Blue Jay, vol.74, issue 3

2016·5.4 MB·English

by  Saskatchewan Natural History Society

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University of Alberta Library ALL 2016 VOLUME 74.3
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B65
v.74:
no.3
2016
SCI/TECH
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Albertensis
Ferns bring a tranquil pleasure to their spectators, In May 2016, Manomet's Shorebird Recovery Stuart Houston reports two new Saskatchew
which is different to that provided by the bright Program's Habitat Management Team co-hosted raptor longevity records received in 2013 — his 7'
colours that attract us to many flowering plants. See a "Shorebird Ecology, Conservation, and Habitat year of banding bin
page 6 for a new, annotated list of Manitoba ferns. Management workshop" in Chaplin, Saskatchewan.
The time when a young bird leaves the nest until European Starlings became established rapidly across Nature Saskatchewan Board member Donna Bril
it becomes independent is an under-studied phase the Prairie Provinces and beyond, despite early has a long-time connection with Prince Alb
of the annual cycle of birds, particularly of hosts of predictions that "the area of the Great Plains, with National Park, and the Waskesiu River is one of
brood-parasitic cowbirds. This article documents its scarcity of suitable nesting sites, will undoubtedly favourite places in the pc_
five observations of putative hosts feeding fledgling retard the westward advance."
Brown-headed Cowbirds.
What's inside
5 Wolseley History a 16 Two of Saskatchewan's Oldest 28 Additional Observations of
Highlight of Spring Meet and Most-studied Raptors Putative Host Species Feedinc
Jordan Ignatiuk C. Stuart Houston only Cowbird Fledglings
Spencer G. Sealy
6 A New Annotated List of 19 FROM THE GROUND UP:
Manitoba Ferns (Spring, 2016) Ponteix Rancher Committed 32 History of the European
Richard J. Staniforth to Raising Environmental Starling in Manitoba and
Awareness Nearby States and Provinces
12 Shorebirds Ecology and
Tracy Harrison for the South of Peter Taylor, Randall D. Mooi &
Conservation Workshop
the Divide Conservation Action Robert J. Parsons
Convenes at Chaplin Lake
Program Inc.
Monica Iglecia, Brad Winn, 44 Changes to our Publications
Brian Harrington, Jordan Ignatiuk, 22 Red-eyed Vireo Mimics an and Membership Structure
Christy Morrissey, Lori Wilson Olive-sided Flycatcher
46 Human Nature
Ron Jensen
Donna Bruce
24 Nature Saskatchewan
47 Mystery Photo
Fall Meet 2016
2 BLUE JAY FALL 2016 VOLUME 74.3
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dr. Branimir Gjetvaj
impact on the environment. We
President, Nature Saskatchewan
need to address the environmental
challenges facing our society in a
Dear Nature Saskatchewan
holistic way; to look for solutions
members,
through solving biological problems
I would like to thank you for your
while not neglecting the social
trust in giving me the opportunity
impact imposed by those solutions.
to serve as the President of our
My official training is in
society over the next two years. It is
biology/ecology and genetics. I
a challenging task and I will do my
am a keen photographer and I
best to fulfill your expectations. The
have been using my photography
President's role is not an executive
skills to promote the appreciation
one, as we employ an Executive
and protection of natural
Dr. Branimir Gjetvaj
Director to manage and administer
environments and cultural legacies.
day-to-day activities. Rather, my role
In 2013, I received Michelle's
is to lead the Board of Directors to
Prize — jointly awarded by the
govern and set long-term actions
Canadian Environmental Law
to help us achieve the society's
Association and the University of
objectives. Personally, I also believe
Saskatchewan — in recognition
that my role is to ask questions and
of my extensive involvement with
stimulate discussion.
