-backed salamander	Plethodon cinereus
Fish
Rock bass	Ambloplites rupestris
Common carp	Cyprinus carpio	introduced from eastern Europe, 19th century
Insects
Butterflies and Moths
Red admiral	Vanessa atalanta
White admiral	Limenitis arthemis arthemis	Red-spotted admiral	F
Alfalfa butterfly	Colias eurytheme	orange sulphur
European cabbage butterfly	Pieris rapne
American copper	Lycaena phlaeas
Northern crescent	Phyciodes cocyta	cf. Pearl crescent
Pearl crescent	Phyciodes tharos
Great spangled fritillary	Speyeria cybele
Harvester	Feniseca tarquinius
Monarch butterfly	Danaus plexippus		F
Mourning cloak	Nymphalis antiopa		F
Appalachian brown	Satyrodes appalachia		F
Wood nymph	Cercyonis pegala
Northern pearly-eye	Lethe anthedon	Enodia anthedon
Silver-spotted skipper	Epargyreus clarus
Clouded sulphur butterfly	Colias philodice
Little wood satyr	Megisto cymela
Canadian tiger swallowtail	Papilio canadensis
Black swallowtail	Papilio polyxenes
Giant swallowtail	Papilio crespontes		CF
Virginia ctenucha moth	Ctenucha virginica	Arctiidae (tiger moths)
Hickory tussock moth	Lophocampa caryae	Arctiidae: caterpillar is fluffy, white and black
Rosy maple moth	Dryocampa rubicunda	Member of the Saturniidae (great silk moths)
European gypsy moth	Lymantria dispar	LDD moth - accidental escape (import to NJ, 1868), a pest in 2021	S
Damselflies and Dragonflies (Odonates)
Black-winged damselfly	Agrion maculatum	Calopteryx maculata
Stream bluet damselfly	Enallagma exsulans
Hagen's bluet damselfly	Enallagma hageni
Northern bluet damselfly	Enallagma annexium		C
Azure bluet damselfly	Enallagma aspersum		F
Ebony jewelwing damselfly	Calopteryx maculata	a broad-winged damsel (female has white wing spots)
Powdered dancer damselfly	Argea moesta
Eastern forktail dragonfly	Ischnura verticalis
Band-winged meadowhawk dragonfly	Sympetrum semicinctum		C
Twelve-spotted skimmer dragonfly	Libellula pulchella	ten-spotted skimmer
Common whitetail dragonfly	Plathemis lydia
Miscellaneous
Honeybee	Apis mellifera
Carpenter bee	Xylocopa virginica
Yellowjacket wasp	Vespula maculifrons
Grass carrier wasp	Isodontia apicalis
Great black wasp	Sphex pennsylvanicus
Eastern boxelder bug	Boisea trivittata
Multicoloured Asian ladybeetle	Harmonia axyridis	ladybug, variable. e.g., orange with 16 spots
Common walkingstick	Diapheromera femorata	Northern walkingstick, a form of stick insect	F
June beetle	Phyllophaga fervida	May beetle
Stink bug	Pentatomidae gen.
Burying beetle	Nicrophorus sp.	carrion beetle, sexton beetle
Six-spotted tiger beetle	Cicindela sexguttata	iridescent green, white spots
Mite	Poecilochirus sp.	associated with Nicrophorus
Mite	Vasates quadrupeds	Causes maple bladder galls (red spots on leaves)
Sumac gall aphid	Melaphis rhois	Causes 1-2 cm, green to red galls on sumac (seen in August)
American tent caterpillar	Malacosoma americana	May "tents", very abundant some years	CF
Fall webworm	Hyphantrea cunea	Late summer "tents", hairy yellowish caterpillars
Woolly bear caterpillar	Isia isabella	Isabella tiger moth
Common house centipede	Scutigera coleoptrata
Millipede	Narceus americanus		F
Woodlouse	Porcellio laevis	"pillbug"
Silverfish	Lespisma saccharina (Linnaeus)	"carpet shark"
Black carpenter ant	Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Pharaoh ant	Monomorium pharaonis	or similar - tiny 2-tone pale ant
European mantis	Mantis religiosa
Carolina grasshopper	Dissosteira carolina	road duster grasshopper	C
Dobson fly	Corydalis cornutus		C
Pennsylvania firefly	Photuris pennsylvanica		C
Gall fly	Eurosta solidaginis	freeze-tolerant larval galls on goldenrod
Deer fly	Chrysops, sp.
Mosquito	Culex, sp.		F
Molluscs
Freshwater mussel	genus Unionidae	river mussels	C
Eastern mystery snail	Viviparus georgianus	river snail	C
Freshwater bryozoans
Magnificent bryozoan	Pectinatella magnifica
Arthropods
a) Araneae
Cross orbweaver spider	Araneus diadematus
Daddy long-legs spider	Pholcus phalangioides	cellar spider
b) Crustacea
Rusty crayfish	Orconectes rusticus	An invasive species	C
c) Ixodida
Black-legged tick	Ixodes scapularis	deer tick (beware: Lyme disease, etc! ***)	FS

