Winter 2008/09 - Tommy Thompson Park

Tommy Thompson Park
Master Plan Implementation Project
Community Newsletter
Winter 2008/09
NATURAL AREA ENHANCEMENT
PLAN UPDATE
Soil improvements
Improving soil quantity and quality
Tommy Thompson Park (TTP) is composed mainly of construction
rubble (cement, bricks, etc) and clean dredgeate (silt, sand).
Additional fine materials have been placed on the surfaces of most
park areas, however most of this material is low in nutrients and
microbial life necessary for plant growth. The soil profile at TTP
is atypical of natural areas with mineral and organic soils largely
absent. To improve growing conditions at the park, and thus
habitat enhancement opportunities, planting nodes have been
created with topsoil imported from local development sites. This
topsoil is an ideal planting medium. It also contains organic matter
that provides plant roots with the nutrients and microorganisms
needed for proper development and improves the moisture capacity
of the soil, allowing the plant to take up more water than would be
possible in subsoil. All areas receiving soil improvements will be
planted and/or seeded with native vegetation.

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Fall plantings
More than 600 native trees and shrubs were installed in fall 2008
in various areas around the park. Clusters of trees and shrubs were
strategically planted in the meadow areas along the Neck to help
buffer strong winds off the lake and provide habitat for butterflies
and other meadow species. The young conifer trees were wrapped
in burlap to improve their survival as the winter conditions on the
waterfront can be very harsh on young vegetation. The area around
Triangle Pond received several planting treatments: shrub thickets
containing a variety of native species were installed on the east
side of the pond; conifer nodes containing Eastern white-cedar,
white spruce and white pine were created on both the east and
west sides; and deciduous trees were planted throughout the area.
These new plantings improve the diversity of vegetation at TTP and
enhance wildlife habitat by providing food and cover, as well as
overwintering and nesting habitat.
Raptor perches
As the remaining non-functioning light standards in the park are
removed there are fewer areas for raptors to perch. Raptors, such
as the Red-tailed Hawk, perch to rest and survey the surrounding
areas for foraging opportunities. To help compensate for the lack of
perching locations TRCA staff installed a raptor pole in a meadow
area near Embayment D early this winter. The pole, including a
snake hibernaculum at the base, stands approximately 7 metres
tall and is expected to become a favourite location for park visitors
looking for birds of prey. Additional raptor poles will be installed in
the park throughout the coming months. Already a Peregrine Falcon
(listed as Threatened by COSSARO and a Special Concern Species by
COSEWIC) is enjoying this new vantage point.
Embayment A habitat enhancements
Embayment A is the most westerly embayment of the park
and can be generally characterized as cool water habitat with
smaller areas of coastal wetland. Habitat enhancements will
take place this winter to increase primary production, expand
coastal wetlands and improve physical and thermal refuge areas
for fish and reptiles. Work will include surcharging a section
of the embayment with clean sand dredgeate and installing
rock shoals, anchored logs and woody stumps to improve the
structural diversity of the nearshore area and shoreline. Small
islands, backwater lagoons and isolated wet pockets will be
created and planted this spring with aquatic and riparian
vegetation. These features provide a variety of habitats for
wildlife offering specific benefits to fish, invertebrates, reptiles
and waterfowl. A temporary staging area for the materials for
this project has been placed across from the Embayment and
will be restored upon the completion of the Embayment A
habitat enhancement project.
Colonial waterbird habitat enhancements
Colonial birds are those that typically nest in large
congregations or in colonies. TTP currently has seven species
of breeding colonial waterbirds, which contribute to its
designation as an internationally recognized Important Bird
Area (IBA). Three of these species, Double-crested Cormorant,
Black-crowned Night-heron and Great Egret, typically nest in
trees and over time as trees begin to die and eventually fall,
they are no longer available as tree nesting habitat. Trees die in
waterbird colonies, especially cormorant colonies, largely due to
the deposition of excrement and branch stripping. In areas
Peregrine Falcon on new raptor pole
Photo courtesy of: Ian Sturdee, TTPBRS volunteer
Boreal Owl
Photo courtesy of: Ian Sturdee, TTPBRS volunteer