environmental NGOs and the
The mission of our society is to
use of photography to advance
inspire people to appreciate, learn
environmental conservation. I have
about and conserve Saskatchewan's
Photo credit: Richard Staniforth served on the Boards of conservation
natural environment. Wide open
organizations in Saskatchewan
ON THE FRONT COVER
spaces on the prairies and boreal
and Alberta that advocate for
The leaf buds ('fiddleheads') of an Ostrich
forest, combined with low density
fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). Most ferns nature conservation and creation
characteristically have cured buds that protect them of human settlements, give a false
of protected areas to minimize
as they push their way up through the soil in the
impression that land, water and
spring. Those of the Ostrich fern will be familiar biodiversity loss. I have been with
to many naturalists because they are edible and resources are limitless. The economy Nature Saskatchewan since 2003,
much sought after. The fiddleheads of many other
of our province is based on resource and served as the Education Director
ferns are not edible, because they may contain
carcinogens or they may be too small. extraction and agricultural activities for three years. What attracted me
that impose a large amount of to this organization is the strong
pressure on the land, water and component of educational programs
organisms we share the space with. and society efforts to promote
The economy based on increasing participation in nature-related
resource extraction and mass activities such as bird watching. In
production led to the economy of combination with a well-designed
mass consumption. However, there and implemented public outreach
are physical and ecological limits program, I believe that activities of
to consumption. Our collective Nature Saskatchewan will increase
Photo credit: Glen McMaster
activities have had a negative impact public interest and motivation to
on the environment and its plant admire the beauty of nature, and
ON THE BACK COVER
"This is a great year for blue-eyed grass on the and animal inhabitants. I believe conserve it for our benefit and the
jprairies! On our prairie, in south-central Manitoba, that we have to be forward-looking benefit of future generations. I am
they nod and twinkle like fallen stars, reflecting the
and advocate for the economy that looking forward to many challenges
blue sky from which they may have fallen. Here is
one clump! Our son, Glen McMaster (Regina), took improves the well-being of our and successes while serving as the
this photo." communities while minimizing the President of our society. £
- Ardythe McMaster, near Treherne, MB.
FALL 2016 VOLUME 74.3 BLUE JAY 3
>€blue jay
SASKATCHEWAN
Main Office
Blue Jay, founded in 1942 by Board of Directors
Isabel M. Priestly, is a journal of President Nature Saskatchewan
Branimir Gjetvaj 206 - 1860 Lome Street
natural history and conservation for
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2L7
Saskatchewan and adjacent regions. Vice President
Hamilton Greenwood
It is published quarterly by
Nature Saskatchewan. Secretary Publications
Nicole Dunn
Blue Jay Editor
Treasurer
Annie McLeod
Editor: Annie McLeod
Ed Rodger
3017 Hill Avenue Special Publications Editor
Past President
Anna Leighton
Regina, SK S4S 0W2 Donna Bruce
E-mail: [email protected]
Honourary President
Gary Seib
Contacts for
Editorial Information Conservation Director Local Societies & Affiliates
Lome Scott
Blue Jay welcomes all submissions,
Fort Qu'Appelle Nature Society
preferably by e-mail (although hand¬ Directors Keith Stephens
Amy Wheeler
written or typed manuscripts will be Indian Head Natural History Society
Ken Ludwig
Irv Escott
considered to accommodate those
Martin Boucher
who do not have access to computer Robert Wilson Kelsey Ecological Society
Kathleen Pitt
equipment), polished or in need of Vladimir Kricfalusy
Nature Moose Jaw
some editorial assistance. All items
Office & Program Contacts Lorna Arnold
for publication should be sent to the
Nature Prince Albert
Executive Director
editor electronically (in a Microsoft
Jim Bahr
Jordan Ignatiuk
Word document) by e-mail or on CD.
Nature Regina
Species at Risk Manager
Hard copies and CDs can be mailed Dale Hjertaas
Rebecca Magnus
to the editor at the address above.
