Arbo Distribution

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Birding & Walking in Montreals Morgan Arbore tumWith a descriptive trails guide for walkers and skiers

A guide for visitors to Canadas largest arboretum from the Sparroworks Wildlife Company www.sparroworks.ca
http://www.sparroworks.ca/http://www.sparroworks.ca/http://www.sparroworks.ca/


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The Morgan

Arboretum

The Sparroworks Wildlife Guides (of whichthis is the rst) can be downloaded from thewww.sparroworks.ca website. They aredesigned to be easy to read on a computerscreen - especially a tablet computer such asan iPad. They can be printed for referencewhen you visit - should they get wet andtorn, just download another copy.

The guides are free, but if you feel you would

like to contribute to their development please consider making a donation to our favourite charity, Bird Protection Quebec ( www.birdprotectionquebec.org ) andsupport their important work in habitat protection, sanctuary management andresearch funding. You will nd an easydonation button on their website.

** Une version franaise de ce guide seradisponible quand une traduction acceptable a t prpar. .

CONTENTS:3 - Introduction

6 - A Top 20 birds for new birders

17 - The annotated bird checklist

27 - Guide to the walking trails
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IntroductionAll cities contain a number of parks and open spaces in whichto escape the built environment. Many have more greenspace than does Montreal, but few have anything on the scaleof the Morgan Arboretum in which to wander and get close tothe natural world so close to the city center. It may not befamous, indeed even in Montreal it is surprising how fewpeople are aware of it, but it is more than extensive enough tolose yourself in for a day and never know that a major city lies just down the highway.

Created in 1945 on land made available to McGill Universityfrom the back lots of the Morgan family's Stoneycroft Farm,it was originally envisaged as a space that would be devoted

to furthering knowledge of forest development and woodlotmanagement. Much has changed in almost seventy years.The Arboretum is the largest green space on the island ofMontreal and the largest arboretum in Canada with an area ofsome 245 hectares or around 600 acres. Today it is a multi-usegreen space used by the University for environmental sciencesresearch and teaching purposes, while at the same timeproviding a valued space for the public to walk under thetrees and enjoy this rare urban forest environment most

importantly of all, though, it is essential and increasingly rarehabitat for the many animal and plant species that are stillliving amongst and around people in this splendid city.

The Arboretum does not stand in isolation. To the west aresmaller, privately owned, wooded areas that together with theArboretum form the Senneville Migratory Bird Sanctuary andto the East are diverse agricultural lands that lead to the smallAnse l'Orme Nature Park and the somewhat larger Cap St-

Jacques Nature Park alongside the river. Over the water is IleBizard which also has considerable green areas and beyond

that Ile Jsus (Laval) and the North. Taken together, thesedisparate areas form a lengthy green corridor which isessential to wildlife movement and survival; the Arboretumforming the largest single part.

The collections of trees that form today's arboretum are ofwidely different ages and species depending on their date ofplanting and the various soil and drainage characteristics ofdifferent parts of the site. When rst founded, the arboretumwas on land that was partly forested and partly old pasture but today, with the exception of a eld between the two maincar parks and a second eld towards the northern end, theentire area is forested with a mixture of coniferous anddeciduous species of varying maturity . More details of thesewill be given later.

Under the trees, visitors will nd some 25km of diverse trails,some relatively heavily used and others much less so, someshort and some long, giving opportunities for everyone tond something to suit their needs. In the winter, two of themain trails are groomed for cross country skiing and amoderately long snowshoe trail also exists, while the maintrail is accessible to walkers all year around.

The arboretum website is at www.morganarboretum.org

Location - getting thereThe Arboretum is found at the western end of MontrealIsland in the municipality of Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue. Access bypublic transport is, sadly, rather decient. The closest youcan get is to take a bus to the terminal in front of John AbbottCollege in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue on Ch. Bord-du-lac or else acommuter train to the nearby AMT rail station. From there

you will need to walk cross the campus, take the bridge overAutoroute-20 and continue along the road over the farm
http://www.morganarboretum.org/http://www.morganarboretum.org/http://www.morganarboretum.org/


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elds, cross the Autoroute-40 by the road bridge, up the slopeand you're there it takes 30-40 minutes. Look on it ashealthy exercise, it's all you can do unless you call a cab.

By road , you will nd the entrance to the Arboretum on Ch.Ste-Marie just north of Autoroute-40 and a few hundredmeters east of the junction with the Autoroute and Ancien-Combattants. A private, and mostly unpaved road (Ch. desPins) leads north past the tall, golf-ball shaped, weather radardome (a can't-miss landmark for the cartographicallychallenged) taking you to Pines Cottage where theadministrative ofce is found and where you can obtain yourentry pass. Members of the Friends of the Morgan Arboretumhave wide access privileges, casual visitors will be charged asmall daily fee for entry.

Past the ofce building there two parking lots. The oneimmediately to your left is for access to the Yellow and RedTrails and is also used by arboretum members walking dogs,while the one further along across the open eld and next tothe Conservation Centre building is for access to the Blue andOrange (main) Trails. Usually, there is plentiful parking, butat one or two exceptionally busy times of year such assugaring-off, prime weekends during the ski season, theheight of the fall colour etc, late-comers may need to parkalong the entrance road.Under no circumstances may cars be taken beyond the carparks, even if the main trail is seemingly wide enough topermit it. Note also, that people arriving by cycle must leavethem in one of the car parks and enter the trail system on foot.

Washrooms are to be found at the western end of theConservation Centre.

A short note about dogsAlthough visitors will see people walking their dogs in theArboretum you should be aware that only a limited numberof dog access permits are granted each year to members of thearboretum, that there is a long waiting list for these permits,that all dogs allowed entry are assessed for temperament

beforehand and that under NO circumstances can anyone elsewalk their dogs in the Arboretum. Further information aboutthis is available from the site ofce.


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>180 SPECIES OF BIRDS

The Arboretum Birds

Between 180 and 200 species of birds have been seen at one time or another inthe arboretum. Even more at the adjacent McGill Bird Observatory wheremonitoring is much more intense. In the pages that follow, a Top 20 Birdslist is suggested for those who are new to birding while detailed accounts of

all the species recorded are presented for more experienced birders.


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The BirdsBetween 180 and 200 species of birds have been seen at onetime or another in the arboretum. Naturally, some of those

are rare, some are yovers and others are elusive at best.Nevertheless, in 2010 the author of this guide and the residentInterpretative Naturalist entered into a low-key contest to seehow many species could be observed without putting toomuch effort into the venture - in other words, how manyspecies can the average visitor expect to see during the courseof an average year. The answer came to 134 species with eachof the two competitors turning in personal year list of 97 and98 species each. Not bad for a semi-urban forest this far

north.

New to Birding?

Start here - A Top Twenty BirdsBefore we go through the full checklist of bird species thathave been recorded in the arboretum, bird group by birdgroup, let us start with twenty good birds that anyone canstart their birding activities by looking out for. There are somany birds to be seen that identication can seemoverwhelming at times - start with a few easy ones.

Any top-twenty list selected from the over 180 species of birdsthat have been observed here in recent years is highlysubjective, of course. Most of the ones listed here are fairlycommon bids that you should be able to nd quite easily

while a smaller number are rarer, here only for a limitedseason but which, if you see them, are going to give you a

great thrill. They are what birders call good birds, oneswith star quality and the wow factor making them worththe effort to spot them.

Make sure you have a pair of binoculars and a good eldguide to help you identify the birds that you are certainly going to see.

The Arboretum is a marvellous place to observe birds, bothfor the novice and the expert. The extensive forest, broken up by small elds and open spaces comprises a mixed forest andforest-edge habitat that attracts a wide selection of the birdspecies of Quebec. In addition, it is adjacent to one of thenarrower crossing points along the river in this region andforms the southern portion of a green corridor running up toIle Bizard and beyond that not only birds, but many other

species, make use of to travel. In spring and autumnmigration periods a vast range of birds visit the arboretum.Here are some of the species you might look out for.

Of course, you will maximise your likelihood of seeingnumerous birds by coming to the Arboretum early in themorning before the heat of the day sends them into hidingand before the bulk of the visitors arrive. Dont forget that birds are more likely to be heard rst, especially in a forestwith dense leaf cover, than seen and most, if necessary, can beidentied by their songs alone.

Look out for seasonal guided birding walks organised by thearboretum or by BPQ, ask for a copy of the birders checklist atthe ofce and dont forget your binoculars and a eld guide tohelp with identication.

If you are new to the forest, check out the Birding Trail andmake a point of visiting Blossom Corner in the spring wheremany migrant Warbler species hang out waiting to be spotted.


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The American Crow and the Common Raven

Crows are always easily seen and heard throughout the yearall over the forest. If you come across a large group of themwho are gathering together and calling raucously they may besimply passing information to each other but often you will

nd that they are harassing an owl or a hawk and they maywell lead you to a rare sighting if you strike out and try totrack them down.

Larger and heavier than the Crow, Ravens are splendid birdsthat are around the Arboretum in small numbers throughoutthe year. More solitary than the Crows, they will engage isspectacular aerobatics as they soar and wheel above thetreetops.

Blue Jay

A relative of the Crows and Ravens, these medium sized,colourful and noisy birds are always present.

