Bannister, Wrigley, Dickson

Location

• Bannister and Wrigley conservation areas: 1032 Wrigley Rd., west of Spragues Road (Waterloo Regional Road 75) (View a Google Map).
• FWR Dickson Wilderness Area : Brant-Waterloo Road, west of Spragues Road (Waterloo Region Road 75) (View a Google Map).

Background

Located within the Carolinian Forest Zone, the Bannister and Wrigley Lakes area consists of two small lakes (totalling 50 hectares) with well-developed aquatic, marsh, and willow-dogwood thickets, which are bordered by deciduous forest communities. These areas provide a variety of suitable habitat for migratory and breeding birds, especially waterfowl and marsh birds. 

The Wrigley tract is connected to the Dickson property, a 31 hectare tract of land containing deciduous forest, tamarack swamp, shallow and open water marsh, a restored tallgrass prairie, and vernal wetlands.

Watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, motorboats, or other personal watercraft are prohibited at Wrigley and Bannister Lakes. Fishing is permitted from the shorline only.

Grass Lake, a 13 hectare parcel of land located just east of the Bannister and Wrigley Lakes properties, contains an early successional sphagnum bog, a fen-like community, and a maple-oak-pine slope forest along its southern edge. Owned in part by the GRCA and the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, this site is one of the largest and best-preserved open bogs in Waterloo Region.

Number of species

In total, 233 bird species have been recorded at all four sites, including 29 waterfowl species which are most abundant during the spring and fall migration period. At least 22 warbler species have been observed during spring and fall migration.

At Grass Lake, breeding species include sandhill crane, swamp sparrow, and common yellowthroat. The agricultural fields on the west side of Shouldice Road support a diverse community of grassland birds consisting of bobolink, eastern meadowlark, grasshopper sparrow, field sparrow, vesper sparrow, savannah sparrow and song sparrow, all of which breed in the area. Ospreys and eastern bluebirds also breed within the area.

Open country birds that are observed regularly in the area include alder and willow flycatcher, and eastern kingbird. Brown thrasher and eastern towhee are occasionally observed.

Noteworthy species

Notable species include northern shoveler, Eurasian and American wigeon, American black duck, canvasback, redhead, northern pintail, ruddy duck, and long-tailed duck.

In addition to waterfowl, a respectable number of American coot and sandhill cranes are often viewed on Bannister Lake during migration, though a scope is recommended.

Common moorhen, pied-billed grebe and Wilson's snipe are less abundant but can be frequently seen or heard in the marsh areas during the breeding season.

On quiet evenings, listen carefully for marsh wren, least bittern, sora, and Virginia rail at Grass Lake.