Featured Species: Spawn of Sunfish!

Members of the sunfish family such as Smallmouth Bass and Pumpkinseed begin to spawn in late May. In the sunfish family it is the male that does the work building the nest and raising the young.

Spawning Smallmouth Bass can be seen along rocky shorelines or lakes and rivers. Males build a nest by creating a depression (31-183cm in diameter) in sandy, gravel, or rock bottoms in shallow water about 1m deep. The nest is usually located near the protection of rocks or logs, or more rarely dense vegetation.

Pumpkinseeds also build a shallow saucer-like depression, but a bit smaller (13-38cm in diameter) in clay, sandy, gravel or rock bottoms. Their nests are often part of a colony that may number over 100 closely arranged nests. The pumpkinseed male vigorously defends his territory.

In both species the male courts a female, swimming in circles and nipping. The female lays her eggs, which attach to the bottom of the nest, and the male will fertilize them (5000-14000 eggs for Smallmouth Bass, and 600-5000 eggs for Pumpkinseed). After spawning the female swims away – her job is done. She may go spawn with another male.

It’s the diligent dad that stays at the nest to protect and aerate the eggs by fanning water over them. Still, many eggs fail due to predators, sudden shifts in water temperature, and fungal infections.

Hatching (1:36) in Smallmouth Bass takes 4-10 days. It then takes an additional 12 days for the young to absorb the yolk sac (scroll down). 5-7 days after hatching, the young will begin to leave the nest. The male will continue to guard them (young are small black spots) until they eventually wander off too far for him to keep track of them all. Males often return to the same area to nest in subsequent years. 

Pumpkinseed eggs hatch within a few days. Dad will also guard the young for up to 11 days, returning them to the nest in his mouth if the fry stray too far. After this time, the young leave and the male may clean his nest in preparation for a second spawning.

It might be tempting to catch and release nesting bass since they are both hungry and aggressive.  However, smaller fish will come in and eat both eggs and young, even if the male is gone for only a short time.  Always avoid fishing over spawning beds.  

Other Happenings:

• Nature is getting it on - it’s a bit of a wild rumpus out there!

• Curious and rambunctious Red Fox kits can be watched playing at their den – so cute!  Foxes den in abandoned groundhog holes or in holes dug by adults on sandy slopes. Dens may be used and discretely observed for many years. Kits emerge from dens when they are about a month old. The female stays with the kits, putting up with kit antics, for about a month while the male does the hunting.

• Many mammals are birthing. Young White-tailed Deer fawns, River Otters, Beavers, Striped Skunks, Porcupines, Groundhogs, Northern and Southern Flying Squirrels, Red Squirrels, Eastern Wolves, and Coyotes are new additions.

• Reptiles do it too - and Northern Water Snakes are mating. They may be seen entwined on low branches and in other vegetation near the water’s edge.

• The shorebirds are here!! These long-distance migrants, Semipalmated Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers, Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Whimbrel, are passing through on their way to sub-Arctic and Arctic habitats.

• Flycatchers such as Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Willow Flycatchers, Alder Flycatchers, and Olive-sided Flycatchers also arrive. As their name implies, they eat insects and are experts at taking insects in mid-air or gleaned from foliage. They also occasionally eat fruit.

• Blackpoll Warblers are passing through, and deserve accolades. This tiny, 12 g bird undertakes a very long journey from South America to more northern regions. That takes a lot of energy. Before undertaking the trip, the Blackpoll Warbler packs it on - the fat is needed to fuel the flight.

• Non-breeding Giant Canada Geese start to migrate to James Bay to moult and compete with nesting Northern Canada Geese (see Late April). While moulting their feathers they are unable to fly.

• Serious butterfly watching commences!  Canadian Tiger Swallowtails and Black Swallowtails appear, often “puddling” for salts on dirt roads. 