The Blue Jays, are often found in small groups or loose ocksand are rarely silent. Young Jays in particular will cometogether to learn about life as a Jay and to play - these areintelligent birds and there is little doubt that play is part oftheir daily routine.

Did you know that there is no such thing as a blue pigment in bird feathers? The blue colour is a product of light refractionthrough the feathers and will change in intensity as theymove from sun to shade


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Black-capped Chickadee

The clowns of the bird world, Chickadees are everywhereall year round and will sometimes take seed from your handif you stand still in the right place.

You would have to try really hard not to see plenty of these birds on any walk, regardless of time of year or weather.

Always worth checking ocks of Chickadees closely as not

infrequently there may be a stray warbler or other good bird travelling along with them.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Another all year round bird, the Nuthatch is a small birdusually seen head down on the trunks of trees seeking food inthe bark. Listen for their call which is rather like a plastic toy.

Nuthatches, including the similar Red-breasted version, arewonderful acrobats and seem able to fun up and down andaround tree trunks and branches in any direction, managing

as easily upside down and head pointed at the ground as theydo the normal way up. They seek out insects from thecrannies in the tree bark and are with us all year around - acheerful bird to spot in the middle of a ski or snowshoe trip inmid-winter.


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Song Sparrow

There are usually Song Sparrows around the ConservationCentre, in the trees or on the ground - often with ChippingSparrows who seem to like this area also. Listen for theirmelodious song. These birds head south in the winter but are

one of the earliest to return in springtime.

They are called Song Sparrows for a very good reason andonce you have heard them you will realise why.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are here in considerable numbers andfairly easily located by their constant twittering calls as ocksof them move through the understory.

However - there always being a however in birding - they are

almost never still so getting what a birding friend refers to asa soul-satisfying look can be hard to achieve and you willhave to be patient. If you are lucky you may see their tinyruby-red crest raised and you may even get a photograph. Avery nice bird indeed to start your Arboretum list with.

Look out too for the similar Golden-crowned Kinglets.


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Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers

The common woodpeckers you might see almost anywhere.At rst glance quite similar to each other, the Hairy is largerthan the Downy and has a rather longer beak.

You can easily terll males from females for these species as themales have a red patch on their heads while the females donot - see the female Downy Woodpecker in the photo above.

Pileated Woodpecker

The largest of the Canadian Woodpecker species, the Pileatedis about the size of a Crow with a distinctive red head andraucous call.

You can tell when it has been working on a tree by therectangular shape of the hole it makes. They are here inconsiderable numbers and not hard to nd - hammering at atree or ying through the forest like a Pterodactyl (when yousee one, you will know what we mean).


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Common Yellowthroat

Another beautiful little bird found in edge habitats but morelikely to be out in the open in the eld on sunny dayss. Lookfor its bright yellow body and black bandits mask. The eldeast of Chalet Pruche is a good place to look.

Like the Yellow Warbler, which you will nd on a nearbypage, this easy to spot bird is one of the migratory species thatcome back to us in early to mid-May each year.

White-throated Sparrow

Found grubbing about in the undergrowth in spring and fallas they migrate through the area to and from their breedinggrounds. A lovely little bird that has a patriotic song in bothlanguages :( Oh, say, Canada-Canada-Canada ) or in French a

more earthy verse ( Cache ton cul, Frderick, Frderick,Frderick)

Dont confuse this bird with the similar White-crownedSparrow that has similar head markings but lacks the whitethroat patch and does not have that yellow spot above theeye.


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White-winged Crossbill

A winter bird that is always on the move in small ocks highin the trees. Look for it in the Tamarack tree beside ChaletPruche eating the seeds from the cones. They dont visit everywinter, but when they do they are worth getting out in the

cold to enjoy.

Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings

Birds that could be seen here all year but are more likely to beobserved in the winter, both species are medium sized birdswith very clearly marked plumage and usually seen in ocks,on occasion mixed. Look for them wherever there are berries

on the trees and shrubs. Beautifully marked with well denedpatches of colour that look painted on.

The Cedar Waxwings are by far the commoner of the twospecies. Look for theme wherever you see bunches of berrieshanging from trees or shrubs as these form a major part oftheir diet - though they eat insects as well.

Their call is a soft high pitch twittering and whistling that willeasily alert you to the presence.


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Barred Owl

If you see him you will be lucky - and please be discrete because during the daytime they will be dozing in the treeswaiting for night and dont want to be disturbed. We havetwo or three that breed here in the deeper parts of the forest.

The call of this owl is the classic who-cooks-for-you ofchildrens story books. Can be found in mixed or coniferousparts of the forest.

Hawks and Falcons of several species

Several species of Hawks and Falcons either breed in theforest or hunt here. You might hear their distinctive cries orsee them ying overhead as they look for food. A gang ofnoisy crows could lead you to one if you are lucky.

Look out for Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks,Sharp-shinned Hawks, Coopers Hawks, Merlins and Kestrelsamongst other, less common species.

Although you may see hawks within the forest hunting smallcreatures for food or coming and going from their nests, theyare most easily observed soaring high above the tree canopyso remember to look up frequently.


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Tree Swallow

There are many of these wonderfully aerobatic and fast ying birds in the arboretum every summer - some of them usingthe nesting boxes provided for them between the car parks.They feed very well on the insect life that we all know only

too well from our summer visits.

Other species of Swallows that are easy to see are the CliffSwallows which always nest under the platform of theweather radar dome you pass on the way in and the BarnSwallows which, not surprisingly, can be seen ying in, outand around the barns to the west of the dome.

American Robin

A very common bird that no longer leaves us in the winter asthey used to do.

Everybody knows this bird and its loud, bubbling song whichcan be seen in large numbers in the arboretum. They nest inlow trees and shrubs but forage for insects and other food onthe ground, usually in open areas - a feeding behaviourcharacteristic of most of the thrushes to which group they belong.


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Eastern Kingbird

Like the Great Crested Flycatcher, this quite common birdwaits to y out to catch insects on the wing but may be easierto spot as it likes the telephone wires strung along theentrance road.

There are many species of ycatcher (including one groupthat are almost impossible to separate by sight and canusually only be identied by their songs). The Kingbird isvery distinctive and you will have no difculty identifying itwhen you see one.

Yellow Warbler

A quite common warbler that you should be able to see in thearboretum every spring and summer

These colourful little birds, together with all the otherwoodland warbler species, depart for the south as autumnapproaches and then return in waves around early to mid

May when their bright plumage and cheerful songs tell usthat summer is coming.

The Yellow Warbler is one of the easiest to spot and identify -you might nd it rst by listening for its sweet-sweet-sweet-Im-so0sweet song and then scanning the trees to nd its perch.


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Red-winged Blackbird

These birds are familiar to everyone and we have a thrivingcolony that nests in the eld north of the larches each summer.Very easy to spot as they perch on the top of tall grasses andshrubs proclaiming their territory. Dont forget that the

females look nothing like the males.

Although small when compared to the much larger Crows

and Ravens they will often be seen ying up to attack them ifthey get too close to their nests.

One of the rst of the migrating birds to return after thewinter, the males always arrive several weeks before thefemales in order to seek out and claim suitable nestingterritory.

Northern Cardinal

We couldn't not mention this most distinctive of all birds, themale in its bright red plumage and the female in its moresubdued olive-tinged hues. Cardinals are with us all the yearround and in winter are like decorations on the Christmas

tree.

Cardinals are not a migratory species but were rarely if everseen in the Montreal area until the late seventies. Climatechange has helped them to spread further north and they arenow so well established we think they have been here forever.


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The Full ChecklistThe following pages take us through the full arboretumchecklist in taxonomic group sequence with brief commentsabout the likelihood of seeing various species, where they

might best be observed - and when. We suggest that you referto a eld guide for particular details of species and for helpwith identication. A stripped down version of thechecklist is appended - you can print this for use in the eld.

We know from the birds banded at the adjacent McGill BirdObservatory that there are other species in the area but theones that follow are those that have been denitely identiedwithin the arboretum boundaries.

LOONS, CORMORANTS, HERONS, BITTERNS,DUCKS and GEESE

COMMON LOONDOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTGREEN HERONAMERICAN BITTERN

SNOW GOOSECANADA GOOSECACKLING GOOSEWOOD DUCKGREEN-WINGED TEALMALLARDAMERICAN BLACK DUCKNORTHERN PINTAIL

BLUE-WINGED TEALCOMMON MERGANSER

This is not a wetland reserve and so obviously, most of theseare passage birds or chance wanderers. However, in thespring when the snows are melting two or three large vernalpools form in the elds to the north east of the forest andthese often attract ducks of surprising variety. There is also anold quarry north of the Conservation Center that lls with

water through until early summer that is worth checking out.East of the arboretum is a bird-banding station that is notaccessible by the public (the McGill Bird Observatory) whichcontains a large permanent pond and in which Wood Ducknesting boxes are placed. None of the above species are easyto see - Canada Geese and Mallards apart - but keep your eyesopen between snow-melt and spring and you could well addseveral of these birds to your list.

