Table I-1: Information sources for the identification of seasonal concentrations of animals

Adapted from tabular format.

Mammals

Winter deer yards

  • The ministry for location and relative importance of many yards; deer habitat requirements
  • Ministry publications
  • Broadfoot & Voigt (1996) suggested how and when to measure deer yard size
  • Ranta (1998) outlines how to conduct aerial surveys of deer yards

Bat winter hibernacula and maternity colonies

  • The ministry for possible locations of hibernacula; a source for contact with bat experts
  • Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines for locations of abandoned mines that may provide potentially significant bat hibernacula
  • some members of outdoor recreation clubs (e.g., Sierra Club) explore caves and may know location of hibernacula
  • little available information on location of bat hibernacula
  • University Biology Departments for bat experts who may know locations of important sites & habitat requirements
  • other sources including consultant and naturalist club reports, atlas results etc. may provide some site-specific information for some of the species. They may be found at the ministry, NHIC, Conservation Authority, OMOT, Ontario Hydro, municipality offices

Moose winter habitat

  • The ministry for possible locations of some sites; moose habitat requirements

Birds

Colonial bird nesting sites including colonies of herons, gulls and terns, swallows

  • The ministry for location and size of some heronries, gull and tern colonies
  • some information regarding location and size of heronries, gull and tern colonies may be out-dated and in need of verification since some inventories were done during the 1970s and 1980s
  • CWS for location and size of some gull, tern, cormorant colonies on Great Lakes
  • The ministry wetland evaluations identify colonial nest sites (e.g., Black Terns, heronries) if they were observed at time of wetland evaluation
  • The ministry publications
  • Bowman & Siderius (1984) guidelines for heronry protection
  • Bird Studies Canada (LPBO) for location and size of some heronries
  • Ontario Birds at Risk Program (OBAR); Bird Studies Canada (LPBO) volunteers monitor known breeding sites of rare species and survey for new breeding sites; some colonial species (e.g., Black Tern) are on this list
  • Ontario Nest Records Scheme (ONRS); ROM database provides information on breeding distribution, nest locations for 283 species
  • local birders for location of some local colonies

Waterfowl nesting, staging, migration stopover areas

  • The ministry for location of regionally and locally significant sites
  • Hickie (1985) – Habitat management guidelines for waterfowl in Ontario. Ministry Wetland Evaluations identify locally significant areas
  • Canadian Wildlife Service for location of regionally and provincially significant sites; species habitat requirements; species of conservation concern; source of several potentially helpful publications
  • Ontario Nest Records Scheme (ONRS); ROM database provides information on breeding distribution, nest locations for 283 species
  • Ducks Unlimited Canada for location of important local sites; species habitat requirements; restoration of waterfowl nesting habitat
  • local birders for location of some locally important areas; location of some nesting species of conservation concern

Forested sites with concentrations of nesting birds

  • Canadian Wildlife Service, Guelph for locations of and data on their Forest Bird Monitoring Program sites; may also provide contact with local Program volunteers who know locations of sites with high density and diversity of breeding and/or migrant birds.
  • The ministry/Bird Studies Canada (LPBO) for location of some sites with several raptor nests (e.g., Ospreys)
  • Ontario Nest Records Scheme (ONRS); ROM database provides information on breeding distribution, nest locations for 283 species
  • local birders for location of some locally significant sites

Migration stopover areas for landbirds, shorebirds

  • Canadian Wildlife Service; Bird Studies Canada; Federation of Ontario Naturalists for location of provincially and regionally significant sites
  • CWS, Downsview for contact with volunteers involved in Ontario Shorebird Survey; these people may know locally significant sites for shorebirds
  • local birders for location of some locally significant sites and names of local birding guidebooks that describe location of hotspots for migratory birds

Raptor (hawks, eagles, owls, falcons) and winter roosting & feeding areas

  • The ministry; local birders and area farmers for location of some significant areas (little available information)

Wild turkey winter roosting and feeding areas

  • The ministry; local birders and area farmers for location of some significant areas (little available information)
  • The ministry publication:
    • Reid (1991) MNR habitat requirements of Wild turkeys
  • local residents and birders for location of some sites

Turkey vulture summer roosting areas

  • local residents and birders for location of some sites (little available information)
  • other sources including consultant and naturalist club reports, atlas results etc. may provide some site-specific information for some of the bird species listed in this table. They may be found at the ministry, NHIC, Conservation Authority, OMOT, Ontario Hydro, and municipality offices.

