A photo-documentary of flora and fauna of Manitoulin Island observed during the months of July and August, 2010, while working on a project on Sandhill Cranes.

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MANITOULIN ISLAND MANITOULIN ISLAND CHAPTER
Wanderer’s Eye
By Aniruddha Dhamorikar

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Preface
It was years ago that I heard of the biggest island surrounded by freshwater called Manitoulin. But it was not until May that I knew I would
have the opportunity to work on this island. This is a little effort in mapping the biodiversity of Manitoulin Island, with primary focus on
photography and identification of flora and fauna.
The Island is an extension of Niagara Escarpment and continuation of Bruce Peninsula, making it a diverse place rich in indigenous
populations of plants and some insects. It is also a staging ground for birds migrating from the boreal forests, where they feed, breed and
move southwards with the coming of winter. This uniqueness of Manitoulin Island, along with its varied habitats from the endangered
alvars to diverse wetlands, to sandy beaches and rocky shores, deserves to be studied and cherished by every naturalist.
I spent the months of July and August assisting in a research project on habitat use, migratory behaviour, and vital rates of Sandhill Cranes,
where I observed and studied the natural history of Manitoulin Island.

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Acknowledgment
Long Point Waterfowl (LPW) has given me the opportunity to work as well as learn about the Great Lakes ecology. I am thankful to LPW
staff for encouraging me to explore and for the guidance. I would like to thank Scott Petrie and Ted Barney for entrusting me with the
work I love doing. I would like to thank Everett Hanna, without whom I would not know so much about flora and fauna of Ontario as I
do today, and my colleague Scott Bossuyt, for being a constant support and a good friend.
Last but not the least; I would like to thank Allison McInnis, my Co-op Advisor; and Holly Sanderson, for selecting me for the Master’s in
Environment & Sustainability degree, and to my classmates who made me feel at home.

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Manitoulin is the largest island
surrounded by freshwater. It also has the
largest lake – Lake Manitou on a freshwater
island in the world. The photograph was
taken on the south shore of Manitoulin
Island, looking over Lake Huron.

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Lake Huron is the third largest
freshwater lake in the world. Well known for
its cold, clear waters, Lake Huron also
supports unique shoreline habitats such as
alvars, marshes, fen, rocky and sand beaches.

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Lake Huron shore is a fascinating
place to hunt for fossils. Many freshwater
mollusks as well as corals dating back to
Silurian period – about 400 million years ago
can be seen on rocky surfaces on the lake
shore.

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Manitoulin Island harbors a number
of indigenous species of plants. The
limestone foundations called Alvars –
considered to be an endangered habitat, are
home to a variety of animals and plants
unique to this habitat.

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Apart from the extensive
wetland and forest systems,
Manitoulin has vast agricultural fields,
primarily growing animal fodder.
Major crops include Barley, Oats and
Alfalfa, but Hay and Corn is also
grown on the island. These fields
form a diet rich grounds for many
birds, such as the Sandhill Cranes.

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Flora of Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin harbours many endemic species of plants found nowhere else on the planet. I made a little effort to photograph the
Aster sp. flora during the months of July and August, and observed how the colours change with every passing week. This is a small
effort to appreciate the beauty of Manitoulin’s flora through my lens.

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Aster sp. Asteraceae is a large family of plants known for their star-like arrangement of florets. Every petal of the flower is in fact a
flower – forming an inflorescence. The picture is that of Daisy, a common plant seen on shorelines of Lake Huron.

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Cichorum intybus Commonly called Wild Chicory, it is a member of the Asteraceae family. The irresistible pastel blue colour of
the flowers attracts many bees, bugs and butterflies.

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Centaurea americana Also called as American Basketflower, it is common along roadsides and wastelands. The butterfly
sipping nectar is European Skipper.

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Commonly called as Elegant Camas, it is placed in the same family as Trilliums – Melanthiaceae. The
Zigadenus elegans flowers are extremely poisonous.

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Commonly called Milkweed, it is a well known food plant of Monarch butterfly. The plant’s latex contains
Asclepias syriaca glycosides, making it toxic to many animals. The Monarch caterpillars are, however, are capable of storing
these glycosides, making them unpalatable to potential predators.

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The Harlequin Blueflag is a beautiful perennial herb, occurring along waterside. The flowering period is
Iris versicolor May-July.

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Harebell is native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Known to grow on
Campanula rotundifolia dry grasslands, they are also commonly seen in rock crevices.

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Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal Flower, easily identified by bright red
flowers along swamps and stream banks, are hard
to miss. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, named
so because of the similarity of the flower’s colour
to the Roman Catholic Cardinals.

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Lobelia kalmii
Also called Ontario Lobelia, it is commonly found
in rocky shores and wet alvars. It starts flowering
in July and lasts till September.

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Parnassia palustris
Marsh flower-of-Parnassus also inhabits wetland
ecosystem such as bogs and marshes.