• Also fluttering about are the Mustard White, Chryxus Arctic, Spring Azure, Olympia Marble, Northern Cloudywing, Henry’s Elfin, Mourning Cloak, Dreamy Duskywing, Eastern Pine Elfin, Compton Tortoiseshell, Columbine Duskywing, Hoary Elfin, Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Juvenal’s Duskywing, Cabbage White, Eastern Comma, Hobomok Skipper …and if lucky the West Virginia White.

• Frothy white masses of spittle become a common sight on the stems of plants. These are created by Spittlebug nymphs that suck juices out of the stem and excrete the excess, which envelops them and likely helps protects them from predators.

• Full leaf-out will cast the forest floor in shade, setting the stage for the orchids. Beauties such as Showy Orchis, Early Coralroot, Pink Lady’s Slipper, Yellow Lady’s Slipper, and Ram’s Head Orchid begin to bloom.
• First blooming also occurs for blueberries and currants. And after flower, follows fruit….can’t wait!
• The Dandelions and Trembling Aspens are releasing their “parachuted” seeds. Silver Maple  (native) and Norway Maple  (non-native) also start dropping their “helicopter” winged seeds, also known as keys or samaras.

• Watch out for Poison Ivy.  Leaf size, colour, and shininess vary, but here are three distinguishing characteristics: 1) the middle leaflet has a much longer stem than the other two, (2) the leaflets droop downward, and (3) at least one of the leaflets is almost always asymmetrical. Poison ivy is thriving in the elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.  Studies show that plants are getting bigger and producing more urushiol, the oil that causes the itchy rash. Everything is connected!

 INVASIVE ALERT!   GIANT HOGWEED

• The familiar phrase of “leaves of three let it be” reminds Canadians to avoid the stinging rash of poison ivy, but recently a much more fearsome plant is threatening both the environment and us!  It is hard to miss Giant Hogweed with its huge white flowers on massive stems which explains why it may have been brought from Asia to North America as a perennial garden plant.  Unfortunately, like many other invasive species Giant Hogweed soon escaped into native habitats where it thrived.  Until it reaches its full height the plant is also a master of disguise since it closely resembles other species such as Cow Parsnip   or Queen Ann’s Lace.  Uncontrolled growth of Giant Hogweed in areas like damp woodlands and stream banks can suppress the development of native plants which leads to loss of biodiversity.  However, the real danger from this nasty species lies in the human health hazard.  The watery sap contains toxins that burn skin when exposed to sun and can even cause temporary blindness.  It is important that we all learn to identify this invasive species. If you think you have found Giant Hogweed report the plant to one of the hotlines listed at the bottom of this factsheet.  The more we know about where this dangerous weed is located the more we can do to protect ourselves while exploring and enjoying our natural world.

• Something invisible and remarkable is happening in our lakes again, something that hasn’t happened since October. When ice and snow leave the lakes they are allowed to “breathe” oxygen again. Photosynthesizing aquatic plants begin producing some oxygen, but the bulk comes from the air above. A lake that is uniformly cold allows the water to be mixed. On windy days, wave action extends all the way to the bottom of the lake, distributing dissolved oxygen throughout. This is called spring turnover. As summer approaches, surface water will heat up while the deeper water remains cold. Because warmer water is less dense the water doesn’t mix and only the top layer gets oxygenated. Virtually no mixing will occur again until the fall (see Mid-October), when colder temperatures will cool down that top layer.

• Most of the limited Monarch Butterfly activity is centred in southwestern and south-central Ontario, with outliers in Sault Ste Marie and Regina (what were they thinking?).  But as new caterpillars grow and change into butterflies which will soon come north, keep your eyes peeled and report that first butterfly!  On the positive side, much is being done by the National Wildlife Federation and other stakeholders to address the decline in the Monarch, and prioritize their recovery across the continent.The hummers, of course, are here.                                                                                                                                      
• The moon visits mostly stars during this period, finally meeting up with Saturn during the early morning of the 31st.  Mars as well remains in the morning sky while Mercury has gotten closer to the horizon before dawn and will be very hard to see. (scroll down)