Reptiles and amphibians

  • Ministry offices for general location of some important habitats; location of a few bullfrog concentration areas; species habitat requirements; a source of contact with experts
  • NHIC in Peterborough maintains database on location of reptiles and amphibians & includes location of known concentration areas; contact through local ministry Ecologist
  • Canadian Wildlife Service, Burlington for contact with volunteers participating in Amphibian Road Call Counts who know locally important sites
  • Long Point Bird Observatory for contact with local volunteers participating in Marsh Monitoring Program and the Backyard Amphibian Survey, who know locally important sites
  • Royal Ontario Museum and Canadian Museum of Nature data have been incorporated into the NHIC database
  • other sources including consultant and naturalist club reports, atlas results etc. may provide some important site locations and species descriptions. They may be found at the ministry, NHIC, Conservation Authority, OMOT, Ontario Hydro, municipality offices

Butterfly migratory stopover areas (little available information)

  • The ministry; Agriculture Canada (Ottawa) are possible sources for contact with local experts and location of locally and regionally significant sites
  • University Biology Departments for contact with authorities who may know locally important sites
  • Holmes et al. 1991. The Ontario Butterfly Atlas. Toronto: Toronto Entomologists’ Association for general information on distribution, habitat, food requirements but no site-specific information. This may be found at the NHIC in Peterborough, FON in Toronto, and various other bookstores
  • Toronto Entomologists’ Association (contact Royal Ontario Museum) for members who may know location of some locally significant sites
  • local naturalists may know location of locally significant sites
  • other sources including consultant and naturalist club reports, atlas results etc. may provide some important site locations and species descriptions. They may be found at the ministry, NHIC, Conservation Authority, OMOT, Ontario Hydro, municipality offices

Table I-2: Information sources for the identification of rare vegetation communities or specialized wildlife habitats

Adapted from tabular format.

Wetland communities

  • Ministry Ecologists can provide lists of plant species that are indicators of fen and bog wetlands.
  • Ministry publication:
    • Bakowsky (1996) Natural Heritage Resources of Ontario: Vegetation Communities of Southern Ontario describes natural communities by dominant plant species, and physical characteristics of the site such as soil depth and moisture regime and rare wetland community types are identified.
  • Ministry Wetland Evaluations Class 1-7 differentiate more uncommon wetland type e.g., fens, bogs that often support of rare vegetation communities; many provide common plant species lists; some rare plants are recorded for some wetlands; include map illustrating dominant plant communities; mention other scientific studies, reports related to the wetland.
  • Ontario Geological Survey Peat and Peatland Evaluation reports also describe and map these communities.
  • Ministry ANSI Site District Reports describe vegetation composition (species observed) of candidate areas; may briefly describe other potentially locally or regionally significant wetlands that have been identified but were not closely examined for ANSI status; provide complete site descriptions and maps of ANSIs and candidate ANSIs.
  • Topographical maps (scale 1:50,000) can help to locate wetlands, provide fairly specific location & approximate size of identified wetland communities.
  • Aerial photographs (scale 1:10,000) can help to locate wetlands, especially helpful finding smaller wetlands; can help to determine whether marsh or swamp and location of wetland relative to upland communities; essential in mapping location and extent of vegetation communities; some unique communities can be identified depending on photo interpretative skill.
  • Local naturalists may know locations of locally significant communities.
  • Ministry NW Ontario Wetland Classification (Racey and Harris 1995) describes procedures for differentiating wetland communities at a hierarchy of scales; locations of some rare wetland community types in northwestern Ontario are provided.
  • Consultant and naturalist club reports may provide descriptions of significant wetland vegetation communities found in local wetlands. They may be found at the ministry, OMOT, Ontario Hydro, Conservation Authority, and municipality offices.
  • Parks Canada produced a report on all of the wetlands on the Rideau Canal system; contact Parks Canada, Smiths Falls or the ministry.
  • Federation of Ontario Naturalists (FON) produced a report on some of the wetlands of Ontario.
  • University, museum, and provincial/national park herbaria collections include rare plant species, name of collector and date of collection, approximate location where plants were collected.