Neudorf Trails &
Conservation & Education Manager
Wild Bird Sanctuary Society
Marla Anderson
Submission deadlines Keith Gerstner
Communications Manager
Saskatoon Nature Society
January 1 for the Spring issue, Ellen Bouvier
Marten Stoffel
April 1 for the Summer issue, Office Coordinator
Southwest Naturalists
Becky Quist
July 1 for the Fall issue, and
Janet Payne
October 1 for the Winter issue. Habitat Stewardship Coordinator
Weyburn Nature Society
Kaytlyn Burrows
For detailed information, please
Val Thomas
Habitat Stewardship Coordinator
see the "Guidelines for Authors"
Wolseley Nature Society
Ashley Fortney
under the Publications section of the Richard Solberg
International Piping Plover
Nature Saskatchewan website. Yorkton Natural History Society
Census Coordinator
Geoff Rushowick
Alan Smith
www.naturesaskatchewan.com Turkey Vulture Tracking Program Yellowhead Flyway
Birding Trail Association
Dr. Stuart Houston
Martin Phillips
Meadow Lake 'Woodlanders'
Junior Forest Wardens
Neil Marsh
Friends of Wascana Marsh
Ramona Clarke
UNIVERoi i r UortARY
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
4 BLUE JAY FALL 2016 VOLUME 74.3
WOLSELEY HISTORY A HIGHLIGHT OF SPRING MEET
Jordan Ignatiuk
a presentation on her research of and overgrown vegetation. An
Executive Director, Nature Saskatchewan Western Painted Turtles in Wascana old bridge (circa 1931) across the
Marsh. The evening concluded with Qu'Appelle River was home to over
Nature Saskatchewan's members
details for Saturday's tours. 500 Cliff Swallows that entertained
met for the weekend of June 17 to
Members were split into groups with their aerial displays. The history
19, 2016 in the beautiful and historic
and carpooled to tour sites — of Ellisboro was revealed on plaques
community of Wolseley.
the Adair Creek reservoir and around buildings dating back to the
The Town Hall, known locally as
surrounding pasture south of town late 19th century. Blooming Prickly
'The Opera House,' served as the
and the Provincial Ecological Reserve Pear Cactus on the valley slopes was
gathering place for registration on
and village of Ellisboro north of an exciting discovery.
Friday night. The program kicked off
town. The groups were led by myself Everyone met back at the lake
with greetings from the local society
and Conservation Director Lome in Wolseley for a wiener roast
and the deputy mayor of Wolseley.
Scott but were free to explore as lunch hosted by the local Nature
The guest speakers for the evening
they saw fit. Highlights from the Society. The groups switched tours
were Marla Anderson, Important
south were sightings of a number for the afternoon. The social hour
Bird Area coordinator for Nature
of Red-sided Garter Snakes, nesting and banquet were again hosted at
Saskatchewan, and Kelsey Marchand,
cormorants and a Great Blue Heron. the Town Hall. The after-banquet
a University of Regina graduate
A few Yellow Lady Slippers were still speakers were Ruth Kost and Tom
student and recent winner of the found in full bloom while most were Perry, graduate students from the
Margaret Skeel Graduate Scholarship beginning to dry and go to seed. University of Saskatchewan. Ruth
Award. Marla gave an overview of Walking access into the Ecological presented her research on the
the IBA program and Kelsey gave Reserve was limited due to deadfall distribution of feral boar in the
prairie-provinces and Tom presented
on the ecology of wolves in the
boreal forest of Saskatchewan.
Prior to the Annual General
Meeting, an early morning tour of
the historic buildings in town was
provided by Stephen Scrivor from the
local society to those interested. The
AGM was again held in the Town
Hall and led by incoming President of
the Board, Branimir Gjetvaj. Members
were presented highlights from the
annual report, asked to ratify the
new membership fee structure and
elect a new slate of directors for the
Nature Saskatchewan board. A thank
you to board members stepping
down — Joan Feather, Tara Sample
(Past President) and Dean Cattell —
was presented. Joining the Board as
Directors at large are Martin Boucher,
Ken Ludwig and Amy Wheeler.