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Spiranthes romanzoffiana
Hooded Lady’s-tresses is a species of Orchid. It is
native to North America, seen amongst grasses and
Horsetails along the lakeshore.

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Drosera intermedia
Also called Spoonleaf Sundew, Drosera is an
insectivorous plant. The leaf blades are covered
with stalked mucilaginous glands which secrete
sugary nectar to attract insects. Some insects get
stuck and or die. The plant then secrets digestive
enzymes from sessile glands and consume the
nutritive solution of the insect. It was
photographed in a fen – an ideal habitat for this
unique plant.

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Purple Pitcher Plant, is a carnivorous plant – the leaves of which are designed like a pitcher to
collect rainwater. The lid of the leaf, seen on the next page, is covered in downward pointing
Sarracenia purpurea hair; hence any insect sitting on the leaf edge slips into the pitcher. The prey, such as ants, flies
and spiders are then digested by an invertebrate community of mosquito and midge larva. Later,
microbes take over the organic matter, converting it into minerals, which is ultimately consumed
by the plant.

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Sarracenia purpurea - Leaf Sarracenia purpurea - Flower
A close-up of the leaf showing the downward- The flowers of S. purpurea are held singly on long
pointing hair. The red lip of the pitcher is attractive stems – well above the pitcher traps to avoid the
to insects – and hence spiders, because of nectar. trapping of potential pollinators.

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Butterflies of Manitoulin Island
Monarch Summer is the peak season for butterfly activity. Whether it is a caterpillar or an imago, one can observe these
delicate flutter by’s as they visit flower to flower, innocently spreading pollens for next summer. I recorded twelve
Danaus plexippus species of butterflies, from Viceroy – a mimic of Monarch to the flocks of European Skippers.

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Monarch – Caterpillar feeding on Common Milkweed
Danaus plexippus

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Viceroy
Limenitis archippus

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American Lady – on Joe Pye weed
Vanessa virginiensis

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White Admiral/ Red-spotted Purple
Limenitis arthemis

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Atlantis Fritillary – on Goldenrod
Speyeria atlantis

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Atlantis Fritillary – Female,
laying eggs
Speyeria atlantis

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Pearl Crescent – Mating pair
Phyciodes tharos

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Compton’s Tortoiseshell/ False Comma
Nymphalis vaualbum

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Dorcas Copper
Lycaena dorcas

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Coral Hairstreak
Satyrium titus

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European Skippers
– on Canadian Thistle
Thymelicus lineola

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Leonard’s Skipper
Hesperina leonardus

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Little Glassywing
Pompeius verna

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Odonata of Manitoulin Island
Dragonflies and Damselflies fall in the order Odonata. The Odonata diversity is related to the
Ebony Jewelwing - Male quantity and quality of the water, which is plenty and clean at Manitoulin Island. I recorded four
Calopteryx maculata species of Damselflies and two species of Dragonflies, although there are plenty more along
streams, lakes and bogs.

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River Jewelwing - Male
Calopteryx aequabilis

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River Jewelwing - Female
Calopteryx aequabilis

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Hagen’s Bluet - Pair
Enallagma hageni

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Eastern Forktail - Male
Ischnura verticalis

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Canada Darner – Female, laying eggs
Aeshna canadensis

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Racket-tailed Emerald
Dorocordulia libera

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Beetles of Manitoulin Island
Purple Tiger Beetle Beetles are diverse as well as unique to Manitoulin Island, apart from the invasive Green Immigrant Leaf
Weevil, displayed in this section, Manitoulin Island hosts endemic Tiger Beetles of Canada, such as the
Cicindela purpurea Purple Tiger Beetle – a hard-to-find species, and C. longilabris, a Tiger Beetle of the Boreal regions of
Canada.

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Cicindela repanda

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Cicindela longilabris

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Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil
Polydrusus sericeus

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Other Insects of Manitoulin Island
Carolina Grasshopper – wing pattern The insect diversity is as abundant as plant diversity, the commonest ones of
which are Grasshoppers that, although dull on the outside, flaunt colourful
hindwings. Ants, as well as Mayflies are also seen throughout the island.

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Carolina Grasshopper
Dissosteria carolina

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Ant tending to Aphids

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Mayfly

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Arachnids of Manitoulin Island
Where there are abundant insects, there are spiders. Spiders inhabit different niches, such as a Tetragnatha
Tetragnatha Spider Spider that prefers to build orb-shaped webs in low-lying shrubs, Wolf Spiders that prefer to wander on
rocks, and Crab Spiders, who rather sit patiently on flowers, awaiting prey. The closest cousins of Spiders –
Harvestman, are abundant on the island as well, inhabiting most of the low-lying shrubs and forest floors.