Tommy Thompson Park Community Newsletter — Winter 2008/09
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where cormorants nest, forest conditions range from virtually
none remaining on Peninsula A to mostly dead standing
trees on Peninsula B to a declining forest on Peninsula C.
Cormorants appear adaptable to the loss of forest and have
begun to nest on the ground where the trees used to stand;
however night-herons and egrets will not readily ground nest
and will likely leave the site if their nesting habitat is no longer
suitable. The increasing cormorant population also competes
with night-herons and egrets for nesting sites.
In order to maintain the populations of all tree nesting colonial
bird species at TTP, TRCA has initiated habitat improvements
to encourage cormorants to nest on the ground and improve
tree and shrub cover for the benefit of night-herons and egrets.
By promoting cormorant ground nesting, staff hope to alleviate
pressure on the remaining forest and reduce competition
for tree nesting sites with night-herons and egrets. Habitat
enhancements to ground nesting sites include the placement of
vertical structure and fallen nest material. Formerly forested
areas that are no longer used for nesting, as well as sparsely
forested areas adjacent to current nesting areas, will be restored
or enhanced in spring 2009. Restoration activities will include
soil improvements, placement of woody material and native
tree and shrub planting. While these areas will not provide
immediate colonial waterbird nesting habitat, they will in the
future and, in the meantime, will provide direct habitat for a
variety of other flora and fauna.
NOTABLE WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
Tommy Thompson Park had some significant, and even unusual,
wildlife sightings for the later half of 2008. A Northern Hawk
Owl was a late fall visitor to the park – this species is not even on
the TTP Bird Checklist! At least one Boreal Owl has also been
observed in late fall and early winter. Late fall also saw Purple
Sandpipers at TTP - they are considered “accidental” visitors to
the area. More recently Harlequin Ducks, Horned Grebes, and
King Eiders have been sighted in the waters around the park.
These are species that are typically found in higher latitudes
or along ocean coasts. An adult Bald Eagle, White-winged
Crossbills and Common Redpolls are also recent sightings. Of
course, observations of coyote, mink, muskrat, cottontail and
signs of smaller critter continue and are sometimes made even
more obvious in the snow.
TTP NEWS
New TTP website launched
The Tommy Thompson Park website has a new look
and feel and loads more content! The new site was
developed by TRCA staff and designed by iMobileWeb.
Among the new features are details on Master Plan
implementation, habitat restoration and monitoring
activities, resident wildlife, downloadable pdfs, a photo
gallery and much more!
New Peterson Field Guide launched
In September Lee Allen Peterson visited Toronto to
promote the new Peterson Guide to Birds of North
America and to commemorate the centennial of the
birth of his famous and influential father, Roger Tory
Peterson. Tommy Thompson Park hosted Lee Allen
Peterson who visited the park to observe activities at the
Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station (TTPBRS),
habitat restoration endeavours and the spectacular
bird colonies. Toronto and Region Conservation staff
were honoured to be included as guest speakers at the
launch event – “Roger Tory Peterson - A Son’s Memories”,
where TTPBRS was featured along with FLAP, before Mr.
Peterson spoke about his life birding with his father.
Conifer node by Triangle Pond

Tommy Thompson Park Community Newsletter — Winter 2008/09
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Purple Sandpiper
Photo courtesy of: Ian Sturdee, TTPBRS volunteer
UPCOMING EVENTS
Winter Waterfowl Workshop – Saturday, March 7
In addition to the dozens of waterfowl species that inhabit
Toronto’s waterfront year-round, many other waterfowl arrive
during the winter to escape the cold temperatures and limited
food sources of their high north breeding grounds. The open
waters around Tommy Thompson Park provide a refuge from
the extreme conditions in northern Canada. Join TRCA staff on
Saturday, March 7 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to learn about
and view these winter visitors. Dress warmly for the outdoors
and bring binoculars and a bird field guide if you have them. The
TTP shuttle van will be running between the front gate and the
viewing station. The event is free, but registration is requested.
To register, call the TTP Hotline at 416-661-6600, ext. 5770
or email ttp@trca.on.ca. In the event of extreme weather
conditions on the day of the event, call the hotline to check
for a notice of cancellation.
Spring Bird Festival – Saturday, May 23
Join us at TTP on Saturday, May 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for
the annual Spring Bird Festival. This year we are pleased
to have Dr. Bridget Stutchbury, author of the book Silence
of the Songbirds: How We are Losing the World’s Songbirds
and What We Can Do to Save Them, as our guest speaker
and birdathoner. Activities will include guided hikes,
interpretive displays and children’s activities. Please
check out the TTP website (www.trca.on.ca/ttp) for more
details.
For further information regarding Tommy Thompson Park, please visit www.trca.on.ca/ttpmasterplan
If you have specific questions regarding the project or if you would like to be placed on the project mailing list, please contact:
Catherine DeAbreu
Waterfront Clerk
Telephone: 416-661-6600, ext. 5305
email: cdeabreu@trca.on.ca