Prairies, alvars, savannahs; rock barrens; sand barrens

  • Ministry Ecologists can obtain maps of these rare plant communities from the NHIC in Peterborough and can provide lists of plant species that are indicators of prairies, alvars, savannahs.
  • Ministry and NHIC publication:
    • Bakowsky (1996) Natural Heritage Resources of Ontario: Vegetation Communities of Southern Ontario describes plant communities by dominant plant species, and physical characteristics of the site such as soil depth and moisture regime; comprehensive listing of rare plant communities found in southern Ontario.
  • Ministry ANSI Site District Reports provide detailed descriptions (plant species and communities) of several of these rare communities as well as site maps.
  • Some researchers have examined these communities in Ontario describing physical characteristics, and plant species composition. They also have included precise locations of sites (e.g., Catling and Catling (1993) - limestone savannah, prairie, sand barren; Catling and Brownell (1995) - alvars; Bakowsy (1993) - prairie, savannah. These studies can be obtained from the ministry Ecologist.
  • Local naturalists may know locations of locally significant communities.
  • Consultant and naturalist club reports may provide some site-specific information about locally significant areas. They may be found at the ministry, OMOT, Ontario Hydro, Conservation Authority, and municipality offices. They may also be found in scientific journals and publications such as The Canadian Field-Naturalist.
  • University, museum, and provincial/national park herbaria collections include rare plant species, name of collector and date of collection, approximate location where plants were collected. Indicator plants of these rare communities found in these collections may help to locate specific sites.
  • County soil survey reports and maps describe local physical characteristics such as landforms, drainage patterns, soils, and moisture regimes that can narrow search for rare communities such as alvars (e.g., indicate areas with deep sand deposits, little mineral soil).

Forest stands with rare tree associations and/or rare tree species

See Appendix L for a list of rare forest communities found in Southern Ontario

  • Ministry Foresters often know the location of forest stands containing rare tree species.
  • Ministry publication:
    • Bakowsky (1996) Natural Heritage Resources of Ontario: Vegetation Communities of Southern Ontario describes these communities by dominant plant species, and physical characteristics of the site such as soil depth and moisture regime; lists and briefly describes rare forest communities of southern Ontario.
  • Ministry ANSI Site District Reports provide detailed descriptions (plant species and communities) of candidate ANSI sites that may contain rare forest types as well as site maps.
  • Ministry Forest Resource Inventory (FRI) maps (scale 1:15,840) indicate the dominant tree species, percent composition of the stand, and approximate age of the forest stands; initially helpful in locating potentially rare forest types for the municipality; but only indicate species comprising at least 10% of the mapped stand.
  • Local naturalists may know locations of locally significant communities.
  • Aerial photographs (scale 1:10,000) can help to locate woodlands, provide rough estimate of woodland area, and are essential in mapping location and extent of vegetation communities; can also locate help to locate older woodlands.
  • Topographical maps (scale 1:50,000) can help to locate woodlands, provide fairly specific location and approximate size of identified communities; they should be used in conjunction with Forest Resource Inventory (FRI) maps and aerial photographs.
  • Ministry Forest Ecosystem Classifications for NW Ontario (Sims et al. 1989); NE Ontario (Taylor et al. 2000); Central Ontario (Chambers et al. 1997); Southern Ontario (Lee et al. 1998) provide detailed descriptions of natural forest types of these regions; some information on the distribution of species. Database for Southern Ontario (contact H. Lee, ministry London office). Municipalities can use the information to classify their own forests and determine the representation of forest types in the area; forest types should be mapped at similar scale to aerial photograph interpretations (i.e. 1:10,000).
  • Ministry Growth and Yield Program have established research plots in some woodlands with locally or regionally rare trees and tree associations.
  • Ontario Tree Atlas is being coordinated by the University of Guelph. Contact staff at the Arboretum; they can provide contact with local volunteers who may know locations of woodlands containing rare trees and tree associations.
  • University, museum, and provincial/national park herbaria collections include rare plant species, name of collector and date of collection, approximate location where plants were collected. Indicator plants of these rare communities found in these collections may help to locate specific sites.
  • County soil survey reports and maps describe local physical characteristics such as landforms, drainage patterns, soils, and moisture regimes that can narrow search for rare forest associations.
  • Consultant and naturalist club reports may provide some site-specific information about locally significant woodlands with rare trees and tree associations. They may be found at the ministry, OMOT, Ontario Hydro, Conservation Authority, and municipality offices. They may also be found in scientific journals and publications such as The Canadian Field-Naturalist.