The Meet was a success with many
compliments to the local society for
sharing their beautiful town and
JL
surrounding area.
Trailhead sign provided by Wolseley Elementary students. Interpretive signs along the trails also display the
artwork of students.
FALL 2016 VOLUME 74.3 BLUE JAY 5
A NEW ANNOTATED LIST OF
MANITOBA FERNS (SPRING, 2016)
Richard J. Staniforth of ferns, even within the same region. 3. Bulblet Bladder-fern
336 Glenwood Crescent The ones chosen for the checklist are Bulblet Fern4 (Fig. 2)
Winnipeg, MB R2L 1J9 those that are most commonly used, Cystopteris bulblfera (Linnaeus)
[email protected] or seem to be the most logical names Bernhardi
for those species. Alternative names
Very rare. A single specimen (MMMN ;
Most people who have interests in that have occasionally been selected in
39) was collected from "Eastern
nature have enjoyed the pleasure of important publications involving ferns
Manitoba" by M.W. Hutchison in
seeing ferns in their natural habitats; are given below for clarification.4'5
1944. No additional information is
whether they have been large graceful
given on the herbarium label.
stands of Ostrich ferns growing in 1. Eastern Lady-fern
spring-flooded, riverine forests; stately
Ladyfern4 (Fig. 1)
4. Brittle Bladder-fern
patches of bracken in among fragrant Athyrium filix-femina (Linnaeus) Roth
Fragile Fern4, Fragile Bladder-fern5
pines; or even the various kinds of rock ex Mertens var. angustunn (Willdenow)
Cystopteris fragilis (Linnaeus)
ferns thriving in the smallest of crevices
G. Lawson
Bernhardi
in granite or limestone outcroppings. I
Very common. HABITAT: Wet .
Common. HABITAT: Moist organic
Ferns bring a tranquil pleasure to their
organic soils in deciduous and mixed
substrates in shaded crevices and
spectators, which is different to that
woodlands, bogs, fens, stream banks
mossy ledges on calcareous cliffs
provided by the bright colours that
and roadside ditches.
in mixed or coniferous forests.
attract us to many flowering plants.
RANGE: Southern half of Manitoba,
Occasionally found on granite and
In this article, I hope to update our
but less commonly west of Red River.
other rock types, rarely on rotten logs:;
understanding of ferns in Manitoba
A few northern specimens show
within forests. RANGE: It is found from
with the use of the reliable evidence
a minority of characteristics of the
SE and across the southern half of the]
that herbarium specimens can provide.
Northern Lady-fern, A. filix-femina var.
province north to Lynn Lake, but also
During the early months of 2016,
cyclosorum Ruprecht.
at Churchill where it appears to be
I examined the fern collections of
disjunct.
herbaria at University of Winnipeg
2. American Parsley-fern
(UWPG), University of Manitoba (WIN),
American Rockbrake4,
The Manitoba Museum (MMMN) and
American Rock-fern5
my own temporary collection (RS)
Cryptogramma acrostichoides R. Brown
but occasionally the research led to
Uncommon. HABITAT: Depressions and
herbaria and information sources from
crevices on granite outcrops. RANGE:
elsewhere.
From SE to mid-western Manitoba.