VULTURES, OSPREY, HAWKS, EAGLES,FALCONS

TURKEY VULTUREOSPREYGOLDEN EAGLEBALD EAGLESHARP-SHINNED HAWKBALD EAGLENORTHERN HARRIERCOOPER'S HAWKNORTHERN GOSHAWKRED-SHOULDERED HAWKBROAD-WINGED HAWKRED-TAILED HAWKROUGH-LEGGED HAWKAMERICAN KESTREL


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MERLINPEREGRINE FALCONThese charismatic birds are by no means as rare or as hard tospy as some may think. Sharp-shinned, Coopers, red-tailedand Red-shouldered Hawks all hunt within the arboretumregularly and even breed here ... Albeit their nests tend to be

in the quieter and harder to reach corners. Recently, a pair ofRed-shouldered Hawks nested and raised young in a tallshagbark hickory tree within yards of the main orange trail,yet perhaps only three or four of the many visitors that usethat highway ever noticed them. The adults certainlynoticed you, though, if you got too close. Merlins arerelatively common around the edges of the forest - on the farside of the large eld east of Chalet Pruche is a tall dead treethat is a favoured stand for these birds in high summer to useas a base for ying from to catch and eat large insects such asdragonies, a popular and plentiful food.

Other raptor species can be seen from time to time within theforest or ying over during spring and fall migration periodswhen the skies, if you look high and hard enough, canoccasionally be literally lled with these birds passingthrough and their way to and from their breeding grounds.During the summer, look above the trees around Blossom

Corner or the elds to the eats of the arboretum for raptors inight or perched on branches looking for a meal to pass theirway.

GROUSE, PHEASANT, RAILS, COOTS,PLOVERS, LAPWING, SANDPIPERS

RUFFED GROUSE

GRAY PARTRIDGE

VIRGINIA RAILSORACOMMON MOORHENAMERICAN COOTKILLDEERAMERICAN WOODCOCKWILSON'S SNIPEGREATER YELLOWLEGSSOLITARY SANDPIPERSPOTTED SANDPIPER

The only bird on this list that you could see or hearreasonably regularly is the Ruffed Grouse. These groundnesting birds root around for their food in the leaf litter below

the forest canopy and are more usually heard than seen astheir coloration is very sombre and camouaged. They areusually encountered to the east of Pullins Pasture and in thewooded area east of Pines Cottage that slopes down towardsthe bird banding station. The other species above are usuallystop-overs that have been observed in and around the oodedquarry in spring or which can be heard calling from the off-limits Stoneycroft Pond. A Solitary Sandpiper was resident inthe quarry for over two weeks in the spring of 2009.

GULLS, PIGEONS, DOVES, CUCKOOS

RING-BILLED GULLGREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLHERRING GULLROCK (DOVE) PIGEON

MOURNING DOVEBLACK-BILLED CUCKOO


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This group includes some of the commoner birds and one realrarity. Ring-billed and occasionally herring Gulls will often beseen in the skies above the arboretum and are easy to identify by most birders, even without binoculars. The great Black- backed Gulls are less commonly spotted, but as they can befound almost all year round on the nearby lakeshore will

regularly pass above us if you are looking up. Everyoneknows the Rock Pigeon and the Mourning Dove. Th Black- billed Cuckoo is a real rarity that has very occasionally beenidentied - mostly by sound - within the forest. This is ratheroutside its normal range, but with global waring more andmore species that we never used to see are starting to maketheir appearances here. After all, the ubiquitous NorthernCardinal was not a Montreal species until 20 or 30 years agoand now they are everywhere.

OWLS

EASTERN SCREECH-OWLGREAT HORNED OWLSNOWY OWLBARRED OWLNORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLLONG-EARED OWLSHORT-EARED OWLGREAT GRAY OWL

Everyone wants to see Owls. If the arboretum organises anight-time owl prowl it is guaranteed to be sold out withindays of announcement while visitors regularly ask where theycan see these wonderful birds. Well, this is the place to come.Snowy Owls, of course, are not forest birds and so will only be

seen, if you are very lucky, ying over in winter when theyare heading south in search of food ... they prefer the at-lands south and west of here such as in the elds near thevillage of St-Clet, about a half hours drive away. All of theother Owls, however, are distinct possibilities for the keen birder. Great-horned and Barred Owls are regular breeding

birds here while the habitat is ideal for the small Screech andSaw-whet Owls, even if the holes they nest in are almostimpossible to locate. Long-eared Owls are strict night-hunters but might be heard and even seen along the edges of theforest where they can hunt over open elds. The Barred Owlis the most commonly seen of our Owls, sitting out the daytucked up in a spruce tree against the trunk, often very closeto the trails.

Owls are especially susceptible to disturbance during thedaylight hours and should be approached with caution andrespect - Great-horned are particularly territorial in the breeding season by the way, you have been warned. For thisreason it is not appropriate to give specic details here aboutwhere they are most likely to be encountered but anyoneinterested should seek out the staff naturalist for up to dateinformation.

Their location is often given away by loud assemblies of

Crows who dislike their presence and will often mob them -look for Crows and nd Owls.

NIGHTJARS, SWIFTS, HUMMINGBIRDS,KINGFISHERS, SWALLOWS

COMMON NIGHTHAWKCHIMNEY SWIFT

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD


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BELTED KINGFISHERPURPLE MARTINTREE SWALLOWNORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWBANK SWALLOWCLIFF SWALLOWBARN SWALLOW

Nighthawks are here, you might see them, you can hear them.Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are seen every year althoughmost of the population breeds a bit further north. Check outthe area around Blossom Corner for example.

The various Hirundidae species will be seen every summer,some more easily than others. Cliff Swallows make theircharacteristic mud nests under the dome of the weather radar beside the entrance road and can be seen in the skies allaround while Barn swallows, of course, are to be seen easilyaround the hoop-roofed barns to the west of the same road.Tree Swallows are everywhere there are ying insects andmake use of the nesting boxes posted in the eld between thetwo car parks. For Bank and Northern Rough-winged justkeep your eyes open.

WOODPECKERS

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERDOWNY WOODPECKERHAIRY WOODPECKERTHREE-TOED WOODPECKERBLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER

NORTHERN FLICKER

PILEATED WOODPECKERRED-BELLIED WOODPECKERWhat would an arboretum be without its Woodpeckers?Downy, Hairy and Pileated are, of course, year-roundresidents and very easy to locate almost anywhere in theforest. Pileateds are here is remarkably high numbers and

can be found almost anywhere, but look along the north-western sector between the orange trail and the yellow trailfor the greatest likelihood of observing them. Yellow-belliedSapsuckers and Northern Flickers are migratory and leave usin the winter but are fairly easy to nd in spring and summer.The Black-backed Woodpecker is south of its usual range here but is seen/heard most years, usually in the further corners ofthe forest away from the pressure of visitors and dogs. Thered-bellied Woodpecker is a new discovery usually seen wellsouth of Montreal. First seen here in mid-winter 2008 it is nota shy bird and welcomes the food provided at the feeders.Since then at least one, almost certainly two and quitepossibly three have been around in winter and occasionallyseen/heard in summer too though we have no evidence ofnesting yet. Look out for these beautiful birds between theconservation centre and Chalet Pruche, most particularly inthe maple stands south and west of Blossom Corner.

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS, WAGTAILS ANDPIPITS, KINGLETS

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHEREASTERN WOOD-PEWEEYELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERALDER FLYCATCHER

WILLOW FLYCATCHER


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LEAST FLYCATCHEREASTERN PHOEBEGREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHEREASTERN KINGBIRDAMERICAN PIPITGOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETRUBY-CROWNED KINGLET

These small birds are a lot of fun to watch. They occur allalong the trails but perhaps the best places to seek them outare in Pullins Pasture and along the orange trails where itpasses the tall thick evergreen hedge just east of ChaletPruche - dont look in the hedge, look in the tops of the treesalongside and just north of it. Typically, these ebirds will siton a high perch, making short dashes to catch passing insects before returning to look for the next meal. Some of them(Yellow-bellied, Alder, Willow, Least Flycatchers inparticular) are hard to distinguish by sight but havedistinctive calls if you can hear them that will help you withidentication. The American Pipit is going to be a hard birdfor your arboretum list - not at all common and when they

occur they will be out in the grasslands as they are not forest birds. The two Kinglet species are tiny and plentiful inseason but always, always on the move hopping around indense thickets. If you are a photographer, these are going togive you a challenge.

WAXWINGS, WRENS, MOCKINGBIRDS,THRUSHES

BOHEMIAN WAXWINGCEDAR WAXWINGWINTER WRENHOUSE WRENSEDGE WRENGRAY CATBIRDBROWN THRASHEREASTERN BLUEBIRDVEERYGRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHSWAINSON'S THRUSHHERMIT THRUSHWOOD THRUSHAMERICAN ROBIN

Waxwings can occur singly but most usually are in small tovery large ocks working their way through the berries ontrees in winter - these are cold-weather birds in thearboretum. Look in Blossom Corner and along thehedgerow bordering the path to the east of PullinsPasture.

The Wrens, on order of liklihood of encountering them, areHouse, Winter and Sedge with the latter being a very raresighting. Winter Wrens are most often seen in late fallfossicking amongst the piles of decaying logs in front of thesugar shack.


