NEW INFORMATION ON RECENT SWAN DEATH

A recent post on this blog referred to a Mute Swan found dead and horribly mutilated in the park.  A call was made for anyone who had information to contact us.  We received the following which indicates there may have been a witness to what led up to this event .....

"Apparently, he and another fellow were trying unsuccessfully to help the swan while still alive. It was tangled in fishing line and quite bloodied. Apparently its wing was quite tangled up and unable to fly.

Not sure what ultimately killed it, but I think it was doomed because of the fishing line.

I did personally see a weasel or mink feeding on the body."

If this account is attributable to the swan in question or not, it once again confirms the danger to wildlife that irresponsible anglers cause when fishing line is carelessly discarded.  See FOSS post on this subject.

Note:  The original post on the dead swan suggested a possible cause might have been a coyote or off-leash dog.  We have in the past received reports of off-leash dogs harassing and attacking swans on or near the shore line. There were also injuries to the body that suggested an attack by a large mammal.  It is not unreasonable to include that scenario as a possible cause of the swan’s demise when witness accounts are not available.  Coyote predation of roosting Canada Geese and injured, sick or weakened Mute Swans is documented.

SUMMARY: MINUTES FOSS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING, NOVEMBER 22ND, 2016

                                 

Summary:  FOSS Steering Committee Meeting

November 22nd , 2016

7.05 p.m., LAMP, 185 5th Street, Etobicoke

NATURE’S SANCTUARY PHOTO EXHIBITION: The exhibit proved to be a great success. Thanks go to Liana Franciosi and her committee for producing the best attended opening night/month for any exhibition held at the Assembly Hall. More items were sold at this show than ever before!

Participating photographers have requested more of the same. Keep watching the FOSS blog. Details will be posted as they become available.

PROPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP: Tentatively scheduled for Spring 2017.

 Location: Colonel Sam Smith Park. Fee will be charged. Check the blog for more information.

BREAKING NEWS: TWO-HOUR PARKING LIMIT ON SOUTH LOT AT COLONEL SAM: In order to reduce the number of parking spots taken up by non-park users in the south parking lot, a new two-hour parking program (9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday) has just recently been instituted.

FOSS has expressed concern to the City of Toronto’s environmental specialist about the loss of Barn Swallow nesting sites with the building of the new viewing stand. Result: research is being done to find an appropriate structure that can be added to the platform that will meet the birds’ nesting requirements.

IMPORTANT BIRD AND BIODIVERSITY AREA (IBA): FOSS is investigating the possibility of Col. Sam Smith Park’s being designated as an IBA on the basis of the presence of large migratory rafts of Red-necked Grebes and as a location for the annual migration of Whimbrels.

SUB-COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS OPEN: FOSS would greatly welcome volunteers willing to serve on sub-committees and who would contribute their ideas and time to make the park an even better experience. Project possibilities include: the annual Bird Festival, ecological improvements (e.g. barn swallow and filtration plant fields advocates, removal of invasive plant species), bird feeder fillers/monitors, photo/art exhibits, etc. See blog for contact information.

WINTER BIRD FEEDING PROJECT: FOSS will erect and maintain bird feeders along the rim of the skating trail from December through March.

For users of Sam Smith Park who have expressed concern to FOSS about the ad hoc sale of alcohol and food (and no provision of suitable sanitary facilities) during Aussie Rules football games, FOSS has been informed by the city that the sale of food and alcohol and the use of barbecues are not allowed except by special permit from the city’s licensing department. Anyone with concerns should call 311 or contact 311@toronto.ca.

FOSS is concerned about the rapid growth of invasive burdock in the park. It presents a danger to small birds that get caught up in the seed heads. For more information, see an October 2015 article thatappeared in the FOSS blog.

 FOSS will investigate the possibility of a burdock cutting session to be held at approximately mid May to help eradicate this problem.

SIGN VANDALISM IN COLONEL SAM PARK: Signage in the park is under constant threat from vandalism. Some of the signs appear to be irreparably marred. Pleased report all vandalism to 311 or 311@toronto.ca. The city’s response is complaint driven.

                                                                                                                                                       

PARKING RELIEF IN SOUTH PARKING LOT

 

Over the years, park visitors have experienced the frustrating problem of not being able to find a spot in the south parking lot.  

Humber College students have been using the lot to park while they go to classes.  It is is typically clogged by 9 a.m. during term time as is pretty well every free public parking space around the whole campus area.
  
The local Councillor, the Parking Authority and Humber College have all received complaints from CCFEW, FOSS as well as others.  We have pointed out that the south parking lot was intended to be used by short term visitors to Sam Smith Park and not by students wishing to park their vehicle for the whole day.

Humber College is in the process of expanding its in-house parking which should help the situation down the road.  And now, finally, the City has introduced a 2 hour parking limit in the south lot.

It is now sign posted and people have reported to FOSS that they have recently witnessed enforcement taking place and parking tickets served.

GREAT HORNED OWL BEING "MOBBED" BY AMERICAN CROWS

Yesterday, Dave Pryor posted on E-birds this image of a Great Horned Owl he found in Sam Smith Park. This is an uncommon visitor to the park.  He observed it being mobbed by a group of raucous American Crows which is a very common behaviour when these two species encounter each other.

“Mobbing” is a defensive action intended to alert others to the presence of a predator or drive it away.  Many species exhibit this behavior, so it must have great survival value - crows mob owls, blackbirds attack crows, and chickadees scold jays. Mobbing seems to signal this message: “We see you. You can’t surprise us, so leave because we’re going to harass you until you do.”
 

The crow mobbing ritual is predictable:  One sounds the alarm.  Another arrives to do the same. Then, many more fly in, often from a considerable distance.  Some dive at the owl while others leap from their perches in agitation. The din continues indefinitely and with greater intensity if the owl moves. New combatants arrive as veterans leave, but eventually their numbers thin and the racket subsides.  This exhibition of a cooperative defense behavior is an example of the crow’s high intellect.

Nocturnal predators, great horned owls feed on practically any living thing—from fish and frogs to squirrels, skunks and ducks to bats, house cats and small dogs. Major predators of American crows, Great Horned Owls may be mobbed for hours by large flocks of agitated crows.