Hopefully, the resulting annotated
checklist will be a baseline datum for
future studies and will also update the
most recent list of Manitoba's plant
biota.1 Horsetails and moonworts
are also ferns in the truest meaning
of the term, but these have not
been included here because they
have already been fully reported in
previous articles in the Blue Jay 2’3 This
article is restricted to the "true" or
leptosporangiate ferns. Altogether
1,421 specimens of ferns were
examined, their identifications were
verified and notes taken regarding
their ranges and habitats. There are
several common names for most kinds
FIGURE 1. Manitoba's commonest ferns; Eastern Lady-fern (left); Spinulose Wood-fern (right);
6 BLUE JAY FALL 2016 VOLUME 74.3
5. Mackay's Bladder-fern 7a. Braun's Hybrid Wood-fern 9. Fragrant Wood-fern
Upland Brittlefern4 (Fig. 2) Dryopteris x uliginosa (A. Braun ex Fragrant fern4, Fragrant Shield-fern5
Cystopteris tenuis (Michaux) Desvaux Doll) Kuntze ex Druce = Dryopteris Dryopteris fragrans (Linnaeus) Schott
carthusiana x D. cristata
Rare. HABITAT: Shady calcareous and Uncommon. HABITAT: Shady, non-
granite cliffs in the boreal forest. Very rare. HABITAT: Mixed and calcareous cliffs on outcrops in the
RANGE: Similar to the Fragile Bladder- coniferous forests in the vicinity of south but on exposed rock ridges
fern but scarcer and more southern both parent species; specimens are northwards. RANGE: SE Manitoba and
and eastern. Formerly known as C. sterile and show characteristics of northwards to the Nunavut border.
fragilis var. mackayi Lawson but was each. This is the first report of this
hybrid for Manitoba. 10. Common Oak-fern
elevated to species status in 1983.6
This is the first report of this taxon Northern Oak Fern4 (Fig. 1)
8. Northern Wood-fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
from Manitoba; however, specimens
at the Manitoba Museum had been Spreading Woodfern4 (Fig. 2) (Linnaeus) Newman
casually annotated as "var. tenuis" by Dryopteris expansa (C. Presl) Fraser- Very common. HABITAT: On moist,
Jenkins & Jermy
D. Brunton in 1986. organic soils in mixed and coniferous
Very rare. A single specimen was woodlands or amongst rocks.
6. Spinulose Wood-fern
collected from a streamside granite RANGE: From the Whiteshell Provincial
Spinulose Shield-fern4'5 (Fig. 1) outcrop in the Gunisao Lake area Park in SE MB across Manitoba to
Dryopteris carthusiana (Villars) (53° 29'N; 96° 18'W) of mid-eastern Riding Mountain National Park and
H.P. Fuchs Manitoba. This is the first report of this northwards to the Nunavut border.
taxon from Manitoba. Although this
Very common. HABITAT: Moist organic
specimen has all of the characteristic 11. Nahanni Oak-fern
soil, and occasionally on rocks, in
features of the Northern Wood-fern, it Gymnocarpium jessoense (Koidzumi)
deciduous, mixed and coniferous
has been pointed out that its petiolar Koidzumi subsp. parvulum Sarvela
forests. RANGE: Throughout the
bracts do not exhibit the strongly
3 southern half of Manitoba, Rare. HABITAT: Usually on ledges on
marked central midrib usually found in
i limestone or granite outcrops in mixed
7. Crested Wood-fern this species (D. Brunton, pers. comm.). or coniferous forests.
Crested Shield-fern4'5 RANGE: Similar to that of Common
Dryopteris cristata (Linnaeus) A. Gray Oak-fern but much scarcer.
Common. HABITAT: Wet organic
11a. Intermediate Oak-fern
substrates in bogs, fens and wet scrub
Gymnocarpium x intermedium
and woodlands. RANGE: Southern
Sarvela = Gymnocarpium
one-third of Manitoba.
jessoense x G. dryopteris
Very rare, but likely commoner than
records indicated. Found in proximity
to parent species, i.e. rocky boreal
woodlands.
12. Limestone Oak-fern
Gymnocarpium robertianum
(Hoffmann) Newman
Very rare. HABITAT: Shady limestone
cliffs and rocks, also cedar swamps.
RANGE: Collected from four locations
in Manitoba: north of Cranberry, 37
km and 50 km N of Grand Rapids and
near the North Star Trail, E of Grand
Beach Provincial Park. K. Pryer has
thoroughly reviewed the occurrence of
oak-ferns in Manitoba.7
URE 1. Common Oak-fern (left); Ostrich fern (right).