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Catbirds and Thrashers are not there every day you visit butare seen or heard every year - Pullins Pasture would be agood starting place to look for them.

The various species of thrush are all forest birds that you areas likely to hear as to see because of their excellentcamouage in dappled light. Expect them to be rootingaround near the ground and amongst leaf litter looking forthings to eat - their uting, two-tone calls are unmistakeable.Try seeking them in the wooded areas in the north easternpart of the arboretum around the two large open elds.

GNATCATCHERS, CHICKADEES, TITS,NUTHATCHES,CREEPERS

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERBLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEERED-BREASTED NUTHATCHWHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHBROWN CREEPER

The Gnatcatcher is a possible bird but not often encountered.The Black-capped Chickadee, on the other hand, iseverywhere and often expecting you to hold out a handful ofseeds for him to help himself from. Similarly, theNuthatches are to be encountered in every corner of theforest where their squeaky plastic toy calls easily give themaway. Brown Creepers are quite frequent, but harder to seedue to their excellent camouage colouration - listen out for

their calls and then home in on them - along the open ride

lined by birch trees running north from the sugar shack isoften productive.

SHRIKES, CROWS AND JAYS, STARLINGS

NORTHERN SHRIKEBLUE JAYAMERICAN CROWCOMMON RAVENEUROPEAN STARLINGYou wont have any trouble ticking off the Crows and Blue Jays and not too much difculty in seeing Ravens (like extra big Crows but with differently shaped tail and a soaringight - plus a very distinctive call). The Blue Jays will ndyou and we all know Starlings. The hardest bird in thisgroup will be the Northern Shrike, most likely spotted on topof a bare tree in winter

VIREOS

BLUE-HEADED VIREOWARBLING VIR EOPHILADELPHIA VIREORED-EYED VIREO

Woodland songbirds that are here every summer. You willknow they are about rst by their beautiful songs and withcare will be able to use that to nd them in amongst thefoliage almost anywhere in the forest though the eastern partis the most productive.


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WOOD WARBLERS

BLUE-WINGED WARBLERTENNESSEE WARBLERORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERNASHVILLE WARBLERNORTHERN PARULAYELLOW WARBLERCHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERMAGNOLIA WARBLERCAPE MAY WARBLERBLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERYELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERBLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERBLACKBURNIAN WARBLERPALM WARBLERPINE WARBLERBAY-BREASTED WARBLERBLACKPOLL WARBLERBLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERMOURNING WARBLERCOMMON YELLOWTHROATWILSON'S WARBLERCANADA WARBLERAMERICAN RED STARTOVENBIRDNORTHERN WATERTHRUSHCONNECTICUT WARBLER

These are the stars of the show, the ashy small birds that weall wait eagerly for in the spring when they return from theirsouthern winter homes on migration back to their breedinggrounds. Some stay with us and nest in the arboretum whileothers keep heading through to the boreal forest but in

spring, especially the second half of May, they will be here inconsiderable numbers.

We would suggest checking out the area around BlossomCorner and in Pullins Pasture around the 20th May eachyear - but get up early for the best chances. Check with theofce as well, most years there will be a guided walk to tryto nd as many of these as possible.

In the autumn they will be seen returning south, although

not is such concentrated numbers and they will be wearingtheir rather more drab fall plumage just to make thingsdifcult - it is not for nothing that birders talk of confusingfall warblers.

TANAGERS, SPARROWS

SCARLET TANAGER

EASTERN TOWHEEAMERICAN TREE SPARROWCHIPPING SPARROWFIELD SPARROWSAVANNAH SPARROWFOX SPARROWSONG SPARROWLINCOLN'S SPARROW

SWAMP SPARROWWHITE-CROWNED SPARROW


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WHITE-THRO ATED SPARROWDARK-EYED JUNCOSNOW BUNTING

The Scarlet Tanager is the ashy one in this group that ishere every year, albeit in small numbers, from springonwards. Try a sunny day near Blossom Corner for this one,possibly up high in the trees. The Eastern Towhee and theLincolns Sparrow are rarely seen, especially the latter, butthey have been so you may be fortunate. Snow Buntings are,as their name implies, winter birds - they arrive in small,ever moving ocks and inhabit the open elds. We dont getthem as winter residents but as ocks passing through - keep

your eyes open. The other Sparrows are all distinct possiblesevery year. Song Sparrows will readily greet you by the carpark and breed in the led south of Pullins Pasture inconsiderable numbers - you should also look out there forSavannah Sparrows that we see in small numbers mostyears. White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows arepassage birds in migration but will stop here for periodswhere they can be enjoyed as they rummage in the leaf litter below dense shrubs. Sparrows are not just boring, little

brown birds - they are the life and soul of the party if youhave the ability to appreciate their more subtle virtues.

CARDINALS. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, etc.

NORTHERN CARDINALROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKINDIGO BUNTINGBOBOLINK

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDEASTERN MEADOWLARKRUSTY BLACKBIRDCOMMON GRACKLEBROWN-HEADED COWBIRDBALTIMORE ORIOLE

This group are a mixed bag. The Eastern Meadowlark mightappear on the open elds and it is worth taking a walk downthe road between the Ecomuseum and the MBO towards theseed farm (not strictly in the arboretum but very close) tolook for them too. Bobolinks are birds in need of care andprotection - they breed in grassland and love the elds in the

north-eastern corner of the arboretum - unfortunately, one ofthose grows plants such as Golden Rod that is too tall fortheir liking while the others are regularly cut for hay and sotheir =chances of successful breeding are hampered to saythe least ... nevertheless, they come back year after year.Northern Cardinals hardly need an introduction orinstructions as to where to nd them; red-winged Blackbirds breed in the eld north of the Larches; Indigo Buntings likeedge habitat and you might try looking for them in thehedge lining the main trail between Chalet Pruche and theeld to the east of it where they often nest (along withCommon yellowthroats by the way). Rose-breastedGrosbeaks seem to like the trees at the northern end ofPullins Pasture for some reason


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FINCHES, SISKINS, etc.

PINE GROSBEAKPURPLE FINCHHOUSE FINCHWHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLCOMMON REDPOLLPINE SISKINAMERICAN GOLDFINCHEVENING GROSBEAK

Grosbeaks are not common (not a problem unique to thearboretum0, but do occur. American Goldnches are here allyear aorund and easy to spot. The others are winter nchesthat come to us in the snowy months when food furthernorth becomes scarce. The Pine Siskins like the feeders,always a good place to check while for the Crossbills, have alook in the Tamarack tree beside Chalet

OLD WORLD SPARROWS

HOUSE SPARROW

Not as common in the arboretum as they should be butthere is a thriving colony in nearby Ste-Anne-de-Bellevuewhere you could go after your birding for some excellentfood and a drink and to say hello to the sparrows..

** AND THATS THATTo discover more about the birds of the Arboretum you cantake this guide and a pair of binoculars and wander the trailswith your eyes and your ears open ... Or you can join one ofthe seasonal guided birding walks that are organised inspring and fall by the Arboretum naturalists(www.morganarboretum.org ) or by Bird Protection Quebec(www.birdprotectionquebec.org ).

A nal wordWhatever you see while birding in the Arboretum could weappeal to you to share your sightings with the Arboretumnaturalists (leave your notes at the ofce) and also to uploadthem to eBird ... Something that all birders should do all thetime.
http://www.birdprotectionquebec.org/http://www.birdprotectionquebec.org/http://www.morganarboretum.org/http://www.morganarboretum.org/


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LOONSCommon LoonCORMORANTSDouble-crested CormorantHERONS, BITTERNSGreen HeronAmerican BitternDUCKS, GEESESnow GooseCanada GooseCackling GooseWood DuckGreen-winged TealMallardAmerican Black DuckNorthern PintailBlue-winged TealCommon MerganserVULTURES

Turkey VultureOSPREYOspreyHAWKS, EAGLESGolden EagleBald EagleNorthern HarrierSharp-shinned HawkCooper's HawkNorthern GoshawkRed-shouldered HawkBroad-winged HawkRed-tailed HawkRough-legged HawkFALCONSAmerican KestrelMerlinPeregrine FalconGROUSERuffed GrousePHEASANT etc.Gray PartridgeRAILS, COOTS, etc.Virginia RailSora

Common Moorhen

American CootPLOVERS, LAPWINGKilldeerSANDPIPERSAmerican WoodcockWilson's SnipeGreater YellowlegsSolitary SandpiperSpotted SandpiperGULLSRing-billed GullGreat Black-backed GullHerring GullPIGEONS, DOVESRock (Dove) PigeonMourning DoveCUCKOOSBlack-billed CuckooOWLS

Eastern Screech-OwlGreat Horned OwlSnowy OwlBarred OwlNorthern Saw-whet OwlLong-eared OwlGreat Gray OwlShort-eared owlNIGHTJARSCommon NighthawkSWIFTSChimney SwiftHUMMINGBIRDSRuby-throated HummingbirdKINGFISHERSBelted KingsherWOODPECKERSYellow-bellied SapsuckerDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerThree-toed WoodpeckerBlack-backed WoodpeckerNorthern FlickerPileated WoodpeckerRed-bellied Woodpecker