Cliffs/talus slopes; Great Lakes dunes; beach shorelines; grasslands etc.

  • Ministry Ecologists may know the location of some of these rare communities.
  • Ministry publication:
    • Bakowsky (1996) Natural Heritage Resources of Ontario: Vegetation Communities of Southern Ontario describes these communities by dominant plant species, and physical characteristics of the site such as soil depth and moisture regime; these rare communities are listed and briefly described.
  • Ministry ANSI Site District Reports provide detailed descriptions (plant species and communities) of some of the candidate ANSI sites, and include site maps.
  • Local naturalists may know locations of locally significant communities.
  • Aerial photographs used in conjunction with topographical maps can help to verify presence of these communities.
  • Topographical maps indicate areas of sharp relief, shorelines, and potential grassland areas.
  • County soil survey reports and maps describe local physical characteristics such as landforms, drainage patterns, soils, and moisture regimes that can narrow search for these communities (e.g., indicate areas with deep sand deposits).

Consultant and naturalist club reports may provide some site-specific information about these communities. They may be found at the ministry, OMOT, Ontario Hydro, Conservation Authority, and municipality offices. They may also be found in scientific journals and publications such as The Canadian Field-Naturalist.

Habitat supporting area-sensitive birds (e.g., hawks, songbirds)

  • Ministry Ecologists may know the location of sites supporting area-sensitive species. Topographical maps and aerial photographs can help to locate existing forest stands, grasslands; aerial photographs especially helpful for finding areas of greatest amount of contiguous closed-canopy forest cover required by forest species
  • Ministry Forest Resource Inventory (FRI) maps (scale 1:15,840) indicate dominant tree species, percent composition of the stand, and approximate age of the forest stands; latter information particularly helpful in locating potentially significant forest habitats for these species because older deciduous stands with abundant and diverse forest structure tend to be preferred. Most effectively used in conjunction with aerial photographs and topographical maps.
  • Ontario Hydro has produced regional forest cover maps for southern Ontario that provide an indication of percent forest cover for each mapped area; they could be used to identify sites with greatest potential to support these species.
  • Local birders may know location of premier woodlands for area-sensitive species, the location of some forest nesting raptors, and premier grassland sites.
  • Canadian Wildlife Service, Guelph, for locations of and data on their Forest Bird Monitoring Program sites; may also provide contact with local Program volunteers who know locations of locally significant forest stands supporting these species.
  • Ministry Growth and Yield and Ecological Land Classification Programs (MNR); plot information may reveal significant forest stands by providing information such as presence of old and large trees, a variety of different vegetation strata and down woody debris-forest characteristics that are attractive to these species.
  • The ministry/Bird Studies Canada (LPBO) Ontario Birds at Risk Program (OBAR) runs the Red-shouldered Hawk Survey; volunteers monitor many stands in southwest and central Ontario and the records of nest locations can help to locate sites important to this area-sensitive species; OBAR program also monitors forest species currently at risk and can provide some site-specific information concerning the location of these species.
  • Ministry ANSI Site District Reports may describe such forest and grassland habitats and include list of bird species where observed; include site maps.