FALL 2016 VOLUME 74.3 BLUE JAY 7
13. Hairy Water Clover 17. Gastony's Cliff-brake 19. Northern Beech-fern
Hairy Water Fern4, Hairy Pepperwort5, Pellaea gastonyi Windham Phegopteris con need I is (Michaux)
Water Shamrock (Fig. 2)
Very rare. HABITAT: Dolomite and Very rare. This species has only been
Marsilea vestita Hooker & Greville
limestone outcrops and boulders. collected twice in Manitoba: Kasmerej
Very rare. A single specimen (WIN RANGE: A few colonies are known Lake, NW Manitoba (approx. 59°
6250) is the only evidence of its from the central and northern 35'N; 101o10'W) and, secondly, Tod
occurrence in Manitoba. It may Interlake region of Manitoba. These Lake, W-central Manitoba (approx.56:
be more frequent but overlooked were thoroughly documented by C. 34'N; 101° 46'W).
because it is inconspicuous. It occurs Friesen and C. Murray in 2015.9
in adjacent parts of Saskatchewan, 20. Siberian Polypody
although not commonly5. The 18. Smooth Cliff-brake Polypodium sibiricum Siplivinsky
herbarium label on the Manitoba Pellaea glabella Mettenius ex Kuhn
Uncommon. HABITAT: Crevices
specimen indicated that it was ssp. glabella
and depressions on moist, moss-
collected from "Western Manitoba",
Very rare. Known from only one covered, shaded granite (occasionally
but gives no additional information.
location in Manitoba (49° 44'N; 95° calcareous) outcroppings.
10'W); on the Hunt Lake Hiking Trail in RANGE: SE to NW Manitoba.
14. Ostrich Fern (Fig 1)
Whiteshell Provincial Park where it has
Matteuccia struthiopteris (Linnaeus)
been found growing in moist crevices 21. Common Rock Polypody
Todaro var. pensylvanica (Willdenow)
on a single, shaded, vertical, north¬ Rock Polypody4
C.V. Morton
facing cliff of metamorphic rock within Polypodium virginianum Linnaeus
Very common. HABITAT: Wet or the boreal mixed forest.
Common. HABITAT: Crevices and
seasonally flooded deciduous or
depressions on moist, moss-covered,
mixed woodlands, frequent in river 18a. Western Smooth
shaded granite (occasionally
bottomland forests. RANGE: The Cliff-brake
calcareous) outcroppings.
southern half of Manitoba. A popular Western Dwarf Cliffbrake4
RANGE: SE to NW Manitoba. The
garden plant with edible fiddleheads.8 Pellaea glabella Mettenius ex Kuhn
Common Rock Polypody is the
ssp. occidentalis (E. Nelson) Windham
commoner of the two Polypody
15. Sensitive Fern
Rare. HABITAT: Exposed and partially species in the southeast the province;
Onoclea sensibilis Linnaeus
shaded sites on limestone and however the Manitoba ranges of the
Common. HABITAT: Wet, shrubby, dolomite cliffs within the southern two species overlap.
mixed or deciduous forests, swamps edge of the boreal forest.
and roadside ditches. RANGE: Mid-western Manitoba.
RANGE: SE Manitoba. Beaver Creek
Provincial Park (51° 22'N; 96° 55'W)
is the most northerly and westerly
outpost for the entire range of this
primarily eastern species.
16. Interrupted Fern
Osmunda claytoniana Linnaeus
Uncommon. HABITAT: Damp locations
in deciduous, mixed or coniferous
forests. RANGE: SE Manitoba. A
specimen collected from near Hamar's
Lake within Hecla Provincial Park (51°
11 'N; 96° 55'W) is the most western
location for this primarily eastern
species.