TYRANT FLYCATCHERSOlive-sided FlycatcherEastern Wood-PeweeYellow-bellied FlycatcherAlder FlycatcherWillow FlycatcherLeast FlycatcherEastern PhoebeGreat Crested FlycatcherEastern KingbirdSWALLOWSPurple MartinTree SwallowNorthern Rough-wingedSwallowBank SwallowCliff SwallowBarn SwallowWAGTAILS AND PIPITS

American PipitKINGLETSGolden-crowned KingletRuby-crowned KingletWAXWINGSBohemian WaxwingCedar WaxwingWRENSWinter WrenHouse WrenSedge WrenMOCKINGBIRDS etc.Gray CatbirdBrown ThrasherTHRUSHESEastern BluebirdVeeryGray-cheeked ThrushSwainson's ThrushHermit ThrushWood ThrushAmerican RobinGNATCATCHERSBlue-gray GnatcatcherCHICKADEES, TITS

Black-capped Chickadee

NUTHATCHESRed-breasted NuthatchWhite-breasted NuthatchCREEPERSBrown CreeperSHRIKESNorthern ShrikeCROWS AND JAYSBlue JayAmerican CrowCommon RavenSTARLINGSEuropean StarlingVIREOS etc.Blue-headed VireoWarbling VireoPhiladelphia VireoRed-eyed VireoWOOD WARBLERS

Blue-winged WarblerTennessee WarblerOrange-crowned WarblerNashville WarblerNorthern ParulaYellow WarblerChestnut-sided WarblerMagnolia WarblerCape May WarblerBlack-throated Blue WarblerYellow-rumped WarblerBlack-throated Green WarblerBlackburnian WarblerPalm WarblerPine warblerBay-breasted WarblerBlackpoll WarblerBlack-and-white WarblerAmerican RedstartOvenbirdNorthern WaterthrushConnecticut WarblerMourning WarblerCommon YellowthroatWilson's Warbler

Canada Warbler

TANAGERS etc.Scarlet TanagerSPARROWS etc.Eastern TowheeAmerican Tree SparrowChipping SparrowField SparrowSavannah SparrowFox SparrowSong SparrowLincoln's SparrowSwamp SparrowWhite-crowned SparrowWhite-throated SparrowDark-eyed JuncoSnow BuntingCARDINALS etc.Northern CardinalRose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo BuntingBLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES,BobolinkRed-winged BlackbirdEastern MeadowlarkRusty BlackbirdCommon GrackleBrown-headed CowbirdBaltimore OrioleFINCHES, SISKINS, etc.Pine GrosbeakPurple FinchHouse FinchWhite-winged CrossbillCommon RedpollPine SiskinAmerican GoldnchEvening GrosbeakOLD WORLD SPARROWSHouse Sparrow

The Arboretum Bird Checklist


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25 KM OF FOREST WALKING AND SKIING TRAILS

The Arboretum Trails

There are trails of all sorts in the arboretum. An excellent and comprehensivemap is available on the arboretum website or from the ofce when you visit.Perhaps start with the well-maintained Center-trail and then explore differentcorners on the other trails at all seasons of the year. Some long, some short,

some dry, some muddy but all full of interest


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Getting around on the trails

If you are not familiar with the arboretum then some ofthe above comments about where to see birds will not be helpful.

Although it is hard for some of us to believe there arepeople who lose sight of the sun, cant nd the northand get lost in the forest they do exist and so until you become familiar with the trails you would be best

advised to obtain a map. You can get detailed trailmaps and information from the ofce when you enterthe arboretum.

More information can be had from the arboretu mswebsite at www.morganarboretum.org

For birders, most of the good sites and the maintrails are shown for you on the map to the right. Seethe following pages for explanations of the numbers onthe map:
http://www.morganarboretum.org/http://www.morganarboretum.org/http://www.morganarboretum.org/


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Key to the main features

of the trail network

1This is the Pines Cottage with thearboretum ofce and it is where youpay your entry fee if not a member.Pick up detailed maps here and ask forthe latest information about sightings.Before you arrive at the ofce, stopalong the entrance road and check thepines to the west - Owls have been

known to hang out there during theday. If you see any please do notdisturb them or get too close.

2The second, more northerly, car park isfor most visitors. The low buildingnext to it is the Conservation Centrewhere you can shelter on cold and wetdays, eat a sandwich and use thewashrooms. Check the trees aroundthe car park for birds - there are oftenSong and Chipping Sparrowswelcoming you in summer and small busy birds like Kinglets hang out in thegroup of monocots west of the CC.Chickadees are everywhere and White-

throated and White-crowned Sparrowsin spring and fall will appear by the

picnic tables for crumbs. In the largeeld south of this car park you will seesome nesting boxes on poles that areused by tree Swallows. Check the edgeof the forest to the west for perchingraptors and always scan the feeders in

winter.

3The southern car park is reserved formembers with dogs so please do notuse it unless there is nowhere else topark. The red, yellow and snowshoetrails depart from behind this car park.

4The Quarry. In spring and earlysummer this holds quite a lot of waterand is lled with thousands of frogs.Rare shorebirds have appeared here inrecent years for a few days andoccasional ducks drop by for a paddle.The trees around the pool are goodplaces to look for songbirds of all sorts.

5Blossom Corner. As its name implies,this part of the forest has been plantedwith select trees with spectacular blossom and it is a prime site to see aswide a range of birds as you will nd

anywhere in the arboretum. Thrushes

skulk under the shrubs, Warblers feedin the blossom covered branches,raptors y overhead and, sadly, non- birders make a noise and disturbyou ... So come early and see the birdsat their best. Birds or no birds, this is a

very nice place to be.

6Chalet Pruche. An attractive log cabinthat has been renovated by volunteersfrom the Friends of the Arboretum andwhich is available for hire for privatefunctions. In winter it is openedseveral times during the skiing seasonto give visitors a place to rest andwarm up by the log re. Look in theforest edge to the west for manyspecies of birds - and in particular forthe are Red-bellied Woodpecker thatseem to like it here. There is a tallLarch tree standing beside the cabinthat is much favoured by winter

nches.

7The Sugar Shack. In most years youwill nd stacks of gradually decayinglogs nearby, usually in the eld infront. The nooks and crannies holdinsects and in late summer/earlyautumn this is the best site by far tond Winter Wrens fossicking for food.


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The nearby trees are good places forsummer Warblers and Woodpeckers ofall species, including the elusive Red- bellied.

8Maple Corner where several trailscome together. There are maples here,of course, but close-by is perhaps theonly Cricket-bat Willow tree in Quebecand a grove of Black Walnut trees. Youcould and can nd anything here but ishas, over the years, been a prime sightfor seeing rare visits by large accipiterssuch as the Northern Goshawkcruising between the relatively well-spaced trees.

9The (so-called) Bobolink Field rarely,these days contains any Bobolinks -although males can be seen in earlysummer prospecting it - because thevegetation has changed since its glorydays. Nevertheless, this modest sizedopen eld is superb place to check formany species and usually holds a largeand vociferous population of breedingRed-winged Blackbirds and SongSparrows. The occasional SavannahSparrow is seen most years. Aroundthe edges of the eld are stands of bothdeciduous and coniferous trees as well

as low and shrubby hedges so there aremany opportunities for edge-dwelling bird species to visit the led for food ...of which there is a great variety. Whilethere look too for Lepidoptera spp. Andlook up for cruising hawks. This is an

interesting eld that is changing year by year so you never quite know whatyou might see, In the south-easterncorner is a bench seat under a crab-apple tree where you can expect tofeed Chickadees with seed from thepalm of your hand.

10 Just west of Chalet Pruche and by thesouthern end of the long hedge is theentrance to the southern eld. Thiseld regularly contains quite a numberof Bobolinks ... Until they cut the haywhen they disappear, as do any nestsand edglings they might have because the hay crop is always takentoo early. Look along the edge of theled for Indigo Buntings and CommonYellowthroat that nest in the trees,especially those separating the eldfrom the main tail. The tall dead treeon the far side of the eld has beenknown as a hawking station forMerlins who y from it in summer tocatch dragonies on the wing, afavourite meal of theirs. In winter,

there are sometimes small ocks ofWaxwing attracted by tree berries.

11The second, more northerly of the twoeastern elds also holds Bobolinksuntil the hay is cut. The trees aroundthe edges are good places to look forperching Hawks of all species whilethe open skies overhead are worthchecking for more. Turkey Vultures inseason can be seen over here. Near theeld entrance, a shallow dip in theland holds a short-lived vernal pool

that attracts waterfowl of many speciesand occasionally a good rarity or two.The shrubby hedge lining the pathalong the western edge of the eld andleaf litter underlying it is a wonderfulplace to check for small songbirds,Sparrows, Waxwings, orioles and anynumber of really nice species.

12The famous Pullins Pasture was, oncea pasture with stone walls around it but is now gradually reverting towoodland with some open grassyareas and many shrubs and thickets -ideal nesting habitat for Warblers andSparrows and a place the avid birderreally needs to spend some time. For


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some reason, the tall trees on thenorthern-most edge are the best placein the arboretum to see Rose-breastedGrosbeak.

13A bit of mixed forest between theyellow and blue trails that should bevisited for brown Tree-creeper andserendipitous visitors.

