Wildlife

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Habitats Laurier Woods is classed as a Provincally Significant Wetland. It consists of three wetland types: marsh, swamp and bog.  The bog components are hard to find but the marsh components are abundant.  In the forested land, the trees are mostly deciduous although in one corner you will find a coniferous area composed mostly of cedar trees.  Laurier Woods also has lots of rock barrens. Birds The most conspicous wildlife are the birds.  In May, the spring birds put on a good show with a superb morning chorus and an excellent variety of migrant species.  Laurier Woods could be considered a migration corridor.  With Laurier Woods being the largest forested area between Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake it can concentrate to a mild extent the birds that are migrating. Recent bird sighting database April May June 2010 Dragonflies If you want to study dragonflies and damselflies, Laurier Woods is a good place to start.  Marshes are  good places to discover a variety of dragonflies, particularly in June and July.  So far seventeen species (almost a quarter of the species I have seen to date) have been found in Laurier Woods, although there is likely about thirty species that could potentially be seen here.   Ebony Jewelwing Spotted Spreadwing Taiga Bluet Marsh Bluet Sedge Sprite Shadow Darner Lancet Clubtail Williamson's Emerald Racket-tailed Emerald Beaverpond Baskettail Spiny Baskettail Belted Whiteface Common Whitetail Chalk-fronted Corporal Band-winged Meadowhawk Autumn Meadowhawk Four-spotted Skimmer Lichens The rock barrens in Laurier Woods provide an opportunity to see a variety of rock and ground lichens.  Lichens are an overlooked aspect of nature that provide an important function.  Lichens that grow on rocks are the first lifeforms to utilise bedrock.  Lichens eat the bedrock and over time break down the bedrock.  Lichens are the first step in turning bedrock into soil which then can support forests.  Lichens also grow on trees and are an important aid in breaking down tough to digest bark.  Laurier Woods has some tree lichens but other areas have more diversity.   While lichens are considered extremophiles, lifeforms that can survive extreme environments, they have one weakness -- air pollution, specifically sulphur dioxide.  In areas far from air pollution lichens are diverse, but if you go to Sudbury where air pollution was once very bad all you will find are quickly growing lichens.  The old lichens were wiped out and have not had time to grow back yet.  Flowers Flower database 2010 (Rather large file -5 Megabytes, do not try with dial up)