FIGURE 2. From left to right: Two new ferns for Manitoba; Mackay's Bladder-fern; Northern Wood-fer:
8 BLUE JAY FALL 2016 VOLUME 74.3
22. Eastern Bracken 25. Smooth Woodsia
-Bracken Fern4 Woodsia glabella R. Brown ex 27a. Hybrid Woodsia
Pteridium aquilinum (Linnaeus) Kuhn Richardson Woodsia x abbeae Butters = W.
var. latiusculum (Desvaux) Underwood oregana x 1/1/ ilvensis
Rare. HABITAT: Shaded crevices in
ex A. Heller
limestone and dolomite cliffs. Specimens have been collected from
Common. HABITAT: Well-drained RANGE: Northern Interlake region, among a colony of Oregon Woodsia
and dry soils in mixed and coniferous westward to the Saskatchewan border. near Baker's Narrows Provincial Park
forests, or adjacent roadsides. and are the mistaken basis of a record
RANGE: SE Manitoba with disjunct 26. Rusty Woodsia of 1/1/ scopulina for Manitoba. This
colonies in Riding Mountain National Woodsia ilvensis (Linnaeus) R. Brown is the first report of this taxon for
Park10 and Kettle Hills. Manitoba.
Very common. HABITAT: Exposed
crevices and depressions on Pre-
23. Marsh Fern Synopsis of fern taxa in
Cambrian granite outcroppings in
Manitoba
Eastern Marsh Fern4
the boreal forests. RANGE: From
Thelypteris palustris Schott var. In Manitoba, there are 27 species,
Whiteshell Prov. Park in SE Manitoba
jpudescens (Lawson) Fernald one additional subspecies and three
to the Nunavut border.12
hybrids. Perhaps not surprisingly,
Uncommon. HABITAT: Fens, bogs,
the diversity of ferns that occur in
roadside ditches and open, wet, grassy 27. Oregon Woodsia
Manitoba is not very different to
areas in boreal woodlands.RANGE: SE Woodsia oregana D.C. Eaton ssp.
that of Saskatchewan5. However, the
Manitoba with a disjunct population oregana
fern flora of Saskatchewan includes
near Grand Rapids (53° 20'N; 98° 20'
Very rare. Collected from two locations
several species that have ranges that
W).
in Manitoba; on a schist rock outcrop
do not extend eastwards as far as
in Baker's Narrows Provincial Park
Manitoba: Rocky Mountain Woodsia,
24. Alpine Woodsia
(54° 40'N; 101° 39'W), and secondly
Sitka Lady-fern, Mountain Bladder-
Northern Woodsia4
just a few kilometres closer to Flin
fern and the Male Fern. Similarly,
wVoodsia alpina (Bolton) S.F.Gray
Flon. Manitoba specimens had been
Manitoba has several species that are
(very rare. HABITAT: moist, shaded, previously mistakenly identified as the
primarily eastern and do not reach as
(granite or metamorphic outcroppings pubescent subspecies cathcartiana
far west as Saskatchewan: Interrupted
(within the boreal forest11'12. (B.L. Robinson) Windham.
Fern, Sensitive Fern, Northern Wood-
|RANGE: Collected from four sites in
fern, Mackay's Bladder-fern, Bulblet
(Manitoba: Tod Lake, Snow Lake, Lake
Bladder-fern, Eastern Bracken,
(Waskaiowaka and Hunt Lake in the
Limestone Oak-fern and Smooth Cliff-
(whiteshell Provincial Park. W. Cody
brake. Needless to say, both provinces
land D. Britton have reviewed the harbour species of ferns that reach
■status of Woodsia in Manitoba.11-12 their north-eastern or north-western
North American range limits.
The commonest of Manitoba
Ferns
(Fig. 1)
The sequence of species for
which the most specimens had been
collected was: Spinulose Wood-fern,
Eastern Lady-fern, Common Oak-fern,
Ostrich Fern and Rusty Woodsia. These
are all common species; however, it
must be borne in mind that collection
biases may enter this and into the next
calculation.
Bulblet Bladder-fern, Hairy water-clover.