Forest stands providing a diversity of habitats (e.g., tree cavities, fallen logs, vertical stratification)

  • Ministry Foresters may know stands with high proportion of diseased or damaged trees and therefore likely to have more snags and cavity trees. They may also know locations of stands they call “over mature”.
  • Ministry FRI maps note age and tree species composition of forest stands - can help to locate sites with more cavity trees and snags; particularly older forests comprised of large proportion of aspen, beech, basswood, conifers. These maps can also indicate older forests that often have diverse vertical structure. Consider the date of the FRI information.
  • Topographical maps and aerial photographs indicate areas with steep slopes and valleys next to streams; often these areas were not logged, resulting in older trees and abundant fallen logs. The proximity of water can make these areas attractive to salamanders.
  • Ministry Growth and Yield Program - plot information includes sites with cavity trees and snags, diversity of vegetation layers, and abundant down woody debris.
  • Ministry ANSI Site District Reports - sites with a variety of recorded shrub and tree species may indicate diversity of vegetation layers; include site maps.
  • Ministry publications:
    • Gerson (1984) - management guidelines for bats and cavity trees
    • Keddy and Drummond (1995) - value of wildlife trees in Eastern Ontario forests
    • Naylor et al. (1994) - forestry management guidelines for the provision of Pileated Woodpecker habitat.
  • Local birders may know location of locally significant stands with these features.
  • University biology departments for contact with researchers with knowledge of local habitats supporting their species of interest (e.g. southern flying squirrel, Pileated Woodpecker, four-toed salamander).

Woodlands supporting springtime amphibian breeding ponds

  • Contact local ministry Ecologist
  • Topographical maps and aerial photographs can help to locate some potential areas.
  • Local naturalists may know location of woodland ponds and areas with notable spring breeding choruses of frogs.
  • Long Point Bird Observatory for contact with local volunteers participating in Marsh Monitoring Program and Backyard Amphibian Survey
  • CWS (Burlington) for contact with volunteers involved with the Amphibian Road Call Counts who know locally important sites.

Foraging areas producing abundant fruit and nuts

  • Ministry Foresters, Ecologists, and Conservation Officers know locations of some sites.
  • Ministry FRI maps will indicate forest stands with abundance of mature trees producing mast nuts (e.g., oaks, beech, hickory)
  • Topographical maps and aerial photographs can indicate features like ridges and rock barrens that often have oaks and berry-producing shrubs respectively.
  • Ministry Ecological Land Classification Programs - plot information records sites that were sampled with trees and shrubs that can produce nuts and berries; food production potential can be inferred from this information
  • Ministry ANSI Site District Reports describe plant communities and record shrubs and trees-food production potential can be inferred from this information; include site maps
  • Ministry/local fish and game and hunt clubs for contacts with local hunters (especially turkey, Ruffed Grouse, deer, bear) who may know local sites with significant concentrations of mast and berry producing vegetation.
  • Ontario Nut Producers Association - members are seed collectors and know where productive trees and stands are located.

Moose aquatic feeding areas, mineral licks, calving areas

  • Ministry for location of some important aquatic feeding areas and description of such habitats; moose habitat requirements; contact with knowledgeable people
  • Aerial photographs can help to identify sections of creeks and bays with high potential as aquatic feeding areas
  • Little available information on location of mineral licks and calving areas
  • Ministry publications:
    • MNR (1988) for timber management guidelines for provision of moose habitat
    • Ranta (1998) to identify, map and rank moose aquatic feeding areas
    • Other references with more information about moose habitat include: Allen 1987; Bellhouse et al. 1993; Jackson et al. 1987; Naylor et al. 1992