*** The deer tick has been much more common across much of Ontario in the early 21st century, presumably another side-effect of a warming trend in the regional climate. The tick clings to long grass or shrubbery, until it has a chance to hop onto a suitable passing animal or human victim. Based on local anecdote, ticks appear much more active in 2022 and 2023 than in the preceding two decades. Eight documented instances in 2020-2024 were all in spring and early summer, 10 April to 07 July. Prior to that, 1998-2019, we saw just one tick, picked up at Presqu'ile in May 2017. Ticks start "questing" for prey as soon as it is warm enough for them to be active. After that, they are said to remain active until the near-zero temperatures of late autumn. There are at least 90 tick species in the USA, 40 in Canada, including the deer tick and the American dog tick. Ticks can pass as many as 7 diseases to humans, of which Lyme is of the most general concern. In Ontario, the deer tick is the only vector that transmits Lyme to humans.
A similar uptick in ticks (groan) has been noted in the British Isles. Some 22 species are described from the UK and Ireland, though only certain species, notably the sheep tick, will bite humans and possibly pass on Lyme or other diseases. These tick species commonly have their preferred hosts, such as birds (e.g., cormorant, puffin) and mammals (rabbit, hedgehog, bat, sheep).


Above: two beautiful flying "bugs" photographed in the first week of August 2011. Left: band-winged meadowhawk dragonfly on purple loosestrife at the Crowe Bridge Conservation Area (CBCA). Right: A giant swallowtail butterfly taking a brief rest from its powerful flight along a trail just west of Campbellford.

The following is a token bird list for the CBCA - 38 species - given time, it can surely be proved that most or all of the birds on the Seymour Township bird list are present here on a seasonal or year-round basis.

Preliminary Bird List for the Crowe Bridge Conservation Area

English	Latin	French	Alternative Names
Double-crested Cormorant 1998-2020	Phalacrocorax auritus	Cormoran aigrettes
Great Blue Heron 1998-2013	Ardea herodias	Grand héron
Little Blue Heron	Florida caerulea	Petit héron bleu
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Bernache canadienne
Mallard 1998-2020	Anas platyrhynchos	Canard colvert	Canard malard
Common Goldeneye1998-2020	Bucephala clangula	Garrot à oeil d'or	Garrot commun, American goldeneye, Glaucionetta clangula americana (obsolete)
Bufflehead 1998-2013	Bucephela albeola	Petit garrot
Common Merganser 1998-2014	Mergus merganser	Grand bec-scie
Turkey Vulture 1998-2021	Cathartes aura	Urubu à tête rouge	Vautour à tête rouge
Osprey 1999-2008	Pandion haliaetus	L'aigle pêcheur	Balbuzard
Bald Eagle 1998-2021	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	L'aigle à tête blanche	Pygargue à tête blanche
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	Crécerelle américaine	Sparrow hawk
Merlin	Falco columbarius	Faucon merillon	Pigeon hawk
Ruffed Grouse 1999-2013	Bonasa umbellus	Gelinotte huppée
Ring-billed Gull 1998-2013	Larus delawarensis	Goéland à bec cerclé
Feral Pigeon	Columba livia	Pigeon biset	Rock dove; Domestic pigeon
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon	Martin-pêcheur	Megaceryle alcyon
Downy Woodpecker 1999-2020	Picoides pubescens	Pic mineur	Dendrocopos pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker 1999-2011	Picoides villosus	Pic chevelu	Dendrocopos villosus
Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	Pic flamboyant	Yellow-shafted flicker; Pic dor
Pileated Woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus	Grand pic
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1998-2013	Contopus virens	Pioui de l'Est	Eastern pewee
Eastern Phoebe 1999-2013	Sayornis phoebe	Moucherolle phébi
Great Crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus crinitus	Tyran huppé	Moucherolle huppé
Eastern Kingbird	Tyrannus tyrannus	Tyran tritri
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Selgidopteryx serripennis	Hirondelle à ailes hérissées	Selgidopteryx ruficollis
Cedar Waxwing 1999-2020	Bombycilla cedrorum	Jaseur des cèdres
Grey Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	Moqueur chat	Moqueur polyglotte
American Robin 1998-2020	Turdus migratorius	Merle d'Amérique	Merle américain
Black-capped Chickadee	Parus atricapillus	Mésange à tête noire
White-breasted Nuthatch 1999-2012	Sitta carolinensis	Sittelle poitrine blanche
Brown creeper 1998-2014	Certhia americana	Grimpereau brun	Certhia familiaris americana
Red-eyed Vireo 1998-2014	Vireo olivaceus	Viréo aux yeux rouges
Common Grackle 1998-2022	Quiscalus quiscula	Mainate bronzé	Bronzed grackle
American Goldfinch	Carduelis tristis	Chardonneret jaune	Spinus tristis
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	tourneau sansonnet
Blue Jay 1999-2007	Cyanocitta cristata	Geai bleu
American Crow 1998-2013	Corvus brachyrhynchos	Corneille américaine	Common crow

Footnote

The following books were used for the identifications presented above. All are very helpful in their fields: Farrar's handbook of trees is especially remarkable. A combination of the books, providing both photographs and line drawings, provides the most efficient means of identifying a particular species.