FIGURE 2. Two old, unique and mysterious Manitoba fern specimens;
FALL 2016 VOLUME 74.3 BLUE JAY 9
The rarest of Manitoba Ferns Two intriguing fern origin has remained a mystery. Boivin
Eight Manitoba species of ferns mysteries (Fig 2) has speculated that this specimen
were particularly noteworthy for their Bulblet Bladder-fern and the Hairy had been collected from elsewhere
scarcity in herbarium collections. Water-clover are each represented in in its range with the purpose of a
Hairy Water-clover, Northern Wood- Manitoba's flora by single specimens providing a sample to represent a
fern and Bulblet Bladder-fern were that were collected a long time species whose distribution was once
represented by single specimens. ago and have not been seen in the mistakenly considered to include
Other rare ferns are Oregon Woodsia province since. Incomplete information "Eastern Manitoba." On the other
and Smooth Cliff-brake each of which on the herbarium labels has added to hand, a recent publication of ferns by
had been found from single locations; their mystery and intrigue. Chadde does indicate that the species
Baker's Narrows Provincial Park and The Bulblet Bladder-fern is a species is widespread in northern Minnesota
on the Hunt Lake Trail, Whiteshell of the eastern United States as far including Roseau County which is
Provincial Park, respectively. Other very north and west as Minnesota and adjacent to the Manitoba border.13
rare or much localised fern species northern Ontario. A specimen was Scoggan has succinctly summarised
are Northern Beech-fern, Gastony's collected by M.W. Hutchison on July the present status of Bulblet Bladder-
Cliff-brake, Limestone Oak-fern and 22, 1944 from "Eastern Manitoba" fern in Manitoba with his statement:
Alpine Woodsia. The last species was and is now in the Herbarium of the "Further collections of this species are
found close to the site which bears the Manitoba Museum (MMMN 39). Its desirable to remove all doubt as to its
single small colony of Smooth Cliff- identification has been verified by occurrence in the province."14
brake and probably should receive Scoggan (1950), Boivin (1964) and The Hairy Water-clover is a strange
protection. Cody (1984). Whereas, there has been fern that inhabits shallow water or :
no doubt about its identification, its water-edge muck. Its two kinds of :
1
leaves are "un-fernlike" in shape.
The aerial or floating ones resemble
ARGENTINA WILDLIFE FROM the leaves of a four-leaved clover :
and the submerged leaves are fertile
PATAGONIA TO MARSHES
and resemble small nutlets. This
strange fern is an uncommon species ;
November 9 - 22,2016
;
in the American Midwest and the
Worldwide Ecotours Worldwide Ecotours is offering an three western Canadian provinces.
In Saskatchewan, it is widely but
exciting up-close encounter with the wildlife of
uncommonly distributed across the /
Patagonia and Ibera Marshes.Tango with penguins,
southern part of the province5. There :
Capybara, Rhea, and other South American wildlife. Your
is a specimen in the herbarium of the .
tour host, Leslie Tuchek, is an ecological educator who
University of Manitoba that is labellec :
has guided tours for the University of Saskatchewan "Western Manitoba" (WIN 6250)
Distance Education for eight years. Leslie is an avid but the exact location and date of :
birder, nature lover and wildlife photographer. collection, and the collector's name ai ::
not provided on the herbarium label.
With reference to the occurrence of
;
Hairy water-clover in Manitoba, Cody
has made the statement: "The specie ■:
For more information &
should be searched for in Western
detailed itinerary contact:
Manitoba".12
Special fern places
LeslieTuchek
Manitoba fern specimens had bee fiat
[email protected]
collected from a variety of ecosystem
Tel: [phone] moist woodlands, marshes, roadside:
Ruth MacRae limestone escarpments and granite
outcroppings. There were more
[email protected]
species in the southeast quadrant of
Tel: [phone]
the province and the least numbers
10 BLUE JAY FALL 2016 VOLUME 74.3