Mink and otter feeding and denning sites

These sites are difficult to find but the following sources will provide assistance:

  • Aerial photographs can help to locate prime areas - undisturbed shorelines with abundant vegetation and down woody debris e.g., dead falls, large logs
  • Ministry for contact with local trappers for information on locations of high populations
  • Ministry Wetland Evaluations record presence of these mammals or signs of them (tracks, scat etc.) as well as presence in other years, through interviews with local trappers.
  • Novak et al. (eds.) 1987. Wild Furbearer and Conservation Management in Ontario - available at ministry offices

Marten and fisher denning habitat

These sites are also hard to find but some may be found by referring to the following sources:

  • Ministry FRI maps will indicate potential woodlands containing larger, older trees that are likely to provide cavities and abundant down woody debris.
  • Ministry for contact with local trappers for information on areas with high populations.
  • Novak et al. (eds.) 1987. Wild Furbearer and Conservation Management in Ontario – available at ministry offices

Areas of high species and/or community diversity

  • Ministry Ecologist may know location of sites with high diversity.
  • Ministry ANSI Site District Reports note diverse communities and include species lists and site maps.
  • Many ministry Wetland Evaluations provide plant species lists and record all types of wetland communities found within a defined wetland boundary.
  • Local naturalists and FON members may know location of areas of high community and/or species diversity.
  • Aerial photographs may indicate sites with community diversity (e.g., several different wetlands, forested uplands, open fields within the same general area).
  • Consultant and naturalist club reports may provide some site-specific information about areas with high community diversity. They may be found at the ministry, OMOT, Ontario Hydro, Conservation Authority, and municipality offices.

Old growth or mature forest

  • Ministry Foresters know locations of oldest forest stands and may refer to them as “over-mature”.
  • Ministry FRI maps indicate age of forest stands and can help to locate older forests in the municipality
  • Ministry ANSI Site District Reports describe some examples of older forests of provincial or regional significance; some reference may be made to older forests of local significance; include site maps
  • Ministry Growth and Yield and Ecological Land Classification Programs sampled plots in some stands with older trees.
  • Local naturalists and FON members may know location of areas of older forests in the municipality.
  • Consultant and naturalist club reports may provide some site-specific information about areas of old growth forest. They may be found at the ministry, OMOT, Ontario Hydro, Conservation Authority, and municipality offices.

Permanent springs; seeps; cold or cool - water streams

  • Topographical maps and aerial photographs indicate headwaters of streams where springs may be found.
  • County soil survey reports and maps describe local physical characteristics such as soils, landforms, and drainage patterns that can narrow search for springs and seeps.
  • Local naturalists and landowners may know of some locations.
  • Municipalities may have surveyed drainage systems and headwater areas may be mapped.
  • Many Conservation Authorities monitor stream flows and consequently may know locations of springs and seeps.
  • Ministry staff and local anglers may know location of some springs/seeps that can affect the distribution of sportfish such as brook trout or plants often associated with seeps (e.g., ginseng).

Caves

  • University faculty biologists with interest in caves or bats may know some locations.
  • Local naturalists, landowners, spelunkers may know location of some locations. Contact applicable clubs (e.g., Sierra Club).
  • Geology maps can indicate areas with certain geological features resulting in more caves (e.g., Niagara Escarpment, Upper Ottawa Valley).

Table I-3: Information sources for the identification of habitats of species of conservation concern

Adapted from tabular format.

