Hello Everyone

May has definitely been fly-a-licious and I don't mean those little buzzing insects that orbit around the potato salad. It's been the month for the flying creatures of Rondeau. Of course that does mean a few bugs. But that's really a blessing in disguise, because it is those insects that the birds are looking for. In spring the birds time their return with the emergence of the insects so that they have plenty of food for their long trip north. Then in the late spring and summer our plethora of insects provides lots of food so that the young can quickly grow big and strong enough to fly all the way south in the fall. So we really thank all the insects for providing us with colourful tapestry that is the spring bird migration.

As far as the birds go we've had a good, but challenging birding season. With the early spring this year, many of the tree leaves were out when the birds arrived. This made it a little harder to see the birds. However, that didn't deter our birders from seeing an amazing variety of birds this year. We had 37 species of warblers. This included a Brewster's Warbler, a Yellow-throated Warbler, a Worm-eating Warbler and of course a veritable army of Yellow Warblers. Surprisingly, the highlight of the month wasn't a warbler, but a grosbeak. We had a Blue Grosbeak hanging out in the campground for about a week and a half. There are usually only about 5 sightings of Blue Grosbeaks in Ontario per year. They normally only come as far north as the southern edge of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Despite the amazing birds this month, my personal highlight was in a different flying form. While birding along South Point Trail with some family, a large butterfly fluttered into view. We quickly turned our binoculars from birds to the butterfly, hoping it would stay on a flower long enough to figure out what it was. Our wish was granted and we got a good long look at this large black butterfly with bright iridescent blue on the back wings. It was a Pipevine Swallowtail! The first one I've ever seen! Needless to say, I did a little happy dance right there on the trail.

Not surprisingly, female Pipevine Swallowtails lay their eggs on plants in the pipevine family like Dutchman's Pipe. These plants contain poisonous chemicals that don't effect the caterpillars, but make the caterpillars and eventually the butterflies poisonous to predators. It's the same thing that Monarchs do, just with a different plant. Most of the other large black butterflies like Spicebush Swallowtails, Red-spotted Purples, and Black Swallowtails are trying to mimic the Pipevine Swallowtail so that they won't be eaten.

I'd also like to introduce you to some of our summer staff that you will be able to meet this June. Laura (aka my essential right hand) is back again for her 4th summer, running all our school programs and more importantly keeping me in line. Our summer team this year is Trena, Brady, Lauren, Scott, Breanne and Tara. Trena you may have met as she has been the friendly face at the Visitor Centre desk all May (she also has been doing some amazing organizational work behind the scenes to get our work space ready for our new influx of staff). This will be her second summer here and we are glad to have her back. Brady and Lauren will also be joining us in June for their second year. Lauren's great work on our Amazing Race program last year foreshadows great things from her this summer. Brady has been lending his brain and brawn to some of our resource management this May. The new kid on the block this summer will be Scott. We are really looking forward to his new ideas and programs. Breanne and Tara will be joining us in July and I'll tell you all about them when they arrive.

Flyingly Yours,
Kip