References

Alex,JF and Switzer,CM (1982) Ontario Weeds. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Toronto, OMAF Publication 505, 208pp.

Barron,G (1999) Mushrooms of Ontario & Eastern Canada. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, 336pp. [relevant to Ontario, Quebec, maritime Canada and north-central to northeastern U.S.A., from Minnesota to Illinois, Maryland, New York and Maine].

Brockman,CF and Merrilees,R (1979) Trees of North America. Golden Press, New York, 280pp.

Chambers,BA, Naylor,BJ, Nieppola,J, Merchant,B and Uhlig,P (1997) Field Guide to Forest Ecosystems of Central Ontario. Ministry of Natural Resources SCSS Field Guide FG-01, 200pp. [from Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury and Temagami, and south to Parry Sound, Algonquin Park and Bancroft].

Clarke,R (2003) To Know This Place: The Black Oak Savanna / Tallgrass Prairie of Alderville First Nation. Sweetgrass Studios, Alderville First Nation, Roseneath, Ontario, 41pp.

Dickinson,T, Metsger,D, Bull,J and Dickinson,R (2004) Wildflowers of Ontario. Royal Ontario Museum / McClelland & Stewart, Toronto, 416pp.

Farrar,JL (1995) Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited, Markham, Ontario / Canadian Forest Service, 502pp.

Fisher,C, Joynt,A and Brooks,RJ (2007) Reptiles and Amphibians of Canada. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, 208pp.

Freeman,Bill (2015) More ammunition for local water soldier campaign. Trent Hills Independent, pp.1,4, 27 August.

Holland,WJ, Daniel,S, Southby,CA and Southby,DT (2003) The Field Guide to Butterflies. Main Street Press / Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., New York, 224pp. [Photographic update of Holland's original 1915 title, "The Butterfly Guide"].

Hosie,RC (1973) Native Trees of Canada. Canadian Forestry Service, 380pp. (reprinting of 1969 original).

Jones,CD, Kingsley,A, Burke,P and Holder,M (2008) Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Algonquin Provincial Park and the Surrounding Area. Friends of Algonquin Park, P.O. Box 248, Whitney, Ontario, 263pp.

Kershaw,L (2001) Trees of Ontario, including Tall Shrubs. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, 240pp.

Kershaw,L (2002) Ontario Wildflowers: 101 Wayside Flowers. Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, 144pp.

Mandrak,NE and Crossman,EJ (2003) Fishes of Algonquin provincial park. Friends of Algonquin Park, 40pp.

Monkman,D (2002) Nature's Year in the Kawarthas: a Guide to the Unfolding Seasons. Natural Heritage / Natural History Inc., Toronto, 338pp.

Nasmith,C (2012) Hastings ranks in top five fishing comunities. Community Press, p.27, 05 January.

Noxon,P (2002) Field, Forest, Hedgerow. A Hiker's Wildflower Guide for Prince Edward County. Published by Court Noxon, Box 69, Bloomfield, Ontario K0K 1G0, 126pp.

Petherick,W (2021) Reflections on Crowe River; past, present and future. The Tribune, pp.10-11, May.

Tozer,R (2011) Checklist and seasonal status of the birds of Algonquin provincial park. Algonquin Park Tech.Bull. 9, 34pp.

Wernert,SJ (editor) (1982) North American Wildlife. Reader's Digest, 576pp.

Extra on-line reference help:

Government of Canada Biodiversity Pages

Integrated Taxonomic Information System

Andy's Northern Ontario Wildflowers

Connecticut Botanical Society

Ontario Wildflowers

Aquatic Biologists, Inc. (ABI)

Ontario Grasses, Sedges & Rushes

Drew Monkman: Natural History, Kawarthas District

Toronto Zoo - Turtles of Ontario / Turtle Tally

Whats That Bug? (excellent photographs of beautiful to downright weird beasties)

Butterflies and Moths of North America

A Selection of Garden-related sites - "natural" gardens:

Growing Bird-friendly Gardens across Canada

Felix Duchara (Own The Yard) on starting a garden

Renovating your Garden on a Budget

Helping Pollinators in your Garden - Plant Flowers to Help the Bees!

Homeowner's Guide to a Bee-Friendly Backyard and Garden

Tips on Backyard Beekeeping

Creating a Butterfly Garden

Butterflies in Your Playground & Butterfly Gardening

A Tribute To The Monarch Butterfly: How To Turn Your Backyard Into A Butterfly Friendly Habitat

More eco-info:

Spiders.us - "An International Spider Community with a North American Focus"

"Spiderz Rule!" - spiders worldwide

Friends of Ferris Park

Friends of Presqu'ile Park

Friends of Presqu'ile Park Weekly Bird Report by Doug McRae

George Barron's Collection of Fungi Images, University of Guelph

Jan Thornhill's "Weird and Wonderful Wild Mushrooms"

and lastly,

A walk in Ferris Park -
a 2-page guide to the park, as seen in early October 2010 (68 kb pdf file)

Graham Wilson, 20 July 2004 / latest additions through 12 April 2024,
with the above links last tested in full on 24 October 2020

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