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Wolf Spider – carrying spiderlings on the abdomen

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Crab Spider

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Harvestman

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Amphibians & Reptiles of Manitoulin Island
The Herpetofauna of Manitoulin Island is comprised of most of the southern Ontario species, from the most beautiful
Gray Tree Frog Gray Tree Frogs to the skittish Green Frogs, and from the common Eastern Garter Snakes to the elusive Massassauga
Rattle Snakes. Although I only came across the common species of snakes, I was surprised to find high number of
Hyla versicolor roadkills especially that of Milksnakes as pictured in this section. Turtles form an integral part of Manitoulin’s aquatic
ecosystem as well.

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Gray Tree Frog – colour morphs
Hyla versicolor

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Green Frog
Rana clamitans

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Green Frog
Rana clamitans

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Northern Leopard Frog
Rana pipiens

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American Toad
Bufo americanus

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Painted Turtle - female
Chrysemys picta

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Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina

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Eastern Garter Snake - hatchling
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

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Eastern Garter Snake - adult
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

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Northern Water Snake
Nerodia sipedon

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Milk Snake - roadkill
Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum

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Birds of Manitoulin Island
Dunlin The birdlife is diverse as one goes from the inland towards the shoreline. Manitoulin is a staging ground for many
shorebirds, such as Sandpipers. It also hosts a healthy population of Sandhill Cranes. The birds-of-prey, such as the
Calidris alpina migrant Merlin to breeding Ospreys are abundant, but one is also bound to see Bald Eagles soaring in the sky.

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Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla

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Ring-billed Gulls
Larus delawarensis

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American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus

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American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos

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Magnolia Warbler
Dendroica magnolia

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Turkey Vultures - basking
Cathartes aura

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Merlin – feeding on a sparrow
Falco columbaris

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Merlin
Falco columbaris

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Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus

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Osprey
Pandion haliaetus

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Sandhill Cranes of Manitoulin Island
Sandhill Crane is a large crane of North America. It is known to have the longest fossil histories of any extant bird.
Sandhill Cranes Manitoulin Island harbours a vast population of Sandhill Cranes, thanks to the extensive wetlands as well as
Grus canadensis farmlands, where the birds roost and feed respectively. I had the opportunity to work on Sandhill Cranes, to track
the migration pathway, specifically of Manitoulin’s cranes by GPS transmitters.

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The Sandhill Cranes were extirpated from Ontario within the last century. However, thanks the conservation efforts, the species has
reestablished on the northern shore of Lake Huron, Ontario. The cranes are omnivorous, feeding on insects as well as rodents, but the
major part of their diet comprises of seeds. Their call is high pitched, and contains complex, distinct notes which can be heard over a mile.
The photograph was taken when we captured a crane to attach a GPS transmitter.

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Sandhill Cranes migrate to southern parts of America, such as Texas and Mexico. Prior to fall season, hundreds of cranes flock together to begin
the migration. I observed this behavior over the two months spent at Manitoulin. We observed dispersed populations during the month of July,
when the summer is at its peak and food is abundant. In the month of August, the birds start to flock together in cut fields. This behavior is not
only observable for the cranes, but for other birds such as blackbirds and woodpeckers as well. As the season passes, many more cranes from
Northern Ontario will migrate to Manitoulin in thousands, marking the beginning of the great migration.

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Attached GPS transmitter and a bird band

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Measuring the wing-cord length of a Measuring the tarsal-length of a
captured bird captured bird

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Measuring the culmen length of a captured bird

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Sandhill Crane congregation in hayfield

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Sandhill Cranes are intelligent, cautious birds. Their social
system – be it a pair with a juvenile or a flock of more
than three birds, is mostly lead by the elder birds.
Observations in the field have mostly shown males to be
more on guard compared to the females.
They are one of the most expressive birds,
communicating with one another by dancing, or by calls.
Fall is the best season to see them dance, as males and
females offer nuptial gifts to one another, and run and
jump across the fields, flapping their wings merrily. The
calls are complex and distinct, from a high-pitched tone of
being alert or warning, to a credulous, joyous tone while
playing with one another.
I have been fortunate to have done my little part in
studying as well as working for this magnificent crane.

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“A wren in hand is better than a crane to be caught,
But a crane in hand is better than naught.”
- Adapted from an Irish proverb

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References
Emmitt, R. (2005). Species List. Retrieved from Butterflies of Carolinas & Virginias: http://www.rlephoto.com/species_list.htm
Fyon, A. (2010). Alvars types and flowering plants. Retrieved from Andy's northern wildflowers:
http://www.ontariowildflower.com/manitoulin_limestone_beach.htm
Hanna, E. (2010). Habitat use, migratory behaviour, and vital rates of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) on the North Shore of Lake Huron, Ontario.
Marshall, S. (2000, March). Tiger Beetles of Ontario. Retrieved from University of Guelph: http://www.uoguelph.ca/debu/tiger-beetles.htm
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Pictures on Page 84 and 85 photographed by Scott Bossuyt and Everett Hanna respectively.