14Below and to the north of Chalet

Pruche is a small eld with a line of birch trees around the edges. If youlike trees, each of these Birch treescame from a different province inCanada but for the birder they aregood places to see birds - Flycatchersare often to be observed along thisforest edge. The ride through theforest going directly north cutsthrough a dense Larch plantation andshould be checked for signs of GreatHorned Owls and Brown treeCreepers. In spring warblers will besinging all around you.

15We dont have a 15 on the map so lets saythis is the elusive leafy, sun and bird-lled

glade you were always seeking and mayone day nd.

16At the extreme southern edge of the

arboretum are open elds leading,eventually, to the AutorouteTranscanadienne (an excellent place tolook for red-tailed Hawks who use thelight poles and direction signs asperches from which to look for prey onthe at margins of the highway.).These elds are good places to spycruising raptors and, after dark, are the

place to nd Long-eared Owls.

17About half way round the main orangetrail there is a turn to the right and ashort slope - on your right you will seea bench-seat overlooking a small andexceptionally muddy pond. It ismuddy because peoples dogs like toromp in it but being water it, of course,attracts birds. Spend a short whilehere and see what might be lurking inhe surrounding trees and shrubs. Theforest from here to the bottom of thenext slop on the trail is prime territoryfor Pileated Woodpeckers.

18This is interesting. In 2009 the localcooking gas company, who have apipeline under the western side of thearboretum decided it was time to dig it

up and bring it up to date - doing thisnecessitated cutting a very wide ridethrough the forest but they had theright to do it and so it went ahead withtrees falling like ninepins (they didsave the rarities). Afterwards, theygave a respectable donation for newtrees and plantings and the arboretumhave since been busily propagatingand planting a variety of native treesand shrubs and grasses - all of whichare simply the bees knees if you are a bird. Well worth checking out alongthis ride on the Blue Trail to see whatmight be about. It is not heavilywalked by anyone, in fact thearboretum rather discourage peoplegoing in summer because there aresome sensitive habitats along there thatthey would prefer you to treatcarefully. Stick rigidly to the trailplease, but do go and have a look.

19More bird-attracting water. There is a

small forest pond and boggy marginsdeep in the forest about here on the


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blue trail that you my nd protablefor a broad range of woodland birds.

20The Green (Ecology) and the Red Trailsare contiguous for a short length hereand pass along the edge of a denseconifer stand that has been known, onmore than one occasion, to hold BarredOwls sitting up the trees watching youpass by below. The Red Trail alsoholds unleashed dogs, so be warned because there is nothing so interestingto a curious, free-running dog as a guy

starring into a tree and totally focussedon a rare bird - being bounced from behind by muddy paws andslobbering tongues is not conducive togood cardiac function.

21As you walk clockwise around the

main trail (orange trail/centre road)there comes a point when the trees toyour left change from mixed and fairlyopen forest to a dense spruceplantation. This belt of trees runs along way south but it is a good place toexpect to see Barred Owls just sittingquietly half way up the trunk watchingyou go by while they wait for the darkto return.

22 Just a warning - there is avery wetstretch of the Blue Trail along herewhere you may well see someinteresting birds keeping away from

the more heavily walked areas butwhere you will certainly be unable topass unless you are wearing stoutwaterproof boots. You have beenwarned, it stays wet all year.

23This is the southern edge of Pullins

Pasture where a the yellow Trail runsthough an area with low-density smalltrees and shrubs with open glades toone side and denser, scratchy shrubson the other separating it from theopen Bobolink Field. This is aterric area in spring and summer for awide range of Warblers, for Sparrows(the White-throats love scrabbling inthe leaf litter) and such gems as Great-crested Flycatcher and BaltimoreOriole.

24A small but tall stand of mostly sugarmaple surrounded on all sides byforest roads is one of the placesfavoured by our red-bellied

Woodpecker. Check also for perchingraptors and the usual small birds suchas Nuthatches. Scarlet Tanagers might be there too.

25This is on the Black/Snowshoe trail soyou can only go here in winter. Itsabout as far from the hullaballoo of the busy areas as you can get and so theplace that small winter nches areworth spending some time looking for.Crossbills, Redpolls etc.

26A side-turning off the main entranceroad (do not take your car down - parkand walk - it is not strictly in thearboretum but worth exploring. Thisroad takes between the adjacentEcomuseum (the wolves and bears willprobably watch you through the

fencing) and the bird-banding stationonto the open elds of the universityseed farm. There are a couple of linesof dense hedging where you might seeall sorts of good birds such as IndigoBunting, Vireos, Shrike etc. Surprising birds land in the elds depending onthe time of year - we have seen groupsof Wild Turkey and on one occasion alarge ock of Wood Duck resting in a


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ploughed patch far from water. Checkfor grassland sparrows, you might belucky enough to pick up an AmericanPipit in passage.

27To the right of the entry road is a rathertall weather radar dome, under theplatform of which Cliff Swallows buildtheir nests every summer. If you turnyour back to the dome and look acrossthe eld on the left of the road you willsee a curved-roof barn in which youwill nd a large colony of (guess what)

Barn Swallows.

28Look across the elds south of thearboretum and you will see a smallclump of trees. Walk over there because there are two fair-sized poolsthere that hold interesting waterfowl,

lots of assorted species of Swallowsand other likely water-enjoying birds.

CONSERVATION CEN TREAREA - DETAIL

P - Parking area (dogs in cars notallowed, if walking must be on leash

CC - Conservation Centre

1 - Shrubby area at bottom of slopeoften holds interesting Sparrows etc2 - Row of birch trees by car parkworth checking when you arrive

3 - Dense stand of conifers frequentlyalive with Kinglets and Warblers

4 - Start of Blue Trail

5 - Alternative trail to Blossom Corner

via the Quarry

6 - Yellow Trail

7 - Orange (Main) Trail westwards -walk in this direction please. Start ofthe Eco Trail (green).

8 - Bird feeders in winter and Swallownest boxes in summer on edge of eld

9 - Sliding Hill leading to Dale Field


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CHALET PRUCHE ANDBLOSSOM CORNER - DETAIL

1 - Blossom Corner

2 - Quarry

3 - Chalet Pruche

4 - Sugar Shack 5 - Maple Corner

6 - Larch Plantation

7 - Hay eld - usually has several pairsof Bobolinks

8 - Thick hedge beside eld - check forIndigo Bunting and CommonYellowthroat nests

9 - Named the Bobolink Field this areanow has taller grasses - excellent forSparrows

10 - Southern edge of Pullins Pasture

11 - Clear ride with larches to one sideand deciduous forest to other - highWarbler population

Walking theTrailsWith all the information given on theprevious pages it seems you mightwant to know more about the varioustrails in the arboretum - and so,moving on slightly from the birdingtheme of this guide but assuming thatyou may well be accompanied byfriends or relatives who look at otherthings than birds when visiting withyou, here are some basic details ofwhat the arboretum has to offer.

As previously mentioned, there areabout 25km of trails in the Arboretumfor visitors to enjoy. Some are smalland poorly marked (and thus rarely

used) while others are well laid outand of a range of lengths allowingvisitors to gain the exercise they areseeking and to visit all parts of the siteand the tree collection.

Trail markers were erected in summerof 2011 to help you nd your way.

The main trails are:


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THE MAIN (ORANGE) TRAILA circular well dened trail starting and ending at theConservation Center and easily accessible by most people,although good boots and/or clip-on spikes may be wiseduring the winter as it can get icy due to constant use.

THE YELLOW TRAILStarts from the rst car park behind Pines Cottage. In winterthis trail is groomed for skiing.

THE BLUE TRAILStarts from near the Conservation Centre and is the longestof all the trails. Primarily a skiing rather than walking trail,it goes out to the far corners of the Arboretum and includes

an open ride which is quiet and bird-rich. There aresensitive plants out where it goes so you MUST stick strictlyto the marked way. Dogs are not allowed on this trail.

THE RED TRAILA shorter trail starting from behind Pines Cottage and muchenjoyed in the early mornings by people exercising theirdogs. Gets rather wet in spring and fall so waterprooffootwear is a good thing to have.

THE SNOWSHOE (BLACK) TRAILThis beautiful and quite lengthy trail is only open in winter.During the summer walkers are not permitted access due tothe presence of sensitive plants that would be affected if itwere accessible when there is no snow cover. Closed insummer.

THE ECOLOGY TRAILA short interpretative trail starting just west of theConservation Centre that has information stations along it

from which visitors can learn something about forestecology.

THE BIRDING TRAILA moderately long, informal route created from linkedsections of several trails. It runs north from the ConservationCentre, via the Quarry and Blossom Corner to Pullin'sPasture and back again. It is by no means the only trailalong which birds can be found, but if you have limitedopportunities to walk here it does maximize your likelihoodof seeing a good selection of the 180 species of bird that canin theory be observed at different times of the year. It alsotakes you through some of the most attractive parts of theArboretum so it's worth taking, even if you are not a birder.

An extension of this trail goes off into the further reaches ofthe forest along the Blue Trail in a counter-clockwisedirection.