Birds

Ministry Ecologists; NHIC in Peterborough

  • lists of candidate species of conservation concern and mapped locations of some of them
  • Downes and Collins. 1996. The Canadian Breeding Bird Survey, 1966-1994. presents bird population trends derived from annual surveys from 1966-1994; identified significant declines in some species; purpose of the program is to detect and measure year-to-year and long-term changes in breeding bird populations (also found at CWS, Bird Studies Canada)
  • Lepage et al. 1998. Setting Conservation Priorities for Ontario’s Breeding Landbirds - represents the most recent effort to provide lists of landbirds of high conservation priority; the methodology is explained; report was prepared for the ministry and is available from ministry Ecologists and Bird Studies Canada.
  • Couturier. 1999. Conservation Priorities for the Birds of Southern Ontario reviews existing systems for setting conservation priorities; presents a suggested approach and list of species of conservation concern; includes rankings of each species based on abundance in Ontario and on the proportion of its North American breeding range/population in Canada and Canadian breeding range/population in Ontario (also found at CWS, Bird Studies Canada)
  • Austen et al. 1994. Ontario Birds at Risk. Summarized data from the Ontario Breeding Birds Atlas and Ontario Rare Breeding Bird Program to describe status, habitat requirements, and conservation needs of 58 bird species considered to be at risk (also found at Bird Studies Canada; FON)
  • Cadman et al. 1987. Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario. University of Waterloo Press, Waterloo. Summary of results from atlas work by volunteers regarding breeding bird species abundance and richness observed in 10 by 10 km squares; good habitat descriptions for breeding birds of Ontario; regional coordinators and local volunteers who conducted surveys are perhaps best source of site-specific information (field work proposed for 2001 – 2005 for new updated atlas)
  • COSEWIC and COSSARO lists of vulnerable, threatened, endangered species in Ontario
  • COSEWIC status reports - present population status of species, distribution, and habitat requirements (found at CWS, Bird Studies Canada)
  • RENEW recovery plans for threatened and endangered species

Other potential sources of information

  • Naturalist club publications (e.g. Trail and Landscape by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club)
  • regional/local accounts such as Weir. 1989. Birds of the Kingston Region.
  • Parker et al. 1984. Toronto Region Bird Report possibly found at the Toronto Ornithological Club, Toronto
  • studies of individual species funded by the ministry, WWF, Bird Studies Canada (LPBO), universities; possibly found at the ministry; Bird Studies Canada
  • consultant, naturalist club, university studies may provide some additional information for specific areas/regions and may be found at the ministry; OMOT; Ontario Hydro; Conservation Authority, and municipality offices; NHIC in Peterborough
  • Bain and Henshaw. 1992. Annual Bird Report, Durham Region
  • journals (e.g., The Canadian Field-Naturalist)

Plants

Ministry Ecologists; NHIC in Peterborough

  • lists of some candidate species of conservation concern and mapped locations of some of them
  • Argus and Pryer. 1990. Rare Vascular Plants in Canada. Our Natural Heritage. Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa.
  • Provincially rare list of plants. This list is regularly updated by staff at the NHIC.
  • Argus et al. Eds. 1982-87. Atlas of the Rare Vascular Plants of Ontario. Parts 1-4. National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa. Provides notes on status, habitat, small-scale maps of known locations, and pertinent references for many rare plants. Includes herbaria that were consulted and names and addresses of contributors - people who may be able to provide more site-specific information.
  • NHIC-Peterborough has produced a draft of an annotated plant species list for Ontario that shows distribution of species by county.
  • Cuddy. 1991. Vascular Plants of Eastern Ontario lists the status of plant species that grow in Eastern Ontario by physiographic region as provincially rare, rare, and present.
  • Riley. 1989. Distribution and status of the vascular plants of Central Region lists the status of plant species that grow in Central Ontario by county as provincially rare, rare, uncommon, and common.
  • Oldham. 1993. Distribution and status of the vascular plants of Southwestern Ontario lists the status of plant species that grow in Southwestern Ontario by county as provincially rare, rare, very uncommon, uncommon, and common.
  • County/regional municipality vascular plant floras for the Carolinian zone of Canada. (Varga and Allen 1990) pp. 129-153. In Allen, G.M., P.F.J. Eagles & S.D. Price (eds.) Conserving Carolinian Canada, University of Waterloo Press, Waterloo. Summarizes vascular flora in 16 counties and regional municipalities in Carolinian zone of southern Ontario; notes rare species, general locations of them; names and locations of top botanical sites in each areas; names, addresses of contributors.
  • other county/regional flora and checklists (e.g., Gillette and White. 1978. Checklist of Vascular Plants of the Ottawa-Hull Region found at the National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa; Morton and Venn. 1982. A Checklist of the Flora of Ontario: Vascular Plants found at the ministry offices and University of Waterloo
  • COSEWIC status reports on vulnerable species (also found at CWS)
  • Ontario tree atlas (in preparation) by the University of Guelph

