Fall Forays 2006
Details of the fall foray collections are now
posted on our website. I can gladly report that we broke several of the
Society’s foray records this year. We arranged the greatest number of fall
forays at 17. We had the most participants in a single foray, at 68, in Erin;
and on one miserable day we broke the low record for foray attendance, at 3
participants including the leader. We recorded the most species we have
collected and identified in a single foray, at an amazing 155, on October 7,
when conditions in the field were ideal; I suspect this record will stand for a
very long time. During the forays we were able to find a few species not
recently recorded by us, such as Fistulina hepatica and Omphalotus illudens.
The number of forays was increased due to
overtures we made to authorities such as the Toronto Recreation and
Conservation Authority. Five extra forays were added to our normal foray
schedule, and annotated lists of mushroom species we collected were filed with
forest management authorities to increase awareness of our fungal diversity and
the role fungi play in our interrelated world. These forays were specifically
denoted as “inventory forays” in our fall schedule and have certainly added to
our knowledge of previously unstudied areas.
Vello Soots conducted a foray in Wilket Creek Park for the Toronto
Field Naturalists Society. John Sparling led a Highland Creek Community
Stewardship Program organized mushroom walk in September named “Fungus Among
Us” in Colonel Danforth Park; public interest was overwhelming at about 70
participants, perhaps boosted by recent press reports of mushroom poisonings in
and around Toronto in this very productive season. We sincerely thank all our
honoured leaders in promoting fungal awareness in our communities.
Since my last spring
report, we also organized a summer foray, which was led by Vito Testa. The
objective was to look for chanterelle mushrooms. Seventeen members
participated, but, due to the weather and
timing, not a single chanterelle was found. However, the foray recorded
70 other species. Thank you, Vito.
As 2006 closes, may I
express my heart-felt thanks to all those leaders and helpers who put in their
sincere efforts this year to lead the forays and help disseminate fungal
knowledge and awareness to participants in our woodland outings. We look
forward to the spring of 2007 for a bountiful harvest of black and yellow
morels!