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THE ORANGE (MAIN)TRAIL

For the casual visitor, this is probably the trail most likely to be taken in order to get a taste of what the arboretum has tooffer for this reason, the description that follows isparticularly detailed. It is by far the broadest of the trailsand quite wide enough for three of more people to walk side by side for the greater part of its length. At a moderate paceit will take you 30-40 minutes to complete considerablylonger if you pause to watch the wildlife or smell the owers

while joggers can cover it two or three times in that period.Note that it is recommended that you follow this trail in aclockwise direction to minimise face-to-face meetings withpeople walking dogs.

Starting from the Conservation Centre turn to your left(facing west) and start walking. The rst 100 metres or sopass the top of the open eld between the two parking areas before entering the forest proper. Just before the trees youwill see a feeder on the left maintained (as are all the feeders) by Bird Protection Quebec and a couple of small nesting boxes on posts. In winter, the feeder is a prime site to enjoymany small birds that rely on it to supplement the food inthe forest. In 2009 it was much visited by a Red-belliedWoodpecker, a species that while common enough furthersouth is a great rarity in Quebec. It seems probable that hedecided to stay because of the available food source. Thenesting boxes are regularly used, year after year, by small

cavity nesting birds, primarily Tree Swallows. Theirexuberant and fast insect-chasing ights over the elds when

the mosquitoes are about (which is often in summer) can beenjoyed by everyone.

Entering the forest from the open eld you nd yourselfsurrounded by tall, old trees with level ground to the left anda fairly steep slope falling away to the right. The trees hereare deciduous for the most part with a mixture of Red Mapleand Beech on your the left and Sugar and Red Maples, Ash,Oak and Hickory to the right. It is remarkable how thefeel of this initial part of the trail changes with the seasons, being wide open in winter, close and green in summer andgloriously golden in the fall as the leaves start to drop andthe trail seems to widen once more. The trees along thissection are some of the most photographed on the islandduring the October leaf-peeping season.


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In a few hundred metres, there is a slight downward slope topass over a narrow, seasonal, stream that runs underneaththe trail in a culvert before the trail bends to the left and risesagain. To the right is a very hard to discern and mostlyunused (and unofcial) trail that passes along the higher

bank of this stream where diligent searching will nd a smallgrove of unusual Shagbark Hickory trees. One of these talltrees one year held the nest of a Red-shouldered Hawk whoobjected loudly to walkers passing below as she successfullyraised her young. It is recommended that after admiring theShagbarks you return to the main trail as the going ahead onthe side trail involves considerable bushwhacking.

Past the stream the trail briey passes alongside a stand ofPine and Spruce tress that form the northern end of aplantation that will be passed through again on other trailsfurther south. If you are lucky, you could (but, realistically,probably will not) see a Barred Owl during the day sittingout the time until night well hidden in the branches of thesetrees.

The trail then returns to the earlier mix of Maple and Beechforest before making a T-junction with the Yellow trail andturning sharply to the right. There is a handy bench for a rest just along the Yellow trail to the left. Here is a more openwoodland in which you will certainly be sworn at by RedSquirrels, probably see Chipmunks and should look out andlisten for the many bird species that inhabit these parts of theforest. Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers,the Great-crested Flycatcher, quite possibly a PileatedWoodpecker (you may well hear the loud drumming of thisone even if you don't see him, despite his huge size) andmany species of small Warblers and the Red-eyed Vireo withtheir distinctive calls. The best time to see these birds is in

late May before the leaves are fully out because in summerthey hide easily, although you can always hear them singingand calling through the breeding season.

In spring, the understory will be full of forest owers such asthe White and Red Trilliums, Bloodroot (Sanguinaria) andmany others that grow rapidly and ower before the leafcover is so dense that light levels at the ground fall too low.

Continue along the trail some more, remembering to checkthe many small and large cavities in the trees for sight of birds nesting you may see a parent bird ying in and outwith nesting materials or food for its young. A walk in theforest is always an opportunity to appreciate that while youmight feel alone, you are the subject of many wary eyes

upon you as the creatures that live here make sure you arenot a threat to them.

Mid summer on the Orange Trail after a heavy rain storm


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In a short while the trail forks. Ahead you have the option tocontinue on the Yellow Trail (described elsewhere) which hasa comfortable bench in about 50 metres. Our trail now turnsto the right again and goes down a short slope with, at the bottom and to the right, a small and muddy pond with a

bench beside it on which to rest awhile. This pond uctuatesin level all year long but rarely dries out completely. It iswell surrounded by thick shrubs separating it from the tallerforest trees and is a gathering place for all sorts of wildlife.Unfortunately, it is also inevitably very attractive towallowing dogs but it's worth stopping for a few minutes to

see what might be around.

Leaving the small pond behind you, the trail shortly dropsdown a lengthy slope past Beech trees, a mixture of Beechand Maple and nally into a mature stand of Sugar Maplescalled, not very enterprisingly, Maple Corner. Ahead, beyond a thin band of trees you will see a large eld whilethe Yellow and Blue Trails angle in from the left. Turning leftninety degrees will eventually lead you out to SennevilleRoad which skirts the Arboretum to the north. Sticking to theOrange Trail you should bear right and then follow round agentle curve to the left. At this point you will nd a largeeld on your left and some of the tallest trees in theArboretum to the right

The eld lies between you and Pullin's Pasture to the north.Once there was a small population of Bobolinks that bredhere in the summer months and the eld had a generallyunkempt appearance attractive to such grassland birds.Unfortunately, in the early naughties, Macdonald Farm triedto improve the land and sprayed quantities of liquidmanure around which pretty well sterilized the eld.Naturally, there was something of an outcry which, to thecredit of all, resulted in remedial measures being taken to tryto restore the land by ploughing and resowing with mixedgrassland plants. The eld was then named as The BobolinkField unfortunately, despite prospecting ights by maleBobolinks in early spring they have not yet returned to nestthere, perhaps because the grasses that were sown are tootall for their liking. Ideally, the Bobolink likes the prairies itevolved in with regular grazing and the occasional re,conditions that are hard to replicate. Nevertheless, after avery few years of benign neglect the eld has started toevolve a life of its own being very attractive to Butteries for


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example and smaller grassland bird species such as Songand Savannah Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds and edgespecies like Indigo Bunting and Common Yellowthroat.Overhead, it is not unusual to see hawks searching for ameal and migrating species of all sorts in season.

To the right is the Larch plantation containing a mixture ofLarch species. This is very mature and dense woodland thatis regularly the home of Great Horned Owls for examplewhile in the tops of the trees you might see (at different timesof the year), Pine Siskins, Great Crested Flycatcher,Kingbirds or White-winged Crossbill and you will alwayshear Goldnches, Crows and other common species.Cutting through and around these trees are two rideswhich lead to the Sugar Shack and Chalet Pruche that areworth a diversion if you are in the mood.

At the end of the eld the trail turns right and passes theLarches on the one side and another large stand of Sugarmaple to the left with some Birch trees alongside the way. Ina couple of hundred metres you will nd on your right avery tall and dense conifer hedge and to your left a mixedspecies line of trees separating the trail from another large,open eld.

The conifer hedge actually has a trail running down thecentre of it which is really only used in winter by cross-country skiers following the Blue Trail. You will hear many birds in and around this dense hedge but they will be hard tosee as they tend to be moving around in the upper parts,various species of ycatchers are frequent visitors here and ifyou stand on the trail and look up you may be fortunateenough to see them darting out from a high perch to catch a

snack on the wing. The mixed tree and shrub hedge to the left is a good place tosee nesting and foraging Common Yellowthroats and Indigo


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Buntings in summer while in winter there are berries therethat attract, amongst others, small ocks of Cedar Waxwings.

At the end of the hedges there is a choice of ways to go.Straight ahead will take you to Blossom Corner by the mostdirect route and to your left is the entry to a large eld(which is not actually a part of the Arboretum but is owned by the university farm organisation) that is worth checkingfor hedge and edge dwelling species of birds and foroverying raptors. Bobolinks keep trying to nest here inearly summer but usually and regrettably the hay is cut bythe farmer before they can succeed. Standing out a little wayfrom the far side of the eld is a lone and mostly dead treethat on occasion has been used as a hunting perch by Merlinswho will y out from it to take Dragonies on the wing before returning to dismember and eat them. Havingchecked the entrance to this eld we suggest that you come back to the fork at the end of the tall hedge and take theshort, sloping road up to Chalet Pruche, a log cabin that youwill see ahead of you.

At the end of the hedges there is a choice of ways to go.Straight ahead will take you to Blossom Corner by the mostdirect route and to your left is the entry to a large eld(which is not actually a part of the Arboretum but is owned by the university farm organisation) that is worth checkingfor hedge and edge dwelling species of birds and foroverying raptors. Bobolinks keep trying to nest here inearly summer but usually and regrettably the hay is cut bythe farmer before they can succeed. Standing out a little wayfrom the far side of the eld is a lone and mostly dead treethat on occasion has been used as a hunting perch by Merlinswho will y out from it to take Dragonies on the wing before returning to dismember and eat them. Having

checked the entrance to this eld we suggest that you come back to the fork at the end of the tall hedge and take theshort, sloping road up to Chalet Pruche, a log cabin that youwill see ahead of you.