Other potential sources of information

  • Field Botanists of Ontario newsletter may indicate locations of some species and diverse vegetation communities; found at the NHIC in Peterborough, some ministry offices
  • Naturalist club publications (e.g., Trail and Landscape by the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club)
  • Scientific journals and publications (e.g., The Canadian Field-Naturalist)
  • Consultant, naturalist club, and university studies may be found at the ministry; OMOT; Ontario Hydro; Conservation Authority, and municipality offices; NHIC in Peterborough

Reptiles and amphibians

Ministry Ecologists; NHIC in Peterborough

  • status list of all provincial species is determined and regularly updated by ministry & NHIC staff
  • Weller and Oldham. 1986. Results of Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary provides locations of different species of reptiles and amphibians; NHIC maintains the database
  • COSEWIC status reports on species at risk and may also document species that are declining (also found at CWS)

Canadian Wildlife Service, Burlington

  • for contact with local volunteers participating in Amphibian Road Call Counts who know locally important habitats for these species.

Long Point Bird Observatory

  • for contact with volunteers participating in Marsh Monitoring Program and/or Backyard Amphibian Survey who may know locally important habitats and sites for these species.

Other potential sources of information

  • naturalist club publications
  • consultant, naturalist club, and university studies may be found at the ministry; OMOT; Ontario Hydro; Conservation Authority, and municipality offices; NHIC in Peterborough

Mammals

Ministry Ecologists; NHIC in Peterborough

  • status list of all provincial species is determined and regularly updated by ministry  and NHIC staff
  • COSEWIC status reports on vulnerable species (also found at CWS)

Other potential sources of information

  • Dobbyn, J.S. 1994. Atlas of the Mammals of Ontario describes the range and distribution of mammals in Ontario; may help to determine local rarity (available from FON)
  • naturalist club publications
  • Museum of Natural Science (Ottawa) produces some publications
  • consultant, naturalist club, university studies may be found at the ministry; OMOT; Ontario Hydro; Conservation Authority, and municipality offices; NHIC in Peterborough
  • Peterson, R.L. 1966. The Mammals of Eastern Canada. Oxford University Press, Toronto may be found at some University libraries; ministry offices

Butterflies

Ministry ecologists; NHIC in Peterborough

  • status list of all provincial species is determined and regularly updated by NHIC and ministry staff
  • Campbell, C., D.P. Coulson and A.A. Bryant 1990. Status, distribution, and life history characteristics of some butterflies at risk in the Carolinian forest zone of Ontario. pp. 207- 252. In Allen, G.M. , P.F.J. Eagles, and S.D. Price (eds.) Conserving Carolinian Canada, University of Waterloo Press, Waterloo. Reports on the status of most threatened butterflies in the Carolinian zone of southern Ontario, includes general location of records; notes on distribution, habitat preferences; mentions public and private collections; recommendations for conservation. Found at the NHIC-Peterborough; some ministry offices and university libraries.

Other potential sources of information

  • Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, may provide contact with butterfly experts
  • Toronto Entomologists’ Association newsletter may be found at the NHIC
  • naturalist club publications
  • Holmes et al. 1991. The Ontario Butterfly Atlas. Toronto: Toronto Entomologists’ Association may be found at the NHIC
  • Layberry et al. 1998. The Butterflies of Canada.

Other groups

NHIC in Peterborough

  • Maintains a database on rare dragonflies, moths, tiger beetles, & unionid mussels
  • Can provide contact with specialists

References

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