Chalet Pruche is quite an imposing building containing alarge central room with a gallery, a small kitchen, awashroom and a basement. Decades ago it was lived in bythe rst Director of the Arboretum during the summermonths but in recent years it had only been infrequentlyused until a group of volunteers from the Friends of theMorgan Arboretum spent a year or two around 2009renovating it very extensively. At the time of writing it still

lacks electricity but a generator is being sought to remedythis deciency. The building is available for hire for groupevents, wedding receptions etc and is opened on occasionsthrough the year to be enjoyed by Arboretum visitors.Especially popular are the winter weekends when skiers andwalkers can come in out of the cold snow to nd a roaringlog re, comfortable seating and the opportunity to purchasea hot drink and maybe a snack. If you are an avid visitor tothe cinema you may recognise this building in scenes set inmay supposed parts of the world as lm companies love tomake use of it in their productions when on location and itis part of a set at least of couple of times every year.

Beyond Chalet Pruche a short slope leads down to a tree-girded meadow and the Sugar Shack where the Arboretum'sspecial brand of artisanal maple syrup is boiled down thetraditional way over a log re each year. At the top of thisslope, just beside the Chalet, is a lone larch tree that is a

prime site in winter to see seed eating birds such asCrossbills.


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The Sugar Shack in high summer

Leaving Chalet Pruche, the walker should follow the broadtrail ahead towards Blossom Corner. This small, private areahas been planted with a wide selection of trees and shrubschosen for their beautiful owers and berries. There are afew benches on which you can sit and take a rest while,especially in spring, enjoying the site of many birds in thetrees. In winter a feeder is maintained here by BirdProtection Quebec, which is always busy look forChickadees and Pine Siskins as well as Nuthatches andseveral species of Woodpecker. In spring and summer this isperhaps the best place to catch a sight, if you are lucky, of aScarlet Tanager. Blossom Corner does not just attract birds,many beautiful butteries can also be seen visiting the areaand really early visitors just might catch site of deer.

From Blossom Corner, the trail nally continues on a gentleupward slope to return to the car park and the Conservation

Centre. The trees around you on this last stretch are mostlySugar Maple and you should keep an eye out for forest birds,especially Nuthatches and Woodpeckers.

Throughout your walk around this trail and depending onthe time of year you will have had the opportunity to enjoy awide variety of owers. Perhaps the best time for ower-appreciation is during May when the owers of the forestoor such Trilliums, put on a spectacular show before thedense leaf canopy of the forest cuts out the light reachingthem.

Centre Trail is a perfect introduction to the many species ofthe Arboretum we hope you enjoyed the walk.

BLOSSOM CORNER ANDTHE QUARRY

Two of the most popular spots for visitors are BlossomCorner and the nearby Quarry. Rather than describe theseseparately, you will nd that their attractions are wellcovered in the section of this guide that deals with theBirding Trail.

Do take time to pause here and wait for the birds becausethere are always some. In May there will be hundreds -hanging from the branches of the trees.


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YELLOW TRAIL

This is a moderately lengthy trail that starts in the rst(dog) car park and ends by the Conservation Centre. Itwill take you through a selection of most of the differenthabitats and tree collections in the Arboretum and you will

nd it a wilder trail than the main Trail, being narrowerand more winding with boggy patches and few tree roots totrip over.

Start the yellow Trail from the southern car park. Enter thetrees directly to the west in the corner of the eld.Immediately in front of you you will see a sign and a choiceof two directions. To the left is the Red Trail which isdescribed elsewhere, while the Yellow Trail turns to the right.

The rst section of the trail travels in a north-westerlydirection with mixed deciduous trees to the right, mostly

maple and oak, and pines to the left. This trail is wellmarked and easy to follow but narrower than the main trailand with some rough or boggy patches that are easier totraverse if you are suitably shod. In a while you will passamongst beech trees and nd yourself, for a short while

paralleling the main trail not far from the small pond (q.v.) before the two trails once again diverge. Just past the junction is a handy and welcome bench to rest for a whileand watch the wildlife.

The Yellow Trail then continues generally northwards beforecurving to the north-east through an area of mixeddeciduous trees planted in the early 1950s and then dropping


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The Blue Trail is not widely known in summer and is thus agood place to get away from the crowds. In theory dogs are banned but you will come across them from time to time assome owners don't consider the rules apply to them. Ingeneral, however, a walk on the Blue Trail is a quiet venture

taking you into corners of the forest least visited and hencemost likely to contain interesting wildlife.

Your initial challenge is to nd the start of the trail. Go westfrom the Conservation Centre towards the forest - as youreach the trees look to your left and you should spy theentrance to the trail a few yards south behind the twoswallow nesting boxes on poles by the edge of he eld. Take

a deep breath and enter the trees. For the rst portion youwill nd yourself paralleling the Orange trail but before longthe Blu trail swings south and west and you are on yourown. The course of the trail takes you to the southern end ofthe wide ride that was cut through the edge of the forest in

2009 by work that was done on a major gas pipeline thatruns there ... Surprisingly, this cut in the forest has openedup extensive edge habitat and the ongoing replanting in theride are showing signs that this will become a veryinteresting place to see some good birds as the years go by.

Follow this ride northwards until the trail turns into theforest again - please be especially careful along here to sticjrigidly to the trail and not to deviate as there are vulnerableand uncommon plants that are in real danger of being lost ifinadvertently trampled. Eventually you come down to the

north-western part of the arboretum near to Pullins Pastureand the Walnut plantation from where you have the choice


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of switching to other trails. If you continue on the Blue trail,you will pass along or beside the Orange trail up to BlossomCorner where you will take a wide loop east and souththough old maple stands to eventually come up again by theCC parking lot. This last loop takes you near to the pond in

the banding station and you could well hear or see some birds not otherwise commonly to be encountered within themore visited part of the forest.

The nice thing about this trail is that you will have most of itto yourself and the wildlife.

RED TRAILThis trail is fairly short (and fairly wet - no very wet - in thespring after the snows melt). It is relatively heavily used inthe early mornings in particular by dog walkers which doeshave an effect on the number of birds that will showthemselves but dont let that put you off as, in fact, thistrail has a really good reputation as a place to nd somechoice birds. It starts due west of the southern car park in

the corner of the main eld the same place, in fact, as thestart of the yellow trail. As you enter the forest turn left andfollow the markers.

This trail goes south towards the edge of the forest, parallelsthe open elds beyond for a short distance before turningnorth again and returning the start. It passes through mostlyconiferous woodland and is prime territory for Owls,assorted raptors, Warblers in season and winter Finches.

ECOLOGY(SALAMANDER) TRAILA short and interesting trail that starts about a hundredyards in to the forest along the Orange trail due west of theConservation Centre. You will see signs for the start of thetrail on the south side signed with a green salamanderlogo. Walking along here you will pass through an

assortment of forest habitats with a variety of tree and shrubspecies, each attractive to different birds. Along the trail,


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there are also interpretative panels set up by the arboretumthat will teach you about the features you pass.

The Ecology Trail runs south, briey parallels the yellow andred trails in parts before returning to the ConservationCentre. You can easily walk it in less than an hour longer,of course, if you nd interesting things to stop and examinealong the way. You are recommended to wear stout boots inthe wetter seasons.

BIRDING TRAILThe Birding Trail is not an ofcial trail but was created bylinking sections of several other trails together to allow theoccasional visitor a chance of seeing some good birds in

reasonable accessible parts of the arboretum. There is aphotographic guide to the trail on (an old version of) thearboretum website which you can enjoy.

This route should maximize your chances of seeing somegood birds. Needless to say, reference to the arboretum trailmap will show you that there are many other options andtrails, but we believe that this one will make a very goodintroduction and take you to some of the "birdier" placeswithin the site. It should take you between an hour and threehours depending on the birds you stop for and the time ofyear.

From the Conservation Centre go down sliding hill intodales Field, pass the quarry, go through Blossom Corner andthen past Chalet Pruche. Pass the Sugar Shack taking one ofthe two available rides through to join the Orange Trail bythe old Bobolink Field. Turn left and follow the edge of theeld round until you can access the Yellow Trail at PullinsPasture wander around in there for a while and exit on the

opposite (eastern) side. Follow the trail through the tunnelof trees back to the junction with the Orange Trail and thenmake your way back to the start, detouring as the fancy andsound of bird song guides you. Taking the last part of theBlue Trail as a detour west of the orange one from Blossom

Corner can be productive.

SNOWSHOE (BLACK)TRAILThis is a rather enjoyable and quite lengthy, trail that is onlyopen in the winter it is closed in spring, summer and fall because of the risk of too many walkers damaging sensitive

plant species. Naturally, you are only (only!) going to seeresident winter species but as that includes Winter Finches,Crossbills, Woodpeckers, assorted Raptors, Owls andChickadees, of course whats to complain about.

This is delightful walk and generally speaking you will havethe most part of it to yourself it also goes through someparts of the forest that normally you will never see. Allow acouple of hours to do it justice. You will nd the trail starts behind the Pines Cottage entrance building.


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DEEP WINTER AT BLOSSOM CORNER

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT

BIRDING AND WILDLIFE VIEWING

OPPORTUNITIES AROUND MONTREAL

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT

www.sparroworks.ca

MORE ILLUSTRATED GUIDES ARE INPREPARATION - KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THEM

AS THEY APPEAR
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